Great games for your Pocket PC

As promised, I said we'll feature some Pocket PC games that are currently out in the market that's sure to satisfy the kid in you. On-the-go and at your convenience, any time, anywhere. Similar to choosing a simple gadget like a mobile phone, everyone has different game requirements depending on a pre-set need. Should your urges be simple, satisfyable by non-complicated applications like the very popular Text Twist, then you could go and visit Astraware, Xi-Art, and PDAmill for their latest offerings of games for both your PC and Pocket PC. Within the next paragraphs, I will be featuring games that I happened to have already finished and had fun with.

If you already find puzzle and trivia games boring, do try the following, if you haven't yet. First up, let me take you to a wild ride via the Tornado GTX at Flux Challenge (fanalist to the 2005 Best Software Awards also from PDAmill). Set in the future, all races are done in magnetic levitation tunnels where you get to choose one ship to race with of the six that are available. At first, you will only get to use one of them six ships. Navigate your space craft throught the tunnel courses using your stylus, making sure to pass through bonus speed-up spheres scattered around the circuit. Win more races and you get to have more cash in bank to participate in more complex race opens. Graphics wise, this game is a spectacle that would put anyone at awe. TIP: you may edit a script found in the game folder to jack-up prize moneys for simple circuits. That way, you could play every ship on every circuit in no time.

Next up, for an easier take on role playing games (RPGs), try Arvale: Jourey of Illusion and Arvale II: Ocean of Time. Both games take place in Arvale but on separate time periods. In Journey of Illusion, you take on the character of Duncan Forsythe, son of the Royal Gardener at the Entoque Castle and destined Hero of Legend. As the story unfolds, you will need to combat opponents thereby leveling up your character in order to take on even stronger beasts and enemies. The entire game gives you 15 solid hours of teeth-gnashing game play. Click here for the plot of the story. TIP: edit the story script in the game folder upon installation and jack up your character's strength, defense, and money to high heavens. This will make killing monsters as easy as hitting them once with your garden spade. No need for level-ups.

Arvale II: Ocean of Time also takes place in Arvale. This time, you will get to travel through different time periods as dictated by artifacts you get a hold of along the way known as the Idols of the Past, Present, and Future (I have taken the liberty of naming all idols for the periods they represent: Kelly Clarkson for the past, Carrie Underwood for the present, and Katharine McPhee as the future Idol). You will do your exploits in the character of John DeMenchev who apparently is a "genius inventor, scholar, scientist, writer, and part-time adventurer" all rolled into one. Talk to the villagers, take personal effects from their homes, and talk to wheelbarrows along the way for great game tips. Pay attention to the dialogue during John's interactions as some of them are really funny (Click here for more of the story of Arvale II). TIP: go the forums at the PDAmill site and copy the walkthrough given by one contributor to get to easily finish the game. Took me 17 hours to do so even with the walkthrough. A great alternate ending awaits those who does really well.

Can't get enough of Lara Croft? Here's a chance to play the first Tomb Raider game from Eidos Interactive (copyrighted by Core Design and developed by Ideaworks3D) formatted to fit onto your Pocket PC's platform. Be sure to have screen protection on your PPC, though. I had to practically change mine as soon as I finished with the game because of the pressure the screen had to endure from my instense gameplay. Remember the underwater scenes and the one with the T-Rex? Get to see and play them once again in all their 3D rendered glory and know what first made the guns-and-boobies-wielding millionaire heroine Lara popular, complete with cut scene movie clips. TIP: search for the game walkthrough of the Playstation version and let it guide you through your travels. It works much the same way.

I have read that the Riven and Myst games are also now out. I just haven't played them yet to warrant a piece of personal input to help you gain more gaming pleasure.

Lastly, if you miss the good old games you have had fun with in your Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and SNES, get yourself Morphgear. Morphgear is an open-source software project that simulates the hardware systems of your old game consoles. This translates to hours of gameplay reminiscent of Super Mario and the Legend of Kage. Click here for screenshots.

I think I have now gotten you convinced that the Pocket PC is the ultimate gadget of choice when it comes to range in functionality over all other mobile phones.

Have fun playing!

posted by Fritz @ 12:00 AM