Top mobile apps for Android

Monday, February 24, 2014

MotoHeroz: You must be crazy to take up this challenge

Posted by Pawan Waghalkar , at 12:00:00 PM

Everyone like racing games especially guys, as it gives you (read your inner racing driver) a chance to display your driving skills without worrying about the complexities involved in the real auto race. I am no different, racing games are my second most favorite gaming genre after FPS. Today I am posting about MotoHeroz, a platform racing game.

MotoHeroz presented by RedLynx which is a Gameloft studio, is a side scrolling racing game. And you can be rest assured that if it is coming from Gameloft, the graphics has to be stunning, but what's more surprising, MotoHeroz game is quite light weight and it loads very quickly without forcing you to look at the never ending loading indicator.

It is not a typical racing game and the difficulties in it are also refreshingly different. It may appear to be an easy to play game but it's not, in-fact it is quite tough especially if you are looking to score high in a game level.

At the launch screen you get the usual options to: start the game, upgrades, IAP to buy coins and see your rankings.

MotoHeroz: Launch screen

Game controls

The game controls are easy to handle, there are on-screen buttons on the left hand side to tilt the vehicle forward or backward and buttons on the right hand side for moving it forward or backward. The vehicle is very sensitive to the controls which also adds to the game's level of difficultly.

At the start of the game, you are presented with the option to select your vehicle. Initially only one vehicle is available for selection and others are locked.

MotoHeroz: Select your vehicle

For each vehicle type there are five game tracks, out of which four are locked at the start. Each locked level can be unlocked by securing atleast one star in the previous level.

As you play the tracks and beat the objectives you earn stars and coins. Stars enable you to unlock the tracks.

MotoHeroz: Select the level

The earned coins can then be used to upgrade your vehicle. These upgrades come in three forms i.e.: top speed, acceleration and item boost. You may ask if the upgrades are really needed and the answer is, there are tracks which demands vehicle upgrade to beat the objectives.

MotoHeroz: Upgrading the vehicle

Tracks are designed according to the vehicle. You drive your vehicle in dessert, jungle or in snow which is illustrated with beautiful graphics and locations. While driving you also collect some items to boost you vehicle ability. You surely need these items to move forward for example, in some tracks your vehicle must climb to a higher path and for that you need the jet pack sort of item etc.

MotoHeroz: A path less traveled

I found it quite tough to secure more than one star per track thanks to very challenging track objectives (time limit or distance traveled). It is just not about high speed but it requires quick decisions to stay ahead to finish the level and gain more stars. Moreover, it is this feeling of somehow beating the objective makes it quite an addictive game.

MotoHeroz: Jumping higher

MotoHeroz: Elevator for your vehicle

How much it costs you: Not a single penny.

If you like this post or know any other app / game in the same category, let me know via comments.

To get notification about the new posts on this blog, do not forget to subscribe to this blog through email subscription option from the side bar.

Giant Boulder of Death: It's coming, run for your life!

Posted by Pawan Waghalkar , at 6:43:00 PM

3 comments

My idea of a good game is quite simple, I look for games which are simple to play, must have attractive graphics and should not be too heavy for the underlying hardware. Though I do not always adhere to it and I have chosen to play and enjoyed heavy games like NFS: Most wanted or Frontline Commando: D-Day because of their great game play and stunning graphics. Also, unknowingly mostly the games I like to play on my Android devices, falls in the platform genre even though my favorites are the FPS games.

Today, I am going to talk about a game which is quite simple to play, have lovely graphics and it cannot be considered as a heavy game. It's name is 'Giant Boulder of Death (GBOD)' and it is presented by Adult swim games. Kids also like this easy to play game and find it addictive.

The concept of GBOD game is, you control a giant boulder which is rolling down from a mountain at a high speed. There is a valley, animal grazing fields, trees, huts, people and animals and you are expected to crush them all to score points and coins. But mind you, it is all done in a comic way and there is no blood or any sort of violence shown, so it is completely safe for your kids.

Note: No animals were harmed while developing this game :).

As the game start, on the launch screen you see the coins and diamond you have on the top end and other options to access the upgrades and goals and also the daily challenges.

Giant boulder of death: Launch screen

As you play the game you earn coins and also collect diamonds which we will talk about later. These coins can be used to buy upgrades, these upgrades are of two types i.e. 'Permanent' and for 'Spinners'. Basically these upgrades help you to score more and quickly.

Giant boulder of death: Available upgrades

Once the boulder starts rolling, you will be shown the current goal which should be achieved. On the left hand side there is a vertical bar which shows the score multiplier, as you keep moving forward and scoring, this bar will begin to fill. And as soon it is filled completely your boulder will become invincible for a short period of time, I will talk about it in the later part.

Giant boulder of death: Showing current goal

Game Controls
The GBOD controls are very simple, to control the boulder movement you can choose tilt control which I prefer or on screen control for left and right turn or joystick control too, and for jump you need to flick your finger on the screen from down to up, that's it and you are all set.

Giant boulder of death: It's all about destruction

The boulder can crush most of the objects which comes on its way for example the animals, people, small huts etc. and you score points for that. There are some objects which it cannot crush like big buildings, though these buildings are harmless to the boulder, but there are these deadly spikes and if the boulder dashes the spikes, boulder breaks down into pieces and your game gets over. It is better to avoid the spikes by moving away from it or by jump over it. Then there are also moving mines which can explode if it touches boulder, so better avoid it also.

Giant boulder of death: The invincible boulder

Becoming invincible is a way to crush these big buildings, deadly spikes or mines. As you fill the multiplier bar completely, your boulder becomes invincible for a short period of time and then nothing can withstand the invincible boulder.

Giant boulder of death: The score card

Giant boulder of death: Unlocking characters

If you complete the goal the character associated with the goal gets unlocked and start showing on the field. Scoring more is rewarded with extra coins.

In the game, infrequently you will see diamonds too which are available to grab. These diamonds can be used to continue the same game if you boulder breaks down without losing the progress and for other similar purposes.

GBOD game updates bring new themes for the boulder which can then be unlocked with the help of coins and diamonds. Latest in the series is the heavy metal boulder theme.