The App Stork: Introducing 1st Maze Racer, Chromodyne, Vortex Pool...

The puzzle genre is alive and well on the iPhone. Just take a look at this week’s haul - not a tower defence or a Flight Control clone in the bunch. We’re not talking hardcore mental aerobics, but rather the mental equivalent of consuming some natural yoghurt then going for a short stroll.

Should you wish to have your game featured in the App Stork, then the best way to get noticed in the forum (and hence added to the expanded top three) is to post a link to a YouTube video.

Besides playing the games, the best way for us to get a feel or a flavour (natural yoghurt flavour in this week’s case) for what your game is like is via moving pictures, and it also gives us something nice to publish on the site.

For those of you who recognise what an amazing resource for gamers the App Stork is, regularly following up the recommendations made within it, do be sure to post some feedback about your purchases on the forum.

And now...

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1st Maze Racer - Przemyslaw Zych

Probably not the first timed mazed game, despite what the title suggests, but don’t hold that against this darling little app. Tasking you to use the touchscreen and accelerometer to guide a cute little ball shaped character through an obstacle encrusted maze, 1st Maze Racer plays to the iPhone’s strengths.

There’s a free Lite version for those compelled to try before they buy, and a top 1000 online scoreboard for any competitive types that shell out for the full game, which costs a barely noticeable 59p.

Full version
Lite version
Company website

Chromodyne - Celsius Just when we thought the match three barrel had had its bottom scrapped right through, along comes another game that miraculously manages to do something new with the formula. Chromodyne looks very original indeed, pinning the gameplay on a 3D cylindrical play area that you can manipulate with the touchscreen.

Not only that, but despite its slightly serious sounding name Chromodyne is a game with a sense of humour, as the trailer below will attest. It’s not out yet, but as long as it’s priced right this should be a winner.

Company website

Vortex Pool - Maxim Shevertalov It’s not very much like pool as its commonly known, but Vortex Pool does involve clever rebounding. This is a game all about understanding your angles.

The aim is to guide some cascading pucks into a vortex by drawing line walls for them to rebound off. As things speed up and the number of pucks increases, you’ll need to have the concentration of a statue to stay in the game.

You can also catch bricks at the edge of the screen by bashing into them. You have to be careful, however, as they are the only things holding the pucks in the play area, and once they are gone things get much trickier. Vortex Pool is a unique little touchscreen effort and well worth the 59p asking price.

Full version
Company website More games from the forum iFist
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