Daily Gaming: December 15, 2010

There are a large amount of releases out for the iPhone and iPad in just one day. The list is huge so where do we start? Well tomorrow will see N.O.V.A 2, Shadow Guardian, Aralon: Sword and Shadow, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, World of Goo, Football Manager Handheld 2011, Dungeon Defenders and Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror all released across the iOS range of devices. Today has also seen Eternal Legacy HD and Tales of Monkey Island released for the iPad. We have copies of a number of these games here at Neowin, so expect a run down on how they fair in the coming days.

iPhone/iPod touch/iPad News

N.O.V.A 2 and Shadow Guardian released tomorrow

Gameloft will launch both N.O.V.A 2 and Shadow Guardian on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad tomorrow. N.O.V.A. 2 has been long awaited by mobile gaming fans, especially after the success of the first game. The new title brings improved graphics and multiplayers support, but lacks Game Center support for achievements. Shadow Guardian meanwhile, has had many good previews across the internet, with many sites likening it to Uncharted, but again lacks Game Center support. The good news is that we have both titles on our iPhone right now and our reviews of both should be up by the weekend.

Aralon: Sword and Shadow - Tomorrow

The long-awaited RPG title from Ravensword creators, Crescent Moon Games - Aralon: Sword and Shadow will be released tomorrow. The game has seen a lot of press drooling over the great looking graphics and deeper RPG features not usually seen in a mobile title. Aralon will be released on iPhone, iPod touch and in a special HD version for the iPad. Once more we have the game on hand here and so far first impressions are good, the review should be up as soon as we have completed the game. Here are some more details:

An iPhone 3d RPG inspired by that classic vein that focuses on a compelling story, a unique hero, and an open 3D world ready for exploration. Journey through the Kingdom of Aralon and unravel its mysteries.

Features:

- Full Retina Display and iPad Support

- Over 30 hours of gameplay

- Gorgeous and dynamic 3d environments

- 3rd and First Person play modes

- Full Day/Night cycle and dynamic lighting effects

- Epic Soundtrack and realistic sound effects

- Customizable characters, including hairstyles, armor, and different faces

- 4 Character Classes

- Unique Skill Trees for each class

- 3 Playable Races: Humans, Elves, and Trolls

- A primary quest and multiple, optional side-quests

- Hundreds of items to acquire and wield

- Comprehensive Inventory System

- Battle various enemies that use different fighting tactics

- Faction system, herb gathering, crafting potions and

magical items, dual-wielding, lockpicking, pick-pocketing, and more

- Swimming, Fishing, Campfires

- 8 Different Mount Types, including horses, dragons, and more

- Fully animated 3d characters

- Achievements

- Pets and henchmen to help you in your quests

- Save system with 6 different save slots

Aralon: Sword and Shadow is developed by Galoobeth Games in collaboration with Crescent Moon Games

Tales of Monkey Island: Episode 1 appears on the app store

In a surprise move, Telltale has released The Tales of Monkey Island Episode 1 on the app store for the Apple iPad. Launch of the Screaming Narwhal is the first of five episodes that are now due for iPad release over the coming months. The point and click interface works very well and both the graphics and sound are excellent throughout. Well worth buying if you don't already own the games on PC, Mac or PlayStation 3.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 to hit iPhone tomorrow

Yes, EA has seen just how much money that Activision made off of the Call of Duty: Zombies title that they released on the iPhone earlier in the year. They have let us know that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be released tomorrow for the iPhone and iPod touch, allowing players to take on 14 single player missions and full-on multiplayer modes for just $.99. It will be interesting to see how well the game translates to the handheld devices, so let us know your first impressions. In the meantime, here are the details:

OUR BIGGEST, BADDEST FPS. FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THE APP STORE. Based on the bestselling console game from DICE, let the battle rage in the jungle, snow, and desert, in close-quarter combat, and in the air. Utilize intuitive controls as you destroy enemies with tanks and choppers in state-of the-art vehicular combat. Go all-out in full online multiplayer mode, and get a modern-warfare simulation for iPhone® & iPod touch® that’s second to none.

ENTER THE MODERN BATTLEFIELD

Your iPhone or iPod touch becomes the staging ground for the total Battlefield: BC2 experience. Track 14 single-player missions across 5 intensely detailed battle zones. Capture emplacements in jungle heat, arctic snow, and desert dust. Feel the adrenaline-pumping intensity of close-quarter combat and also unleash devastation from the air. It’s good to be Bad.

MOBILIZE WITH HARDCORE FIREPOWER

Wreak havoc on enemy forces with a plethora of powerful weapons and vehicles. Access an arsenal of up to 14 weapons – from a simple knife to a rocket-propelled grenade. Also drive the action with multiple vehicle types, including a tank and helicopter.

ENGAGE ENEMIES WITH 3 DISTINCT CONTROL SETUPS

Access 3 different controls systems. Use gesture controls with no control buttons visible on screen, or add the virtual fire button, or choose to have both fire button and analog stick. Select the system that suits your preferred fighting style!

ESCALATE WITH FULL-ON MULTIPLAYER

Initiate combat with 4-player action across dedicated maps. Engage in 2-4 player Free for Alls and Squad Deathmatches. The game supports OTA, WiFi, 3G, and BT Multiplayer. Push invitations to friends to join you in online battles.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light tomorrow

The superb Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will be released on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad from tomorrow. In the game, you play Lara trying to hunt down a Mayan war god, you play the game in an isometric view as you take down enemies, solve puzzles and collect hidden items. The game is also due to have co-op features for all devices.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is the first ever co-op action/adventure game featuring Lara Croft. This brand extension incorporates the hallmarks of the Tomb Raider franchise including exploration, discovery, platforming, and puzzle solving. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light allows players to experience Lara Croft from an isometric viewpoint, and combines new gameplay features such as character progression, fun fast-paced combat, and elements of cooperation and competition.

World of Goo due tomorrow

The excellent indie title - World of Goo is due to be released on the iPad from midnight tonight. The game has you creating structures, as you try to escape the levels. It may sound simple, but it is fiendishly addictive. Pricing is due to be $9.99/£5.99.

Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror due for release tomorrow

Yet another title is due to be released for the iPhone and iPad tomorrow, this time it is the excellent point and click adventure title - Broken Sword: The Smoking Mirror. The second game in the Broken Sword series sees new enhanced graphics and music along with more interactive comic illustrations from Dave Gibbons. If you have never played a Broken Sword title before - I recommend picking up both games in the series as they are long excellent stories and voice work.

Dungeon Defenders - Yes, Tomorrow

The Unreal Engine powered Dungeon Defenders: First Wave is to be released tomorrow. The game mixes together real time action and tower defense features as you try to protect magic crystals from battling waves of enemies. There is an 8-stage single player game, but it also features multiplayer by Game Center, along with achievements and more. The game looks great graphically, so let us know what you think when you buy it tomorrow. It ships as a universal app for $2.99/£1.79.

Football Manager Handheld 2011 Released - Tomorrow

Football Manager Handheld 2011 will be released tomorrow on the iTunes App Store. This new version of the highly thought of mobile game has a number of new features such as: 3 active countries to be played during one game, players being given specific roles, new formations, new tutorials and more. We love Football Manager games here, so it will be interesting to see how good this new iPhone version is. The game is also iPad compatible so Sports Interactive have stated:

The world’s number 1 football management series returns to your iPhone and iPod touch – and is fully iPad compatible.

The sequel to the App Store’s No.1 football management game of 2010 is here.

Developed by Sports Interactive, the kings of the genre, Football Manager Handheld 2011 brings the unrivalled realism and control of the best selling Football Manager series to your iPhone and iPod Touch in a new and specifically designed version.

Take control of all areas of management, including managing transfers, tactics and formations, team instructions and training in any of 34 leagues in 11 countries.

New for Football Manager Handheld 2011

o Up to 3 countries active in a game, meaning you can manage in more than one country in your career

o Give your players specific roles on the pitch, allowing greater control over your team’s performance

o A wider variety of formations to chose from

• In-game tutorial to guide you through the most in depth football management game in the App Store

• And lots of other new features, tweaks and improvements.

o Plus - an inbuilt real world stadium finder, pinpointing all English league and non league grounds on the map, and will even let you track where you park your car on match day and guide you back to it! Other countries clubs will be added with free updates throughout the season.

Snowboard Hero coming soon

A new version of Snowboard Hero, an old Java release very popular in 2008 is to be released for the iPhone and iPod touch in 2011, a lite version will also be released on December 20. Here are some details:

Snowboard Hero™, which earned Fishlabs third place in the Pocket Gamer Analysis for the best Java mobile game in 2008, comes to the iPhone™ and iPod™ touch in a version with completely revised graphics and sound, expanded courses, additional characters, and lots of new, wild tricks. In the fast-paced snowboard game, wicked jumps and fantastic stunts count more than realism. During the great air time, players have to perform as many unbelievable tricks as possible in order to collect serious points.

In the competition with an experienced snowboard pro, players must prove their skills on four steep runs in the lite version and against six opponents on eight pistes in the full version. Breakneck downhill runs have to be mastered in five different disciplines. Time trials, freestyle, slalom, race, and gate-time bonus can also be combined, creating demanding races of time, point, and gate requirements.

Players can customize both the look of their characters, with different pants, jackets, and boards, and their characteristics. Special boards can improve agility, speed, boost, and jumps.

Features of the lite version Snowboard Hero™ by Bing for the US:

Two playable characters

One rival

Two pistes featuring four courses

Five disciplines: time trial, freestyle, slalom, race, gate-time bonus

Five combination disciplines, including speedrun-slalom and race-speedrun-freestyle

Visual customization of characters with different pants, jackets, and boards

Modifiable characteristics: agility, speed, boost, and jumps can be improved by new boards

Four special tricks can be unlocked for each character

A total of 20 events, five events are ridden for each run

Additional features of the full version Snowboard Hero:

Four more playable characters

A special outfit for each character for even cooler stunts and tricks

Four more rivals

Eight combination options with five different disciplines

Six more courses in different environments: fun park, off-piste, and glacier

70 more events

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Eternal Legacy HD released for the iPad

Gameloft have let us know that their Japanese based role-playing game; Eternal Legacy HD has been released for the iPad today. The game is priced at £5.99 and has loads of content for your money. The game mixes up a fantasy setting with science fiction elements and is completely 3D. The game reminds many of Final Fantasy, with its turn based style and the many side-quests the game has. Here are some more details on the game:

ENTER THE WORLD OF ALGOAD IN HD
- An absorbing story implying heavy responsibilities: As Astrian, you must save Algoad from destruction and restore the living bond between humans and nature.
- A mix of fantasy and sci-fi: fight with swords and guns, face robots and magic, and fly your own ship!
- Freely explore majestic regions: real-time rendered in full 3D, with free 360° camera.

A SMOOTH, THRILLING BATTLE SYSTEM
- Dynamic turn-based fights: preset your future attacks, which will be triggered one by one once your action gauge is filled.
- Epic combats, enhanced by full 3D artwork, numerous animations and a varied bestiary.
- Up to 3 characters will fight at the same time: select your team among your recruits and define your teammates' behavior.

LIVE YOUR OWN ABSORBING ADVENTURE
- Choose your own path by interacting with the environment, items, people and enemies, or solving puzzles to make your way through obstacles.
- Talk to the people you meet, featuring full voice acting: they may join your team, reveal some secret, give you a quest, and more.
- Perform sub-quests if you like, to extend the game’s lifespan and gain more experience.
- Customize your character and weapons: you master your destiny.