Electronic Arts is still 
struggling to perfect Madden on iDevices — and this year’s installment of the game shows the company has a way to go before it does so. Madden NFL 12 By EA Sports for iPad is sluggish and choppy and the constant stuttering completely removes players from the sense of realism the rest of the game tries to create. The graphics are certainly good enough (though still pale to the console version) and the controls are fine. And the plenitude of in-depth options will keep the most die-hard fan busy, but it’s not the most welcoming of apps to beginners and the lack of a multiplayer mode continues to be a baffling omission.
Category Archives: Common Sense Media
App Review: iBlast Moki 2
iBlast Moki 2 picks up 
right where its predecessor left off, but rather than being just a continuation of an older game, it offers new twists and improves upon the past. It’s familiar to veteran players, but newcomers are likely to struggle somewhat at first, since the in-game tutorials don’t really offer easy-to-understand instructions on how to work the game. Once you figure it out, though, you’ll have fun. We could do without the in-app purchases, especially those that show how others have solved the puzzles. Offering user-generated content like that is helpful for people who are stuck, but charging to show videos of other people’s gameplay seems cheap. It’s not an easy game, but by the time the difficulty ramps up, you’ll have a good grasp of the controls and how to play. From there, your success all depends on how strong your puzzle-solving skills are.
App Review: Zwilrz
Zwirlz tries hard to 
bring Wii sensibilities to iDevices, but it ultimately falls a little short of that lofty goal. It’s laudable for encouraging kids to get off the couch and move — and tweens may have a blast with it — but it doesn’t do a great job of easing people into the performance. The app features over 20 simple dance moves that players have to memorize, but instead of introducing those at a steady pace, it asks players to learn them all before playing the meat of the game, which requires more memorization — this time of a song. That’s asking a lot of an iDevice user. The message of the app (girl power) is a good one, though, and the dance moves are fun. It’s a good app for sleepovers or when you’ve got a house full of young kids and it’s raining. Just be sure to make sure no one steps on the iPhone!
App Review: The World by National Geographic
Maps have lost some 
of their sexiness these days, but The World by National Geographic manages to make them fun again. The app is a geographical educational tool, but it’s loaded with bright pictures (a trademark of the National Geographic Society’s magazine), interesting facts, and an interactive map that is a lot of fun to play with. You’ll learn a lot and have fun doing it, which is a difficult combination to pull off for younger kids.
The app falls a bit short, though, for anyone who is a regular user of Google Earth. Instead of being able to zoom into territories as you can with that app, The World stops short, transitioning to a paper map appearance. It’s a minor frustration, but given how deep you can go with other apps, it’s a bit disappointing not to have that option here. The reliance on an Internet connection is an annoyance, as well, but all-in-all, this is a great app.
App Review: Sprinkle: Water splashing fire fighting fun!
What makes Sprinkle: 
Water splashing fire fighting fun! so enjoyable isn’t its aim-your-water-cannon-just-right puzzles (though those are certainly fun), it’s the water. It pools, it splashes, and it drains slowly, giving it a heightened sense of reality. It’s odd praise, admittedly, but in a game that revolves so heavily around water, it’s gratifying to know that the developers have focused so closely on the star of the show.
Having to buy your way into the third level/world is annoying, though, and makes the game feel rushed. (Technically, you can unlock it for free, but that requires a perfect performance on every prior level — and given the level of difficulty with the puzzles, most won’t be able to do that.) It’s a notable gaffe, but otherwise this is a title that physics-based puzzle fans will love.
App Review: Jetpack Joyride
Jetpack Joyride is the 
epitome of the “one more turn” title. It may be somewhat simplistic in its gameplay and not have a ton of original elements, but the game is so well polished and executed that you can’t help but continue playing again and again and again. From the variety of bonus weapons — like the stomp suit or the bad as hog (a clever pun on the more objectionable term) — to the fun enhancements you can buy with coins (earned within the game or available via in-app purchase), it’s downright charming. And the inclusion of Barry Steakfries, a hero in other games by the developer, is a nice nod to the team’s dedicated fans. For a dollar, it’s impossible to wrong with this one.
App Review: Snuggle Truck
The dubious history of 
Snuggle Truck aside (it was originally create as Smuggle Truck and players carried illegal aliens from Mexico in the back of their vehicle), this is actually a fairly well-done game. It’s quick to reward players and the physics is very responsive. The problem is, the app store is fairly flooded with side-scrolling racer arcade games, and there’s not enough here to really stand out from the crowd. It’s fun and perfect for snack gaming (3- to 5-minute bursts), but won’t be something you find yourself going back to again and again. The most redeeming feature is the Level Portal, an online community where people can share the levels they create, giving the game enhanced replayability, should it capture your fancy.
App Review: Groove Coaster
Just when the music 
game genre was going stale, Groove Coaster comes along and not only turns it on its ear, but delivers a wonderful breath of fresh air. Rather than staying put and waiting on the notes to come to you, you’ll hop onto a winding track, touching the screen as your icon crosses flashing beats. That not only gives the game a sense of motion, it keeps you on your toes as your perception is challenged. (Is the next beat far away or just over the next hill?) That winding sense also helps to visualize the music. The firework-like explosion of light that accompanies successfully hitting each beat makes things even more challenging — but also much more fun.
How enjoyable is this game? It’s one of the very few you’ll sit through the credits for multiple times — since even those are playable.
App Review: Emberwind
Emberwind shows lots 
of potential, with plenty of areas to explore and sidescrolling mainstays like items to collect and enemies to vanquish. Unfortunately, a terrible control scheme makes the game an absolute chore to enjoy. The onscreen joystick is non-responsive, which can cause you to miss crucial jumps and makes it hard to retreat in a hurry. Other buttons seem randomly placed on the screen and are less than intuitive. The screen can become overly busy, which is especially frustrating when playing on an iPhone or iPod Touch. It’s particularly maddening because the game has plenty of depth. But because of its other issues, players may simply give up before they discover that.
App Review: Early Bird
There’s not a lot 
that’s especially original about Early Bird, but the game still manages to charm your socks off. Swiping the screen to make your onscreen bird fly, after all, is one of the most common mechanics in the app world, but the attention to detail in the game is worthy of note. The artwork is wonderful and appropriate, the sense of satisfaction you get when your bird lands a perfect bullseye is real and the atmosphere is endearing. It’s also priced at an easily digestible 99 cents, making Early Bird worth a peep … er, peek.
Chris Morris: Journalist 