Best Windows 8 apps this week
Ninety-ninth in a series. Welcome to this week's selection of the best apps and games that were published to Microsoft's Windows Store.
This week saw some strong releases such as Star Wars: Commander, another official Star Wars game that looks to become as successful as Star Wars: Assault Team.
You may notice that there are not any apps in this week's list. That's unfortunate but unless I overlooked an app, there have not been any important releases this week.
As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email instead.
Red Stripe Deals
The following games and applications are discounted by at least 50 percent this week.
- Assassin's Creed Pirates, fight sea battles in the Assassin's Creed universe for $1.99
- Doodle Kingdom, a puzzle game for $1.49
- Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink (Full), an adventure game for $3.49
- Phototastic Pro, a collage app for $1.49
- King Oddball, a fun action game for $1.49
- Mega Run, a great running game for $0.99
Best Windows app of the week
Like Star Wars: Assault Team, Star Wars: Commander takes place in the period of the first trilogy which means that you will encounter illustrious characters such as Darth Vader, Han Solo or Princess Leia while playing it.
The game puts you in control of a base which you need to improve on all levels. What is meant by that is you are not only responsible for the economic rise of the base but also for its defensive and offensive power.
It is possible to play missions either against the computer or other human players of the game.
Since you can play missions against others, others can also raid your base which is why it is important to strengthen your forces and upgrade your base's defense systems to be victorious in those raids.
You control your troops when you are attacking. Controlling means that you can place each unit type, from basic Stormtroopers to AT-ATs and Tie-Fighters (or the Rebel equivalent if you pick the Rebel side) on the battlefield but have no control over troops afterwards anymore.
You can join squads in the game which are made up of human players. The game integrates with Facebook and to use that functionality it is required that you connect your account to the game.
It needs to be noted that the game uses typical free to play mechanics for monetization. This means that you will run out of credits, alloy and the premium currency crystals pretty fast and can either wait for the first two to replenish over time or spend real money to get a one-time resource boost.
With that said, it is a great game if you don't mind the waiting time or spending money on it to speed things up.
Other apps
CanyonCapers ($4.99, free trial available)
CanyonCapers is a retro jump and run game with 50 levels in total that you need to complete to win.
You can only exit a level if you complete tasks in each. This may involve collecting all gems in a level or opening all treasure chests scattered around in it.
Creatures such as snakes wander around as well and it is up to you to avoid them or jump on their heads to temporarily remove them from the level.
You will encounter traps as on your journeys and if that was not enough already, face a time limit as well.
Game of Legions ($1.49, free trial available)
The game looks like many other match-three type of games on first glance but introduces some new game elements that add enough variety to make it stand out.
Your task in each level is to beat the enemy and to do that you need to bring the life of the enemy down to 0 before yours reaches it.
To do so you combine three or more elements of the same type on your side of the board. Doing so will either attack the enemy's elements on the board or the life directly.
Each attack type, sword, axe and lance, is effective and ineffective against one of the other types which adds a strategic element to the game on top of everything else.
Dream Arcade ($4.99, free trial available)
Dream Arcade is a side-scrolling platform game that uses the popular pixel art style.
The game supports touch, keyboard and gamepad controls that let you move the character around, jump or perform attacks.
Jumping from platform to platform plays a huge part in the game and unlike in the majority of modern games, can be quite challenging at times.
All in all an interesting game that offers great visuals and fun game play.
Age of Empires: Castle Siege has little in common with the RTS games of the series.
The game looks like an almost identical copy of Star Wars: Commander but with the difference that it is set in medieval Europe and not in the Star Wars Universe.
After you have selected a faction you begin to improve the basic settlement you start with by adding to it new resource buildings, roads, walls, and military buildings.
Since other players can attack you, it is essential to build fortifications such as archer towers or walls.
You can also recruit troops and famous leaders of the time to aid you in battles against the enemy.
Since resources and in-game currency are required to build, recruit and speed things up, you either have the option to wait a considerable period of time or spend real money to speed things up.
Even if you don't like football (that is soccer if you are from the US), you will probably enjoy Super Party Sports Football as it has more in common with Angry Birds than with the beautiful game.
While you can pick a national team in the beginning, all it comes down to afterwards is to hit enemy players with the ball by shooting it in their direction.
Once you hit them all, you can score a goal by firing the powered up ball into it.
Your main task in each match is to select the right angle and speed to not only hit the other team's players but also pass the ball along to players from your team who are in a better position.
It may sound easy but it is becomes quite challenging fast.