Best Apps for Windows Phone, August 2011

Shuriken Ninja

Destroy targets with bouncy shuriken.

With a title like this, you may be expecting a Fruit Ninja clone. Thankfully, it’s far from it. Well, not far from it: they both revolve around ninjas hell-bent on destruction. But, unlike Fruit Ninja, our protagonist is much more considerate of all the starving children out there, as he only destroys targets.

The idea is to hit all the targets on screen using the number of provided shuriken (ninja stars). The shuriken bounce when they hit metal, and you will be forced to bounce them into a number of targets in a single throw in order to complete some levels. Not all the walls are metal, however, and the stars will stick into wood.


To make life difficult for our eternally practising hero, the targets don’t always sit still. How they manage to move all by themselves in a pre-industrial society is probably beyond the scope of this review.

The game comes with 63 levels, and, if you fancy yourself a bit of a puzzle artisan, there is a level creator available at the web site.

The software is free but ad-supported, which I don’t have a problem with, as the ads sit unobtrusively up the top of the gameplay screen.

Free > Clockwork Computing > Link

Satalaunch

Attention intrepid space traveller! You must pilot an exploratory satellite to the distant planets. Survival depends on collecting stars on the way, but beware the many obstacles in your path!


You will eventually reach deep space, where you will find black holes, nebulae, wormholes, and other unknown terrors.

Many unlockable achievements await you, as do special levels. Rewards for such danger are plenty, with the ability to create your own universes, to share with your friends back home.

Free > Numaris > Link

Cocktail Flow

You like drinks, I like drinks, let's get together and have a drink! Oh noes! What to drink!? I only have chartreuse and gin! Does that even work? Lemme check Cocktail Flow.


Ah yes, let’s grab some sweet vermouth and orange bitters for a Bijou. Lucky I have some glace cherries lying around for the garnish.

Had I owned more alcohol, the list of possible cocktails would have been bigger, but I’m thankful for the ‘Shopping’ section letting me know what I need to make more.

À votre santé!

US$2.99 > Gergely Orosz > Link

TuneIn Radio

The FM radio found in most WP7 phones is pretty groovy. You get to listen to Katy Perry, advertisements, and wacky morning DJs. I love all those things. (Ed: really?)


Sometimes, though, you may want to listen to something a little calmer. Whether that be on the AM band, or on FM waves that have no chance of travelling the several thousand kilometres from where they beam, TuneIn Radio will live stream your favourite show to your grateful ears via the power of RadioTime and wireless internet.

Free > RadioTime > Link