We have three very strong iPhone games to showcase this week, and as you can see, I sort of went overboard describing one. :-) Some developers have really settled into this interesting new gaming platform, and each game below flaunts that in its own unique way.
I Dig It - So you have this digger, you see, a machine pieced together by a poor farmer when the soil refused to grow crops. The new plan is to dig beneath the ground, haul treasures to the surface and selling them for cash to pay back the bank. You'd be surprised how many expensive cola cans, colored gems, fossils, ores and other items (collectively called diggins) are nestled in the warm brown earth. Drilling downwards and to either side, carve tunnels from the dirt and gather as many shinies as you can. When your cargo hold is full, bring them back to the top and cash them in. Money you earn can be used to upgrade your digger's drill, fuel tank, hull strength, cooling system, etc., each allowing you to dive a little deeper and gather more expensive treasures. It's a simple design concept not unlike Motherload, but developer InMotion has put together something truly addictive. Half a dozen game modes add a ton of replayability, beautiful visuals keep your eyes riveted to the screen, simple controls allow you to jump right into the action, and a progressively interesting mechanism of upgrades/discoveries ensures you won't stop playing any time soon. I Dig It has captivated me like no other iPhone game has. A free I Dig It Lite is also available.
TowerMadness - One of the more impressive tower defense titles for iPhone, this little game boasts 3D visuals that allow you to scale as you see fit, loads of unlockable towers and maps, downloadable add-ons, and, well, sheep! Defend the sheep from landing aliens by building towers along the field. Each unit has a different ability, and each alien a different strength, so try and keep a good variety of buildings on hand to take care of whatever struts your way. Defeated aliens earn you cash that can be used to upgrade existing towers or buy new ones.
DrawRace - Racing is cool, but drawing things with your finger is also cool. How can I reconcile my two passions without causing massive scheduling conflicts?! Oh, I see, Draw Race. Yeah, that was obvious. Before each race, it's your job to draw your vehicle's path through the single-screen top-down track. Draw faster to increase your speed, slower to take it easy, and keep in mind your car is subject to sliding physics and will skid off its intended path if the curve is too tight and the speed is too great. Plenty of tracks and a lovable art style kept me coming back to this one again and again.
NOTE: Games listed may not be available outside of North America. Prices are subject to change and are therefore unlisted. Please see the individual game pages for purchasing info.
"i dig it" looks like a clone of motherload (https://jayisgames.com/archives/2004/10/motherload.php)
I already have I dig it, very superb, great game for 99 cents. The campaign, however, goes slow then fast then slow, which I didn't like, however there are many things to do besides the campaign. If anyone has played motherload, it is basically the same without the boss, just mushrooms at the center of the Earth, not Mars.
Yup, I Dig It is like Motherload. Said so right in the review. :-P It really is well-made, though, and much better than other Motherload-type games I've tried.
I loved Motherload!!! I don't have an iphone though. =( Is there a way I can play this (or similar games) on my PC?
[Edit: No, there is nothing that allows you to play iPhone games on a PC. Sorry. -Jay]
Really digging I Dig It! I played until way too late last night before sleep.
I love exploration and upgrade games, and this one gives you a lot of both. :)
What does the 1 up upgrade in the barn do?
I don't want to spend the money without knowing!
The 1up gives you a second chance if you die. Normally, running out of fuel, overheating or taking too much damage ends your game right then and there. The 1up let's you keep digging. :-)
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