03-16-2019, 02:35 AM
The Weekender: A Spy Story Edition
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/the-weekender-a-spy-story-edition.jpg" width="1920" height="1080" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/the-weekender-a-spy-story-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div>
<p>It’s been an interesting week as far as looking into the future goes – between potential <em>Pokemon Go</em> successor <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/harry-potter-wizards-unite-niantic-location-based-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Harry Potter: Wizards Unite</em></a>, and this morning’s news that a <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/dota-auto-chess-mobile/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">big PC mod is being ported to mobile</a>, I’m hoping the free-to-play space will get its act together and give us some half-decent experiences for a change.</p>
<p>Until and if that happens though, we’ve got you covered with reviews of premium games like <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/card-crusade/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Card Crusade</em></a> and <em><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/heroes-of-flatlandia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Heroes of Flatlandia</a></em>. Board games especially are getting better and better, with more on the way. We’ve already got reviews of <em>Assembly</em> and <em>Tides of Time</em> waiting to drop next week, but that’s just <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/shards-of-infinity-beta-ios-android/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">scratching the surface</a> of what 2019’s got in store.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Stardew Valley (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stardew-valley/id1406710800?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chucklefish.stardewvalley" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/stardew-valley-ios/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>Probably the biggest highlight of the week is the news that <em>Stardew Valley</em> has now finally hit Android. Make sure you check out our review for our full thoughts on the game, but just in case you’ve not heard of this before it’s a game where you spend your time either tending your farm or exploring a dungeon for crafting materials (for the farm). There’s some relationship building thrown in there for good measure as well. The mobile version specifically now enjoys some <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/stardew-valley-android-release-date/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">platform-suitable improvements</a> which the android version is getting from the off. </p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pHUqhYslji4?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Battle Fleet: Ground Assault (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/battle-fleet-ground-assault/id1454068898?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS Universal</a>) <em>– Full review coming soon!</em></h3>
<p>Mythical City Games return with another entry in their turn-based strategy/war game series <em>Battle Fleet</em> with a land-war focused entry, <em>Battle Fleet: Ground Assault</em>. Owen was rather luke-warm on the previous entry, 2014’s <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-battle-fleet-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Battle Fleet 2</em></a>, and <a href="https://www.wargamer.com/reviews/battlefleet-ground-assault/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wargamer.com’s Bill Gray reviewed this latest entry</a> on PC last year. He was a bit on the lukewarm side as well but then this is a heavily abstracted experience – it only features tanks, for starters, and is definitely more on the ‘arcade’ end of the war/strategy spectrum. Still, it does some interesting things with hidden movement and range finding, and I always thought it seemed more suited for mobile audiences.</p>
<p>The iOS version is priced at an incredibly premium $9.99, so we’ll try and get you a full review as soon as we can to see if this one measures up to the rest of the genre, but for the curious here’s a gameplay trailer:</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/poMVUBQ6bO4?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Cartoon Network Arcade (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cartoon-network-arcade/id1419766606" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone</a>)</h3>
<p>Cartoon Network has put out some decent enough mobile titles, all things considered. Last year’s <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/teen-titans-go-figure/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Teen Titans GO! Figure</em></a> was especially engaging, and once again shows what you can do with a popular IP if you’re not just out to make a quick buck.</p>
<p>The <em>Cartoon Network Arcade</em> isn’t a game per se, but an app that features a collection of mini-games based around popular IP, and there’s an collectables aspect to it as well. There’s also supposed to be some interactivity features with regards to getting unlocks while watching a show at the same time. The app is free so it doesn’t cost you anything to explore if for yourself, but we felt it was worth a mention given how well CN treats mobile gaming at the moment.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/E7JLT6rZ8Y0?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Updates & Pre-Orders</h2>
<h3>Holy Potatoes! A Spy Story!? (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/holy-potatoes-a-spy-story/id1446725273?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS Universal</a>)</h3>
<p>Daylight Studios have entertained many a mobile gamer with their charming blend of deep, action-filled games and potatoes. It’s been over a year since <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-holy-potatoes-were-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space!?</em></a>, and now the developer has released a new title on PC – <em>Holy Potatoes! A Spy Story!?</em></p>
<p>Desktop warriors aren’t the only ones who get to enjoy this new spudtastic experience however – the game will be coming to iOS on <span><strong>March 28<sup>th</sup></strong></span>. Pre-Orders are available now, if you want to spend the $4.99 on it now, otherwise the game (and our review), will drop at the end of the month. Not sure if it’ll be coming to Android, so far only <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-holy-potatoes-a-weapon-shop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop!?</em></a> Has crossed that divide.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RVQaFRNDIoM?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Fortnite (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/fortnite/id1261357853?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/mobile/android/get-started" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>Those still keeping up with the mobile version of <em>Fortnite</em> might be interested in the changes that have come in the recent 8.10 patch. As well as adding in a new vehicle (The Baller, which looks like… well, a ball), vending machines and a new map marker, this update has also change the competition pool.</p>
<p>Now, mobile and Switch users are lumped in together, instead of Switch users competing against their console brethren. I’m not so sure this is doing mobile users any favours – reports suggest the Switch and mobile versions are basically the same, but I would have thought the Switch interface was closer to a controller than it was a mobile touch device. Time will tell, I guess, but if you suddenly start winning/losing more, this may be why.</p>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>Lots of sales on either one app store or the other this week, which is a shame, but let’s round up what we have:</p>
<h3>Codito Development (All items $0.99)</h3>
<p>These guys are having their own catalogue sale on iOS at the moment, and you can get the following games for just a buck:</p>
<p>Meanwhile, there are two games we spotted going cheap on Android (but not their iOS counterpart) that you may be interested in:</p>
<h3><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.WaveLightGames.StrikeTeamHydra" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strike Team Hydra</a> (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-strike-team-hydra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>): $0.99</h3>
<p><em>Hydra </em>was Wave Light’s most recent game prior to the release of <em><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/shieldwall-chronicles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shieldwall Chronicles</a>, </em>which we enjoyed. It’s the developer’s usual tactical RPG flair, but with more sci-fi. </p>
<h3><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beamdog.pstee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Planescape Torment</a> (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-planescape-torment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>): $5.99</h3>
<p>Not sure why Beamdog chose to discount this game specifically, but there you go – half price on Android. Did you know they’re working on a digital adaptation of the <a href="https://www.wargamer.com/articles/axis-and-allies-online/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Axis & Allies</em> table-top wargame</a>?</p>
<p><em>Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/the-weekender-a-spy-story-edition.jpg" width="1920" height="1080" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/the-weekender-a-spy-story-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></div>
<p>It’s been an interesting week as far as looking into the future goes – between potential <em>Pokemon Go</em> successor <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/harry-potter-wizards-unite-niantic-location-based-game/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Harry Potter: Wizards Unite</em></a>, and this morning’s news that a <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/dota-auto-chess-mobile/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">big PC mod is being ported to mobile</a>, I’m hoping the free-to-play space will get its act together and give us some half-decent experiences for a change.</p>
<p>Until and if that happens though, we’ve got you covered with reviews of premium games like <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/card-crusade/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Card Crusade</em></a> and <em><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/heroes-of-flatlandia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Heroes of Flatlandia</a></em>. Board games especially are getting better and better, with more on the way. We’ve already got reviews of <em>Assembly</em> and <em>Tides of Time</em> waiting to drop next week, but that’s just <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/shards-of-infinity-beta-ios-android/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">scratching the surface</a> of what 2019’s got in store.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, in mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Stardew Valley (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/stardew-valley/id1406710800?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chucklefish.stardewvalley" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/stardew-valley-ios/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>Probably the biggest highlight of the week is the news that <em>Stardew Valley</em> has now finally hit Android. Make sure you check out our review for our full thoughts on the game, but just in case you’ve not heard of this before it’s a game where you spend your time either tending your farm or exploring a dungeon for crafting materials (for the farm). There’s some relationship building thrown in there for good measure as well. The mobile version specifically now enjoys some <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/stardew-valley-android-release-date/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">platform-suitable improvements</a> which the android version is getting from the off. </p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pHUqhYslji4?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Battle Fleet: Ground Assault (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/battle-fleet-ground-assault/id1454068898?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS Universal</a>) <em>– Full review coming soon!</em></h3>
<p>Mythical City Games return with another entry in their turn-based strategy/war game series <em>Battle Fleet</em> with a land-war focused entry, <em>Battle Fleet: Ground Assault</em>. Owen was rather luke-warm on the previous entry, 2014’s <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-battle-fleet-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Battle Fleet 2</em></a>, and <a href="https://www.wargamer.com/reviews/battlefleet-ground-assault/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wargamer.com’s Bill Gray reviewed this latest entry</a> on PC last year. He was a bit on the lukewarm side as well but then this is a heavily abstracted experience – it only features tanks, for starters, and is definitely more on the ‘arcade’ end of the war/strategy spectrum. Still, it does some interesting things with hidden movement and range finding, and I always thought it seemed more suited for mobile audiences.</p>
<p>The iOS version is priced at an incredibly premium $9.99, so we’ll try and get you a full review as soon as we can to see if this one measures up to the rest of the genre, but for the curious here’s a gameplay trailer:</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/poMVUBQ6bO4?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Cartoon Network Arcade (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cartoon-network-arcade/id1419766606" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iPhone</a>)</h3>
<p>Cartoon Network has put out some decent enough mobile titles, all things considered. Last year’s <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/teen-titans-go-figure/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Teen Titans GO! Figure</em></a> was especially engaging, and once again shows what you can do with a popular IP if you’re not just out to make a quick buck.</p>
<p>The <em>Cartoon Network Arcade</em> isn’t a game per se, but an app that features a collection of mini-games based around popular IP, and there’s an collectables aspect to it as well. There’s also supposed to be some interactivity features with regards to getting unlocks while watching a show at the same time. The app is free so it doesn’t cost you anything to explore if for yourself, but we felt it was worth a mention given how well CN treats mobile gaming at the moment.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/E7JLT6rZ8Y0?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Updates & Pre-Orders</h2>
<h3>Holy Potatoes! A Spy Story!? (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/holy-potatoes-a-spy-story/id1446725273?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS Universal</a>)</h3>
<p>Daylight Studios have entertained many a mobile gamer with their charming blend of deep, action-filled games and potatoes. It’s been over a year since <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-holy-potatoes-were-in-space/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space!?</em></a>, and now the developer has released a new title on PC – <em>Holy Potatoes! A Spy Story!?</em></p>
<p>Desktop warriors aren’t the only ones who get to enjoy this new spudtastic experience however – the game will be coming to iOS on <span><strong>March 28<sup>th</sup></strong></span>. Pre-Orders are available now, if you want to spend the $4.99 on it now, otherwise the game (and our review), will drop at the end of the month. Not sure if it’ll be coming to Android, so far only <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-holy-potatoes-a-weapon-shop/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop!?</em></a> Has crossed that divide.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RVQaFRNDIoM?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>Fortnite (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/fortnite/id1261357853?mt=8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iOS</a> & <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/mobile/android/get-started" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>Those still keeping up with the mobile version of <em>Fortnite</em> might be interested in the changes that have come in the recent 8.10 patch. As well as adding in a new vehicle (The Baller, which looks like… well, a ball), vending machines and a new map marker, this update has also change the competition pool.</p>
<p>Now, mobile and Switch users are lumped in together, instead of Switch users competing against their console brethren. I’m not so sure this is doing mobile users any favours – reports suggest the Switch and mobile versions are basically the same, but I would have thought the Switch interface was closer to a controller than it was a mobile touch device. Time will tell, I guess, but if you suddenly start winning/losing more, this may be why.</p>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>Lots of sales on either one app store or the other this week, which is a shame, but let’s round up what we have:</p>
<h3>Codito Development (All items $0.99)</h3>
<p>These guys are having their own catalogue sale on iOS at the moment, and you can get the following games for just a buck:</p>
<p>Meanwhile, there are two games we spotted going cheap on Android (but not their iOS counterpart) that you may be interested in:</p>
<h3><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.WaveLightGames.StrikeTeamHydra" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Strike Team Hydra</a> (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-strike-team-hydra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>): $0.99</h3>
<p><em>Hydra </em>was Wave Light’s most recent game prior to the release of <em><a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/shieldwall-chronicles/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shieldwall Chronicles</a>, </em>which we enjoyed. It’s the developer’s usual tactical RPG flair, but with more sci-fi. </p>
<h3><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beamdog.pstee" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Planescape Torment</a> (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-planescape-torment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Review</a>): $5.99</h3>
<p>Not sure why Beamdog chose to discount this game specifically, but there you go – half price on Android. Did you know they’re working on a digital adaptation of the <a href="https://www.wargamer.com/articles/axis-and-allies-online/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Axis & Allies</em> table-top wargame</a>?</p>
<p><em>Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>