A free and ad-supported version of the excellent retro-styled action platformer 2-Bit Cowboy is now available. Just like the $0.99 paid version, this free version is compatible with both Standard and Extended layout MFi controllers.
Classic, retro platforming action
I covered the original version of 2-Bit Cowboy in a lengthy review, and I don’t have much to add here. It’s a fun, solid, game that does a great job harkening back to the pixel-art platforming games of the NES and GameBoy. If you’re a fan of that sort of game, you should definitely give this game a look. Especially now that you can do it for free.
Recently, Square Enix saw fit to release a surprise update for Secret of Mana, adding controller support, and tweaking some of the visuals.
While controller support is a welcome addition, of course, some of the visual changes are a little less welcome. New is the “widescreen mode”, which basically adds unnecessary green bars to the sides of the screen, rather than allowing the standard letterbox black bars. Also new is “retina” graphics, which basically amount to a blur filter dropped over the previously-beautiful pixel art.
A bit blurry and with tacky borders, but controller support more than makes up for it
These changes are perhaps unfortunate, but they certainly don’t ruin the experience. Secret of Mana is one of the most beloved and respected RPGs of it’s generation. Seeing the iOS version get ANY love is always welcome. And the control improvements really are a massive improvement. In addition to full controller support with both Standard and Extended layouts, movement now takes place over 360 degrees of motion. All previous versions of this game locked motion along preset axes.
Facebook users now have one more option to get the latest news from Afterpad, thanks to our new Facebook presence at facebook.com/Afterpad!
This website will still remain the primary source of information – the Facebook page is simply another option for fans of that social network. It joins Twitter (twitter.com/Afterpad), Tumblr (tumblr.com/follow/Afterpad), as well as our traditional RSS Feed options.
Transworld Endless Skater, a recently released skateboarding game for iOS, takes on a difficult task of merging the twitch-reaction lane changing gameplay of Temple Run with the combo-based extreme sports gameplay pioneered by the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series. After spending some time playing this game, I’m happy to say it executes that mash-up splendidly.
Transworld Endless Skater tasks you with transversing a series of levels which are presented in a straight path, with a variety of lanes. Your goal is to trick, jump, and grind your way across various obstacles and jumps, while at the same time changing lanes to avoid hazards and find the best trick spots. i
Controller support is mixed. Extended controllers are fully supported both in-game and in the menu, but Standard layout controllers like the PowerShell and the Junglecat don’t work properly. Changing lanes requires tapping the left and right bottom trigger buttons, which Standard layout controllers don’t have. Hopefully this will be fixed shortly, because aside from this one complication, there doesn’t seem to be any issue playing with the Standard layout controller.
Other than that, controls are mapped very similarly to the old Tony Hawk games – A to jump, B to grab, X to trick, Y to grind. It’s a welcome familiarity, considering just how much time I put into the old THPS series on the Playstation! This is one of those games that plays so, so much better with a controller than it does with a touch-screen.
Indoors and outdoors, often throughout the same level
Transworld Endles Skater does a great job bridging the extreme skateboarding genre with the lane-based reaction genre. Fans of either would be wise to give it a shot. It’s free to download, with a “Gamer” in-app purchase to remove ads and increase cash drops.
Update
Good news: according to the developer’s comments at the end of this review, an update has already been submitted to enable full control with Standard layout controllers!
A lite version of the recently released twitch-reaction-platformer Manuganu 2 just hit the App Store, and like its full-featured sibling, features full MFi controller support.
Fun, polished platforming across colorful worlds
I reviewed Manuganu 2 a few weeks ago and quite liked it. If you’re still on the fence, check out the review, or just download the lite version – it is absolutely worth the few minutes it takes to give it a shot.
The developers behind Unity share a brief rundown of some of the benefits of Apple’s new Metal API, as well as discussing how it relates to the Unity engine.
Based on our testing so far, we have seen API+driver overhead vanish to just a few percent of CPU time. That is a tremendous improvement comparing to 15-40% of CPU time that it used to be before! (…)
Weâre also looking forward to using Metal ability to do rendering submissions from multiple threads; this opens up very interesting optimization opportunities as well.
Unity is the engine behind a massive number of iOS games, from flagship graphics powerhouses to indie classics. Metal is going to be a huge deal for a lot of developers.
A new, premium version of the classic iOS kart-racer Table Top Racing was just released on to the App Store.
Unfortunately, this has been a bit of a controversial release. The original version of Table Top Racing was initially released as a premium game, and was then converted to freemium in a subsequent updated, leaving the people who originally purchased the product with a significantly worse experience, filled with ads and freemium aspects.
This version of the game restores things to the premium structure they originally were, and is a much better game for it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do anything to help the people who were screwed over by the freemium bait-and-switch undergone by the original app.
The developers seem to acknowledge the mistake they made, and are attempting to at least give hardcore gamers what they’ve been asking for. As long as this version actually stays premium this time, this one is an easy recommendation for racing game fans.
The long-awaited worldwide release of Monster Hunter for iOS is finally here. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite was just released on the US App Store with full MFi controller support!
At $14.99, this game doesn’t come cheap. But to be fair, the PSP version became one of the best selling games of all time at about 40 dollars each, so this is actually not so bad.
I’ll put together a full review of this soon enough, but I know a lot of people have been hotly anticipating this game, and have no intention of waiting. For those who want to immediately play with a MFi controller: Monster Hunter seems to be fully compatible with every controller, but does require the controller be manually enabled in the Options menu.
After I put some significant time into this game, I’ll be back with a full review, and more.
Manuganu 2, a twitch-reaction auto runner platformer, was just released with full MFi controller support.
In this game, you play as the titular Manuganu on a quest to rescue your kidnapped best friend on a journey through 40 levels.
Deadly obstacles, branching paths, and beautiful graphics
Manuganu 2 nails the basics of the auto-runner genre. The traditional âthree-starâ mechanic is here, with each level offering stars for picking up a certain number of the small collectables, picking up three big coins, and reaching the goal under a certain time. Trying to hit all of those at once brings a very welcome extra challenge for the hardcore gamer – thatâs how I always try to play these things, and this game plays very well from that perspective.
Swing over chasms and collect coins on your way to to the goal
In addition to getting the basic design right, Manuganu 2 introduces a mechanic that you donât see much of in this style of game: the ability to stop. Your character still runs by default, but a quick press of the stop button allows you to stand still, causing certain traps and obstacles to miss you. Stand still too long though, and youâll miss the time bonus. Itâs an interesting game mechanic, and a welcome addition.
Swimming, flying, and the occasional boss fight round out the basics with a welcome variety, making for a more in-depth experience than usual for a mobile game.
Collecting every gold coin will keep you coming back for more
Manuganu 2 enters a relatively crowded genre – there are no shortage of excellent auto-runner platforms on iOS, many of which have controller support. What Manuganu brings to the table is a high degree of polish, solid level design, and addicting gameplay. This is the type of game that youâll keep pressing ânext levelâ without thinking about it, until you find that youâve spend the past hour playing – it has that addicting element that is so critical in mobile gaming.
Ultimately, unless youâre completely burned out on the endless / auto runner genre, Manuganu 2 is a solid recommendation. Itâs a polished, fun game with great controller support at a fair price; you canât ask for much more than that.
