Author: Ed

NAME: Frogger Evolution VERSION: 0.0.4 COMPANY: Konami PLATFORM: JAVA GENRE: Classic remake SIZE:  228KB TEST PHONE: Nokia E71 RATING: 7/10 DEMO:

Welcome to the Frogger Evolution Java game review. It’s a remake of a classic game released in 1981.

We expected a lot from this game because the original was made for computers with next to no RAM, CPU and graphics capability that now belongs in a regular TV remote control.  So the latest Nokia E71 with better specifications than the most expensive computers in 1981 you’d expect a perfect replica.

This version has two modes the classic mode and evolution mode. The classic mode with blocky graphics is indeed a clone of the original BUT it is not a perfect.  There is stuff cut out such as a row or two of additional cars and little things like that but it does not make it as good as the original.  The most annoying thing is the small size of the FROG!  Could be because we played it on the wide screen E71 but unlikely.

The gameplay is simple and requires patience and accurate timed button presses.  Fast enough and overall well programmed.  However we can’t say much about more because we got bored trying to complete stage 2 of the game!

Great game techincally but unless you’re a Frogger fan it may not work for you.

NAME: The Dark Knight VERSION: 1.0 COMPANY: GLU Mobile PLATFORM: JAVA GENRE: Movie based platformer SIZE:  530KB TEST PHONE: Nokia E71 RATING: 7/10 DEMO:

Welcome to The Dark Knight java game review. It’s a game based on the Batman – The Dark Knight movie story line.

The game is in a platformer style so it involves jumping, hitting things with the bat-arang, and rope.  As we all known Batman does not use outright weapons that kill!

We played this after the Watchmen game also by GLU so expected a similar experience.  In that frame of mind we where expecting at least similar experience.

Menu graphics are great – detailed and stylish in a Batman way.  The in game graphics very good 2D with a detailed background.  The animated Batman is detailed and clear likewise his enemies are detailed but seem like clones.  In game SFX and music in typical MIDI tracks.  Technically the game works well and no programming glitches to ruin the experience.

Gameplay is good with helper icons when you need it.  There are not many moves you can get Batman to do but they are done very well.  We liked the 2 part black out move.  There are numerous levels all quite entertaining although felt flat overall.

Problems include slow load time and the last enemy – the Joker at the end. The ultimate boss battle was fiddly to play through.

Overall a good game and worth getting.  It’s easy to play each level on the train or bus but there is not much replay value.

NAME: MotoGP09 VERSION: 1.1 COMPANY: I-Play PLATFORM: JAVA GENRE: Motorcycle Racing Game SIZE:  595KB TEST PHONE: Nokia E71 RATING: 8.5/10 DEMO:

Welcome to the MotoGP 09 java game review. It’s a  game set in the 2009 MotoGP racing season.  MotoGP is the official name for the International Motorcycle Grand Prix.  The F1 racing for motorcycles.

MotoGP game is amazingly detailed for a mobile phone based game.  There are 17 tracks, unlockable motorcycle upgrades that cover all the major aspects of the motorcycle, details of all the leading MotoGP riders, awards system, track time, track length details – all the key things needed for a decent motorcycle game.

Graphics are very good for this style of game.  I would say that it probably the best of all the racing games I’ve tried.  It uses 2D and 3D elements.  Your character even looks back at other riders and even falls off if you have an accident.  The back grounds change dependent on which track you are racing on too!  Excellent work.

The in game sound is typical MIDI but this game with ‘heavy rock’ sound track it becomes very repetitive – I didn’t hear and SFX either.

Gameplay is the downfall of many of these games.  Some games have too many real world physics which makes the game unplayable then there are other which are too fiddly, too fast or you have to ride to a specific formula and when you exceed that it punishes you.  Then there are those games that are just fantasy based which are just too easy.  MotoGP avoids all of these and it is actually very playable and enjoyable.  Great job there.

I was impressed with the effort.  The game works really well considering its on mobile phone.  It’s has all the features of a console of PC based game!  It is a benchmark game in the racing game catergory not just the motorcycle game class.  Worth getting because it will take ages to finish properly yet you can enjoy it in quick sessions.

NAME: Transformers Revenge of the Fallen VERSION: 1.0 COMPANY: GLU PLATFORM: JAVA GENRE: Movie platformer SIZE:  693KB TEST PHONE: Nokia E71 RATING: 7/10 DEMO:

Welcome to the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen game review. It’s game that sort of follows the movie storyline.

The game starts off well with detailed menu graphics, this seems to be a good trend all the various game developers are using these days.  The in game graphics are detailed 2D -with 3D like effects.  It suits the game perfectly and looks good too.  The sound SFX and theme are standard mobile phone quality – again. Overall looks good!

However there are a few problems with the gameplay.  Despite playing on the latest E71 hardware the character movement ‘seems’ slow.  The Decepticon enemies move much faster than you.  Positioning can also be a problem.  The lag seems to be caused by the scrolling screen.

Overall it seems to use The Dark Knight’s game engine and even parts the Monsters Vs Aliens engine which allows for easy controls and easy to activate special moves.  The transforming moves to the cars are much better than prior games.  I just wish the perceived game lag wasn’t there.

Ultimately the game is a standard platformer and a decent one.  Worth getting if you like this sort of theme.

NAME: Johnny Crash Does Texas VERSION: 1.0.2 COMPANY: Digital Chocolate PLATFORM: JAVA GENRE: Action SIZE:  200KB TEST PHONE: Nokia 6500 RATING: 8/10 DEMO:

Welcome to the Johnny Crash Does Texas mobile phone game review. As you can guess it is the sequel to the original Johnny Crash game, which we rate as a benchmark game. We had high expectations when we got it!

We noted that the game was released by Digital Chocolate although developed by Sumea who developed the first game. Judging from the website they where bought out.

The scenery is set in a Texas desert as opposed to a city in the original version. The graphic quality has been improved slightly although you wouldn’t really notice if not familiar with the original. The music is still industry standard for these sort of game – limited.

As far a playability goes the one button game play still works as good as ever and game speed is perfect.
The story line has changed to a Texas theme which means a different set of tasks to accomplish to open up new levels. There is now an in game distance and height balloon that tells you that the target is coming up. However even with the indicator thing the game is still enough of a challenge to keep you interested.

Overall we still loved the game. It is just as good as the original. However we couldn’t give it the same score as not enough enhancement has been done. Perhaps better in game SFX or even better graphics would have been nice. Check out out original game review for more info.

NAME: The Sims 3 VERSION: 7.7 COMPANY: EA Games PLATFORM: JAVA GENRE: Real Life sim SIZE: 542KB TEST PHONE: Nokia 6500 RATING: 9/10 DEMO:

Welcome to the The Sims 3 mobile game review. It’s cut down version of the forth coming PC game and to be honest considering past Sims games for the mobile phone have not been very good, the Sims 1 for the mobile phone for example was not even worth writing up.  So I hoped that the latest version would be an improvement.

Start the game up and your presented with a modern and very PC like introduction screen with witty comments scrolling across the bottom.  The main menu is now PC Sims like and the main theme song is an upbeat and high quality MIDI – if you let it play long enough. The theme isn’t the original Sims tune which is a pity.

The best part is that this games sound effects is that it has Sim-lish when you take to other characters, including the often funny speech bubble.

Gameplay is a replication of the PC version of the Sims games so you guide your customized Sim in going about daily activities.  One noticeable improvement is the reduction of the need to go to the toilet or take a shower every 5 minutes.

The games appears open ended although there are supposedly 75 goals, the ones I’ve been assigned with are just plain weird.  For example ‘be entertained for 3 days’ or ‘slap some’ huh?  You can also go to town, buy furniture or even get a job – almost everything to can do in a tradition Sims game.

There are LOTS of customisation options from normal to weird (eg green skin).  But there aren’t many body types though so your Sim will always be of average shape.  I would have liked perhaps shorter and extra tall bodies.  I guess that would be too much to ask for a mobile phone game.

On a personality side there are lots of different characteristics you can assign to your Sim including  Sleaze, Jerk and Manic where the funniest.  The character interactions are almost autonmous too.

Game speed is very good considering the often relatively slow Nokia 6500 test phone on other games.  I was also impressed by having the option to have 3 different Sims as saved games. (You can save the games at any time.)

Conclusion: EA Games have excelled themselves with the Sims 3 for JAVA.  It is by all accounts a clone of the regular Sims game.  Sure there are missing the ultimate and detailed factors of the regular PC versions but when you realise that its a mobile phone game – this is brillant!  The only critism that can be said is that if you have not played a Sims game before you will be a little lost for the first 30 minutes. If you like the idea of having a virtual ‘mini-me’ this is the game for you.  Overall – Yes a new benchmark game in our books on a variety of levels.

NAME: Star Trek (Mobile) VERSION: 4.2 COMPANY: EA Games PLATFORM: JAVA GENRE: Movie space shooter SIZE: 492KB TEST PHONE: Nokia 6500 RATING: 8/10 DEMO:

Welcome to the Star Trek mobile game review.  It’s game based on the movie but has got nothing to do with the story line from the movie – any of the past 10 movies.  It is essentially a top down scroller shoot them all game.

The game’s premise is set during conflict with the Klingons/Romulans and others (which we haven’t got up to yet)  for every ‘time period’ in the Star Trek universe.  Every enemy is a different variation of space craft. So its not for purist Trekkie fans.  The game has various comments and status reports with pictures of the various actors from the new 2009 movie.  This leads us to the conclusion that it was probably originally designed for any of the Star Trek series.

The games involves achieving various tasks like shooting 80% of enemies or avoiding all asteroids and so forth.  Completing each task will mean that you’ll get an equipment upgrade point.  The enemy numbers are outrageous and so are the powerups.  A ‘1942’ game set in the Star Trek universe. The difficulty level rises accordingly – so you’re very busy avoiding other weapons fire and obstacles.  The game speed probably needs to be slowed down a fraction.

Visually the game uses 2D effectively.  Lots of tractor beams, phasers and disrupters and proton torpedoes shields flashes and explosions.  Looks good even on the relatively low resolution screen.  The iPhone/iTouch versions are much more impressive though.

The games sounds seem more like WAV or MP3 rather than MIDI.  The quality is very poor.  In fact the worst we’ve heard for a long time.

Conclusion: We enjoyed game but it is seemingly a rush job since it would be very easy to replace the character images with any from the TV series.  Indeed it wouldn’t would take much to replace all the Star Trek images with say Star Wars or any other movie that was space themed.  Anyway it is highly unrealistic but fun.  The collision detection is probably the best we’ve seen.  Worth getting and more fun than the other ‘1942’ style clones.