Eurocenter, who brought us the popular Cocoto Kart Online, has given us an exclusive preview of their upcoming iPhone shooting gallery game Cocoto Magic Circus, a conversion of the Wii original.
In Cocoto Magic Circus, you take on the role of Cocoto, Shiny, Neuro, or Baggy on a mission to save poor Fairy, the pixie, who has been kidnapped by a sinister and disturbing clown. In order to save her, you must progress through five different creepy carnival settings, wielding your dart-gun like a champ, tapping true on the clown's various minions to knock them into oblivion. There are seven shooting gallery-style mini-games in each of the settings, making for 35 challenges in all.
While it's true that shooting gallery titles are generally rather simplistic affairs — and there's certainly no lack of such games in the App Store — Cocoto Magic Circus is a surprisingly enjoyable little game. The visuals are very well done — cartoonish, cute, and atmospheric with a nice parallax effect to the scenes that adds a sense of depth to the game. Complexity is added to the title's tap-to-shoot dynamic by way of line-of-fire obstacles as well as floating bonuses and special effects that, when shot, trigger things both good and bad: double shot score, free hits, lights out, gun jams, flip screen, etc. It's a nice touch.
The game offers an Arcade mode, which is progressive play through the various settings and challenges, as well as a Training mode that allows you to jump in and play any challenge in the game. Online multiplayer is also included, allowing you to engage in real-time matches with players around the world. (Unfortunately I was unable to test this component as there is no community at present, since the game has not yet been released.)
I've enjoyed my time with the game, learning its ins and outs for this post. Getting through it requires some fast reflexes, especially in the later challenges, which ramp up the difficulty and pacing — it's no cakewalk. One thing to note is that it's not a particularly lengthy affair; most users could get through it in an hour or two, but that's helped a bit from a replay perspective by the three available levels of difficulty, with Normal presenting a decent challenge.
Cocoto Magic Circus is a shooting gallery title that delivers a good deal more than most games of its sort. It's a cute little game that's fun to play and, as IGN called it, "a surprisingly fresh breath of air." I'd wager most gamers out there would enjoy it more than they think.
Have a look at the gameplay video to help you decide for yourself.
Cocoto Magic Circus is set to debut in the App Store on Thursday, March 4th at a price of $0.99.
Early this morning Vimov provided us a sneak peek at their iPhone port of Hexen II. It's a work in progress, as currently there's no music yet, the menu system hasn't been implemented, the controls are basic and nowhere near final, and they've got a bunch of performance tweaks to implement to make it run across the whole iPhone and iPod touch device family. But other than that, it's all there.
Hexen II is, obviously, the sequel to Hexen (which was the sequel to Heretic) and was developed by Raven Software and published by Id for the PC in 1997. This first person shooter utilizes a modified version of the Quake engine to add a roleplaying element to the game where players could choose from multiple classes, and increase statistics by earning experience throughout the adventure.
Like the other games in the series, Raven eventually released the source code for Hexen II, which is what is powering the following gameplay video:
The sticky situation that the developers of this Hexen II port face is that, while the actual game source itself has been made open source, the data files that make Hexen II more than just a modded Quake engine are not open source. The preview version we were given is utilizing assets from the free Hexen II demo, but the game itself can't hit the App Store until the developers work our some kind of licensing agreement with Activision.
Earlier this month we posted an update on Peter Hirschberg and his glowy bit of retro vector goodness known as Vector Tanks. As we indicated in that post, Peter has recently setup his own studio, BlipTime Studios, and through it has released an update to Vector Tanks known as Vector Tanks (Classic Version) [App Store]at $0.99. As one might suspect, denoting the current game as "classic" indeed betokened the near-term arrival of a rather revamped take on the original.
That game is Vector Tanks Extreme, and Peter has given us an exclusive look at the release version of the title before it makes its App Store debut.
The game has been split into two versions to provide, as Peter tells it, a version that delivers the "retro-simplicity" of the original, along with a version that's "a Vector Tanks experience WAY over the top for those seeking a bit more of a challenge."
Vector Tanks Extreme offers everything the original did, plus more tank types, more weapon types (my personal favorite is the Rail Gun), airborne enemies (helicopters), and downright frenzied action. The standard play mode is Combat, which is a desperate bid to wipe out as many enemies as possible before losing all your lives, while Rage mode gives you unlimited lives and ammunition with the goal of wiping out as many enemies as possible before a two-minute timer runs out. Both modes are brutal, let me assure you. An integrated online scoreboard shows the world your strength (or weakness) and network play support is a planned addition, to arrive in a future update.
I've had the final build of Vector Tanks Extreme on my iPhone for the past few days and have spent considerable time scoping down enemy tanks, jeeps, and copters. Having become quite familiar with the title, I can definitely say that "WAY over the top" is in no way an overstated description. This is perhaps the most intense iPhone shooter I've ever encountered. If you enjoy Vector Tanks and feel it's a little on the difficult side — stay away from Vector Tanks Extreme. You don't have the stuff.
As we mentioned in our earlier piece, in moving from Chillingo to his own BlimpTime Studios for the original Vector Tanks, now known as Vector Tanks (Classic Version), Peter was unable to make the latest version of the game (v1.3.2, posted earlier this month) a free upgrade. But, to help get every owner of the original up to speed on the latest version, he will be offering Vector Tanks (Classic Version) as a free download during the week following the launch of Vector Tanks Extreme. Thanks Peter!
Have a look at the Vector Tanks Extremetrailer to get a taste of the action.
Vector Tanks Extreme has been submitted to the App Store and should be available for download sometime in the next few days at a price of $1.99.
Halfbrick Studios has been quietly releasing underrated games since its establishment in 2001. With games on Xbox Live Indie Games, PSP Minis, WiiWare, and the DS (among many others), Halfbrick knows their way around quite a few different systems. Now, Halfbrick's own Phil Larsen has confirmed with us that the Australian-based studio is ready to officially announce the first of "a whole heap" of iPhone games: Blast Off.
Blast Off is an arcade-style puzzle game in which the goal is to rescue stranded astronauts and carry them through a warpgate to safety. Gravity from nearby planets will affect your rocket's flight path, and the trick to figuring out the best solutions to these puzzles is using this to your advantage.
Here's a trailer for the game:
Blast Off got plenty of favorable coverage when it was released for the PSP minis service, with IGN calling it "the best PSP mini yet." New features aplenty will be added for the iPhone version, including global leaderboards and a brand new "Endless Mode."
We think that Halfbrick has a lot of promise as a studio, especially if one takes a look at their past releases and future games. If you own a PSP, check out this trailer for one of their PSP Minis releases, an excellent little game called Rocket Racing:
While Rocket Racing hasn't been confirmed as one of the "heap" of games being created for the iPhone by the developer, it serves as a good example of their talent as a studio and their knack for creating high quality, smaller games.
Kepa Auwae of Rocketcat Games joined us for our podcast this week and provide us some exclusive details about their next major Hook Champ update as well as their planned followup title.
In case you missed it, Hook Champ was listed amongst our list of best games of 2009.
In Hook Champ, you play as an Indiana Jones-like character equipped with a grappling hook trying to escape from various haunted ruins before you're eaten by a ghost. The core gameplay mechanic revolves around using your grappling hook and rope to swing through these ruins as quickly as possible.
Hook Champ's 3rd is almost complete, but Auwae provided details of the subsequent update. The 4th major update to Hook Champ will have a Minigore crossover in which you can play as John Gore in Hook Champ with a Minigore level set complete with gun. He describes it as a "Bionic Commando / Megaman style" gameplay within Hook Champ.
Meanwhile, the next game Rocketcat Games is going to set their sights on will be about trying to outrun an avalanche across a procedurally generated mountaintop. Terrains will include grassy plains, meadows, inside and outside of caves, as you try to escape the avalanche. The graphics will be upgraded from the 8-bit inspired Hook Champ graphics to a 16-bit inspired ("Super Mario") style. And don't worry — a Hook will be one of the tools at your disposal.
Canabalt [2.99] is getting online leaderboards and some additional obstacles in the not too distant future. We were recently given a sneak peek and shot some video of the new update which hopefully will be released any time now:
The new obstacles include a mangled billboards to run across, and a mysteriously massive object that rips apart an entire building which can be seen at the end of the above video. This new huge space-craft (if that is what it is) crashing in to your path has never failed at ending even my best runs since getting the update. If you haven't tried Canabalt yet, check out our review which features the full flash version of the game for you to try.
Touch Pets Dogs [Free] also has an update in the works that will be released very soon to add some holiday themed items as well as significantly changing the balancing of the food system.
Previously, Touch Pets worked a lot like an arcade game in that you needed to be constantly feeding small amounts of money in to it in order to play the game. With the food system retuned, players will get a full food bowl recharge every 15 minutes, putting the focus less on buying food to play the game and more on buying food if you want to trade food for in-game puppy bucks to outfit your dog faster. This aims at making the game play much more like Eliminate [Free] which recently saw energy recharge rates significantly reduced to facilitate similar "pay more if you really want to upgrade quickly" gameplay.
Developers Russ Menapace and Josh Presseisen have been hard at work following the release of their open-world 3D RPG Ravensword: The Fallen King [App Store]. The 1.1 update which features some new content and bug fixes has already been submitted, and hopefully will be available sometime soon.
For players who have completed the main quest of Ravensword, two secret areas have been added for you to find and explore: The Forest of Lamneth and the Dungeon of Lamneth. Each area is host to an array of even tougher enemies, including the new "Uber Ogre" which is said to be on par with the "Mega Troll". The "Uber Ogre" is a level 60 baddie that gamers will likely have to put their heads together in the Ravensword thread to formulate a strategy to bring him down.
Additional magical items have been added such as a lightning rune which you can use to zap enemies and an Amulet of Mana which allows unlimited use of magical runes. The catch? It just so happens that the lightning rune was lost in the Forest of Lamneth somewhere and the previously mentioned "Uber Ogre" is wearing the Amulet of Mana.
Several bugs have been fixed, and in the gameplay tweaks department the tap to target distance has been increased and the swipe sensitivity has been turned up for quicker turning. Adventurers with a keen eye will find treasures hidden around the town area, and the price of the starting dagger has been decreased. Also, Ravensword 1.1 will include an option to flip the screen orientation.
As mentioned previously, the update has already been submitted to the Apple although it's hard to say how they will handle the approval process as we get closer and closer to the year-end holidays– But we can keep our fingers crossed it gets released soon.
On the heels of the Modern Combat multiplayer update, comes exclusive details and screenshots about Ngmoco's upcoming 1.1 update for Eliminate Pro.
The 1.1 update which has already been submitted to Apple will offer a number of armor updates, new skins, higher ranks and a new map for the popular first person shooter. One of the most anticipated addition comes with a new arctic map called "Knox" (pictured above).
Players will also be allowed to try limited use "prototype" armor sets that come already upgraded. This lets you test a set of armor complete with upgrades for a limited time without having to invest a ton of time and money by going down a path you aren't sure you'll like. Beyond this, Ngmoco is introducing new armor mods that allow you to further enhance armors beyond the stat limits of current sets.
Special themed skins will also be available as seen here. And Ngmoco is also upping the rank cap of 50 all the way up to 70, to provide maxed out players loftier goals to shoot for. Finally, the ability to invert controls will finally be available.
The 1.1 update should arrive any day now. Apple seems to be rapidly approving app submissions ahead of the holidays.
Mountain Sheep has prepped Episode 3 of Minigore to be submitted this week. This 3rd episode finally adds a number of long promised upgrades and playable characters, each with their own health stages and unique beast modes. These include:
Jerry Gore – John Gore's elderly uncle, features voice acting by Arin "Egoraptor" Hanson
Enviro-Bear – first cross-promotion character from Justin Smith's Enviro-Bear 2010
Xmas Gore – John Gore wearing a Christmas costume and a bigger belly
Evan Hsu – Minigore tagline winner Evan Hsu
Sensei Evan – Grand prize of the unlockable characters
They've also offered 2 downloadable content characters including Santa and Kid Gore which use the Snowy Christmas version of the level. The new game requires you to unlock the additional characters by converting kills into a form of currency. Generate enough kills and you will be able to upgrade to the next character.
The game also introduces a night mode during which all the furries turn into speed flaming furries as well as a boss enemy called Wormwolf. Weapons now include Beast mode, shotgun and grenade launcher and each can be upgraded by 10 levels.
For example: Grenade launcher level 1 shoots one grenade, it could be classified as a precision weapon. Level 10 grenade launcher shoots several grenades to various directions and distances and it's more like a carpet bomb.
The following video shows day/night modes, Wormwolf as well as a few of the different characters.
Mountain Sheep is apparently taking these guest character appearances seriously and provided this teaser for a character coming in Episode 4:
They hope for Episode 3 to be out by Christmas and will be a free update for existing customers.
Illusion Labs is easily one of our favorite iPhone developers. Each of their iPhone titles so far have taken clear advantage of the platform's unique abilities in order to produce compelling gaming experiences. Illusion Labs has been responsible for the sort-of-platformer Sway as well as the finger skateboarding game TouchGrind. Both of these titles used multi-touch in a well-thought out control method that really complimented the gameplay of each.
When you look back at their first iPhone game Labyrinth, you may now consider it to be relatively primitive, but at the time of its release, Labyrinth really set the standard for ball rolling games. According to the developers, Labyrinth has been downloaded over 10 million times since its launch.
For their next game, Illusion Labs is going back to these early roots and is finally producing a sequel to the original ball roller with Labyrinth 2. After having spent some exclusive hands-on time with the game, I can already say it's great.
Like the original game, the goal of Labyrinth 2 is to get the silver ball from the starting point to the goal while navigating walls and avoiding the holes. In the first version, that was pretty much all there was to it. Labyrinth 2, however, adds a number of new elements that graduate the game from simple wooden toy simulator to arcade game.
These elements include cannons, bumpers, doors/switches, magnets, fans, resizers, merry-go-round, duplicators, lasers and more. Navigating the levels still require careful tilt control to avoid falling to your death, but are also more puzzle/goal driven as you must also figure out how to make it to the exit. Levels are timed as before so beating your individual high scores remains the motivator to play a level again. This time, however, they've added a ghost ball representation of your best time for you to directly compete against.
Beyond the compelling core gameplay, the developers have also added a couple of additional features that should extend the game's life indefinitely.
Like the original, players can create their own levels with a fully featured web-based editor. These free user creations can be sorted by popularity and rating and can be downloaded directly to your device. Finally, the game offers a very nice local multi-player setup over both bluetooth and Wi-Fi. This lets you play up to 4 people on the same board. In this case, all of the player's balls will appear on each other's screens — similar to ghost ball replays, but played in real time. All players movements are reflected on everyone else's devices so you know exactly how far ahead or far behind you are. First to the goal wins, and a running score is kept as you continue playing across any of the levels. I suspect this feature alone will cause the game to spread like crazy amongst offices and schools.
The developer's intro trailer starts with a cinematic and later shows actual gameplay:
There's been no official release date, but Labyrinth 2 should be coming soon and it's definitely one to look forward to.
Eurocenter, who brought us the popular Cocoto Kart Online, has given us an exclusive preview of their upcoming iPhone shooting gallery game Cocoto Magic Circus, a conversion of the Wii original.
The game offers an Arcade mode, which is progressive play through the various settings and challenges, as well as a Training mode that allows you to jump in and play any challenge in the game. Online multiplayer is also included, allowing you to engage in real-time matches with players around the world. (Unfortunately I was unable to test this component as there is no community at present, since the game has not yet been released.)
Early this morning 
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