Reviews

Boonce is a Windows Phone game that is part shooter and part puzzler. You control a cannon and are tasked with taking out targets. Sounds simple until you realize you have to snake your shots through various mazes and some targets require certain actions before they can be destroyed.

Graphics are simple, controls could stand a little improvement but game play is challenging enough to keep Boonce from growing stale.

While the Nokia Lumia 920 has optical stabilization to minimize the impact of camera movements, other Windows Phones lack such features. SteadyCam is a Windows Phone 8 app that hopes to help make up for things by only taking a photo when there is no movement detected from your Windows Phone.

The interface is really no-nonsense in that all you have is the viewfinder. You take your photo as you would otherwise by using the hardware camera button (sorry, no screen touch shutter support). If the app senses any movement in your Windows Phone a message window will pop up telling you hold things still.

Galactic Reign is a Microsoft game that was co-developed with Canadian developer Slant Six Games that pretty much came out of nowhere when it appeared on Xbox Windows Phone 7 and 8 and Windows 8 and RT last week. For gamers who have yet to upgrade to Windows Phone 8, another Xbox game that runs on the previous OS is always a blessing. And cross-platform multiplayer is something we can all appreciate, regardless of which Windows Phone we carry.

Last week, we posted an extensive impressions piece about the Windows 8 version of Galactic Reign. This week, I’m back with a full review that covers both versions. Read on to find out whether or not this sci-fi strategy game has universal staying power.

Farming Simulator is a relatively new Windows Phone 8 game that has had some success over on Android, iOS and PC platforms. The game puts you in the role of a local farmer responsible for managing everything from harvesting the crops, cultivating the fields and sowing the seeds for the next harvest.

Farming Simulator lets you control various farm equipment from tractors to harvesters. The game has potential but it's held back by difficult controls and the lack of a trial version. In the end, Farming Simulator may not be much of a bumper crop.

Okay... Windows Phone developers 10tons have produced some fantastic games for Windows Phone 8 devices. You have King Oddball, Tennis to the Face and now you can add Boom Brigade 2 to the list.

Boom Brigade 2 is a tower defense, top down shooter where you have to defend your bunker from invading aliens. The game has thirty missions, a collection of bonus survival missions and a handful of upgrades to keep you busy. As always with 10tons games, graphics and animations are top notch and Boom Brigade 2 comes in as another great addition to the Windows Phone gaming library.

Windows Phone Central's review of Samung's flagship Windows Phone 8 device

Samsung is in a rather odd position. Its strength is certainly Android, but the company enjoys skinny dipping into the Windows Phone ecosystem every once in a while. The ATIV S is Samsung’s answer to Windows Phone 8, offering a familiar style to the Galaxy S3 line of Android smartphones (which can be viewed as both a positive and drawback) and packing a serious punch.

The ATIV S is supposed to be taken seriously, and when you first get some hands-on time with the Windows Phone, it’s easy to see why. It’s incredibly hard to put the smartphone down after booting the thing up for the first time. But I can't help but feel as though the ATIV S could have (and should have) been so much more.

One of the advantages the touchscreen on our Microsoft Surface or other Windows 8 device is the artist uses it presents. You can basically turn your Windows 8 touchscreen into an art canvass.

The Sensu Brush is a tool that can help you draw with not only a stylus point but also mimic brush strokes. It's not your run of the mill Windows 8 accessory but it can come in handy if you like dabbling with art/sketch apps.

The first Real Soccer for Windows Phone was less than an exemplary game. Announced back in 2010 as a launch title, it didn’t show up until well into 2012. The Real Soccer we eventually got falsely advertised the inclusion of two modes (‘Enter the Legend’ and ‘Club Master’) that weren’t even in the game. And one of the Achievements (‘Man of the Match’) was tied to the absent Enter the Legend mode, making it impossible to unlock – by design! Gameloft’s otherwise solid Windows Phone port of Let’s Golf 2 also suffered from an impossible-by-design Achievement.

Yes, Gameloft and the Xbox Live certification team were awfully negligent in those days. We brought these issues up to Microsoft, but neither game was ever fixed and Real Soccer still has the same blatantly incorrect store description it launched with.

Wordemic is a word game for your Windows Phone that is played like scrabble but you compete online against others much like you do with Wordament.

You build as many words as possible in scrabble fashion before the clock strikes zero. You then get to see how your score compares to others who are playing with the same letter sets. Wordemic starts out slow but quickly grows on you. It's a fun way to pass the time with.

No Gravity is a fast paced Windows Phone 8 game that takes you to the depths of outer space. You are tasked with defending the empire from a mysterious plague by seeking out and destroying the enemy responsible.

No Gravity has thirty-one missions to conquer, each progressively more challenging. Graphics and animations are really nice and game play will keep you on your toes. If you're looking for an entertaining, fantastic looking space fighter game, No Gravity is well worth a try.

We mentioned the release of Maluuba for Windows Phone 8 the other day and had the opportunity to tinker with the voice controlled personal assistant over the past few days. Maluuba is a "Siri"-like app that lets you initiate searches, set alarms, check your schedules, and other core functions with your voice.

While Maluuba is a nice first step there is still room for improvement. If you're looking for a voice command app for your Windows Phone, Maluuba is worth trying.