Tank warfare, LED basketball, Fisher-Price, and more: New iPhone games of the week
Unfortunately, the one game we really want--Frogman--hasn't hit the App Store just yet. Until then, this tantalizing demo video will have to tide us over.
Though it might seem otherwise just now, there's more to life than college basketball. Oh, who am I kidding? No, there's not. But you need something to keep you busy during those endless Southwest Airlines commercials, right?
With that in mind, here's this week's batch of new games for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and, soon enough, iPad.
1. Fisher-Price games Not all games are for grown-ups. Fisher-Price's App Store debut includes three titles for the toddler set: Chatter Telephone (99 cents), Little People Farm ($1.99), and See 'n Say ($1.99). I must admit I have mixed feelings about substituting an electronic screen for actual tactile toys--but if these apps can buy you a five-minute break from screaming, then I say, let 'em tap!
2. Frogman Look! Crossing the street! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's...Frogman! This Frogger-inspired, superhero-themed slice of 3D awesomeness isn't in the App Store just yet, but it's due "very soon"--and when you get a peek at the promo video, you'll understand why I can't wait. Kinda makes the original Frogger look like, well, roadkill.
3. LED Basketball 78 From the same team that brought you LED Football and LED Football 2, this nostalgia-fueled recreation of the classic Mattel electronic game looks and plays exactly like the original. (Well, you don't get quite the same button-mashing satisfaction from tapping the iPhone's screen.) Just one problem: It gets just as boring, just as fast, as the original did. Still, for 99 cents, it's a fun dribble down memory lane.
4. Touch Tanks Online: FS5 I love a good tank-combat game, and Touch Tanks Online has the makings of a great one. It's just you and up to five other live drivers on an open battlefield. Well, not entirely open: there are obstacles and tree cover you can use to your advantage, plus power-ups and upgrades for your tank. Amazingly, TTO is free. Sadly, it appears to be a victim of its own success, as midgame lost connections are commonplace.
5. We Rule Think: FarmVille for iPhone, but with a medieval theme. Farm the land, harvest crops, collect taxes, and grow your kingdom. You can even "visit" friends' kingdoms thanks to integration of the Plus+ social network. The only thing you won't be "ruling" is your productivity. We Rule is, surprisingly, free.
What new games have been occupying your time this week? Talk 'em up in the comments.