"Just slide the blocks into the space that we've drawn". That's the simple premise of Qbism from Blowfish Studio. The only catch is that you're playing in a 3-d environment, and you're going to need all your spatial recognition skills to complete each level in this intense jigsaw style puzzle game.
Creating a Google Maps client on a modern Windows Phone faces a number of problems. Firstly, Google will have nothing to do with it, so everything has to be sourced by public APIs. Secondly, most phones will already have HERE Maps pre-installed, often with full offline country maps, making the online Google Maps slower and less convenient. However, the benefits of Google's POI database, StreetView imagery and traffic layers are all enough to make a good client worthwhile, and Clarity has produced just this, arguably blending the best of all worlds together into a seamless whole...
Level-based puzzle game? Check! Physics-based with momentum, arcs, and gravity? Check! Up to three stars for completing a level? Check! Cute graphics designed to appeal to the base nature of the internet? Check! Actually adds something to the flood of apps that followed 'Angry Birds'? Check! Does -- Wait a minute, does Catorize actually do something new and interesting with the physics puzzler genre? Yes it does.
There are many ways for you to browse through Facebook. American iOS users have had the opportunity to download Facebook's own 'Paper' client, which creates a magazine-like interface with their content. It might not be identical, but JDB Pocketware's Booklet client brings the idea of curated topics and subjects from Facebook to your Windows Phone. While the app is still labelled beta, there's enough here that I like that it's worth a closer look on AAWP.
Solitaire has a long history with Microsoft, being present in almost all the desktop GUI's since a mouse was introduced, to help give basic training on clicking, dragging, dropping, and window management. It was included 'out of the box' in Windows Mobile, and looking back, it's unusual that it has taken so long to arrive on Windows Phone with Redmond's blessing.
Hot on the heels of Rayman Fiesta Run comes another very highly rated game, this time debuting on Windows Phone and coming to iOS and Android afterwards. Deadlings has very high production values, addictive and challenging gameplay and a pay/IAP model that seems fairly well pitched. Cuddly zombies, spinning saw wheels of death, occasional blood and guts, plungers and platforms, teleport beams, alien spiders, it's all here in a tale of mock horror...
And so, it's a welcome return to a beloved character. Known by many, but enjoyed by only a few, it's been a long time since we saw him around these Windows Phone parts. So it's a 'hello, where have you been?' to Xbox Live. Because Ubisoft's latest platformer release on Microsoft's mobile platform comes under the Xbox Live banner. With so many big names having skipped the Redmond retainer and gone it alone, I wonder why Ubisoft has stuck with the plan? No matter the reason, Xbox Live integration is a cherry on top of a fantastic arcade game that is very well suited to a mobile touchscreen device.
Foundbite is an interesting little social network that pairs up the sounds of a location's images, and lets you share these soundscape visions with your friends both on the Foundbite network, but also by sharing links to the content to your friends on other networks.
Oooh, some superhero action on Windows Phone? Play as pretty much any of Marvel's Avengers? With some onomatopoeic action in the title? Count me in! Perhaps I shouldn't have been so hasty to review this following Steve's news posting this weekend, because Marvel Run Jump Smash is an ugly, merciless slice of code.
I think 'The Tiny Bang Story', from Colibri Games and Herocraft, is going to divide opinion between gamers. It's a wonderful scenario with lush graphics, but the game play is very light and superficial. If you are looking for a gentle game to while away the time, then this is worth a look.
