Top 50 iPhone Games 2009, Part 2: The Big Devs/Publishers Gems

January 1st, 2010

James Isabel

For the next 20 on the list, we’ve gathered some of the best iPhone games from big house developers and publishers. Please note that we’re trying to categorize the list by 10 and that other big developers’ game may appear on other categories such as NOVA appearing on The Usual Suspects list.

JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR, a movie tie in that’s as glorious and beautiful as the movie (opinion YMMV). This game isn’t just a platformer (Chapter 6 becomes open world O_O), it’s an iPhone adventure game for the ages!

HOMERUN BATTLE 3D (Former BASEBALL SLUGGER), oh boy! Frankly the first solid implementation of online multiplayer where players across the globe face off and “out homerun” each other. This game set the bar high for future Com2Us games which they delivered..

INOTIA: A WANDERER OF LUONE, the original Chronicles of Inotia was good but was not best. It turns out they’ve saved everything including online multiplayer with the sequel that makes for every wrong thing on the original!

NEED FOR SPEED SHIFT, though the iPhone version doesn’t fully justify a console version of the game, this is a huge step up from NFS Undercover. The drifting and the “real motion” effects just solidify this game as one of the great iPhone racing games.

2XL ATV OFFROAD, they first impressed us with the stunning (graphics wise) 2XL Supercross but left some things for imagination (like career mode). When the “sequel” got released, we got more than we asked for ultimately beating the original.

MADDEN 10, the semi weak AI and the lack of online play are two things we’d like to forget about this game. However, EA Mobile has done an OUTSTANDING job for pushing the device to its limits.

DOOM CLASSIC, DOOM Resurrection sort of failed because it just had to be put on rails. DOOM Classic on the other hand is a stellar beast because we’re now given dpads on this retro gaming, well, classic.

EARTHWORM JIM, the king of all ports? Maybe, just maybe. Gameloft ported the game in two modes: original and iPhone enhanced. The presentation and overall “tuning” of the game for the iPhone makes this game unmissable.

RAVENSWORD, this game is almost like JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR but focused on the Chapter 6 mechanics. Great RPG game and storyline rolled into 3D graphics. Without a doubt, the game deserves the accolades it got when it released so why stop now?

ZENONIA, Com2Us Korean Dev rival Gamevil‘s RPG game that just about beat the original Inotia in every level. Pull your popcorns out as the battle is just heating up. Who wants to bet ZENONIA 2 will be bigger and better!?

Be reminded that before you diss us for this list, there are 30 more games we’re featuring. If you don’t agree with us, please let us know below.

Another good source for the best games this year is our full compilation of Year Ender reports. There are some great games there just didn’t fit in with our Top 50 crop for 2009!

Posted in Features

Tags: Baseball Sluger, DOOM Classic, Earthworm Jim, Feature, Homerun Battle 3D, Inotia 2, Inotia Wanderer of Luone, James Cameron's Avatar, Madden 10, Need For Speed Shift, Ravensword, Zenonia

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http://twitter.com/Alex_Ferrigno @Alex_Ferrigno

I don't agree with NFS, I can't even explain but I just HATE HATE HATE every single NFS game, especially thr whole screen turning when you turn thing they have going on
http://twitter.com/Alex_Ferrigno @Alex_Ferrigno

I don't agree with NFS, I can't even explain but I just HATE HATE HATE every single NFS game, especially thr whole screen turning when you turn thing they have going on
http://twitter.com/watever486 @watever486

Wow this is a really solid list. 2XL is pretty good, though I found the accelerometer controls to be less than ideal. I also definitely would have included Rolando 2 and Peggle.
http://twitter.com/watever486 @watever486

Wow this is a really solid list. 2XL is pretty good, though I found the accelerometer controls to be less than ideal. I also definitely would have included Rolando 2 and Peggle.
kdhomick

Great list!

Avatar has surprised me and quickly become a recent fav. I love all of the simple control options, like climbing walls, monkey-barring a tree branch, and the like. Great graphics and tons of fun.

HR Battle (preferred the Baseball Sluggers title, personally) perfected the online-minigame. Not a full-fledged baseballl game, it just gives you the most enjoyable aspect (hitting dingers) with awesome graphics, tons of upgradable equipment, and amazing online multiplayer matchups that work beautifully. One of my fav games ever and I wont it right here on TheAppera. Thanks, again!

Inotia 2 was a wonderful surprise. I'm not much of a fantasy RPG guy, but I gave it a shot and I'm actually enjoyed myself so far. Great graphics, deep gameplay, and a positive experience. Go figure!

NFS: Shift just came out days ago, but I'm totally immersed in it so far. Graphics are nice, there are plenty of cars and upgrades, and the experience is better than I hoped for.

ATV Offroad also deserves a spot on the list. Plenty of content, great racing action, tons of stunts, and it's only a buck at the moment. Huge deal on a huge game.

Madden 10 finally brings the franchise to the iDevice and while there are aspects that I didn't like (where's the dang play clock?), it does an adequate job. I also like NFL 2010, but its a toss-up between the two. Neither has the console experience I hoped for, but at least it's a positive start.

Doom on the iDevice. Need I say more? It's freakin' Doom… and it lives in my pocket. This was one of my very first comp games and it sucked my time like no other. Must own!

Ravensword is a wonderful game from a two-man team that has impressed me greatly. Huge world, lot of content, fun times. Look out for the megatroll. Worth my time for sure.

Again, I find two on the list that didn't do it for me. Earthworm Jim did not grace my device and I'm ok with that. Never played the original, but it just holds no appeal. Can't say why…. maybe it rocks and I'm missing out, but whatever.

Zenonia was one of my biggest disappointments. Had high hopes and ended up deleting within a couple days of getting it. Yuck!

http://twitter.com/watever486 @watever486

Yeah actually I wouldn't recommend Earthworm Jim. The actual game is probably an A, but the controls are a D+ for me. Really surprised you didn't like Zenonia! The interface is awful, but other than that it's a classic! Why didn't you like it?
kdhomick

It was ok, but a bit boring for me. I also played version 1, which had the double-dash issue and some control delays. By the time the update came out, I had moved on to bigger and better things.

kdhomick

Great list!

Avatar has surprised me and quickly become a recent fav. I love all of the simple control options, like climbing walls, monkey-barring a tree branch, and the like. Great graphics and tons of fun.

HR Battle (preferred the Baseball Sluggers title, personally) perfected the online-minigame. Not a full-fledged baseballl game, it just gives you the most enjoyable aspect (hitting dingers) with awesome graphics, tons of upgradable equipment, and amazing online multiplayer matchups that work beautifully. One of my fav games ever and I wont it right here on TheAppera. Thanks, again!

Inotia 2 was a wonderful surprise. I'm not much of a fantasy RPG guy, but I gave it a shot and I'm actually enjoyed myself so far. Great graphics, deep gameplay, and a positive experience. Go figure!

NFS: Shift just came out days ago, but I'm totally immersed in it so far. Graphics are nice, there are plenty of cars and upgrades, and the experience is better than I hoped for.

ATV Offroad also deserves a spot on the list. Plenty of content, great racing action, tons of stunts, and it's only a buck at the moment. Huge deal on a huge game.

Madden 10 finally brings the franchise to the iDevice and while there are aspects that I didn't like (where's the dang play clock?), it does an adequate job. I also like NFL 2010, but its a toss-up between the two. Neither has the console experience I hoped for, but at least it's a positive start.

Doom on the iDevice. Need I say more? It's freakin' Doom… and it lives in my pocket. This was one of my very first comp games and it sucked my time like no other. Must own!

Ravensword is a wonderful game from a two-man team that has impressed me greatly. Huge world, lot of content, fun times. Look out for the megatroll. Worth my time for sure.

Again, I find two on the list that didn't do it for me. Earthworm Jim did not grace my device and I'm ok with that. Never played the original, but it just holds no appeal. Can't say why…. maybe it rocks and I'm missing out, but whatever.

Zenonia was one of my biggest disappointments. Had high hopes and ended up deleting within a couple days of getting it. Yuck!

http://twitter.com/watever486 @watever486

Yeah actually I wouldn't recommend Earthworm Jim. The actual game is probably an A, but the controls are a D+ for me. Really surprised you didn't like Zenonia! The interface is awful, but other than that it's a classic! Why didn't you like it?
kdhomick

It was ok, but a bit boring for me. I also played version 1, which had the double-dash issue and some control delays. By the time the update came out, I had moved on to bigger and better things.

http://intensedebate.com/people/cjsbug cjsbug

Most of the games in this category are out of my realm although you've been pushing Avatar quite a bit. I may be taking the plunge on this to expand my tastes.

Homerun Battle 3D however is an EXCELLENT example of multiplayer done right. You describe is as "solid." Solid indeed.

2XL ATV was a steal at $1. I think I'm gonna pass on iPhone NFS:S and get it for my 360 instead. Need for big screen and big sound imho.
http://intensedebate.com/people/cjsbug cjsbug

Most of the games in this category are out of my realm although you've been pushing Avatar quite a bit. I may be taking the plunge on this to expand my tastes.

Homerun Battle 3D however is an EXCELLENT example of multiplayer done right. You describe is as "solid." Solid indeed.

2XL ATV was a steal at $1. I think I'm gonna pass on iPhone NFS:S and get it for my 360 instead. Need for big screen and big sound imho.
http://twitter.com/smithy1111 @smithy1111

I didn't know Com2Us was a "big dev," but Baseball Slugger (i'm sticking with the original name ) definitely put them on the map! It's the only game on this list I was compelled to purchase.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ninjames ninjames

I think they have are big MOBILE developers in Korea. They have an office here in LA but most work is done at home. Same with Gamevil.

http://twitter.com/smithy1111 @smithy1111

I didn't know Com2Us was a "big dev," but Baseball Slugger (i'm sticking with the original name ) definitely put them on the map! It's the only game on this list I was compelled to purchase.

http://intensedebate.com/people/ninjames ninjames

I think they have are big MOBILE developers in Korea. They have an office here in LA but most work is done at home. Same with Gamevil.

http://twitter.com/smithy1111 @smithy1111

I didn't know Com2Us was a "big dev," but Baseball Slugger (i'm sticking with the original name ) definitely put them on the map! It's the only game on this list I was compelled to purchase.
http://twitter.com/smithy1111 @smithy1111

I didn't know Com2Us was a "big dev," but Baseball Slugger (i'm sticking with the original name ) definitely put them on the map! It's the only game on this list I was compelled to purchase.

Top 50 iPhone Games 2009, Part 2: The Big Devs/Publishers Gems

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