OVI Games

Petanque Boule Fighters

2011-01-22T19:22:00.000Z

Publisher: Woody Games
Category: Sports

Release date: December 2010
Type: Demo version
Limitation: number of players, competition mode, court surfaces.
Adverts: No
Note: touchscreen only

Petanque is a form of bowl game, in which your aim is to throw your ball as close as possible to the jack. I have to say that much of the appeal comes from the way you throw the ball by moving your finger on the screen - intuitively giving strenght and direction to your shot.
I find it entertaining (and somehow relaxing) to just practice and refine your skill. Once you get the hang of it, the two opponents available in the demo will appear very easy to beat though. The full version includes six opponents that can be unlocked in competition mode. I can tell that the nature of petanque makes the game fairly repetitive, I mean it doesn't have a great variety of situations to offer, but just getting into the game and its most strategic aspect (like having to shoot an opponent's ball that is blocking the way, which the AI does sometimes too) is enough to get totally engrossed.
Graphics are pleasant without being flashy in any way. Overall, it was a great surprise of a game.

Score: 4.5/5

Marv The Miner 2

2011-01-21T18:15:00.005Z

Publisher: Digiment Games

Category: Action

Release Date: January 2011
Type: Free version

Limitation: 20 level (out of 31)

Adverts: Yes (requires internet connection, disturbance: low)

Has there been a Marv the Miner number 1? Who knows. The same question could be asked about "Box It 2" from the same publisher...

Marv the Miner is a side platform game with nice graphics. It looks very promising, until you realize that the objective for each level is to highlight all platforms by stepping on them, and I mean every single section. Some monsters come into play after a few levels and spice it up a bit, but the very principle of the game is not very exciting. There is also a lot of frustration with the controls. When you consider that the only skill the game is based on is that of being able to land where you expect - which turns out to be extremmely tricky, you can't help being disappointed.

Score: 2.5/5

Chess Lite

2011-01-20T12:31:00.000Z

Publisher: ZingMagic
Category: Strategy

Release Date: December 2010
Type: Lite version
Limitation: -
Adverts: Yes (requires internet connection, disturbance: very high!!)

When it comes to mobile chess games, you can easily be fooled by the name: some of them are just chess clocks, others are just chess boards and don't include any AI.
As someone who enjoys a little chess but never had the opportunnity nor the will to play on a regular basis, let me tell you that having it on your mobile is probably the easiest way to keep playing and eventually improve. Yet it has to be said that a proper free mobile game of chess is a rare commodity.
Chess Lite from ZingMagic is the only free chess game on OVI (as far as I have been able to gather), that has proper AI. The Lite version has got three difficulty levels, the Easy mode already providing a good challenge for casual players like me (but still not impossible to beat).
In-game adverts come at the highest level of disturbance though, just be prepared to Skip once every five moves or so.

Score: 4/5

Crazy Hamster

2011-01-19T18:55:00.000Z

Publisher: Gamelion
Category: Puzzle

Release Date: October 2010
Type: Lite version
Limitation: 3 levels only
Adverts: No

Who would blame them for choosing a name that tries to cash on the success of Angry Birds (along with Crazy Penguin, all from different publishers)?
Having said that, Crazy Hamster is reminiscent of an old classic from the 90's, 16-bit era, called Lemmings. The difference is that here you have to look after one single beast rather than hundreds on the screen. Since the hamster is always going to move forward, make sure you clear the way in time, by using fire extinguishers, placing bridges, trampolines and other devices... Obviously you have to anticipate the obstacles, and react quickly.
I was not overly enthusiastic about this game, it seems a little predictable, but I still think it is pretty good. The graphics are nice and coloured, and it is generally very well executed.
It has to be said that the Lite version is very short, which is forgivable.

Score: 3.5/5

Crystal Mountain

2011-01-18T18:32:00.000Z

Publisher: Arctica
Categorie: Puzzle

Release date: December 2010
Type: Free version
Limitation: number of levels
Adverts: Yes (requires internet connection, disturbance: low)

In this 3D first person puzzle game, your aim for each level is to collect all blue crystals and find your way to the exit, avoiding different types of monsters that are there to get you. It is a turn-based game, meaning that you have all the time to think between each move, which came as a bit of a disappointement at first, not that I exactly expected a first person shooter, but at least the kind of immersion that you can find in some good old adventure games. How wrong was I, nothing could have prepared me for this game, and it turns out to be good this way. In spite of the 3D representation, it is not an action game. You will not be very impressed by the graphics, but it has got a certain artistic quality, along with the creepy music, creating a weired and very tense atmosphere.
For a puzzle game (because that is what it is), I wouldn't call it extremmely addictive (which may be a good thing after all).

Score: 3.5/5