PG Applympics 2012: The catapult event

Welcome to the Pocket Gamer Applympics - our (hopefully legal) spin on that big sports thingy that's happening in the UK this summer.

Put simply, we're going to go focus on a number of sporting events and try and find eight mobile games that have some vague, tenuous link to the sport in question.

Then, we'll ask you - our fine readers - to vote on which games deserve medals made of precious metals.

This week, it's the turn of the catapult event - our tribute to shot put. So, we've chosen eight iPhone, iPad, and Android games that involve throwing, hurling, chucking, and blasting things. Which is YOUR favourite, though?

To cast your PG Applympics vote, visit our Facebook page and select whichever game tickles your fancy. It's that simple.

Unless you've spent the last few years tucked away deep in Osama bin Laden's favourite cave, you'll be more than familiar with the Angry Birds franchise.

We initially had a bit of a tough time deciding which of Rovio's four fling-'em-ups most deserved a place on this list, but we all - eventually - agreed that the Finnish developer's latest instalment is the best in the series.

Why? Well, it's set in space. That's enough, right?

Catapult King is not unlike Angry Birds. Your basic aim is to launch projectiles from your trusty catapult at a variety of poorly built forts, and wipe out the colourful knights who cower within their walls.

You do this across several gorgeous-looking 3D environments, which house extra tasks for you to complete, such as finding hidden coins.

In Fragger, you have to eliminate a seemingly endless number of enemy combatants using just some grenades and the kind of strong arm that infamous Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester would kill for.

There are a massive 340 different levels for you to work through in this title, so expect lots of explosions and even more wasted hours.

Time to use your imagination. Picture Fragger in your head but replace its grenades and soldiers with sheep, hedgehogs, foxes, slingshots, and a splash of colour. Congratulations, you have now envisaged Saving Private Sheep 2.

This title's main selling point is its in-built level editor, which allows you to construct your very own obstacle-filled stages and distribute them to players all around the world.

If you don't really want to take a trip to your local salon and waste £22 on a fresh haircut, just download To-Fu: The Trials of Chi from the App Store. We guarantee you'll be tearing lumps of hair out of your own head in no time.

While it's incredibly frustrating, it's also ruddy good. You're tasked with pinging a piece of stretchy soy around no fewer than 180 hazard-packed arenas, while collecting orbs and unlocking achievements.

Sadly, pandas are one of our planet's many endangered species. Fear not, though: thanks to Big Pixel Studios's Land-a Panda, you can finally combat their declining numbers. Sort of.

In order to do this, you have to utilise a cannon and reunite a lovestruck male panda with his female soulmate. So that they can produce little panda babies, presumably.

You'll also have to make sure that your panda collects a nice amount of gold coins en route to his other half, otherwise she won't give him "maximum love". Sounds messy.

Chillingo's Picnic Wars gives you the chance to get your own back on that disgusting broccoli your inconsiderate mother forced you to eat as a child.

Or if you're some kind of freak, you can become a member of the vegetable army and wage way on juicy fruits like strawberries, grapes, and oranges.

Either way, your aim is to crush your opponent into a pulp (see what I did there?)

If you harbour a strong dislike for poor people, Catapult Madness is the game for you. Why? Because it allows you to launch peasants from the top of a castle using a large catapult. That's why.

Your goal in this humorous title is to hurl your fleshy missile as far as you possibly can. You can use power-ups like bombs and gassy beans to overcome that pesky gravity thingy and any other obstacles that hinder you.

Remember: To vote for your favourite throwing game of the PG Applympics, visit our Facebook page and select the relevant game you want to vote for. The winners of each event will be revealed at the end of the week.

To see each of the eight 'shot putters' in action, check out the video below.

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