This week we look at Kapowie, an appropriately Australian sharp shooting iPhone game and Earthworm Jim, an iPhone remake of the original classic arcade game.

Kapowie

For a game to be successful on the iPhone platform, it needs to be easy to play (something that is usually determined by the game’s interface and imagery) and quite addictive. There is so much choice on the App Store today, with games often dominating the charts, that it can be easy for even the best of the best iPhone games to get lost in the mind-blowingly huge range of apps available. Australian developers seem to have a particular skill in creating addictive iPhone games – the most notable example is Firemint’s Flight Control, which became an international success within days. So, how does Bjango’s first game – curiously titled Kapowie – stack up against the competition? Very nicely.

Most players will first notice how remarkably simple the game is to navigate through and play. Hit the app’s icon, tap play and the game begins. There are seven cleverly named levels (listed on the app’s description page) in which objects such as spinning wheels or penguins in elevators have to be tapped to disappear, giving you points. Expectedly, the more you tap in a row within the limited and varying time limit, the more points you gain. You’re given three lives to play with at the start of the game, and scattered throughout each of the levels are opportunities to lose or gain lives. If you complete all seven levels in round one, you proceed to the next, more challenging, round. The goal is to continue (and rack up as many points as you can along the way) playing until you’re left without any lives left.

There aren’t any out-of-place control pads or awkwardly placed buttons (the pause icon in the top left corner can be accidentally hit from time to time, especially on the Merry Poppin’ level) and each of the seven levels use the same intuitive method of play. Every time you complete a level, you’re given a clearly presented summary of your points so far, which is useful for setting your own personal benchmarks. As an example, I try to aim for at least 350,000 points in round one before continuing. Once you’re finished, your score is uploaded to Bjango’s highscore servers (note: no account required) and with time and considerable practice, hopefully earn your way into the top one hundred worldwide players scoreboard.

Some players may find the gameplay repetitive, but I haven’t had any such complaints. As far as my overly extensive testing is concerned, there’s nothing boring about this game. I’ve spent hours constantly trying to accrue more points and achievements, constantly trying to beat my personal best. The lovely soundtrack should be praised for keeping players entertained not just in the game but in menus too – of course, if you prefer to listen to your own music while playing, Kapowie supports that too. Even with your own music in the background, sound effects still come through. I wouldn’t recommend playing without the sound effects, because they provide vital audio feedback as to how well you are playing (there are differentiating effects for missing and hitting an object). My only significant complaint (admittedly, this is not something that’s easily fixable), is that Kapowie is fundamentally a two-handed iPhone game, making it difficult to play ‘on the go’ if you have something else with you. Bjango is another fantastic fast-paced quick and fun iPhone game, and in my honest opinion, could well make a fine addition to the obligatory spot(s) for games on any iPhone user’s first home screen – as it has to mine!

Disclaimer: Bjango is an established member and advertiser of MacTalk. This hasn’t affected my review in any way, but I present it here so readers are fully aware.

Version reviewed: 1.0
Price: $1.19
Developer: Bjango
Compatibility: iPhone & iPod touch running 3.0 or later.
Size: 6.0MB
Category: Games
App Store

Earthworm Jim

This review was written by forum member David Kudrev. Thanks, David!

One Sunday morning back in 1995 on the way to my local Blockbuster Video store.. I went to hire a game for the SNES, had to be something different, something quirky, something to make me laugh. Lo and behold I snagged Earthworm Jim. YOINK! This is one of those games which made you feel proud to have a SNES at the time, during the 16-bit Console Wars.

Although I ain’t going to talk about the SNES or Mega Drive here today, I’m talking about the port on the iPhone. I have a Wii as well, and I COULD have gotten it from the Virtual Console store, but what I don’t understand, is how they base their decisions on games on that store, why on earth they decided to go for the Mega Drive version over the SNES one is beyond me. Licensing maybe?

Ah who knows..* Okay the iPhone version of Earthworm Jim got me intrigued, because I was wondering which version it was ported from. Many say it’s the SEGA CD version. Either way I’m glad to say that considering the controls are touch-based, it is a solid feeling and looking version, and if it is based on the SEGA CD one, it means more levels which I never got to play on the SNES version back in the day!

The storyline is, you control Jim, a regular earthworm with a definite fear for crows. Whilst that occurred, a rebel spaceship was trying to flee from the evil Psy-Crow, as the Rebels stole a special suit. A large fight started, and the suit landed on Earth, next to Jim, which then transformed him to well.. Earthworm Jim! Now the rebel princess needs to be rescued from Psy-Crow and the evil Queen.

Controls are simple, surprisingly for a touch screen, but of course anything can be once you get the hang of it. Although being unable to jump and shoot at the same time, can cause some frustration. You can only shoot when on a platform or the ground.

Although on the bonus stages in-between the main levels Andy Asteroids, you need to tilt the iPhone to control Jim through the asteroid field. If you’re a veteran for racing games on this platform, then you’re in for a treat!

Too bad that Snot a Problem level was short, yet a lot of fun! For those who haven’t played this level before, Jim is on a bungie rope and you have to swing attack the large snot monster into the sharp rocks on the edge of the cliff.

I have a sneaky suspicion that this was an exclusive level on the SEGA CD, which had more levels than the SNES and Mega Drive version, which eventually also became the version that got ported to other platforms, including Windows 95.

Graphics are crisp and clean, the sound is reminiscent to the original version, as is the soundtrack. Controls take some getting used to, but otherwise this is Earthworm Jim as we knew and grew up with.

Pros:

• Very loyal port of the original.
• The ported version is based off the SEGA CD one meaning extra levels.

Cons:

• Controls take some getting used to, especially for really hairy situations in the game.

Version reviewed: 1.0.8
Price: $5.99 | Free
Developer: Gameloft
Compatibility: iPhone & iPod touch running 2.2.1 or later.
Size: 111MB
Category: Games
App Store | Free