The best iPhone and iPad games this week - Oscura 2nd Shadow, Super Pixelander, Desert Fox

Every Friday, Pocket Gamer offers hands-on impressions of the week's best new iPhone and iPad games.

Oscura Second Shadow
By Chocolate Liberation Front - buy on iOS (£1.99 / $2.99)

Second Shadow is more of a remake than a sequel to the dark platformer Oscura.

Its controls are certainly an improvement. The original suffered from gesture-based movement and jumping. Second Shadow has virtual buttons and it's much better for it.

The improved controls allow you to focus on the level of polish in this platformer. You move through a shadowy world as a long-limbed sprite to restore the crystal in the lighthouse.

There's nothing unusual for a platformer here. Crumbling ledges, spikes, beasts, and boulders will all set you into panic mode. It's a solid game just not one that does anything particularly new.

Super Pixelander
By Doragon Entertainment - download on iOS (Free)

The classic arcade space shooter gets notably more chaotic in Super Pixelander.

You tilt and touch to fly your little ship around space, quite innocently collecting gems. This tranquility doesn't last long - bullets, comets, and beams suddenly fly towards you.

To make matters worse, collecting gems swaps the weapon of your spaceship randomly, just like in Super Crate Box.

Collect enough gems and you'll get new hats and hazards, including lava chasing you through space.
Super Pixelander is an energetic space shooter with plenty of challenge.

Desert Fox: The Battle of El Alamein
By Shenandoah Studio - buy on iOS (£6.99 / $9.99)

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Do you like tanks but cannot stand the inaccessibility of turn-based strategy games? Then you'll want to play Desert Fox.

Shenandoah has a talent for making complex strategy games that mostly anyone can start playing with some level of skill in a matter of seconds. Desert Fox is no different.

This time the historical battles are based on Montgomery's clashes with Rommel in North Africa. Despite the brown sand, Desert Fox is a criminally beautiful game to look at.

But the sand isn't friendly. The desert isn't the best battlefield and competing against its harsh conditions will keep you busy.

Then, of course, you have to shuffle your units around to take down your opponent. Luckily, the simple interface allows you to make detailed responses to their every move.