For a low-priced app, there’s not a lot to complain about with 
Hungry Shark 2, but it’s not a game that’s going to wind up on your most-played list. It’s a fun diversion for older kids, but the gameplay gets repetitive quickly — boiling down to keep eating or you die. The graphics are nice and the sound effects that accompany each kill are fine, but even those get old after time. It might be a fair price for two games (the first Hungry Shark comes bundled with purchase), but ultimately Hungry Shark 2 is a one-trick pony.
Tag Archives: apps
App review: Friendly – Facebook Browser
Since Facebook itself hasn’t come out with an iPad app, you 
have to applaud Friendly – Facebook Browser for making the effort. This is the best way for Facebook fans to interact with the social network site via the device. The app’s use of large fonts make it easy to browse — and eliminate the need for pinching and zooming the page. The layout is very natural, as well, making it easy to find the area of the site you’re looking for. But there are some standard Facebook features that are noticeably absent. You’re unable to upload any photos via this app and you won’t be able to play any Facebook games, which could be distressing to FarmVille fanatics. The page also doesn’t automatically refresh, meaning if you want to see new updates, you’ll have to click on another tab, then back to your news feed.
App review: Madden NFL 11 by EA Sports for iPad
Madden fans are a diverse bunch. Some want absolute realism 
in the game, while others simply want a fun football arcade game. Madden NFL 11 for iPad offers both. It’s a gorgeous game that’s fairly easy to control, but some of the included gameplay modes, like GameFlow (which calls the plays for you) could aggravate players. (The mode can be turned off, though.) It’s not the same as the console version of the game — and there are a number of holes, such as the missing (but forthcoming) multiplayer mode and franchise mode — but with the extra screen size of the iPad, it’s the best mobile version of the game.
Read more at Common Sense Media
App review: A Science Quiz
Unlike some quizzes that are peppered with easy questions 
to appeal to the masses, A Science Quiz takes its mission seriously and forces players to exercise their knowledge. It’s not a program with many bells and whistles (there’s no cheery sound for right answers and the interface is about as exciting as a test you’d take in school), but the 420 included questions do force you to think and cover a wide variety of topics. There are occasional typos, however, and the accuracy of some answers has been questioned by users.
App review: Don’t Text Me
Texting and driving are a dangerous combination – and Don’t Text Me 
deserves some measure of praise for attempting to address it. Notifying contacts that you’re driving or working (or otherwise unavailable) is an easy process, but it overlooks a couple of major issues. While it’s easy to ask friends not to ping you, it’s ultimately their choice — and if they do, you’ll receive those texts without any interruption. Just as importantly, if you’re frequently in and out of the car (or in class or meetings) and use this app regularly, friends may get frustrated with the frequency of the messages.
App review: Chopper 2
There’s a lot to like about Chopper 2, which makes it 
all the more frustrating that the game has such a steep learning curve. It’s well-polished, has a very clean interface, and offers a wide variety of missions and environments. (All totaled, there are 36 missions in 12 areas ranging from city rooftops to deserts.) It’s not only fun, it’s a great way to show off what the iPad can do, as the gameplay can be outputted to a TV and it can be integrated with the iPhone as well (the iPhone becomes your controller). In many ways, Chopper 2 blazes new trails for developers…
Angry Birds flies the coop
With over 50,000 games available on the iPhone, it’s hard
to pinpoint a single one as the iconic title of the platform. If you were going to do so, though, “Angry Birds” would make a strong case for the crown.
The title is addictive in its gameplay and is a regular presence in the Top selling app lists. Now, it’s expanding its reach to other platforms. Chillingo founder Joe Wee tells The Sun that the company is making versions of the game for the “Nintendo DS, Sony PSP and PS3.”
App review: Promini HD
The concept behind Promini isn’t a complicated 
one, but it’s one that has worked well in other games. The game tries hard to capture the special qualities of Lumines, but never quite gets there. That’s due, in part, to the soundtrack, which doesn’t seem an integrated part of the game, and the control issues. It’s still tremendously entertaining, though, and the game play is very addicting.
App review: Tickle Tap Toddler Pack
With a wide variety of games, the Tickle Tap Toddler Pack does 
an excellent job of maintaining the attention span of young players while teaching them something in the process. None of the five games is a dud, but Sound Shaker and Sort Slider are the standouts. While there’s not a lot of educational value in Sound Shaker, it’s a fun game that will delight young ones with its silly noises. Sort Slider, meanwhile, teaches as it entertains. While other apps may only interest toddlers for a short while, the diversity of options here will keep them engaged for a long time.
App review: AirAttack HD
AirAttack HD is the best air combat shooter in the 
App store. Anyone who enjoyed Capcom’s arcade standard “1942” (or any of its follow-ups) will instantly recognize its style and appreciate the similarities. Its eight missions will keep people entertained for a long time — and are different enough from each other to prevent any feelings of repetition. While sections are a bit overly difficult, the game lets you pick up from your last checkpoint, so there’s never a real penalty for losing.
Chris Morris: Journalist 