FingerGaming

Console RPG publisher Square Enix has released Crystal Defenders ($7.99), its first title for the iPhone and iPod Touch. A free Lite version is also available, which includes the first 20 levels of gameplay.

Crystal Defenders is a Tower Defense-styled strategy game featuring character classes from the Nintendo DS SRPG title Final Fantasy Tactics A2. You can see little Black Mages and Chocobos in the screenshot to the left here. Adorable! You’ll also notice the game’s control pad-like touch input device, which occupies an awful lot of screen real estate, but should hopefully offer precise controls as a tradeoff.

Crystal Defenders includes over 300 stages spread across three game worlds. An official website is set up here, though it has yet to be updated since the game’s release.

Tags: crystal defenders, final fantasy, square enix, strategy

Paradox Interactive, a studio usually associated for its strategy PC titles, announced that it will bring its Majesty and Hearts of Iron franchises to all major mobile platforms, including the iPhone, in 2009.

The Hearts of Iron strategy series takes player through an “alternate history” World War II setting, challenging players to manage their nation’s military and resources throughout the war.

Majesty takes place in a fantasy setting filled with monsters and lairs. Players head a kingdom, enlisting heroes to build cities, defend against beasts, and maintain the empire.

Says Paradox Interactive’s executive vice president Fredrik Wester:

“We decided to enter the mobile space after considering feedback from our fanbase. With the release of these titles on the mobile platform, our fans will be able to enjoy Hearts of Iron and Majesty on the go. We look forward to developing more of our titles for the mobile platform, so our fans can play Paradox games wherever they are.”

Image used above is from the PC edition of Hearts of Iron II: Armageddon.

Tags: hearts of iron, majesty, paradox interactive, strategy

Paul Bettner and his brother formed Newtoy after quitting their jobs at Microsoft working on Halo Wars. They did this because they believe in the iPhone platform for gaming. Their debut turn-based chess asynchronous game, Chess with Friends ($4.99), brings a unique approach to gaming that is only available on the iPhone and iPod Touch. It’s text messaging meets gaming, allowing you to play your friends anywhere, anytime.

TechCrunch posted thoughts on the game after taking a sneak peek at it, and found it to be a great idea, but held back from true greatness by the lack of a Push system from Apple, which has been running into delays after delays.

Features you’ll find in Chess with Friends:

• Need an opponent? Pick a friend directly from your iPhone or iPod Touch’s contact list!
• Make a move anytime, anywhere. Chess With Friends works over Edge, 3G or Wi-Fi.
• Play multiple games with your friends at the same time!
• Let our servers find you a game automatically with the “Random Opponent” feature.
• Your games list automatically refreshes every time you launch the app. Check the list and make your moves.
• “Pass and Play” to challenge a friend in person.
• An intuitive interface makes playing chess a breeze. This is the chess game you’ve been waiting for!

The version 1.1 update which will come soon will offer an in-game chat and A.I. personalities, including the ability to play against virtual grandmasters.

A demonstration of Chess with Friends can be seen below:

Tags: chess with friends, newtoy, strategy

IUGO released a 3D tower defense strategy game, Zombie Attack! ($0.99), in which you must prevent zombies from reaching your shack.

Choose from an array of Zombie-blasting weapons such as flame throwers and cannons. Earn points and cash to upgrade your weapons and bolster your fire power. Easy tilt and touch-screen controls make ZA! an instant iPhone-exclusive favorite. Superb graphics, attention to detail, and IUGO’s signature high polish makes Zombie Attack! the best value on the App Store. Play for a few minutes or get sucked in for hours. Either way you won’t be able to put ZA! down.

You can see Zombie Attack! in action below:

Tags: IUGO, strategy, tower defense, zombie attack!

Dope Lords is a homage to the very popular turn-based strategy game, Dope Wars, and may be coming to the iPhone/iPod Touch, according to Kotaku. I say “may” because it will have to get past the strict Apple vetting process and be approved before it shows up in the App Store. Don’t hold your breath though.

Those with a jailbroken iPhone can already play a port of Dope Wars, called iDope.

A video of Dope Lords is available below:

I wanted to say this game looks dope, but I didn’t want to sound dopey.

Tags: drug lords, drug wars, strategy, Upcoming

One of the more respected development studios in the world, Square Enix, plans on releasing a new iPhone game this winter called Crystal Defenders, according to Kotaku. Crystal Defenders, a Final Fantasy related title is a map-based defense simulation game.

Screenshots of the Crystal Defenders can be seen below:

Information sent in by Simon Carless. Thanks!

Tags: crystal defenders, final fantasy, square enix, strategy, Upcoming

From Solus Games, developers of the fighting game Funky Punch ($4.99 - Nano $0.99), comes a new cyber strategy game, Firewall: Defender 001 ($0.99). It’s a tower defense game set in the cyber world, in which you defend a grid from cyber terrorists.

Your success is vital. Jump into “REGULAR” defense mode for consistent streams of enemy attackers. Once you have mastered “REGULAR”, move on to “RANDOM” mode to further test your skills against our new devious foes. Of course, your progress will be monitored in the “HIGH SCORES” log for each mode. Remember, always plan ahead as our enemies are EVOLVING as we speak. Good Luck!

You can watch Firewall in action below:

Tags: firewall: defender 001, funky punch, solus games, strategy, tower defense

The first tower defense game for the iPhone/iPod Touch was Mote-M ($0.99), which has seen numerous updates constantly improving the game. Today’s 1.2 update adds a slew of new features and fixes to the game, and with stiff competition from Fieldrunners, it’s probably a good thing.

This new update contains improved performance, a new sprouting-boss mote, new backgrounds to choose from, new towers, a better help screen, changes to the balancing, ‘Free Upgrade Targets’ appear randomly on the field as green arrows. and three new sandbox modes to choose from. These modes are Rocket Apocalypse, Free Play mode (no resource cost), and grounded motes only (no air motes.)

You can see our review of Mote-M here.

Tags: fieldrunners, grant jones, mote-m, strategy, tower defense

After a slow weekend, a number of new games have shown up in the App Store today that are worth checking out:

Urban Tycoon

Urban Tycoon ($1.99) | Simulation & Strategy

Urban Tycoon puts the city in your hands.. literally! Pinch and swipe your way through your city. The goal of Urban Tycoon is to build a financially flourishing metropolis that’s environmentally safe and low on crime. As an urban tycoon you will have complete control of your urban area’s budget… so spend it wisely.

Urban Tycoon will be on sale for $1.99 until Version 2.0 hits the app store in November. So get it while it’s hot!

Mister Bumblebee Racing Champion

Mister Bumblebee Racing Champion ($4.99) | Racing

Mister Bumblebee and his friends are having a race today!

Because they are flying, this is not just like driving a car - it is a truly
three dimensional experience. Fly over hills, under tree trunks and through caves.
Avoid collisions, collect items and establish new lap records!

Features:
- Completely in 3D
- Four cartoon style hand-drawn tracks
- Choose Mister Bumblebee or three other funny characters
- Smoke bombs and other special items
- Three levels of difficulty
- Compare your lap times in the hall of fame

Nanosaur 2

Nanosaur 2 ($3.99) | Action/Shooter

If you’ve been looking for a game to show off your iPhone’s capabilities to your friends then Nanosaur 2 is it. Nanosaur 2 is the most advanced 3D game yet for the iPhone, and it takes things to a whole new level.

In Nanosaur 2 you pilot a flying dinosaur from the future who is equipped with massive firepower! Your goal is to find and retrieve the missing dinosaur eggs, and to do that you’ll have to blow up a whole lotta stuff! You’ll battle other Nanosaurs and their defense systems, and collect powerups which give you a large array of weaponry ranging from heat seeking missiles to cluster bombs.

If you like flying, you like dinosaurs, and you like to make things go BOOM! then Nanosaur 2 is the game for you!

LED Basketball

LED Basketball ($0.99) | Sport/Strategy

LED Basketball for the iPhone. touchGrove brings you old-school basketball at it’s very best. Your friends and associates will drool over the creamy orange plastic case… the pulsating bright red LED’s… the razor-sharp, authentic court screen printed with realistic basketball graphics. Run your fingers over the smooth orange basketball”shoot” butttons and you’ll know it’s the real deal. Pass the ball to your teammate or go in for a slam dunk. Because you are the Man. And you know this is gonna be some awesome basketball action. So dig down deep in your pockets and find yourself 99 cents… cuz that’s all it’s gonna cost!!!

Tags: Action, led basketball, mister bumblebee racing champion, nanosaur 2, pangea software, Racing, simulation, Sport, strategy, touchgrove, touchsoft mobile, urban tycoon

Manta Research has made their latest action/strategy game free, Virus (Free), likely for a limited time. Originally the game sold for 99 cents. You’ll find the gameplay similar to Expando on the iPhone/iPod Touch, or Filler on the internet, where you touch the screen to expand a circle (in this case, a white blood cell) while avoiding bouncing objects on the screen (viruses). Once a certain ratio of the screen is filled up, you complete the level and move on to the next, where more viruses appear and bounce around faster, increasing the challenge.

We found Virus to be a fun game with great visuals, sound effects, and features. It’s more polished than Expando, while providing real information about viruses that attack our bodies. IGN Wireless recently reviewed Virus and gave it a 7.5 out of 10.

Tags: Action, free, manta research, Price Change, strategy, virus