Pocket Gamer Guide to Mobile Games and Apps / Issue 22

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Issue 22 October 2011º

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Our pick of the best mobile games going The hottest games from the latest issue of this magazine News, reviews and more

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your mobile now: Text PGAMER TMOB to 60300

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Your Guide To Mobile Games is published by Steel Media Ltd. For advertising or other enquiries relating to the magazine contact Chris James – chris@steelmedia.co.uk All information is correct at time of going to press. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission of Steel Media Ltd. No responsibility will be accepted for any errors or omissions, or comments made by the writers. Views expressed are not necessarily the views of the operator. ©2011 Steel Media Ltd.

Welcome to issue 22 of the Pocket Gamer guide to games & apps, brought to you by the team of experts at www.pocketgamer.co.uk.

For us, any time is a good time to discover the true potential of your mobile phone. So dive in and soak up the brilliance of the content we’ve selected for you this issue – from the best apps to the finest games for Java and Android, we’ve got plenty to keep your mind off the stresses of everyday life. Simply sit back, download and enjoy!

João Diniz Sanches Editor-in-chief | Pocket Gamer

Watch out!

This icon means there is more related content on the Net. Just click on it to go straight to the site!

OCTOBER 2011

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One

on

To play now Android Three One Grand Prix Story Developer: Kairosoft Publisher: Kairosoft

When you think about it, the worlds of F1 and sim management gaming are made for each other.

Kairosoft clearly thinks so too because it’s turned its expertise in management sims to the absurdly complex F1 environment and come up with Grand Prix Story. So, in charge of a small racing team, your role is to deal with all of the off-track aspects and work your way up the paddock in the hope of dominating the sport, Vettel style.

It’s brilliant fun.

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PewPew 2

StarFront: Collision HD

Pixel perfect, twin-stick shooting.

That’s the simplest and most direct way to explain this hugely addictive creation. Levels each have a unique twist, ranging from claustrophobic battles in enclosed, rocky paths to being tethered to a bouncy wire with no option but to duck and dive around bad guys.

Controls are thankfully immaculate but the raw, old-skool stance may prove too intense for anyone other than serious gamers with itchy laser fingers.

Getting such a full-fat realtime strategy experience on your phone is an astonishing achievement.

And where this title most succeeds is in its intuitive controls.

Everything, from upgrading bases to ordering soldiers, is handled by tapping directly on the unit and then either moving it with another tap or assigning an action using contextual menus. Strategy veterans won’t find novelty, but they will get a satisfying and well-paced tactical fest.

Two

Developer: JF Geyelin Publisher: JF Geyelin

Developer: Gameloft Publisher: Gameloft

6 Great Games Six Two

Five

Two

Three Four

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Airport Mania:

First Flight

Developer: Reflexive Entertainment Publisher: Amazon Digital Services

Ever had to wait in a busy airport for a delayed flight? Ever muttered that if you were in charge things would run as smooth as WD-40 coated jelly? Your time has come.

Airport Mania gives you the chance to prove your worth as you try to manage a series of increasingly complex airports, keeping on top of departures, arrivals, fuelling, maintenance and passengers’ mood by improving facilities on your way to becoming a lord of logistics. It’s manic but great.

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Mr Karoshi

Orbital Defender

Here’s something a little bit different.

Your aim here is to kill the eponymous suicidal salaryman (a Japanese term for cubicle office workers) in the most efficient way.

Impale him on spikes, squash him under heavy blocks, electrocute him into a charred black heap…

The options are considerable and most levels can only be solved by setting up a complex and deadly chain reaction. Dark in theme, yes, but also unique, engaging and even rather amusing.

You play as a satellite orbiting a planet in the centre of the screen. By tapping the screen in any direction you can fire at any incoming threats.

Meteors, asteroids, and alien craft all qualify as space fodder. The trick is that you can’t control the speed at which you orbit, or change your satellite’s course in any way. This means you can’t fire over or past the planet you’re defending without quickly pulling a Grand Moff Tarkin. As in life, the aim is to avoid blowing up your own planet…

Five

Developer: YoYo Games Publisher: YoYo Games

OCTOBER 2011

Developer: Addictive Zone Publisher: Addictive Zone

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

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Rocking games for your mobile

Catan USM Android

Sonic Advance

1

£2.99

text SONICADVANCE to 22222

Bejeweled

£2.99

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text BEJEWELED to 22222

Tetris All ‘board the trade train

Strategy feast It’s taken over a year, but finally Android gamers are able to have a taste of the official adaptation of Klaus Teuber’s award-winning boardgame Settlers of Catan.

Catan is a trade-heavy strategy game for up to four players on one handset. It sees each player trying to expand across a small island, building up towns, mining resources, and getting wool in trades. The idea is to build up a settlement on a newly populated island – building roads, towns, and villages by trading sheep, bricks, wheat, and wood.

It’s a mixture of luck and strategy, with a scoring system designed to ensure tight matches between at least two players, although those with more experience will likely triumph over newcomers.

The original boardgame is often described as one of the best

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‘gateway’ titles for those wanting a bit more spice than the traditional giants like Monopoly or Risk, and comes highly recommended. It’s won countless awards over the years for its fast, easy-to-play (yet deep) nature, so if you’re after something a little tactical without being completely overwhelmed with rules, it’s certainly worth checking out.

Catan for Android has been recently updated on the Android Market, with the first expansion pack, The Seafarers, available as an in-app purchase. What’s more, the Android version comes with three different board types as a bonus so now you can see what the original German edition looks like when compared to the American/ European versions, without having to import a copy from overseas to do so.

Now that’s value…

£2.99

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text TETRIS to 22222

EA Sports FIFA 11 £0.99

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Pac-Man Championship Edition £2.99

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Bubble X Mania Deluxe £2.99

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365 Board Games £2.99

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JAWS

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text FIFA11 to 22222

text PACMANCHAMP to 22222

text BUBBLEXMD to 22222

text 365BOARDGAMES to 22222

£2.99

text JAWS to 22222

Need for Speed Shift HD £4.99

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Bonsai Blast HD

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text NFSSHIFTHD to 22222

£2.99

text BONSAIBLASTHD to 22222

Destroy Gunners SP Shade Inc Android

The joy of Mechs

The nuts and bolts of it Ah, the thrill of power. Controlling a giant Mech, the aim of Destroy Gunners SP is to shoot, blow up, and otherwise destroy everything that moves across an impressively realised landscape.

You control your mechanical pal via an on-screen thumbstick to move forward, with on-screen buttons for strafing to avoid the stream of rocket fire you’re usually under. You shoot by trailing your thumb across the screen to guide a crosshair. They may not sound like the simplest of controls, yet they prove effective in practice.

The overall aims of the missions may change, but fear not, action bot junkies: there are always some robot explosions involved. So if you’re the sort of person who can happily blow things up for hours on end this one’s for you.

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There’s a weird little sub-genre of puzzle games where the developers obviously started with someone else’s idea, decided the game needed a bit more of, well, everything. You know, for the hell of it.

Set against a throwaway story and daft 1920s steampunk production values, Sir Roscoe J.

OCTOBER 2011

Cream of the crop

Fluffington III’s – or Cranky Cat to his chums – game is a case in point.

It essentially appears to be a variation on your standard match-three puzzle game, where the things that make it different appear to only be there to be weird.

Still, it’s smart, cheery, and colourful, and there’s enough originality in the gameplay mechanics to make it stand out. The sheer amount of content it packs in certainly doesn’t hurt, either. One to watch.

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

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What’s And10 to Turn to page t it learn all abou

Meet the latest addition to the Samsung smartphone family…

White New look, same awesome performance Gorgeous, isn’t it? But don’t judge it on looks alone because this is so much more. In the Samsung Galaxy S II White you’ll find unrivalled smartphone technology, wrapped up in an irresistible outer shell that’s been given a fresh lick of paint in order to create an irresistible new look.

Of course, beneath that shell you can count on the same standard-setting smartphone performance that’s been celebrated worldwide. So the 1.2GHz dual-core processor still runs the show you get to enjoy on the exquisite Super AMOLED Plus display,

while the latest Android operating system makes this handset a breeze to interact with.

In fact, whether you’re gaming, catching up on your social networking responsibilities, busily working away from the office, browsing the net or checking out the latest apps, there is nothing the Galaxy S II can’t handle with unprecedented ease when it comes to smartphone duties.

So make no mistake: the Galaxy S II White may boast gorgeous looks, but there’s also plenty of substance under that very pretty face…

Tech Specs Dimensions: 125.3x66.1x8.49mm Weight: 116g Display: 4.27-inch Super AMOLED Plus Resolution: 480x800 Memory: 16GB Flash + microSD (up to 32GB) Camera : 8-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (front) Video: Full HD (1080p) @ 30fps Connectivity: 3G, Bluetooth 3.0 + HS, USB 2.0, Wi-fi Sensor: Accelerometer, Light, Digital compass, Gyro

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OCTOBER 2011

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

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Android market

Get to know…

Your gatewayf to a world oces new experien

Head along to www.pocketgamer.co.uk to get loads more ‘How to’ guides What’s Android? It’s an operating system (OS) that’s for your Android continually developed by Google to get the best out mobile

of the powerful smartphones that run it. One key advantage of an Android device like the Galaxy S II White (see page 8) is the availability of apps from the Android Market. This is an Android-specific online software store where you’ll find over 250,000 apps to download – and because Android is now one of the fastest growing OSs around, the choice will just keep getting bigger.

On most models the ‘Market’ app will come pre-installed, giving you instant access to that massive number of applications that will transform the way you use your Android mobile.

Apps span a wide range of categories – anything from the incredibly useful to the incredibly silly (and not forgetting games, of course) – and can be downloaded (for free or purchased) directly onto your phone. Android Market is simple, it’s huge and it will unlock the potential at the heart of your Android handset!

Getting STARTED Before you can buy anything, you naturally need to register your details with the store. This is where Google has already got its foot in the door, since the majority of us have registered with Google at some point in the past – either to buy something using the Google Checkout or to get ourselves a Gmail account. So it’s quick and easy to become a registered buyer and get straight to the shop front.

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Browsing They might be cheap, but you still need to know what you’re spending your money on when purchasing an app. A good description is really down to the developer of the app, but you also get screenshots and other users’ reviews (and ratings) to help you make up your mind.

Of course, if it’s games you’re looking at remember that you can also check out the reviews on PocketGamer.co.uk.

Turn to page 18 to find some apps to get you started…

Buying This is very much linked to the Getting Started section, as most of the information the Market requires in order to sell you something is entered at the beginning. Registering a card carries that info over to the Market store, and once you’ve hit the ‘Buy’ button you’re taken through a rather polished version of the Google Checkout – making a purchase is very quick and feels secure.

Download a game from

Step 1: Get on the net Open your phone’s web browser from the main menu. If it doesn’t go straight to T-Mobile’s site, enter the following address: www.t-mobile-favourites.co.uk.

Wait a few seconds for the page to load. Scroll down to the T-Mobile Downloads section and click on the Games icon.

Or text GAMES to 22222 to receive a message containing the game’s link.*

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Step 2: Pick a category

Step 3: Pick a game

Click on the Games icon and a new page that enables you to start looking for a game to download will open. You can view new and hot games, top games, games from 99p, try-before-you-buy and other categories; just scroll down the page to see what takes your fancy. When you see a game that you like, just click on the item.

You’ll be taken to a page listing the games within the selected category and you can scroll down to view them all. To learn more about an individual game, click on its title and you’ll see a brief description along with the relevant picture.

Step 4: Get on the net

Step 5: Time to play

If you’re on a Pay Monthly contract, the price of the game will be added to your monthly bill. If you’re a Pay-As-You-Go customer, make sure you’ve got enough credit on your account to pay for the game! As long as that’s the case, you’ll be prompted to download and install your chosen game.

Download and save the game, but don’t start it until you’ve exited your mobile phone’s internet browser.

You can start your new game by going to your phone’s main menu and looking in the Games or Applications section, depending on the make of your handset. (And don’t worry if someone rings you – the game will pause, enabling you to take the call!)

Once you’re ready to buy a game, simply click on the ‘Buy now!’ link.

Go to >>

Check out pa *Terms and Conditions: Text messages to 22222 are free. Browsing charges may apply based on your price plan or Internet Booster you buy. You will be advised 14 of the game price before purchase. You require a compatible handset to download these games. If your handset is not compatible, you will not be charged. for great gamge to download NOes W! 11 OCTOBER 2011 www.pocketgamer.co.uk

Download a game from

Step 1: Go to Vodafone Live

Step 2: Browse games menu

If you’re looking to download a game, the first step is to go to the Vodafone Live portal. How depends on your phone: some have a dedicated Vodafone Live button on the handset itself, while others require pressing one of the soft-keys under the screen. Once there, you’ll see the portal’s homepage.

Scroll down to find the Games link, which takes you to the portal’s main games page. There, you’ll be able to access this week’s special offers, as well as direct links to What’s New, Top 10 Games, and the Game of the Week. Games are updated on Fridays, so it’s worth checking back weekly.

Step 3: Check out games

Step 4: Get more info

Clicking on one of the links takes you to a list of games in that category, showing a picture (usually of the title screen), a price, and a link to get more information. This is a good way to get a quick overview of what’s available and how much it might cost, especially if you’re browsing by game genre.

Clicking on a game’s More Info link takes you through to its page, where you’ll find more screenshots of the game, and information on what it’s about. You’ll also notice a review score at the bottom of the page supplied by Pocket Gamer, with a link to click through to the full review of the title.

Step 5: Buy your game

Step 6: Download it NOW!

If you’re on a Pay Monthly contract, the price of the game will be added to your monthly bill. If you’re a Pay-As-You-Go customer, make sure you’ve got enough credit on your account to pay for the game. As long as that’s the case, you’ll be prompted to download and install your chosen game.

Once payment has gone through, it’s time to download your game. The exact method varies from phone to phone, but usually you’ll be asked to confirm that you want to download the game, and then sometimes you’ll be asked where you want to save it – in Games or Applications is usually the best choice.

Terms and Conditions: You will be advised of the price of the game before purchase. You require a compatible handset to download these games. If your handset is not compatible, you will not be charged.

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In association with

Download a game from Step 1: Get on the net If you’re looking to download mobile games, the first step is to go to the Planet 3 portal. This depends on your phone: some have a dedicated Planet 3 button on the handset itself, others require pressing one of the keys under the screen. Once there, you’ll see the portal’s homepage.

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Step 2: Pick a category

Step 3: Pick a game

It’s free to browse. Scroll down to find the games icon, which takes you to the portal’s main games page.

There, you’ll be able to access to hundreds of games from as little as 99p including the latest new games, Top 10 games, top deals, as well as a direct link to games split by genre (puzzle, action, retro, etc). Games are updated on Thursdays, so it’s worth checking back every week.

Clicking on one of the links takes you to a list of games in that category, showing a picture (usually of the title screen), a price, and a link to get more information. This is a good way to get a quick overview of what’s available and how much it might cost, especially if you’re browsing by genre.

Step 4: Get on the net

Step 5: Time to play

Clicking on a game’s ‘More info’ link takes you through to its dedicated page, where you’ll find more screenshots of the game, and information on what it is about.

Clicking on ‘Buy Game’ pays for the game, either taking the money from your account balance (if you’re Pay As You Go) or adding it to your monthly bill.

Once payment has gone through, it’s time to download the game. The exact method varies from phone to phone, but usually you’ll be asked to confirm that you want to download the game. You may be asked where you want to save your game – within Games or Applications is usually the best choice.

Go to >>

Check out pa Terms and Conditions: You will be advised of the price of the game before purchase. You require a compatible handset to download 14 these games. If your handset is not compatible, you will not be charged. for great gamge to download NOes W! OCTOBER 2011 www.pocketgamer.co.uk

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Reviews mobile Rounding up the hottest games available now

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Reviews

Cut the Rope Developer: ZeptoLab Publisher: ZeptoLab Format: Android

Hyperlight Developer: CatfishBlues Publisher: CatfishBlues Format: Android Believe the hype Fans of twin-stick shooters will immediately feel at home upon loading up Hyperlight HD for the first time. A few moments later, they’ll realise their original impression of familiarity was completely unfounded.

While Hyperlight looks, sounds, and feels like your typical twin-stick retro space shooter, it’s actually based on very different fundamentals. It’s not so much about shooting on sight as spending a great deal of time dodging, building up enough power, then crashing into anything that moves.

You control a spaceship floating in a small arena of space. Enemies spawn around the map, but instead of blowing them out of the sky like an intergalactic badass you have to take them down by crashing into them at light speed (‘Faster Than Light’, or FTL as the game calls it). The catch is that you only have a limited supply of FTL fuel, which means you spend a lot of time weaving between waves of enemies to collect power-ups to help you reduce their numbers.

As you’d expect from a game that models itself on the twin stick shooter, but removes both the twin sticks and the shooting, Hyperlight is an experience like no other. It’s not for everyone, but high-score lovers will relish the challenge.

Innovative and unique, Hyperlight is a breath of fresh air to the Android Market.

Fans of shooting need not apply, however

8

Do what it says Like all good puzzle games, Cut the Rope starts with a premise that’s deceptively simple to grasp, with candy suspended from point A and a small creature at point B waiting for you to cut the rope and drop said candy into its open mouth.

But, like all great puzzle games, it gets steadily more complex from then on. There are three stars to collect in every level, requiring you swing the candy to reach them, then pass it between ropes, float it in bubbles, or blow it around. There also are spikes obstructing your way, spiders attempting to eat the candy, and stars that disappear after a set time.

Later levels start to get so twisted you’re grateful for just having passed them, let alone picked up all the collectibles. Nonetheless, Cut the Rope is still a pleasure just to play. The way the different pieces work is a thing of beauty. Successfully navigating a level passing the candy from rope to rope, neatly cutting through the right lengths at the right time, dodging the enemies, and scooping up all three stars is always satisfying.

The Android release of the game runs pretty much flawlessly, too, and anyone with the slightest interest in physics puzzles should savour this little treat.

Cut the Rope is a great puzzle game, easy to understand yet very difficult to master. This is an essential download

OCTOBER 2011

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www.pocketgamer.co.uk

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Reviews

Bacterium

Barnyard economics at its finest Developer: Zed Publisher: Zed Format: Java

Sometimes, there’s nothing quite as addictive as a plain and simple puzzler, intentionally devoid of plot or any sense of ‘wow’ and ‘ka-pow’ whatsoever.

Bacterium is one such prospect – a game that initially comes across as entirely one dimensional, but one that soon extends in a number of different directions, each one faithful to the game’s fundamentals.

Play it.

D H s r e n n u r ld Fie Straight to the gunpoint

Developer: Subatomic Studios Publisher: Subatomic Studios Format: Android

A simple yet damn effective shapechanging game full of puzzling play that gels into one absorbing treat

Brick & Bubble Revolution

Way back in 2008, Fieldrunners did more than just ape the casual yet deceptively deep strategy mechanics of the PC tower defence craze for the fledgling smartphone crowd.

No trouble double

It added cartoony, chunky, and charming units, streamlined the tower upgrading process, and bolted on a magic ingredient: stylus-free touchscreen controls. The question is, can an Android port of this three-year-old title still tower over the competition, or will its defences crumble against fresher rivals currently dominating the Android Market?

The ‘revolution’ hinted at in its handle may be an exaggeration, but this attempt to merge Breakoutstyle play with a take on the Zuma, Luxor, or Puzz Loop model (take your pick) is solid enough.

Silly question. Tower defence is so innately addictive a genre that it should come with a health warning, and Fieldrunners is one of the most polished and engaging products of it. Even once you’ve honed your craft, ramping up the difficulty will prolong the challenge. This is one game not to be missed.

A flawless conversion of a tower defence strategy sensation, Field Runners HD is just as ruthlessly addictive as ever

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8

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Developer: Digital Chocolate Publisher: Digital Chocolate Format: Java

Combined, Brick & Bubble Revolution form an engaging package of classic casual play that, true, does little to further the exploits of each game’s genre, but will still sap up much of your time.

Pooling together two decent clones, this ‘2-4-1’ package deal is worth a look for its sheer value alone

7

WordCrafter Developer: Gameloft Publisher: Gameloft Format: Java Swell spell On almost every level, WordCrafter delivers a spruced-up Scrabble experience and could, therefore, be described as ‘Scrabble Plus’.

Ultimate Brick Breaker 2 Block party Developer: Glu Mobile Publisher: Glu Mobile Format: Java There are some games of yesteryear that mobile developers simply refuse to let die. You know, the likes of Pac-Man, Tetris, and, most pertinently for this review, Breakout.

The idea is to link words in chains to reach a goalpost on the other side of the stage. Doing so requires you to use the letters at your disposal to form words you then link back up with in subsequent moves. Lone Scrabble souls will find WordCrafter the perfect, always-ready partner, too.

7 Square King Adding a spark to the Scrabble model without corrupting it, WordCrafter possesses great points-based play

Developer: Net Lizard Publisher: Connect2Media Format: Java

Though devoid of the official Breakout licence, Ultimate Brick Breaker 2 is perfect evidence of why such titles successfully pop up time and again. With only the subtlest of gameplay shifts applied to its puzzler sequel, Glu has proved that old dogs really can be taught new tricks. The game’s signature style, however, is drawn from its predecessor. Once again, Glu has managed to offer up a game with a competitive edge that, unlike scores of other Breakout clones, doesn’t make play ridiculously difficult as a result.

As in the original, the aim is to clear each map of all its bricks with a ball, fired from a paddle straddling the bottom of the level. Your only role is to shift said paddle left and right, hitting the ball with enough of an angle to clear as many bricks as possible with each attempt. When combined with excellent level design and pacing, the game’s appeal never gets old.

Building on the model adopted by the first release, Ultimate Brick Breaker 2 is perfectly balanced to keep you thoroughly engaged

8

Royal rectangles Underneath Square King’s odd royal themed exterior is a simple but furiously addictive brainteaser.

The idea is to remove a set number of blocks from a structure, all the while ensuring various pieces – shapes dressed up as members of a royal family – stay off the ground and remain in play.

It’s fun exquisite enough to be worthy of its royal billing.

As bizarre as it first might look, Square King is as good a physicspuzzler as you’re likely to find

OCTOBER 2011

8

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17

8

Great APPS

on

To GET now Android

Vlingo Virtual Wifi Analyzer Assistant IMDb Developer: farproc Category: Tools

PAID

Wherever you are these days, chances are you'll be within range of a number of wi-fi hotspots. But other than a simplistic 'signal strength' icon on your phone, how do you tell which hotspot is the best option for you? Why, you launch Wifi Analyzer, of course. You get a range of graphical displays that let you know all of the crucial information regarding the wi-fi channels around you – from strength and quality of channels to how crowded they are, you'll always get to pick the best option.

18

In association with

Developer: Vlingo Category: Productivity

PAID

You don't need to be a movie star or big shot company boss to have your very own personal assistant. If you have an Android phone with Vlingo installed, you can live the dream. Watch in amazement as you simply tell Vlingo what to do and it does it for you. Are you looking for a restaurant or shop?

Want to update your Facebook status? Need to message a friend?

Just instruct Vlingo and it will handle all these and more without ever moaning about the workload and asking for a raise…

Developer: IMDb Category: Entertainment

PAID

Film lovers will almost definitely know the IMDb site already. So for them, all they'll probably require is confirmation that the functionality they enjoy on the site can be found in this handy app version.

Job done. Everyone else, this is the app you'll need to gain access to all the information you'll ever need to know on over 1.5 million film and TV shows, as well as over 3.2 million members of the film and TV industries – actors, directors, best boys… It's all here in a clear and intuitive app.

In association with

www.pocketpicks.co.uk

WhatsApp

Developer: WhatsApp Category: Communication

FREE

Google Sky Map

Developer: Google Category: Books & Reference

PAID

Ah, the mystery of the Universe.

Google Sky Map will help out as it identifies stars, planets and constellations and even enables you to search for particular celestial bodies. As it uses your phone's accelerometer and compass you're able to hold your handset up to the night sky and what you see is replicated on the display. Okay, it may only appeal to some – although knowledge of astronomy does make you more attractive (or is that astrology?) – but it's a must-own for stargazers.

PocketCloud Developer: Wyse Technology Category: Business

FREE

There was a time when SMS ruled the network. And deservedly so.

But times move on, and the future of smartphone messaging lies elsewhere. And WhatsApp is a mighty fine indication of where we're going. So if you want to instant message friends (as individuals or group chats), send and/or receive pictures, audio notes or even video within an effortless and thoroughly intuitive environment, this is the app for you. It's free for the first year, after which a modest yearly fee applies. Try it and you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

With smartphones so powerful these days, lugging a laptop around wherever you go seems a little pointless. Particularly when you have apps like PocketCloud available, which give you remote access to the files on your PC or Mac from your Android mobile. So if you've got a presentation to make, bring up a document for a client to check during a meeting, update a spreadsheet while you're travelling, PocketCloud is as effortless to use as it is to set up.

This is one of those magic apps that will transform your life – just don't expect your laptop to be as enthusiastic.

News Republic

Instant Heart Rate

Developer: MobilesRepublic Category: News & Magazines

PAID

Getting 'more than you bargained for' is a phrase in the modern English language that is laden with negative connotations. Its basis is that going into a project or action without properly understanding how gigantic the task/other fighter is will lead to a less than pleasant outcome. News Republic certainly struck us as an app that offers more than we bargained for – not in the traditional sense, but in a way that puts others Android news apps to shame. This is essential for any current affairs fans.

OCTOBER 2011

Developer: Azumio Category: Health & Fitness

FREE

Proof, if it were needed, that your smartphone is so much smarter these days. So why not use it for keeping an eye on your health?

A great start would be this award-winning app, which accurately monitors your heart rate in the most simplest of ways – just hold your finger over your phone's camera for a few seconds and a reading pops onto the pretty display on your screen. You can keep track of your history, too, which is handy when taking regular readings is so quick and easy.

www.pocketgamer.co.uk

19

te 1 da is 1 g s 20 in trie er s o en mb l C r e fo ov N h 4t

a Samsung Wow the crowd with your impeccable smartphone They say first impressions count, and nonchalantly pulling a Samsung Galaxy S II White from a designer jeans’ back pocket in the middle of a busy shopping mall is probably a poser’s dream scenario.

But perhaps, like the rest of us, you appreciate the aesthetic beauty of a gorgeously designed and precision engineered slice of smartphonery on all of its levels. So you’ll no doubt enjoy the dimensions (just 125.3x66.1x8.49mm), the skinny low weight (116g), the brawn of the 1.2GHz dual core processor, the remarkable Super AMOLED Plus 4.27-inch screen, and the awesome array of features that make the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy S II such a phenomenon.

But you’ll also notice that it now happens to be available in white, too.

And damn fine it looks. Want to own this irresistible handset? You can…

20

In association with

sense

White

To be in with a chance of winning a brand new, too-cool-for-school Samsung Galaxy S II White, check out the following question and then send your answer via email or post to the addresses shown below, by the closing deadline of Friday 4th November 2011.

Just how delightfully light is the Samsung Galaxy S II White?

A) 116g B) 126g C) 136g

WHERE TO SEND YOUR ENTRY

If emailing, send your answer along with your name and address to PGcompetitions@pocketgamer.co.uk with the subject heading ‘Galaxy S II White Competition’. Or you can enter by postcard (include name, address and a contact number) to the following address: “Pocket Gamer Galaxy S II White Competition” Steel Media Ltd The House Terms and conditions apply. Prize image is for illustrative Kelston Park purposes only and details may vary. Editor’s decision is final, Bath BA1 9AE and the competition is open to UK residents only.

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