10 iPhone games that have fallen off the radar

While canceled games are routine for the console and handheld space, it's an unusual occurrence on iPhone. No sooner is an iPhone game is announced than it's trotting onto the App Store.

Rare is the case when a developer signposts work on a big game far ahead of release. Rarer still do months go by without so much as a peep from a developer.

That's precisely what has happened with the following games. After being announced, each quietly slipped off the radar. In some cases, it's a simple matter of unexpected delay. For others, however, the news is bad.

What's going on with these games? Are they ever going to come out? For some, yes. For others, almost certainly not.

There have been so many LEGO branded games that it's enough to make your block spin, but LEGO Indiana Jones has long been the brick of our eye. Every other gaming platform has pieced together an edition of this fun-filled platform game except iPhone.

Interestingly, private conversations we had with THQ Wireless late last year pointed to an App Store release. Obviously, that hasn't happened. Could it be that Warner Bros., which now owns the development studio responsible for the LEGO series of games, has a LEGO Indiana Jones adventure in the works?

We hope so. If Warner Bros is handling the game, we'd politely request that it not follow in the footsteps of the mini-game addled LEGO Batman game. A touch-enabled adaptation of the PSP LEGO Indiana Jones game with Bluetooth cooperative would be fantastic.

Listed as our most anticipated iPhone game of 2009 when the year kicked off in January, the sequel to indie hit Trism has quietly vanished. Triangulating a release date for the game has been difficult, with developer Steve Demeter working on a number of ventures that have prevented a quick follow up.

We're sad to see this game slip so far from its original release, though we hope that development is still on track for the game to slide on the App Store at some point.

The triangular puzzle play of the original warrants another round, particularly given the promise of network multiplayer in Trismology. For now, though, we'll have to be content with the first game until we get word on this much wanted sequel.

Inspired by one of the most acclaimed games of this generation, BioShock's mobile incarnation was long the subject of intrigue before numerous delays watered down anticipation. Ultimately, the game was released and received mild enthusiasm for its take on the award-winning console and PC game.

An iPhone version has long been rumoured, but that looks to be completely dead. Troubles with 2K Games all but ruled out the possibility of an App Store debut, leaving prospects of a touch-enabled 3D visit to Rapture unlikely.

We'd love to see the game come to iPhone, but it looks like this one is a lost cause.

Before first-person shooters even became a hot topic, IUGO was embarking on groundbreaking iPhone shooter Re-Volt. Development was far enough along that we were able to go hands on with it last year.

Since then, however, IUGO has focused on a number of other titles including Star Hogs, Spy Bot Chronicles, and the recently released Toy Bot Mini Missions. So what happened to Re-Volt?

According to IUGO's Sarah Thompson, the game was only ever meant as an experiment and has been indefinitely suspended. "As it stands now, Re-Volt has been shelved but not forgotten. Perhaps it will make a comeback once the environment is ideal for such a game…or perhaps it will pop up on another platform."

Sad, to be sure, but at least there's hope that this indie shooter may get a jolt sometime in the future.

Adventure games have experienced a resurgence on the App Store with remastered releases of The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition and Beneath a Steel Sky: Remastered. Notable newcomers, however, are few and far between, which made 1112, Episode 1 a rare find.

A blend of phenomenal character sketching and a vivid presentation make it the best original adventure game on iPhone to date. Additional episodes have been promised by developer Agharta Studio that continue Louis's story, yet it's been a year without any word of release.

We've attempted to contact the developer several times over the course of the last few months without reply. Could 1112 be finished? Is Agharta Studio closing shop? Without any response from the company, it's not looking good for the game.

Before role-playing games exploded on the App Store with Dungeon Hunter, Hybrid: Eternal Whisper, and the forthcoming Ravensword, one prospective title caught our attention: Legion of Amon. A totally original fantasy world that sees you confronting the followers of the demonic lord Amon, it sounds like just the sort of hack 'n' slash adventure we've been waiting for.

Publisher Freeverse has recently negotiated a deal with the developer of Legion of Amon to bring the game to the App Store, though at some undetermined future date. We're comfortable waiting however long it takes to ensure the game is thoroughly polished and fun to play, but it would be great to have some idea of when to expect this promising title.

Our best estimate pegs it for a spring 2010 release.

In the melting snow of early spring, EA Mobile announced the first new instalment of the popular snowboarding franchise SSX would be coming exclusively to iPhone and iPod touch. Since spring, we've curiously not heard a word nor seen a screenshot of the game.

We're not even sure if SSX is the final title, but we do know that EA still plans on releasing the game before 2009 is out. Request for comment was returned with a statement telling us that the company didn't have any details to share with us at this time.

Details might come as early as this week, though EA's tendency to focus on one or two iPhone titles at a time could mean a wait after the release of Rock Band and Command & Conquer: Red Alert before we learn more about SSX.

Hysteria Project, Episode 2
Developer/Publisher: BulkyPix

Lauded for its creepy video twist on the classic adventure game, Hysteria Project earned praise for its artistic merit. Its success prompted the French developer to promise additional episodes espousing the mysterious story, though none has yet hit the App Store.

Given the amount of time it takes to coordinate a shoot, it's understandable that Episode 2 wouldn't be a quick job. That said, we've heard nothing about this intriguing project since the first episode was release last fall.

It's unlikely that the game has been cancelled - it's more likely to have fallen subject to a long delay. In any case, we're particularly eager to see it bulk up on the original's interactive elements to accompany its suspenseful video footage.

Rolando 3

We may have only wrapped up a run through Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid, but we've heard nothing about the third instalment of the franchise, which was originally slated to hit before the end of the year. There's no question it's coming, but a 2009 release is less certain.

When approached for comment on the status of Rolando 3, a representative for publisher ngmoco responded by asking for us to "hold tight."

It's impossible to tell whether this means the game is on track for a late 2009 release or if it's been pushed back. ngmoco has two big titles about to hit the App Store - Eliminate and Touch Pets: Dogs - so it's conceivable that attention devoted to those titles has resulted in Rolando 3 being put on the backburner.

Rather than focus on touchscreen tapping, the supernatural adventures of private eye Kane Pryce in Soul Trapper uses audio for some of the most inventive gameplay we've seen on the App Store.

Intended as a series with a new episode slated for 2009, we've not heard a peep from Pryce since his late 2008 debut.

We listed Soul Trapper, Episode 2 among our most anticipated titles of 2009, fully expecting an extension to the original's engrossing gameplay. Unfortunately, there's no mention of the game on the developer's website and inquiry with the listed public relations agency have been returned with no definitive details.

Without an update in a year from developer Realtime Associates, we're inclined to think that Soul Trapper, Episode 2 may very well be trapped in development limbo.