Price: £3.99
Developer: Electronic Arts Nederland BV

Category: Games

The Command & Conquer series is one of the best multiplayer franchises around, so it’s somewhat staggering that this otherwise impressive effort lacks any sort of multiplayer mode. It’s been announced in a future update, but it should have been included from the beginning. Still, gripes aside, this is an otherwise impressive effort and, while it lacks the depth and skill of the home computer forms, fans will still be impressed with its slick presentation, great visuals and varied play. Sadly there’s a lack of strategy in Red Alert. While there are plenty of different troops and vehicles, the inability to build bases and the general shortness of the campaigns makes Red Alert’s £3.99 price tag quite steep.

Longevity: 7.4
Fun Factor: 8.0

Practicality: 5.0

Value For Money: 5.0

Kung Fu Verdict:  6.6

Developer: EA Mobile
Category: Games/Simulation
Price: £2.99

It may seem to be wildly optimistic to re-create a highly detailed, PC screen-filling game on a small, portable device, but EA pulls it off. Just.
You can start with either a blank canvas and create the city from scratch, or take up one of two conurbations that are already up and running. It makes sense to check out the tutorial first, because the icons can be anonymous and everything is controlled via them. The first step is creating zones, rather than actual houses, shops and factories. To paraphrase Field Of Dreams, if you zone it, they will come. But it has to be nice, and that means electricity and water supplies, architectural attractions, parks. This isn’t Pyongyang or a Polish slum; you can’t make people live in a dismal, polluted landscape full of high-rises. You can set the housing density per zone, though, to maximise revenue, as indeed this is the grease that keeps the wheels of SimCity life rolling.

When moving around the screen, the content disappears, showing just the zones, which speeds it up. Tapping or pinching zooms in, but as the city gets bigger, it isn’t that responsive. Also, placing buildings or zoning, is manageable on the small screen, but only just. There are overlays to show problem areas, so you’ll spend time zooming in to fix problems or develop areas, and out to check over everything. If your eyesight isn’t great, this isn’t the game for you. There’s definitely that old SimCity pleasure to be had in creating a thriving metropolis, and the inhabitants do have to be kept happy within in it, although at times it can get laborious. If you aren’t a fan then this version won’t convince, otherwise dive in and get those slums built.

Longevity: 8.8
Fun Factor: 7.6
Practicality: 5.5
Value For Money: 7.8

Kung Fu Verdict: 8.0

Developer: Virtual Programming
Category: Games
Price: £0.59

This temple belongs to Horus who is the Protector of Kings and god of the sky. He claims that helping him on his quest will earn you the respect of the gods. This time around the strategy for level completion is much simpler than any of the other games and just requires you to tap on groups of three or more tokens. The simplicity of the game means that its the quickest of the series and also the easiest to get in to. This game is definitely the one to try before getting the rest of the series and again it’s great, great value at just 59p. The entire series are a very cool group of games and the subtle variations in gameplay mean that you get hours of strategic fun for a couple of quid.

Longevity: 7.0

Fun Factor: 8.5

Practicality: 5.0

Value For Money: 8

Kung Fu Verdict: 8.3

Developer: Virtual Programming
Category: Games
Price: £0.59

In the third Saqqarah game players are fighting for Anubis. He is the guardian of the dead and by far the most sinister of the gods involved. This is reflected in the music, which has a more movie like quality – adding weight to the task at hand. This time around the aim of the game is to use your finger to drag a line across three or more connected tokens on a grid. Those tokens will then explode allowing more to fall into the grid. This game is much more like Isis in terms of pace and players can really race through the first few level. Obviously they get a lot trickier as you go. It goes without saying that this games’ graphics and sounds are exceptional and that for 59p its well worth a download.

Longevity: 7.5

Fun Factor: 8.0

Practicality: 5.0

Value For Money: 8

Kung Fu Verdict: 8.0

Developer: Virtual Programming
Category: Games
Price: £0.59

This is the second game in the Saqqarah series and sees players trying to help Isis: The mother of Gods. The principle is similar to that of Bast and uses similarly joined tokens, only this time the board is always full and you rearrange the tokens into groups of three or more. Should you do this they will explode and more tokens will fall from the top of the screen to fill their place. The way this system works means that as tokens fall they often fall into groups of three or more creating continuing explosions and a constant falling of new tokens. This lifts the game and makes it seem incredibly fast paced and action packed. The speed and smoothness of the gameplay makes it instantly likeable and all the more addictive. This is one of the best of the series and an example of how to make a simple game incredibly cool.

Longevity: 7.5

Fun Factor: 8.0

Practicality: 5.0

Value For Money: 8

Kung Fu Verdict: 8.0

Developer: Virtual Programming
Category: Games
Price: £0.59

The ancient quest of Saqqarah are a series of games from Virtual Programming. Bast is the Goddess of love and war and and requires players to complete a host of levels  in order to save the beauty of her monument. You have to use your finger to move connected tokens into groups of three or more. Once this happens parts of the board illuminate and you gain points. This is a game of strategy and as the levels continue your movements have to be more and more chess-like. The graphics and sounds on this game are incredibly sumptuous and add to the series’ attraction. The price is also a great attraction, for just 59p you get hours of joyful frustration. An addictive game but not the best in the series so look out for the rest!

Longevity: 7.0

Fun Factor: 7.0

Practicality: 5.0

Value For Money: 8

Kung Fu Verdict: 7.0

Developer: Discovery Interactive Technology
Category: Games
Price:  Free

This is one of those games that you don’t want to put down until you’ve completed every last level. The premise is simple: blow everything up. You have controls on your tank for trajectory and velocity, which you must alter to hit each of the targets in the level. You have 15 shells per level and there are 15 levels to negotiate. On top of that you have to alter the way you fire each shot to avoid hitting cliffs and rocks. As the game progresses you need to have greater levels of accuracy and timing, and there are even moving targets towards the end. The build of this game is stunningly simple and devastatingly brilliant. It’s one of those games where you could easily fall out with someone for phoning you while you’re playing it! We knew that tanks were cool, but not this cool.

Graphics: 6.0

Sound: 7.0

Gameplay: 7.5