The Pocket Players

Tonight we debate over which is the superior form of portable game distribution, now and in the future.

Also, we have your news for the Vita, 3DS, and mobile games.

Fortnight Question
What game storyline has moved you the most?

We’re still accepting nominees for…
The Ultimate Handheld Hero!

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Guest post by Portable Platypus

Smartphones are rife with many a simple game, but simplicity should not be mistaken for a lack of depth. Often developers make the mistake of trying to incorporate too many complex ideas into their games which can end up doing more harm than good. On the flipside, there are plenty of games that do too little and wouldn’t hold the attention of a toddler.

Games are fun when they focus on a few core elements and perfect them. Pixel Kingdom (for iOS and Android) isn’t muddled down with unnecessary, incongruent mechanics and features fun and simple – but not shallow – gameplay. [...]

I would call Rymdkapsel minimalist, but that would belay the level of depth it actually offers. This is just one of those titles I was drawn to at first glance. The minimalistic but colorful graphics, the Tetris-style room placement, the strategy; it all came together to make for a uniquely addictive experience for PlayStation Mobile and PS Vita (and coming to iOS and Android in July).

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1) Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies (3DS)
2) Pokemon X and Pokemon Y (3DS)
3)Shin Megami Tensei IV: The Ritual (3DS)
4) Scribblenauts Unmasked (3DS)
5) Sound Shapes ’80s & DubStep DLC (Vita)
6) Layton Brothers: Mystery Room (Japan iOS)
7) Yokai Watch (Japan 3DS)
8) Soul Sacrifice Basilisk DLC (Japan Vita)
9) Soul Sacrifice Troll DLC (Japan Vita)
10) Dragon’s Crown Sorceress (Vita)
11) Dragon’s Crown Fighter (Vita)

Adell joins us for a special episode in honor of Mega Man’s 25th Anniversary. So, naturally we’re discussing Zero! Specifically, the Mega Man Zero series on GBA starring the Blue Bombers’ way superior frenemy and  rival.

Also, we have the usual news roundup of all the Vita, 3DS, and mobile gaming news you can handle.

Join the Debate:
X vs. Zero: Who’s the Better Bot?

Nominate your favorite character in The Ultimate Handheld Hero Showdown!

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I’m going to get a lot of flack for saying this, but with the release of Sonic Dash for iOS, I feel Sonic the Hedgehog is officially washed up. Not to say that it’s is a bad game – on the contrary, it’s actually quite decent, but that’s about it: decent.

Sonic Dash is another endless runner with a few fun twists on the genre and pretty backgrounds. But it’s also a cheap cash-in on the popular character, like when an ‘80s movie star makes a cameo in an Old Navy commercial. Admittedly, endless running is a perfect a fit for Sonic’s style, but I can’t help but feel that this is one game that would have been better off as a higher quality pay title, rather than a micro-transaction one. [...]

Star Command takes iPhone and iPad players on a Star Trek style cruise across a universe full of aliens, androids, and avian pranksters. It is entertaining, intense, and at first glance, deep as the abyss of space itself. But after playing through the story I realized its polished hull hides a few clunky mechanics that keep it from making the jump to light speed.

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