Iphone App Reviews
ColecoVision To iPhone Apps Part 14
In this ongoing look at significant moments in the history of video game design, we have already taken a look at CroTeam’s Serious Sam, Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls series, Nintendo’s Metroid and several others. The goal of this series is to go beyond simple gaming magazines and iPhone Apps reviews, and take a closer look at what defines memorability and quality in game design. In this fourteenth part of the series we will examine some more of those classic moments where video game designers undoubtedly got it right and delivered a memorable, enduring and progressive gaming experience.
Portal (Xbox 360) – Oh, Portal…the little pack-in game that could. Released as part of the tremendous Orange Box package for the Xbox 360 in 2007, Portal quickly stole the hearts and minds of gamers worldwide. Innovative gameplay, a surprisingly riveting storyline and gameplay that consistently catches the player off guard, were part of the recipe that make this game one of the all-time greats. In considering the theme of this series, Portal makes this one of the easiest entries to identify a defining and memorable element. Anyone who has played the game will know that the Portal Gun is one of the most progressive elements of game design that has ever been developed.
The game starts out with several tutorial levels that set up the storyline and introduce basic gameplay tactics. It begins by setting the player up in rooms that have been engineered to test the player’s ability to use the Portal Gun in order to advance through obstacle laden and path obstructed levels. These short ‘test’ levels display gameplay elements that had never before been seen in videogames. Players were forced to learn these new game mechanics and were rewarded with incredible displays of space manipulation that are difficult to even conceive without seeing them in action.
As Portal continues, the Portal Gun takes on a new ability – opening two simultaneous portals. This innovative feature allowed a player to move around their environment in amazingly intricate and physics dependent ways. Manipulating momentum and gravity while forcing the player to make finely timed and precision shots were part of what made Portal the unforgettable gameplay experience it is. A surprise to many players, later levels of Portal actually break away from the ‘test’ levels and become more first person shooter esque, as the player attempts to escape the test facility.
Credit must go to the developers for ensuring that the game was not easy to break or glitch, as could easily have become an issue in such a title. Instead, the game runs at a silky smooth framerate and is incredibly stable.
Upon completion of Portal, the player is rewarded with what is easily one of the most memorable songs in the history of videogames. The song, “Still Alive,” was even distributed as a free track for the Rock Band game, due to its incredible popularity among fans. Portal delivers a gameplay experience that cannot be had with any other title. It presents difficult and unique challenges that give the player a true sense of accomplishment upon surpassing them. Portal is truly a game that all videogame players must experience.
About the Author
Frank Taylor writes on behalf of AppsPatrol. He recommends you visit AppsPatrol for your iPhone App Reviews and iPhone Game Reviews.
Colorsplash iPhone App Review
|
|
HONEYWELL INTRUSION L3000 LYNX PLUS CONTROL ONLY $79.00 Shipping Information: View shipping rates and policies ASIN: B003HMZZQW Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews) Would you like to update product info, give feedback on images, or tell us … |
|
|
Geomate Jr. Geocaching GPS $69.95 The easiest and quickest way to get in on the geocaching fun, the Geomate.jr is an incredibly affordable and amazingly easy to use geocaching GPS–just switch it on anywhere in the U.S., and be directed to your closest geocache. It’s really that easy! With over 250,000 pre-loaded geocache locations covering all 50 U.S. states, it’s an outdoor adventure just waiting to happen anywhere, anytime, str… |
|
|
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX30V 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Camera with 20x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD (Black) (2012 Model) $419.00 Capture the moment with the Sony Cyber-shot HX30V digital camera, and make memories you’ll treasure forever. A host of user-friendly features include: 20x optical/40x Clear Image zoom, 18.2MP Exmor R CMOS sensor, Full 1080/60p HD video, Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, built-in Wi-Fi and GPS functionality, 10 fps shooting, Intelligent Scene Recognition mode, 3D Still Image and 3D Sweep Pano… |
|
|
Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6 Display, U.S. Wireless) $259.00 At 10.2 ounces, Kindle is lighter than a typical paperback and as thin as most magazines. Barely a third of an inch in profile, you’ll find Kindle fits perfectly in your hands. Kindle is as easy to hold and use as a book. We designed it with long-form reading in mind. When reading for long periods of time, people naturally shift positions and often like to read with one hand. Kindle’s page-turn… |
|
|
Wahoo Fitness ANT+ Bike Case for iPhone $119.49 The sensor case provides waterproof protection while still allowing the user to access the touch screen.Fully accessible and functional touch screen access on the goFits iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, and 4SFeatures a built in ANT+ radio transceiver with support for all current and future ANT+ sensorsMounting rail, ties and bicycle mount includedSends and receives signals up to 10 feetItem SpecificationsColor… |
|
|
Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) Level 1 $179.00 Rosetta Stone’s Spanish (Latin America) v4 TOTALe – Level 1, build a foundation of fundamental vocabulary and essential language structure. Gain the confidence to master basic conversational skills, including greetings and introductions, simple questions and answers, shopping, and much more. Take the Rosetta Stone experience with you on-the-go with Audio Companion Rosetta Stone TOTALe is t… |
|
|
Pocket Medicine: The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Internal Medicine (Pocket Notebook Series) $53.06 Wrapper intact… |
|
|
Lippincott’s Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN® (Lippincott’s Review for Nclex-Rn) $36.79 Practice Makes Perfect with Lippincott’s Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN®! Trusted by successful nursing students, Lippincott’s Q&A Review provides more practice questions than any other book, plus the essential preparation strategies you need to succeed on the NCLEX-RN examination! Written by Diane Billings, Ed.D, RN, FAAN, a nationally recognized test-item writer whose NCLEX preparat… |