Check Out this Game: Jetpack Joyride

Halfbrick has been able to create a simple but extremely addicting title with Jetpack Joyride. The focus of the game is to get as far as you can. You do this by flying lovable Barry Steakfries up and down an ever-changing corridor, populated with scientists to scare, and various bolts, beams, and missiles to evade while proceeding on. I love that Halfbrick decided to include Barry Steakfries in this title and they should be applauded. Halfbrick is one of the few mobile publishers that have created a gaming persona that has been presented successfully in a number of their titles. Barry also made an appearance in Monster Dash, as well as Age of Zombies.


The most addicting features to this game are the missions. Each mission rewards you with range of one to three stars per completed mission. Missions have great variety. Some require pinpoint accuracy on where and how to die, and others will require a considerable amount of skill. One of my favorite missions required me to high five a larger number of scientists. To complete this mission, not only did you have to run on the ground, but you also had to make sure you didn't scare off the scientists by using your jetpack. It was a fun for for me, and was a good example of the game's humor and focus on fun rather than skill.

Now, the stars you collect will level up your ranking, but you can also collect coins throughout the level. Once you collect enough coins, you will be able to unlock new player skins, new jetpacks, weapon upgrades and even boosts. These additions add something to continue to work towards, and are fun to look at. Some are even either comical renditions or flat out cameos from other popular mobile games. The profit bird is a thing of beauty.

The game's simplicity of simply of one-touch control also makes the game easy to go back to. I consistently find myself playing "just one more" round. Give Jetpack Joyride and try, and you will not be sorry.

Check Out this Game: Paper Racer

Paper Racer 

One of the neatest things and one of the worst things about iPhone games is the discovery of games. It can be hard to find a new, interesting title if it isn't either a featured title in the App store. You can browse the Games section to your hearts content, but you've likely missed an excellent title.

Another great way to discover fun new games is to compare games with friends, but there are some significant flaws to that practice as well. For one, not all of your friends are around all the time. So on the rare occasion you are seeing your friends, having a good time, planning out fun filled days, and catching up on the fun that's been had all usually hold precedent over sharing which iPhone games you like. 

The other issue is that maybe you and your friend are connected through GameCenter. You can check out each other's games from where ever you may be. It's great to be able to see what your friends are playing, but a picture and list of achievements or high scores usually isn't going to sell you on buying an iPhone title.

Not everyone's tastes are the same and so each title featured in this blog will not be the perfect title for you, but

Keep a few things in mind before you go running off and saying the featured pick is "not for you":

• The game usually is going to cost a dollar, or just a little bit more.
• Trying out a new iPhone title might open you up to an all new type of gaming experience you didn't know you would like. 
• If you do purchase the game, you will be supporting a smaller developer and helping that company get one step closer to maybe being featured in the App store and really making it big.

Gamers decide what games will be made by how they spend their money, so if gamers want to see unique games, those games need to be supported. Now, on to today's iPhone featured game: Paper Racer.

Paper Racer is a simplistic mini racing game in which you use touch screen turning and finger pedals to scoot your way around the race track. You can choose from a range of cars, or import your own cars into the game through the camera feature on your phone. There are three difficulty settings and more than a dozen tracks to race on. You will be racing against five other AI racers and they can test your skill (as long as you don't set the game to easy). Other than the racers, there are a number of obstacles in your way. Rulers, pens, pencils, erasers, and even paint cans are scattered around the track. 

The track is not surrounded by solid walls, so you can drive off road a bit, but don't go thinking your just going to loop around the corner of the finish line a few times to win. There are a number of checkpoints you will have to cross along the track to successfully complete lap. If you miss a checkpoint, the lap won't count. Now these points are placed logically throughout the track so you shouldn't be taken by surprise. So you can enjoy a little racer on the go (which is GameCenter enabled), or see just what silly things you can  have win a race through the "create you own car" photo mode. If words aren't enough to sway you, then check out the trailer below. 

Paper Racer: Official Trailer

This has been the first installment of "Check Out this Game" so please let me know what you think of the game that's featured, the post itself, and what titles you might suggest as games that I should feature in the future.