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Lynk. ($0.99) by Michael Le is a new puzzle game that features a unique line drawing mechanic. If you enjoyed games like Linelight and Splitter Critters, then you'll get a kick out of Lynk.

When I'm under stress (and there's been a lot of that for me lately), I like to escape from reality with video games. My go-to genre of games are typically puzzles, because they keep my mind busy and stimulated while also helping me relax after a long day. Though it feels like I've been through all of the puzzle games on the App Store, I'm always looking out for something new and refreshing. When I saw Lynk on the App Store, it looked distinctive enough that I knew I had to check it out for myself.

$1.99

Linelight

Brett Taylor

$2.99

Splitter Critters

RAC7 Games

In terms of visuals, Lynk is as barebones as it gets. It's super minimal with just basic lines and geometric shapes set against a black background. If you're into simple and clean designs, then Lynk should be appealing in terms of graphics. Everything is rendered in 2D, so there's nothing too fancy. However, despite the simplicity, there's mesmerizing particle effects that are fun to watch as you successfully solve the puzzles. Since everything's set against a black background, the vibrant colors provide nice contrast. Animations are smooth and fluid, so there was no lag on my iPhone 7. While the game does not have a background soundtrack, there are soothing sound effects as you draw and make the links. Even though the game's audio and visual design is fairly basic, it works out well for what it is.

Like other puzzle games, Lynk is level-based. Players must go through each stage one-by-one in chronological order. The game does not provide you with a tutorial or hints, so it's all up to the player to discover the rules and mechanics of Lynk on their own.

The goal is pretty straightforward: connect the blue circles together, while getting all of the other objects and avoiding obstacles in the process. Oh, and your line can't cross over itself, so you'll have to be careful! Fortunately, the game doesn't penalize you for messing up, so it's rather relaxing. Lynk evolves over the 130 levels it provides in the initial download, so you learn the objectives as you go.

Controls in Lynk are simple and intuitive. To connect the blue circles, just draw a line with your finger from one to the other. Things start off easy enough, but then you'll have walls and mazes to maneuver through, green squares to collect, and more. Eventually, you'll also get red circles, but the only way to connect them is to connect the blue ones first, as the red ones mimic the blue line. This is trickier than it seems, because walls and other obstacles stand in the way, but it's entirely possible to have multiple solutions to a puzzle.

A path drawing puzzle game with a variety of mechanics.

The Good

Lynk is an incredibly relaxing puzzle game with a fresh premise that's nice to see in a marketplace oversaturated with puzzles. The minimalistic design should appeal to those who don't like a lot of fancy and flashy graphics, and the sound effects are whimsical. Controls are intuitive and friendly enough for anyone to pick the game up and play. Even without handholding and guidance, figuring out how to do things in Lynk is not hard, so this is a great game for anyone.

The Bad

For the most part, Lynk is a fantastic little puzzle game for everyone. But if you prefer a challenge and want something that makes the game harder, such as a time limit or move restrictions, then you won't find it here. And if you aren't a big fan of minimal design, then Lynk may not be for you. But if you can put these aside, Lynk is rather enjoyable.

The verdict

As a fan of puzzles and someone who feels like there's nothing new or interesting on the market, Lynk is like a breath of fresh air. I love the simple and clean aesthetic, and the sounds are delightful. Even though I usually like at least a little guidance when starting a game, I found Lynk to be straightforward enough without losing the player, which is nice. The puzzles themselves are challenging but not frustrating, and sometimes even make you think outside the box to solve.

I recommend giving Lynk a try if you're in search of a tranquil puzzle game this week. You can find Lynk on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $0.99. There are no in-app purchases.

8.4

OVERALL

Game Controls 9

Replayability 8

Graphics 8

Sound/Music 8.5

Gameplay 8.5

$0.99

Lynk.

Michael Le

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

Morphite ($7.99) by Crescent Moon Games is a low-poly sci-fi first-person shooter adventure. If you enjoyed games like the old N.O.V.A. franchise, and prefer the modern retro graphics like in Horizon Chase, then you will love Morphite.

I'm usually not a big FPS fan because I don't do terribly well with them. However, ever since I started playing the first Destiny game and even Overwatch, I've grown a new appreciation and liking for shooters in general. Morphite was teased a while ago, and I even got to check it out a bit this year during GDC. I knew that this was something special, and I had to get my hands on it whenever it was ready. Now that it's dropped to the masses, I can say that it was definitely worth the wait after all this time.

Free

Horizon Chase – World Tour

Aquiris Realidade Virtual LTDA

Visually, Morphite is unique with a low-poly design that seems rather trendy lately. This means that the environments are a bit rough and jagged, and the faces of characters are not too detailed. Everything is rendered in 3D, and overall, Morphite is giving me a bit of a Metroid feel. The game has a nice range of colors, from muted earthy tones to bright and vibrant neons. Animations are smooth and fluid on my iPhone 7, so I did not experience any lag while playing the game. There's an atmospheric and captivating soundtrack in the background, and the sound effects and voice acting is done well. Morphite is a gorgeous game that looks fantastic and has amazing audio.

Since Morphite is a FPS game about exploration, players start at the beginning of the story and progress through in a linear fashion. Morphite introduces Myrah Kale, who's a young woman residing on a space station with her surrogate father, Mr. Mason. As he sends her out on basic exploratory missions to scan signs of life and gather resources on various planets, players will discover much more than that. Eventually, Myrah will uncover her own past and her relationship to a rare and coveted material called Morphite.

Despite having a storyline and missions that need to be completed chronologically, Morphite's worlds are procedurally generated (except ones that involve the main story),, so everyone's Morphite game will be different. There's many different kinds of creature types, landscapes, and areas to explore, and it's all unique. It's what makes this game magical.

Controls in Morphite are pretty straightforward, but it can be a bit annoying if you have the touch screen control opacity turned off. In the very bottom left corner is where you switch between your scanner and pistol, which happens fairly regularly. Above this area will be the virtual joystick for moving around. In the very bottom right corner is the button to shoot or activate your scanner. Above that is the jump button.

While Myrah is in her ship, you'll have a menu for selecting your destination in the solar system via Star Map. But be careful — you need fuel in your ship to travel, so if a place is too far, you won't be able to go unless you fill up at a space station first. This is also where you can view your Ship Info, as well as check active missions, equipped weapons, items, scans, and collected resources. Random encounters may occur while traveling in your ship, so be prepared for combat at any time.

The problem I have with the controls is the fact that the switch toggle for the scanner and pistol is where I usually think of placing my thumb for movement. So when I turned down the opacity for on-screen controls to zero, I often found myself bringing up the switcher when I just wanted to move. I also kept jumping instead of shooting, which was irritating. The positioning of the buttons takes a bit of getting used to, so I recommend keeping the opacity on (even just slightly) so that you don't get the buttons mixed up. Fortunately, you can change the button positioning in the settings, though it feels like it's a bit hidden.

Fortunately, Morphite does have support for MFi controllers. So if you have one laying around, this is the perfect kind of game to use them with.

Morphite is packed with elements of exploration and discovery, real-time combat against various life forms and bosses, and even environmental puzzle solving. In addition to the main storyline quests, players have the option to do a wide variety of side quests, and there's a plethora of upgrades for your suit and weapons. While the price of Morphite seems high, there's a lot of content, so you do get bang for your buck.

Crescent Moon first showed this game to us at GDC in March, and now it's available for everyone.

The Good

For a game that many have been waiting for, there's a lot of good with Morphite. The game looks beautiful with a distinctive design that is simple and appealing. The music is ambient and soothing, only adding to the game's overall charm. There's a lot of content, and the voice acting is done exceptionally well. Having support for MFi controllers is nice, especially when the default touch-screen controls feel a bit clunky. This has been a game many have been waiting for, and it doesn't disappoint in terms of quality and entertainment.

The Bad

My biggest issue with Morphite are the touch-screen controls. I found it annoying that if I want the buttons to be invisible, I'll end up swiping or tapping on the wrong thing. At least players have the option to customize the button positioning, though it feels a bit tucked away.

The verdict

Overall, Morphite is an excellent game that is worth a download for any iOS gamer. The graphics are stunning, the music is delightful, and the game world is immersive. Controls do take some time to get used to, but can definitely be streamlined in a future update. At least there is support for physical MFi controllers, which always end up being the better option for a FPS game like this anyway. Morphite is jam-packed with procedurally generated content, so there's a huge assortment of life forms, landscapes, and bosses to tackle. Plus, many upgrades are available to make you stronger.

I highly recommend giving Morphite a try if you enjoy sci-fi adventure games with a first-person shooter perspective. You can find Morphite on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV for $7.99.

9.0

OVERALL

Sound/Music 10

Replayability 9

Graphics 9.5

Gameplay 9

Game Controls 7.5

$7.99

Morphite

Crescent Moon Games

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