The APPera

Originally released as Professor Heinz Wolff’s Gravity for the Wii, DS, and PC, Namco brings the physics puzzler to iPhone, this time bearing the name, Issac Newton.

Issac Newton’s Gravity - $3.99

We’ve seen Namco release numerous games for the iPhone however most games are met with criticism good and bad. Something tells me this game is one of their games that are simply runaway hits from the get go. Also, does this port by Namco live up to the console version of the game? Find out after the jump.

Presentation

The graphics are simple but well done. The game has various backgrounds for the levels, the 2D backgrounds are wonderfully detailed and don’t get blurry when you zoom in. The physics engine is top notch, it’s as realistic as it gets, which is great for these types of games.

The game has simple sound effects, as well as a small nice relaxing soundtracking. Overall it’s very polished, just like the console version.

Controls

The thing I was most worried about for the iPhone version were the controls. You have to place the pieces precisely at one point and be careful not to knock the others down. I’m glad Namco did not disappoint. When you select a piece a cog like shape will glow around the object. You can move the piece around, and use the edge of the cog shape to rotate it. Gravity won’t apply to the object until you tap it again, and the cog shape disappears. When everything is set up the way you want it to be tap the play button and watch the action happen. You can also pinch in / out to zoom in or out.

Game Play

Gravity is a physics puzzler. The objective of the game is to press the red button, and there’s more than 1 way to do this. At your disposal you have a couple different objects, from cubes and poles to build blocks with, to marbles that can be pushed. When you press the start button a ball rolls out, and that’s what starts the momentum of the puzzle, or alternately a sort of car artifact.

What’s really remarkable about the game, just like the console version is the physics. This is as realistic as physics will get in a game, and the levels are a virtual playground where you can mess around with mass and momentum.

There’s also a level editor, where you can make your own levels (duh). This could potentially make the game a whole lot more fun. Although the game comes with 50 puzzles (half of what the console version has) that will keep you thinking for a while, with user generated levels it could be way more fun (like Labyrinth 2). However at the time you cannot share the levels you’ve created.

Suggestions

As I said above, a level editor opens up a lot of possibilities, but not being able to share these levels makes it pretty much useless. Let us share these levels / download other users levels, it’ll add a lot of reply value to the game.

Conclusion

Issac Newton’s Gravity is a fun port from console to iPhone (and yet another one from DS to iPhone ). It’s nicely made and adapted for the iPhone’s touchscreen and should be on your iPhone if you like puzzle/physics games or something that will challenge and twist your minds (for the good of course).

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