New releases round-up: Warhammer Quest, World War Z, Ace Attorney Trilogy HD, and more
Hands-on impressions of this week's noteworthy iOS games
Every Thursday, we take time out to look at the week's new and noteworthy iOS games in both words and video.
There are no prizes for guessing which game is the standout release this week. It's obviously Are You Really Quick? One Direction Edition - Niall or Liam or Harry. Obviously.
Wait, I mean dungeon-crawling tabletop remake Warhammer Quest. Easy mistake to make.
We've also got a courtroom drama, a zombie shooter, a beat-'em-up, and an army of pixel-art games this week.
Anyway. Enough talk. Watch the video, then read on for prices, pictures, and App Store links.
Warhammer Quest
By Rodeo Games - iPhone, iPad (£2.99 / $4.99)
Warhammer Quest is a high-quality production. Immensely high, in fact. This turn-based dungeon-crawler from Hunters dev Rodeo Games is polished to a fine sheen, and filled to bursting with content.
The core action is familiar - wail on rats, find items, upgrade your hero - but it's underpinned by exceptional graphics and a good interface. And turning the iPhone into portrait mode at any time to open your inventory is my new favourite thing.
Warhammer Quest contains approximately 25 hours' worth of content (that includes a paid-for expansion pack), with oodles of quests, lots of towns, and armfuls of weapons. Tabletop nerds: your new obsession has arrived.
World War Z
By Phosphor Games - iPhone, iPad (£2.99 / $4.99)
Unlike most touchscreen shooters, movie tie-in World War Z doesn't feature a control setup poorly suited to its target platform.
That's because the controls here are stripped back. By default, you stand still during shootouts and fire automatically when your reticule's over a zombie. There are more hands-on control schemes in the options, mind.
There are zombie shootout moments (and some bad melee fights) here, but also some exploration and puzzle solving. It's nothing mind blowing, but should prove good enough for those wanting hardcore games on their telephones.
Ace Attorney: Phoenix Wright Trilogy HD
By Capcom - iPhone, iPad (Free)
The Ace Attorney games are brilliant. They're Japanese graphic novels from Capcom, featuring a rookie lawyer called Phoenix Wright. They're gripping, heartwrenching, hilarious, and just about interactive enough to test your brain along the way.
This long-awaited iOS port is a little disappointing, though. It doesn't support widescreen devices or fill the whole of the iPad; you can't speed up the text; and some of the new art is a little wonky.
But, hey, you can try the first two chapters for free. And after that, there are about 80 hours of incredibly engaging courtroom dramas to buy through in-app purchases.
Mansion Run
By Underground Pixel - iPhone, iPad (69p / 99c)
Anyone who knows me will know I'm easily won over by pixel-art. Dress your app up like some forgotten SNES game and you've practically guaranteed yourself a spot on the Pocket Gamer home page.
But there must be some depth there, too. Which is why this very basic, very repetitive, and very underwhelming endless-runner got relegated to this round-up.
Little Luca
By Glowingpine Studios - iPhone, iPad (69p / 99c)
Little Luca is another game in which the dev has used pixel-art graphics and chiptune music to beckon in hopeless nostalgics.
This time, though, there's a bit more meat on the gaming bone. You control elements of the game world - like the hills of a bumpy landscape or the speed of a hurricane - by holding your finger down.
It's cute, but there are definitely better physics-puzzlers out there.
Incredible Jack
By Belmac Interactive - iPhone, iPad (69p / 99c)
Incredible Jack reminds me of those low-rent Amiga platformers we all pretended to adore just because they were the closest things we were going to get to a Mario or Sonic on our system of choice.
So, this one is a bit askew, a tad clumsy, and often very bland. Plus, it has some truly hideous character art - hero Jack looks like a roast potato in pyjamas.
Ultimate Stick Fight
By Dragon Nest Studio - iPhone (Free)
Ultimate Stick Fight looks like something you probably played on Newgrounds in the late '90s. It's a basic brawler, with stick figure characters beating the stick out of each other.
It's quite satisfying, and there are loads of combos to learn (and upgrade). The virtual buttons can let you down in the middle of a mid-air combo, though.
SlamBots
By Retro Dreamer - iPhone, iPad (£1.49 / $1.99)
More retro stylings now...
Retro Dreamer's SlamBots plays out like Doodle Jump mixed with Super Crate Box. So, you'll bounce up and hope to crush an enemy on your descent.
It's rather hard, but could lend itself to a few compulsive just-one-more-go play sessions. Especially as you chase after coins so that you can buy new characters, slammers, upgrades, and levels in the shop.
