Filed in archive Computer Games , iPad Game Apps on May 21, 2010

Part 1: Great Games On Your iPad

© Yutaka Tsutano

A rather diverse lineup of games that includes racing, casual, puzzle, adventure, and action titles made it to the list of must-haves on your iPad. It seems like iPad gaming is off to a hot! Hopefully this means more great offers are on their way.

Here's our first batch of selected games.

Angry Birds HD

Angry Birds HD really optimizes the use of the new and bigger iPad screen. The original game always seemed rather limited on the smaller iPhone screen, so it is really a thrill to see the iPad version. Angry Birds HD isn't a universal app but with the new levels Chillingo added like a crazy new boomerang bird, and hidden golden eggs that unlock even more levels, playing Angry Birds HD should really intensify the fun. It plays the same way on the iPad as on the iPhone-you flick birds with the slingshot at the pigs and their assortment of defensive structures. But the clever animations on the larger screen as well as the more carefully thought about design must be appreciated. Plus, zooming out to survey the battlefield is now practical.

Need for Speed Shift

This $10 game has seven different types of game play modes including drifting competitions, driver duels, and, of course, a good ol' fashioned race campaign. There is even an optional control system for experts that lets you use manual transmission. It has 20 real licensed cars, all of which can be upgraded and customized as you win. There are no cheesy plots or bad acting in the video, so this game is really breath of fresh air. It is quite easy to learn and yet deep in its gameplay. This will keep you behind the wheel for hours!

Pinball HD

This is a perfect iPad game: it easily fits the iPad's gaming capabilities, it has simple and intuitive controls, a great graphic design, and it only costs $3! Features include three different tables, each with its unique design, gameplay and challenges. If you used to play the mechanical pinball machine of not so long ago, you will certainly appreciate the accuracy of the physics of this game, approaching the real thing in almost excruciating detail. It is a great choice for two-player games in which each player controls one of the flippers so it's a good ice-breaker among family or friends. This game will definitely keep you entertained for hours and hours.

Real Racing HD

This game has three game modes, three difficulty levels, five control mechanisms, 48 unlockable cars, and 76 unlockable events! Because the iPad is about the size of a go-kart steering wheel, it serves as a perfect platform for this first-person racing game. At $10, you have more than enough choices an experience "geared" to your exact specifications. And the high definition graphics makes Real Racing HD one of the best racing games in a crowded field of worthy contenders.

Strategery

Bigger is better. That's what Strategery proves when it was launched on the iPad. The game on the iPhone was unwieldy. You had to scroll all over your map as you tried to manage your warring dots. Strategery perfectly embraces all the extra space that the iPad gives, making the huge maps more manageable and fun, tooThe bigger screen also allows you to see more of everything so you can easily compare army sizes and tweak game settings without switching between menus. There are also more on-line features as well so you can take on any one in the combat world.