Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation iPhone and iPad Game Review

With this being the third instalment in the series Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation really doesn't underwhelm. It's bigger and better than the two that came before it combined.
You're sent out to fight on American soil for America as it's been invaded and beginning to be taken over by the three evils of the world, North Korea, Pakistan and Russia which are forming the KPR. You eventually bring the fight off American soil as you travel throughout the campaign which packs 13 missions. The undertone of Call of Duty Modern Warfare running through the title is to be honest slightly ridiculous. But hey it works from the AC 130 adventure to guitar riffs at the end of missions.
The campaign took me around 6 hours to complete. Not the longest campaign in the world but it isn't dragged out and each mission is full of action beginning to end. Everything felt polished from the subtle storyline giving the game a purpose to the absolutely amazing graphics. It all helps for an immersive and fun experience.
Missions are varied and a challenge can be found when cranking the difficulty up. Many terrains are featured which keeps it fresh. The variety of weapons with machine guns, pistols, snipers, shotguns and rocket launchers are all quite literally a blast to use.
Now something many will adore is the online multiplayer. I tried it out and was very impressed. You can play with up to 12 players across 6 maps. A ton of different modes can be played with team battle, capture the flag, zone control, bomb disposal and many many more. Perks and guns can be unlocked by purchasing them with in game money which is earned throughout the game but if your impatient you can buy game money with real money. I see my self everyday dipping in and out of the online multiplayer which means this game definitely has replay value.
I think this is worth pointing out to those who like playing Modern Combat on both the iPhone and iPad but don't like having to purchase two separate versions for each device that you will no longer have to. It's now a universal App and we hope Gameloft continue this trend.
The controls are completely customisable. You can drag the virtual buttons to wherever you desire them. You can also adjust the sensitivity of your aim which is controlled by simply swiping your finger on the right hand side of the screen. You can use the gyroscope to also aim but I end up turning it off as I couldn't be bothered. To move you tap anywhere in the left hand side of the screen and an onscreen virtual joystick appears. The controls aren't noticeable and don't interfere with the game which means there done well.
Graphically this is a masterpiece for the iPhone and iPad. It looks like a console title and thats all down to Gameloft's new game engine being put into action. Everything runs with no lag and the sheer amount of detail in the environments is remarkable, reflections, shadows and lighting is all pulled off. The guns are well detailed and even the reloading is realistic. The little touches like when you move your view quickly the screen blurs slightly and bullet holes landing in walls is all appreciated.
The sound effects are all helpful to bring the graphics to life. I really noticed that the voice acting was top notch in this title. The actual sound tracks and riffs etc when levelling up online or finishing a mission are as I wrote earlier very Modern Warfare.
Overall this is by far the best first person shooter to hit the iPhone and iPad. Simple and not interfering controls, good plot, solid amount of weapons, a nice variety of missions alongside a fantastic campaign, great online and breath taking graphics, what isn't here?

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Reckless Getaway iPhone and iPad Game Review

Reckless Getaway sees you driving away from robberies at crazy fun speeds in a couple of different vehicles. The vehicles handle in a skiddish manor adding lots of fun. Currently 17 creatively designed levels are available to drive through but more are coming in the future with updates. All levels are uniquely designed and set in different areas and terrains, from the dessert to icy snow. The mixture keep it fresh and appealing.
The main idea behind each level is to collect up to 4 golden stars. These are obtained by collecting coins and performing stunts, overtakes of other motorists, crashes etc and this also puts up your score which can be shared with the world via Game Center. Coins are placed in very hard to get to areas the further you go through the game, such as on trains tracks which you have to dodge in sequence due to trains coming and totaling your car which loses you a possible star to obtain making it only possible to get three. The cops also play a huge role with constant shoving into your vehicle damaging you and getting you of course from obtaining the stars.
The default controls are really simple to get use to with left and right virtual on screen buttons and that's it. No accelerator, brake etc is required making it very easy to play. Different configurations for the controls are possible with an option to use the accelerometer but this clearly isn't designed to take use of that quite well enough yet. The default controls work flawlessly though!
Graphics are cartoony and makes the whole game work very well. This wouldn't be anywhere near as fun to play if it wasn't for the funky physics and innocent visuals. Buildings, roads, cars etc are all designed in this cartoony way. Crashes and explosions are also consistent. The physics are crazy fun with you being able to just steer into other cars on the road and smash them off a cliff or into a building and then stunts such as jumps are also very over the top.
The audio tracks are well suited and catchy. The sound effects are very cartoony just like the visuals, with big explosions and smashes, o and not to forget constant police sirens.
Awesome graphics, funky audio, great controls, creative level design and epic fun make this an App not to miss this summer.


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The Scruffs: Return of the Duke Review

Way back in 2007, hidden object aficionados encountered The Scruffs, a fun and quirky game that features equally fun and quirky characters as they try to unfold a family secret and prevent their beloved family home from being sold. Fast forward to present 2012, a sequel to this game appears. The Scruffs: Return of the Duke features a completely different storyline, but brings back the comical family from the original game. And this time, they are involved in a bigger adventure which we will be tackling with the rest of this review.

Grandpa Scruff is actually a duke, and after discovering this fact, the entire Scruff family returns to Scrufford but soon encounters an evil impostor that wants to take Grandpa Scruff's rightful position. Well, that is the entire gist of the story as you try to thwart the impostor's evil plans and help the old man get back his title. Simple, right? Well, that is because the entire game is very simple as well. But it makes up for it with pure, lighthearted fun, lots of humor and possibly the cutest hint system you will encounter in the hidden object genre.

The game play of The Scruffs: Return of the Duke is straightforward hidden object. You try to find items in various cluttered scenes with some of them turning into inventory items you can use to progress the storyline. It is much like the first installment of The Scruffs, but definitely better and more refined. I could say it is funnier too, bringing me lots of laughs even with just the hidden object scenes. And while the puzzles may not be so unique, they are very well made, with some taking quite a lot of time to complete (Sudoku, anyone?).

What I really loved best though is the game's hint system. The Scruff dog located at the lower right side of the screen will give you hints whenever he is available. What he does is bark whenever you get to approach the needed object. Absolutely cute and very fun to use. Kudos to the developers for putting such an element oftentimes neglected on other hidden object games.

All in all, The Scruffs: Return of the Duke is certainly a must try, must buy game. But of course, it is much better for you to try it out first if comic style graphics and storyline suits you well. As a bit of trivia, the original The Scruffs game won second runner-up best hidden object game of 2007 at the Big Fish Games portal. Just so you know how fun this game really is to play.

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Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting Review

Exclusive to the Xbox 360, Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting lands on the Xbox Live Arcade. Considered to be the greatest in the Street Fighter franchise, this is the third installment in the series adding hyper speed to the world renowned Championship Edition. This is an arcade port of the original; no graphical changes and no remixed soundtrack. This is the classic just like we remember with a raw tiger knee to your face.

Appreciate this port for what it is, a higher difficulty adjustment for the vets and 4 player lobby matches online, making it the closest you'll get to being at the arcades looking over my shoulder with your bag of quarters. Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting because of its timeless game play, the equation is simple: nostalgia plus online game play you can't go wrong.

Concerning the nostalgia factor, I wasn't too fond with the graphical changes in SSF II Turbo HD Remix. It made it look too cartoony. SSF2THD Remix is a great game though, and has a wonderful balance system but because it looks cuter people over look Hyper Fighting. Hyper Fighting hits with greater impact by keeping it all-original separating this game from all the rest. I mean this game alone made me buy an arcade fight stick; you HAVE got to buy an arcade stick. I adjusted my entire room just for the arcade fight stick. It adds so much more fun to the game or you can yourself the Street Fighter pad. I'm just trying my best to keep you away from that FPS d-pad on the Xbox. When I mention controllers I'm only talking to the Street Fighter fans anyway. Casual gamers might not even notice. These accessories were not even around when this game was released back in '06. To own the Hyper Fighting cabinet would be awesome. But trust me, you'll have just as much fun as before when you played it on the Super Nintendo. This is an awesome video game and one that any old and new school gamer would appreciate.

Yeah, you remember playing on the Super Nintendo, when you used to wrap your thumb inside your shirt just to throw a hadouken. Because of how loyal I am to the series, I would have easily given 40 bucks for this game but lucky for us its only 400 points on XBLA. Nowadays the online players are scattered around, a lot of them moved to HD Remix and the Street Fighter IV series. Both of those series are great, but this is the game that keeps me coming back, even now I have memories of when my Xbox Live friends list was filled with Hyper fighters.

To put it all into perspective, Capcom released Street Fighter IV almost ten years after their last 2D SF game. This is what the Street Fighter community is all about, it reminds me of 2008 when Mega Man 9 was released in 8-bit graphics, that's crazy influence! Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting is just not going away. So until next time gamers, charge back, forward, sonic boom!

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Antrim Escape 3 Review and Tips

Are you a room escape fan? If you are, and you haven't played the Antrim Escape series, you're missing out! Antrim Escape 3 is the latest in the franchise, and it now even has a Christmas Hidden Object Adventure game for the holidays.

Antrim Escape 3 picks up where the second game left off. You begin the game as Ethel, Ryan's grandmother. You're in the past, so she's young. You soon meet up with Ryan and Emma, since they were sent to the past in the previous games. Like Antrim Escape 2, the third game features Team Tactics. This means that at some point in the game, you have control over two different characters and two different inventories. You have to pass things from one to the other to get them to join up and mix their inventories.

Antrim Escape 3 offers plenty of challenging puzzles for fans of the room escape genre. While it doesn't utilize any of the tilt or shake controls like the first two installments, there is still plenty here to keep you entertained.

The graphics in Antrim Escape 3 are gorgeous and full of details. You won't have to guess at any point what you're looking at. The controls are also very responsive and intuitive. Like any room escape game, you tap items to pick them up and to interact with your surroundings.

The new Christmas Hidden Object Adventure adds even more fun, whether you've played the game before or are new to the series. This game is played alongside the main storyline, and has you collecting Christmas-themed items like reindeer and gingerbread men. If you manage to collect them all, you'll get a little surprise at the end.

What makes Antrim Escape 3 so great is its challenging puzzles. But sometimes you might get stuck and need help. If you do, here are some tips to help you out:

1. For the stones puzzle, look at the spiral on the mask for hint of the order of the stones.

2. When you go outside in the snow, some things could be covered in snow! Tap the snow to move it and reveal the objects underneath.

3. For the Christmas game, sometimes you can't access an item until something from the main game is moved. Make sure to check in and under everything, especially after making any changes to the room.

These hints should help you make it through, but if you need more help you can read my walkthroughs.

If you need more help, see my Antrim Escape 3 Walkthrough, complete with screenshots: http://www.appunwrapper.com/walkthroughs/antrim-escape-walkthroughs/

And see here for more room escape games you might enjoy: http://www.appunwrapper.com/escape-games/

-AppUnwrapper
In-Depth iPhone Game Reviews, Walkthroughs and Giveaways
Twitter: AppUnwrapper

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Review - Draw Something

OMGPOP's Draw Something one of the newest hits to come from the app store.

As the title suggests Draw Something is a drawing game, which would usually put it into the "will not play." But surprising to me, I'm actually a fan of the game especially since my drawing ability is that of a two-year-old child. It is probably because the person I'm playing with can somehow realize that my stick figure drawing with what looked like a red hula-hoop is the word belt.

After a game starts, you are given three words with varying levels of difficulty with the coins earned going up as well. You choose the word you want and then it's drawing time. The game has four brush sizes along with somewhat limited choice of colors. Make a mistake? The you can wipe the board clean or just use the eraser tool to clean up a bit.

What is nice about Draw Something is that the game isn't time intensive. You draw your word and then send it to your partner. They have as long as they want to figure it out and then send back a drawing for you. You can even nudge them as a way to remind them about the game in progress.

The graphics in the game are minimal, but that doesn't matter all that much since you are the ones doing the drawings. But the user interface is not cluttered and everything is presented well. Draw Something's sound is also sparse, but once again it shouldn't matter or have an impact in the game.

In-app purchases do mitigate one of my main issues with the game. To start, Draw Something only gives you a limited choice of colors. But you can buy more color packs with coins earned in-game or buying a bundle of coins with IAP. You don't really need to buy the color packs, but it does help to create better drawings.  I recommend buying the Mardi Gras pack once you have earned enough coins because it has most of the missing colors.

The only other issue that I have is sometimes it takes a while to find a new person to play a match with. I'm sure if I integrated it with Facebook I would have more people to play with, but I'm the kind of person that refuses to spam my Facebook feed with app updates.

If you like playing multiplayer games with friends or even strangers, I suggest you give Draw Something a shot. I know that I will continue to annoy game players with my admittedly terrible stick figure art.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBGavQJg-kE&list=UU4vrtdKjQlyvlEqIUnz1UJg&index=1&feature=plcp

Verdict:

Graphics: Varies
Sound: Two stars
Gameplay: Three stars
Amount of IAP: Medium
Angry Bird Leg rating: Medium to high

Overall: Three stars

Cost: $1.99

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Review - Dungeon Raid

Dungeon Raid

Dungeon raid. The title brings to mind a RPG where you are battling to defeat the big bad guy with a group of your friends. But Dungeon Raid for the iOS isn't really a RPG, it is a match three game mixed with a RPG. Surprisingly it is one of the best games in my opinion for the iOS, and I believe that everyone would enjoy playing it.

At it's heart, Dungeon Raid is a match-three game. On the playing field there are various icons; potions, shields, coins, swords, and skulls. You match them up to remove them and gather what they represent. Coins give you gold which can be spent to buy new equipment, potions heal you, shields level up your armor.

The tricky part is the swords and skulls. The skulls attack you every turn, lowering your life. You can match them to kill them, but that isn't efficient. Instead you match swords to the skulls and you kill them faster. What is also different about Dungeon Raid is that you aren't limited by matching only three items, if the entire play field is coins, you can match all 36 at once.

Dungeon Raid also throws into the mix boss monsters, ones that are more powerful than the normal monsters. These also have their own unique tricks from teleporting around to stealing gold to having spikes that damage you when you attack them. The spikes boss is the most annoying, one that has ended many of my games when I wasn't paying close attention.

As you play Dungeon Raid, you sometimes get trophy's. These unlock new classes and races to play, each of which offer a different spin during game play. It does take a while to level up each class and race, but it never feels like a chore.

Graphically, Dungeon Raid is kind of plain looking. But I think that the plainness works to its advantage. The game is about progressing and leveling up, you don't want to have it be too flashy looking lest you get distracted. The best way I can put it, is the graphics are functional and that they work.

Dungeon Raid is also lacking a bit in the sound department, but that isn't to say its silent. Each thing you gather makes its own sound, from the bubbling of potions to the grunting of the skulls as you kill them. Once again, the sounds are nearly perfect for this game.

Dungeon Raid doesn't have any in-app purchases (IAP) but I almost wish it did. I got the game when it first came out last year and I've put so much time into it I want to give the developer more money. I know, strange but that is how much I enjoy this game.

Time seems to fly by when playing. When I was playing today to get screenshots I somehow managed to play for about 20 minutes without even noticing. Then again I was doing extremely well so that might have contributed a bit to the time.

So in closing, do you like match-three games? Do you like RPG's? Do you want to try a excellent game that combines them both into one wonderful package? Why are you still reading this? Go and buy Dungeon Raid right now and start playing. This is one game that I think everyone will love. If you are still on the fence, there is a lite version. But try it and I can nearly guarantee that you'll end up buying the full game.

Here's a sample of the game play from Dungeon Raid, sorry there isn't any sound for it. And this is my actual game that I ended up screwing up due to getting greedy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDzjBfVEpcs
Verdict

Graphics: Two stars
Sound: One star
Gameplay: Four stars
Amount of IAP: None
Angry Bird Leg rating: High

Overall: Four Stars
Cost: $2.99

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Need For Speed: The Run Review!

Brace yourself for the next generation of video games, the next edition of the wildly popular Need For Speed series, entitled The Run. Running is exactly what you'll be doing too, across the country from San Francisco all the way to New York. There's plenty of good reasons why this is one of the most popular video games ever created. This is one of the few venues where you can drive recklessly without killing someone, or yourself. Still, its realistic enough to make you look behind you to check for the police and other guys who want you dead.

Need For Speed: The Run- Gameplay!

EA hasn't held back with intense graphics in Need For Speed: The Run, and like its predecessor Hot Pursuit, there's plenty of gameplay. Maybe because they've made the graphics so intense, you'll also notice occasional flaking out of the game, especially if you go out of boundaries or during cut scenes. Handling your vehicle also can be troublesome, and a sleek vehicle can feel more like a tractor trailer in handling on some of the open road.

Some of the buzz surrounding Need For Speed: The Run is that the game is relatively limited in achievement milestones and can be accomplished in a short period of time by ardent gamers. While this may be the case for some, like other video games, NFS: TR isn't necessarily made for finishing, but instead, for driving. Like the previous versions of Need For Speed, The Run offers you a wide selection of hot cars to choose from. Some of these machines handle true-to-life and others, well, handle more like a grocery store shopping cart.

The course is perhaps the biggest selling point for Need For Speed: The Run and takes you accurately from the West Coast all the way to the Big Apple. The course is divided into ten different sections, each with different events for earning trophies and moving to the next level. Many of the events are simply a race between your car and other drivers, which is really what racing is all about, right? To add some fun at the beginning and the end of this game, EA adds mobsters following you in hot pursuit in cars and helicopters. If this doesn't get your adrenaline running, don't know what will.

Need For Speed: The Run-Our Opinion Of The Game!

Need For Speed: The Run affords you with several opportunities for hitting a "reset" button. This means if you crash, fall off a cliff, or die in any way, you can "reset" yourself to a certain point. Hitting a reset does cause the game to lag for about 15 seconds but it also gives you another chance to score big. If you'd rather trudge on through, you can also choose to restart the entire event and save reset points for experience at the end.

The bottom line on Need For Speed: The Run is that it's loud, fast and a blast to play. If you're into pure racing without fluffy tangent games, this is perfect for you. If you're looking for a game that is pure entertainment, The Run won't disappoint.

Gaming Info And Deals is located in Central New Jersey. We started out as a bunch of friends that loved the gaming experience. Hours a day we spent trying to be the best at whatever game we were playing at that time. Searching the web for blogs or information that would get us to the next level was a daily occurrence. Tired of searching the web, we decided to pool our knowledge and create this site. The site is for the serious gamer. Daily blogs and discounted gaming sites are our main focus. Hope you enjoy the site and all of it's content.

Thanks,

Nancy E. Surace

Gaming Info And Deals LLC.

http://www.gaminginfoanddeals.com/

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Super Mario 3D Player Review

Nintendo expected their new handheld 3DS system to sell like hot cakes... but it unfortunately didn't. There were not any games that were properly showing the capabilities of the revolutionary system, so it gave no incentive for consumers to buy it.

Now I just picked myself up a 3DS this week for the sole purpose of trying out the hyped game: Super Mario 3D Land. Let me first say that I wasn't sure what to expect. This applies to both the handheld itself and the game. Nintendo hasn't let me down in the past, so I felt at least some level of confidence (enough to make the purchase).

But as soon as I turned on the console and started playing, it was amazingly breathtaking. The 3D looked so real. I would consistently attempt to look at the 3D screen and try to see a 2D image, but it was messing with my brain... I just couldn't do it.

The 3DS absolutely lives up to its name. Lucky for Nintendo, Super Mario 3D Land was able to demonstrate the capabilities immensely. They included two modes on the game. The first mode is for "pop-out 3D", where it appears that Mario is actually jumping out of the screen. The second mode is for "indented 3D", where it appears that you are looking into a little box through the opening on your screen. Both demonstrate depth perception exceedingly well.

Console aside, the game is a mix between New Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Mario Bros 3. You get to use that crazy tanooki suit again and it's just as fun as before. (Might I add cute) But you are not going to see the capability of turning to stone until you beat the first round of the game.

For all of the hard-core Mario fans, don't let this one slip through your fingertips. I know it is hard to shell out $150 for a new handheld, but let me assure you that it is totally worth it. If nothing else, sell it after you are done! Or even make your way to your local used-games store to see if anyone turned one in.

Everything in this game was done RIGHT by Nintendo. They didn't make stupid mistakes, and you can tell that is due to hard work and experience. Check out the game in stores to get the full 3D effect and enjoy the game!

If you love Super Mario 3D Land, then you are probably a fan of the Galaxy games. You should check out this site that calculated the Mario Galaxy 3 Release Date. Or just check out the entire site over at Super Mario Galaxy 3

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The Tiger Woods Pga Tour 13 - Review

The Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is the latest installation in the franchise. Below is a comprehensive review of this video game:

Game Details:

- Genre: Sports
- Publisher: Electronic arts
- Developer: EA Tiburon
- ESRB rating: E (Everyone)

Graphics

The Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 has amazing graphics. Its developers, EA Tiburon, has designed some superb illustrations of the real life players and playing courses. They put all these together in a way that makes the game look like a flashy television show.

Sound

The game is integrated with Electronic Art's normal licensed tunes and there are some quite amazing sound effects whenever you swing or smack the ball. There are also some background crowd noises that try to imitate the real atmosphere experienced in golf championships. Commentary is also present with Tiger Woods himself providing his own views and proceedings in the Legacy mode.

Game Play

This game has a breakthrough platform known as the Total Control Swing System. This is the most developed, accurate and deep control technique ever integrated in a golfing video-game. However, this technique may be difficult to master.

Just like the previous instalment in the franchise, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 still utilizes the left stick. The power of your shot depends on both the speed of your swing and the club which you choose. There is an on-screen guide in the form of an arc which encircles your golfer, and this displays the swing arc's optimum. It is then up to you to apply the precise amount of power and accuracy while playing the stroke to imitate this guide. You also receive feedback from your in-game caddy, and a small guide on the bottom of the screen informs you of how well you have managed to manoeuvre the analogue stick while playing your shot.

The right stick helps you to change your stance and the amount of spin you apply on the ball. The ability to change your stance and the way you position yourself during taking a shot is a particularly significant addition. This is because it allows you to play shots in awkward bunker situations more effectively.

Another significant addition to this game is motion control which also has total support for Kinetic. When in full effect, you can deliver some voice commands to pick a new club or survey the course in the classic 'Man at Littlewoods' pose by raising your hand to your brow! Kinetic also works well while teeing or playing those long shots as it will track your swing accurately as you would wish.

Multi player

The all new Country Clubs feature makes it possible for you to create your own tournaments and clubs both with friends and other online challengers. In these tournaments that you create, you can win coins by performing well in them or for being the outstanding player in your club throughout the week. You can also easily access Quick Matches and other regular tournaments taking place.

Longevity

There is a remarkable 16 courses available from the start and a good number of real-life golf big name players. There are other numerous content to be unlocked. These include additional characters, courses, clothing and these can be obtained by winning enough coins in tournaments, ranked online matches or overcoming certain challenges for every course.

The prolonged career mode allows you to come up with a custom player and begin a golfing quest to find all your way to the top and succeed in major tournaments. There is also the Tiger Legacy challenge mode.

Pros, Cons and Verdict

There is lots of content available and this comes with improved game controls that make your playing more accurate. The county club is also a quite interesting feature.

There is lack of life in the golf courses and the commentary is usually dull. Added features like the kinetic support have their own challenges. This game is also not any different from its predecessor, therefore a rating of 8/10 can be given.

Gaming Info And Deals is located in Central New Jersey. We started out as a bunch of friends that loved the gaming experience. Hours a day we spent trying to be the best at whatever game we were playing at that time. Surfing the web for blogs or cheats that would get us to the next level was a daily occurrence. Tired of surfing the web, we decided to pool our knowledge and create this site. The site has something for the beginner to the serious gamer. Daily blogs and discounted gaming products are our main focus. Hope you enjoy the site and all of it's content.

Thanks,

Nancy E. Surace

Gaming Info And Deals LLC.

http://www.gaminginfoanddeals.com/

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Amnesia: The Dark Descent Game Review

Amnesia is an exciting and horrifying adventure game built around exploration and puzzle-based environments. Imagine waking up in a brittle old castle in the Kingdom of Prussia. You have no recollection of how or why you got there [Hence the title.]. You remember your name and still preserve your long term memory. Still, the mystery of how, why and where you are eludes you.

Your name is Daniel. As you slowly regain consciousness, you discover a note addressed to you, written by none other than yourself. Upon gazing at it, you discover that you purposely wiped your memory and that you are to find the Inner Sanctum within the castle to seize and kill Alexander. Get ready for a long journey ahead, Daniel.

First off, Daniel is deathly afraid of the dark, and very easily scared. During the game you are followed by a haunting force that is called The Shadow. Its only purpose is to guard an Orb. One that Daniel previously stole from a burial chamber to give to Alexander whom had promised protection from the evil that followed the Orb. The only object you start with is an oil lantern. Throughout the game you must find tinderboxes and oil to stay constantly in the light, otherwise Daniel will gradually become insane and start seeing things that are really not there. Basically the lower your sanity is, the more difficult the game becomes. After the first few rooms and puzzles dealing with keys, finding various objects, and jumping over ledges, you will encounter the biggest problem in the castle; the most feared monster in the game, the Grunt. As you are not able to fight back, your only option is to run away from these creatures. They will kill you with one slash and they are faster than you. I think it gives the game more of a fear to it. If you are caught in the open near one of these monsters, well, you're screwed. The only way to avoid them getting to you is to make it quickly to the closest room and close the door. Did I mention they can break through doors as well? Well, they can. As soon as you lock yourself in, find a place to hide quickly. You will then have to risk your sanity by turning off your lantern and waiting in the dark until the creature passes. Tempting as it may be, do not look directly at the monster. Doing so will drop your sanity level much faster as the horrific looking monster makes Daniel shudder.

After many rooms and puzzles you will run into what I think is the scariest creature, the Kaernk, also called the Water Lurker. It has no physical form, you can't see it, but you know it's there. You hear its growls and the heavy splash it makes as it slowly follows wherever you go. Jump on the crates and boxes near you or the Water Lurker will kill you. The only way to create a diversion for it is to throw hunks of meat and body parts you find on top of some of the boxes. If your sanity level is fine throughout the game, you will only encounter this creature once. If it is low most of the game, expect for it to pop out of any room that has knee-high water.

All in all, aside from the great aspects to the game, there are also a few things that could use a bit of improvement. Oil is scarce, try to use as little as you can because the oil in the lantern tends to run out so fast. It is hard to find. It's hidden throughout the game, sometimes in the most ridiculous spots. Use as many tinderboxes as you can as a source of light. Another thing is that sometimes the puzzles are way too complicated. Hints are scarce and you can find yourself wondering what do to next. It's not uncommon to spend hours trying to find what triggers will get you through. This game is more out to scare you than anything else and it does an amazing job of it. The sensation of desperation and helplessness is purposely weaved into the game. If you are a fan of scary movies and adventure games, this is the perfect game for you. Aside from minor things, this game is definitely worth the money, and could easily make its way as the Scariest Game of All Time on any Gamer 's list. I hope you enjoyed this Video Game Review as much as I enjoyed playing the game.

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Men In Black 3 Review: Protecting The Galaxy On IOS And Android

Barring another dominant performance from The Avengers, the top movie this weekend should be Men in Black 3 (sorry, Chernobyl Diaries), the big-budget sequel starring Will Smith and a whole bunch of computer-generated aliens. To capitalize on this potential success, Gameloft has a Men in Black 3 video game for iOS and Android. Even better, it's free. Just don't go into this title expecting to run around blasting bad guys.

Oddly enough, the game revolves around the simulation aspect of operating your own MIB agency and a heavy dose of time management. There's combat, but the developers limit this to turn-based battles, where you and slimy-looking enemies trade shots at each other as you equip different health packs and weapons.

That aside, Men in Black 3 plays more like Farmville and Big Time Gangsta. You build the agency from the ground up by placing different departments within a limited grid, creating an armory, gadget workshop, infirmary, evaluation room, firing range, zero G trainer and a plethora of other services; there's even a fast food joint.

The goal? Research new technologies that'll imbue your character and others (you can train new agents and send them on missions) with different weapons with names like Fat Nancy, the Temporal Pulse, Dark Plasma Gun and the humorous Noisy Cricket from the original Men in Black. That said, these things require you to reach a certain level to unlock and various amounts of time; you can't make use of the Fat Nancy, for instance, until reaching level 10, while some missions may force you to wait 30 minutes.

Fortunately, Gameloft provides a slew of objectives to complete, inspired by the movie's time-traveling plot. This involves visiting 1969 and 2012 versions of New York City, where you'll have more than enough tasks to keep busy, from interrogating aliens to squashing outer space cockroaches, stopping for a bite to eat and wiping away the memories of countless witnesses using the Neuralyzer. There's little interaction involved, you merely tap something or someone to instantly perform the activity, but at least it takes your mind off whatever's going on at headquarters.

Naturally, there's a hook. You need energy to beat these missions, and this also replenishes (albeit slowly) over time, forcing you to cough up some real-world dough to acquire T-Pulses that allow you to buy more. The same goes for gold coins that go towards stocking up on supplies and purchasing equipment; Gameloft is more than ready to accept your payment(s). Granted, you don't need to spend a dime playing Men in Black, but things will move significantly faster if you do.

Finally, there's a social aspect, where you can invite friends to assist in the fight against a particularly pesky alien, or to simply visit your agency, and vice versa. Nothing revolutionary, by any means, but at least you can see how others play the game/decorate.

Taking all of this into account, Men in Black 3 isn't bad by any means, but it also doesn't stand out, either. We can't hate on Gameloft for going simulation heavy instead of creating a third-person shooter; the App Store has plenty of both. At the same time, there's a strictly enforced limit on how much you can play if you refuse to spend money, and with that being said, us cheapskates discovered the appeal wore off quicker than we expected. Fun, but only in short play sessions.

Chris Buffa is Editor in Chief of Modojo, a website that covers the mobile game industry, offering readers reviews, previews and features of the newest titles for smart phone and tablets. To visit this website, please head to http://www.modojo.com/

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Review - Faerie Solitaire Mobile HD

Faerie Solitaire Mobile HD is a different spin on the usual solitaire game for the iOS, but is it worth you hard earned money especially for $6.99? Read on to find out.

Faerie Solitaire Mobile HD is a golf-style solitaire game. By golf style solitaire, I mean that you have a layout of cards on the table and you have one card up in front of you for example an eight of clubs. Now you can place a nine or a seven on that card and so forth. It took me a bit to get used to it, but now I kind of prefer playing the golf style solitaire instead of my usual Klondike.

Faerie Solitaire Mobile HD and it's sister app, Faerie Solitaire Mobile, are a port of the popular PC game of the same title. I've sunk way too many hours playing my copy to be comfortable in admitting my playtime. Since this is a port, some things did get left out, but more about that in a bit.

The general plot is that you are rescuing faeries from imprisonment by playing. The reason why you are rescuing them it that you have been charged with a quest to rescue them all. After you complete ten hands in the game, you can release a faerie from captivity. At least that is what I vaguely remember from playing the PC version since the cut scenes aren't really in the game. Well, they are but are external YouTube links that take you out of the app.

Graphically Faerie Solitaire Mobile HD looks good, but it really doesn't have much in the way of flash.The same with the sound, nothing really special. The background music is nice for a while, but to be honest I usually have it muted.

As for IAP, Faerie Solitaire Mobile HD doesn't have any. This is nice especially considering the rather high cost of the game.

I have managed to drain the batteries in both my iPad and iPhone several times playing this game, usually with the idea of "just one more hand." I have also managed to have both my legs fall asleep while playing it in a waiting room. There is just something about the game that scratches an itch that keeps me playing it.

My only issues with Faerie Solitaire Mobile HD are some crashes while playing and the fact its missing one of the parts of the PC version I liked. The pet raising mini game is not present, although the publisher does say that it will be added in a future patch.

The only other thing that bothers me about the game is the absurdly high number of wild cards I have. In other games like this, I might have four or five stocked up, in Faerie Solitaire Mobile HD I have almost 100. This seems like overkill and has made the game far to easy in my opinion.

I will admit that I was shocked by the price of both Faerie Solitaire Mobile HD and Faerie Solitaire Mobile. I believe I got them both for free or at least much lower than that. But I believe that they are both great games that are worth it. If you like solitaire, then give Faerie Solitaire Mobile HD a shot. Now if you will excuse me, I'm off to play some more before my next meeting.

Verdict:

Graphics: Two stars
Sound: One star
Gameplay: Three stars
Amount of IAP: None
Angry Bird Leg rating: Three stars

Overall: Three stars
Cost: $6.99

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Ninja Gaiden 3 - Gameplay Review

The main character of the Ninja Gaiden 3

He is the son of Kent Hayabusa who died in his hands after he passed the sword to him for his bravery in an earlier part of Ninja Gaiden series. He is now leading the Hayabusa clan with possession of spiritual, physical and magical powers from the ancestry of the dragons. He is still the same brave character in the Ninja Gaiden 3 video game.

Staging of the video game

The video game sets off on a foggy day in London and Ryu Hayabusa is taken back into thought as to why he came there in the first place. He then remembers that he is on the hunt for a terrorist group that attacked with the aim of getting into the master ninja. He then feels warmed up and takes into flight over the huge clock tower and as he goes down the street he can see the group.

This is where the more soldiers come out and the battle begins, with Hayabusa going head straight into the battlefield. This is where the greatness of video game begins.

Features and gameplay

You can have Ryu's attack power charged up but there is no essence to absorb. When his sword glows it is the best time for the player to attack to execute a multi hit combo that will destroy the enemies. The video game gives Ryu ultimate technique attacks which depend on using Ryu's KI meter. Be careful of unnecessary usage of the techniques but again any KI left in the meter goes into refueling his life.

The video game has taken into note lessons from the other titles which then promote alternative game play modes such as gear of war 3 and halo: reach. It is a modern multi player with the avatar customized for each player needs and capabilities. Also accessibly is the option of changing gear and clothes along the adventurous journey.

Team Ninja have really outdone themselves with the Ninja Gaiden 3 from the Ninja Gaiden 2.

The players are always to be on guard so not to be caught unaware as there are no warnings, suggestions or any kind of peace in the game. The video game accommodates 8 simultaneous players at a time that are separated into groups. The aim of the groups then is to kill the opponents on a time limited challenge. The co-operative modes last up to 5 minutes and throughout the player have level system to climb up to.
Another feature that the Ninja Gaiden 3 possesses is the option of customization menu that is located on its own directly from the main menu.

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Review - Treasures of Montezuma 3

The Apple App Store is crowded with all manner of variations of the match 3 game. Most of them are kind of boring, the best ones bring some new twist to the game that makes you want to keep playing. Treasures of Montezuma 3 is one of the latter types of the match 3 game that will keep you coming back for more.

At its core Treasures of Montezuma 3, as I mentioned before, is a match 3 game. You have a playing field with a variety of different colored and shaped objects on it. You match the objects in groups of three or more in a line, then the objects disappear. More fall down from the top of the field and so on.

Standard match 3 game so far, right? The first twist that Treasures of Montezuma 3 has in store is that you are trying to free crystals that are embedded in the play field objects by matching them with like objects. There is a time limit to the level as well, with the amount of gold increasing based on how fast you clear the level.

Also what Treasures of Montezuma 3 brings to the table is a set of power ups that change how the game acts and is played. As you play, you earn coins. The coins can be spent to improve the powers of various totems that are the same color as the objects on the playing field. When you have two consecutive matches of the same color, the totem associated with it activates. The power ups range from freeing all the crystals on the play field to blowing up objects.

The graphics of Treasures of Montezuma 3 are decent, but nothing that will blow your mind. They look good, both on my iPhone 4 and iPad 2. The game interface is clean and not cluttered which is nice on the iPhone since there isn't a whole lot of space to play with.

The audio in Treasures of Montezuma 3 is pretty good with some nice sound effects and music. It does get a bit much though when you get into a groove and are triggering bonus after bonus. I've gotten more than one look when playing the game at the office from the noises coming from my iPhone.

Treasures of Montezuma 3 has some In-App Purchase (IAP) but it isn't too much or even required. You have the ability to purchase some of the coins used to purchase power ups, but if you do a bit of grinding in the lower levels you won't need them.

The only issue I have with the game is the final level in each stage. For some reason the game changes from a match 3 to a hidden object game. The change is rather annoying, but that may be due to my dislike of hidden object games.

If you are looking for a different take on the match 3 type of game then consider giving Treasures of Montezuma 3 a shot. I think that it brings enough new twists and flavor to the table that will make it worth the purchase price.

Verdict

Graphics:Two stars
Sound:Two stars
Gameplay:Three stars
Amount of IAP:Some
Overall: Three stars
Cost:$4.99

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Review - Tiny Tower

Tiny Tower, the latest game from the folks at Nimblebit, is the subject of today's review. As the games title suggests, you are in charge of building a tower.

From the start Tiny Tower pulls you in with a layer of charm that almost all the Nimblebit games have. The graphics are blocky, with a 8-bit game kind of feel. But this adds to Tiny Tower, rather than subtract from it.

The goal of Tiny Tower is to build a tower, bring in new bitzens to work and live in it, and complete some semi-simple missions. Each floor of your tower can either be an apartment level or a retail level. Each of the apartments can hold five bitzens, while the retail levels only have one kind of business.
Each of the bitzens that live in the tower have a number of stats that determine how good they are at certain job types. They also have a dream job that is a big part of the game.

Each service level can employ three bitzens, with the number of bitzens allowing an increase in the amount of stock that each location has. For example the Mapple store sells the Mypod with one employee, the Myphone with two, and the Mybook with three. If you have an employee that is working in their dream job, the amount of stock you can have increases. There is a fair amount of different service jobs from the aforementioned Mapple store to a movie theater to a wood shop.

As your tower grows, so do the costs of adding new levels. I'm sitting at 49 floors, with the cost to add a new one being 375k coins. That amount its too much though, considering that I'm raking in about 20ish coins a second. There are missions to do in the game as well, but do be honest I haven't attempted any of them yet.

The sound is minimal in Tiny Tower, but it's not the kind of game that requires it. There are little coin sounds as your total goes up, a bell that lets you know store is ready to be restocked, and a nice light music bed to go along with everything.

Tiny Tower does include some IAP, but considering the game is free I'm ok with it. You can buy bux from within the game that allow you to move levels, or move in a new bitzen without having to wait, or cash them out for the games currency. I ended up buying some bux just because I was enjoying the game so much and I wanted to kick Nimblebit a bit more money.

Overall this game is good to look at and a blast to play. The only issue I have with it is once your tower is going for a while. It gets a bit annoying to have to stock and restock every in the tower. But the annoyances are outweighed by the fun I had playing it.

http://youtu.be/cn8WpN_AXcE

Verdict

Graphics: Three stars
Sound: Three stars
Gameplay: Four stars
Amount of IAP: Some, but not very annoying
Angry Bird Leg rating: Moderate in the beginning, minor after things get going.
Overall: A solid game that is well worth the download.
Cost: Free

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American Pickers: The Road Less Traveled Review

If you have watched the show before, you might also love the game. American Pickers: The Road Less Traveled is a hidden object game that is based upon the hit reality television series American Pickers. From the TV show's Wikipedia entry, it seems to have become the highest rated History Channel debut since 2007 when it debuted last 2010. This makes the show in the level of amazing. But can the hidden object game follow suit? Well, let us review the game and find out.

The game follows the adventures of Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, the same guys who ran the TV series. You help them pick antiques and memorabilia from seemingly worthless junk. Well, if you do not know yet on what these guys do for a living, you must be confused on what picking means. The context clues says it all, they try to find antiques and collectibles all over America, and sell them too at a nice profit back in their headquarters named Antique Archaeology.

As you can see, the whole idea of the TV series makes the perfect setting for a hidden object game. And in the case of American Pickers: The Road Less Traveled, that is exactly what it is. In terms of graphics, I say that the hidden object scenes are made pretty well and while there are some pixel finding involved on highly cluttered areas, it is bearable enough and understandable too considering that you play the role of a picker now, and you must have an eye for rare finds, right?

Another thing that makes this game true to the TV series is the amount of dialogue involved. There is just too many for my taste, so I find coursing through the game a little boring that most of the time, I click through the dialogues just to get to some hidden object action. I understand too that fans of the series should find all of these talk amusing, more informative and fun, so this game may be made especially for them too.

American Pickers: The Road Less Traveled is definitely a good game to start on for beginner hidden object players that like a mix of story time and game time when playing their games. The game is absolutely one that is made for fans of the series, but I do still suggest that players try it out for themselves to see if it is enjoyable enough. You never know, the game might make you an American Pickers fan too.

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The Tower of Druaga - Nintendo Famicom Game Review

Many video games today features a number of secrets hidden within them, but they are usually just a source of short amusement from the developer to the player rather than essential bits of information important to the plot of the story. Even if such games did feature secrets essential to the plot of the game, the advent of the Internet has basically ruined the original intention as anybody can easily look up the answers on the first day of release. However, such was not the case back when The Tower of Druaga was released on the Famicom in 1985.

Concept

The Tower of Druaga is an action role playing video game based on maze gameplay. The thing that is most interesting about it is that it was one of the first games that required players figure out and find a number of secrets in order to complete the game; without finding these essential hidden secrets, it was impossible to finish the game. Because there was no Internet back when this game was released, it was important for friends to work together to figure out the game.

Some of the secrets that were hidden in the game included a number of different things, such as random starting positions for each maze. In other words, if you restarted a maze, you might end up in a completely different part of the map, meaning you could not just blindly use muscle memory to get through the maze. On top of that, the maze could also change entirely, though it would not randomize, just to add another challenge.

Gameplay

In The Tower of Druaga, the player takes on the role of Gilgamesh, and the primary purpose of the game is to pass through sixty floors of mazes in an effort to defeat Druaga in his demonic tower. The only equipment Gilgamesh receives is a shield and a sword, and these items allow him to defend himself from magical attacks and defeat enemies, respectively. With this equipment in hand, Gilgamesh is required to go through a maze to find a randomly placed key, which will then open the door to the next floor.

The Tower of Druaga is the game that became the precursor to roguelikes such as Nethack and the recently released and popular The Binding of Isaac. Fans of either of these two games should absolutely invest in obtaining the original Famicom cartridge, if not just for the experience of seeing from where their favorites derived.

Please visit retrogamerjapan.com for Super Famicom games, Famicom games and more. We also have cleaned, tested and ready to play classic retro Famicom and Super Famicom consoles, controllers and guides. All 100% original, straight from Japan.

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The Surprising Adventures of Munchausen Review

The Surprising Adventures of Munchausen is another Big Fish Games exclusive that graced me initially as possibly another hidden object game that is like all the others that came before it. However, this game also teaches me to not judge a book by its cover, because as I soon found out, it is not a hidden object game. This game goes beyond hidden object as it is more an adventure, and a whimsical, crazy and humorous adventure at that.

The story of the game starts as some evil wizard destroyed the Heart of the Kingdom. Without any light and prosperity in his kingdom, the king was offered a solution to marry his daughter to a strange and evil man that can bring the king an enormous amount of money. Desperate and hating her predicament, the princess calls for Baron Munchausen for help. The Baron is eager to do so, and as he enters the scene, prepare to have so much fun unlike nothing the crazy Munchausen can.

For those who do not know yet, the origins of The Surprising Adventures of Munchausen game predates to an actual living man that lived from 1720 to 1797. He told many outrageous and farfetched stories of his adventures that lived to this day on books and movies. Well now, you can experience a made up tale of the famous Baron through this game. And true to his many adventures, this game is also very unique, very funny and full of Munchausen's comical braggadocio that you will definitely enjoy playing it until the end.

Really, this game started quite amateurish to me and I was expecting no surprises, but all that impression blew away the instant that the game play starts. You see, the hidden object scenes follow a different kind of game play. Well, you still need to find objects, but instead of a list, you need to associate other items on your list with these hidden objects. Other than this, other game play mechanics include helping Munchausen by following listed instructions and the usual adventure game play where you need to use inventory items to keep Munchausen progressing in his adventure.

In my opinion, The Surprising Adventures of Munchausen is really one fine game that if you are a seasoned hidden object player, you definitely need something like this to change your perspective, that not all games like these are gritty, dark and eerie, but can also be simple and fun. Too bad that the adventure is quite short, but I am looking forward to a sequel just the same.

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Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror Review and Tips

Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror is a point-and-click adventure game by Revolution Software Limited that has been flawlessly ported to iOS devices.

In this sequel to Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars, you start off as George Stobbart, whose girlfriend, Nico, was kidnapped. He himself is now trapped in a burning house, tied to a chair. You need to get him out of the house and begin a lengthy and dangerous journey to rescue Nico.

Once George rescues Nico, you'll get to play as her at several different points throughout the game. The two occasionally split up, sometimes by choice and other times by force, and have to use their own inventory and wits to solve the puzzles ahead of them.

Besides offering plenty of exploration and puzzles for adventure gamers, the Broken Sword series is full of humor and sarcasm that sets it apart from other games in the genre. For instance, you pick up a tequila worm in the first room, and can show it to just about everyone you meet in your travels to see what their reactions are to it. You don't need to talk to every non-playable character or exhaust all your discussion topics, but you'll miss out on some real gems if you don't. Broken Sword 2 is a game you should take your time with and really savor it.

The 2D graphics are charming and look great even on a small iPhone screen. The soundtrack is also perfect for the game, always changing for the location and plot line to immerse you in the game. It's a real work of art.

If you're a point-and-click adventure fan, you won't want to miss out on this game. It's available on PC, iPod, iPhone and iPad, so you have plenty of ways to get ahold of it.

If you need some help, here are a few tips and cheats:

1. For touch screens, swipe your finger around the screen to see which items you can interact with. That way you won't miss anything important.

2. Try mixing items by dragging one to the other if none of your items are doing the job on their own.

3. Some portions of the game require precise timing or you could die! Make sure to save frequently and in different save slots so you won't have to play too much of the game over if you lose.

That should help you get started on your Broken Sword 2 adventure. Enjoy!

If you need more help with the game, see my Broken Sword 2 walkthrough: http://www.appunwrapper.com/2011/12/24/broken-sword-2-the-smoking-mirror-remastered-walkthrough/

-AppUnwrapper
In-Depth iPhone Game Reviews, Walkthroughs and Giveaways
http://www.appunwrapper.com/escape-games/
Twitter: AppUnwrapper

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