GeoDefense is a fantastic Tower Defense game that is sure to be a favorite app for anyone who makes the good decision to purchase this low-cost, high-return arcade-style game. The graphics are reminiscent of the glory days of Tron, but with a new millennium polish and style. The gameplay is incredibly challenging, but also very addicting. The Apple store description likens the gameplay strategizing to that of chess, and it’s a perfect comparison.

Players are given some basic instruction at the start of each level, but not enough to make anything easy. Play starts with information about how many waves of vector creeps you will be fighting, how many lives you have, and how much cash you are being given to purchase arms for your tower defense. Tips are somewhat vague, but applicable at the start of each level. The actual pace of the game moves very quickly, as each wave of Creeps comes out faster than the last, and faster from one level to the next.

The goal of geoDefense is to defend your base by combating waves of “Creeps” before losing all your lives. A female computer voice counts down your lives lost as those Creeps that get past the defense towers you’ve placed along the playfield beside the Creep path storm into the main base. If you do fail, pithy remarks, such as “Failure is an option,” flash on the screen.

There are brilliant firework-like explosions when Creeps storm your tower, as well as when Creeps are shot down by your defending towers. Money and points are earned for each destroyed Creep. Money is then used to purchase additional defense towers to place on your playfield, or to upgrade existing towers, with a total of five tower types and seven upgrades each.

One problem that occurs on occasion is the accidental misplacement of a defensive tower. In this case, players have the option to sell the tower at a lower price than it was purchased for. It would be nice if a timed undo option could be added, though, because on occasion the tower drops without reason, it seems.

You must complete one level, starting in the beginning levels, before being able to advance to the next level. If unable to successfully complete a level, players are able to restart that same level indefinitely. This is good, because it often takes a few tries to master the proper placement and purchase of the towers. There are three different Modes of play - Easy Levels, Medium Levels, and Hard Levels - for a total of 30 levels.

The graphics and sound effects on this game are half the fun. It truly is enjoyable to see the old-school style computer grid, action arcade game. The voice of the computer adds to the futuristic gaming aesthetic, as does the arcade style explosions and gun firing sounds. The visual appeal of the fireworks displays as the playfield warps from the impact of the blasts adds yet another level of graphic creativity.

This game is well worth its nominal fee. It is fun, challenging, addictive, and visually appealing. The only drawback is the limited instructions and how they are released (one level at a time). It would be nice to have an option to view all of the instructions at once, or at least to be able to pause the game and re-read instructions given at that level. But overall, this game promises endless playing time and fantastic gaming appeal at a truly great price.

Pros:

• Incredible graphics
• Fantastic, challenging gameplay
• Great price for a great game

Cons:

• Minimal instructions
• Some issues with tower placement

Score: 9/10

Price: 1.99c

geoDefense on iTunes

Moto Mayhem is aptly named - this game is mayhem from the start. Though the concept is a fun throwback idea - navigate your motocross bike and rider through various motocross courses and obstacles - the gameplay is extremely difficult. Add to that very limited graphics and sound effects and you have an app that even though it is priced very low, still doesn’t justify its cost.

Moto X Mayhem uses the Apple accelerometer technology, which is in and of itself a challenge in many gaming situations, but with this particular game seems virtually impossible at times. Players have the ability to change the control options for the tilt of the rider as well as the throttle and brake. It’s almost a must that the tilt sensitivity be adjusted down to accommodate the learning curve on the game. Additionally, players can switch the controls between digital and analog in the Options menu.

To play the game in digital tilt screen mode, players must press the right side of the screen for the throttle and the left side of the screen for the brake. The rider can be tilted forward or back by tilting the device to one side or the other, which is necessary as rider and bike attempt to climb and jump, up and down the steep terrain of each course. The goal is to try to make your best time for each course without crashing the bike, thereby killing or seriously injuring your rider.

There are a total of 21 courses, divided into three different islands, each with seven courses. Players are able to do a Practice mode, which gives you access to all of the courses, but the timed Play mode starts the player at the first course and locks each subsequent course until the player has successfully completed the prior level. Scores are kept through a network as well as personal best.

The real problem is that the tilt play doesn’t seem to really work well in the accelerometer, digital or analog modes. The game bills itself as a physics game, but the physics don’t seem to work well. And what is supposed to be “addictive gameplay” according to the game description, is actually frustrating gameplay.

The graphic design of the “fun rag doll” rider is not impressive, and neither are the basic course graphics. Birds tweet in the background, some stereotypical heavy metal-like music plays on a short loop, and the sound of bones crunching and snapping when the rider falls off the bike combine to make-up a fairly unimpressive sound effects package as well.

Though the game is low-cost, the quality of the game leaves a lot to be desired. Once the basics are learned enough to be able to play, each course is relatively short, so 21 courses ends up sounding like a lot more than it actually turns out to be. Perhaps with some adjustments in game controls and upgrades in graphics the app could be improved. There are too many other high quality, low cost apps available to be able to recommend to anyone spending time or money on Moto X Mayhem.

Pros:

• Low-cost

Cons:

• Sound effects and graphics fairly basic
• Game controls inconsistent and too sensitive

Score: 1/10

Price: .99c

Moto X Mayhem on iTunes

Trism is a tile-puzzle game similar in nature to the ever-popular Bejeweled. However, unlike Bejeweled, Trism offers far more complex and challenging gameplay, as well as three different Mode options. Add to that the ability to move tiles based on the direction you move your iPhone or iPod Touch, and you have a truly fun and complex tile game!

Though Trisms’s graphics are fairly low-key, the real value of this game is in the challenging gameplay. Players must move rows of triangular, multi-colored tiles to form trisms made of three same-colored tiles that touch. Bonus points are given for chains, which are trisms that have one or more additional tiles added to them. In the Infinism (un-timed play) and Terminism (timed play) modes, players also battle challenges like bolted in place tiles that lock a row in place, and detonated bombs placed on tiles that will explode if a trism is not formed using that tile.

Trism offers an excellent Tutorial mode that takes you step-by-step through how to play the game. Players have the ability to move rows of tiles both by sliding a finger across the screen, and then once the row has been moved, by tilting your Apple device in different directions causing the rows to “fall” into place in different ways. A compass resides in the lower corner to assist you with the shifting of the rows, and there is also a black set of arrows that appear on the screen as you move the device to let you know which direction the tiles will fall. This added feature is what puts this game ahead of others in its tile-game genre.

The Syllogism mode is a great way to learn and practice how to move your device to make the tiles fall where you need them to fall. This is a key component to the overall gameplay for any of the modes, so it’s an important skill to try to master. This ability to have rows shift at the end of your turn forces the player to think ahead to upcoming moves. In this way Trism may remind some players of its distant gaming cousin Tetris.

Players are able to set-up an account that records your top Infinism score, top Terminism score, all-time total trisms cleared, all-time total points, and best combo move. There are also 22 achievements that players can earn through Infinism play. Trism offers a color-blind mode, the ability to turn on or off sound effects, as well as clear all of the data from the account.

As mentioned earlier, the graphics are not overly spectacular. Tiles are colored red, purple, blue, green or yellow, and there are some interesting bonus tiles (for instance a rainbow tile that will match any color of tile), but even with those the graphic design is fairly simple. Additionally the sound effects are pretty basic - a chime announces a trism formed, and a pool-ball racking click sounds when rows slide into place. But what the game lacks in audio and visual “Wow!” is completely made-up for by the fun and challenge of the game.

Trism’s low-cost is definitely an incentive to buy this game. Because you have the ability to try your hand at both timed and un-timed games, it’s a nice “pass the time” game to add to your iPhone or iPod Touch collection. Though the graphics are fairly low-key, the gameplay is a true challenge and offers many hours of playing time.

Pros:

• Challenging tile-puzzle gameplay
• Excellent tutorials
• Multi-mode options
• Well-priced

Cons:

• Sound effects and graphics fairly basic

Score: 8/10

Price: $2.99

Trism on iTunes

If you think the name of this game sounds crazy, wait until you play it. By far one of the most creative, entertaining and amusing games available, Plants vs. Zombies the app (adapted from PopCap Games original PC version) delivers hours and hours of zombie killing fun. When Plants vs. Zombies was originally released in its Apple App form in February 2010, it had a record breaking introductory sales period. And it’s no wonder why. This game is packed with level after level of addictive gameplay, and the graphics and sound offer cartoon-like humor and zaniness that is sure to be a hit with tower-defense game fans.

The ingenuity used to develop Plants vs. Zombies is phenomenal. The attention to detail in the graphics, and sense of humor behind each zombie character makes this game experience laugh out loud fun. There are pole-vaulting zombies, football player zombies - even a tribute to Michael Jackson and his Thriller gang of zombies! Players must protect their homes by using botanical wonders to slow-down or destroy advancing zombie mobs, and some levels even have players employing carnival skills - like Whack-a-Zombie - to take down the living dead enemy.

There really can’t be enough said about the comedic value of this game. Take, for instance, an example from the player’s almanac, which is earned after one of the early levels of the game. The almanac contains information about the various plant and zombie species currently available in the game. The plant entries include basic gameplay information, such as level and range of damage each is able to inflict, as well as some background information about the particular plant; for example, Threepeater is a three-headed pea plant shooter that “likes reading, backgammon and long periods of immobility in the park.” There are so many examples of the silliness that you find in this game, and part of the fun is finding each new and crazier treat throughout your zombie destroying adventures.

Playing the game requires some tactical planning, as each level presents new challenges in physical landscape (the addition of a swimming pool means aquatic plants are added to your collection of zombie-killing greens and seeds), night fighting (limits the amount of sunshine available to grow your seeds, but planting sunflowers helps that problem), and the capabilities of each type of zombie. You are able to choose six seed and plant types to use in your war against the zombie mob, but deciding which to choose is complicated by factors such as the amount of sunshine each needs (sunshine is collected along with coins during play at each level). When you have earned enough money, you are also able to purchase additional seed pods.

Plants vs. Zombie’s is pretty much a learn-as-you-go game (as yet another example of the game’s sense of humor, the Help section is written by the zombies and suggests that when the zombies show up you don’t need to do anything but sit there). But learning the game is relatively easy, and the instructions offered with each new type of plant earned are helpful. You are able to repeat failed levels, and the game saves your progress at each close.

A really great feature of the game is that once you best all of the initial Adventure levels, you gain access to the Quick Play menu with even more zombie fun. And if you do decide to go back and re-try your hand at the Adventure play, your local zombie expert and guide Crazy Dave mixes up the play for you at each level. This game is truly an endless amount of fun!

It’s easy to understand why so many fans of Plants vs Zombie’s from its PC days were anxiously awaiting the Apple App version of this super fun and crazy game. PopCap Games has once again produced an addictively popular game at an affordable price. For anyone who is not used to this type of adventure style game, learning the strategy behind the use of the various plants may be a slight challenge, but it’s easy to catch-on and completely entertaining. Plants vs. Zombies is a definite must-add app!

Pros:

• Very amusing storyline, humor throughout
• Excellent graphics
• Great gameplay
• Great hidden treasure to unlock along the way
• Well-worth the minimal investment

Cons:

• A little confusing to learn at first

Score: 10/10

Price: $2.99

Plants vs. Zombies on iTunes

According to the Fruit Ninja sensei, “All ninjas hate fruit!”  In this addictive game, you get to slice and dice your way through fruit frenzies of watermelons, limes, oranges, pineapples and more, all while getting your inner ninja on.  Even better, the most recent update offers great bonuses to the last one-mode version – Combo Attacks and a 90-second Zen Mode. Though simple in concept, this game is full of fun!

Fruit Ninja is played by sliding your finger across the screen in an effort to slice fruit as it is tossed into the air.  In Classic Mode, the occasional bomb tossed along with the fruit complicates your slicing.  Be careful!  Hitting the bomb creates an explosion that ends that round of play.  The bomb is a great addition, because otherwise the difficulty level would be pretty low. Players work to rack up points without missing any fruit or hitting any bombs.  Missed fruit results in a red “X” counted against you.  Three red “X’s” and your round is finished.

In the new Zen Mode, players are given 90-seconds – and no bombs – to try to slice as many fruit as you possibly can.  This newest feature makes the game even more appealing, and is perfect for those moments when you have a few minutes to kill between meetings or waiting in line somewhere.  There is also the promise of a coming addition on the mode select screen, so be sure to stay tuned for another update coming soon.  According to reports, Halfback does a great job of implementing player feedback into its updates, so perhaps scrolling through discussion boards may offer a clue about what’s to come?

The graphics and sound effects in Fruit Ninja are truly outstanding.  The detail of each piece of fruit both before and after it is sliced is very realistic, as is the sound each piece of fruit makes as it is sliced. The best sound of all, though, is the sword slash effect with every swipe of your finger.  It truly sounds as if you are attacking the fruit with a keen edged ninja blade.  It’s amazing the sense of satisfaction one feels with every slash, squish and splat!

An added bonus to the game is the wise Fruit Ninja sensei who accompanies you on your fruit-slashing journey.  He offers up fruit wisdom, such as “Limes were fed to British sailors to prevent scurvy,” and “Two thirds of the fiber in apples is found in the skin.” It’s fun to learn new fruit facts while working to make fruit puree.

Learning the game is very simple, mastering the game is a real challenge, as bombs are frequently tossed along with four or more fruit at once, making a haphazard swashbuckling effort certain death.  Points are earned for each fruit sliced, and bonus points are earned for critical hits and combo attacks.  Occasionally complicating matters is the confusion between falling fruit pieces and un-sliced companions, especially when you are working to avoid accompanying bombs. For those interested in making their game play a social event, there is also an OpenFeint connection.

Overall, the graphics, sound and simplicity of play are major pros for Fruit Ninja. Add to that its low cost and self-motivating personal best premise and you’ve got an app that is well worth the investment. Fruit Ninja is a great little game for anyone who has some time to pass and is looking for something easy but fun.  Though there may not be a lot of bells and whistles with this game, sometimes simpler is better.  The ease of the game coupled with the fun design and concept make this app well worth its minimal cost.

Pros:

• Easy to learn, hard to master gameplay
• Incredible graphics and sound
• Excellent price

Cons:

• Simplicity of the game might eventually lead to lack of interest

Score: 8/10

Price:  .99¢

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fruit-ninja/id362949845?mt=8