The Smartphone is supposed to be the future of Windows Mobile devices, but there are still far more games available for the Pocket PC. I have found several good new Smartphone games over the past few months and review five of them in this months column, including the action game SubQuest and the racing game Raging Thunder. I've thrown in a couple of good Pocket PC games and some interesting news items as well.
If the Smartphone is the future, I hope that Microsoft puts more emphasis in developing the multimedia capabilities of these devices, and I hope third-party developers come out with some more games!
SubQuest: Rescue and Attack (A-)
SubQuest is a fantastic combination of SubHunt and Choplifter. The idea is to move your little sub through hostile waters, shooting enemies and picking up stranded divers along the way. (Don't miss out on the power-ups.) The game is action-packed and has fantastic graphics and good audio. Although its a little loud and flashy, its definitely one of the best Smartphone games I've seen overall.
SubQuest is in the tradition of the best action games of the 1980s.
For more information on this game, visit the CodEngine Productions Web site (http://codengine.com). SubQuest supports Smartphones only. A demo is available, and the full version can be purchased for $8.95.
K-Rally (A)
K-Rally is a new combat racing game from Infinite Dreams. Those of you who've played the overhead scroller Sky Force (from the same developer) will feel right at home with K-Rally, since it uses the same graphics engine. Sky Force had a scrolling technique that made trees and buildings look like they were rising from the ground below. K-Rally uses this same method to great effect. With the particle effects and smooth scrolling, its like you're really there. But don't think that K-Rally is just eye candy: with a solid bevy of weapons, a quick race mode, career mode, championship mode, and even a ghost mode (where you race against a recorded image of your car doing a lap), K-Rally has plenty of substance.
K-Rally is a full-featured racing game from the creators of Sky Dreams 1 and 2.
For more information on this game, visit the K-Rally Web site (http://idreams.pl). K-Rally supports Pocket PC 2003 and newer devices. It is also available for the Smartphone. A demo is available, and the full version can be purchased for $14.95.
Word Monaco Solitaire (A)
Word Monaco Solitaire is what you get when you turn solitaire into a word game. With cards arranged into columns, the idea is to form words until all the cards are uncovered. Its an idea that works well and is a bit more challenging than just making words from a screen full of letters. Three rule variations and nine difficulty levels make the game adaptable to a wide range of abilities. What really sets the game apart are the graphics, audio, and the overall quality feel of the game play, all of which are engaging and make for a good experience.
Word Monaco is an original and quality variation on solitaire.
For more information, visit the Smart Box Design Web site (http://smartboxdesign.com). Word Monaco supports Pocket PC 2003 and newer devices. A demo is available, and the full version can be purchased for $14.95.
PocketSand (A-)
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