Rockstar Games is celebrating Memorial Day weekend with a special sale on Grand Theft Auto 3 by lowering the price to $0.99, starting today through Monday, May 28th. The game normally retails for $4.99, so take advantage of this 80% off price before it’s too late.
Grand Theft Auto 3 is one of my all time favorite console games, and the Android port lived up to my expectations. I’ve sunk hours into this game when I was traveling, and it’s still fun to pick up and play. The touch controls are great, but the game also supports controllers. I’d suggest the Logitech Wireless Gamepad F710 (Amazon has it for around $40) which connects with a USB receiver or the OnLive Wireless Controller that connects with Bluetooth.
In other Rockstar Games news, we are still waiting for the release of Max Payne. We have been waiting on the Android version since last year and we thought it would be released on April 26th, but it keeps getting delayed. Hopefully the game will be arriving any week now.
Welcome back to our regular column Android Gaming Weekly, where we recap all the new releases and highlights every Wednesday. We post small bits throughout the week related to Android games, but readers have requested a condensed summary that makes it easier to keep up with all the latest news. Read on for this week’s best in Android gaming.
Top 7 New Games This Week
This week I’m testing out a new format. I always try to find the top rated games each week, but now I’m going to limit my recommendations to the Top 7 games. The number of quality games comes and goes each week, but I felt like 7 suggestions was a nice odd number that I could achieve each week. Let me know what you think of the new format in the comments below.
Machinarium
Developer says: “Discover the award-winning, steam punk world of Machinarium, navigating a clever little robot called Josef from the scrapheap into the city to save his robot girlfriend. Solve puzzles, quests, brain-teasers and mini-games to rid the city of the wicked Black Cap Brotherhood robots. Gorgeous hand-drawn graphics and animations bring the robot’s story to life, using unique comic bubbles and symbols to convey the plot.”
Taylor says: I’m going on a road trip this weekend, so I need a new puzzle game to burn up some time. The video sold me and I just handed over my $3.99. I’ll let you know how it was next week. Update: This game is awesome!
Developer says: “Mini Motor Racing plays like a favorite remote-controlled car showdown, combined with modern tech to nitro-boost your engines! Play multiplayer against up to four of your friends via WiFi! Race in campaign competitions for big rewards! Upgrade your skills and cars to win more! It’s all here in Mini Motor Racing.”
Taylor says: Reminds me of Micro Machines Racing, which I played for countless hours. Asking price is $1.99, but early reviews are good with a 4.3 average score.
Developer says: “You will start going fishing as Doreamon, Nobita or Shizuka and try to feed the beloved dinosaur Pisu. Besides casting the hook as deep as possible to collect coins and catch fishes while avoiding sharks, with the new gameplay, players will touch on fishing jumping out and flick them towards Pisu.”
Taylor says: I think I have a thing for Japanese game music. Game was so odd I just had to share it.
Developer says: “CREATE your own unique dream team, COMPETE against opponents from around the world, WATCH your team battle it out on the ice, BOOST your player’s passing, shooting, skating and other skills and get ready to hoist the Daily Trophy for the ultimate BIG WIN!”
Taylor says: I’m not even a fan of hockey and this game looks awesome. It’s free so you have nothing to lose. I’m installing this on my Transformer Prime right now.
Developer says: “Strap on your moon boots and fire up your nitro boosters! The real space race is about to begin! Sure there’s racing games… but then there’s racing games with powerups! Ever tried racing with homing missiles, land mines, bubble shields and gravity thrusters? Yeah, didn’t think so!”
Taylor says: It’s from the developer of Super Stickman Golf and it’s free. Graphics look simple, but gameplay looks addicting. Average early review score is 4.8.
Developer says: “Bubble-like circles, so called ‘Plopps’ emerge all over the place and start growing. When you tap on a Plopp, it explodes and a shockwave is unleashed. If other Plopps are hit by this shockwave they also explode causing big chain-reactions!”
Taylor says: This developer just uploaded four new games to the Google Play store and they all look pretty unique. Plopp looked the most interesting to me out of the bunch. It runs $1.25, so you might want to wait for more reviews to come in before you buy.
Developer says: “Are you tired of always and only cut fruit? No problem! You’re one step away from starting the final cutting experience! Run, Jump and Slice at the same time!”
Taylor says: Odd combination of running and slicing gameplay looks hard as heck. I think this looks pretty fun, and it only costs $0.99. The developer has a good track record, so I think it’s a safe buy.
Gameloft finally supports the ASUS Transformer Prime
This week Gameloft updated their popular MMORGP game Order & Chaos with a new dungeon called Sailen: The Lower City. More importantly, they finally added support for the ASUS Transformer Prime. Keep an eye on other Gameloft titles for future Transformer Prime support.
Speaking of Gameloft, we still expect NOVA 3 to be available any day now. The iOS version went on sale last week for $6.99 and we expect the Android version to cost the same. Check out the Gameloft Blog for first impressions of the game. (Gameloft, I will freaking love you if you release this on the Prime!)
Will Max Payne Mobile ever come to Android?
Another week and another delay. This game was supposed to be released in April, but it keeps getting pushed back. We were told several times that it would be available in previous weeks, but I honestly have no idea when it is coming out. Keep an eye on@RockstarGames for updates on the release. They seem pretty focused on Max Payne 3, so we might not hear anything for awhile now.
Shoot the Zombies arrives May 24th
It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t mention at least one zombie game this week. DroidGamers reports that Shoot the Zombies from Infinite Dreams will arrive on the Google Play Store around May 24th. This game is the sequel to Shoot the Birds, but this time you have to protect your pumpkin farm from a plague of undead, evil zombie birds.
Games I’m currently playing
Sonic 4 Episode II: This is the biggest release of the week so I just had to try it. I grew up on Nintendo and Mario, so I never really spent much time with Sonic. I played several Sonic games over the years, but I never finished one. I just got a wireless controller for the ASUS Transformer Prime and HTC One X, so look for my review in the coming weeks. Check out our Sonic 4 preview for a chance to win an Android tablet.
Welcome back to our regular column Android Gaming Weekly, where we recap all the new releases and highlights every Wednesday. We post small bits throughout the week related to Android games, but readers have requested a condensed summary that makes it easier to keep up with all the latest news. Read on for this week’s best in Android gaming.
New Games This Week
Zombro
I smell a sleeper hit. “Zombro is a puzzle game with a simple goal: Detach Zombro’s basic elements (torso, legs, and braiiiiiinnz) to jump, dodge, and roll while making sure he finishes each level in one piece!” The game features 50 puzzles, 30 items to collect, and you can outfit Zombro in cool gear (plus customize his brain).
We are in New Orleans this week for CTIA Wireless, so I thought it was appropriate to share a game about Jazz music. “My name is Trump and I’m a jazz man, and this is my story.” This unique platform game parallels with the real story of Louis Armstrong and follows the birth of jazz.
“Ricky Carmichael Motocross Matchup Pro is an all-new racing game where it’s just you against online competitors from around the globe! This includes the chance to bang bars with some the of best in the business, including Ricky Carmichael himself!”
Based on the popular flash game by Ninja Kiwi, but completely rebuilt and optimized for Android, SAS: Zombie Assault 3 offers 4 player co-op multiplayer for free. Need I say more?
Lots of people like Oven Break last week and this title appears to offer similar gameplay. “Still on a mission to be the best ninja ever, our funky-chicken-who-thinks-he-is-a-ninja has broken free from the farm and into the wilderness!”
“Destiny Defense: Angel or Devil is the addictive action-strategy defense game with a variety of attack systems and 2 unique storylines. By choosing each side, Angel or Devil, you will be able to feel double thrill and fun as you go through different game plays.”
“Zombie Granny is an addictively fun puzzle game that combines zany characters, dazzling animated effects of destruction, and tricky mechanical puzzles for a ghoulishly entertaining good time!”
Men in Black hits theaters May 25th and Gameloft has a new Android game to coincide with the release. This week they released a teaser video which shows a brief preview, but doesn’t provide many details on the gameplay. Look for Men in Black 3 to debut as a freemium game.
N.O.V.A. 3
Another day, another N.O.V.A. 3 teaser video. This time we get a look at some of the solo mission action. No release date has been given yet, but we expect it to land on select Android devices later this month.
Frontline Commando 2.0
Glu Mobile’s Frontline Commando has already been downloaded over 5 million times, and now they are gearing up to release version 2.0. The latest update should add several new levels, include new powerups, and end with a massive boss battle.
Last week at the Samsung Mobile Unpacked event, Asphalt 7 was briefly teased. This is Gameloft’s most popular racing game, so we have high hopes for the latest chapter in the series. We don’t have many details on the game yet, but we could know more when Samsung releases the Galaxy S III around May 29th.
Max Payne Mobile
Rockstar Games keeps pushing back the release date of Max Payne Mobile for Android, but tomorrow could be the big day. We heard a rumor it could come out at midnight, but Rockstar Games has been quiet on the matter. If you really want this game then check the Google Play store late tonight, but don’t be surprised if it was delayed again.
Games I’m currently playing
Dance Legend: This game came out last month, but I finally took the time to sit down and play it for awhile. I’m not a dancer, but I have always enjoyed music games and Dance Legend was a real blast to play. The game is free and includes several songs to get you started, but additional song packs will cost you money.
NBA Jam: EA Mobile finally updated NBA Jam to support more devices and I’ve been playing it non-stop the last couple days. The controls translate pretty well to a phone or tablet, and it’s just as fun as I remember when I was a little kid. I’m currently playing through the campaign mode trying to defeat every team and unlock big head mode. We are crossing our fingers that EA will eventually add an online multiplayer mode.
Welcome back to our regular column Android Gaming Weekly, where we recap all the new releases and highlights every Wednesday. We post small bits throughout the week related to Android games, but readers have requested a condensed summary that makes it easier to keep up with all the latest news. Read on for this week’s best in Android gaming.
New Games This Week
Make your dream school in Pocket Academy
Kairosoft is king when it comes to simulation games. They have a hardcore following that throws money at the screen with every new release, and Pocket Academy is the latest title in the series. This time around you manage your own school as you build classrooms, make clubs, and even decide the hot couple of the week. Early reviewers have given the game a near perfect score of 4.9.
Glu Mobile released Contract Killer: Zombies last year, but they recently upgraded the game to version 3.0 and tossed in a bunch of helicopter missions. This game is another mindless shooter, but it’s free and it has exploding zombie brains so grab it from the download link below if you need to kill some time.
Knockdown the standing arms at the end of the lane with the zombie head
Sticking with the undead theme, we have Zombie Bowling by G-Gee. This game looks absolutely ridiculous, but the developer actually has several other successful bowling titles, so maybe they know what they are doing.
Com2uS has been one of the top Android devs for awhile now and this week they ported over the popular iOS title Oven Break. You play the role of Ginger man who awakes in the witch’s magic oven and tries to escape. Gameplay consists of basic two button controls that let you jump and slide to avoid obstacles. This one might not be for everyone, but Com2uS normally produces great Android games.
An epic RPG adventure awaits you in Rule the Kingdom
Developer Game Insight International has become one of the leaders of freemium entertainment with several titles always appearing in the top grossing section of the Google Play Store. Their latest game Rule the Kingdom is a mix of RPG action, city-building, farming and storytelling. The graphics don’t look that good, but the game is still free and it has an average review score of 4.5. If RPG games are your thing, then you might want to check this out.
Japan’s number one RPG maker, Asobimo, released two of their more popular games in English this week. Celes Arca and Iruna Online are two massive-multiplayer-online RPGs that feature full 3D graphics. Celes Arca is the more popular of the two, which promises “10 trillion dressing patterns” for your character. Several users have reported trouble with getting the games to start, but those who got it working have given it high praise.
Just last week we saw the first teaser video for Gameloft’s N.O.V.A. 3, and this week we get new previews of single player and multiplayer modes. The big addition to mutiplayer this year is drivable vehicles including two-person jeeps and mechs. Gameloft says we should expect a May release, so look for this game in the coming weeks.
Max Payne Mobile landing tomorrow?
We have been waiting on Rockstar Games to release Max Payne since last year and tomorrow could finally be the big day. The game was scheduled to release last Thursday, but some last minute changes pushed the release date back. Keep an eye on @RockstarGames for updates on the release.
Eden to Greeeen arriving in Q2
Eden to Greeeen is a turn-based strategy game we first saw back at Mobile World Congress, and now we have a tentative release date. According to an update on NVIDIA’s TegraZone, we should see the game sometime in Q2. The game will be free to play, and allow players to level up their characters via in-app purchase. I had a lot of fun with an early demo, so I’m looking forward to checking out the final release.
Games I’m currently playing
Zombie Smash: I purchased this game last week when it came out and I haven’t put it down since. The gameplay is very simple and lets you pick up little zombies with your fingers and then fling them to their death. As you progress through the game you get to unlock more weapons and special FX that makes killing the zombies even more fun. The game runs $0.99, but it’s definitely worth the asking price.
Dark Meadow: We previewed Dark Meadow last week and it remains one of my favorite Android games. The graphics are the best we have ever seen and the twisted story line keeps me coming back. The game is free to play, but it looks like I have finally progressed far enough that I need to pay to level up my stats and weapons to make it to the 3rd level. I want to finish this game and see the ending, so I keep coming back.
Welcome back to our regular column Android Gaming Weekly, where we recap all the new releases and highlights every Wednesday. We post small bits throughout the week related to Android games, but readers have requested a condensed summary that makes it easier to keep up with all the latest news. Read on for this week’s best in Android gaming.
New Games This Week
Zynga releases “survival comedy” ZombieSmash
Today Zynga said they would be releasing ZombieSmash! to the Google Play Store later this week, and the game just went live. I haven’t had the chance to play it yet, but Zynga normally doesn’t disappoint. The game runs $0.99, but the teaser video makes it look pretty tempting. Zynga even says the game features the proprietary SplatterEngine, which “renders adorable cartoon blood and gore in a convincing and entertaining fashion.”
Kairosoft has a winning formula for mobile games, so you can’t blame them for sticking with it. Their latest 8-bit sim Cafe Nippon lets players find ingredients, make menus, and run their own restaurant empire. The game runs $4.99, but it provides endless hours of gameplay without any annoying in-app purchases or ads.
From Miniclip, “Hambo the war hero needs help rescuing his best friend Bacon from the enemy’s evil clutches! Make use of your deadly arsenal and destroy those who dare to oppose Hambo on his noble rescue mission.”
We missed this game last week, but the visual style is so damn cool I just had to share it. From the developer Mikrotie, “Tap on the screen to cast a rope, second tap makes you fling yourself to the direction of rope! Swipe the screen to swing and gain speed. Pinch to zoom and view the 3d environment.”
BMX Boy by Runnergames just came out two days ago and it has already racked up over 100,000 installs with an average review score of 4.7. The game looks fairly basic, but it has that twitch action gameplay that makes it addicting. Features include various cool tricks, 75 levels over 3 terrains, and simple two-button controls. BMX Boy is free to play, so give it a ride.
If you don’t feel like paying $0.99 for BMX Boy, then just grab StickMan Stunts. The game doesn’t have as high a rating as BMX Boy, but it appears to feature the same twitch action gameplay.
From Rovio, “A new moon rises and puts pigs in motion! If you thought it was hard to pop pigs in space before, just wait til they’re orbiting around the icy planets in these 10 new levels!”
Rockstar Games was supposed to release Max Payne Mobile on April 26th, but we are hearing rumors that it was pushed back a week. I guess we will find out tomorrow.
Leisure Suit Larry gets funded on Kickstarter
Austin based Replay Games announced this week that they hit their Kickstarter funding goal and will bring Leisure Suit Larry to multiple platforms, including Android. It might be awhile before the game is released, but you can follow the progress over on their Kickstarter page.
Activision’s award-winning Rigonauts comes to Android in May
Activision’s first Independent Games Competition produced an awesome physics game called Rigonauts that is now coming to Android. Developer Engient describes the game, “The story follows a band of small, hapless yet determined engineering Hobs (as in hobgoblins) as they steal the valiant ship, the Rigo in an attempt to flee the clutches of slavery and their former masters, the Komandants.” Droidgamers reports the game should be available in May.
Kairosoft keeps it going with Pocket Academy
If you can’t get enough of Kairosoft, they have a new game called Pocket Academy that’s supposed to hit the Google Play Store tomorrow. Not many details have been released, but it looks like another sim title where you run your own school.
Mini Motor Racing
DroidGamers reports that developer Binary Mill will be bringing Mini Motor Racing to Android later this year. A hands-on video is embedded above, but head over to their site for the full details.
Games I’m currently playing
Deer Hunter Reloaded: I grew up in South Texas, but I have never been deer hunting in real life. I absolutely love Glu Mobile’s Deer Hunter series, and the latest Reloaded title has not disappointed. I’m a little annoyed that they made it a freemium title, but you can still progress through the game without having to spend any money.
Cafe Nippon: I had to see what all the Kairosoft fuss was about so I purchased Cafe Nippon. As many has previously said, these games are terribly addicting. I’m not sure why I have wasted so many hours on Cafe Nippon, but I’m almost finished with the 11 year phase and I have two restaurants that are ranked #1. I will say that I enjoyed the lengthy replay value without being forced to make in-app purchases. It’s nice to see someone do paid games right.
Welcome back to our regular column Android Gaming Weekly, where we recap all the new releases and highlights every Wednesday. We post small bits throughout the week related to Android games, but readers have requested a condensed summary that makes it easier to keep up with all the latest news. Read on for this week’s best in Android gaming.
Celebrate baseball season with Homerun Battle 2
Homerun Battle 3D is one of my all-time favorite games for Android and I’ve been waiting on the sequel for a long time. I can’t believe it slipped past us, but Homerun Battle 2 actually hit the Google Play Store a couple weeks ago. The game is free to play, features customizable characters, includes 6 different modes, and brings back the online battles that we loved. Go download it now.
I’ve been looking forward to the remake of Max Payne on Android for a long time, so I was happy to see Rockstar Games announce it would be available in the Google Play Store on April 26th. ”The full classic Max Payne PC experience, Max Payne Mobile has been optimized for both iOS and Android devices and features HD graphics, high-resolution textures, Social Club connectivity and user-customizable controls,” Rockstar said in a statement. The iOS version went on sale today for $2.99, so we expect similar pricing when it comes to Android.
Spacetime Studios releases Dark Legends
From the developer that brought you Pocket Legends and Spacetime Legends, comes a new MMORPG called Dark Legends. The latest release from Spacetime Studios lets you rise as part of the Vampire Nation and fight to survive against a world that has turned against you. If you don’t have an Android device, you can also play Dark Legends in the free Chrome Browser version.
If you love free casual games, then you might want to check out POGO Games from EA Mobile. This free title feature 4 different games including Poppit!, Word Whomp, Turbo21, and Sweet Tooth 2. Members of POGO.com can also access a 5th game called World Class Solitaire. I’m not a huge fan of these types of games, but those that have installed it gave it an average rating of 4.3.
I normally don’t get excited over another tower defense game, but Hexage has always been one of my favorite developers. This week they previewed their next title called Radiant Defense, which features over 300 waves of aliens across 10 unique locations. PocketGamer reports that Radiant Defense will be free to play later this month, and players will be able to download packs of additional weapons through in-app purchases. While you wait on this game, be sure to check out some of Hexage’s previous titles including Robotek, Radiant, and EVAC.
Discover hidden treasures with American Pickers
If you are a fan of the Discovery Channels hit show American Pickers, then check out this free game that just debuted last week. The game follows Frank and Mike as they travel across 12 states and 24 unique locations searching for buried treasure. Buyers should beware because the free game only includes 3 maps before players are asked to spend money on additional levels. Some have complained about problems downloading the additional map packs, so you might want to just preview the free levels before handing over any money.
AirMech enters alpha testing, coming to Android this summer
Carbon Games has been testing their new RTS-action game AirMech for PC, but JoyStiq reports an Android version is coming this summer. Check out the teaser video above to get a feel for this hybrid game, or just install the Chrome version and try it for yourself.
“The best & the original” Tower Defense from Com2uS
There are thousands of tower defense style games on Android, but Com2uS claims they have the original and the best. Their take on the popular genre features 40 campaigns, 7 challenge maps, 4 different game play modes, 9 towers, 10 enemy units, 4 special weapons, and 5 different world themes. Tower Defesne: Lost Earth is free to play, so go grab the game and see if that claim is true.
This week Ilusis Interactive Graphics released their first Android game called Jeff Tailfin Racers. This game is an exclusive to NVIDIA’s Tegra Zone and features enhanced effects for Tegra-powered devices such as motion-blur, high-resolution textures and up to full 1080p HD graphics rendering. I played an early beta of the game and it reminded me of Mario Kart under water, but the controls were not very responsive and the powerups were confusing. The game is currently available for $2.99, so you might want to wait on some more reviews to appear before you dive in.
Sega reveals special ”Episode Metal” level for Sonic 4
We have already covered that Sega will be releasing Sonic 4 Episode II this summer, but this week they tweeted that players who have Episodes I and II installed on the same device will gain access to a new level called “Episode Metal.” Look for Sonic 4 Episode II to be available for Tegra-powered devices in May, followed by a wider release to more devices in June.
Gamevil publishes some of the most popular RPGs on Android, so we expect their latest release to do quite well. Advena is a free to play game that offers Party Play Action RPG. The game lets you choose 5 unique heroes that are all simultaneous playable and offers an extensive world map that features 200 different stages. It doesn’t appear the game offers HD graphics like Zenonia 4, but it’s still free and the early reviews are good.
Take the hot-seat with Football Manager Handheld 2012
I don’t like soccer, but I know we have a ton of global readers that do so I thought we should share Football Manager Handheld 2012. This game from SEGA allows players to take over any club from a choice of leagues in 12 countries, and assume full control of transfers, training, tactics and managing your team live during matchdays. Early reviews say the game is highly polished and it currently maintains an average review score of 4.5.
Helium Boy: Bertil Hörberg is a one-man game studio that deserves to be recognized. Helium Boy is one of the best platformer games I have played on Android, and it’s a shame that awesome titles like this fall under the radar. This game features a boy and his balloons, who are being chased by ninjas. Grab the free demo below that includes the first stage, then buy the paid version to explore the rest of the game.
Gunman Clive: I mentioned Gunman Clive last week and I went ahead and purchased it. It actually lived up to the funny trailer and it was totally worth the $1.99 asking price. I was out of town this week on vacation, so I’m still playing it to try and finish the 8 levels.
