Storm in a Teacup

Storm in a Teacup is a new app from the Macclesfield based company Chillingo. Developed by Cobra Mobile, the game has a simple, yet addictive structure to it. The aim of the game is to guide a teacup through 40 levels collecting sugar cubes, stars and other objects that are discovered on the journey. The main character sits in the cup and is moved either left or right dependant on which arrow on the screen is pressed. The teacup can also harness the power of the storms to give a handy boost in the air. As with any storm, it only lasts for a short while, but can be prolonged with short, sharp taps.

While playing through the Main mode, there are a number obstacles to get in the way and stop the goal being reached. These mainly come in the forms of environmental elements such as water and spikes. Enemies such as black clouds and sharks also hinder the adventure. Most can be dodged with ease, though if an enemy was to collide with the teacup, it would disintegrate and be sent to the nearest checkpoint. The difficulty in Storm in a Teacup has been built in such away that the game never gets truly frustrating and that in moments when repetitive dying is taking place, still remains fun to play.

Along with the main mode there is also a Survival mode. This isn’t available from the outset and has to be earned through playing the main mode. In Survival mode, the aim is to collect as many sugar cubes as possible in two minutes, while avoiding various obstacles such as spikes, water and enemies. This provides a nice break from the main game and brings with it an element of competition to get the highest score possible on each level.

Storm features a balanced difficulty curve which insures that the game gets harder as the levels progress in such away that is hardly noticeable until the first level is replayed after finishing the game. Storm in a Teacup whittles away those boring commutes to work with simple controls, tidy graphics and a good standard of level design. Compared to the likes of Angry Birds, there are too few levels, which hopefully will be rectified with future updates. For the price of £0.59p, Storm in a Teacup is a fun game to play and a nice addition to any iPhone/iPod/iPad. There is a lite version available but there are less levels to play and is heavily ad supported.

Dragons’ Den

Dragons’ Den. It has provided entertainment for millions of viewers of the BBC 2 programme and success for the elite who actually gain an investment from the business Dragons. Products and services are now available that would not have been without the show. Thanks to the BBC, addiction to Reggae Reggae sauce exists!

It would understandably be challenging to turn Dragons’ Den into any videogame, let alone a game for the iOS. The sales pitches and presentations are really what make the show something special and trying to emulate this in any videogame isn’t an easy task but it’s something that 2Way Traffic have taken up. Let’s not forget that there’s licensing issues around the use of the Dragons and it would depend to which series of Dragon’s Den 2Way Traffic use.

The game starts with the option to choose a Dragon, who gets the chance to make or break a person’s dreams. Unfortunately, the characters have no likeness to the Dragons in the UK and they are fictional. However, their business portfolios have a striking resemblance to the Dragons we know and hate. Depending on which Dragon is chosen will depend on which bids are successful as the game is very logical. If your Dragon is a retail magnet, then naturally those who are trying to open up a retail outlet will go for their offer over someone in the holiday industry.

Potential candidates can only leave with the amount of money they ask for, just as the television show. Much like Dragons’ Den on the TV, when making an offer the Dragons can put up half the money and ask for as much equity they think is reasonable.

Dragons’ Den pitches previous business ideas from history and it is up to the Dragons to invest or leave the idea alone. The success of the idea then determines how much profit is awarded or how much of a loss is taken. To not give the game away, 2Way Traffic has cut down the pitch to 4 or 5 lines of text, which the Dragons have to base their decisions on. This can be very misleading as it feels like something has been missed and investment have to be done purely on guesswork. The descriptions should have been longer and this would allow players to get a greater understanding of their potential investment.

All of the original TV music is in place, as well as the general look and feel of the Den itself. Fans of the series may find Evan Davis’s narration in their heads to give it the genuine feel to the game! Graphically, the game presents with decent looking 3D characters, reminiscent of the original PlayStation character models.

An investment decision is all about taking a chance knowing the facts and as much of them as possible. Playing the game is more like a game of chance. There is so little information given to make an informed choice of where to invest it is more pot luck in succeeding. When the investing is done, the game turns into a history lesson when it is revealed what the Dragons have put money on. Dragons’ Den is a brilliant concept for TV with up and coming inventions but on a game where pure luck and chance are the key factors to save the day, it doesn’t translate very well.

Spider Jack

It is safe to assume that the majority of people do not like spiders. Whether this is down to them having 8 legs or scuttling across rooms and up walls. Arachnophobia is one of the most common fears in people.

Spiders aren’t really the bad guys. Yes they are a little creepy and too fast to be natural; however, they do save us from countless flies and other bugs over the years. This helpful streak can also be seen in our hero – this cute little arachnid has two goals: collect stars and eat dinner. Jack has to use his natural gift of his web, plus a few man-made items such as hooks, bubbles and hairdryers to achieve this.

When Jack is swinging or hanging on his web, a quick swipe on the touch screen will cause the string to break. Timing is key to the game as a mistimed cut will cause the spider to fall and the level to be repeated. There are no “lives” or continues in Spider Jack so a level can be repeated as many times as it takes to feed Jack.

There are currently three main areas of Spider Jack each containing 20 standard levels and 5 additional levels that have to be earned from gifting to others or being gifted by someone who has the game. To give or receive a gift this has to be done from the game’s “Crystal” gaming service. The service gives the option to share with any friends who use the Crystal service, Facebook, Twitter or even from mobile phone contacts directly.

The levels themselves start off simple enough. The Barn level eases Jack into the ins and outs of successful fly catching and star collecting. Then as the levels are swung through, the difficulty increases and more obstacles appear. These can take the form of electricity and stars that only appear for a limited time. Even with the hurdles, most can easily be beaten in three or four attempts as there is a pattern to each challenge.

The cartoon style graphics are clean and well polished and do not require a lot of processing power, so this means the game does not slow down when played. As the games is designed for the iPhone and iPod Touch, the music sinks into the background and would not intrude on any music being played at the time.

This is a nice little game to play with no real frustrations to contend with. The only downfall with Spider Jack is that the game levels are easily beaten, there is currently no re-playability. That is until the new levels are released. The game does have Game Centre features to give a little extra playability, however the majority of trophies are picked up easily throughout the game. While Spider Jack lasts, it is a joy to play, and when the new levels are added it will give an extra life to the happy little spider.

Destructopus!

Octopi are solemn, intelligent and often found in the ocean. They are not ostentatious in anyway. The same cannot be said for Destructopus!, our hero in the new iOS game of the same name. Angered by the force of humanity, with a constant quest for oil and complete disregard for the delicate balance of nature, the one eyed cephalopod takes it upon himself to take back control.

Destructopus! is a huge Octopus who has come to rescue helpless animals from the hands of men by destroying buildings, stopping the onslaught of army helicopters, and by smooshing humans who fire rockets at him. Utilising giant claws, a huge beak and even laser beam eye powers, the aim is to destroy everything man made.

Each level has the same format, progress from left to right destroying buildings and collecting destruction orbs that determine the end of level rank. If there isn’t enough orbs, then the level will have to be repeated. The game is fun in short bursts as an iPhone app should be, however there is a feeling of repetitiveness when playing through all the levels as they are all very similar to the last.

There was a number of times when pressing the dodge button, the octopus did not react. This can be infuriating as the dodge is used to avoid on coming missiles. The slowness of the controls does at points affect the mood of the game, changing it from fun and entertaining to a frustrating experience. Granted as the game progresses there is an option to buy power ups to help Destructopus! speed through the levels, but a little tweak to fix the controls would have been much easier.

For such a tiny game it certainly has a large repertoire of extras. Power ups such as the previously mentioned laser eye and the fiery flame breath attacks all adds to the amusement, there is also an unlockable character in the form of a giant deranged looking panda. The only draw back is that these do come at an additional cost – around £0.59 for each power up! That’s the price for the game on it’s own.

What is initially paid, Destructopus! is a game that lasts for days. Yes, it is infuriating in points and paying for the upgrades does feel like you are being cheated but the game is at it’s heart, fun. That is what is important for a mobile game. It is a game that can be played in short bursts that will whittle down the hours on a train or while waiting for a friend.