pixel

DISCOUNT (479p → 99p) Review of the game Hyper Light Drifter for iPhone and iPad – a high-quality hybrid of Diablo and Legend of Zelda in pixel style

10/01/2022 by

Hyper Light Drifter is a prime example of how understanding a product’s storytelling aids gameplay. Artist Alex Preston has set out to raise funds on Kickstarter to create a 2D hybrid of Diablo and Legend of Zelda. Hyper Light Drifter was created in the classic pixel style, in which the game interface itself, and even the plot, underwent asceticism.

Download Hyper Light Drifter for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

Thanks to the company on Kickstarter, we managed to find out that the main character is a stalker who is looking for rare artifacts by selling them to merchants. The character clearly experiencing health problems wanders the empty world in search of a cure for his mysterious and terrible disease. So playing Alex Preston shared his story, suffering from a congenital heart defect. But what happened to the world itself – it will be difficult to understand. We’ll have to look for special monoliths with symbols printed on them and try to decipher them. This is not an easy matter, it is no coincidence that on the forums and on YouTube, fans offer their own options for interpreting the plot. We are not offered any textual and sound inclusions about what happened earlier. We’ll have to speculate based on the appearance of stories of rare characters encountered, presented in the form of not even clips, but pictures.

The game world is a city and four locations diverging from it in different directions. Even if civilization has collapsed, the journey will not be easy. The tramp has an energy sword in his equipment, with which he can crush enemies near him. Another weapon of the hero is an energy pistol for attacks from a distance. Over time, the tramp will also be able to throw bombs, which will help to cope with the accumulation of enemies. Often you will have to jump over gaps, which is helped by the skill of acceleration, a kind of jump. Everywhere a kind of drone travels behind the vagrant, which helps him in healing and activating mechanisms.

♥ ON TOPIC: The best games for iPhone and iPad according to the version of Yablyk: 100 most-most.

As you progress through the level, the strength and number of monsters increase, which makes you think over and change tactics. There are only five bosses, but only the last one is really difficult. Thoughtlessly crushing enemies will not work – the number of cartridges is limited, and after three blows with the sword, the tramp pauses. Even the first aid kit must be used wisely – a missed blow will interrupt the treatment. In general, all the skills of the hero are thought out, and victory in difficult battles is akin to solving a puzzle. You can carry only from three to five first-aid kits with you, which makes you not rush madly into battle at numerous enemies. Fortunately, there is no special punishment for death – the tramp simply returns to a checkpoint nearby.

In the yellow containers hidden a kind of analogue of money, which can be used to purchase simple upgrades. But most of the required things, as well as first aid kits, switches and keys, are hidden by other items. So the tramp will have to look at literally all corners and unobvious places, but the bonuses can pleasantly surprise you.

Despite the seeming limitations of pixel art, the animators managed to create a juicy and vibrant picture. Some “acidity” can even hurt the eye, but this can be easily corrected by simply lowering the brightness in the game settings. The influence on the creators of the anime genre is subconsciously felt. There are a lot of square shapes in the game, so pixel art does not seem to be a cheapening of the product, but an appropriate tool.

The soundtrack in Hyper Light Drifter is hard to find fault with. Melancholic and mesmerizing music can remain so even in dynamic battles, but sometimes it turns into harsh ambient, forcing you to start up and feel like a participant in an intense action. The sound design still emphasizes a kind of melancholy from everything that happens – civilization has died, and our vagabond does not have much of a chance to change the fate of the world.

Hyper Light Drifter has received very high critical acclaim. They celebrate her exquisite pixel art, soundtrack, detailed game world, and a fair amount of complexity. Hyper Light Drifter is not a one-time, simple and understandable slasher. It is worth accepting the peculiarity of the graphics and enjoying the sound background. Over time, the game will open its world and you really want to understand it. It is no coincidence that the creators have been working on Hyper Light Drifter for two whole years, honing details and scattering secrets. A quick passage will take from 7 to 9 hours, but it will take at least 20 hours to open all caches and secret rooms. The game will definitely appeal to numerous fans of The Legend of Zelda, but in itself it is capable of finding fans. Hyper Light Drifter has managed to successfully combine both meditative walks with appropriate music and dynamic battles.

Download Hyper Light Drifter for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

Daggerhood Review for iPhone and iPad: High-Quality Pixel Platformer with Unique Mechanics

22/08/2021 by ALOK DAS

Many people have developed their love for platformers by playing Prince of Perisa and its many varieties and clones on various platforms. The game is considered a classic, albeit outdated. Any fan of this genre knows that a successful game is a game with the ability to creatively use the time to complete it. Empty mechanical actions will not attract. It is no coincidence that Prince of Persia has become a hit, and the recently released Daggerhood has become its successor.

Download Daggerhood for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

Its protagonist is Vincent S. Daggerhud, a skilled thief. None of the treasures could resist his quick hands. But one day Vincent paid for his deeds. In atonement for his sins, he was thrown into a cave labyrinth full of dangers. Driven by a desire for freedom and revenge, Daggerhud decides to get out.

The game is a challenging retro platformer with many stages. Each of them will take up to 30 seconds to complete. What’s the catch? It is actually quite difficult to collect all the treasures and reach the finish line in the allotted time. Some stages will require repeated passage in order to meet the required limits. Sometimes it frustrates the player, but how much pleasure it will be to find the optimal way to collect all the artifacts in the allotted time!

In Daggerhood, an interesting mechanic is used to move the hero – he throws a dagger in front of him, and then teleports to the place of his fall. Most of the game is based on mastering this movement technique. How to jump over the spikes in a low-ceilinged tunnel? Just throw the dagger forward!

But getting from point A to point B is only part of the goal. To fully complete the level, the player must meet the allotted time, collect all five treasures and catch, moreover, a strange fairy. And if collecting artifacts is relatively simple and straightforward, then meeting the deadline and catching the fairy is very difficult. The magical creature is usually positioned outside the optimal path. You can’t just grab the fairy on the way to the exit. And this creature is hidden and protected better than some treasures. It will take some creative thinking to find the fastest route to the exit, taking into account the collection of treasures and fairies.

Timing is important in Daggerhood, as the clock ticking in the upper left corner reminds of it. Moving through a level full of many dangers requires impeccable actions both in the form of jumping and throwing a dagger for teleportation. You can just jump from platform to platform, but it will be much slower. Most often, it’s quicker to just throw a dagger in front of you and teleport to it, but there are some nuances here. Once you gape, the dagger will fly away to its maximum range. And early teleportation will lead to a fall on deadly spikes.

If the stages were simple and linear, then the speed and time of passage would not play a special role. Without proper stage design, the game can turn into a relaxing journey, rather than a test of skills, intelligence and nerves. Fortunately, at Daggerhood, the creators got serious about shaping the stages and the need to get creative with them.

In total, the player has to go through five worlds. Each of them introduces new mechanics, at different stages you have to combine their actions. For example, on the second level, mushrooms appear, a jump on which will bounce much higher than usual. At first, the algorithm of actions seems simple – to jump on a mushroom in order to overcome a pointed hill or a large abyss. But with the advancement around the world, the nuances of such actions appear. When jumping from a mushroom, you will need to find the best moment to throw a dagger, turn on the power or dodge danger. Figuring out how to best use the various action mechanics available is a fun part of the game.

In each world, in addition to its unique mechanics, there is also one final level with a boss. This stage is already much more like a fight than speed races on the other 19 levels. Here you will need an even more balanced approach to your actions, because bosses are a great danger with their size, movement, and even attacks. The leaders act according to their own clear algorithm. But the attack patterns are quite complex, except for a simple action scene. In other cases, on the contrary – bosses act primitive, but at the same time complex environment. In any case, it is easiest to focus on one aspect of your actions. Simplified boss behavior or simple terrain will only make it easier to defeat the boss.

The purchase of any game means payment for the time spent completing it. It is reasonable to ask the question – how much will you need to devote to Daggerhood? As in most cases, it all depends on many factors. On the one hand, there are one hundred unique stages, each with a time limit, fairy and treasure to collect. It is quite difficult to collect all the necessary items and get to the door in time, and even in one single attempt. On the other hand, passing each level gives you the opportunity to return to it many times in order to replenish the collection. The interface may be missing a few custom elements, such as total game time or total deaths. It would provide a more compelling reason to return to the game, please the record holders, and simply satisfy curiosity.

Daggerhood can be called a good game, even a very good one. It is very diverse and you can quickly and easily learn how to play it. However, it takes a lot of practice to become a truly proficient gamer. The game offers rich content, fast track options, uncluttered graphics and an enchanting soundtrack. Daggerhood is not a perfect platformer, and should not be recommended to the general public who is prone to quick frustrations. But those looking for a hardcore experience will love this game.

The Daggerhood game is currently an iOS exclusive and is available at a price of 279 rubles.

Download Daggerhood for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

DISCOUNT (479p → 99p) Review of the game Hyper Light Drifter for iPhone and iPad – a high-quality hybrid of Diablo and Legend of Zelda in pixel style

02/04/2021 by ALOK DAS

Hyper Light Drifter is a prime example of how understanding a product’s history can help gameplay. Artist Alex Preston has decided to raise funds on Kickstarter to create a 2D hybrid of Diablo and Legend of Zelda. Hyper Light Drifter was created in the classic pixel style, in which the game interface itself, and even the plot, underwent asceticism.

Download Hyper Light Drifter for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

The game world is a city and four locations diverging from it in different directions. Even if civilization has collapsed, the journey will not be easy. The tramp has an energy sword in his equipment, with which he can crush enemies near him. Another weapon of the hero is an energy pistol for attacks from a distance. Over time, the tramp will also be able to throw bombs, which will help to cope with the accumulation of enemies. Often you will have to jump over gaps, which is helped by the skill of acceleration, a kind of jump. Everywhere a kind of drone travels behind the tramp, which helps him in healing and activating mechanisms.

♥ BY THEME: The best games for iPhone and iPad according to the Yablyk editorial board: 100 most-most.

As you progress through the level, the strength and number of monsters increase, which makes you think over and change tactics. There are only five bosses, but only the last one is really difficult. Thoughtlessly crushing enemies will not work – the number of cartridges is limited, and after three blows with the sword, the tramp takes a pause. Even the first aid kit must be used wisely – a missed blow will interrupt the treatment. In general, all the skills of the hero are thought out, and victory in difficult battles is akin to solving a puzzle. You can carry only from three to five first-aid kits with you, which makes you not rush madly into battle at numerous enemies. Fortunately, there is no special punishment for death – the tramp simply returns to a checkpoint nearby.

In the yellow containers hidden a kind of analogue of money, which can be used to purchase simple upgrades. But most of the required items, as well as first aid kits, switches and keys, are hidden by other items. So the tramp will have to look at literally all corners and unobvious places, but the bonuses can pleasantly surprise you.

Despite the seeming limitations of pixel graphics, the animators managed to create a juicy and bright picture. Some “acidity” can even hurt the eye, but this can be easily corrected by simply lowering the brightness in the game settings. The influence on the creators of the anime genre is subconsciously felt. There are a lot of square shapes in the game, so pixel art does not seem to be a cheapening of the product, but an appropriate tool.

Download Hyper Light Drifter for iPhone and iPad (App Store)

In the meantime, there is no need to worry about it. ”

My iPhone 11 suddenly has a broken pixel

20/12/2019 by ALOK DAS

It seems I’m starting to get lucky for marriage on the iPhone. Then in the iPhone X suddenly stopped turning on, then a similar story happened with last year’s iPhone Xs Max. And here again.

No, smart turns on and works. However, now a broken pixel has formed on it. And okay, if it were an OLED display, this is a familiar thing there. But my iPhone 11 has an LCD screen.

Let’s figure out what to do in such a situation.

How i discovered it

Today was the first season of the series The Witcher (a review will be later). And while watching the series, I noticed that there is an unnatural dot on the screen that stands out in bright scenes.

This is the same burnt pixel. Its nothing do not do it yourself without loss of warranty. Yes, and well-known “artisanal” methods are often suitable only for monitors, plus they do not always work.

Apple does not deny that a broken pixel may form on OLED displays. They burn out faster than in IPS.

This is due to the burning of cells with liquid crystals.

What is a broken pixel and how to find it

Defective pixels – These are broken points or parts of a point on the display of the device. A point that is knocked out of the color palette will be immediately visible on the screen; it has a different color. It happens that a software malfunction occurs, and the pixel just changes color, and when it turns off, it becomes completely black.

You can detect such a defect on white or light background. For testing, you can use any program from the App Store. For example, free Screen test.

The application displays monotonous pictures of white, black, green, red or blue. Sometimes other shades may be involved. Depends on software.

What to do with a broken pixel

Since my iPhone 11 was released recently, you can contact any authorized Apple service center.

Two years ago, we published an internal document for the ACS, which indicates how the Cupertinians determine whether their equipment falls under warranty repair.

The formation of faded pixels during the first year (for Russia and the second year) is not the norm. Even if it is unique and barely noticeable. The company undertakes to repair or replace the device with a new one. *

As a rule, they change it on a new iPhone, but they can also give a restored one, since in guarantees clearly spelled out: “will replace the Apple Product with a product that is at least functionally identical to the Apple Product.”

In other words, you may not be given a completely new gadget, but it will be comparable to the state of your device

Where to make a replacement and how to prepare for it

Before you submit your iPhone to the service, I strongly advise you to create a backup. When your device is taken away, it will most likely be completely erased. They will also turn off the Find iPhone feature.

You can make a copy in two ways: through iCloud or iTunes.

iCloud

1. Open Settings -> your Apple ID -> iCloud.
2. Go to the iCloud Backup tab.
3. Turn on the appropriate slider and wait for the backup.

iTunes

1. Open iTunes on macOS or Windows.
2. Log in to your Apple ID, if you have not already done so.
3. The icon of your gadget will appear in the upper left corner of the screen, click it.
4. Click Create Copy Now. Pre-select iCloud or This computer.

After you made a backup, you can safely go to nearest authorized service center. Which he did.

What is the result

My iPhone 11 was taken for warranty service. Since recently Apple officially supplies displays to Russia, the screen will be replaced.

If you find something similar in yourself, contact the ACS. Now the load on services is high, the waiting period can be more than 7 days.