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Hi, my name is Kristina and I work as the office manager of Mid Atlantic Consulting. We are a Macintosh Support, Service, and Consulting Company. I will review one iPhone app every day coming from a non-tech like me. Add your comments and I will try to reply.

  • TENS! is a New Approach to Sudoku Puzzles

    TENS! (Free) by Kwalee is a combination of Sudoku and block-dropping game that proves to be fun and rather addictive. If you are a big fan of logical puzzle games, similar to Threes! and Blyss, then you'll love what TENS! has to offer.

    Life gets stressful (going through a rough patch myself right now) so I like to unwind with puzzle games after a long day. While I have several consoles, I still prefer to turn to my iPhone lately for games, just out of convenience. While I'm familiar with Sudoku, I don't often play it myself because it's not my usual preference when it comes to puzzles. However, when I saw TENS! on the App Store, I was intrigued by the concept and had to check it out myself, as it's not your traditional Sudoku-style game.

    $2.99

    Threes!

    Sirvo LLC

    $2.99

    Blyss

    Dropout Games Private Limited

    Visually, TENS! has a pretty simple and clean aesthetic that is pleasing on the eyes. Like many games these days, the design is flat so it's rather minimalistic. The typeface is easy to read, and the colors are a nice mix of pastels and bright hues. If the default color scheme doesn't do it for you, there are additional ones that can be purchased through in-app purchases. There are smooth and fluid animation transitions as lines add up to 10 and get cleared out while adding to your point total. The game also has quirky clicking sound effects that are fun to listen as you play.

    In the initial free download of TENS!, players have access to the Normal Mode with Endless and Challenges. You can get an Expert Mode if you want more of a challenge, but it is only through a $2.99 in-app purchase, and it includes an exclusive skin.

    In the Endless Mode, you try to get as high of a score as possible before you run out of space on the board to fit the given blocks. Challenge is more puzzle-like and features different objectives that you must complete, such as beating a specific point threshold.

    The point of TENS! is to drag dice onto the grid and have a total of 10 in a row or column. When this happens, you get a point for however many dice are in that line, and there are bonus points for getting combos, multi-line clears, and even getting rid of all dice on the board. Once there are no more spaces to fit the die pieces, then it's game over.

    Controls are simple in TENS. At the bottom of the screen are three dice pieces that you can choose from. Just tap-and-drag the piece you want and place it somewhere on the board where it fits. Once it's placed in, the number on the row and column change to reflect the total number in it right now. When you've used the three pieces, the next set of three take their place.

    You then repeat the process until no more moves can be made. If you make a mistake, there's an Undo button, but since the game is free, you'll have to endure an ad each time you want to use it. That is, unless you opt for ad removal, which costs $1.99.

    TENS! is a fantastic new approach to Sudoku style puzzle games that is sure to delight everyone.

    The Good

    TENS! is a unique approach to dice and Sudoku, and it's rather enjoyable. The game's minimalist graphics are appealing, and the sound effects are fun. Even if you don't play Sudoku on a regular basis, TENS! is not too overwhelming in difficulty and it's easy to follow. Controls are simple and the different modes offer a good amount of variety. Plus, if you need more, the Expert mode and other theme choices should satisfy you.

    The Bad

    As a free game, TENS! is supported by ads — a lot of them. I felt like there was an ad every few minutes. I try not to use the Undo button too often either because it means sitting through a 30-second ad. I am not a fan of obnoxious ads, and TENS! has them. I wish it wasn't so intrusive.

    I'm also not a huge fan of how each theme will cost you a dollar, and there's different prices for ad-removal and Expert Mode. I think the game should just include one all-or-nothing IAP, rather than nickel-and-dime you for every small thing.

    The verdict

    As someone who enjoys all kinds of puzzle games, I find TENS! to be rather refreshing. It's a new approach to Sudoku, and it's much more fun and straightforward. The default color theme is fine with me, but it's nice that there are plenty of other options available if you're seeking a particular theme (there are sports ones) or color. TENS! is proving to be rather addictive, and I'm going to look into purchasing the Expert mode later on. It's gorgeous, challenging, and addictive. I just wish that the ads weren't so annoying.

    I recommend TENS! to fans of puzzle games, specifically Sudoku. You can find TENS! on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for free with in-app purchases.

    8.8

    OVERALL

    Replayability 9

    Game Controls 9

    Graphics 9

    Gameplay 9

    Sound/Music 8

    FREE

    TENS!

    Kwalee Ltd

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

  • Light Up the Shapes in the Puzzling Glowish

    Glowish ($1.99) by The One Pixel is a sequential puzzle game that proves itself as a true brain teaser. If you enjoy logical games like Linelight and TENS!, then you'll love what Glowish has to offer.

    I've been under a lot of stress as of late, so I've been spending more time playing video games to help me unwind and relax. One of my favorite genres for achieving this are puzzles, because I like to de-stress while keeping my brain stimulated. While I've gone through a ton of puzzle games on the App Store during my time here at AppAdvice, I can't help but be on the lookout for new ones. So when I saw Glowish on the App Store, I had to get my hands on it.

    $1.99

    Linelight

    Brett Taylor

    Free

    TENS!

    Kwalee Ltd

    Visually, Glowish carries a super minimalistic aesthetic that is pleasing on the eyes. Everything is rendered in a 2D fashion, but there's a bit of depth with the shadowing on the blocks, so they pop out a bit. Glowish features a nice mix of soft pastels and bright, vibrant hues that create nice eye candy. There are several different color themes that you can pick from if the default isn't your cup of tea.

    The thick, glowing white outline on the various shaped blocks is noticeable from the get-go and makes it easy to recognize which blocks get turned on. Though the animations are soft and subtle, they're smooth and fluid with no issues of lag on my iPhone 7. The game has a tranquil, zen-like soundtrack in the background, and the sound effects are quirky and fun. Overall, the audio creates an excellent atmosphere for the type of brain-teasing puzzles that Glowish offers.

    Like other puzzle games, Glowish is level-based, and players must go through the stages in chronological order. At the moment, Glowish has over 100 preset levels, so there's a lot of content for your money.

    The goal of the game is simple: get all of the various colored shapes to light up. When you touch a shape, all other switches that share the same shape or color light up as well. While it sounds easy enough, it's much harder than it looks on the surface.

    If you aren't in the mood to go in a linear fashion, there's also a Random Mode, where you get randomly generated puzzles thrown at you. This is perfect for those who prefer an infinite experience, because the possibilities are endless here.

    Controls in Glowish are as simple as they come. Just tap on the shapes to toggle them on or off. As mentioned earlier, tapping on one also lights up any other blocks that are either the same shape or color. Because of this, you'll end up turning previous ones off because you tapped another shape that shared a similarity to the first one. The key to Glowish is finding out the correct sequence to push in order to get them all lit up. Patience is key to the game, though sometimes you can also solve them through trial-and-error.

    Glowish is perfect for those times when you want challenging puzzles but don't want to get too frustrated. There's no penalty, move restrictions, and stars to worry about. Just some critical thinking. If you're stuck, there are hints that you can use, and the restart button wipes everything clean for you to start over.

    Glowish is a great addition to anyone's puzzle collection if you like games that make you think.

    The Good

    Glowish is a great addition to anyone's puzzle game collection. The game features a simple and clean design that is appealing, and it's complete with atmospheric music and sounds. The addition of different color themes available from the get-go (no in-app purchase required) is nice, as it adds variety and everyone should find a theme they like. The puzzles are challenging and the random mode is a great way to just unwind.

    The Bad

    While Glowish is a great game, it bothers me slightly that it sells hints through in-app purchase even though it's a paid download. This has always bothered me, but I suppose it's just how the mobile game market is now. Personally, I would rather just keep trying to solve the puzzles on my own, so the hints are completely optional.

    The verdict

    Glowish is a fantastic brain teaser puzzle that I've fallen in love with over the past few days. The design is bubbly and cute, and the music is soothing. While there's no tutorial to show you how to play, it's not needed and fairly straightforward. The puzzles definitely make me think, and having randomly generated ones is a nice addition. As a big fan of puzzle games, Glowish is one that I'll be returning to time and time again for some relaxation time.

    I recommend giving Glowish a try if you're looking for a challenging sequential logic puzzle game. Glowish is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $1.99. There are in-app purchases for more hints if needed.

    9.3

    OVERALL

    Game Controls 10

    Replayability 9.5

    Graphics 9

    Sound/Music 9

    Gameplay 9

    $1.99

    Glowish

    The One Pixel, Lda

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