Mike Bellmore

Reviews
July 19, 2012
Great Big War Game Review
By Mike Bellmore
The hex is one of my favorite things and, no, I'm not talking about witchcraft. I'm talking about the shape and what it represents to us gamers. As a kid I remember finding one of my dad's old wargames, the arcane kind with plastic bags full of abstract, cardboard chits representing different units. I remember thumbing through the thick instruction booklet and wondering how anybody could ever play a game with so many rules.
Upcoming
July 17, 2012
Arel Wars 2 Preview
By Mike Bellmore
Gamevil is a publisher whose name is attached to a ton of iOS and Android games, many of which have a distinctive Eastern flair. In my experience most of their titles are solid, so I'm looking forward to this one. I haven't played the first Arel Wars, but it looks like it made a good impression on critics and users alike. If at the very least, Arel Wars 2 lives up to its predecessor than there will be many happy fans out there, and maybe some new ones will join their ranks as well.
Upcoming
July 17, 2012
Commando Jack Preview
By Mike Bellmore
For the most part, first person is tough to pull off on mobile platforms. There are some exceptions, but generally speaking first person shooters that fit in your pocket aren't good. However, given a little twist, first person gameplay can be a welcome addition to an otherwise tried and true genre. Enter Commando Jack.
Upcoming
July 16, 2012
Follow the Rabbit Preview
By Mike Bellmore
Do you like brightly colored puzzle games like Triple Town, Cut the Rope, and Angry Birds? Of course you do! And as a fan of brightly colored puzzle games, you should be very excited for Armor Games upcoming Follow the Rabbit. In it, you take on the role of Kermix, a blocky good samaritan whose goal in life is to return gold coins to his clumsy neighbor. That neighbor is the rabbit of the game's title. You must follow him through 125 levels, picking up the coins that the bunny leaves in his wake.
Reviews
July 13, 2012
Darkside Review
By Mike Bellmore
Reviewing games can be hard, especially when they're free or cost less than a Big Mac. Sometimes a game will jump out to you and scream, "I'm awesome!" That makes it easy. Likewise, a game can scream, "I'm terrible!" When games do neither though, evaluating them can get a little muddy. It's hard to judge too harshly a game that costs less than bus fare. It just feels wrong. But at the same time, if I don't have much fun playing a game, that should be a major part of my evaluation. This is how I feel about Darkside. Dilemma might be a slightly dramatic word for my current situation, but I'm going to use it anyway.
Upcoming
July 12, 2012
Bust-N-Rush Preview
By Mike Bellmore
It's not quite Hulk smash. It's more like gnarly golem smash, or maybe NFL cave troll smash. Either way, smashing is involved -- simple, satisfying smashing. If you like to smash, Bust-N-Rush was made for you. If you're a fan of busting and/or rushing, even better.
News
July 12, 2012
Ape Entertainment to tell the story behind the blade with Fruit Ninja comics
By Mike Bellmore
Ape Entertainment continues its mobile IP landgrab with the announcement that it will produce a Fruit Ninja comic. That's the third IP in what feels like as many days. Ape Entertainment kicked off this series of announcements with news that SQUIDS, a story heavy strategy game, would see the comic treatment. Then there was Temple Run, a slightly less likely choice as it is a game nearly devoid of story. Ape's treatment of Fruit Ninja is even odder, as Fruit Ninja is about a disembodied sword slicing up flying fruit.
Upcoming
July 12, 2012
Great Big War Game Preview
By Mike Bellmore
Great Little War Game is one of the best titles available on iOS or Android. For all those gamers out there who'd rather carry around their smartphone than a Gameboy, it is the go-to alternative to the beloved Advance Wars series. But that might not be doing it justice -- Great Little War Game is no mere knock off. As a turn based strategy game, it stands squarely on its own two feet. Anyone who knows their way around a grid of hexes should do themselves a favor and give this game a try, if they haven't already.