While the iPhone is great at pretty much everything, one of the outstanding features of iOS is the App Store – particularly for gamers. There are thousands of great games available, whatever your preferences on genre are. From puzzles to RPG’s, iPhone app developers are constantly coming up with games that rival even those on consoles. But with so many to choose from, what should you be downloading? Well, the following list of 5 cool iPhone games released in 2012 should be at the top of your list.
1) Reckless Racing 2
If you’ve ever played 2010’s Reckless Racing on the iPhone and enjoyed it, the sequel is a must-have. If you have never played the game previously, forget about the first game and jump straight into Reckless Racing 2. There is a choice of 18 different vehicles, from small dirt buggies to highly-tuned super cars and 24 routes to put your driving skills to the test, including both dirt and tarmac roads.
The Arcade mode is still present from the first game and has 40 pre-defined challenges to get your teeth into. Single Event mode allows you to pit your wits against friends in race, elimination and hot lap events. Then there is Career mode – something the first game was lacking. Career mode is everything you would expect it to be and more; compete in races and earn money for new cars and upgrades to existing cars – a Gran Turismo style career mode method that has been tried and tested. Whether you like slick racing, or power sliding – this is the racing game you need.
2) Beat Sneak Bandit
What would happen if all of the world’s clocks were stolen by a crafty thief named Duke Clockface? Well, if your name was Beat Sneak Bandit you would have to steal them back! And guess what? It just so happens that you are Beat Sneak Bandit when you play this game. This rhythm/puzzle game has it all: great looks, excellent gameplay, challenging and most of all – fun! You have to tap the beat to sneak past security guards, trapdoors and anything else that Duke Clockface has in store. Over various different levels you must watch, listen and learn the rhythm to complete the game. Very addictive!
3) Saturday Morning RPG
If you’re into your retro games, or even if you not, Saturday Morning RPG is pure old-school fun. Set in a world inspired by 1980’s cartoons (He-Man and Transformers), this game is classic Japanese-style RPG for the iPhones, namely for the latest iPhone 4S. Your character goes by the name of Martin “Marty” Hall, a high school student with special abilities that allow him to channel magic through everyday objects. Unfortunately the evil Commander Hood has found out about Marty’s abilities and – like every good villain – wants them for himself. This means you (as Marty) must come through a series of devious plans set by Commander Hood and save the world. This game is unlikely anything else in the genre and a great game to have.
4) Total War Battles: Shogun
The Total War Series is big favorite with PC gamers who enjoy strategic warfare. Shogun is the iPhone’s take on the series and is as in-depth and detailed as the PC games. However, when it comes to gameplay, this game has more in common with Planets vs. Zombies, although that is no bad thing. Winning battles is all about the placement of soldiers and with a lengthy campaign to immerse yourself in; this game should keep you happy for a long time.
5) Beat Hazard Ultra
If you like music and arcades in equal measure, you will love Beat Hazard Ultra. From the outside looking in, the game seems like any other ‘spaceship shoots bad guys’ arcade game. However, what is clever about it is that levels and dynamically generated based on the music you are listening to, with enemies peppering you with gun fire to the rhythm of the beat – the more intense the song, the harder the level. Beginners are probably best of listening to Celine Dion – if you can bare that!
photo credit: hothardware.com
