Gaming Software Roundup: Volume II

Welcome to the latest gaming software roundup for Windows Mobile Professional and Windows Mobile Standard devices. This installment is all over the gaming genre’s including a casino game, a few puzzle games, and a strategy game. I’ll give you a snap of the game and a recommendation as to whether you need to try before you buy; that there’s no need to worry with the trial download, simply add it to your shopping cart; or no matter how hard you try the demo, you need to look elsewhere for entertainment.

If there’s a gaming application you’d like to see included in the Round-up, email me your suggestions at george.ponder@wmexperts.com

Hexic

Hexic ($9.95) is a puzzle game developed by Astraware where players work to rotate clusters to group similar colored hexes together. When you do, they are removed from the screen, points are earned and the column collapses. You have three game modes; marathon timed and challenged to add a variety to the action. Recommendation: Much like Bejeweled, this is a very addictive game and once you exhaust the trial version, it’s only a matter of time before you add this game to your cart.

BlackJack Classic

The title just about says it all: BlackJack Classic ($11.95). This is a graphically pleasing game that can be mildly addictive. The nice thing about this version of the classic casino game is the ability to play up to seven hands at a time.

Recommendation :It’s a decent game but not much different than blackjack games that are a part of a casino package such as Astraware’s Casino ($19.95). If you can survive on BlackJack alone, it’s worth at least the downloadable trial..

3D Lawn Darts

3D Lawn Darts ($14.95) is a time consuming, addictive game. The game patterns the traditional game of lawn darts with a few interesting twists. In addition to the traditional darts, you have explosive darts, incendiary darts, multiplying darts, and nuclear darts. All designed to increase your score or destroy the opponents. Concrete Software incorporates your phone’s camera to allow for motion control of the dart (as you swing your phone, the game simulates the toss) but there’s still a lot of work to be done on this technology. Recommendation: It’s a fun game that is well worthy of a trial download and most will go on to add the software to their cart after they enjoy nuking the competition.

Line Rider

Line Rider ($14.95) puts a new twist on connecting the dots. Your mission is to create a line from point A to point B, including several preset points. When you finish drawing your line, you release the Line Rider to see how well your path was drawn. It’s a mildly addictive, “makes no sense” type of game.
Recommendation : For me, this is definitely a try before you buy game. Controls were a little frustrating on a WM Standard Device but may be easier on a touchscreen.

Orneta’s Combine Four

Orneta’s Combine Four ($9.99) is essentially a version of the board game “Connect Four” where you try drop tokens into a grid, trying to line four in a row. You can play against the CPU or a live opponent. It’s addictive and at times frustrating when you miss the obvious moves needed to win.

Recommendation: It’s a good game to pass the time by with and the trial version may only be a minor detour until you add it to your shopping cart.

Revival

Revival ($15.95) is a role playing game in the spirit of the popular game Civilization. It’s a little “busy” for a Windows Mobile device and with so many aspects to control some may find this game on the frustrating side. Graphics are really nice and the game play is steady. The game’s objective is relatively straight forward; build your empire and conquer others.

Recommendation: The gaming controls may be frustrating to some so it may be best to try the trial download before adding this game to the shopping cart.