Wrenches are thrown in along the way, such as different colored blocks which only work with their own kind. Each level has a quota of blocks to eliminate, and a limited number of pushes with which to do so. Doing so eliminates those blocks, and adds more in this often results in chain reactions of blocks popping up and exploding away. The idea is to create blooms-seven blocks touching each other. If the blank space is touching multiple shapes, it’ll push them all out. This then adds one block, and pushes the other forward. The controls are simple: all you have to do is tap next to one of the hexagons, on a side that isn’t touching another of the shapes. iLounge Rating: B+.Įach level is a honeycomb-like grid of hexagons. For the $3 asking price, we recommend it. Overall, we liked Draw Slasher it’s a nice combination of action with stylish aesthetics and a funny story. We also found the ninja-inspired music to match the game well, and the sound effects are good too. There are several layers of background art, some of which move with Hanzo, while some don’t.
Meanwhile, on the iPad 2, they’re somewhat fuzzy. On the iPhone 4, they are pixelated-it looks like there’s no Retina Display support. We appreciate that the game is universal, and although we like the cartoony graphics, they leave something to be desired. While the game’s still enjoyable, adding falling limbs or new wounds and sounds with each swipe would drastically improve it. Because the enemies in Draw Slasher usually require at least a few swipes to destroy, the immediate feedback isn’t there. In games such as Fruit Ninja, there is a very immediate and direct response when you swipe: something gets cut in pieces, and there’s an accompanying sound. While we found the gameplay to be fun, there’s something missing. In addition to the story mode, there are task-based challenges, endless modes, and even an online multiplayer feature.
To get into this mode, you pinch in on the screen and then swipe the power you want to use it’s a pretty cool idea. Special powers can be used by entering Jujitsu mode once an energy meter has been filled. Along the way they drop XP, which can be used to level up. There are a number of different kinds of enemies some take more hits than others to die, while some have special defenses that require you to, for example, attack from the back. To move left or right, you simply tap in that direction, and to attack enemies you rapidly swipe at them. Rather than virtual buttons, all of the movement and attacks are controlled with swiping. The only App Store meme that seems to be missing are birds and pigs with attitude problems.Īs Hanzo the ninja, you must move across the side-scrolling village, destroying the invading armies of undead simians. As ninjas, pirates, monkeys, and zombies are all pretty much App Store gold, the developer worked them into its game as well: the enemy here is a horde of Pirate Monkey Zombies, and you control a ninja who must defeat them. The second game in this roundup, Draw Slasher: The Quest ($3, version 1.0) is an iPhone and iPad universal release from Mass Creation that combines a traditional platform game with hack-and-slash elements from titles such as Fruit Ninja. You may find it to be worth picking up simply to appreciate the art. For $1, it’s worthy of a limited recommendation. We only wish it was as fun to play as it is to look at. Clearly, the design team on this game has serious talent and vision-everything, even the credits screen, looks great, and the music matches the visuals a somewhat haunting electronic tune is pervasive throughout the levels. The backgrounds, platforms, even the red blob are very well drawn. There’s no denying that Deo is truly a gorgeous game it has a dark tone reminiscent of a Tim Burton movie. As you complete levels, you get to watch planets being assembled from smaller pieces as a modest reward. The jumping mechanic is imprecise, and it is literally the only thing that you do. This gameplay, while challenging, just isn’t that much fun it gets old pretty quickly. The level rotates, so to move you must jump in time with enough momentum to land on the safe spots. On each of the 90-plus levels, the goal is to get that blob to a safe platform and capture the level. You control a red blob with large black eyes. Strapped to a Meteor’s non-universal iPhone/iPod touch game Deo ($1, version 1.00) is a game that seems to get by more on its good looks than anything else.