Bad Hotel

Bad Hotel

Bad Hotel is a iOS port and while at first glance it might not seem like much to look at it does have a certain charm to it. The unique gameplay lends itself perfectly to quick bouts of playing, but the game can also become horribly addictive. The generative audio is also a nice touch, although at times the tunes can sound a bit wonky. The game is sold at a bargain price so it is well worth checking out for yourself.

Gameplay: Fast, frantic and surprisingly addictive.

Graphics: Simple but charming.

Sound: The audio depends on your playing style

Arcadecraft

Arcadecraft

Arcadecraft is a nice take on the management genre, but there is a certain amount of tedium involved. Watching your arcade thrive and grow is very satisfying, but most of your time is consumed by emptying the cash from machines and tossing out troublemakers instead of making in-depth management decisions. Hopefully future updates will add some more locations and customization options.

Gameplay: Running an arcade is fun, but your space to work with is very limited.

Graphics: Plenty of different machines and ways to customize the look of your arcade.

Sound: Manages to capture the chaotic atmosphere of an arcade

Skyhill (Mandragora)

Skyhill (Mandragora)

We’ve been keeping a close eye on Skyhill, the roguelike survival horror title from Mandragora, so naturally we couldn’t refuse the opportunity to try out a playable version of this title. The game opens with the protagonist, Perry Jason, booking into the VIP suite of the Skyhill hotel while on a business trip. From the 100th floor of the hotel Perry witnesses the biological attack on the city that turns everyone else into slavering monsters. Driven from his room by hunger, Perry only has one way to go, down

Pinball FX2 – Marvel’s Ant-Man

Pinball FX2 – Marvel’s Ant-Man

Zen Studios know a thing or two when it comes to designing original and enjoyable pinball tables and Ant-Man is no exception. It features an open playing field, plenty of challenges and some very nice visual elements. Once again this is a table that will appeal to pinball lovers even if they are not necessarily fans of the Ant-Man license.

Gameplay: The table is a lot of fun and features plenty of challenges to master.

Graphics: Makes very good use of the Ant-Man license.

Sound: Good music and very decent voice acting

Pinball Arcade – Core Pack

Pinball Arcade – Core Pack

Although one of the tables in the core pack is already available for free, it is more than worth it for the other three. Theatre of Magic is perfect for introducing newcomers to the addictive nature of pinball while Ripley’s Believe It or Not has something for everyone. Even Black Hole which looks pretty basic by today’s standards has some very unique gameplay elements to keep you hooked. Overall a very solid selection of tables that looks and plays great.

Gameplay: Four great tables, packed with hours of addictive gameplay.

Graphics: Faithful reproductions of classic tables.

Sound: Distinctive audio with some great speech samples and effects

Pinball Arcade – Tales of the Arabian Nights™

Pinball Arcade – Tales of the Arabian Nights™

Tales of the Arabian Nights might look like a complex table, but it actually has some very easy to grasp rules. Even inexperienced players should have no trouble reaching the wizard mode after putting in some practice, but there is enough variety to keep you coming back for more. This is a very sought after table in real life which makes it even more incredible that this faithful digital version is absolutely free.

Gameplay: The table features a great design with easy objectives for beginners.

Graphics: A faithful reproduction of a great looking table.

Sound: Distinctive audio with some great speech samples and effects

Revolution Ace

Revolution Ace

I can’t deny that I had a lot of fun with Revolution Ace but it is definitely not a game that will appeal to everyone. The lengthy single player campaign is good, but it is the innovative multi-player modes that really steal the show. Whether in Versus or Battle Chains mode, challenging a human opponent is quite addictive. If you can overlook the rather generic visuals and soundtrack you’ll find a good, old school shooter lurking underneath.

Gameplay: Feels just like an old school arcade shooter.

Graphics: The graphics look a little bland despite using the Unreal Engine.

Sound: Fitting but not particularly memorable

Ten Questions With… Dan Stakins (Epic Dragon)

Ten Questions With… Dan Stakins (Epic Dragon)

Creating a MMORPG that is playable on just about any device with a browser and an internet connection is quite a time consuming task, especially by a team of only two people! However, Dan from Epic Dragon graciously took some time to answer our questions about the MMORPG in question, FlameFrost

Pinball FX2 – Super League

Pinball FX2 – Super League

Zen Studios have been on a roll with great pinball table and Super League is no exception. Even if you are not a fan of football you’ll appreciate the flow of the table and the multitude of scoring opportunities. The football theme has been expertly interwoven with the gameplay in a way that not only makes sense but is very addictive as well.

Gameplay: A great table with nice ramps and an abundance of multi-ball opportunities.

Graphics: The different designs for each football club looks excellent.

Sound: Catchy music and nice sound effects recreate the atmosphere of a real football match

Pinball FX2 – Star Wars™ Pinball: Heroes Within Pack

Pinball FX2 – Star Wars™ Pinball: Heroes Within Pack

These are not the first Star Wars themed tables by Zen Studios, but they are certainly some of the best. This time you get four tables instead of the usual three and each one of these offers hours of gameplay. With so much variety and great table themes in the set, it is hard to pick a favorite and I found myself bouncing back and forth between tables all the time. If you are a fan of pinball and love Star Wars then this is an essential purchase.

Gameplay: Four Star Wars themed tables with great layouts.

Graphics: Another excellent use of the license.

Sound: Some of the speech snippets sound a bit “off,” but overall it is a great effort