APPS OF THE WEEK
KINGDOM RUSH
iPad, €1.49
Tower defence titles have seen a surge in popularity since the likes of Plants Vs Zombies have conquered the mass market in recent times. In what's becoming an increasingly competitive genre, it's often the fun factor or creativity within the gameplay constraints that set titles apart, and Kingdom Rush perfectly presents itself as a case in point.
The fantastic fantasy setting for your tower battles bring a delightful array of medieval enemies on to your iPad, from devilish demons to gung-ho knights, not to mention some huge boss battles along the way. Be warned, though, this is no walk in the park and you will die - a lot. But what will keep you coming back for more is that sense of humour that keeps you hooked.
PERFECT EGG TIMER
iPhone, €1.59
Boiling an egg isn't always as easy as it sounds.This is a simple app allowing you to key in the properties of your egg and assist you in your quest for perfection. All you have to do is tell it what size the egg is, the temperature of it and the altitude of where you are - well, it all affects how an egg is cooked!
Then input how you like your egg and the countdown begins for how long you should cook it to achieve your ideal yolk.
SOUL CALIBUR
iPad €9.99
As fighters go, Soul Calibur offers gamers that slightly different scrapping experience with the addition of filthy great weapons to wield during your one-on-one battles, compared to simply bare knuckle brawling. It has carved a niche for itself over the past decade, and now the touchscreen tablet iteration opens up the sword-swiping possibilities for a whole new generation of gamer.
The subsequent fights with an intriguing cast of powerful characters are enjoyable enough, but once the will to pummel a computer opponent fades, the absence of a multiplayer option will make you wonder whether the price tag is truly justified.
Final Fantasy XIII had its fair share of critics, even within the camp of previously staunch Japanese-RPG fans. An unnecessary digression to linear storyline progression and levelling up restrictions were just two of the 'features' that didn't cut the mustard, but Lightning and her cast of fantasy friends and foes are back to set the record straight. That's arguably a punchier story than XIII-2's narrative, which, despite the standard quota of stunning animated cutscenes, falls a little short of earlier FF titles.
In terms of the combat experience, at each new turn, battles separate Noel from bringing Serah back to Lightning.These skirmishes and their systems will be familiar to those who played the previous instalment but there are some improvements. One of the more noticeable changes is the fact that Serah and Noel are the only playable human characters with the third slot ready for a monster ally.
In these times of austerity, who isn't looking for top quality gaming at bargain prices? So let's extend some recessionary-inspired thanks to Konami, who are treating every console gamer to a trio of top titles featuring the infamous Solid Snake.