Touch Arcade

If I sound like I'm being too hard on Steam Punks, I don't mean to be. The thing is, when you invite a very direct comparison to another game, it's hard not to, well, compare. Taken as its own thing, this is an okay side-scrolling action game for your mobile device, even if it is incredibly rough around the edges.

Skulls of the Shogun is a terrific game. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it's a very stylish strategy game with enough content and bite to keep a solo player happy for a long time, and a great spread of multiplayer maps and options to satisfy those with a multiplayer urge. Its accessibility makes it great for someone looking to get into the genre, while the challenge of completing everything should provide a robust feast for the veterans.

The most impressive part of the gameplay comes in the form of various punching bags that you hold up by the string and move around the Ninja as he learns to gauge his punches and kicks without falling over, which he will do less and less the more that you train him.NaturalMotion has created something very impressive and they clearly want to show off their little Ninja and what he can do.

I'm not sure what else to say in this review, because I don't want to spoil anything at all. Icycle: On Thin Ice is a wonderful game from start to finish, and one of those rare games that, as soon as I finished, made me want to discuss what it means with others.

Its true beauty is in its simplicity. It has a unique strategy element that looks deceptively simple but offers a quite complex system of strategies and moves depending on how far you can think ahead. It's one of those rare strategy games that anyone can pick up and play and find an infinite number of ways to tackle its challenge provided that they know how to play Tic-Tac-Toe.

Despite my small issues that have spilled over from the remake's original platforms, I sincerely hope there are more solid ports like Castle of Illusion down the line. It's incredible how well this game was handled, as playing it on a Retina Display feels identical to any other platform. The lines of mobile and console games are blurred even further as time goes on, and games like Castle of Illusion help lead the way.

I also hadn’t played After Years before and was fully expecting this to be a wondrous romp through nostalgia. Unfortunately, that feeling never came while playing through After Years. I can’t pinpoint which of my above issues lead to this absence, but regardless, without that nostalgia all you’re left with is a mediocre at best RPG with too much recycled content. Huge fans of FFIV will probably want to check it out After Years regardless, but honestly, I don’t think you’re missing much.

The simple fact is Space Chicks is an awesome endless runner with great presentation, highly approachable controls and just enough platforming elements and difficulty to keep players coming back for more. I highly recommend you give it a try.

That said, if you were one of the people who liked the gameplay in the first game but couldn't get behind the free-to-play model, here's your chance to vote with your wallet and get a completely IAP-free Ace Patrol in exchange for some of your hard-earned cash.

Fist of Awesome embodies the word fun; everything about it. It's important because it's a personal reflection of its creator, and not because it's doing anything ground-breaking in the genre. It engages, makes you laugh, and stands out without trying too hard. Did I mention it plays exceptional well on iOS?