![]() ![]() Illusion Labs has come a very long way since releasing Touchgrind back in 2009. Fans of early 8-bit platformers and simple action puzzle games will love what Gamevil has accomplished with this title it’s the rare ode to classic gaming that manages to transcend its forebears. While the music is relatively simple bleeping and blooping, it’s pleasant and happy enough the character and background animations are comparatively spot-on, bringing what could otherwise be fairly primitive-looking 2-D block renderings to life. The point at which we can get behind a “retro” game is when it’s obvious that the developers aren’t relying on that word as a crutch for mediocre art and music Kami Retro HD certainly isn’t. Just when you’re on the edge of mastering each level’s layout and timing, Gamevil adds the next challenge: there are multiple Kamis that need to be moved from the initial portal to the exit, and they overlap one another-so you’ll be finishing the level with one as the next one is starting. In early stages, you’ll need to position springboard platforms to help Kami survive unjumpably large chasms, and later, fans and other objects will help him to fly through the air from one platform to the next. Swipe diagonally on him to make him jump in that direction, swipe backwards to make him change directions, and position objects that you’re given to help him survive in each of the game’s over 60 levels. You control a character named Kami who emerges, running automatically, from a portal in the sky. But with so few hockey games in the App Store, this one stands out, and it’s definitely fun for as long as it lasts. ![]() The absence of iPad support in the iPod/iPhone app is a bummer, too. This isn’t a deep game, and absent in-game music or play-by-play-style voice work, the audio portion is a little too sparing. Between the detailed 3-D polygonal Retina Display graphics and NaturalMotion’s streamlined control system, Icebreaker lets you enjoy completely smooth skating in plausible rinks, using accelerometer tilting to steer your player, quick dodge, turbo, juke, and stop buttons to avoid getting checked, and very straightforward shooting and showboating buttons to score bonus points. Your reward for continued play is unlocking of eight total teams-basically just different colored players-plus 50 stages and multiple challenge levels, including smarter opponents and rinks with virtual obstacles that need to be skated around.Īpart from the less than total plausibility of showboating to the sport of hockey-unlike football, rare is the NHL player who shows off on the way to a goal-and the fact that Icebreaker’s basic-level goaltenders are designed to be complete pushovers, this turns out to be a really cool way to experience some of the thrills of hockey. Skating over fixed and moving colored boxes gives you a chance to earn some points showboating as you reach the goal slows you down and racks up additional bonuses for every second you spend mugging for the cameras. The challenge is primarily in dodging an increasing number of members of the opposing team as they try to check you onto the ice, while trying to rack up as many points as possible. As is obvious from the name, hockey’s the theme this time out, and like Backbreaker, you’re solely controlling a single member of the team as he makes repeated attempts to score goals. NaturalMotion’s formula with Icebreaker is deliberately action-intense and laser-focused. As with the prior games, it’s iPhone and iPod touch-only, sadly lacking for iPad support for no good reason. If you’ve had an opportunity to play NaturalMotion’s Backbreaker Football or Backbreaker 2: Vengeance, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from Icebreaker Hockey ($3)-a follow-up that uses a highly similar graphics engine and play mechanics. ![]()
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