Written by Zachary Slater, 5/5/2009
Hello, my name is TimeDoctor and I'll be your semi-regular guide through the fun world of the 10,000+ iPhone/iPod Touch games. Each week or so I'll bring you a new article describing and reviewing iPhone games that stand out from the crowd of farting applications. Note that I play all of these games on an iPhone, and though I'll keep an eye out for features which might not work on the iPod touch, may not catch them all. Pricing information is only current as of the review date. Please let me know if you enjoy these articles by e-mailing me, zakk @ timedoctor.org with your feedback and promo codes for reviews. Thanks and please enjoy this ninth set of reviews.
Diner Dash version 1.0 by PlayFirst ($4.99/Lite):
Diner Dash is, as far as I can figure, the original entry in the genre of preparation strategy games. For those unfamiliar, I should explain that the game has you playing the entrepreneur Flo who is also the head waitress of her chain of restaurants.
The real meat in this gameplay pie is her running from station to table and back on station. So: Click, Flo's seating a group of three; Click, they're at the table on the bottom right; Click, take their order; Click, take the order to the counter; Click, take the food back to the customer, and so on.
You do this over and over again with a few changes. Maybe you get a coffee maker to keep them happy -- the customers get upset if you don't seat and serve them fast enough -- or you add some new bench seats. You've got a fiscal goal to achieve and it enables Flo's capitalist dream.
Overall I am shamed to admit that Flo's career is fun. The unfortunate thing about the iPhone port is that you're obscuring the screen for every action. This can really be a pain when the fonts used are too small and all the graphics aren't updated for the platform. Nothing has been touched up, the game still has a 4:3 resolution despite the wide screen on the iPhone.
So the port isn't great, but what are you going to do, Diner Dash is still a fun casual strategy game. Lets clear those tables and rack up some cash.
Rating: C+
Cosmic Nitro version 1.0 by Phil Hassey ($0.99):
Your planet being invaded by unfriendly aliens, toxic garbage cans, and a few asteroids? Tap on the screen and watch them blow up.
With Cosmic Nitro you've got more than just incoming ICBMs, there are UFOs, cans of toxic junk (who the heck is dropping those?), asteroids, and what can best be described as "Swirly Things" (Swirly-Thing Alert!)
The graphics are pleasantly retro, you've got more junk to shoot, and the countermeasures are hitscan instead of Missile Command's delayed ballistics. About the only fault I can find is that there isn't any kind of multi-touch going on which would probably make the challenging stages a bit less difficult.
Yes it is Missile Command as rejiggered for 2009's iPhone, but for only $1 when the original version is $5 in the App Store, I don't think you can go wrong shooting Phil's toxic barrels.
Rating: B
