10 most anticipated iPhone games of winter 2009

The second half of the year brings colder weather, a string of holidays, and a glut of games. More games come out in the last few months of the year than any other time, making it the best time to be a gamer - or the worst, depending on how you look at it.

With so many games coming out in such a short period of time, picking out which ones to play can be difficult.

While we have to wait for full reviews to confirm our expectations, this list of our ten most anticipated games of the second half of 2009 should help guide you as to which games to watch.

From heavy-hitters like Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and Rolando 3 to lesser-known titles Above & Beyond Air Combat and Bloons Tower Defense, there's a surprising mix of games representing big publishers, independent developers, and genres.

Strategy, role-playing, platform, action - there's a bit of everything to look forward to this winter. Of course, there are tons of other iPhone games coming out over the next few months, so leave a comment or post something in the forum to let us know what you're anticipating.

The 10 most anticipated iPhone games of winter 2009

Hybrid: Eternal Whisper
Publisher/Developer: Gamevil

Role-playing games are hard to come by on iPhone, and even rarer are good ones. Korean-based publisher Gamevil has a enviable reputation for crafting role-playing games and Hybrid: Eternal Whisper looks to continue that tradition.

Differing from the adventuring of Zenonia, Hybrid opts for play that's action-oriented. As a young man named Grey, your quest to avenge your brother's death has you beating up baddies in 150 stages of side-scrolling action. While the game bears much in common with fighting games, story scenes and character development sandwich the action.

The game is being brought over from its original Korean release on mobile to iPhone, bringing new gesture-based controls for activating spells along with it. We're not totally sold on the controls, but at least an effort is being made to tailor the game to the platform. The role-playing elements appear solid and that's what we're anticipating in late September.

Above & Beyond Air Combat
Publisher/Developer: Axios Games

Indie developed in the purest sense, Above & Beyond comes solely from the mind of Josh Rosen, whose SciFly surprised us as one of the first 3D flight-action titles to hit the App Store.

Now, Rosen is adding graphical glitz and ambitious open world gameplay to this spiritual sequel that assures it a spot as one of our most anticipated games for late 2009.

The game's main Conquest mode sees you piloting a jet fighter across an expansive map populated with dozens of islands, each defended by a host of enemies. You're able to fly seamlessly to each isle, seizing powe through motion-controlled combat.

A full upgrade system rewards you with energy for new shields, weapons, and thrusters. You can even tweak the paint job.

Along with Conquest mode, two additional modes - Gauntlet and Survival - extend replay value. They're also built for comparing high scores via Open Feint, which the game fully integrates. All of this promising gameplay paired with great graphics make Above & Beyond one to watch this autumn.

Bloons Tower Defense
Publisher/Developer: Digital Goldfish

One of our favourite balloon busters is getting the tower defence treatment and it's looking surprisingly fun. Bloons Tower Defense takes the dart-popping play of the original and puffs it up with strategic elements.

You plunk down dart-wielding monkeys in an effort to burst balloons as they float down preset paths. The winding passages make it possible to tactically place monkeys so as to target balloons at multiple points along the route.

Different monkey types allow you to pop with greater power or speed such as laser and plasma-firing monkeys. Utilising these various types isn't just cosmetic, though, as some balloons can only be popped using specific monkeys.

Six maps from the original web game are coming over to iPhone, along with nine new ones across three levels of difficulty. We can't wait to try out the iPhone-exclusive maps come late September.

Asphalt 5
Publisher/Developer: Gameloft

No question about it, Firemint raised the bar high for portable racers with its simulation-style Real Racing. That doesn't mean there's no room for improvement or space for a more arcade-style racer, and that's precisely where Asphalt 5 speeds in.

Gameloft has built up this phenomenal series over the last few years on mobile with crash-and-bash events and slick visuals. Taking the racing crown on iPhone, however, will take more than flashy graphics. Full network multiplayer promises to revolutionise the genre and propel Asphalt 5 in a league all its own. Peer-to-peer races will be available, too, though the online option has our full attention.

The recent launch of Gameloft Live also bodes well for Asphalt 5. Statistical tracking, achievements, easy matchmaking with friends - the potential for a true network racer is exciting.

We don't know precisely when to expect Asphalt 5, sadly, but Gameloft has stated that it's well through the development process and should arrive before year's end.

Command & Conquer: Red Alert
Publisher/Developer: EA Mobile

You can't talk about real-time strategy games without mentioning Command & Conquer, so when EA Mobile revealed that it had plans to squeeze the series onto iPhone they immediately had our attention. Following a brief hands on, our suspicions were confirmed: this touch-enabled interpretation has the potential to establish the standard for strategy gaming on iPhone.

While we don't know much about the specific story driving Command & Conquer: Red Alert, we know plenty about the mechanics of play. Intuitive touch controls allow you to select, group, and move units during missions.

Rushing isn't an option, as we discovered, since you're not able to draft dozens and dozens of units. Instead, the strategic balancing encourages smart employ of troops to accomplish pointed objectives.

Of course, the series is known for putting an active slant on strategy, so we fully expect to a few epic battles when the game hits the App Store some time this autumn.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Publisher/Developer: Rockstar Games

Gangstar: West Coast Hustle proved that a big, open world action game is more than possible on iPhone, and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars has the potential to drive the point home. The original sandbox crime series finally comes to iPhone after months of speculation and no question about it, it's one to watch.

Chinatown Wars won't arrive on iPhone completely new, but its level of polish is something rarely seen on the device. Mission-based play from a top-down perspective makes it ideal for the portable without compromising the franchise's phenomenal storytelling and fun gameplay.

We don't know if this port will boast any special features, though we'd love to see use of Bluetooth for multiplayer. Even better could be potential in-game downloads to expand the adventure down the road. Without such additions, Chinatown Wars should be compelling in its own right when it hits the App Store later this year.

Robocalypse: Mobile Mayhem
Publisher/Developer: Vogster

Although this whimsical real-time strategy game has already been released on Nintendo DS, an enhanced version promising high resolution graphics and sound and Bluetooth multiplayer options has us geared up for its App Store debut.

Robocalypse: Mobile Mayhem retains the inventive hero-based tactical gameplay of the original version, but it has a revised interface. Instead of switching between two screens to manage units, you're now able to do it on one with the ability to flip between portrait and landscape modes on-the-fly. Efficient use of the mini-map also makes it easier than before to direct your heroes in battle.

What really makes this one to watch, though, is the superb comedic writing. Over-the-top scenarios complemented by cheesy cartoon cut-scenes lend a unique charm that you can experience yourself in late September.

Rolando 3
Developer: HandCircus
Publisher: ngmoco

So what if Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid (pictured) hit at the height of summer? We're ready to dive into Rolando 3, which was pegged for release this winter way back during GDC in March.

It's unclear whether the game will still make it out before the end of the year, ngmoco evading our request last week to reconfirm the original announcement. That, however, doesn't diminish our enthusiasm.

Following from the events of the second game, we know that Rolando 3 will involve a dangerous quest to restore the king back to the throne. No trips to sandy beaches or fiery volcanoes here - the third instalment is likely to return to the Kingdom of Rolando or visit some new unknown land.

That's fine with us as long as Rolando 3 packs the same award-winning platform gameplay that has so aptly made use of the touchscreen and accelerometer. We'd love to see some multiplayer component and a few mini-games thrown in for something different, though a brand new single player campaign is really what we're after.

Galactic Racer
Publisher/Developer: Weeman Studios

Futuristic anti-gravity racing games have stalled recently on iPhone, the early success of Low Grav Racer not enough to fuel the sub-genre into 2009. Weeman Studios hopes to give things a boost with Galactic Racer.

While the fundamentals stick to convention, Galactic Racer makes an appeal with creative track designs. Looping courses and a smattering of power-ups ensure that races are intense affairs. One venue features a backtracking section that forces your vehicle upside-down as you travel back over the section your just traversed.

The big question on our minds is whether multiplayer will be offered, something the independent developer won't commit to. Galactic Racer looks to deliver solid racing, but releasing with a multiplayer component could really secure it a spot at the top of the genre.

Glyder 2
Publisher/Developer: Glu

As we exclusively revealed, Eryn is once again taking to the friendly skies in what could be billed as our most anticipated iPhone game of the year. Glyder 2 promises to build on the phenomenal carefree gameplay of the original with an expansive new fantasy world ripe for exploration.

Glu has yet to divulge much about the sequel aside from committing to designing more complex challenges. In an interview with PocketGamer.biz Producer Daren Chencinski explains, "The trips [in the original game] ended up being simple point-to-point goals that were ultimately too simplistic to capture the feel we were looking for."

More involved tasks definitely sound fun, though the game is likely to hold onto its play-at-your-own-pace vibe.

Glyder 2 will fly onto the App Store before 2009 is out and we're eager to see it improve upon the original. With so much about the first game done right, delivering new environments and challenges could very well be enough to make this a deserving sequel.