This issue's Games Roundup offers a broad range of entertaining titles that should please everyone. WordPop! and Mind Twister are word puzzles with different play styles, Battlescore is an unusual strategy/puzzle game, Solider Ants is an action-strategy title based on the successful Snails, and Naughty Worm is a variant of the classic game Qix. I also look at Tots 'N Togs, a clothing business simulator, and Geo Rally 2005, a European rally car racing game.
Curse of the Pharaohs (A-)
Curse of the Pharaohs definitely doesn't have the best graphics out there, but this treasure hunting game is surprisingly sophisticated. The highly interactive environment involves lots of fighting, digging through passageways, flipping switches, and even excavating. RPG-style character development, multiple weapons and tools, and different approaches to problems give the game a sense of depth that's lacking in similar titles. The game isn't perfect, but it's an impressive first effort from newcomer JustMobile Games.
Curse of the Pharaohs will take you to all sorts of interesting places.
For more information, visit the JustMobile Games Web site (http://www.justmobilegames.com). Curse of the Pharaohs supports all Pocket PCs. A demo is available, and the full version can be purchased for $19.95.
Mind Twister (A-)
Mind Twister is a fairly standard word search game where you make words by selecting adjacent letters from a scrambled grid. It has standard features such as a time limit, hint mode, and limited sound effects. What makes this one stand out, however, are the great graphics and the theme-based levels. While it's still possible to make connections of random words, having a theme makes the game a little more challenging and focused. The included multi-language dictionary helps round out the package.
With good level design and appealing graphics, Mind Twister breathes new life into the word game genre.
For more information on Mind Twister, visit the product page on http://Pocketgear.com. Mind Twister supports Pocket PC 2002 and newer devices. A demo is available, and the full version can be purchased for $5.99.
Battlescore (B+)
You've probably never played anything like Battlescore. This turn-based strategy game has you select numbered pegs across vertical rows while the computer selects pegs across horizontal rows. Since blue pegs raise your score and red pegs lower it, the idea is to carefully choose which pegs will help you increase your score and win the game while preventing the computer from doing the same. It's a simple formula, but it's executed and presented quite well in this release from newcomer Monkey Dreams. VGA mode is supported for those who have the hardware.
Battlescore is a neat idea and plays very well.
For more information on this game, visit Monkey Dreams Web site (http://www.monkeydreams.net/index_en.htm). Battlescore supports Pocket PC 2002 and newer devices. A demo is available, and the full version can be purchased for $9.95.
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