There’s really not a lot that’s new with PAC’N-JUMP, 
but that doesn’t stop it from being an eminently enjoyable diversion. Stealing the successful Doodle Jump formula, the game puts Pac-Man on a vertical quest, rather than a maze-based one. And while he still gobbles up dots and power pellets, he also has a series of platforms to help him get higher — and boost the player’s score. The controls are very responsive and rather than being a one-trick pony, players can unlock additional maps that pit Pac-Man against enemies from other classic arcade games, such as Dig-Dug, Rally-X, and Galaga. It’s a retro twist on what is already an iDevice gaming classic.
Category Archives: Common Sense Media
App Review: Saving Seeds HD
Physics games and iOS devices go 
together, but so far the emphasis in these games has been on cute and funny cartoon characters. Saving Seeds HD : doodle physics takes a different, slightly more mature, approach. It accomplishes this by offering a series of increasingly tough puzzles and rewarding you with a zenlike moment of peace when you succeed, with calming music playing as you watch your seed(s) turn into flowers. It is, in fact, hard to get truly frustrated with the game, as the omnipresent lulling music is so effective at calming the player — and perhaps sharpening their game. With more than 120 levels, there’s a lot to play here. And like the titans of OS gaming, even when you finish, you’ll want to go back and play it all over again.
App review: An Amazing Day At The Zoo
An Amazing Day At The Zoo isn’t exactly amazing, 
but it’s not bad. The app’s use of video footage of real animals is a nice surprise, versus the usual still or animated pictures so many other apps offer. The information, however, is basic and likely will only interest very young children. Older kids will already know most of the facts (i.e. pandas are from China, baby kangaroos are called joeys, crocodiles have strong tails). The narration might also appeal to young viewers, but it could quickly grate on adult ears. Most disappointing, though, is the app’s lack of interaction. Aside from flipping pages, there’s nothing for users to do but sit and watch — which puts this behind the curve in the educational app space.
App review: ABBY MONKEY – First Words for Preschool: Animals HD
The developers may not know how to put together a succinct 
app name, but when it comes to fun ways to educate children, the team knows what it’s doing. First Words is a good head start for children who know their ABCs and are curious about what to do with them, showing them how to spell more than 80 animal names and rewarding them with cute animations. The matching puzzle is aimed at slightly older players. As with other entries in the series, parents can adjust the difficulty of any part of the app to give it longevity. The promotional links at the app’s start-up page are oppressive, though, and are out of place in something that is so targeted to a young audience.
App review: Redshift – Astronomy
Astronomy isn’t a scientific path for weaklings, but with 
Redshift – Astronomy by your side, you’ll be better armed to explore the mysteries of the cosmos. With an incredibly deep catalog of heavenly bodies and more data about each than you know what to do with, this app is an exciting, interactive way to learn about the universe. Rather than just being a data dump, it’s also an interactive tool, showing you what’s above you in the night sky and helping you identify constellations and planets. Kids who want to learn more about planets and stars can use the app’s “travel” mode to “fly” to a location and orbit the planet or star. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s a perfect companion for stargazers — and an embarrassment of riches for students looking to learn more on their own or for a tricky homework assignment.
Game Review: Karaoke Revolution Glee: Volume 2
If you like Glee and you find yourself humming its songs after 
it airs (or rushing to iTunes to buy a copy for yourself), you will absolutely love Karaoke Revolution Glee: Volume 2. The game is a greatest hits version of the show, letting you sing along with Rachel, Finn, Puck and the rest of the cast on such memorable songs as Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and Rick Springfield’s “Jesse’s Girl”. Fans will be especially happy that the game includes duets with Neil Patrick Harris’ Bryan Ryan character and Jonathan Groff’s Jesse St. James. Even if you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, the game is forgiving and, worst case, Gleeks will have a lot of fun rewatching the videos from the show.
Game Review: Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D
Konami hasn’t put out a Pro Evolution game for a 
Nintendo handheld for a few years and its developers seem to have gotten a bit rusty in that time. Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D is a so-so title, at best, offering a decent game of soccer once people figure out the controls, but forcing players to choose between an impressive-but-restricting view or a functional-but-boring view. Players who want to experience the 3D functionality of the 3DS are likely to choose the former — and will have a harder time playing because of it. The lack of the series’ “Become a Legend” mode as well as online multiplayer is a bit baffling, as well. If you’re a long-time fan of the series you’ll be more likely to find something to enjoy than newcomers, but both sets will feel a bit disappointed.
App Review: iStunt 2
Originally a flash game for the PC, iStunt 2 has 
transitioned wonderfully to the iOS world. While it’s hardly advanced, the game is a lot of fun, offering a wide number of challenges and checkpoints (so that when you inevitably fail at one of those challenges, you don’t have to start over from the beginning). The game looks great, is easy to control and is loaded with over 40 levels, which is a bit more heft than you might expect from a title like this. Paying for a game that can be played for free online might seem a little odd, but consider it a small tarriff for being able to play this great title while you’re on the go.
App review: Geo Walk HD – 3D World Fact Book
In an era where expertly researched encyclopedias are 
nearly extinct and crowd-sourced ones often contain faulty data, Geo Walk HD – 3D World Fact Book is a breath of fresh air. Loaded with information in easily digestible nuggets, the app makes learning truly fun. And a quiz mode helps owners review what they’ve learned (or test their existing knowledge) in an entertaining fashion. Rather than focusing on space or theoretical concepts, the app sticks to the real world, but finds plenty of unheard of creatures that might as well be aliens — like the Blobfish or Fishing Cat. This is, hands down, one of the best educational apps in the App Store.
App review: Tapper World Tour
Its bar setting might give some parents pause, but those who don’t mind that 
will find Tapper World Tour to be a loving remake of one of the first time management simulation games. The gameplay is simple, though ultimately quite frenetic. But it’s the art that truly makes this game stand out. Hand-animated by Don Bluth and his team (who are responsible for the Dragon’s Lair arcade game and films such as An American Tail and All Dogs Go to Heaven), the characters have personality and aren’t the lifeless drones that appear in so many other games. While alcohol is not specifically called out, the drinks shown in the game (and earned as you progress) look like beer or adult cocktails (many of which you’d get at a tropical resort), which could be a concern to some. The game itself, though, is wonderful.
Chris Morris: Journalist 