Don't Fall in the Hole

Don't Fall in the Hole could be just as accurately called Push People in the Hole. Or, to be even more precise, Use a Cannon to Shoot People in the Hole.

In fact, if we're going to be anal about it, it should be called Use a Cannon to Shoot People You Know in the Hole.

This is simplified same-room turn-based blasting that's not about blowing your opponent to bits, but using the weapons at your disposal to shove them off the playing surface. It's fun, it gets quite frantic, and it's another solid addition to the burgeoning single-device multiplayer genre.

The game is all about tanks. Up to four, each controlled by a different player, take to the field of battle. The only control you have over your tank is its cannon. You drag and release to fire it, angling your shot to hit a foe.

Your basic weapon is a cannonball, which explodes when it comes into contact with another player's tank, or when you tap on the screen. You'll need to learn to bounce your shots off lumps of scenery, and time your explosions to do the most damage.

Each player has one shot and then passes the iPad along. Battles are best with four players, with misfires and hurried attacks causing all sorts of hilarious carnage. A plane swoops down at the end of every turn to drop off supplies.

These extra weapons add to your destructive prowess, as well as adding even more variables to the already chaotic combat. There's a bowling ball that slowly rolls around, pushing anything that gets in its way, and a propeller that lets you blow yourself around the arena.

Changeable levels with moveable holes keep the battles interesting, and it's rare that any two scraps in a session are the same. Matches last no more than a couple of minutes, and you only need two victories to take the round, meaning there's always something to play for.

If you've got a bunch of friends over, then Don't Fall in the Hole is going to go down well with them. It's a simple multiplayer blast, and while it doesn't quite have the spark that sets apart the best of its genre, it's still an awful lot of fun.