Sonic CD was just updated for controller support. Many people – especially those of us who grew up in the 90s – are familiar with the classic Sonic games for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive. Sonic 1, Sonic 2, and Sonic 3 (and Knuckles) were some of the best designed, most intense, and most fun platforming games ever made. The game people might not be so familiar with is Sonic CD
Sonic CD was a real, true, top-quality Sonic game made exclusively for the Sega CD console – an expensive and unnecessary expansion pack for the Genesis that sold poorly and was eventually discontinued. The relative rarity of the Sega CD meant that this classic Sonic game went undiscovered by the majority of Sonic fans for many years. Only recently, within the past few years, was an updated port made available for modern consoles (and the iPhone) for the first time.
This port is superior to the original in every way. Widescreen graphics, smoother framerate, tighter controls, slightly tweaked sprites, save states – the game is improved across all fronts. At the same time, itâs loaded with extras, like new characters, achievements, region-specific soundtracks and graphics – itâs a Sonic fans dream. Game controller support brings the iPhone version on par with the excellent console releases, and makes this a true must buy.
If youâre a fan of the classic Sonic games who never got around to playing this one, youâre in luck. Itâs a classic game from a classic franchise, and itâs every bit as good as its more famous siblings. This version is the best one yet, and itâs a must-buy for Sonic – or classic game – fans.
Sonic The Hedgehog just received its long-awaited controller support update. To a number of us who grew up on Sega games, Sonic still has the power to conjure up strong, happy memories. Most of his recent outings havenât been so great, but the classic games are STILL masterpieces of game design.
The iOS ports are by far the best versions ever released, with added widescreen support, Game Center achievements, save states, ultra-smooth framerates – everything youâd want, with one notable exception: physical controls. Sonic is a hard game, and the touchscreen didnât do it any favors. Now, with this update, that problem is finally remedied. This is likely the best version of Sonic The Hedgehog ever made – fans of the series, and of platforming games in general, should download it immediately.
One of the genres of game that has proven exceedingly difficult to execute well for a touch screen has been Fighting games. The StreetFightergames, Soul Calibur, and a few others managed to be playable on lower difficulties, but just barely. One of the promises of official iOS game controllers was that difficult games like these could be made much more playable. It seems like a great fit – the type of hardcore gamer who becomes deeply invested in fighting games would also be a likely candidate for a physical iOS controller. Although several games have been updated for controller support, the number is perhaps not as high as I would have expected.
Beyond Fighting 2 enters the arena as the latest iOS fighting game challenger to support game controllers. Unfortunately, itâs just not that great of a game. With a massive 800 megabyte file size and superficially nice looking 3D graphics, the game promises a premium experience. In practice, it plays more like a tech demo. The menus are clunky, and donât support physical controls; the 3D character models are actually flattened to 2D sprites, similarly to how some fighting games were made before Tekken 1 came out in 1994; the physics are floaty, with the jump button sending your character in the air without a matching animation; and the music and sound effects are off balance and repetitive.
Serious fighting game fans who donât mind spending the time or the space on a download this huge might as well give Beyond Fighting 2 a shot – itâs free to try, and controller support is adequately implemented. For everyone else, there arebettergamestospendyourtimeplaying.
Farm Invasion USA was just updated for controller support.
In this game, you play as a farmer trying to protect your farm from alien invaders. Accomplishing this tasks involves driving your corn harvester as far as you can through your corn fields, shooting every alien you can find with a shotgun, while simultaneously dodging obstacles and collecting power ups.
Farm Invasion is fun enough when it works, but itâs extremely buggy. After my first run through, the game crashed immediately, then refused to play again without immediately crashing. This bug can be worked around somewhat by enabling Airplane Mode.
The game is free to play with a giant ad banner on the top of the display, with an in-app purchase available to remove the ads. The in-game currency (Popcorn) can also be purchased in varying capacities. Of course, neither can be purchased in Airplane mode; fans of the game should hope for a quick fix to the bugs.
As a free game, Farm Invasion is worth a download. Just expect to uninstall it fairly quickly if you encounter game-breaking bugs, or decide you donât enjoy it enough to remove the ads.
Muffin Knight (also available as a free version) is a polished, fun, and often intense arena-based arcade platformer.
Gameplay consists of running and jumping around a somewhat small arena, dodging and shooting enemies, and collecting muffins to increase your experience. Collecting experience allows you to level up your attacks, unlock new stages, and gain new power ups.
The stages are presented in a 2.5D style that is somewhat reminiscent of the Super Smash Brothers series, with gameplay strongly inspired by indie classic Super Crate Box. But similarities granted, Muffin Knight is no mere Vlambeer game clone – this game expands and enhances the original formula with a rock solid presentation and a unique power-up system.
Ahh yes, the power-up system. This brings us to Muffin Knightâs most interesting aspect. Every time you collect a muffin, your character changes attacks and abilities. One minute youâre an archer with a powerful ranged attack, the next minute you could be a panda with a high jump and body slam, or a gnome with a short-range shotgun attack. Or a unicorn that craps exploding rainbows⦠didnât want to forget that one. This variety makes for a level of unpredictability, which makes the game much more entertaining. Youâll love some characters and hate others, but the time spent mastering each of them further keeps the game from ever really growing stale.
Add boss fights, multiplayer, achievements, and ability leveling to the in-built variety of character switching, and you can get a feel for just how much this game expands on its basic formula. The basic gameplay is addicting enough to bring you back for more rounds, and the expansiveness and variety of content keeps those rounds from getting too repetitive.
Muffin Knight hits all of the features youâd want in a truly classic iOS game. Universal compatibility, smooth framerate, multiplayer (online and local, battle and co-op), achievements, leaderboards, great voice acting, perfectly appropriate music, beautiful graphics, excellent controller support with both Standard and Extended controllers. Everything here just feels polished. There arenât any rough edges – this is just a premium quality experience through and through.
Muffin Knight, through relentlessly polishing and expanding a solid foundation, manages to earn a place as a truly classic iOS game, and a strong recommendation for anyone with a game controller.
This game has you flying a bird around a 3D arena, dropping bird bombs on unsuspecting civilians, picking up the presents they drop (for some reason), and avoiding death from enemies such as a helicopter. The game doesnât make a whole lot of sense, but its free, supports controllers, and features multiplayer. Canât think of a good reason not to download it and give it a play or twoâ¦
Top-down airplane combat game Pocket Dogfights was just updated for compatibility with iOS game controllers.
The gameplay of Pocket Dogfights is pretty straightforward, and generally consists of attempting to outmaneuver and outgun enemy planes, occasionally collecting weapon power ups, and attempting to take down larger enemies at the end of the stage.
The addition of MFi controller support is always welcome. The touch controls work well here, but would invariably result in fingers obscuring enemies. The use of a controller allows for better visibility. Both Standard and Extended layouts are supported, in-game and in the menus.
iPushover has just been released for iPhone with full iOS controller support.
The original Pushover was a puzzle game for the Amiga and SNES. The goal is to arrange dominoes such that a single push can knock them over and trigger the exit door to unlock.
I have never played the original version of this game from 1992, but this port feels right at home on iOS. 99 levels and 9 different worlds with different graphical themes should keep anyone who gets sucked into this game busy for quite some time.
Pac-Man is the classic of arcade classics. Back in its day, it probably sold more game consoles than any other game, with the possible exception of Pong. It’s been ported to every console under the sun, including multiple ports to iOS. Throughout all these years, and throughout countless ports and remakes, it has still managed to remain a fun and challenging experience.
Now, the classic iOS versions have been updated across-the-board to support MFi game controllers. And it isn’t just Pac-Man; each version of the also-classic sequel Ms. Pac-Man has also received an iOS game controller update, with support for both Standard and Extended controllers, in the iPhone, iPad, and Free versions.
Give these a shot – no matter which version you get, Pac-Man on iOS with a game controller is one of the best ways you can play these true classics.
Air Wings is a paper-airplane based multiplayer ariel combat game. The goal is to throw a paper airplane into an arena, then control it using the gyroscope (or game controller!) in an attempt to destroy your opponents and rack up enough points to achieve a high score.
Throw your airplane into the field of battle!
This is a pretty major new upgrade, featuring a significantly redesigned in-game interface, new levels, an expanded single player mode that lets you play every level you’ve purchased, 64-bit support for the new iPhones and iPads, and various other little tweaks and fixes.
Those upgrades join an already impressive feature list, including Universal compatibility, Game Center achievements, online multiplayer, voice chat, well-integrated Airplay support, and excellently implemented iOS Game Controller support for both Standard and Extended layouts.
The new levels shake things up with some added challenge
Pangea Software, the developers of Airwings, have been one of the true standouts of iOS development (and Mac development before that). They’ve historically hit every major milestone in the history of gaming on iOS, being first on the scene with Airplay, universal iPad and iPhone support, Game Center, multiplayer, retina graphics, widescreen display, 64 bit A7 – every major gaming related move Apple has made. In the era of the Mac, Pangea was still quick on the scene, with several of their classic games coming bundled on various Macs – also leading to one of their games making it to our list of classic Mac games you can play with an iPhone.
In addition to updatingalmosteverygame theymake for controller support, they recently released a new game, Dragon Trials, in partnership with Team Chaos; a partnership that will extend to yet another new game later this month, in the form of Enigmo: Explore
Great level designs make for exciting ariel dogfights
If you’ve somehow missed out on Air Wings in it’s multi-year history on the App Store, give this an immediate download. It’s free to play, with any purchase permanently removing advertisements. Controller support is excellent on Standard and Extended layouts, and on iPhone and iPad. Multiplayer is well implemented and fun. Give this one a try.
