Dead Clicker is a Windows Phone 8 arcade game that calls upon you to protect the gates of a cemetery from an army of zombies.

To do so you must smash the zombies into the ground, much like you would do in a game of whack-a-mole. The more zombies you smash, the higher your score. Should the zombies make it out of their graves and reach the cemetery gates, they will escape ending the game.

Dead Clicker is a fast-paced Windows Phone game that has decent graphics, challenging game play and is a fun way to pass the time.

Battling Zombie Hordes

Dead Clicker’s main menu holds options to mute the sound, visit the game’s Facebook and Twitter pages as well as jump into game play.

When you jump into game play, you will get a courtesy “3,2,1” countdown and then the zombies start to move towards the cemetery gate that sits at the bottom of the screen. Zombies will come out of the ground where the tombstones are or meander down the paths between the grave markers.

To defeat the zombies and keep them from escaping the cemetery, just tap on them. Tapping on the zombies trying to get out of their graves will send them back into the ground. Tapping on those walking down the paths will shatter them into tiny little pieces. Should a zombie make it out of the grave, they will head towards the cemetery gate.

The goal is to survive as long as you can. The longer you survive the faster the game pace becomes and the game ends as soon as the zombies break down the cemetery gate.

Some zombies move faster than others and some will require multiple taps to take down. To add to the challenge, periodically a lost miner will surface from one of the graves. If you tap on a miner, the game ends.

To help you defeat the zombie incursion, Dead Clicker had six mojo boosts that will appear occasionally throughout the game. Mojo’s include one that will unleash an alien ship that takes out the zombies, one that will unleash an Elvis impersonator that runs the zombies off, one to set off a series of lightning strikes and more.

Overall Impression

While Dead Clicker may not stand up to lengthy gaming sessions, it is a fun Windows Phone 8 game to pass short bits of time with.

I wouldn’t mind seeing an online leaderboard with Dead Clicker but as a consolation, your best score will be displayed on the main menu. The ad-banner that runs across the bottom can get in the way when you are dispatching any zombies that have reached the gate. It's nothing detrimental to the game but it is something you'll need to be careful with.

All in all, if you are looking for a fun, fast paced arcade game for your Windows Phone 8 gaming library Dead Clicker is a good choice. The game is a free, ad-supported title that is available for Windows Phone 8 devices (including low-memory devices).

You can find your copy of Dead Clicker here in the Windows Phone Store.

Microsoft’s Halo franchise is live and well, having characters further integrated into Windows Phone and Spartan Assault being available on multiple platforms. If you recall last week, we touched on Major Nelsen teasing an upcoming deal covering the popular Halo game for Windows and Windows Phone. That deal is now live and you can pick up Halo: Spartan Assault for just $1.99 on both platforms.

If you haven’t yet downloaded the two titles, now’s your opportunity at a more affordable price. The deal will last until April 9th. It’s a superb saving since both the Halo listings usually go for just shy of $7 each, making it now possible to pick up bout versions for less than what you’d usually pay out for just one.

Hit the links below to begin your journey as Master Chief.

• Halo: Spartan Assault (Windows – $1.99)
• Halo: Spartan Assault (Windows Phone – $1.99)

Russian publisher Game Insight produces titles in many genres (mostly on other platforms), but its specialty is city-building games. Their previous Windows Phone and Windows 8 release 2020: My Country impressed me with its futuristic setting and wealth of content (see our review). But still, I longed to see more Game Insight titles make their way to mobile Windows platforms.

As luck would have it, Game Insight has just released Airport City on both Windows Phone (1 GB of RAM or higher at present) and Windows 8 and RT. It comes from Innowate, the same team who bought us the My Country series. Although the two game look and play a lot alike, Airport City does a few things differently as well. Namely it combines traditional city building with airport management, which proves more interesting than you might expect.

Airports made easy

New players will start Airport City with a tiny village, a fledgling airport, and a dream: to build an international airport. A well-drawn stewardess and several other airport employee characters will guide you through the process of building both airport and town, as well as earning money by sending planes out into the world.

The first step towards a thriving airport is of course building a runway. Won’t be landing too many planes without that! After buying one from the game’s building and item store and placing it, you’ll then want to purchase a hangar. From there you can invest in a plane, at which point your airport truly becomes operational.

Once you can start managing flights, the game really picks up. Select the hangar and choose a flight from the available list. Players only start with one destination available, but more will unlock as they reach new experience levels.

Each flight costs a certain amount of fuel and passengers. Players gain fuel over time – just like energy in other city builders. You’ll gain coins and experience when the plane comes back. As you repeat the same flight, you’ll increase that flight’s rank from zero all the way up to three stars. Each new rank provides a bonus such as free passengers.

Having selected a flight, it’s time to prepare the plane. Select the craft to fuel it, load it, and then send it into the sky. The plane will return a fixed period of time later, which varies by destination. Impatient players can opt to speed flights along by spending extra fuel.

Later on, you’ll buy new planes and thus gave to build new runways. The more planes you send out, the more money your airport will earn. You’ll also receive occasional requests to land from visiting planes. As long as you have a free runway, they can land and add to your revenue. These visiting planes also have a chance of dropping valuable items.

Your airport also needs a repair base in order to keep planes from breaking down and a control tower to handle larger numbers of flights. After that, airport expansions consist of upgrades like better runways and even a few new ways to launch craft off the ground.

Growing airports need thriving cities

Airports in the middle of nowhere don’t tend to do all that well. Who’d want to go there, and where would the passengers come from? That’s exactly why players need to build up their cities in this game. Flights require passengers to run, and those passengers come from the surrounding city.

Residential buildings produce people (passengers) over time. Select a house with a suitcase over it in order to collect the passenger(s) it produces, much as in other city building games. If you find yourself constantly in need of more passengers, building new homes is a must.

New additions to your airport and city will cost money. Flights bring in some coins, but not enough to keep the whole city going. That’s where businesses like restaurants and stores come in. Each one produces coins over time, so you’ll want to balance out your residential expansions with commercial ones. All homes and businesses must be connected to roads, for better or worse.

Businesses and other buildings also require electricity to run, just as in the My Country games. As such, players will have to build power plants, turbines, and other power generators in order to keep up with their cities’ growing needs. The resource management is a lot to keep up with, although Airport City at least explains the various systems better than 2020: My Country does.

In-app Purchases

Casual city building games are all free to play, and that goes for Airport City too.  The In-App Purchases consist of coins and Airport Cash. As mentioned earlier, coins can be earned through normal gameplay. Airport Cash is the hard currency that you have to pay for.

Some of the nicer buildings cost Airport Cash, but players can always purchase coin-equivalent buildings instead. The more compelling premium items are boosts that provide production bonuses like extra experience or fuel production for a set length of time. These can’t be bought with coins.

Social features

Airport City has some decent social features, though adding friends could be easier. There isn’t any Facebook connectivity that I can see – normally a standard feature in the genre. Instead, you have to add a friend’s unique code in order to visit him or her. Friend codes are just as un-intuitive here as they are on Nintendo consoles. Why not stick to usernames? My Windows Phone friend code is wj1bvm1 if you want to add me, anyway.

Once you have a friend or two on your list, you can visit their airports and interact with a few buildings. The number of buildings that can be interacted with per day is limited, as you might expect. Players can also send gifts to each other. You get to pick what type of gift you send – a huge improvement over the random crap we had to gift each other in 2020: My Country.

Ups and downs

Although Airport City looks to have a lot of content at launch, it also has a few problems. The artwork on both phone and tablet is kind of low resolution, for example. Zoom in and everything looks soft and grainy. The music also stinks, but that’s casual games for you. The Windows Phone game also has a habit of crashing when my Lumia 1520 goes into sleep mode. Not a big deal when I’m actively playing, but still a mild nuisance. I’m sure the crashes will be fixed with an update.

Since Airport City has launched on both Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 and RT, it would be fantastic if players could hop back and forth between devices using the same save profile. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t support cloud saves. That’s always a concern with titles that expect us to play for long periods of time and maybe make purchases along the way. You’d lose anything you bought if you reinstalled the game or switched devices.

Thankfully, Game Insight is actually gearing up to integrate cloud saving into their games very soon. 2020: My Country will be the first title to get cloud saves; hopefully Airport City follows closely behind.

Airport City is another fine city building game for mobile Windows platforms. As usual, these games are not everybody’s cup of tea. You can never really win; just check in every day and watch your city grow over time. But that’s pretty fun, especially when you throw airplanes into the mix. Just don’t forget your photo ID if you want to make it through security!

• Airport City – Windows Phone 8 with 1GB of RAM or higher – 40 MB – Free – Store Link
• Airport City – Windows 8 and RT – 40 MB – Free – Store Link

Sweets Mania Space Quest is a matching game for Windows Phone 8 that has an assortment of missions where you are tasked with pairing up various styles of candies. Game mechanics are similar to what you would find with Bejeweled but with a set number of levels with an assortment of mission goals.

Graphics are well done, game play challenging and overall Sweets Mania Space Quest is a fun game to pass the time with.

Game Layout

The main menu for Sweets Mania Space Quest has options to choose you language setting, mute the sound and volume and jump into game play. At the top of the main menu you will see your current game coin count and a countdown timer for when you’ll earn another life for game play.

If you would like to get a jump on building up your game coins the “+” button beneath your coin count will give you the opportunity to buy coins via in-app purchase. Coins are typically earned during game play and are used to buy power-ups and extra lives.

Sweets Mania Space Quest has six planets that have at least twenty levels each (my count could be off but it looks like the game has 300 total levels). Each level presents you with a goal to achieve that will fall into one of four missions that include:

• Score Cap - Score enough points (destroy enough elements) in a limited number of moves or time.
• Remove Jelly - Remove jelly underneath the candies in a limited number of moves or time.
• Collect - Collect certain elements in a limited number of moves or time.
• Bring Down - Bring an alien down to the bottom of the board in a limited number of moves or time.

The first few levels of the game serve more as a tutorial than a challenge. These tutorials will guide you through game play and does a rather nice job of things. Sweets Mania Space Quest does lack a help/reference section and other than replaying the first few levels, there isn’t a way to revisit game play directions.

Game Play

Game play with Sweets Mania Space Quest is simple. Your mission objective is announced prior to the start of each level.  Your coin and life counter will be displayed at the top of the gaming screen. Your moves remaining will be displayed above the playing field along with your progress towards the current mission.

The playing field is an assortment of candies that you’ll have to move around to create matches of three or more of the same style of candy. The playing field can be a single grouping of candies, divided into two sections, split into quadrants or simply odd shaped. Along with the candies some levels have blocks/bricks and other obstacles you’ll have to overcome. Bottom line, Sweets Mania Space Quest does a good job of giving you a variety of playing fields to conquer.

Just below the playing field are three boosters that can help you accomplish the mission at hand. Each will cost you an amount of coin and they include:

• Shuffle: If you are running out of moves, this booster will shuffle the game pieces around the playing field.
• Target Sniper: This booster will take out a piece of candy that you designate.
• Chocolate Candy: Allows you to place a chocolate candy that when swapped with another playing piece, all playing pieces of that style will be destroyed.

Creating a match calls on you to swap out pieces of candy, much like you do with Bejeweled, and when matched up the candies are removed. The playing field will then be replenished with candies from the top. Combinations of three simply remove the candies while larger combinations will create bonus items that when used, will take out larger sections of the playing field.

If you fail to complete your mission in the set number of moves, you can expend one of your lives to replay the game or burn some coin and buy additional moves.

Overall Impression

While there are plenty of matching games in the Windows Phone Store, Sweets Mania Space Quest is a rather surprising option to consider. I really didn’t know what to expect when I first installed the game but I have to admit that the more I played the game, the more appeal Sweets Mania Space Quest developed.

The variety of mission styles helps keep the game from going stale too quick and all four styles are full of challenges. Sweets Mania Space Quest’s graphics are attractive but I’m not sure having to wait to resume game play is a good thing or bad.

I would like to see a help section added to the mix but the tutorial levels do a good job of getting you accustomed to game play. Overall, if you’re looking for a fun, challenging game to help you pass the time with Sweets Mania Space Quest is worth considering.

Sweets Mania Space Quest is a free game that is available for Windows Phone 8 (including low-memory devices). You can pick up your copy of Sweets Mania Space Quest here in the Windows Phone Store.

We’ve just reviewed Airport City, the latest Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 release from international publisher Game Insight. Observant readers will notice a pattern with Game Insight’s mobile Windows releases: three out of their four games are pure city builders. The fourth game Rule the Kingdom is sort of a city builder/RPG hybrid.

Clearly city building is Game Insight’s specialty – these titles are doing very well for them on Windows Phone and Windows 8. But you do need something to differentiate one of these games from the crowd, especially when they all come from the same publisher. As luck would have it, Game Insight’s next title Cloud Raiders adds something really cool to the mix: fantasy-based strategic battles. Read on for exclusive news and impressions!

Eyes in the clouds

To date, Game Insight’s mobile Windows titles include: My Country, Rule the Kingdom, 2020: My Country, and Airport City. The publisher recently announced that its Windows Phone and Windows 8 titles have collectively reached five million players – a fairly large number given Windows Phone’s underdog status on the market.

The big GI should reach even more players when Cloud Raiders arrives on the market. Cloud Raiders takes place in a world of floating islands, not unlike Activision’s Skylanders series. At the outset, players become stranded on one of those islands by evil sky pirates. They’ll then have to build a base in order to keep those pirates at bay and take back some loot in the process.

Establishing a settlement works the same as in other city building games, though the buildings here serve a more military purpose. Your main building is the stronghold; upgrading it will unlock a variety of new items. The town also needs buildings to extract and store two soft currencies: gold and clouds. These two resources are required to create and upgrade news structures as well as produce military units.

In order to defend your base, you’ll need to recruit various types of soldiers and house them in bunkers. They can then be deployed when invading ships reach the island. Enemy forces often come in larger numbers, though. That’s where cannons come in. Place them strategically so they can fire upon the invaders who hack away at your buildings. A large cannon can be aimed at specific targets as well, but it takes time to recharge between shots.

Protecting your base is just part of the fun in Cloud Raiders. Each time the AI attacks, players can choose to take revenge on the enemy’s base. You’ll send up to 20 soldiers on these raids, receiving gold, clouds, and experience if they win the battle. Players can even attack each other’s bases, for which the victor will gain an additional currency called Valor.

Windows specifics

Cloud Raiders is already available on Android, where it supports cloud saves via Facebook integration. As we mentioned in our Airport City review, Game Insight’s mobile Windows titles haven’t supported cloud saving so far. But the publisher is actively working on bringing the feature to its existing Windows Phone and Windows 8 titles.

In fact, the Windows Phone version of Cloud Raiders will launch with the same cloud save support via Facebook as its Android brother. No more worrying about save data loss; just play with an online connection and you’ll be golden. In fact, save data and multiplayer features will even be cross-platform compatible with the Android version!

Game Insight also plans to bring Cloud Raiders to Windows 8 and RT, but the tablet version will arrive after the phone game. The developer is currently revamping the game’s graphics to take advantage of the higher resolution displays of PCs and tablets. (The current Android version’s art is slightly low resolution, much like Airport City.) The Windows 8 and RT versions will share cloud save data with Windows Phone and Android as well, so the wait will definitely be worth it.

We don’t have an estimated release date for Cloud Raiders yet, but the game is going into beta soon. Keep checking back at Windows Phone Central for more Cloud Raider news as well as first word on the other title Game Insight has in the works… We’ll share those details as soon as we can!

Last week we reviewed Spirit of Hero, a Windows Phone-exclusive MMORPG from Vietnamese developer TeaMobi. Although a large and potentially fun game, Spirit of Hero suffers from a poor English translation and several technical issues. I must be on a janky Asian games kick, because today I’m back to review Raiden X for Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 and RT. This one comes from a Chinese publisher called Kim Labs and indie developer HeartTour.

Although Raiden X bears the name of the famous Raiden shoot-em-up series, it’s not an official Raiden title. The developer borrowed the name and a few assets and made their own Raiden game without permission of Raiden owner Seibu Kaihatsu. Yet unlicensed fan games like this are actually part of a longstanding tradition in Japan and Asia. They’re called doujin games, and exist in something of a gray market in their native countries. Some doujin games are great, while others are totally amateur hour – like Raiden X.

Mistranslations aplenty

Nobody will ever mistake Raiden X for the product of an English-speaking developer. The game starts out with a brief introduction that steals artwork from the horrible Michael Bay Transformers  and a couple of other movies. The introductory text reads like more of a poem than a real intro:

“AD 2050,

                invasion of alien races.

Loss of life,

                doom,

                                earth crisis!

Is that you?

                Can you save the world?”

This same poor translation rears its ugly head during the ship select screen and in-game tutorial. Spelling errors abound. The tutorial is so garbled, you might be left wondering what some of the items and on-screen buttons do.

Shoot ‘em up, whydontcha

Like the real Raiden games, Raiden X is a vertically scrolling shoot-em-up. Only here, all the stages take place in space – no land levels to be seen.

Players control a single ship and its two wingmen. The main ship can take multiple hits. That comes as a blessing in the shmup genre; most of the time your ship would be a one hit wonder in this sort of game.

The two wingmen’s shots don’t do too much damage unless you buy better ones in the shop, but it’s still cool to have them along. Should your wing-dudes take hits and be destroyed, you can bring them back by collecting a certain power-up.

As you kill oncoming fighters, they will often drop one of three weapon power-ups. If you don’t pick up a weapon right away, it will cycle between the other types of weapons (much like in the real Raiden games). The more of the same weapon you grab, the stronger that weapon gets… Until you take a hit, which reduces the weapon level by one. Oddly, I could never figure out which power-up gives which weapon. Either it’s mistakenly random or just really hard to tell.

Your ship also has access to three limited-use special weapons: bombs, invincibility, and super weapon. The bomb acts like it would in any other shmup, except for the visual effect. Instead of just covering the screen with explosions, a gigantic stealth bomber flows by to deliver the explosive payload. The modern-day aircraft doesn’t fit with the game’s sci-fi setting, but few of this game’s elements really mix well together. The invincibility gives you a temporary shield, and the super weapon causes your ship to fill the screen with bullets for a moment. You’ll mostly want to save these items for bosses.

Game structure

Raiden X consists of a scant five levels and three difficulty settings. To add replay value, players have to complete one difficulty before gaining access to the next. Finishing Hard unlocks a Survival mode. The difficulties are actually aptly named (unlike Cave games). A less skilled shmup player like me was able to complete the game on Easy and Normal without any real trouble. I did buy some upgrades via In-App Purchase (IAP), though.

After launching as a paid game, Raiden X soon switched over to free to play. Everything within the game’s ship stores and Tech store costs coins, which you’ll pick up during gameplay. Coins can also be purchased via IAP at surprisingly reasonable prices; at the maximum purchase of $3 you’ll be able to buy the second best ship or most of the Tech upgrades.

99 problems but polish ain’t one

Although Raiden X is fun at its core, the game has so many problems that I’ve dreaded writing about it. Where do I begin?

Putting aside the illegal use of the Raiden name and even its loading screens, Raiden X is still a hodge-podge of elements lifted from other games. The single in-game song comes straight from Ken’s stage in Street Fighter II, for instance. I love me some SF2 music, but the tune doesn’t fit this game at all and also becomes repetitive awfully quickly. The sound effects are fairly limp too.

At least one of the level bosses comes from another property as well. The first boss is the NX-01 from Star Trek: Enterprise! Actually, that’s kind cool in a doujin game way. But the bosses still disappoint as a whole. None of them actually move at all; they just sit at the top of the screen and fire. The shot patterns barely change from boss to boss, so they all feel the same even though they look different. You don’t even get any visual representation that you’re damaging them; they just blow up when they’ve had enough.

The backgrounds are none too impressive either. Each one looks extremely plain and lacks parallax scrolling or animation. Worse, they repeat after just a couple of screens with no attempt made to hide where one screen ends and the other begins. And one level doesn’t even have a background – just plain black space.

The Windows Phone game suffers from technical issues to boot. The game crashes a bit too frequently, though not all the time. I’ve also seen large blue bars appear in place of the art on the ship select screen and all over the pause screen.

Windows 8 version

When playing on a monitor instead of a tablet, the game will retain its vertical nature but have black bars on either side of the display. That’s not a bad choice as vertical games feel off when played horizontally, but I wouldn’t mind having the option anyway.

The Windows 8 version lacks Xbox 360 controller support – a real missed opportunity. In fact, it doesn’t even support keyboard controls! If you play on a computer, you’ll have to use the mouse for all controls.

Needless to say, saved game and purchases are not shared between the two versions.

Overall Impression

It’s easy to rag on Raiden X because of its many technical problems, design issues, and lack of respect for copyright law. I honestly haven’t played such a wonky game in quite a while. And yet the game is actually sort of fun thanks to its reasonable difficulty and meat-and-potatoes shooting gameplay. I’d take a Japanese-style shmup like this over more polished but less robust games like Impossible Shoota any day. But I'd still rather play the real Raiden.

Kim Labs recently published another shoot-em-up called Raiden: Air Attack. We’ll check it soon and see whether it shows any improvement over this one.

• Raiden X– Windows Phone 8 – 10 MB – Free – Store Link
• Raiden X– Windows 8 and RT – 10 MB – Free – Store Link

Robot Bros is a relatively new Windows Phone game that plays like a platformer but has a puzzle plot. You take control of the Robot Brothers and have to navigate from start to finish while negotiating around a series of obstacles.

The challenge comes into play in that you can only control one robot at a time and both robots have to cross the finish line. Robot Bros has 90 levels with six robot types. In just tinkering with the game for a short time, it comes across as a challenging game. Robot Bros has recieved some nice reviews over on iOS and has the potential to do the same here on the Windows Phone platform.

Game Play

The main menu for Robot Bros has your typical layout with options to jump into game play, mute the sounds and view the About screen. The 90 levels of play are spread across six worlds.

The initial gaming levels for Robot Bros serve more as a tutorial than a challenge. You have movement controls in the bottom left corner of the game screen and a jump button in the lower right corner. Additional buttons come into play as you progress through the game as you earn special abilities. Special abilities such as an ice-block button that will let you create ice-blocks that can be used to jump on to higher platforms.

When you reach a point where multiple robot brothers come into play, buttons will appear in the upper right corner to switch between the various robots.

As you traverse blocks, voids and other pitfalls your robots will need to collect stars that are scattered about. The more stars you collect, the better your score.

Overall Impression

Robot Bros is a decent game for Windows Phone 8. While the graphics may not be as stunning as what we see with ilomilo, game play falls along similar lines.

I do like how you can zoom in/out of the gaming screen to get a better feel for the challenges that lay ahead. It gives you the opportunity to strategize your moves.

My only nit with Robot Bros is that periodically a full-page ad will pop-up, usually when you fail a level or in between levels. I understand the need for ad-support but I felt as though a small ad banner would have been a more attractive, less intense option.

Overall, Robot Bros is a fun, challenging Windows Phone 8 game. It is a free gaming title with ad-support and available for Windows Phone 8 devices (including the low-memory models).

You can find your copy of Robot Bros here in the Windows Phone Store.

Witch Potion is a match-two styled puzzle game for Windows Phone 8. The game premise has you seeking out these matches to make potions. A black magic is surrounding the game’s realm and hurting the creatures within. The potions you help to create will go towards defeating the black magic and restore harmony to the realm.

Witch Potion has 120 puzzle levels that will create potions to help eight different creatures that include a Yeti, Ogre, Mermaid, Leprechaun and more. Each puzzle level has a set number of moves and some levels include additional challenges such as not matching certain elements.

Witch Potion is from an AppCampus alumnus, has nice graphics, challenging game play and comes across as an entertaining puzzle game for Windows Phone 8.

Game Layout

Witch Potion has a no-frills styled main menu with options to jump into game play, sign in using your Twitter account and access the game’s settings. Witch Potion’s settings include muting sound/music.

Game play is laid out across eight chapters, each designed to help one of the creatures your potions will help. Each level has forty-five puzzles that are progressively unlocked as you complete the previous chapter.

Game Play

Game play with Witch Potion is equally straightforward. As with the chapters, the puzzle levels are progressively unlocked and at the start of each level the best scores will be displayed along with the move limits and any special instructions (e.g. don’t collect mushrooms, collect only blue feathers, etc.).

The game screen has an assortment of puzzle elements scattered about. You need to move elements of the same kind next to each other to collect them. You can match more than two of the same elements to collect them and chain reactions are possible.

Witch Potion also has a gravity counter that will elevate all the elements to the top of the gaming screen after a set number of moves. It will then return everything to the bottom of the screen after a set number of moves as well.

To the left of the gaming board you will see your move count and a ratings meter. If you solve the puzzle within the limit number of moves, you will earn three stars. As you go beyond the number limit for moves, your score will decline and will be reflected in the ratings meter.

Each level is re-playable for practice or to improve your score.

If your moves result in an orphan element, the game will end. If you collect elements that you aren’t supposed to, the game will end. Success or failure, at the end of the level you will be presented with a scoring summary where you can try the level again or advance to the next level (only if you succeed at the current level).

Overall Impression

Witch Potion is a nice departure from our typical Windows Phone matching game. While games such as Sweets Mania Space Quest and Bejeweled are fun games to play within their own right, Witch Potion sets itself apart by having challenges within each level. Not only are you tasked with not leaving any orphaned elements but you may also have to avoid matching certain elements.

Witch Potion does a good job of reminding you of the level challenges before each game and with icons displayed during game play. My only nit is that the game lacks a help section outlining game play and referencing what each icon represents. Witch Potion isn’t a difficult game to figure out but a reference section would be nice.

Witch Potion does require a little strategory in determining which game piece you move first and deciding if that move will cause an unwanted element to be matched. Overall, Witch Potion has its appeal and is a welcomed addition to the Windows Phone gaming library.

Witch Potion is a free gaming title that is available for Windows Phone 8 (including the low-memory devices). You can find your copy of Witch Potion here in the Windows Phone Store.

We’re always, always glad to discover new Xbox games coming to Windows Phone. That’s the whole reason I started working here three years ago! Today an eagle-eyed reader by the name of John Lampard discovered a new Xbox Windows Phone game called Drop 7. I smiled, then frowned when I realized it’s just a puzzle game. After downloading the game my smile dropped even further…

Drop 7 is a puzzle game that launched on iOS and Android in 2012. Those versions came from developer Area Code, now known as Zynga New York. Wouldn’t it be rad if Zynga started making Xbox games for Windows Phone? You bet! But the Windows Phone game comes from a developer called Zanga. Something looks a little off…

Zang!

‘

That developer name is quite the curiosity. Most software developers and publishers have a web presence, no matter how small. But search for Zanga on the web and you won’t find a web page or any information relevant to the software industry (that doesn’t revolve around Zynga, that is).

Zanga does have another non-Xbox published Windows Phone game: Flappy Bird. “Wait a second,” you say. “There is no official Windows Phone port of Flappy Bird. Also, Flappy Bird is hella lame.” You’re right on both counts!

All of that means the makers of this “Xbox Live” game have published an unlicensed clone of somebody else’s game and passed it off as the real thing. A bunch of other developers have done the same thing, and Microsoft has turned a blind eye to them all. But would they really do the same with an Xbox Live developer?

Well, if we hope for more clues to Drop 7’s legitimacy within the game itself, we won’t find them. The game has no contact or copyright information at all. One of the Store screenshots reveals a title screen with Area Code’s name listed at the bottom of the screen. But Area Code’s name doesn’t appear on the actual title screen or anywhere else within the game.

It’s almost like somebody copy-pasted a shot from the real iOS or Android game and uploaded it to the Windows Phone Store. The tutorial screens shown on the Store page also fail to match up to those of the Windows Phone game. Brazen, stupid, or just incredibly lazy?

The false advertising doesn’t end there. The Store page also lists three key features, the last of which is online leaderboards. Yet you won’t find leaderboards in the Windows Phone version, just local scoreboards for each mode. Reputable companies do make Store description mistakes on occasion, but Drop 7 just doesn’t feel right.

Oh, and despite the Xbox Windows Phone banner on the game’s Store icon, it is NOT Xbox live-enabled. There have been one or two instances of mobile Windows Phone games bearing the Xbox banner but not providing Xbox Live connectivity at launch. The oddly-named Puzzle by Nikoli X Sudoku for Windows 8 comes to mind. That one took months to gain Xbox Live features. But again, given how shifty this port of Drop 7 looks, I don’t believe it will be getting those precious, precious Xbox Live Achievements.

I guess it plays like the real thing though

Okay, so this Drop 7 isn’t exactly legitimate and Microsoft’s Windows Phone Store team has passed not only a blatantly illegal clone but a fake Xbox Live game. But how’s the game?

Drop 7 is sort of a falling block puzzle game that deals with numbers, much like actual Xbox Windows Phone game KooZac. Each regular piece that falls bears a number from 1-7. To eliminate a piece (AKA disc), either the row or column it lands in must contain the same number of pieces as the one displayed on that piece. In other words, put five pieces in one row and any of those pieces bearing a five will disappear.

The pieces don’t fall until you tap the screen, so there’s no time pressure. You will lose if the stack exceeds the top of the screen, though. There are also gray discs that will turn into numbers only if you eliminate an adjacent piece.

The goal in Normal mode is to make enough moves (depicted as a row of tiny dots below the playing field) to move on to the next level. You’re mostly going for high scores, I guess. This Drop 7 offers two more game modes: hardcore and Sequence, but they play awfully similarly to Normal.

Drop 7 is a terribly boring game. The core mechanic just isn’t that compelling, nor does the game make up for that deficiency with flashy presentation. KooZac was already kind of boring and Drop 7 is more so thanks to the plain Jane graphics and too-simplistic matching mechanic.

I’m not the biggest fan of puzzle games nowadays, so you might have a better time with Drop 7 than I did. But we should all be asking why Microsoft allows developers to publish games that don’t belong to them on the Windows Phone and Windows 8 Stores.

It seems like a game’s Store description and screenshots should actually match the game too, just maybe? While we’re providing constructive criticism, I’ll go out on a limb and say that non-Xbox games shouldn’t be allowed to have the Xbox banner on them either. You guys tell me if I’m asking for too much here.

• Drop 7 – Windows Phone 8 – 2 MB – $.99 – Store Link

Thanks to "John Lampard" for the tip!

Last week was a slow week for Xbox console releases, but not this week. The Xbox One gets three new releases: Kinect Sports Rivals from Rare and Microsoft Studios, LEGO The Hobbit from Traveler’s Tales and Warner Bros., and the downloadable Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut from Born Ready Games. Strike Suit Zero is the very first ID@Xbox game to reach the market!

The week is no less special for Xbox 360, either. Microsoft’s still-popular previous-gen console gets several new games of its own: the long-awaited Titanfall, LEGO The Hobbit, Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, and a new episode of The Wolf Among Us. Not too shabby!

Kinect Sports Rivals

This third entry in the Kinect Sorts series is both the first game to come from the Microsoft-owned Rare studio in more than two years and the first Microsoft-published Kinect game for Xbox One. You could fairly say Rivals has a lot of pressure on its shoulders to justify the new Kinect as a gaming peripheral.

Rivals includes six motion-controlled minigames of varying quality:

• Bowling: A carry-over from the original Kinect Sports, this minigame recreates the sport of bowling with a fairly high degree of accuracy. You can’t aim for the gutter very easily, but anyone looking for a light and fun bowling game shouldn’t mind too much.
• Football/Soccer: By all accounts the worst part of Rivals, this Soccer game plays more like Foosball. Pass or kick the ball past computed-controlled opponents, then automatically move ahead and do it again. The kick controls are said to be highly imprecise.
• Jetski racing: One of Rivals’ best-controlling games, players take hold of imaginary handlebars and race around an ocean course. Unfortunately Rivals only offers a single jetski track, so this minigame might not hold your attention for long.
• Rock climbing: You might not think climbing rocks would make for an engaging videogame, but the controls actually work pretty well in this one. Electrified grips, gusts of wind, and evil climbers who try to pull you down provide some danger.
• Target shooting: Hold out your hand like a gun and blast away at targets. This one seems to be getting the least attention from reviewers, but at least they don’t hate it.
• Tennis: Take to the tennis court and play an imaginary game of tennis against the AI or alongside a local friend.

The critical consensus towards Rivals seems to be about the same as previous Kinect Sports games. Casual audiences looking for motion-controlled sports games will have fun with it, but players who lack the patience for the quirks of motion controls are unlikely to be swayed.

• Kinect Sports Rivals – Xbox One – 10 GB – $59.99 – Amazon Link– Xbox.com Link

LEGO The Hobbit

The LEGO videogames are always good, sometimes even great. Just as they released a LEGO Lord of the Rings game on 360, Warner Bros. has now published an adaptation of the first two Hobbit movies. Yes, this game only adapts two of the planned trilogy of films. That leaves the door open for a sequel game to coincide with the final film.

LEGO Lord of the Rings was actually a great adaptation of the films though, and LEGO the Hobbit seeks to recapture much of that fun. Play as Bilbo Baggins and numerous other characters from the books and movies as you travel towards a fateful meeting with the dragon Smaug.

A new crafting system adds some RPG-like complexity to the standard beat-em-up and puzzle-solving gameplay. Reports are mixed on whether the crafting really enhances the game itself. Perhaps Traveler’s Tales will refine it further in the sequel.

• LEGO The Hobbit – Xbox One – 8.5 GB – $59.99 – Amazon Link– Xbox.com Link
• LEGO The Hobbit – Xbox 360 – ? GB – $49.99 – Amazon Link

Strike Suit Zero: Director’s Cut

The first Xbox One game to be developed and published by an indie developer under Microsoft’s ID@ Xbox program is finally here. Strike Suit Zero is an enhanced version of a popular space flight combat game on PC.

The story centers around a war in the far future between Earth and its colonies. The conflict starts when both sides claim ownership of a mysterious alien artifact. Players control a fighter pilot who must battle to save the Earth. Fully-voiced conversations bring the narrative to life during gameplay, lending the game a cinematic feel.

As the ship pilot, players have full 360 control over the ship’s flight. Combat involves blasting enemies with close-range weapons and locking onto them with missiles from afar. In my short time with the game, the combat feels a little clumsy. Hopefully it picks up when the ability to transform the ship into a robot unlocks. I’ll hop back into the cockpit and work on a full review soon!

• Strike Suit Zero – Xbox One – 1.81 GB – $19.99 – Xbox.com Link

Titanfall

The Xbox 360 version of Titanfall was originally scheduled to debut two weeks after its Xbox One counterpart, but a last-minute delay pushed the release back until today. Strangely, Electronic Arts and Microsoft have chosen not to promote the 360 version in advance. No official screenshots or videos preceded its release, nor has a single review been published as of press time today.

Xbox 360 screenshot

Despite the secrecy, some leaked videos do prove that Titanfall looks very close to the Xbox One game on Xbox 360. It even runs at 30 FPS or higher, though not a mostly consistent 60 FPS as you’d get on Xbox One.

Although Bluepoint Studio handled the 360 version of Titanfall, it looks to stick closely to original developer Respawn Entertainment’s designs. With 6-on-6 online battles, giant controllable mechs, and unprecedented freedom of movement thanks to jetpacks and a wall-running ability, Titanfall should please first-person shooter fans who haven’t upgraded to Xbox One yet.

• Titanfall – Xbox 360 – ? GB – $ – Amazon Link
• Titanfall – Xbox One – 16.4 GB – $59.99 – Amazon Link– Xbox.com Link

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood

Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is the sequel to Windows Phone 7 launch title Max and the Magic Marker. It also happens to be exclusive to Xbox One, 360, and PC – just like Titanfall.

Initially the game plays just like any other 2D platformer. Max can run, jump, crawl under spaces and climb ladders and ropes. Before long, Max meets a mysterious old woman who imbues his marker with magical powers. Armed with the marker, Max can affect the game world and solve puzzles.

Xbox One screenshot

The Curse of Brotherhood is an excellent platformer. It looks beautiful and the puzzles are actually fun instead of annoying. The Xbox One version recently received an update that improved its frame rate and adjusted the difficulty a tad. Although the 360 game doesn’t run quite as smoothly, platforming fans won’t want to miss it.

• Max: The Curse of Brotherhood – Xbox 360 – GB – $14.99 – Xbox.com Link (available Wednesday)
• Max: The Curse of Brotherhood – Xbox One – 3 GB – $14.99 – Xbox.com Link

The Wolf Among Us: Episode 3

From Telltale, makers of the popular The Walking Dead game series comes another episodic adventure title. Wolf Among Us is a prequel to Bill Willingham’s Fables comic book series. Players control Bigby Wolf, the reformed Big Bad Wolf and sheriff of Fabletown.

The first episode of Wolf Among Us is free, and subsequent episode cost just five bucks a pop. Have any of you guys tried the series out yet?

• The Wolf Among Us: Episode 3 – Xbox 360 – GB – $4.99 – Xbox.com Link (available Wednesday)

Next Week

Stay tuned next week for Trials Fusion, the latest in Ubisoft’s motorcycle stunt series. It’s coming to both Xbox One and Xbox 360!

If you’re in the mood for a casual (almost novelty) game to help you pass the time, take a look at Cocktail Master 2. The Windows Phone 8 game has you directing your faithful bartender Miguel around the bar.

The goal is to mix a concoction that will delight Miguel or at least not kill him. The interface is straightforward and Miguel is full of comical reactions to your drinks. Cocktail Master 2 may not be a challenge packed Windows Phone game but it is an entertaining option to consider.

Game Layout

Cocktail Master 2 takes place at the bar. The main menu for Cocktail Master 2 has two options, rate the game and play the game. When you hit play a series of options will appear to send you to the bar, reset your game progress, view the help screens and view the online leaderboards.

The help section does a nice job outlining how to play Cocktail Master 2 and lists your entire bar stock that will become available as you progress through the game.

Game Play

Game play, as you would guess, takes place in the bar. You have Miguel at the ready with all your ingredients scattered around the bar. Four control buttons line the bottom of the screen that control pouring (or adding an ingredient), shaking the cocktail mixing tumbler, serving the cocktail and viewing more games from the developer.

A small window sits at the bottom right of the game screen that will display your mixing tumbler’s capacity. The game is ad-supported and the ad banner runs across the bottom of the screen, partially blocking this information window. While the ad-support does help Cocktail Master 2 be a free Windows Phone 8 game it just gets in the way.

To create your cocktail, just tap on the ingredient you want to add and press/hold the pour button. When you use a liquid ingredient, the longer you press/hold the button the more is poured into the mixing tumbler. Pressing and holding with the ice or lemons simply places one handful of either into the mixing tumbler.

When you have all your ingredients in the mixing tumbler (or the tumbler is full), you will need to press/hold the shake button to have Miguel shake the concoction. Just be careful, if you shake the tumbler too much your cocktail could become explosive.

Once mixed, tap the serve button and Miguel will pour himself a cocktail. His reaction will be based on how successful your mixology is. Get the combination of liquors and mixes wrong and Miguel will hold nothing back in letting you know how bad the drink is.

Your score is based on how well Miguel likes your drink. There is some logic to the scoring. For example, champagne and kahlua can't taste good and should get a low score. Cocktail Master 2 will also give you a hint on what went wrong with your scoring summary so you can improve your bartending skills for the next round of play. As you score more points, additional items will become available to create your cocktails with.

Overall Impression

Cocktail Master 2 is an entertaining, casual game for Windows Phone 8. Animations are well-done, game play simple and while you may not find yourself playing Cocktail Master 2 for hours on end, it is a nice gaming option when you need help passing short bits of time.

While an appealing game, Cocktail Master 2 has room for improvement. For starters, the ad banner is just in the way. The banner needs to be relegated to the game’s menu and scoring screens but as is, it ruins a decent looking game screen. I wouldn't mind seeing an option to pay to remove the banner all together.

Next up, while you can find out what each of the bottles are in the game’s help screens it would be nice to figure out what is what while you are playing the game. It would be helpful if as you have Miguel grab a bottle, its identity would appear in the information window.

Lastly, and this might be too picky, but everything you mix is yellow. Regardless of what you pour into the mixing tumbler the end result is always yellow. I wouldn’t mind seeing a little variety in the end results appearance.

Overall, while there is room for improvement, Cocktail Master 2 is an appealing game for Windows Phone 8. If you are in the mood to play a low intensity, fun game Cocktail Master 2 is worth a try.

Cocktail Master 2 is a free, ad-supported game that is available for Windows Phone 8. You can find your copy of Cocktail Master 2 here in the Windows Phone Store.

India is in the midst of General Elections 2014 as a billion people are voting for the next Government of the country. A new game on the Windows Phone Store arrived last week that attempts to serve as a funny ode to the diversity of the nation and the world’s largest democracy.

Lok Sabha is a funny spin-off about the political parties in India. In the game, two people play with their political ideologies placed head to head and compete each other for seats in the Parliament. Lok Sabha comes across as a fun, entertaining game for those who enjoy a little political satire.

Each player selects a political party identified by one of the party’s prominent leaders. Players win Parliament seats by collecting politicians from their party, while they lose a seat for collecting the other party's politician. The caricatures of politicians randomly appear as circles on the screen. Whoever gets the maximum seats wins the elections.

Download the free game for Windows Phone 8 devices from the Windows Phone Store. If your political sentiments aren’t hurt easily, Lok Sabha is a fun game to play when you have a few minutes to spare. It’s nicely designed, and dead simple to play. Also, it’s a good way to ease off after intense political arguments with your friends. Give it a spin, and let us know how you like it.

Windows Phone Central Game Roundup: WPCentral Team Favorites

Every week we try to roundup a collection of top apps and games for our Windows Phones based on store ratings, overall popularity and your recommendations. After receiving a tip from WPCentral reader Juilian asking what are the best games for Windows Phone, instead of just listing the top rated games in the Windows Phone Store we decided to approach it from a different angle.

This week’s roundup is based on recommendations from our motley crew as to what the top Windows Phone games are. These titles are simply ones we have enjoyed playing and would gladly suggest them to others. With this roundup, we will highlight a small collection of our favorites and follow up with a supplemental list of even more gaming titles we think highly of.

While we have a healthy list of suggestions, if we have overlooked your top Windows Phone game, feel free to toss out your recommendations in the comments below.

Rayman Fiesta Run

Rayman Fiesta Run is an Xbox Windows Phone platformer game that has you racing Rayman through, over, and under numerous obstacles to eventually face three bosses.

Rayman Fiesta Run has over seventy-five levels of play. You slowly progress your way across the gaming map, successfully navigating each platform level. The further you go, the more challenging the levels become. The first few levels are rather easy but it doesn’t take long until you face monsters and dangers that will ruin Rayman’s day.

Game play is simply laid out with a directional pad in the lower left corner and your punch controls in the lower right. The goal is simple, get Rayman to the finish line without getting him squashed, eaten, gorged, or otherwise destroyed. Along the way, you can collect Lums (firefly-like creatures) that can be used to purchase power-ups and rewards.

As with the other Rayman titles, Rayman Fiesta Run is an addictive platformer for Windows Phone 8 (including the low-memory devices). The only downside to Rayman Fiesta Run is that there is not a trial version available. The full version will run you $1.99 and you can find Rayman Fiesta Run here in the Windows Phone Store. Fiesta Run is also available for Windows Phone 8 devices and you can find that version here in the Windows Store.

Halo: Spartan Assault

Halo invades our Windows Phones with Halo:Spartan Assault, an Xbox LIVE title that has you battling your way through thirty action packed missions against the Covenant. The game interface is fairly straightforward with options off the main menu to start your missions, play the tutorial, access the settings, and view your gaming records (achievements, medals, leaderboards, etc.).

You play Halo:Spartan Assault from an overhead view, controlling your Spartan squad through enemy territory. Movement controls sit in the bottom left corner of the screen and weapons controls sit in the right corner. Just as with the Xbox 360 game, your weapons have ammunition limits and you can collect enemy weapons to use as your ammunition dries up.

If you are a Halo fan and need a mobile fix, Halo:Spartan Assault will do the trick. Graphics, while a little on the tiny side, are fantastic and game play can be on the intense side. There is no trial version available for Halo:Spartan Assault and the full version is currently running $1.99. The game is available for Windows Phone 8 (including low-memory devices) and you can find Halo:Spartan Assault here in the Windows Phone Store.

If you prefer game play from a larger screen, there are two versions available for Windows 8. You can find Halo:Spartan Assault here ($1.99) and Halo:Spartan Assault Lite (free) here in the Windows Store.

Trine’s Hangman

Trine’s Hangman ranks up there as one of the best word games for Windows Phones. In simple terms, it’s a game of hangman but there is a lot more to Trine’s Hangman than being a simple game of hangman.

As you solve puzzles, you earn points that will rank you online against other Trine’s Hangman players. As you play, you will see your current world ranking adjust as your cumulative score grows so will your world ranking. Your scores are backed up with Trine’s servers so if you change Windows Phones you won’t lose progress.

Add custom backgrounds, bragging web pages that you can share, a data setting to minimize your data usage, the ability to look up the words on Wikipedia and a local two-player mode, multiple account support and Trine’s Hangman has quit a bit of meat on the bone. On top of all that, the puzzles can be wickedly challenging.

Trine's Hangman also has one of the best video game trailers out there.

Trine’s Hangman is available for both Windows Phone 8 and 7.x devices. There is a trial version for Trine’s Hangman Pro with the full version running $1.49. You also have a free version of Trine’s Hangman Pro that is ad-supported. You can find Trine’s Hangman Pro here (or via the QR Code) in the Windows Phone Store and Trine’s Hangman here in the Store.

Level 22

Level 22 is an adventure game where you have to help Gary, an office worker who has overslept, sneak into work without being noticed. The challenge is that he works on the 22nd Floor and has to reach his office without being seen. The game starts you off in the basement parking garage and there are plenty of side-missions to keep you busy as you work your way to the 22nd Floor.

You can hide in closets, crawl through air vents, and booby-trap the photocopiers as a distraction. Gary does have the help of a co-worker who will try to steer him in the right direction. Should Gary be seen by anyone, the game is over. It is a surprisingly addictive game that requires a gentle touch and a bit of strategy.

Graphics have a slight Leisure Suit Larry feel to them and overall, we’ve found Level 22 to be an enjoyable adventure game for Windows Phone 8 (not available for low-memory devices). There is a free trial version available for Level 22 and the full version is currently running $.99. You can find Level 22 here in the Windows Phone Store.

Even More Recommendations

If the games listed above aren’t your cup of tea, don’t worry. We’ve got a few more suggestions to offer.

Sparkle 2 (trial/$4.49): Sparkle 2 is the sequel from the creative gaming developer 10Tons that has you challenging the darkness by destroying orbs before they fall into the dreaded abyss. Think of the game Zuma but with a fantasy storyline quest and you’ll come close to Sparkle. The game has over 90 levels of play and three gaming modes to keep you plenty busy. Sparkle 2 is available for both Windows Phone 8 and 7.x devices. (Store Link)

Chaos Rings (trial/$9.99): One of the more pricey recommendations but this Xbox title is an impressive RPG game for Windows Phone 8. The game presents a tale consisting of four different scenarios that revolves around a combat tournament. Graphics are outstanding, game play full of challenges, and while pricey, if you like RPG games Chaos Rings is worth a try. (Store Link)

Traffic Racer ($.99): Traffic Racer is another simply, yet challenging game for Windows Phone 8 (yes that does include low-memory devices). You have to race your car through highway traffic all the while earning cash that can be used to upgrade your ride or buy a new one. The 3D graphics are great and the car controls operate smoothly and realistically. Traffic Racer has nineteen different cars to choose from, four environments to race through and four game modes. I could be that need for speed fix you’ve been looking for without the risk of getting ticketed. (Store Link)

2048 (free): There are several versions of this puzzle game available in the Windows Phone Store. We’ve received a few tips on this particular version plus our own Sam Sabri has gotten hooked on it. You are given a grid with a pair of “2”s that you must combine. As you swipe around to join these numbers, more numbers appear on the grid. When two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into one tile with the new sum value. You continue to merge the tiles until you reach the value of 2048. 2048 is an addictive, puzzling game that is available for Windows Phone 8 and 7.x devices. (Store Link)

Angry Birds Go! (free): While all the Angry Birds collection of games has a certain level of appeal, Angry Birds Go! steps out of the game’s comfort zone, removes the birds from the slingshot and places them behind the wheel of a race car. Some of the Pigs are available to race as well. Angry Birds Go! has five worlds to race through, each with four types of challenges and boss races that will unlock new characters to race. The one downside to the game may be the abundance of in-app purchase opportunities. Regardless, Angry Birds Go! is an entertaining game for Windows Phone 8 devices (not available for low-memory devices). (Store Link)

Jetpack Joyride (free): This Xbox LIVE gaming title has you playing the role of Barry Steakfries who has to navigate through a wide assortment of dangers in this endless runner game. To keep everything interesting, Jetpack Joyride has mission objectives to conquer and several customizations that you can purchase with the coins you collect during game play. Jetpack Joyride is available for Windows Phone 8 (which includes low-memory devices). (Store Link)

SongArc (free): If you like rhythm and music games, SongArc is one of (if not the) best options available for Windows Phone 8 and 7.x devices. Game play is simple to pick up and you can use music files from your Windows Phone or from an online collection. You play the song and tap the screen at key points when the notes (colored shapes) cross a barrier on the screen. The game has a Guitar Hero feel to it but a lot more visual. (Store Link)

Star Wars: Tiny Death Star (free): Ever dream of managing your own Death Star? If so, check out Star Wars: Tiny Death Star. It is a time management game where you manage and expand your own little globe of destruction. You have to make sure all the residents are happy, the shops are prosperous and the Emperor is pleased with your progress. While it may not be your typical fast-pace Star Wars action game, Star Wars: Tiny Death Star is an entertaining, challenging gaming option for Windows Phone 8 (including those low-memory devices). (Store Link)

Subway Surfers (free): Endless runner games have become rather popular in the Windows Phone Store. They are easy to play but a challenge to master. Subway Surfers has you helping a cast of characters escape from a grumpy Subway Inspector and his dog. You duck, dodge and jump through various obstacles to stay a step ahead of the Inspector and collect coins along the way that can be used in the games store to unlock characters, costumes and power-ups. With challenging game play and fantastic graphics, Subway Surfers is a prime addition to our Windows Phone gaming library. Please note, while available for Windows Phone 8 it is not available for low-memory devices. (Store Link)

QONQR (free): QONQR (pronounced conquer) is a location based, massively multi-player online game for Windows Phone 8 and 7.x devices. The game has you playing on a global map that has been divided into grids. You choose an allegiance with one of three factions and build up your armies to conquer and control as many grids in your area as possible. All the while, other players in your area are trying to do the same. The game includes over 3 million battle zones that span 250 countries and can be rather addictive. (Store Link)

Wordament (free): Wordament is an addictive word game that is available for both Windows Phone 8 and 7.x devices. The game is a boggle-styled puzzle where you have to connect adjacent letters to create words from. Wordament is also a real-time continuous word tournament where you compete against online players to see who can discover the most words from the same collection of letters. Wordament is an Xbox Windows Phone game with plenty of achievements to pursue. The game can be rather addicting and a great way to pass the time with. (Store Link)

All the titles in this week’s roundup are well designed, challenging and often addictive gaming options for your Windows Phone. Some you may have a hard time putting down. If you are still in the hunt for a new game for Windows Phone, any of these titles should make your short list.

Again, if you have a top Windows Phone game that you would like to recommend, feel free to sound off in the comments below.

Gameloft has released a new trailer and some new screenshots for their upcoming game The Amazing Spider-Man 2, coming next week. Spider-Man 2 was originally announced last month as an open world experience that would let you sling webs, crawl on walls, and fight villains in true Spider-Man style.

The game will take you through 8 detailed, open areas of Manhattan, including Times Square and Central Park, where you'll swing between buildings and fight enemies using combo-based combat. Gameloft says that the story of Spider-Man 2 is deeper, and features six boss fights and expanded side missions. There will also be a number of social events such as fights in Mysterio's Arena against waves of enemies.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone devices on April 17.

Amanita Design’s classic point-and-click adventure game Machinarium arrived on Windows Phone last month. I was so impressed by its beautiful hand-drawn artwork and fascinating world of living robots that I named it one of the best games of March.

Shortly after the phone game popped up, we broke the news that Machinarium would be coming to Windows 8 and RT as well. We didn’t have to wait very long, because the game is now available on Windows tablets and PCs. Read on for Windows 8 impressions, plus news of another update for the Windows Phone game.

Saving the robot city

Machinarium is a point-and-click adventure game that stars a little robot named Josef. As the game opens, we see him dropped in a scrap heap outside of a gigantic industrial city. Josef wakes up, repairs himself, and sets off towards the city. Once the player helps him get inside, Josef sets about searching for his childhood robot friend. Along the way he’ll help robotic citizens in need as well as working to stop the evil Black Cap Brotherhood from destroying the city.

The story unfolds without any text or dialog. Instead, characters speak in voice bubbles that show little pictures about what they’re saying. This sells the idea that everything happens within an alien world. And yet Machinarium’s story is surprisingly involving and emotional, thanks to the gorgeous art-style and hand-drawn animation of each character. It feels like an interactive cartoon, just like most of the best adventure games of yesteryear.

Windows 8 impressions

Machinarium was already a gorgeous game on Windows Phone. The Windows 8 version looks even better since larger displays can display a lot more detail. And yet players can still zoom in the camera for a closer look, either with a pinching motion or by right-clicking the mouse.

The original PC game runs in a 1:33 full-screen ratio. That carries over to Windows Phone, in which most of the game shows black borders on the sides of the screen. The Windows 8 version however adds a rusty metallic pattern to the borders, which suits the game well.

Machinarium plays great with touch or a mouse. The shoot-em-up minigame used to unlock the in-game guides is certainly much easier with a mouse though. Adventure game fans owe it to themselves to grab Machinarium and save its robotic world.

• Machinarium – Windows 8 and RT – 222 MB – $4.99 – Store Link
• Machinarium – Windows Phone 8 – 221 MB – $4.99 – Store Link

Windows Phone update coming soon

Although the Windows Phone version of Machinarium has already received an update to fix a game-breaking crash, a few bugs have survived. Namely the in-game guides that players can unlock sometimes show up as blank images. Thankfully, Amanita has informed us that the next update will fix the guide images. Expect the update to come within the next week or two.

Real Steel World Robot Boxing is an entertaining Windows Phone 8 game modeled in the spirit of the movie ‘Real Steel’. Think of it as a game of Rock’em Sock’em Robots but with more intensity.

Real Steel World Robot Boxing has 24 robots to fight or buy and 4 gaming modes to test your mechanical pugilistic skills with. The game has been out for a little while now and while there is room for improvement; Real Steel World Robot Boxing comes across as a fun game for our Windows Phone 8 gaming library.

Game Layout

When you launch Real Steel World Robot Boxing, you are greeted by a full-page ad banner. One would think in tapping on the ‘X’ at the bottom of the advertisement would send you to a main menu but it doesn’t. Instead, you find yourself in the middle of a series of tutorial matches that walks you through the gaming controls. The full page ad will greet you on every launch (unless you make an in-app purchase) but the tutorial is a one time deal. After you complete the tutorial, you'll be greeted by the game's main menu.

While I cannot say there’s anything wrong with this set-up, it does give the game an odd feel.

When you do find your way to Real Steel World Robot Boxing’s main menu, the options are rather minimal. You can jump into the career game, access the game’s settings and get free coins by liking the game over on YouTube. Settings sound levels and control orientations.

Here’s a quick note about navigating around Real Steel World Robot Boxing. Do not use your Windows Phone Back button. Use the on-screen directional arrows and “x” marks to navigate backwards/forwards or close pop-up windows. If you use the Windows Phone Back button, you will exit the game.

Across the top of the screen, throughout the game, you have a statistical bar that reflects you energy refills, current robot in use, the level of the robot and your cash counts. You also have a link to view your gaming achievements in the left corner of this information bar.

If you need a jump on buying robots, coins, or energy cores all you need to do is tap the “+” in the right corner of the information bar to access the in-app purchase options. They range in price from $.99 for an energy core to $109.99 for a collection of twenty robots.

When you are ready to resume your robot-fighting career, you will be sent to a secondary menu that has your gaming options. They include:

• Fight Modes: Championship Bracket, Free Sparing, Time Attack, and Daily Exhibition. More on this in a second.
• Robot Dealer: Here is where you can use your fight earnings to buy new and stronger robots.
• Owned Robots: An overview of your robot collection.

• Upgrade: Spend your fight earnings to improve your robot’s abilities. You can upgrade the robot’s motherboard, power core, chassis, mainframe, and hydraulics. A full upgrade is possible or you can purchase the upgrades one item at a time. Each upgrade increase the robot’s armor, power and special abilities.
• Paint Shop: Don’t care for the bare metal look? The paint shop has a series of color patterns and styles to let you customize your robot. The paint jobs are not free and are just another way to spend those earnings.
• Mystery Draw: A card game where you can bet your earnings to earn rewards that include additional robots and coins.

Your four fight modes breaks down as follows.

The Championship Bracket sends you up against twenty-four opponents to see who the best robot in town is. Time Attack is a match against a randomly selected opponent and you have to dispatch them as quickly as possible. Free Sparing lets you choose the level of your opponent and the Daily Exhibition is a match for bonus cash.

Game Play

While there are plenty of options with the pre-fight screens, the actual boxing match is rather simply laid out. Game play for Real Steel World Robot Boxing has you controlling your robot with a series of on-screen controls. Movement controls are in the lower left corner of the screen while your offensive and defensive controls rest in the lower right corner of the screen. 

Across the top of the screen, you will find your robot and their opponent’s vital signs and power levels. The goal of each match is to beat your opponent into tiny chunks of metal.

You purchase upgrades to keep pace with the level of competition you face and essentially dodge, weave and punch your way to victory.

Reel Steel World Robot Boxing paces your game play by requiring one energy unit from your robot’s core to box. If you run dry of energy units you can buy additional units through the in-app store or wait five minutes and your robot will energize automatically.

Overall Impression

I have to say I enjoyed Real Steel World Robot Boxing’s game play. The controls were simple and you could either go toe-to-toe with your opponent or take more of a boxing approach to victory. Graphics were a little on the dark side but well drawn up nonetheless. The robot competition does keep you on your toes, giving the game a nice level of challenge.

What I didn’t like is the user interface, the lack of a help section and the lengthy load times.

I found myself exiting the game more times than not when I expected the Windows Phone Back button to send me to the previous screen. While the tutorial does a nice job of walking you through game play, the game really needs a help section that can be used as a reference.

The load times for Real Steel were at times long enough to make you wonder if the game had crashed. The game goes to a black screen when launched (no splash screen) which really makes you wonder if things are working properly. I would also like to see those full page ads converted to smaller ad-banners that appear on the game’s menus. I understand the ads keep the game free but the full page ads just come across as annoying.

While there is room for improvement with Real Steel World Robot Boxing, overall the game is worth a shot. I do not know if the game could stand up to marathon gaming sessions but Real Steel World Robot Boxing does a good job of helping you pass shorter spurts of time.

Real Steel World Robot Boxing is a free, ad-supported game with plenty of in-app purchase opportunities. The game is available for Windows Phone 8, which does include low-memory devices.

You can find your copy of Real Steel World Robot Boxing here in the Windows Phone Store.

Another week has blown by us and we’re now on the cusp of getting Windows Phone 8.1 sometime in the next five days. While you patiently wait to update through the Preview for Developers program, check out some new apps and games in the Windows Phone Store. We’re taking another look at the top games and apps that just joined Windows Phone this past week. We’ll also look at any major app updates and let you know about any cool betas going on. This week we’re checking out Flipkart, Foundbite and more!

New

Boxcryptor– Looking for a way to encrypt your files before you send them to the cloud? Then you’re going to want to download Boxcryptor for Windows Phone and Windows 8. It’s an app and service that encrypts your data before sending it to cloud providers like OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box and more. Download Boxcryptor from either the Windows Phone Store or Windows Store. (Free)

Planetical– Here’s a fun app to spruce up your photos. Planetical turns your photos into tiny planets that will amaze everyone. This differs from previous apps we’ve covered by offering full resolution support, different filters, adjustments for zoom and more. Download Planetical from the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

McDonald’s– You know Windows Phone has made it when apps for fast food restaurants start showing up on the platform. McDonald’s launched two apps this week, one for the United Kingdom and the other for Sweden. The apps allow you to find the nearest McDonald’s and narrow results by variables like Wi-FI, drive thru and more. The apps also give you nutritional information (just don’t look) and much more. Download the UK version in the Windows Phone Store or download the Sweden version as well from the Windows Phone Store or by scanning the green QR below. (Free)

Flipkart– Our Indian readers are going to be very excited to learn that Flipkart finally has an official app on Windows Phone. The popular online retailer is basically the Amazon of India and offers nearly any product you can think of. Flipkart for Windows Phone allows you to browse and search for products and then offers up detailed information about them. You can then add the products to cart and buy them from your Windows Phone. Download Flipkart from the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Metro Canada– Our friends up north in Canada can now download Metro Canada for Windows Phone. The app offers access to the Canada’s most read daily national newspaper with articles and stories spanning every category. The app features a clean and simple layout, which makes it ideal for reading and consuming content. Download Metro Canada from the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Imgura– Frequent flyers at Reddit will undoubtedly be familiar with image sharing and hosting site Imgur. It’s popular for sharing images, but sadly has no official app on Windows Phone. Imgura is a new third-party app that came out this week that we really like, you can even create memes using the app! Imgura offers the ability to make memes, upload images, save them to your account and much more. Feel like just consuming Imgur images? That’s fine since Imgura even allows you to just browse the popular content of the day. Download Imgura from the Windows Phone Store. (Free/In-app purchases)

Threepointer– Here are three reasons to download Threepointer for Windows Phone. One, it’s the best Dribbble client on Windows Phone. Two, you’re a designer or creative individual and want inspiration. Three, you appreciate beautiful apps like Threepointer. Seriously, this is one of the more beautiful apps we’ve seen on Windows Phone in recent memory. It’s the definition of “Metro”. Take it for a spin and thank us later. Download Threepointer from the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Zedge– The ability to customize your Lock screen with various wallpaper images is one of the easiest ways to make your Windows Phone unique. Another great way is to add custom ringtones. Zedge is a new app for Windows Phone that offers over 300 million free ringtones and wallpapers. Yeah, that’s a lot. Download Zedge from the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Updated

Evernote – OneNote’s twin has picked up a pretty big update this week. Evernote for Windows Phone is now at version 4.3.1.1117 in the Windows Phone Store. The update introduces a better note editor with indentations, text lists, check boxes, inline attachments, table editing, horizontal rule support and layout improvements. You’ll also find the ability to edit pictures in preview and mask pin code on unlock. Download Evernote from the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Foundbite– One of our favorite exclusive apps on Windows Phone picked up a big update this week. Foundbite is at version 1.5 with the ability to save photos to the camera roll automatically, a redesigned feed, a redesigned viewing page and much more. There’s also a new subscription model called Foundbite Pioneer that offers you exclusive features like an extended profile with a bio and links to your other social media accounts. You’ll also be able to create longer sounds and higher quality images. Download Foundbite from the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Zomato– A very popular restaurant finder on Windows Phone picked up a major refresh. Zomato was updated this week to version 5 with a refreshed designed and a new app built from scratch. Download Zomato from the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Beta

Baconit Early Access– Fans of Baconit, a popular Reddit client on Windows Phone, might want to check out a new version of the app. Baconit Early Access is a beta version that offers users a first look at upcoming features to Baconit. It does cost money, but that’s a small price to pay to get features earlier than other users and provide direct feedback to the developer. Download Baconit Early Access from the Windows Phone Store. ($1.49)

Games

Witch Potion– Ready for another puzzle game? Then check out Witch Potion on Windows Phone. It’s a free game that came to us from the AppCampus program. Download Witch Potion from the Windows Phone Store. (Free)

Your turn! Tell us your favorite apps and games from the week!

Bad Piggies, the pig-focused spinoff of Angry Birds, is now available for Windows Phone. The game, which inverts the point of view from the furious avians to the abominable swine, has the player build increasingly complicated and absurd vehicles to get the pigs around the levels, with the end goal of getting their hooves on the birds' eggs. Leveraging a lot of the physics work learned from their previous dud Amazing Alex, Bad Piggies uses all manner of mechanical bits — from wheels and springs to balloons and propellers and wings — to get the pigs moved about the level.

It took a good long while to get Bad Piggies onto Windows Phone. The game was first released back in late 2012 for iPhone and iPad, though it has seen substantial updates and expansions since then, all of which are included in the Windows Phone release. Bad Piggies features over 200 levels of vehicular hijinks and puzzles, and you can open 36 more by earning all three stars on every level. It's available now from the Windows Phone Store for $0.99.

Tink Magician is a relatively new Windows Phone 8 game that has you defending a magical kingdom from a demon lord. You use your magical spells to summon elemental powers to destroy the invading armies of the demon lord. Tink Magician is a fantasy battle game that plays much like a tower defense game but also has RPG aspects.

As you battle your way through the map of your kingdom, you will earn experience points that can be used to upgrade your character and gold coins that can be used to buy power boosts. While Tink Magician is a fast-paced Windows Phone 8 game, it can also be rather exhausting with the volume of monsters and bosses you have to defeat.

Game Layout

The main menu for Tink Magician is minimal with options to turn music/sound on or off in the upper right corner along with options to view the About Screen and jump into game play.

Game play launches from a map of the kingdom with tiny arrows marking your current and past battle arenas/levels. The blue arrow marks the level you need to conquer and the gold arrows mark levels you’ve conquered and can re-play.

At the bottom of the map screen you will find three icons that will send you to: your heroes page where you can:

• The Heroes page where you can upgrade the magician’s abilities
• The Upgrades page where you can upgrade your elemental spells
• The Store page where you can buy health potions, immunity scrolls and other power ups

To start the battle, just tap on the blue arrow (or gold arrow to re-play a level).

Game Play with Tink Magician

The first few levels on the map serve as tutorials to get you familiar with game play but are not without challenge. Your magician will need to use elemental spells to defend their position from wave after wave of monsters.

The game screen has your spell choices in the bottom right corner of the screen, your character icon in the upper left corner, and along the right side of the screen you can toggle between viewing the next round of monsters or your power-up inventory.

Elemental spells include fire, lightning, rain, ice and more. You will start the game with just a sword swipe and will add more elemental powers as you advance through the gaming levels. Once you reach the fourth level of play, will have the opportunity to choose which elements you will take into battle at the start of each level but are limited to only four elemental choices.

Monsters include bats, wolves, blobs and other nasty creatures. The monsters move a various speeds and all take multiple hits (some more than others) to destroy. Some are more resistant or more susceptible to particular attacks. To find out more about the monsters, tap the small icon that appears in the right side of the game screen as the monsters appear on the screen. Eventually bosses will appear in the final wave of monsters (around level three) that are rather difficult to dispatch.

To strike at your enemies, all you need to do is choose your element from the icons in the lower right corner and swipe at the enemy monsters. Much like you would do to slice the fruit with Fruit Ninja. Each level will have a set number of waves to defend and as you slay monsters, your magician will build up energy that is reflected by a meter that circles your player icon. When the energy maxes out, you can tap the icon and unleash a super attack that will impact all the monsters on the screen. This attack may not take out all the monsters but will do considerable damage where only a few elemental strikes will be needed to finish them off.

As you progress through the game, additional magicians will join in on the battle and you’ll have two points to defend. Naturally, if the monsters reach your magician and cause too much damage your magician will be defeated and the demon lord will run amok over your kingdom.

Overall Impression

While game play was definitely challenging with Tink Magician it was also extremely tiring. At the height of each level, you are constantly swiping at the screen in hopes of destroying the monsters before they destroy you. Add having to change elemental attacks during the heat of battle and the pace of Tink Magician really picks up. Look the other way for just a second or miss a screen swipe and the monsters will overrun your magician.

Overall Tink Magician isn’t a bad Windows Phone game but could stand a little polish, mainly in the form of a help section. While the tutorial does a nice job of covering game play but there is enough to Tink Magician to warrant at least a reference section to explain what all those icons mean. For example, I like how you can pull up the monster information from the gaming screen but it would also be nice to have a centralized reference section as well. The pace of the game really doesn't allow much time to look up a monster's weaknesses and strengths while fending them off.

Luckily, Tink Magician is not a difficult game to get a handle on after a few tries. While you may experience hand cramps from swiping at your Windows Phone so much, Tink Magician is an entertaining gaming option to consider for Windows Phone 8.

Tink Magician is a free game that is available for Windows Phone 8 devices. You can find Tink Magician here in the Windows Phone Store.

Halo: Spartan Assault has gone universal: you can buy it once on one Windows-powered device and download it on your others. As we noted yesterday, Microsoft started accepting submissions for universal apps, and combined with the new unified pricing tiers and [universal app development] and automated certification we're starting to see the first universal apps appear. A notable entrant: Halo: Spartan Assault.

Nothing about the game itself has really changed — it's still the same great touch-driven strategy game that we know and love, but now that $4.99 price tag is good across your own personal Windows ecosystem. Buy it on your Windows Phone, download it for free on your Windows PC. Or do the opposite. The Windows Store and Windows Phone Store don't care.

Apps and games that are certified universal are annotated with a new "Made for Windows Phones and PCs" icon and text. Let us know in the comments what other apps you see that have been updated as such.

• Halo: Spartan Assault – Windows Phone 8 – 691 MB – Store Link
• Halo: Spartan Assault – Windows 8 and RT – 843 MB – Store Link

Thanks to Anchel and Luís for the tips!