Annotated Bibliography

Post Knight

Kurechii . (2017). PostKnight (Version 2.2.18) [Android]. Cyberjaya, Selangor: Kurechii

Post knight is a mobile RPG adventure that has you fighting off hordes of monsters while you work your way to various locations to deliver mail. The game is designed to have all the features of a fantasy RPG but without the weight of heavy combat and dungeon exploration so that the game can be played in short bursts. The combat is simple but well organized and engaging, the player character walks through the scene while monsters charge at them and from there the player can use sword and shield skills or healing magic. Outside of the combat the game is littered with side quests that include upgrading your gear and rank, unlocking new gear, finding pets, and building friendships with other characters for perks.

Graphically Post Knight offers a clean and well-polished 2D art style that’s easy on the eyes and appropriate for all age groups. The user interface is designed to maximize the art style by making many of the menus accessible through other characters or background props rather than having buttons in place to access them. Advertisements are also placed to recover health quickly and are in no way required to watch to play the game, this makes Post Knight one of the better free to play games as the ads are significantly less invasive.

8/10

Dinosaur Rampage

Geisha Tokyo, Inc. . (2019). Dinosaur Rampage (Version 4.0) [Android]. Tokyo, Japan: Geisha Tokyo, Inc.

Dinosaur Rampage is a lot of fun but doesn’t really offer much in terms of replay value. From a 3D top-down view you’ll run around a city eating people and destroying buildings to grow bigger, if you’re larger than the other dinosaurs in the game you can kill them off by running into them. The level is always the same, but you’ll always just start at a different location on the map with the camera facing a different direction to mix things up. Surprisingly changing the camera angle does help to keep the game fresh, since you’ll play each match in quick thirty second bursts the camera angles make it difficult to memorize the map layout. Additionally, players can improve the stats of their dinosaur which keeps motivation fresh and sets a concrete goal of “Get stronger”.

This however is one of those games with invasive ads between matches which is sort of a buzz kill if you just want to wreck up a city for a few minutes. Graphically the game is rough, it’s not terrible to look at but the assets could be cleaned up a bit. Overall, I really like this game, but it feels half done. I think there’s a lot of potential in the sort of quick death match gameplay it provides but it just feels unfinished which is a shame.

6/10

Dr Mario World

Nintendo Co., Ltd. (2019). Dr Mario World (Version 1.1.2) [Android]. Kyoto, Japan: Nintendo co., Ltd

A mobile update of a classic puzzle game. It’s hard to flop when your design/development team has the full backing of Nintendo. This is a great update to the original game; all the original gameplay is intact with added features that make the game more challenging as it progresses. One of the better new features is the addition of player characters. Here you’ll get to choose your doctor and to assistants from Nintendo’s wide pantheon of Mario characters each with their own perks and abilities to create variation in how you play the game. The original versus mode returns as online play in addition to the standard game. In online play is where the new player characters really shine, their abilities will still help you as you try to eliminate all the viruses, but they’ll also hinder your opponent by either sending them more viruses or stunting the effects of their own abilities. It’s hard to say much else about it, it’s the same game it always was but more accessible as a mobile game and just as great as ever.

9/10

Color Saw 3D

Good Job Games. (2017). Color Saw 3D (Version 1.5.4) [Android]. Istanbul, Istanbul : Good Job Games

Color Saw is sort of an odd game. Basically, you have a movable piece with a bunch of blocks attached that need to be sawed off by the different spinning blades around the game space. It’s not super difficult and doesn’t really create much motivation to keep playing, there’s no level system or any significant progression. It’s repetitive which can be a good thing if you’re looking for a consistent time killer for your commute, but it just doesn’t seem to work. I’m not entirely sure you can really call it a puzzle game either, it’s sort of like one of those little do nothing machines you can buy at folk art shops. Comparatively Dinosaur Rampage was equally as repetitive and required even less puzzle thinking to play the but at least that game created motive in the form of leveling up your dinosaur.

3/10

Wrecking Ball

Popcore GmbH. (2019). Wrecking Ball (Version 1.9) [Android]. Berlin, Germany: Popcore GmbH.

Wrecking Ball is a pretty strait forward game, a structure of blocks is presented to you and you try and center an X and Y position on it then the wrecking ball drops to break it. The strategy is in trying to get the ball to hit in a position that will collapse most of the structure. The game also offers clear motivation and progression in that before starting each demolition you’re able to upgrade your balls strength and size along with unlocking different skins.

Visually the game is well polished both in its graphics and UI, importantly it looks and feels like a finished game. Each structure is different so the game progression feels as fresh as breaking things with a wrecking ball can. Overall Wrecking Ball is a solid game and is great for a quick pick up and play smash fest.

8/10

Oceanhorn

Cornfox & Bros. (2015). Oceanhorn (Version 1.1.4) [Android]. Helsinki, Finland: Cornfox & Bros.

Oceanhorn is largely your classic top-down role-playing adventure game. It takes all the genre tropes and stuffs them into a mobile device successfully. The graphics look great and the gameplay is smooth, the game encourages the player to fully explore the map for items and gold. The game is relatively linear due to its narrative structure but offers a decent exploration by allowing the player to revisit previous locations. Side quests that reinforce this exploration help to keep the game fresh and can help keep motivation up if a player gets bored of the main quest.  For anyone who’s looking for a Zelda clone on their mobile device Oceanhorn is absolutely the best way to go.

8/10

Dungeon Quest

Shiny Box, Llc. (2017). Dungeon Quest (Version 3.0.5.3) [Android]. Houston, Texas: Shiny Box, Llc

Dungeon Quest is like Oceanhorn in that it’s a Zelda clone. The real difference is that Dungeon Quest isn’t story driven and instead focuses on player progression. The goal of the game is mainly to get more loot and build up your characters strength so that they can be more competitive in the player verse player (PvP) arena battles. Game progression is just defined by enemy characters scaling their level with the player so difficultly is steadily the same as the game continues and the dungeons are randomly generated so there’s no type of world exploration.

These traits solidify what some players will find to make this an excellent game for them with the PvP and randomized dungeons keeping the game consistently fresh for those that enjoy this type of competitive play. The graphics are mediocre but for the replayability the game offers it’s forgivable. In the end Dungeon Quest is a pretty good pick up and play experience for those who prefer traditional gaming and PvP.

8/10

Another Eden

WFS Games. (2017). Another Eden (Version 1.8.100) [Android]. Tokyo, Japan: WFS Games

Another Eden is a turn-based RPG developed with the mobile user interface in mind. The game is very heavily story driven and falls in rank nicely alongside games like Final Fantasy. Unlike most mobile games Another Eden is hefty, it’s a dedication on par with something you’d find on a console or handheld and it takes up equally as much storage space. If you have the space available though and you like these types of games Another Eden is pretty great, the combat is classic but has its own unique features that keep it accessible for short bursts of time so despite the dedication the game seems to require it can still be played on the go.

The hand drawn backgrounds and sprites look amazing and the audio composition is excellent. This isn’t a mobile game for everyone but for a very niche audience however for that niche Another Eden will feel substantially better than a lot of other games. And for those that do enjoy it it’s worth noting that it regularly receives free updates that add new chapters to its ongoing story.

10/10

Dig It

Raketspel. (2019). Dig it (Version 1.0.15) [Android]. Sweden: Raketspel

Dig It is a cool little puzzle game where you create paths in dirt to guide a ball to its goal. The controls are very intuitive, and it doesn’t take much to figure out the rules of the game space even as new obstacles are added.  There really isn’t a whole lot to say about Dig It, it’s just that simple but it excels at being the game it is. As a bonus there’s monthly updates that add new levels to the game to keep players coming back which leads me to its only downfall, once a puzzle is solved there’s not much reason to go back and play it again. It can be fun to revisit the previous puzzles but without the regular updates the game might be a bit lost.

9/10

Rescue Cut

F.I.LGames. (2017). Rescue Cut (Version 1.8.1) [Android]. F.I.L Games

Rescue Cut is about a man who is somehow constantly captured and tied up above death traps, wild animals, and CIA Agents all out for blood. There’s no real narrative but it’s fun to wonder how in every stage of the game this guy ends up where he is. The game play consists of the player cutting the ropes that hold him up to safely get him down. Each cut must be made in order to subdue or evade the forces that are attempting to end his life.

Rescue Cut is somewhat addictive and the gameplay is kept fresh with each new obstacle added but like Dig It there isn’t much motivation to revisit previous levels once they’re completed. You can unlock additional characters to rescue by watching ad’s, but these skin swaps do nothing to change the game play, its simply and aesthetic choice.

6/10

Monument Valley

Ustwo Games. (2015). Monument Valley (Version 2.7.16) [Android]. London, United Kingdom: Ustwo Games

In Monument Valley the goal is to lead a princess named Ida through isometric M.C. Escher like environments. You can alter the environment by dragging or turning different objects to create paths for Ida to walk. The game has a lot of strengths in its clever design as well as it’s art direction, the visual style has become iconic and led a trend of low polygon count graphics in games to follow.

The relaxing nature and visuals do make it enjoyable to revisit previously played levels, but nothing changes, so replay ability is more based on comfort and nostalgia than the path to finding something new. There’s also a light narrative that raises just enough questions to keep a player wondering what’s going on in this unique game world. Overall Monument Valley is a great game for pretty much anyone to check out and while it may be a quick playthrough most people should find it’s worth the time.

10/10

Domino Smash

Gismart. (2019). Domino Smash (Version 1.6.2) [Android]. London, United Kingdom: Gismart

Domino Smash is structured similarly to things like Color Saw and Wrecking Ball. Like this game you have a specific type of puzzle that changes its theme in each level and adds obstacles to increase difficulty but never significantly changes or adds to it’s core gameplay. The gimmick in Domino Smash is that it’s initially like Pool, you strike a billiard ball in one direction and try to hit other objects in the game space. In this case those objects are dominos and the goal are to knock them all down in one blow. It’s not a terrible but it isn’t super original. As I write these reviews it seems like games like this and the similar ones, I’ve mentioned are all part of a trend where all these games seem the same but with a slight gimmick. They aren’t bad but they are predictable.

5/10

Penguin Ilse

Habby. (2019). Penguin Isle (Version 1.07) [Android]. Singapore, Singapore : Habby

Penguin Isle is sort of a real time strategy/city builder game. It has an atmosphere that feels similarly as relaxing as Monument Valley and fills that role as a casual game. The goal is to build up a penguin society with each type of penguin having a specific job that pulls in new resources and gold. The resources can than be used to build new environments, more penguin workers, or recruit other animals that have their own perks.

This game has relatively idle gameplay so there’s no real form of conflict or pressure to advance which could cause some players to get bored with it quickly due to a lack of motivation.  The art style and music serve to reinforce the calming tone of the game and create a cohesive experience. Penguin Ilse is great for casual gamers who want to just sit back and build their world without any threat of outside forces but for those who will want to defend their territory there’s not much to be desired.

8/10

Harvest Town

QY Games. (2019). Harvest Town (Version 1.2.5) [Android]. QY Games

Harvest Town is a total throwback to the Nintendo farming simulator Harvest Moon and is just as like more recent Stardew Valley. It’s a cute game with graphical that even look like the old Super Nintendo game console. The main goal of the game is to build up your farm by growing and selling crops while then purchasing new seeds, farm animals, or tools to advance further. Then there’s also an adventure aspect of the game like other top-down adventure games. Leaving your farm area to explore the countryside will have you fending off monsters while you venture out to find new equipment and items.

Probably the most interesting aspect about the game is how the player can customize their environment based on where they grow crops and what they grow. Alongside that new villages will come to build up shops around your town and supply new gear and items. It’s a good experience for those that are looking for a game that combines the relaxed nature of other city simulators with the adventure type of games like the Legend of Zelda series.

7/10

Pocket Morty’s

[adult swim] Games. (2016). Pocket Morty’s (Version 2.12.0) [Android]. Atlanta, Georgia : [adult swim] Games

Pocket Morty’s is the Rick and Morty version of Pokémon, instead of collecting monsters though you’ll collect the endlessly different versions of Morty. The gameplay is almost entirely a clone of the Pokémon gameplay but a little less in depth, the combat plays like a slightly more advanced version of Rock, Paper, Scissors which is highlighted by rock, paper, and scissor icons to designate what type of Morty’s you have in your team. It’s a good game all around but its biggest strength is easily it’s absurdity, the humor from the TV show has carried over to the game well and players familiar with it should be pleased with that.

8/10

Final Fantasy Tactics

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (2013). Final Fantasy Tactics (Version 2.1.0) [Android]. Tokyo, Japan: Square Enix Co., Ltd

Final Fantasy Tactics is a classic PlayStation One RPG and Square Enix has done an excellent job in translating this into a mobile game. This is a good example of how some types of console games can work exceedingly well as a mobile game. All the original gameplay is intact the only change is the controller interface has been completely reworked for touch screens.  The games Shakespearian narrative is worth the play through for gamers who enjoy this genre with a little more dedication than they average mobile game and despite being a twenty two year old game it’s mobile adaptation has shown that it still feels as high quality now as it did for its original release.

10/10

Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow

Jam City, Inc. (2017). Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow (Version 1.6.6) [Android]. Culver City, California: Jam City, Inc

Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow is a unique game. It’s sort of an RPG and resource management game where the goal is to rebuild new New York and with each location players gain access to new items and characters to progress further in the story. There’s a nice little bit of customization since players can choose where locations are placed but over all it doesn’t have much effect on the game play.

Eventually players can venture out to different planets where there will be very basic turn-based fight sequences, these battles result in loot and items that progress the story as well. What’s interesting is the depth and variety of gameplay in this game, it’s surprisingly more than just a generic game with a Futurama skin over it. Fans of the TV show will be happy that all the sarcastic humor of the series is retained in the game and there’s even animated cutscenes that make the game feel just like an episode. Worlds of Tomorrow is an unexpectedly good mobile game and equally good addition to the Futurama series.

10/10