forces travel: iMore editors' Choice: Scribblenauts, Ghostbusters, Trapit, Trall, and more!

Sunday, January 27, 2013

iMore editors' Choice: Scribblenauts, Ghostbusters, Trapit, Trall, and more!

Every week, the editors and writers at iMore carefully select some of our favorite, most useful, most extraordinary apps, accessories, gadgets, and websites. This week's selections include a ton of games, a smart news aggregator, and... did we say a ton of games?

Scribblenauts Remix - Michelle Haag

My daughter actually discovered this game on the iPad, and has played it non-stop ever since. Your goal is to help Maxwell get through each level by inventing objects to pass obstacles and challenges. Your imagination is the only limit in this game, as you come up with new and original ways to solve the puzzles. For example, in one level you might need to cross a river, so you type in the word 'bridge' and one appears for you to place in the right spot. Or maybe you need to get over a large cliff, so you type 'butterfly wings' and use them to soar over, unscathed. Scribblenauts Remix contains 40 levels from the original game plus 10 original levels and the Playground where you can create to your heart's content in a sandbox environment. The game has just been updated for Valentine's Day with all new content, too. Play on multiple devices with iCloud allowing you to seamlessly switch between them, share your scores with your Game Center friends, and so much more. You don't want to miss trying out Scribblenauts, just be warned that you'll be hooked right away!

$.99 - Download Now

Ghostbusters - Chris Parsons

If you're a fan of the Ghostbusters cartoon from the 80's then you'll want to check out the latest Ghostbusters game in the app store. History hasn't been all that nice to the franchise when it comes to video games but this latest rendition does a lot better than previous iterations out there of offering something for fans. Assemble your Ghostbuster team and take on some ghosts, you'll need to fight your way through numerous levels using an array of weapons and if those aren't sufficient, you'll have to power up and get better ones. Yes, there is a money making scheme here that suggests you get through the game fast by buying 'power cores' but overall it's not a bad game to sit back and play, especially if you're a fan of the cartoon. Now, who you gonna call?

Free - Download Now

Trapit for iPad - Joseph Keller

Trapit for iPad is news aggregator that learns what you like. Like Siri, Trapit was born out of DARPA?s CALO project, an effort to make an intelligent digital assisstant. Trapit works by asking you for a topic, Apple, for instance, and then asking you to find stories you like in order to teach Trapit what it should pull into that section. The more stories you like, the more Trapit is able to learn about how it should refine what news it shows you. If it shows you a story that isn?t relevant, might be spam, or is from a source you dislike, simple press the dislike button to get rid of it. As a service, Trapit is currently in beta, though the app itself is available for free on the App Store. Be sure to check it out, because it?s definitely worth a look.

Free - Download Now

Momonga Pinball Adventures - Ally Kazmucha

Every once in a while I find a game with a decent story line and easy game play that's a great time killer. Momonga Pinball Adventures is a super cute game that's a pretty cool spin off of classic pinball.

Momonga is the last squirrel left that wasn't' taken by a gang of owls. Panda trains him to go rescue is tribe. Training and rescuing equals pinball action. You'll have to hit targets, dodge objects, and come out alive in order to save your tribe.

It's an easy enough game for children to play but stimulating enough to keep the big kids in the house entertained as well. If you're looking for a twist on an old classic, definitely check out Momonga Pinball Adventures. It's a universal download for both iPhone and iPad too so you can enjoy on whichever you prefer.

$1.99 - Download Now

Traal - Simon Sage

Traal is simple, free, and altogether intense stealth game. You control an abstract, nameless character through a dark maze full of treacherous obstacles and monstrous aberrations. Players have to collect scrolls written in an incomprehensible language in order to figure out where they are and where they're going. You have to be careful where you shine your light though, as the inhabitants will chase you down if you shine it on them. The dark music and stark, 8-bit-style graphics create an atmosphere perfect for a few jumps and frights. There's a refreshing absence of ads or in-app purchases here, which makes Traal a cozy, intimate get-together with you and your fear.

Free - Download now

Your choice?

Now that we've chosen our favorites for the week, we want to hear yours! Did you pick up a killer app, accessory, or game this week? Let us know in the comments below!