Back a few years ago, we briefly had one of the most fun games I have ever played on Windows Phone: MiniSquadron. It was an adorable and adventurous 2D aerial dogfighting game that was unceremoniously pulled from the Store, never to return. Now in 2014, we may be getting some analogous and just as awesome.

On May 9th, Red Dot Lab will be releasing Blazin’ Aces to Windows Phone and iOS on the same day, with an Android version coming later. Yes, you have read that correctly. Besides the fact that the company is paying attention to Windows Phone (bonus points for that), the game looks like a blast.

Blazin’ Aces is described as a ‘2D retro-aerial dogfighting’ game and as you can see from the trailer above, it lives up to the depiction. Features of the game includes:

• Arcade-style aerial combat
• Engaging single player campaign
• Customizable skirmish mode
• Easy to pick up, hard to master gameplay
• Special weapons
• Orchestral soundtrack

Can I share a secret? I’m actually playing with a reviewer copy right now, and the game is a hoot. On-screen buttons can be resized; you can launch the plane, eject, and get powerups, all with super HD graphics. The music is also very well done, giving you a ‘this is epic’ feeling as you play. I’ll toss up a video later this afternoon to show it in action if you folks are interested, but I can safely say I think this is my next favorite time-killer on my Lumia 1520.

Like we said, the game is set to launch on in one week on May 9. We’ll follow up and let you know when that happens, but for now you can watch the trailer and see some screenshots. Head to Red Dot Lab’s website for even more screenshots, or tune back later today to see it running on a Windows Phone.

Let us know what you think about the game in comments! Are you excited?

Do you pay attention to detail really well? Find out in this classic game called 5 Differences for Windows Phone. All you need to do is find the five differences in two near identical images in less than 60 seconds. It’s suitable for all ages. Head past the beak to watch our gameplay video on a Nokia Lumia Icon.

Features:

• 100 Beautiful handpicked images available for play
• More images available through in-app purchases
• Addictive gameplay that is fun for all ages
• Images are categorized based on difficulty levels
• Catchy sound effects

When you open 5 Differences, there are two options to start playing: Quick Play and Play. Quick Play brings you directly to the game. The set of images in this mode is hand drawings. The Play option lets you select from the episode list. There are 20 images in each episode. The difficulty also varies. For example, Hand Drawings are easy, while Food is Medium.

After selecting an episode, two nearly identical images are displayed next to each other. Tap on specific areas of the images that look different from the other side. If you are correct, a round shape highlights the area you clicked on. If you are wrong, a red mark quickly appears with a buzzing sound.

The top left corner displays how many differences you have found and the time left. You have only 60 seconds to find all of them.

5 Differences is a free download from the Windows Phone Store. Only 40 images are playable, though, and there’s an ad on the top right corner while you’re playing. You can unlock more images through in-app purchases. Image packs cost 99 cents each and include 20 images. The Super Pack unlocks all episodes and removes the ad for $2.99.

Is 5 Differences a keeper? Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments!

Earlier this morning we announced that Blazin Aces from Red Dot Lab was headed to Windows Phone next week on May 9. It comes out the same day as iOS, and it is actually beating the Android version to market. I’m a big fan of these games, perhaps due to their arcade style feel, and I really like this one so far.

I promised an early look of the game, including game play, controls and how it all works, so here you are (video after the break). Look for our review next week when the game hits the Store. In the meantime, tell me what you think in comments!

Another Case Solved is a challenging mystery game for Windows Phone 8 that is a collection of puzzles, riddles and matching games. You play the role of a detective working to get to the bottom of a curious candy conspiracy. Along the way you can pick up small jobs to generate experience and cash as well as tackling the mysteries of the main story line.

We highlighted Another Case Solved last week when it was released and have been able to spend a little time with the game sense. The game made a nice first impression and after playing the game for a few days, the impression hasn't faded by much.

Game Layout

Another Case Solved has a very simple main menu with two options; start or resume game play and access the game's options menu. Gaming options are equally simple with language choices, music/sound levels and an option to view the gaming credits.

When you first launch into game play, you will need to create an identity for your character and a mug shot. Your mug shot starts simple with additional options (eyeglasses, facial hair, etc.) becoming available as you earn cash and candy during game play.

Speaking of which…

Game Play

There isn't a help section with Another Case Solved but throughout the game, as new features become available, you'll be walked through a rather extensive tutorial. It would be nice to have a reference section because there is a lot to this game and it's easy to forget what an icon or feature represents.

Game play is centered around your office that starts out, much like your mug shot, with the basics. Missions or jobs are filed away in your filing cabinet or minor jobs discovered in the newspaper that is in your office.

Additional items in your office include a bulletin board that lays out your skills, a mirror that you can use to add to your mug shot, access to the store to buy more furniture for your office (cash register icon in the lower right corner) and candy search button. It seems that every twelve hours you can search your office for candy.

Along the top of the screen throughout the game, you will find your vital statistics that include cash count, candy count, newspaper count, jobs solved, current gaming level and experience level.

Cash, candy and subscriptions are used to unlock jobs, buy furniture, buy tools and extend game play should you run out of moves. If you need to boost your cash, candy or subscription counts you can access the bank option in the game store to do just that through in-app purchases.

As you accept jobs from your filing cabinet or from newspaper ads, there are plenty of dialog boxes that appear to point you in the right direction. You might even catch a few clues while chatting it up with the game's characters.

The jobs are solved with a nice variety of puzzles that often start with a match-three styled game. You will have a set number of moves with each job that are used to collect the various items on the gaming board. At the top of the gaming board, you will see several citizens with a set number of items that must be collected within this move limitation. As you collect the items, you will move closer to the taxi stand, which often takes you to the next leg of the mystery.

Along the left side of the screen, you will see a tote board that reflects clues and evidence collected along with any tools at your disposal.

Matching items removes them from play and generates evidence. It takes five items to generate a piece of evidence. For example, matching and removing five shoe prints will generate hints that can be used to narrow down a suspect. To match and remove an item, just tap and hold on a particular item and drag your finger to connect adjacent, matching items.

When you have completed the matching game, you will be taken to puzzles where you use hints and maps to question suspects or locate hidden objects. If you have enough hints you can narrow down a suspect to beyond a shadow of a doubt. Otherwise, you will need to rely on your powers of deduction or just dumb luck with guessing.

There is plenty of gaming involved and I like how Another Case Solved mixes things up to avoid game play from getting stale.

Overall Impression

Another Case Solved is an eye-appealing puzzle game for Windows Phone 8. Graphics are well drawn up, animations gives the game a clean look, and while it takes a little while to get the hang of things the tutorials take you by the hand nicely. Sound effects aren't too shabby either.

While jobs can be replayed to improve your score and earn more money, there is not a way to reset your gaming progress other than uninstalling/re-installing the game. I wouldn't mind seeing an option in the settings to wipe out your progress and start from scratch or better yet, have support for multiple games.

While Another Case Solved may not be everyone's cup of tea, it is hard to find much to complain about. Sure, I would like a reference section and the typeface is a little on the small side but nothing is so terrible to cause you to pull your hair out and run screaming from the room.

If you are looking for an alternative to Windows Phone games where you blow things up, sling tiny birds from a slingshot or see how far you can run Another Case Solved is a nice option to consider. Another Case Solved is an entertaining gaming title for those times you need a little help in passing the time or when you are in the mood for a longer gaming session. 

Another Case Solved is a free game and available for Windows Phone 8 (not available for low-memory devices). You can find your copy of Another Case Solved here in the Windows Phone Store.

If you prefer playing Another Case Solved from a larger screen, there is a Windows 8 version this is also a free gaming title.

Last year we interviewed Flare Games, makers of the hit Windows Phone and Windows 8 game Royal Revolt. You know, it’s one of those excellent games that some people miss out on because it doesn’t cure their Achievement shakes. But most of actually want to play quality games on our phones and/or tablets of choice, so we were pumped when Flare revealed that Royal Revolt 2 would be coming to Windows Phone during our interview.

Fast-forward to today, and Royal Revolt 2 is nearly upon us! The sequel has already soft launched on Windows Phone and Windows 8 and RT in Canada and Germany and will soon be available in most regions. In fact, Windows Phone Central has exclusive news of the official release date: May 15, less than two weeks from now. In the meantime, we’ve got a hands-on preview video that reveals some of the major changes in Royal Revolt 2.

Create a kingdom

In the original Royal Revolt, players took control of a prince whose lands had been wrongfully stolen during his absence. The game consisted of numerous single-player levels in which the prince fought and launched AI comrades against enemy towers and castles. Think of it as an action-oriented tower offense game. Although the difficulty curved steeply due to its free to play nature, Royal Revolt was an absolute blast to look at and play.

Most of the elements that gamers loved returns in Royal Revolt 2, except for the story components, that is. The sequel now puts players in charge of their own kingdom that can be invaded by other players. That’s right, Royal Revolt 2 is a multiplayer-oriented raiding game – sort of like Cloud Raiders, but far more action-packed and exciting.

The first thing you’ll do when starting out is construct several buildings in the ruins of your castle. Each building performs a function, such as unlocking and upgrading units and spells. The first game had those same interactions, but you just navigated menus instead of selecting and upgrading buildings. New buildings include taverns that produce gold and farms that grow food. Gold finances upgrades while food fuels the troops you send on raids.

Attack the blocks

If you’re worried about Royal Revolt 2 feeling too different from the first game, fear not. Attacks on other players feel just like the single-player levels of the original.

You still command a prince (who can level up but sadly can’t be visually customized) and run through the levels, automatically hacking away at the enemy’s waves of enemies and obstacles. Launching troops is as simple as tapping the button at the bottom of the screen when your troop meter fills up. Players can still equip spells to deal damage or heal their teammates. New scrolls act like extra powerful spells, but they cost gems (premium currency) so you probably won’t use them much.

Levels are now timed, much like Cloud Raiders and other Clash of Clans-style games. You’ll still get money even if you don’t destroy the enemy’s castle gate in time, but you get a lot more rewards for fully conquering the level. Considering how fun Royal Revolt’s core gameplay is, attacking an endless variety of fellow players is quite enthralling.

The other side of the coin is defense! Each player gets to customize the path leading to his or her castle.  You can unlock and upgrade a variety of towers to guard the path, as well as customizing the waves of soldiers who will defend it. Again, the defense component is similar to other multiplayer raiding games. But with Royal Revolt’s unique gameplay, it still feels very fresh and natural.

Prepare your defenses…

Royal Revolt 2 is a free to play game, with gems once again acting as the premium currency. It remains to be seen how fair and balanced the in-app purchases are – the IAP server hasn’t come online yet.

Fans of the original and even Flare Games’ other title Throne Wars will likely love the new game when it launches in all regions except China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau on Thursday, May 15. I had a tough time putting the phone down so I could write this preview!

• Royal Revolt 2 – Windows Phone 8 – 239 MB – Free – Store Link (Canada and Germany only until May 15)
• Royal Revolt 2 – Windows 8 and RT – 241 MB – Free – Store Link (Canada and Germany only until May 15)

"Kochadaiiyaan The Legend" is an upcoming photo-realistic 3D animation Indian movie that utilizes performance capturing technology used in films such as Avatar and The Adventures of Tintin. The movie stars Rajinikanth, a leading Indian film actor and a cultural icon. The mannerisms and inimitable style of Rajinikanth, the highest paid actor in Asia after Jackie Chan, contribute to his mass popularity and appeal and much like Chuck Norris facts, Rajinikanth jokes are widely circulated all over.

The official game for the movie, Kochadaiiyaan The Legend Reign of Arrows, has recently arrived on the Windows Phone Store. The third-person, action arcade archery game gives you a chance to step into the shoes of the superstar as Kochadaiyaan, and attempt to single-handedly push out an invading army out of the prosperous city of Kottaipattinam which is under siege.

CrazyMaze Lite is a challenging Windows Phone puzzle game that has you maneuvering a marble through a series of creative mazes. Mazes that are full of holes that will end your journey, portals that will send you across the maze and other pitfalls that you will have to negotiate around.

CrazyMaze Lite has a bit of a casual feel to game play but challenging enough to keep things interesting. If you are looking for a change of pace for you Windows Phone gaming needs, CrazyMaze Lite is worth a look.

Game Layout

CrazyMaze Lite's main menu offers options to jump into game play, access the gaming options, buy the full version ($.99), view the help section and visit the developer's Facebook page. Gaming options include music/sound on or off and sensor calibration.

Game play with CrazyMaze Lite includes eighteen levels of play that are spread across various Quest Chapters. As you complete each level, additional levels become unlocked.

Prior to the start of each level, CrazyMaze Lite will give you an overview of the maze with information on all the dangers, traps, and triggers that are present. When you are ready to tackle the maze, just tap the screen.

Game Play

Game play with CrazyMaze Lite is accomplished by holding your Windows Phone level with the floor and tilt your phone to move the marble. You have bubbles that can be collected to add points to your score as well as bubbles that will deduct points.

Gaming levels start out rather easy and progressively become more challenging. You will run across sections of the maze that will speed up your marble or slow it down. Other maze features includes portals that will transport your marble across the maze, power-ups that will shrink your marble so it can pass through narrower passages and triggers/activation points that will unlock passages.

The goal with CrazyMaze Lite is to guide your marble from one end of the maze to the exit point, collecting as many points as possible. Once you've reached the exit point of a maze you can proceed to the next level or replay the current level to improve your score. As you dive deeper into the game, you'll find some rather creative mazes with CrazyMaze. Mazes that will take a little patience and a delicate touch to navigate through.

Overall Impression

CrazyMaze Lite is a fun, casual paced Windows Phone game. Graphics are nice and the mazes have their fair share of challenges. The only glitch I have discovered is that at times the menu buttons took a few taps to activate. Nothing detrimental to the overall experience but noticeable.

While CrazyMaze Lite is a free, ad-supported game, you also have a paid version of CrazyMaze that lacks ad-support and has fifty-four levels (free version only has eighteen). The paid version lacks a trial version so if you need to try things out, go with CrazyMaze Lite first.

Both versions of CrazyMaze are available for Windows Phone 8 and 7.x devices. You can find CrazyMaze Lite here and CrazyMaze here in the Windows Phone Store.

Mini Motor Racing has found its way to Windows Phone today, offering fast, finger-friendly fun. Despite the cartoony art style and physics, this is one great game. Players work their way through various race modes, buy new cars, and upgrade their existing ones. Tracks are presented in varying weather conditions, which offers a ton of replay value even for the most familiar circuits.

I've played a bunch of this on other platforms, and the controls really are great. There are some freemium tropes slid under the radar here, but overall it's classic racing with fluid performance. Those of you with a device with 512 MB of RAM will be able to enjoy this one too, though no Xbox love here.

Go ahead and hit up the Windows Phone Store to get downloading Mini Motor Racing for $0.99 with no free trial (boo). Anybody try it out already? What do you think?

Via: Plaffo

Long ago, the gods of Olympus gave the world a dinosaur-themed fighting game called Primal Rage. Sadly, we lowly humans were not ready for its awesomeness, and so the creators never bestowed us with a sequel. There may have been a great flood in there somewhere too.

Still, humanity never forgot how cool it was to put two dinosaurs into a ring and make them duke it out. And so an indie developer named Gluten Free Games has taken up the torch to make a new dinosaur fighting game for Windows Phone called Jurassic Arena. It’s nowhere as good as Primal Rage, but it does have 10 dinosaurs, and it’s completely free (for now). Head past the break for our full review with video.

Ten dinosaur duelists

Jurassic Arena consists of one single-player mode right now: Arcade. The Virtual pets menu simply leads to three separate apps on the Store from the same developer. Although I wouldn’t hold my breath for multiplayer, hopefully the developer does not get eaten by raptors and lives to add another mode or two in the future.

In Arcade mode, the player can choose from ten terrible lizards to control:

• T. Rex
• Triceratops
• Brontosaurus: Come on, Gluten Free! Everyone knows this creature is called the Apatosaurus nowadays.
• Pterodactyl: Not technically a dinosaur, but still cool.
• Velociraptor: Fun fact - the Velociraptors in the Jurassic Park movies are actually Deinonychus, not ‘raptors.
• Spinosaurus
• Allosaurus
• Stegosaurus: My favorite as a kid.
• Parasaurolophus: Try saying that three times fast!
• Compsognathus: The tiny ‘saurs from Jurassic Park.

Although the big dinosaurs like T-Rex are larger than the small dinos like the “Compies” in the game, their height ratios are not accurate. Some creative liberties must be taken when you’re pitting a bunch of dinosaurs from different eras in a videogame death match, after all.

Brawls right out of prehistory

After choosing your own dino, you get to pick your opponent as well. Although the name “Arcade” implies a progression of fights, the Arcade mode here consists only of single fights. You fight an enemy, win or lose, and it’s either a rematch or back to the title screen. I’d suggest renaming the current mode “Quick Play” or something, and adding a real multi-match arcade mode with an ending of some sort.

Players do get to choose from five different levels to fight in: Jungle, Island, Undersea, Volcano, and Old City. All look extremely basic and unfinished; they’re probably public domain 3D environments.

As for the combat, it’s pretty basic. You can move up, down, left, or right using a diamond-shaped virtual d-pad. Dinosaurs have full X and Y movement within the environment, so up and down don’t jump or duck. There is no jumping or flying, sadly. Why put the Pterodactyl in only to keep him grounded?

The dinos have four basic attack buttons: Head Butt, Quick Bite, Roar, and Dash Attack. You can also block, but it’s hardly necessary when wailing on the attack buttons pretty much guarantees a win. Multiple difficulty levels would be a good idea.

The fighting feels good enough for a free game made by a single dude, but it lacks excitement and flair. Fighting games need special moves and throws. Let a dinosaur grab another in its mouth and toss it, or perhaps the Pterodactyl could dive-bomb opponents. Give us some excitement.

It all comes down to Chaos Theory

Jurassic Arena is definitely a good idea for a game. The only thing better than dinosaurs is dinosaurs getting it on, I mean fighting each other. And the models of the dinosaurs in this game are halfway decent, so that’s something. The game just needs a proper single-player structure and some special moves before I’d call it ready for primetime. The developer also needs to take out the random camera swings; the camera should never swing back and forth like that for any reason.

Supposedly the game will switch from being free to a paid app after a while. If that’s the plan, Gluten Free has a bunch of tightening up to do before it happens. Let’s not tempt the wrath of Thor!

• Jurassic Arena – Windows Phone 8 – 46 MB – Free – Store Link

Are you ready for another addictive game for Windows Phone? If so, you should check out Darts Match. This sports/recreation game has originally launched for iOS and Android in March, but the Windows Phone version followed soon after. You can play the game of darts against the computer or your Facebook friends. Head past the break to watch our gameplay video.

Features:

• Challenge the computer or your Facebook friends in games of 501, 301, or Around the Clock.
• Perfect your throwing arm in practice mode.
• Improve your throwing accuracy with a game of around the clock.
• Records three-dart averages, checkout percentages, number of games won and total number of 100+, 140+, and 180 scores.
• Suggested checkout finishes.
• PDC/Unicorn approved dartboard.
• Realistic caller and crowd sound effects.

There are three classic games to play: 501, 301, and Around the Clock. With 501 and 301, the goal is to be the first player to reach zero. When it’s your turn, swipe up to throw a dart. Throw your darts at the numbered sections to reduce your current score to 0. The outer ring doubles the sections point value, while the middle ring triples the sections point value. Bulls-eye is worth 50 points, while the ring around it is worth 25 points.

It gets a little complicated when you’re about to reach zero. When you are within three darts of winning, the winning dart must land on a double or the bulls-eye.

Around the Clock has a different objective. You have to hit each single numbered section in order. Once you have made it from 1 through 20, you must next hit the outer bull and then finally the bulls-eye. The first player to make it to Bull wins the game.

If you need a little help, head over to the practice mode. From there, you can work on your swipes to improve your accuracy. Want a little advice? Try to aim above the bulls-eye. If you miss, at least you have a chance of hitting the section with 20 points instead of 3 points below the bulls-eye. Another tip is to make sure you swipe straight up. This will make sure your darts don’t venture too much to the left or right.

The Darts Match store lets you customize the look and style of your darts. There are a lot of options to choose from and they’re all free. There are three parts of the dart you can change. These appear to be just for looks, since we don’t notice any differences in the way they fly when thrown.

Darts Match is a free download from the Windows Phone Store. There’s an ad at the bottom of the screen, but it doesn’t get in the way of playing. Currently, there’s no option to pay for the removal of the ads. MotionLab, the developers of Darts Match, says phase two of the launch will see the introduction of in app purchases which are likely to include new game modes, alternative darts and a variety of competitive environments.

Is this the best game of darts for Windows Phone? Try it out and let us know in the comments!

Duet is a relatively new Windows Phone game that is insanely simple to learn but frustratingly challenging to master. None of which is bad.

The game has you spinning two colored dots around a circle in an effort to dodge objects that are falling from the top of the screen. Duet has over fifty levels scattered about nine chapters. Duet will test your patience, speed and reactions. While Duet can be painfully irritating at times, it is a fun game to have in your Windows Phone gaming library.

Update: It's worth noting that we've since discovered that this is not an official app, according to the original developer. Since this is a commercialized clone, we'd recommend you all steer clear until an official version is available on the Windows Phone store. Sorry, folks!

Main Menu

Duet's main menu is clutter free with buttons to access the game's settings and to start the game. Settings are minimal and hidden away to the left of the main menu. They include turning on/off the sound effects and visual effects (background effects).

Game play is divided across nine chapters and covers over fifty levels of play. Each level is progressively unlocked and becomes increasingly challenging. Tapping the play button will reveal the chapter or stage list that is hidden to the right of the main menu. Your completed levels are highlighted in gray and your next level has the spinning highlight box.

Game Play

Duet's game play is rather simple. You have a stationary circle at the bottom of the screen with a red and blue dot. Your goal is to safely maneuver these dots around the circle, avoiding a variety of shapes that will begin to fall from the top of the screen.

You tap the left side of the screen to rotate your dots counterclockwise and tap the right side of the screen to rotate things clockwise. Timing is key and should one of your dots hit an object, you fail that level.

There is no scoring with Duet, just survival. The transition from level to level is marked with a short phrase for good luck and a momentary period where you can rest your nerves and fingers.

Overall Impression

While Duet is a simple game for our Windows Phone, by no means does it lack challenge or an addictive quality. While the first few levels may come across as easy, the game picks up in speed and challenge rather nicely.

Blocks begin to spin and you will find yourself constantly rotating your red and blue dots to avoid smashing into an object.

The graphics, while minimal, help add to the attraction to the game. The only thing missing is a catchy soundtrack playing in the background.

If you are looking for an entertaining and challenging game for your Windows Phone to help pass the time with, Duet should be on your short list. There is a trial version available for Duet that includes the first five levels of play. The full version of Duet is currently running $1.99 and has over fifty levels of play.

Duet is available for both Windows Phone 8 and 7.x devices and you can find your copy here in the Windows Phone Store.

99Games Online, the subsidary of Robosoft which produced the successful title Dhoom 3, is returning to release another title. Million Dollar Arm is based on the upcoming 2014 Disney biographical sports drama film of the same name and has just gone live for Windows Phone, Android and iOS.

If you're not familiar with the movie, Million Dollar Arm is based on the real-life story of a US sports agent (J.B. Bernstein) who travelled to India to scout for talent to pitch for a professional baseball team back in the US.

Much like the film, the aim of the game is to progress through levels as the player pitch, developing skill and battling through stages that become increasingly difficult the higher up the chain one traverses.

The game may sound simple and easy, but it's a title which is challenging to master with timed, competitive levels joining leaderboards to rank against friends and more. So, how good is your throwing arm?

• Download Million Dollar Arm (free)

Ready for another game on Windows Phone with support for Xbox Live? Then you’re going to be so happy to know that Wordament Snap Attack is now available to download. Not only is it on Windows Phone, but the games can be played on your Surface 2 or any other Windows 8.1 tablet or PC. Wordament Snap Attack comes from the team behind Wordament. Like Wordament, it’s a word building game, but with a slight twist. Let’s check it out!

Wordament Snap Attack is a new game where you race for two and a half minutes to make as many ‘Snaps’ as you can. This makes it a pretty fast-paced word game. Snaps are what the combination of words you make while playing Snap Attack. It might remind you a bit of Scrabble as you play, which is awesome because we love all word games. Score points by building words with the colored movable letter tiles.

Here’s what you get with Wordament Snap Attack on Windows Phone and Windows 8:

• Compete with friends around the globe and across devices!
• Sign in with your Microsoft Account or Facebook to track your progress
• Earn achievements on Xbox

Fans of puzzle games will definitely want to pick this one up. Wordament Snap Attack is available for free on both platforms and is supported by ads. You can sign in with your Xbox Live Gamertag or by using Facebook. There’s an Android and iOS version of the game coming later down the road. In the meantime, fire the game up on your Windows Phone and Windows 8 device!

We'll have hands on video of the game soon. Till then, give it a download and let us know what you think!

Download Wordament Snap Attack from the Windows Phone Store.

Download Wordament Snap Attack from the Windows Store. 

P.S. The links are just rolling out, so give it a bit of time if you don't see them just yet. 

Thanks for the Windows Phone link Travis!

We're slowly grinding through this week, covering news and looking at what's next for Microsoft and its platforms. Developers have been busy cranking out updates left, right and center to keep consumers happy with new features, bug addressing and more. We'll round up some of the updates that have passed through the store.

Cal 1.4

The update for Cal is a small, but important release. This latest version, 1.4.0.0 to be exact, adds Windows Phone 8.1 support in the form of transparent live tiles. Should you be rocking the developer preview of the next major Windows Phone release, you'll be pleased to hear that Cal will now integrate nicely to reveal those awesome backgrounds you have set up.

• Download Cal (4MB – $0.99)

TrueCaller 4.0.3.0

This is a super neat app for Windows Phone which helps smartphone owners see who's calling them. There may have been numerous times when an unknown caller is contacting you and you simply do not know whether it's best to answer or block the call. TrueCaller helps to solve this issue. What's more is you're also able to block calls and ensures the phone book is up-to-date.

The latest update (version 4.0.3.0) brings the following:

• New design to take advantage of Modern UI
• Editable personal profiles
• Spam notifications will show when an unwanted caller is ringing the phone
• Verified badges help everyone figure out who's legit and who isn't
• 29 languages

This is all thanks to a new development team formed of quality folk who know Windows Phone inside and out. We recommend this app, especially if you're slightly paranoid about unwanted callers.

• Download True Caller (2MB – free)

Pocket Sheep 1.5.0.24

Pocket Sheep is one of the popular listings from Nokia's AppCampus. The game puts the player in charge of herding cute little sheep through levels to safety. In the latest release, the developers have added 90 collectable cards for players to grab. Complete each level to unlock them all.

• Download Pocket Sheep (28MB – free)

Metrotube 4.1.2.0

Metrotube is a premium Youtube client for Windows Phone. Just like Cal above, this latest release adds support for transparent Live Tiles in Windows Pone 8.1, letting you further personalize the Start screen with custom backgrounds.

• Download Metrotube (1MB – $0.99)

Odds and ends

As well as the above apps, we have also been made aware of the following receiving updates:

• Lockmix (1.9.0.0)
• HD Photo Viewer (3.4.8.6)
• Google Maps (8.7.1.0)
• ProShot (3.7.0.0)
• TimeMe (2.0.3.0)

A massive thank you to everyone who tipped us!

Wordament Snap Attack has just been released and we’re already addicted. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, this word-building game is available for Windows Phone and Windows tablets or PC’s. Players from around the world compete on the same board, using the same clock, making as many Snaps as possible. Don’t have time to play it yet? Head past the break to watch our hands-on video and gameplay.

The game runs 24 hours a day and everyone plays the same 2 1/2-minute rounds. The goal is to get the highest score among other online players. You score points by building words (also known as Snaps) with the colored movable tiles that connect to the fixed black tiles on the game board.

Every unique Snap is scored, and you earn points by trying to build as many Snaps as possible. You may reuse your tiles to build many Snaps. You will need to move your tiles around often each round if you want to get high scores.

To help you get higher scores, keep a lookout for the bonus 2x and 3x tiles. Having the letter S is also a good way to extend words that will earn you more points. Another tip is to know some of the two-letter words. You don’t lose points with incorrect words, so you can keep trying.

The top right corner displays the amount of time left in a round. Your score and Snap count are at the top left corner. After a round, there’s a recap of the board you just played. It shows every Snap you found as well as the top single and multi-Snaps that were possible. Click on any of the snaps to see how they look on the board. The screen then automatically transitions to display a list of other players that participated in that round with you. You can see your rank compared to others.

Proud of your score? Tap on the percentile at the top left corner, and you can share score via email, Facebook, or Twitter. It looks like this:

I just scored 802 points and ranked 84% in Wordament Snap Attack.  Can you do better? #wordament

You can tap on any player’s name to highlight and follow them as a frenemy. Frenemies are players you want to pay extra attention to during game results or in the leaderboards.

If you’re not currently playing in a round, you can see your overall rank and stats in the main screen. Since Snap Attack is part of Xbox Games, you can also view game achievements. Want to display a flag in the leaderboards? Swipe over to the options and tap Leaderboard flag. If you’re from the US, make sure to scroll all the way down to select your State’s flag.

Snap Attack is a free download from the Windows Phone Store and the Windows Store. Ads are shown at the bottom of the screen during gameplay, but they don’t get in the way. Check out Snap Attack on your device and let us know what you think in the comments!

May is a very back-loaded month for Xbox One and 360 releases. Coming up on May 20 we have the highly-anticipated Wolfenstein: The New Order from Bethesda, followed by Watch Dogs from Ubisoft on May 27 – certainly the highest profile games the One and 360 will see for months. That doesn’t mean gamers have to go without new releases this week and next, though!

Today the Xbox 360 finally gets Peggle 2 from Electronic Arts and PopCap, a timed exclusive that we formerly went crazy over on Xbox One. The One will have its own new downloadable game tomorrow, when Wahoo Studio’s Nutjistsu makes the trip from Windows 8. And Friday sees the retail release of Focus Home Interactive’s Bound by Flame on Xbox 360 (and Playstation 4 but not Xbox One, sadly). Head past the break for more details on this month’s console releases!

Peggle 2

After debuting on Xbox One last December, Peggle 2 is now available for previous-gen Xbox owners! It remains a timed exclusive to Microsoft consoles. Wouldn’t a Windows Phone version be grand though?

Peggle is a deceptively simple game. Each level consists of an assortment of colored pegs and bricks for players to destroy by firing balls at them. Blue pegs just give points, purple pegs add to your score multiplier, green pegs activate your character’s special power, and all orange pegs (they look red) must be cleared to finish the level.

Peggle 2 includes a number of improvements over the original, most notably proper widescreen support with all-new HD visuals and highly animated characters. It’s a beautiful game on both the ‘bone and 360. The campaign structure is much improved as well, with optional goals for each level and challenge levels that you’ll actually feel like completing.

The Peggle games are great in single-player, but things get really fun with friends. Luckily, Peggle 2 sports offline and online co-op multiplayer, as well as online versus gameplay. Check out our original review and expanded multiplayer impressions for the full skinny.

• Peggle 2 – Xbox 360 – 884 MB – $11.99 – Xbox Store Link
• Peggle 2– Xbox One – 1.69 GB - $11.99 – Xbox Store Link

Nutjitsu

From the makers of Fusion: Sentient and A World of Keflingscomes this classic arcade-style maze game. Players take on the role of a ninja squirrel who must rescue his clan’s acorns from the evil kitsune samurai.

Each level contains a main filled with samurai guards that the ninja must sneak past. Objectives vary but usually involve picking up as many acorns as possible. As you play through a level, more and tougher enemies start to appear, making it tougher for the ninja to go undetected. Even if he does get caught, he’ll still earn XP that contributes to his overall rank.

The ID@Xbox program allows games of all shapes and sizes to be self-published on Xbox One, including ports of phone and tablet games. Having originally launched on Windows 8 and RT, Nutjitsu will be the second tablet game to make the trip (Halo: Spartan Assault was the first). It’s also the second indie game for the One, following Strike Suit Zero.

Nutjitsu also happens to be the cheapest downloadable Xbox One game, with a launch price of $6.49. The original was free to play, so hopefully Wahoo has rebalanced the console version to cut down on grinding. We’ll find out when Nutjitsu arrives on Xbox One this Thursday.

• Nutjitsu – Xbox One – ? MB – $6.49 – Xbox Store Link (coming soon)
• Nutjitsu– Windows 8 and RT – 249 MB – Free – Store Link

Bound by Flame

Coming from French developer Spiders, Bound by Flame is a fantasy-themed action-RPG along the lines of Dragon Age and The Witcher series. Players control a character who has been possessed by a flame demon, giving him the power of fire. Depending on the choices the player makes during the storyline, the hero will either retain his humanity or give in and become more monstrous and evil.

Although Bound by Flame plays like other third-person RPGs, its focus is more on story than exploration. Players will travel through different hubs as they complete missions and advance the narrative. If you’re looking for a shorter RPG experience, this might just do the trick. And the price is quite fair given the game’s smaller scale – just forty bucks at launch. Bound by Flame arrives on Xbox 360 and Sony platforms this Friday.

• Bound by Flame – Xbox 360 – ? MB – $39.99 – Amazon Link

Later this month

Super Time Force (Xbox One and 360)

The third ID@Xbox release for Xbox One will be Super Time Force from Capy Games, makers of Superbrothers: Sword and Sorcery EP on mobile and the upcoming Below for Xbox One.

Super Time Force is a very promising 2D run-and-gun shooter. Like Superbrothers, this one features a striking retro pixel art style that sets it apart from pretty much any other game in the genre. Although Super Time Force is only a single-player game, it features a unique time rewind mechanic in which players can rewind a level and then fight alongside past versions of themselves.

Capy’s first Xbox One and Xbox 360 release will debut next week on Wednesday, May 14.

Wolfenstein: The New Order (Xbox One and 360)

We first previewed Wolfenstein: The New Order at E3 last year. At last, the game’s release approaches! The latest entry in the long-running Wolfenstein series will launch on May 20 in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Bethesda recently announced the installation requirements for The New Order so that Wolfenstein fans can prepare their hard drives for its arrival. The Xbox 360 version ships on four discs, the first of which carries a mandatory install of 8 GB. The Xbox One version comes on a single Blu-ray with a 47 GB installation.

The New Order is really big for a single-player first-person shooter, but that’s actually good news. Players can expect a big emphasis on the game’s story, which takes in an alternate 1960s in which the Nazis won World War II. The story scenes I’ve witnessed so far are well-directed and extremely intriguing. And with the 360 version clocking in at nearly the same size as the massive Xbox One game, previous-gen gamers shouldn’t miss out too much as far as graphics and sound go.

Preorders of Wolfenstein: The New Order include future access to the new DOOM beta. Note that the beta will only be available on Xbox One, Playstation 4, and PC. Preorder at Amazon to get a $10 credit too. Why not use our referral links?

• Wolfenstein: The New Order – Xbox One – ? GB – $59.99 – Amazon Link
• Wolfenstein: The New Order – Xbox 360 – 47 GB – $59.99 – Amazon Link

Watch Dogs

Last but not least is the open-world action-adventure game Watch Dogs from Ubisoft Montreal. The game stars Aiden Pearce, a hacker who steals and sells information in a futuristic version of Chicago. Hacking plays a large role in Watch Dogs, with players able to control street lights, bridges, steam pipes, and many other environmental objects via hacking.

Although Watch Dogs carries a substantial single-player experience, early impressions indicate that multiplayer is the game’s stand-out feature. Several unique modes are included, most notably one in which another player is trying to kill you within the open-world setting. The catch? You can’t tell the other player from the NPCs, creating a tense and exciting cat-and-mouse dynamic.

Watch Dogs arrives on May 27 in the US.

• Watch Dogs – Xbox One – ? GB – $59.99 – Amazon Link
• Watch Dogs – Xbox 360 – ? GB – $59.99 – Amazon Link

Today is the greatest day for fans of Windows Phone and Kinectimals. Why? There’s a brand new Kinectimals game out on Windows Phone called ‘Kinectimals Unleashed’. Like all other games in the Kinectimals, you take care of a virtual pet. It’s like a modern day pet rock, except one that lives in your phone.

Kinectimals Unleashed comes to Windows Phone with Xbox Live support. Meaning you’ll sign in with your Gamertag and earn achievements and points towards your Gamerscore.

You get over 85 different animals to make your own in Kinectimals Unleashed. Animals like a Bengal Tiger or a Huskie can be yours. You’ll collect as many as you can and play games with them. You can also get hundreds of toys and collectibles to keep you furry animal friend entertained.

Kinectimals Unleashed is a free game for Windows Phone users. The download size comes in at 306MB. 512MB devices are indeed supported! Download the game, if it’s your cup of tea, and let us know what you think!

Download Kinectimals from the Windows Phone Store. 

Thanks for the tip everyone!

Color Sheep, an interesting arcade game that has been available on iOS and Android, has just released on Windows Phone. You play as Sir Woolson, responsible for preventing vicious wolves from stealing life and color from the world. It’s an easy game at first, but don’t get too comfortable. It gets a lot harder.

Head past the break to watch our gameplay video.

Players change Woolson’s color to match oncoming wolves by mixing different intensities of red, green, and blue light. Tap on Woolson to blast out a laser.

There are over twenty color combinations to master. The main colors are red, green, and blue. If there’s a bright red wolf coming, hold the bright button on the right and the red color on the left. Sounds easy, but more complicated color get introduced in higher levels. For example, you need to hold the bright button on the right, while swiping red to blue on the left to get Magenta. For Orange, you need to combine bright red and dark green.

The color combinations can be a little confusing because they’re not based on the three primary colors we learned in school: red, yellow, and blue. It’s already embedded in our heads than combining red and yellow creates orange. That’s not the case in Color Sheep. You get used to it after a few rounds, though.

The wolves sometimes drop magical items. Tap to collect for use. Some these items slow down the wolves while some get rid of them quickly if they get too close. The visual effects look great.

It only requires one wolf to hit Woolson to end the game. You have to start over from the beginning if you want to keep playing.

Color Sheep costs 99 cents at the Windows Phone Store. There’s no free trial available in the initial version, but we think it’s worth the price. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Pigs Can't Fly is a light-hearted Windows Phone 8 game that has you helping a lost little pig who has crash landed in Hell. You will need to guide the pig through eighty levels filled with dangers and eventually escape the perilous underworld.

Pigs Can't Fly has nice graphics, straightforward gaming controls and plenty of challenging game play. It is a nice choice to have in your Windows Phone gaming library when you are in the mood for a game with a slightly more relaxed pace.

Game Layout

Pigs Can't Fly is another gaming title with a no-nonsense main menu that has options to jump into game play, mute the sound/music, visit the developer's Facebook and Twitter pages and visit the game's Extras page. The Extras Page gives you access to your gaming achievements and extra skins you can unlock for your pig.

The eighty levels of play are spread out across four chapters. Levels are progressively unlocked and become more challenging the further you advance through the game.

The game screen has your movement controls (wings) in the lower corners and a pause button sitting in the upper right corner. The goal is to safely fly your pig to the lighted exit of each level. Tapping the left wing will fly your pig to the left and tapping the right wing will send the little pig to the right. The more you tap, the higher the pig will fly.

Game Play

The first few levels of Pigs Can't Fly are on the easy side to allow you to get used to the flight controls without much pressure. As you move your pig around each level, a Bonus Star will be positioned somewhere along the way. Collecting these Stars are the key to unlocking the additional pig skins.

As you progress through the game, dangers will come into play that will turn your pig into bacon. Dangers include lava pools, lava spouts, spiked walls, and demon monsters.

You will need to take more of a casual approach to playing Pigs Can't Fly. There may be an inclination to rush through each level but speed makes it too easy to hit a spiked ceiling or get toasted by a lava spout. Pigs Can't Fly is a game of patience, timing and a delicate touch.

Overall Impression

Pigs Can't Fly is a nicely drawn-up game for Windows Phone 8. Game play is challenging enough to keep you interested and with eighty levels of game play, Pigs Can't Fly should last you a while.

I wouldn't mind seeing a few power-ups tossed into game play though. I like the challenge flying through the depths of the underworld presents but a power-up for invincibility would be nice here and there. Otherwise, I found Pigs Can't Fly to be a well-rounded, somewhat addictive game for Windows Phone 8.

There is a trial version available for Pigs Can't Fly with the full version running $.99. Pigs Can't Fly is available for Windows Phone 8 (shows available for low-memory devices) and you can find Pigs Can't Fly here in the Windows Phone Store.

Kiloo has published an update for its popular Subway Surfers game on iOS, Android and Windows Phone. In this latest release, players are able to traverse through Vancouver, Canada. Not only is there a new adventure awaiting, but a new character is also available – Olivia the spirited girl scout. Olivia comes bearing gifts in the form of new outfits and boards, just in case the current collection wasn't enough.

If you're not familiar with the game, Subway Surfers takes players down the subways of major cities around the world and is a highly addictive endless runner. As well as the new location, character and bonus items for personalization, players can also add a humorous new Moose board to their collection and locate hidden maple leaves in the new subway to win special prizes.

• Download Subway Surfers (31 MB – free – 1 GB RAM – Windows Phone 8 or above)

Thanks to Pratham for the tip!