Category: Game Reviews

NAME: Stranded COMPANY: Glu PLATFORM: JAVA GENRE: Adventure SIZE: 453 KB TEST PHONE: LG U8630 RATING: 9/10 DEMO: Stranded Demo

Stranded by Glu – The simplest description of the game is that it is something like the Gilligan’s Island or the current LOST TV series.

The premise: You play as Mark one of the survivors of a shipping accident. In order to survive you have to do various tasks for the camp and for yourself. In addition there the mystery of the island to solve.

The game play is very simple with the direction buttons used to walk and the 5 or select button to do every other task. It’ very mobile phone friendly. Despite this ease of use and the quest story line there are many other tasks or mini games which you can perform. These include cutting down trees for wood and fruit, fishing, hunting wild boar and snakes, looking for lost children, cooking, trading with natives, growing vegetables and other fruit – and lots more. There is even some romance!

One of the most interesting features is the animal and plant list which I guess is a task in itself to complete. Thankfully it’s not a requirement to complete if you want to ‘finish’ the game.

Stranded the game has details like a night and day and high and low tide events, animated shore lines, moving trees, water falls, fruit falling off trees and even smoke trails left by rampaging boars. Some of the details is very good.

Sound is typical mobile phone game. Considering the graphic detail it would have been nice for some special effects. Especially for that easily freaked out lady doctor. (You’re in a forest girl you can’t expect complete silence.)

There are no major problems with Stranded. It even has an auto save feature.

I found that its pace was a bit slow at the start but after that it was very good – probably because you moved along at whatever pace you want. A compliment to the designers is that is reminds me of the old Apple ][ adventure games of the Eighties!

How to improve the game for a next version ? Extra sound effects, even more intricate graphic details, a run mode for the character, a quicker loading save feature, the doctor lady gets a name and freaks out at more things. A love issue between Mike and Mark. Sorry but the innuendo between Ian and Mark in this version is hilarious. Whether this is intentional or not I think is funny regardless. No children will not understand it.

Summary

We rate this game a 9.5/10.

Stranded by Glu is is very good little quest game. Technically it is a front runner and it has a story line that is engaging.

Despite all that tasks you can perform, as a mobile game it amazingly works very well. The tasks are not all that difficult to complete yet worth completing simply so that you can find out what happens to the characters.

This game is worth getting for the long run it can take up to an entire day if you wanted to and still not finish – due to the real time feature. The bonus is that you may complete the quest to get off the island but you don’t have to end it there as there are other tasks you can take up. Namely identifying and collecting all the various species of fruit and animals etc…

Definitely a must have or try even if you’re not into this sort of thing.  We gave it 9.5 and didn’t score 10 because we think that at least 2 more midi tracks and slightly better graphics would have made it perfect.  It’s a classic mobile phone game.

Need more convincing – I’m in the process of putting a walk through for the game!

NAME: Pitfall The Lost Expedition – Glacier
COMPANY: Activision and Sumea
PLATFORM: JAVA
GENRE: Forward scrolling shooter
SIZE: 89 KB
TEST PHONE: LG U8630
RATING: 7/10

You play has Harry who’s caught up in another adventure involving pits. You’re on a quest to find a ‘ancient artefact and defeat its guardian’.

Pitfall is essentially a platformer and it doesn’t depart from the proven formula which is helped create all those years ago.

The gameplay consists of jumping and climbing, swinging around and throwing rocks at various obstacles such as ice hedgehogs, spikes, big birds and ice monkeys.

The sound is again limited and the graphics are OK. However that doesn’t detract from the game.

Controls are easy to master and spread appropriately on the phone keypad.

There are 15 levels with multiple sub levels so there’s plenty of adventuring to do. There are also lots of different puzzles and treasure to collect on the way. Its difficulty is also increase accordingly so no ‘gameplay’ issues.

The levels are broken up in such a way that it is easy to stop and restart the game at a later stage. Perfect for train or bus travel.

No real problems to report.

Summary

We rate this game a 7/10.

Pitfall for the mobile phone is a decent game. It has high production values with no real flaws.

Not a must have but worth having if you’re into these sort of games.

NAME: Mr & Mrs Smith
COMPANY: Sorrent
PLATFORM: JAVA
GENRE: Forward scrolling shooter
SIZE: 131 KB
TEST PHONE: LG U8630
RATING: 1/10

As per its title the game is based on the movie. But like the other movie based games I’ve tried it has problems and is quite different in premise.

Its a first person shooter game and you play as either Mr or Mrs Smith. The game instructions claim there’s noticeable a difference in characteristics. However the only difference I noticed where the weapons available.

Gameplay consists of looking at people walking or running along a street and hoping to shoot the right target. You can switch between ‘target scope’ view and normal view.

Good concept but it implementation is a shocker in a bad way!

It’s difficult if not impossible to aim correctly.

The graphics are too small even in scope view.

It is just not entertaining no matter how open minded you are.

Summary

We rate this game a 1/10.

I liked the movie itself but This game is really bad. Avoid regardless of cost.

Only gave it a 1 because it could be used as a screen saver.

NAME: Mafia Wars
COMPANY: Sumea
PLATFORM: JAVA
GENRE: 3D 3rd person shooter
SIZE: 182 KB
TEST PHONE: LG U8630
RATING: 5/10

You play as ‘Joe’ a member of a Mafia family. Your task is to improve the status of the family and yourself by doing certain tasks. These tasks of course involve eliminating certain people. Completing each task will gain you and your family greater status.

Gameplay has 2 modes: Story mode and Last Man Standing mode. Story mode follows your rise through the ranks whilst Last man standing is to wipe out anything and everything. There are 7 levels of varying difficulty.

The most notable feature of this game is that the graphics are designed in 3-D. Not polygon 3D or real 3D but pseudo 3D. They have done a good job for a mobile phone. A bit cartoony in appearance that makes aiming at target and trying to see who’s shooting at you a bit a gamble.

There’s some witty dialogue but it has some themes which younger people don’t really need to know about. That said if you’re an adult its completely passe.

Issues

Each level takes a long time by mobile phone standards to complete.

The ‘bullets’ are too small to see properly.

There are aiming issues.

Summary

We rate this game a 5/10.

Mafia wars is a good attempt at making a 3D phone game. However there are a few things which make playing it annoying rather than entertaining.

This is not a younger persons game due to the obviously violent theme that resembles real people.

NAME: LEGO Star Wars 2
COMPANY: Tt Games and Universomo
PLATFORM: JAVA
GENRE: Puzzle/Action
SIZE: 111 KB
TEST PHONE: LG U310 + Nokia 6233
RATING: 7.5/10

LEGO Star Wars 2 by Tt Games – The premise: You play as Luke, Leia or R2-D2 in the Death Star scene from the original movie. In order to progress in the game you take control of either of these characters in order to solve various LEGO type issues.

Gameplay involves arranging/destroying LEGO bricks and defending your other characters so that you can get through a particular area in the game. Each character has a different ability so you have to switch between them in order to complete each level. Unfortunately no lightsabers in this ‘episode’ just lots of blasters! The refreshing of storm troopers makes action continuous which is great.

There are 18 playable levels with save spots on the completion of each level. You can go back and play each level at any time. The level of difficulty is typical of a mobile game so not too difficult and there is one or two that will take some lateral thinking. Longevity and replayability is not too high but that’s expected.

Graphics are 2D with pseudo 3D objects. They’ve clearly spent time on quality control and it looks great. Personally I prefer this to real 3D. Game sounds and effects are the top notch I’ve heard form a mere JAVA game. If you have a Nokia 6233 you’ll be more impressed than any other mobile.

Keypad controls are logical and you can play this one handed without any problems. Although at times using both hands are required for precision movements. Easy enough to play on the train or the like. Very slick movements.

The only issue that came to light is when your character is in a corner and too close to a storm trooper and he’s shooting you to pieces your character starts spinning around and there’s no way to retaliate except to switch characters to create a distraction. You see only one character at a time can fire the blaster! Who knows if this was intentional?

Summary

We rate this game a 7.5/10.

It looks and sounds good. It’s missing lightsaber action which we feel is compulsory in a Star Wars game – hence the .5 off. Recommended if you’re a fan or not. Although fans may be bemoan the slight variation in the original story line.

NAME: LEGO Star Wars
COMPANY: Tt Games and Universomo
PLATFORM: JAVA
GENRE: Puzzle/Action
SIZE: KB
TEST PHONE: LG U310 + Nokia 6233
RATING: 7.5/10

The premise: Set in the Star Wars Episode 1 era you play as Anakin Skywalker AKA Darth Vader in this game. Your task is to find your way to Obi-Wan Kenobi and saving the Emperor – Opps! – The Chancellor.

Gameplay involves finding your way by arranging/destroying LEGO bricks, turning on various switches and defending your self with a light saber and by using the Force!

There are 21 playable levels with various save spots. However the save spots can only be activated by exiting a level with a ‘save exit doorway’. Not all levels have this doorway! This caused a bit of confusion as when you exit the game it says saving game but really isn’t until you exited at the appropriate doorway.

You can go back and play each level at any time but only to the ‘exit doorway’. The level of difficulty is typical of a mobile game so not too difficult. The puzzle element is appropriate which allows the use of the force is not a complete walk over. So some challenges here and there. Replayability is limited but again not unexpected.

Graphics are 2D with pseudo 3D objects. They’ve clearly spent time on quality control and it looks great. Personally I prefer this to real 3D. (Yes I repeat this alot in other reviews) Game sounds and effects are the top notch I’ve heard form a mere JAVA game. If you have a Nokia 6233 you’ll be more impressed than with any other mobile.

Keypad controls are logical and you can play this one handed without any problems. Easy enough to play on the train or the like despite the smaller characters. (When compared to Star Wars 2)

The only 2 issues that came to light: First is the save point weirdness and second the Anakin character is a few too pixels too small!

Summary

We rate this game a 7.5/10.

It looks and sounds good. It also plays well with the novelty of lightsaber and force action. .5 deduction because of the 2 issues detailed above.

Fix the two issues and somehow add in some aero acrobatics when he’s swinging the lightsaber around and we would give the game the best rating ever!

NAME: Kingdom of Heaven
COMPANY: Glu
PLATFORM: JAVA
GENRE: Forward scrolling shooter
SIZE: 182 KB
TEST PHONE: LG U8630
RATING: 3/10

After checking out various other movie based games I decided to try this one after even after sampling the Mr & Mrs Smith game.

Set in Jerusalem in 1186 you are Balian of Ibelin or Sibylla a princess of Jerusalem. The enemy are the Saracen army lead by Saladin.

It is the time of crusades where beliefs, honor, valor and your name meant something. The movie is a dramatization of actual historical events, although the movie even gets the name wrong it the first indication that it’s not going to be any good.

However the games premise is nothing like the movie except perhaps in spirit.
You control … who has to find and lead his town folk to safety.

It’s obviously a blatant movie/game franchise tie-in that was also a flop.

You basically walk around town picking up citizens and leading them to safety.
Sure you have to avoid fireballs and arrows, but its not exactly difficult.

You eventually get water and ram tools but the game still doesn’t get any better.

The game essentially a lemmings remake at the core – without the cute lemmings of course.

I can’t really say much about this game because its pretty bad. I didn’t bother after the third level in the hope that it would get better.

Summary

We rate this game a 3/10.

We can’t recommend this game to anyone except those who are fans of the movie and perhaps on younger children – but not for very long.

Even judged soley as a mobile phone games it just missing that IT factor.

Not a total loss but fairly close.

NAME: Johnny Crash
COMPANY: Sumea
PLATFORM: JAVA
GENRE: Action
SIZE: 133 KB
TEST PHONE: LG U8630
RATING: 9/10

Johnny Crash by Sumea – The premise of this game is you controlling a stunt man which has to perform various mid-air tricks.
You as Johnny gets shot out of a cannon and see how far you can fly before crash landing. You have to help him gain fame by also meeting various tasks.

What makes me recommend this game is that its one of a few that only requires the use of 1 button. Yep its a one button game ! Fantastic I’m sure many people are saying.

There’s 2 modes. The career mode and the high score mode. Career mode see you and Johnny attempt to gain fame by doing mid air tricks to impress an audience. High score sees you attempt to ‘fly’ the longest distance.

Game play: Johnny gets shot out a cannon that moves up and down.
There are different optimal angles which you have to shoot from. The cannon moves automatically so timing is essential. Whilst mid air you pres the button to make him flap his arms to adjust forward angle, up or down.
There is only a limited ‘strength’ so you can’t flap his arms all the time.

There are various tasks which involve getting hit by lightening to speed up and kites to help him fly higher.
There are also alien space ships to hit and helicopters and flocks of birds to run into. Fun and ridiculous at the same time.

There other hilarious part is the landing.
Some tasks involve crash landing into signs or shopping trolleys. Landing on the ground is just a funny too ! BTW you get points for how ‘spectacular your landing is.

It is not a difficult game to master, learning the best time to flap and timing the landing. Learning the controls is really easy with only one button to press. Perfect for a mobile phone.

There’s 12 levels titled:
Flying school
Electricity
Birds
Barrels
Kite gulide
Cloud encounter
Heli-hair-cut
Coffee and Donut
High profile Conference
Lost in Supermarket
Goldrush

Graphics are good with little action movements that are appropriate. IT may seem minimal at first but lets face it the sky isn’t filled with crap in real life.

Sound is standard midi is appropriate but not varied.

The save function doesn’t seem to work on the 8630 which is why we haven’t given it a perfect score.

That said this is a Sumea product so its difficult to tell if there is a save function at all.

I believe a new version is out – Johnny Crash Does Texas.

Summary

Johnny Crash is an entertaining game. It is simple yet difficult to master. You can pick it and play over and over. In fact I’m now refining my flying technique to beat the high scores.

I reckon its fairly close to the perfect mobile phone game. A must have game.

NAME: Fantastic 4
COMPANY: (M)Forma
PLATFORM: JAVA
GENRE: Movie/TV based Platformer
SIZE: 218 KB
TEST PHONE: LG U8630
RATING: 3/10

The premise: You play as various members of the F4 team sent to complete various tasks in order to catch up with Dr Doom.

The gamplay involve solving various puzzles and ‘clobbering’ various enemies using the various powers of each member of the F4. This is all very standard stuff in these types of games – nothing new here.

Graphics are poor and sound is minimal throughout the game. I felt like I stepped back in time to the old days of the Commodore 64 or Sinclair computers.

Besides the graphics the other problem is the controls and collision detection issues. It’s all imprecise and just plain odd. It was annoying to the point that we didn’t finish the game.

Summary

We rate this game a 3/10.

We gave this game a low score because there is nothing really desirable about it. Some older fans may enjoy the old style look and feel but the majority won’t. If you persist you may be able to complete the game but it could have been so much better.