THANK GOD I’VE GOT THE INTERNET BACK

After 3.5 days of 3G browsing and app-surfing, the cable internet has been restored to my home, and I’ve returned to my post on the world wide web. In good time too, with Amrit running off to hot tropical locales such as Trinidad … and [possibly] Tobago (Tobago is the smaller of the two – yes we are learning about Trinidad and Tobago, or TnT as I like to call it because it’s DYNO-MITE.), I’m stuck to man the fort alone, and I’m off to a terrible-ass start.

In other news, I’ve found myself in recent possession of an Apple iPhone, and it has become my little gateway to the internet, and keeper of distractions galore. Two games to note in particular are Touch Grind, and iDracula (aka The Best Game with the Worst Name.) The premises behind both are rather simple. If you understand ANY part of our Skate 2 Hall of Meat Guide, then Touch Grind is a game you must get up on. However, if you’re just looking to pass the time while mowing down waves of lupine attackers, then dig up some loose change from the couch and scroll on down to iDracula.

Touch Grind takes the intuitive, reality-mimicking d-stick controls from the greatest skateboarding game thus far, and lays them flat on a sophisticated multitouch screen. With more than adequate physics processing on the iPhone, Touch Ground turns out to be a fun and addictive digital finger board that anyone with a little skater in their head can play with. Throw in ramps to launch from, rails to grind on, and gaps to … gap over, and you’ll just want to master this toy. It’s not the perfect app, but it certainly comes close. The inability to really see the objects/props in advance generally leave your line-skating to chance and improvisation, and a lack of manuals (balancing on two wheels, not instruction manuals) prevent Touch Grind from being the be-all and end-all of mobile skateboarding games. But like I said, it definitely comes close. Is it worth $4.99 at the App Store? I think I’ve gotten my money’s worth already. But if you’re afraid the $5 price tag is too rich for your blood, you’ll want to take your George Washington or Big Duck (… no WONDER our dollar is worth less!!) on to the next game.

iDracula, developed by MoreGames Entertainment and published by Chillingo, is one of those titles that allow me to say “Yes, I use my iPhone for gaming.” The game feels like a combination of things. Aesthetically, it feels a lot like Diablo, with gothic-ly drawn enemies and a sickly grey and green colour palatte.  Actually, the isometric view, in addition to iDracula’s scaling, texturing, and general art style are all reminiscent of the Blizzard classic. However, the gameplay builds to a pace of play that might give even the hardest core Geometry Wars players flashbacks and post traumatic stress disorder. But more importantly, it all controls remarkably well, which why I think iDracula is as accessible as it is. And as of this writing, it’s on sale for a mere 99 cents at the App Store; So here’s hoping that sales will climb high enough to convince MoreGames and Chillingo that there’s multiplayer and complex level design hiding somewhere deep inside this potential franchise. And while I’m hoping, a name change wouldn’t hurt either.

OFFICIAL APP STORE LINKS

Touch Grind App Store Link
iDracula App Store Link