This is a first for me, I gotta admit. Some one actually wanted me to review their iPhone app! How cool is that!!
SkyWorks Arcade Bowl (iTunes Link), is pretty fun, I must admit!!!
I really wish the iTunes store allowed trial ware. I might not have bought this cool game without knowing it was cool up front. There’s just too much risk, however since the developer gave me a code, that problem was solved.
That said, I actually would rather have reviewed the app without being given a code, but the iTunes store experience is not designed that way. Which really sucks, offering scant room for a description, and only a few screen shots it’s hard to determine if an app or game will be worth the money.
The game play is pretty straight forward, place finger to get ball, swipe upwards. The angle and force dictate where your ball will end up, very straight forward.
The graphics are really crisp, after playing tower defense, I was really impressed by the level of detail, the band on the ball, the shadows, etc are very well done.
It took me a while to figure out how to turn the sound off, the settings are not as clear as I’d like. I’m used to there being an ‘options’ button, when you launch the game. It took me a while to spot the i even though it’s normal on many apps, I guess I’ve just gotten used to the more game like ‘options’ button.
Options are light, which makes sense, it’s not a very complicated game, two music tracks, two volume sliders. Done.
When you start the game (where I expected the ‘options’ button, you’re presented with 4 buttons. normal game, progressive game, and two high score buttons, one for each game time. Oh and the aforementioned i, that’s it, very simple and clean UI.
The one thing I found a bit annoying, was the large add for the other games on from the developer, I mean I (in theory) paid for the game, so seeing ads, even ads for the same game maker is kinda weak, IMO. Show ads, make game free. Charge for game, show ads. I love Tower Defense, it was free and shows an ad at the end of each level, and even requires you to click the ad to save your game, genius!
I’m not sure now which of those John are me, let’s just assume it’s the one in the number three spot :)
Arcade bowling is definitely worth the 1.99 the developer is asking. Having now played the game for several long stretches at a time, including the progressive game, it’s worth it! Fun game!
