FingerGaming

Sandlot Games’ tycoon-styled trading simulation Tradewinds 2 ($4.99) has made its way to the iPhone platform, complete with all of the features found in the original online version.

Unlike many titles in the genre, Tradewinds 2 includes two distinct modes of play. Players can either attempt to build a massive empire through smart domestic trading and and business management, or they may seek their fortunes on the high seas by taking on pirates and stealing their treasure.

The online version of Tradewinds 2 captured a broad audience thanks to its multiple gameplay styles, and if it finds the right audience, the title could emerge as a success on the iPhone as well.Tradewinds 2 features 20 trading ports, ship customization options, and a character creation mode.

Tags: handmark, sandlot games, strategy, tradewinds 2, tycoon

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Rating:

• Price: $4.99 (Get It)
• Version: 1.00
• Official Site: Astraware

Handmark already has a few games on the iPhone, with the most popular being GTS World Racing ($4.99) which recently got updated to support head-to-head racing via local WiFi. They’ve also released Golden Skull ($0.99), which I didn’t like at all, and is similar to the game we’re looking at today, Glyph.

Glyph, which is from Sandlot Games, is a color-matching puzzle game that feels a lot like Popcap’s Big Money in that you tap gems to remove as many as you can. The more gems linked together when you remove them from play, the higher the score you earn.

There are two gameplay modes to choose from, Quest and Action. You can resume a game for both modes, so you don’t have to worry about being cut off in the middle of playing. Quest features a story and 200 levels, plus a mini-game of memory that is like Simon Says where you recreate the order in which glyph glows in order to progress. Action is arcade mode without the story and progresses in difficulty as you get further along, with the goal being to keep any gems from reaching the top as more are being added from the bottom of the screen at quickening intervals.

I’ve found the gameplay to be quite fun, and challenging. While the story in Quest mode isn’t terribly exciting, it’s still engaging enough to get you to want to progress. There are powerups that allows you to clear rows, horizontally or vertically, or even removes random gems. There are others that are even more powerful.

Visually the game is rich in colors and beautiful. Of special note is the music, which I found to be perfect for the game and really serene. Sound effects, and even the voice-overs during the cutscenes, are equally of quality work.

My biggest issue with Glyph is that the game feels like a straight port of the online Flash version that doesn’t take into account the platform it is on. For example, in Action mode, the play field is smaller that it should be, with the UI to the right of it taking a hefty chunk of the screen with nothing on it. This also means the gems are smaller and there were many times that the wrong row of gems were removed because the tap detection was off by a hair due to the tiny size of the gems. At times, this can mess up the strategy for large gem removals.

If this kind of puzzle game doesn’t appeal to you very much, you likely won’t find it addictive. However, for those of you that enjoy it, Glyph is certainly the best representation of this kind of puzzle game and offers a lot of gameplay for the price.

Tags: glyph, handmark inc., Puzzle, reviews, sandlot games

Astraware showed off a preview of their new puzzle game, developed by Sandlot Games, called Glyph, which is similar to another game they’ve published for the iPhone called Golden Skull, except Glyph looks to be more full-featured and fun. Glyph will feature over 250 levels, two gameplay modes, powerups to aid you, and atmospheric sound effects and music.

Glyph® is a beautiful, immersive puzzle game based on the highly acclaimed PC title by Sandlot Games and includes vibrant graphics, and atmospheric music and sound effects. With more than 200 levels across 2 play modes, Quest and Action, Glyph® promises many hours of fun.

In Quest Mode you work to save the dying world of Kuros by recreating ancient glyphs hidden beneath layers of rock and glistening stones. Touching groups of like-colored stones helps break through the rock and reveal the glyphs. Special power-ups also help to aid your quest.

Action Mode sets a more frantic challenge where you touch groups of stones to clear them as they appear from the bottom of the screen. The goal is to keep them from reaching the top.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23f460Ole00

Tags: astraware, glyph, Puzzle, sandlot games, Upcoming