On the surface, StoneLoops! of Jurassica ($0.99, download), with its familiar formula, may not look like a standout iPhone game. But after playing it for about three weeks now, I can’t put it down. StoneLoops! is a fast-paced marble shooter, and, like highly rated Flight Control or Frenzic, it’s just one of those small addictive iPhone games that fits perfectly onto the platform. With its smooth controls and uptempo pace, the game just has to be played to be understood (there’s a free Lite version available if you want to test it out). We are rating it an 8.3 out of 10, highly recommended.

StoneLoops follows a familiar match-three formula: launch colored gems and try to match three or more of the same color to clear them. You have to clear all the gems before they reach the end of a winding path.

The controls are comfortable and accurate as you slide your finger to aim, and the quick pacing moves things along in a manner perfect for mobile gaming. There’s a certain overall flow to the game that when I start playing, I don’t want to stop.

There are 5 areas of 15 levels each (75 levels in total).

The game features 75 total levels to complete, which is about 20 hours of gameplay or more, depending on how good you are (I’m stuck on level 73). The graphics are cartoony with a prehistoric, “Jurassic” theme, but all-in-all, they’re very pleasant to look at. The sound is professionally designed, featuring bombastic music and a wide range of sound effects.

To help you clear the game board of gems, there are several power-ups that do things like destroy all gems in a certain area, reverse the flow, or alter colors. Make sure you catch these when they appear–they’ll get you out of more than one hairy situation.

The game is divided into 5 areas made up of 15 levels each. Each area has its own theme like the desert or the arctic. The gems follow paths that change after each level and increase the difficulty level by looping or overlapping, preventing you from launching your gems at certain areas of the playfield.

There is one aspect of the game I found kind of lame. There’s a reward system where you have a house in each area, and the house gets updated with things like a new roof or a walkway when you complete a few levels in each area. But that’s it. You stare at your upgraded house for a second, then go back to playing the game.

Conclusion

StoneLoops! of Jurassica is an addictive marble shooter with uptempo, addictive gameplay that is a perfect match for the iPhone and iPod touch platform. 8.3 out of 10, highly recommended.

Name: StoneLoops! of Jurassica
Developer: Playcreek
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Price: $0.99
iTunes Link: Download

Certain genres of iPhone apps, such as tip calculators and Sudoku, have seen dozens if not hundreds of iterations. If you’re going to introduce a new app in these genres, it’d better stand out. Chop Sushi falls within the highly populated match-3 realm, and luckily, it supplies a fresh take and rises above the App Store chaff.

Chop Sushi ($2.99, download) adds a role-playing twist to the match 3 genre. The main character levels up, gains health, adds new weapons, and battles powerful enemies. Game play starts out relatively basic but grows strategic with the introduction of new combinations of sushi (known as “recipes”) that have varying effects like draining health, giving extra turns, or healing. Chop Sushi gets better the longer you play, a rare trait for iPhone games. Its anime-style graphics, quirky storylines, and challenging game play put a fresh twist on a tired formula. We enjoyed this game a lot and are rating it an 8.1 out 10, highly recommended.

Like all match 3 games, the object is to line up three pieces of similar sushi or more. Chopsticks pick up the pieces when you tap them, and a swipe moves them to the end of a row or column.

Each game is a battle against a computer-controlled enemy. In the early levels, damage is done by matching wasabi (a green paste used to give sushi a little kick). As you progress, new recipes can be purchased that include the other types of sushi on the game board.

There are three modes: Adventure, Quick Play, and Challenge. The game is really based around the Adventure mode, which adds a mini side-scrolling adventure that is used to navigate to the next opponent. Along the way, you can play a mini fishing game. The fish you catch along with points gained in matches can be used to buy new recipes, challenges, and traps.

The game features an anime style to the graphics and a quirky storyline of “expelling of personal demons.” You don’t defeat your enemies so much as their jealousies, hatreds, and vanities. For example, one character is jealous of his neighbors’ furniture, and your job is to defeat that jealously and cure him. The characters thank you afterward and offer to sell you new recipes.

Chop Sushi’s strength is the depth of game play. While the early battles are pretty simple, the later stages become quite complex with the introduction of different types of weapons and healing recipes. Not only do you have to be concerned with your next move, but your opponent’s as well. In the later stages of the game, several recipes can be in play at once, and both you and your opponent can take advantage of them.

Chop Sushi is far from perfect though. The sushi are pretty small and hard to select, causing a small amount of frustration at times. But with a little practice, I got used to it. The game also drags on a bit in between matches. Traveling to the next opponent becomes a somewhat tedious process.

Conclusion

Chop Sushi is an entertaining twist to the match 3 genre that grows more challenging and engrossing the longer you play. Its quirky style and storylines will have you scratching your head at times, but in a positive way. Overall, found the game to be challenging with deep game play. 8.1 out of 10, highly recommended.

Chop Sushi is a $2.99 download in the iTunes App Store.

Name: Chop Sushi
Developers: THQ Wireless
Version Reviewed: 1.0.16
Price: $2.99
Download: