Angry Web

“Batman: Arkham City Lockdown” was released last week and what kind of fan would I have been if I didn’t purchase it?

BACL is a fighting game with a bit of a twist. You control the dark knight through various parts of Arkham City using your fingers to throw punches, block incoming attacks and counter punches. There are no actually control schematics but rather you control your moves by swiping your fingers in different directions.

The controls are a bit clumsy but the game is simple enough where it doesn’t matter too much. Once you complete stages, you will be awarded XP which can be used to upgrade equipment and other stats in order to progress through the game. Once you have finished different waves of enemies, you will unlock a boss battle that you must complete to open the next playable section of Arkham City.

The graphics are extremely fluid and look great for a game that can be played on a mobile device. The gameplay itself is nothing to write home about but it is certainly a nice complimentary game to BAC. The price is a bit steep at $5.99 for what the game actually entails but Batman fans will enjoy it as it puts the Batman Universe in your pocket.

The photos below are actually screenshots from the game and will give you an idea of what the fights, bosses and navigation menu look like. You can also download a costumes pack that will unlock the same skins that were released on the game’s console counterpart.

“Batman: Arkham City Lockdown” is out now for the iPhone and iPad and be sure to check the specs to see if your device can run it.

While browsing the app store on my iPhone 4S, I saw the glory of the Superman emblem and without hesitation, dropped the 99 cents it took to download…whatever it was I was downloading. After the Warner Bros. and DC logo had come and gone, I found myself playing a simple side scroller that was actually pretty fun.

Superman is a mission-based game that requires the user to fly or run to whatever danger presents itself whether it be a burning building or an alien attack on Metropolis. The simple controls allow you to direct Superman with the left thumb or increase your speed and use a super power with the right thumb.

I hate being vague with the terms “super power”, but a single button will either be frost breath or laser vision depending on what you’re trying to accomplish. Once you have finished the smaller tasks, you will have a final task along the lines of stopping an incoming missile or helping a plane land safely.

Considering the game costs as much as taco at Taco Bell, it’s worth the price for any geek with a smart phone. It won’t be the next Angry Birds but it is sure to keep the Superman fan busy for hours.

The Apple iPad and iPhone have really proven themselves to be competitors in the portable gaming market. One of more popular types of games on platforms like the Nintendo DS, iPad and iPhone is basically a digital version of  “Where’s Waldo” know as a “hidden item” game.

Hidden item games are typically pretty straight forward and can get old quick but what if there were added RPG elements? “Romance of Rome HD” is a hidden item game on the iPad that challenges users to find certain items around high def environments from ancient Rome.

Users navigate a world map to go to different settings in an attempt to find the items that are listed on the bottom of the screen. Some items are used as key items that unlock secret ares in other areas to complete the map and increase your status.

Between levels, you receive comic-style cutscenes that progress the story and you are able to dress your character. The further you get in the game, the higher status your character becomes and that is made visually evident by the clothes you wear and the items you obtain.

Before you go in thinking that you can use your status points to head over to an item shop and pick what items to purchase, the game is pretty linear and you can only upgrade with the items that are premeditated. Also, the story is a bit weak and doesn’t create enough interest in the character to call this a legitimate RPG.

That being said, these elements may not make the game, but they certainly add to it. I found myself criticizing the game when I first started playing and before I knew it I was over an hour into it. It can be very addicting for adults yet simple enough to keep kids quiet on a long road trip. The high def imagery looks nice on the iPad and doesn’t cause much lag on the hardware.

There may be a ton of games on the iPad but it’s tough to find a diamond in the rough sometimes. “Romance of Rome” may not be a 10 but it certainly is worth the $6.99 price point. You can try a free demo, downloadable from the iTunes app store, if you’re skeptical and decide for yourself if it’s worth dropping 7 bucks on.

G5′s “Romance of Rome” is available now.