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Sonic Runners Adventure ($2.99) by Gameloft is an action platformer game that serves as a nice homage to the classic Sonic games. If you enjoyed games like Super Phantom Cat 2, Mikey Shorts, and Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire, but want more high-speed action, then Sonic Runners Adventure is a perfect fit.

As a child, I remember having a SEGA Genesis console that I shared with my siblings. While I didn't have too many games, I remember having Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and playing it all the time. It was the game that made me a fan of the Sonic franchise, and I loved playing it and going fast as a blue hedgehog. I'm not sure if I ever actually beat the game, but I did replay certain areas often, always trying to do better than before. As the years passed, Sonic seemed to become less relevant compared to other games, such as the Super Mario Bros., so I didn't get them as much later on. But when I saw Sonic Runners Adventure on the App Store over the holiday, I didn't hesitate to pick it up.

Free

Sonic The Hedgehog Classic

Sega America

Free

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Classic

Sega America

Free

Super Phantom Cat 2

Beijing Veewo Game Co., Ltd.

$1.99

Mikey Shorts

BeaverTap Games, LLC

$1.99

Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire

Play Pretend LLC

Visually, Sonic Runners Adventure looks amazing. The game is rendered in 3D that has a retro look and feel to it, similar to Horizon Chase. The different environments that are featured in Sonic Runners Adventure are bright, lush, and they bring back a sense of nostalgia for old-school fans. The character models are classic and also done in 3D, though some feel slightly off (like Sonic) for some reason. Animations in the game are smooth and fluid, with no issues of lag and choppiness on my iPhone 8 Plus. Sonic Runners Adventure features an upbeat and iconic soundtrack that is reminiscent of the original games, which just brings a smile to my face. Overall, the visual and audio design of Sonic Runners Adventure is a huge dose of fan service, and brings back a lot of memories for fans.

Like previous games, Sonic Runners Adventure is level-based, with different areas serving as chapters with a handful of levels each. To complete each world, there's a boss battle at the end before you can proceed to the next area. Each stage has a set of three objectives that can earn you stars, and at least one must be met in order to "complete" it. However, as some objectives can only be done with certain characters, there's a lot of replay value here. The objectives can include things like collecting a certain number of rings or defeating enemies, but they become more difficult (and the levels are lengthier) as you get further along.

The controls in Sonic Runners Adventure are simple and intuitive. Since the characters automatically run forward, you're just in charge of timing the jumps. To do this, just tap anywhere on the screen. If you tap twice, they'll do a double jump. The third tap lets your character do their unique ability, depending on their type. For example, Speed characters (Sonic, Shadow, etc.) get a third jump, while Fly characters (Tails, Rogue, etc.) will glide. There's also the Power characters like Knuckles, though I have not unlocked that yet.

If you've played Sonic games before, then you should know how it goes. Run, collect the rings, and defeat enemies by jumping on top or into them. When you get hit, you lose all of the rings you've collected so far, and if you have no rings the next time you get hit, then it's game over. So if you take damage, hurry and gather at least one ring to recover.

As I played Sonic Runners Adventure, I noticed that the game can be a bit grind-heavy. This is because you can collect a large amount of rings through each stage, and you're also awarded more rings upon completion. Plus, if you can get the rainbow ring on a stage, you get a bonus level where there's many rings to collect.

Your ring stash is important, as you can use it to continue on stages (good when you die a lot on a troublesome stage), buy other characters from Team Chaotix and Team Dark, buddies that enhance your character abilities, and boost items. Each character can also be leveled up by spending rings, and their abilities get stronger as they are higher in level.

Gameloft has partnered with Sega to bring an all new Sonic platformer to iOS.

Sonic Runners Adventure is a fantastic homage to the classic games from yesteryear. The graphics are stunning on the crisp Retina HD and Super Retina displays while retaining the vintage style. The soundtrack is nostalgic and delightful, along with the sound effects. The controls are super simple and optimized for touch screens, and there's a lot of replay value thanks to the objectives that require certain characters. A lot of content is available and there are no in-app purchases.

While there's a lot to like about Sonic Runners Adventure, it's not without some flaws. Fans of the previous game may be sad to see that there's no more randomized, infinite levels, and some levels can be incredibly difficult, resulting in a tough wall to climb. I've been stuck in the second world (the desert) area for a good while now, and it's rather aggravating.

Another thing I noticed is the fact that you can move so fast in this game that it's hard to see upcoming obstacles that you need to avoid. Because of this, you may have to play a stage numerous times, and hope you remember the layout and get your jump timing right at those tough parts. And while the controls work for the most part, sometimes it can feel unresponsive, or there's a delay, resulting in many frustrating deaths.

The verdict

As a big Sonic fan from the golden age of gaming, I think Sonic Runners Adventure does a lot of things right. The visuals and music take me back to my childhood, and the controls work well for what it's worth. It's also great that you have a wide variety of characters to choose from, including older ones.

However, I think the game gets a bit too difficult at times, especially the desert area. I've been stuck there for a while (I tried maybe almost 50 times) because one level was way too lengthy, the yellow of the desert made it hard to see some obstacles and enemies, and everything moving super fast doesn't help when you can't see clearly. I had to get help from my fiancé, who's much better at games in general, and even that took a few tries. The developer should do some balance tweaking, in my opinion, to make it a less frustrating experience.

Still, if you're a fan of Sonic games, or want fast-paced platformers, then Sonic Runners Adventure is a fine addition to your game collection. Sonic Runners Adventure is on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $2.99. There are no in-app purchases.

8.8

OVERALL

Replayability 9

Graphics 9

Sound/Music 9

Gameplay 9

Game Controls 8

$2.99

Sonic Runners Adventure

Gameloft

Source link: http://appadvice.com/reviews

Antihero ($4.99) by Versus Evil is the mobile port of the original Steam game. It's a turn-based digital board game that requires strategic thinking and features some light RPG elements in the mix. If you liked other games like Onirim, Card Thief, and SteamWorld Heist, then you'll like what Antihero brings to the App Store.

When it comes to games like JRPGs, I always liked to pick the character classes that let me do cool things, such as the Thief in Final Fantasy. I've always had a liking for the thief class, because they're usually agile and nimble, allowing you to do things like steal. When I saw Antihero, I was intrigued because it's a game that's all about being a "master thief" and running your own thieve's guild. I mean honestly, how can I say no to that? And while I didn't hear about Antihero until just days ago (it originally came out in July 2017), I have to say that this is a title that doesn't disappoint.

Free

Onirim – Solitaire Card Game

Asmodee Digital

$2.99

Card Thief

Arnold Rauers

$9.99

SteamWorld Heist

Image & Form International AB

Antihero has a unique visual style that I'm loving from the get-go. The game is rendered in 2D but because of the angled, top-down perspective of the board, it feels like pseudo-3D. However, all of the character sprites are flat, so it's a nice contrast with the board itself. Each unit type has a unique appearance that makes it easy to differentiate from each other, and the Victorian-era towns have a cozy look and feel to them. The towns are dark and gloomy, but the red and blue shades of your guild versus the enemy are a nice complement to the somberness. Animations are buttery smooth and fluid on my iPhone 8 Plus, so I had no issues with lag or choppiness. The ambient soundtrack is also fitting for the Victorian setting, and it's delightful to listen to, along with the sound effects.

There are three ways to play Antihero: single-player Campaign, Go Online, and Skirmish. Going online requires creating an account, which is simple enough, and it allows you to do PvP with other players in asynchronous battles. Skirmishes can be done against the AI or with other players locally, but you can customize the rules for distinctive and interesting battles. However, chances are high that you'll be spending most of the time in the rich single-player Campaign.

In the Campaign, there's a large number of levels to play through, with the difficulty ramping up on each stage. You'll have to go through the levels in chronological order, and there's no option to skip a stage, so if you're stuck, well, you'll need to try harder. The first three levels serve as the tutorial and help you understand the rules and flow of the game.

To complete a level, you'll need to gather enough victory points before your opponent does. These are earned by completing various objectives, such as: infiltrating a church for Blackmail, assassinating certain public officials to fulfill Contracts, and more. The game tells you in the beginning what things you can do to earn victory points, so you just have to make sure you get enough before your rival.

Game flow and controls are simple enough. Each turn, your Master Thief can Scout, Burgle, or Attack, but each action costs an Action Point. Scouting lets you uncover hidden parts of the level, Burgle lets you steal some gold coin, and Attack can eliminate enemy units standing in your way. The Action Points refill on each turn. As you get coins, you can purchase units and expand your guild. Each unit does something different and you'll have to think about what's best for the situation at hand.

For example, Street Urchins can infiltrate businesses so you acquire resources faster (freebies each turn). Thugs can guard for two turns, Gangs can attack or evict enemy units from buildings, and Saboteurs can set up traps. You'll uncover more unit types as you get further along in the game, and each one has a useful skill that you'll want to take advantage of. As you get coins, make sure to use them to get more units if you're able to.

During each turn, you're also able to check your Guild and purchase upgrades. The upgrades cost lanterns, so you should generate free lanterns on each turn by controlling a Trade Shop. The upgrades unlock more unit types and can give your Master Thief more power, such as more Action Points and more damage when attacking. You can also choose Charity, which gives you free gold or lanterns each turn, but then you can't get an upgrade.

Once you've made use of all available actions for your units and have spent your upgrades or collected charity, you can submit your turn and then it goes to the opponent, rinse and repeat.

Antihero is a fantastic addition to anyone's strategy game collection.

Antihero is a fantastic addition to anyone's strategy game collection. The cartoonish art style is rather special and unique, and the sound design is excellent, including the voice acting. The controls are simple (just taps) and they seem perfectly optimized for touch screens. The variety in unit types means a lot of strategy and planning is involved, and the levels can be rather challenging. It's also great that there is multiplayer, both online and locally, with the option for custom rule sets to make matches even more interesting. Each round starts off a bit slow, but once things get rolling, it's incredibly addictive.

While Antihero is a great game, it may not be for everyone. If you're not the type to methodically calculate your move in strategy games, then this may end up being frustrating, as the difficulty ramps up after the tutorial. Plus, matches can take a while, so you do need time to spare for this.

The verdict

I'm usually not big on strategy games because I end up being terrible at them, but Antihero is definitely one I'll be keeping around. It has distinctive game mechanics that feel interesting and fresh, and the controls are optimized for touch. Plus, I get to live my dream of being a thief and having a guild all my own, so it's a keeper.

I recommend Antihero if you're a fan of board game style games or just want an in-depth strategy game for your collection. You can find Antihero on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for $4.99.

9.5

OVERALL

Graphics 10

Sound/Music 10

Replayability 9

Game Controls 9.4

Gameplay 9

$4.99

Antihero – Digital Board Game

Versus Evil

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