Alps and Aces- Two iPhone Apps Reviewed

Unlike many action-oriented iPhone titles, I had no problem with Snowboarding TNT’s controls. The title wisely forgoes on on-screen directional pad for accelerometer input. By rotating the iPhone along the vertical axis, players control the downhill trajectory of the game’s male or female athlete. Once airborne, participants can also tilt the device toward and away to induce one of the games’s thirty stunts. The only time players touch the screen is when they wish to preload a jump. From this crouched position a quick release will initiate an obstacle-clearing bunny-hop, while a protracted tap will send the on-screen protagonist skyward.

          Clearly, that’s a flesh-colored ski jacket. Otherwise a tramp-stamp would be evident.

While many snowboarding titles are inclined to focus on either racing or stunting, Snowboarding TNT incorporates the two seamlessly. Tricks are landed by leveling the iPhone, before the on-screen competitor descends to the ground, lending the game a slight physicality. However, too much stunting can consume seconds from the game’s timer, prohibiting players from finishing a run. Gamers can navigate through brightly colored gates, to add a few seconds to game’s clock.

Visually, each of the game’s seven courses display a modest selection as assets- players will be passing similar trees, rocks, and stumps- although backdrops change for each stage. The game’s menu screens are vibrantly drawn, while load times are amiably brief. Sadly, Snowboarding TNT’s framerate fluctuates wildly, and can take a dive after a wipeout in busy areas. Even in uncluttered regions, the game’s refresh rate never seems gratifyingly fluid. Although the game could benefit from a few additional elements (namely, online leaderboards and in-game music), Snowboarding TNT is certainly worth the current .99 cent price of admission.

              Namco should make a poker-related sequel. They could call it “Fish and Chips”

If you’ve been following our reviews of Namco’s iPhone games, you might have noticed a common theme. While their action titles are graphically competent, many suffer from a less than ideal control method. Both the on-screen directional pad and screen swiping schemes should be tried and convicted for the repeated attempts at assassinating both Pac-Man and Mr. Driller.

Yet beyond these control quagmires, Namco’s more relaxed diversions have excelled. Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima skillfully brought a Brain Age-style title on the touchscreen, while Rolling 5 Dice Poker adeptly brought a Yatzee-esque activity. While I’m not usually an admirer of card game variants, the amusingly-named Solitaire: Deck of Cods has rapidly ranked as one of my favorite commute-time distractions.

             No need to measure the weight of each catch, because fish have their own scales.