The Blogtastic Blogfest That Is Getmeoutofthis.net!

Cara was all like, “Man, I really want to game! Video game! Games!” and I was trying to think of things she’d like. It was then I realized that she has one of the greatest current gaming consoles: an iPad. So I decided I’d make a list of games she should get in order to get going in gaming. This is that list.
Goals of the list include getting cool games, not spending more than $20 bucks, and also getting a general game education, which is something she seems interested in. Let’s do this! In no particular order:

AppShopper
Cost: Free
Pros: Not a game, but anyone who is serious about iOS gaming needs this. There are so many sales and one day free giveaways on the App Store that it’s really worth your time to tag all interesting, but expensive games in AppShopper and wait for it to tell you that they’re on sale for a buck.
Cons: I find the fact that it dings you on app updates a bit annoying, even after I set it to do otherwise, but it’s a minor inconvenience in a great app and website.

Capcom Arcade
Cost: Free
Pros: A selection of old school Capcom awesome. One of them is Puzzle Fighter, so that’s fantastic. They keep adding more stuff, too.
Cons: Can only play a few times a day without paying to “buy” a game, though I feel that’s pretty fair. Interface to select games is kind of ass.

Word Ace
Cost: Free
Pros: A really brilliant online multiplayer word game. I’ve had a ton of fun with it.
Cons: If you lose a lot, you’ll run out of chips and can’t keep going. Game tries to default you into high-stakes games so you will want to buy chips, which is unfortunate. Constantly has a notification icon I can’t get rid of, which bothers me.

Peggle
Cost: $2.99
Pros: It’s fucking Peggle. Simple, fun, addictive, best use of ode to joy. Can purchase Peggle Nights expansion from the app, if you’d like.
Cons: I guess it’s expensive for the app store? But I mean, it’s Peggle.

Frotz
Cost: Free
Pros: A fine way to play Interactive Fiction on the iPad. Hooks into the IF archive, so you can download tons of games.
Cons: Typing on the iPad is not super great. Interactive Fiction, for all its charms, is super obtuse, even in modern forms of the genre, so it’s not very newbie-friendly.

You Don’t Know Jack HD Lite
Cost: Free
Pros: You Don’t Know Jack is awesome. I’m cheating and putting the free version on the list, but they even update the demo with new episodes every once and awhile. A treat.
Cons: No multiplayer still sucks. Jack is better with friends!

Words with Friends Free
Cost: Free
Pros: It’s scrabble, with the best online multiplayer on the platform, save for Carcassonne, which uses the same sort of multiplayer.
Cons: The ads really bother me, but, you know, you can always throw money at that problem if you want, like I did!

Spider: Bryce Manor HD
Cost: $4.99
Pros: One of the best controlling games on the platform, it’s a ton of fun. You get to explore, you get to master leaping about, and there are challenge modes if you want. What more can you ask for?
Cons: Expensive? I guess? Could always wait for a sale.

Robot Wants Kitty
Cost: $.99
Pros: An introductory Metroidvania game. Not too difficult to build those sorts of skills, but a lot of fun.
Cons: One song over and over forever ahhhhhhh!

TapDefense
Cost: Free
Pros: Not the best Tower Defense game, but a good introduction to the genre and extremely playable for the cost of free.
Cons: Not a lot of challenge variety, but hey, free game, so…

Mouse House
Cost: $1.99
Pros: A great clone of Lolo that I had a lot of fun with back in the day. Puzzle rooms ahoy! No real twitch skills required.
Cons: Controls are a little iffy at times. Doesn’t ruin the game, but could be better.

Cut the Rope
Cost: $.99
Pros: Cute as fuck. Constantly changing up the various toys you’re playing with, but in a way that makes sure you always know what’s going on. Uses the touchscreen fantastically.
Cons: Uh, no idea, really.

Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift
Cost: Free
Pros: A unique set of Cut the Rope levels, for free. Use it as a demo, or enjoy the fresh levels if you already have the rest.
Cons: Even less cons than Cut the Rope.

Super QuickHook
Cost: $2.99
Pros: Amazing arcade action. Charming and funny as hell, with lots of subtle improvements over Hook Champ (which is why I pick it over Hook Champ, though they’re both fantastic) and a nice progression to work through. Super-tight controls. A joy to play.
Cons: For-pay costume DLC? Doesn’t bother me. Maybe it bothers you? I’m looking hard for a con here. It’s a game I love so much, it’s hard to find one.

100 Rogues
Cost: $.99
Pros: An excellent introduction to the Roguelike. The easy mode is perfect for beginners. The normal mode is a solid challenge for roguelike fans. The interface is fairly great on the iPad, too.
Cons: For-pay character classes, though you get two fine ones to start with, so not a big deal. Occasional control problems, even with how good they are. Roguelikes are hard.

You Don’t Know Jack
Cost: $2.99
Pro: Fuck it, I have money left, and this is quality trivia action.
Con: I guess you’re not getting the HD version because that’s more expensive? But who cares, it’s text on a screen and voices.

That’s all I’ve got. I want to, say, put Final Fantasy on there, just for the history lesson and introduction to RPGs, but $8.99? Give me a fucking break, SquareEnix. I also know Cara likes car games, so I’d love to put a driving game on there, but I’ve never played any on the platform, and I don’t want to suggest something that may suck. Also, Cara, I know you downloaded Puzzle Quest when it was free. Play more of that. That’s good shit.