Check out the latest and greatest in apps for your Windows Phone with our monthly app roundup.
Portals 2D
It’s like Portal… in 2D.
Portal was a great game made fantastic by an intriguing concept. Basing itself on part of that concept, Portals 2D is a top-down, push-the-block puzzler that involves, yes, portals.
I’m a bit of a sucker for puzzle games (as you may have noticed) and this is a standout indie release by an Australian developer, which I must admit, makes me a little proud *wipes patriotic tear from eye*.
The object of each level is to reach the elevator, so that you may climb up to the next. There are 24 levels, but a recent update introduced a level editor and community level catalogue, which is a welcome addition. However, as with any user-generated content, the quality is widely variable. There’s some gold hidden among the mud, but panning is a difficult pastime.
The app appears to be under heavy development, so hopefully level ratings will be added soon. In the meantime, you can view how many times a level has been played/completed and its difficulty. Future updates have promised to bring the ability to share a/your level with friends, as well as being able to save custom levels locally.
I found the graphics stark, but appealing, which suits the overall aesthetic of the original that inspired it.
$1.49 > Weesals > Get it here
MonsterUpAdventures
The sequel to the Doodle Jump clone, MonsterUp, this incarnation changes the game mechanics a little -- a welcome move in this tried-out concept. Specifically, the levels now have a finish line, making them a little more compelling, and there are bosses to defeat. Like in the original, the different monsters each have different abilities, but this time around, they’re unlockable by collecting booty or through in-app purchases. I love the graphics and sound, and the new mechanics make this even better than Doodle Jump.
$2.49 > Marios Karagiannis > Get it here
…I’m a WP7
…I’m a WP7 is sort of like a social network for WP7 users, but it’s not trying to be a Facebook replacement. It’s really a good way to find fellow local WP7 users or Xbox gamers, but also provides WP7 tips, tricks and news, which will be useful to any new WP7 owners. Additionally, there’s a long list of extra features, including utilities, messaging, the ability to check in to a place across multiple social networks, wallpapers, ringtones and even some Easter eggs. Worth a look.
Free ($3.49 for extra features) > Liquid Daffodil > Get it here
Photosynth
The amazing Photosynth 3D photo-stitching technology that Microsoft developed many years ago has now come to WP7. With Photosynth you can snap photos of your environment -- whether that be north, south, east, west, up or down -- and have them automagically turned into an interactive, sharable sphere-like 360º panorama. If you’re not into the whole interactive thing, it also allows you to export just regular old photo stitches. It’s pretty much the best photo-stitching product available.
Free > Microsoft Corporation > Get it here
