The Week That Was: 27/02/10 – 05/03/10

Posted on March 6th, 2010. Written by Damon.

Proudly sponsored by Chillingo Ltd

Radio Flare REDUX is out now on the App Store – $2.99

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Intro

We have a brand new sponsor, Chillingo! Look out for this segment to be continued for months to come. Thanks guys!

This week has seen a number of games come out to escape being totally dismissed as we are all looking at GDC to find out the future of iPhone gaming. Ironically enough all three games I have included this week have been known for quite some time with previews on various sites. Rayman 2 from Gameloft arrived but has been slammed for dodgy controls so I’m taking this opportunity to show off some of the other great games out this week!

Raging Thunder 2 - $4.99

Raging Thunder 2 is the sequel to the very early released Raging Thunder. The original title never really took off as it was released in the age of Fastlane Street Racing and other titles. Raging Thunder 2 has come out at a perfect time, in a time when we are getting mostly simulation racers this arcade racer is just what we needed for a break. This game is all about racing around made up tracks with boosts and the ability to smash other cars out of the way. What’s even better is that it has been greatly improved from the original title, even if the tilt controls aren’t the best ever in the world.

Raging Thunder has a great sense of speed as the screen blurs at fast speeds and this is what really makes this a great game. This fast paced feeling is vital for me in arcade racers and Raging Thunder has hit it right on the head. With 6 cars and 12 different tracks there is quite a bit of racing to do in various game modes, even though Career mode is where you spend the bulk of your time. $4.99 is the same price as NFS: Undercover, an obviously better game, but this is about as good as it gets with these fun arcade racers. If you enjoy this racing genre then this is a must have buy.

Astro Ranch - $2.99

Astro Ranch is the latest game by TagGames who have been raving about this title for many months. Finally, we are able to see what all the talk was about as they attempt to take Farmville to space! Unlike many farm games on the App Store this game finally has unlocked the full potential of this genre and could realistically take the battle to Ngmoco’s upcoming game We Rule. Astro Ranch is a fully 3D game that features everything we love in Farmville with lovable cartoonish graphics that for me actually make repeatedly clicking on crops a fun task to do.

Astro Ranch does not run on real time which is good for those who do not like being restricted by time to be successful at the game. Farming in space is more fun as there are more activities to do. Whether you want to go shopping in town, do some odd jobs for other residents or even a bit of fishing you can. This game has an unlimited amount of fun as you try and build up a large farm and keep it safe from bugs and invasions. While the game can be a struggle to load up at times it will hopefully be fixed in an update. This is the true farming experience, definitely one to consider for those addicted to the Facebook apps.

Radio Flare REDUX - $2.99

Radio Flare REDUX is again another sequel to a previous iPhone title, Radio Flare. This title is one of the first to incorporate music into a game that didn’t involve tapping dots to the beat. Radio Flare REDUX is a greatly improved version which features more of everything while keeping the same shoot ‘em up game style that we loved in the original. I bet you are wondering how exactly this game uses music? Well you play each level to a techno or dance track by a well known DJ and enemies come out with the beat, which you must then destroy and avoid getting hit.

Radio Flare isn’t your ordinary space shooter, with a unique control system that works very well. Your left hand moves your ship while the right hand when held on the screen locks onto ships which then create combos when they explode (By removing your finger from the screen). It is a great concept and is perfect to make the user think of a strategy to do well. With great graphics and 30 levels featuring some great tracks this is a pretty decent title that I enjoyed with my short time with it. This game is also cheaper than the original so you are getting a better value for money.

Other Notable Releases this week Include:

Rayman 2: The Great Escape by Gameloft

The Price is Right 2010 by Ludia

Ragdoll Blaster 2 by Backflip Studios

Cocoto Magic Circus by Eurocenter

Stay tuned next week for the twenty-second installment of ‘The Week That Was’. If you have any suggestions to improve the segment please either email me at damon@razorianfly.com or submit a comment below. Thanks!