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PG Applympics 2012: The water sports

Wet wet wet

PG Applympics 2012: The water sports
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Welcome to the Pocket Gamer Applympics - our (hopefully legal) spin on that big sports thingy that's happening in the UK this summer.

Put simply, we're going to go focus on a number of sporting events and try and find eight mobile games that have some vague, tenuous link to the sport in question.

Then, we'll ask you - our fine readers - to vote on which games deserve medals made of precious metals.

This time, it's the turn of water sports. We're talking sailing, synchronised swimming, canoeing, and diving. Anything that features H2O in a major way. We've picked out eight great games that feature the wet stuff - but, which do YOU think is best?

To vote for your favourite water-based game of the PG Applympics, visit our Facebook page and select the relevant game you want to win. Easy, right?

Where's My Water?
By Disney - buy on iPhone and iPad or buy on Android applympics-water-wheres-my

In this aquatic adventure, it's your job to deliver soapy suds to an alligator named Swampy. You'll need to dig through dirt and avoid obstacles - like mines and poisonous goop - as you direct water to our toothy hero.

Where's My Water? has benefitted from an endless stream of post-release content, which has added balloons, ice, fire, wind, and more. It's the puzzler that keeps on giving.

Aquaria
By Semi Secret Software - buy on iPad applympics-water-aquaria

This underwater adventure feels like Metroid... well, if you dunked it into the Pacific Ocean. Singing mermaid Naija explores submarine caves and sunken cities in her quest to remember her past.

The pace turns on a dime: sometimes, it's a serene trip through the ocean; at other times, it's a toothy fight to the death with massive boss monsters. You should come prepared for both.

Riptide GP
By Vector Unit - buy on iPhone and iPad or buy on Android applympics-water-riptide

We'd love to see Wave Race-style battles off Weymouth beach, but there are sadly no jet ski races in the real 2012 Games. Thankfully, our alternative Applympics have you covered.

This soaking wet racer features supercharged skidoos blasting around futuristic marinas. And this isn't just a driving game with the roads painted blue: the waterways slosh about as you race, making for dynamic tracks.

Shark Dash
By Gameloft - buy on iPhone and iPad or buy on Android applympics-water-shark-dash

While it would make the sailing events considerably more exciting, we seriously hope that sharks play no part in the real Games. In the world of apps, though, deadly marine creatures are actively encouraged.

Gameloft's Shark Dash is the French publisher's take on the whole physics-puzzler phenomenon. You fire a rubbery shark (a bit like an agitated bird...) out of the water, hoping to collect stars, eat ducks, and solve puzzles.

Squids Wild West
By The Game Bakers - buy on iPhone and iPad applympics-water-squids-wild

Often described as the illicit love baby of Angry Birds and Final Fantasy Tactics, this is a strategic game with a playful, tactile spin. So, while you'll need to carefully consider the tactics of your next turn, you enter battle by flinging your cephalopod units like rubber bands.

Best of all, it takes place below a few miles of water - giving it an oh-so-tenuous link to the water sports at this year's Games. Hooray!

Harbor Master
By Imangi Studios - buy on iPhone or buy on iPad applympics-water-harbor-master

Harbor Master is a lot like Flight Control. Sure, the planes are replaced with boats and the runways dropped in favour of ports, but you're still guiding kamikaze vehicles to safety with your finger.

Like Firemint's mile-high addiction, Harbor Master quickly turns into a messy spaghetti of ocean liners and cargo boats, all intent on smashing right into each other. You'll need some serious multitasking skills to keep everything afloat.

Sprinkle
By Mediocre AB - buy on iPhone and iPad or buy on Android applympics-water-sprinkle

We think developer Mediocre might be selling itself a bit short with the name of its studio: water-based puzzler Sprinkle is far from mediocre. In this game, you use a high-powered hose to put out house fires.

There's more to it than that, of course. You'll also need to use the strong force of the hose to change the level (knocking over obstacles and moving bridges into place) so the water gets to the blaze before your tap runs dry.

Fishing Kings
By Gameloft - buy on iPhone and iPad applympics-water-fishing-kings

Another fan-favourite sport that's been unjustly snubbed by the Games organisers. But, while fishing might not be getting a gold medal this summer, there are plenty of angling sims on mobile.

We reckon Gameloft's Fishing Kings is the best of the bunch. It's got 15 fishing spots and more than 30 species of animal to catch, and wrestling with a stubborn sturgeon is one seriously gripping experience.

Remember: To vote for your favourite water-based game of the PG Applympics, visit our Facebook page and select the relevant radio button. The winners of each event will be revealed at the end of the week.

To see each of the eight water-based competitors in action, check out the video below.

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Mark Brown
Mark Brown
Mark Brown is editor at large of Pocket Gamer