TapCritic – Honest iPhone and iPod Touch App Reviews

 


My early life with SimCity

Back in 1989, while my under-aged college buddies were out trying to buy wine coolers with fake I.D.s at Red Barn Liquors, I had just loaded up a new game on my Amiga 500 called SimCity.

SimCity on the Amiga 500.

The next morning, when they came in the dorm stumbling drunk, I had built a metropolis. They were not impressed. But my Sims loved me and that’s all that mattered.

This game was a first. You didn’t win or lose; it was a city building simulation. Try explaining that to your Sega Genesis playin’, wine cooler drinkin’ Golden Axe buddies.

Since then, the SimCity franchise has grown and spun-off over the years (I still have a buddy that LOVES SimAnt).

The iPhone Game

Advisors are still useful.

When I first heard EA was developing a SimCity for the iPhone and iPod Touch, I thought for sure that it would be some stripped down, lite version like Spore. Boy was I wrong. This is it: the classic game, disasters and everything.

EA has done a hell of a job porting this over to a mobile device. I think they are starting to understand the amount of money you can make off the iPhone.

Great interface design.

The interface is clean and simple. The multi-touch works perfectly within the interface. The animation, sound and gameplay are incredible. Most importantly, my Sims still hate it when I raise their taxes to 10%. We all know what happens when the Sims complain too much… ALIEN INVASION!

Graphics are familiar and detailed.

This is the game to get for the iPhone. The best full game I’ve yet played on this device. I’ve read the user reviews on the iTunes store bitching about it crashing or being buggy. They should try re-booting their iPhone after installation, like EA recommends. I followed the developer’s recommendation and I have never crashed.

One Complaint

I know, I know. I’m gonna do it anyway. The only thing that I miss in this version is the ability to rotate your map. I know it’s petty, but I miss it and I’ve said it. I feel better now.

I’m A Cheater

Intriguing...

My kids love playing The Sims 2 and love their cheat codes. When I shake my iPhone while playing SimCity a dialogue box comes up and says “Enter Cheat Code”. “Motherlode” doesn’t work. If anyone knows of any codes, please leave them in the comments or email one of us here at TapCritic.

Conclusion

This is one of the best–if not the best–game for the iPhone right now. I highly, highly recommend it. EA made a strong release with this, after sorta screwing up Spore for the iPhone. After playing this full version of SimCity for the iPhone, I’m now looking forward to EA’s upcoming releases of The Sims 3 and Tiger Woods PGA Tour.

This game, along with Brothers in Arms and JellyCar, shows that game development for the iPhone can be diverse, fun and–most importantly–that this device offers true mobile gaming.

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4. Uno iPhone: A classic (expensively) reborn.
5. The Sims 3 – Screenshots!!