A Gaming Diary
iPhone
Need for Speed: Shift (iPhone)
Dec 24th
The anti-Ridge Racer, basically. Smooth, polished, content-rich, with a proper game structure. All things that Ridge Racer Accelerated is not. But, on the other hand, it all feels a bit clinical, it’s very flat so far and the drifting mechanic is awkward and, possibly, broken. Again, that’s the opposite of Ridge Racer.
It’s not a bad game, certainly, but after being violently mugged by the scar-faced Ridge Racer, it doesn’t feel especially exciting. Here is an image that explains the difference between the two games:
Mind you, I’m still using the first car class – I’m thinking that pulse-pounding high-speed thrills may well arrive at some point, when I’ve unlocked some more cars.
Anyway, this is likely to be my last entry until after Christmas, maybe the new year, so have a happy time everybody and I’ll see you on the other side.
Words With Friends (iPhone)
Dec 24th
I’m a real hep cat, daddio. (Or something. I can barely speak standard English, so old slang can be a bit beyond me at times. Also, wife, I am not old enough to remember that slang from when it was current, thank you very much.)
Angry Birds (iPhone)
Dec 23rd
Yes, I’ve got three stars on all the levels. Now what am I going to do with my life?
RIDGE RACER ACCELERATED (iPhone) / Ridge Racers (PSP)
Dec 22nd
Oh dear. I decided to dig out my ancient Japanese copy of Ridge Racers for the PSP. Once I’d worked my way through baffling Japanese menus and started racing, I was presented with a glorious, smooth, silky rendition of the chugging, barren iPhone version.
It’s a completely different experience on the two platforms. Apart from the speed difference – which is absolutely huge, even though the speedometer says otherwise – the main difference is in the feeling of the handling. The PSP version is a heavenly glide with the car doing everything you say, whereas the iPhone version is a constant fight to stay on the road and pointing in the right direction.
Ultimately, that’s what saves the iPhone version, oddly enough. The barely contained danger, the triumph when everything goes right, the actual feeling of tipping your iPhone left and right to keep on course – it’s much more tense and exciting second-by-second than the more easily controlled PSP version.
If the PSP version is a new-fangled 3D-equipped digital cinema, then the iPhone version is a run-down flea pit with an ancient projector that speeds up, slows down and shows you the movie on a screen that’s torn in one corner and covered in dubious stains. You go to one, you sit down in padded stadium seats and eat your Ben & Jerry’s, in the other you avoid the grey, dusty popcorn, look for a seat that may have some remaining springs and are left with a feeling of intense relief if you make it out without being stabbed. They’re completely different representations of their source material, but one’s definitely more of an adventure than the other.
The Deep Pinball
Dec 22nd
Excellent pinball game made all the more excellent by being free. I can’t really tell you much about it because I’m utterly rubbish and haven’t figured the table out yet, but it feels very right.
Angry Birds (iPhone)
Dec 22nd
A few more levels three-starred last night, more than I thought still to go. More please!
Words With Friends (iPhone)
Dec 22nd
My data connection was down for a while, but I’m back now. Was scary for a while there, though. I couldn’t stop shaking.
Minigore (iPhone)
Dec 21st
I did it! I did it!
Yes, I got my 100,000 kills and unlocked Xmas Gore. He’s got a new hat!
And here he is getting horribly killed.
There’s no time to take screenshots in this game.
RIDGE RACER ACCELERATED (iPhone)
Dec 21st
Despite the myriad problems I’m really enjoying this and have played it an awful lot since I got it. I’ve been enjoying it so much, in fact, that I bought the extra track pack and I might buy the extra cars at some point, though I’m having enough trouble keeping the existing cars on the road. This is going to be an absolutely amazing if they can get it running properly and the wonderful handling still shines through in this existing version.
I can’t, in good conscience, actually recommend it – but I love it.
Arachnadoodle (iPhone)
Dec 21st
It’s Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor meets Peggle, basically. You have to jump around connecting the dots to create a web to trap flies. It’s quite good fun, but the help is a bit rubbish, unless I’m missing something. It also seems a bit odd that you need to connect all the dots to unlock the next level, but that’s not necessarily the best strategy to get high scores – again, unless I’m missing something. And it really needs a quick restart option for levels… unless I’m missing one.
Which really sums up the whole game. I’m enjoying it, I just feel like I don’t quite get it.
