walking dead the game

RELEASE: 4/2012 (Episode 1) | DEVELOPER: TellTale Games | ESRB: M for Mature

Walking Dead The Game is the best point and click game I have ever played. As a fan of the comic book series and of the AMC TV show I felt duty-bound to play. However, I did have my reservations: I’m not super-into point and click style games and I’ve been burned by TellTale games before, see Jurassic Park or Back to the Future. This game has won tons of awards and has been reviewed by just about everyone but you came here for my two cents, so read on, in my spoiler free review below.

grand theft auto III 10th anniversary edition

PLATFORM: iPad

RELEASE DATE: 12/2011

PUBLISHER: Rockstar Games

RATING: 17+

One of the best selling games of all time, re-released for iPad for only $4.99, what a steal! Without hesitation I had to pick this up, if only to see how they translated the PS2's controls over to the touch screen of the iPad.

temple run

PLATFORM: iPhone

RELEASE DATE: 12/2011

PUBLISHER: Imangi Studios

RATING: 9+

Highest Score: 242,144 (as of posting)

I’m not going to break any news with this post. Sadly, I discovered this game after seeing dozens of fellow straphangers playing it on their phones. It was a 10(ish) year-old kid that I just had to ask. “What game is that?” Temple Run he said. Soon as I came up from the subway I downloaded it and started playing. Quickly, I discovered the secret to this game app’s addictive popularity: It’s free.

angry birds

PLATFORM: iPad (& every other platform)
RELEASE DATE: 12/2009
DEVELOPER: Rovio
PUBLISHER: Chillingo
ESRB RATING: E for Everyone

Angry Birds isn't a video game.

There is this very popular phenomenon happening all around us. Unsuspecting people are toying with the laws of physics in our gaming world. Through the guise of little, simply rendered "birds" and a sling shot, they are honing their trajectory skills. Sure, right now, these average joe's are only knocking over blocks and destroying sadly painted green "pigs" but what are they being prepared for? Surely these people, who wouldn't be caught dead playing a "vidya game", aren't indeed playing one themselves? No, it couldn't be, there must be something much more sinister at work.

canabalt

PLATFORM: iPad

RELEASE DATE: 09/2010
DEVELOPER: Semi Secret Software
ESRB RATING: NA

Progress: 5683km (so far)

Every now and then a game comes along that really gets under your skin. You hear the music and find yourself reliving the moments in your head. You run back to play it every chance you get -- not so much to advance or improve but rather, just to get your fix.

Canabalt is one of those games. This truly casual game, which anyone could get into, has graphics that consist of simple game sprites and even simpler backgrounds with only one thing the player needs to do: jump. One button control is all that's needed to play and in some cases it is as simple as just tapping the screen. As the game's tag line says "Outrun the demolition of your city with just one button!". This is a survival game, meaning: try not to fall and you can keep going. Your character simply runs from roof-top to roof-top, hurtling through the air. The only control is the jump button which is sensitive allowing you to choose a lighter jump rather than a longer jump.