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Awesome football apps for the iPad (P2)

Comment: 0 August 3rd, 2011 by: admin

Following its first part, below we give you the second half of a list of iPad-compatible football apps we think deserves more than a one-time look-over. As with the first half, this list is randomly arranged, and is based on a combination of individual features and customer feedback.

REAL FOOTBALL 2011 HD

In general this app holds its share of plusses and minuses, but overall hold together as a pretty good game.

The game presents an extensive collection of 350 teams (including national squads) and 14 leagues. Various game modes like Club Master (take control as team manager), history-based Story mode, Multiplayer (via wifi or Bluetooth) and Enter the Legend (create a player and help him through the professional leagues) are a refreshing addition to the usual, painfully generic staples of single-round and league competition play.

Player navigation is fairly simple: a virtual pad for movement, and 2 buttons for shooting, sprinting, passing, and other actions like sliding and tackling. More advanced movements are done by holding or double-tapping, tracing a circle on an empty area of the field, or using the accelerometer (for throw-ins). An in-game editor lets you change player formations, lineups, even team and player names.

The game’s HD graphics on the iPad’s resolution, combined with motion capture-generated animations produce more fluid, realistic player movement. The stadiums are beautifully portrayed, and the variety in team kits and ball designs are appreciated. The downside aesthetics-wise is the fairly generic individual player representations that in some cases make players near-indistinguishable up close. Another cause for want is the oftentimes emotionless, repetitive and inaccurate in-game commentary.

Miscellaneous features include a player database that allows for regular online updates, in-demand football news via RSS feed, and YouTube technology integration that lets you upload replays of your most glorious game moments.

Real Football 2011 HD comes in a full and a free version.

Price: £2.99/Free
Size: 263MB/278MB
Download (full version)
Download (free version)

PRO ZOMBIE SOCCER

Suddenly, realistic player animation, intuitive user controls and extensive league rosters step aside for an insanely powerful football, a lone emo soccer player, and an army of the undead.

The hit iPhone game by Chillingo Ltd, Pro Zombie Soccer, seeks out wider touchscreen pastures, coming out with its Apocalypse edition for the iPad. This version presents a complete game redesign, with larger landscapes, more space, and more zombies (of the same size as the iPhone version).

The controls are (incredibly) simple enough: move the D-pad up and down to aim and then fire the ball at an oncoming zombie. Take your pick between quick, low-damaging hits, or slower but deadlier attacks. Use the walls lining the sides of your screen for ricochet shots. The simplicity of use allows for better flexibility against a large group of zombies on the screen.

A set of three different powerups provide extra boost against the unrelenting zombie army: the Lightning Ball which slows down the attacking group, the Piercing Ball to effectively slice through the group, and the Angry Military Satellite which, combined with the iPad’s accelerometer, uses orbital lasers to pretty much annihilate all visible zombies.

The iPad version also introduces new game modes, including the Sniper Mode which, via accelerometer, lets you take a good aim at a zombie’s head.

The cartoonish animation gives enough freedom for elaborate designs and tolerable gore (i.e., like blood explosions and the ever-effective head shots). The game exploits the iPad’s capabilities through enhanced HD graphics that make the undead come alive.

Some setbacks include lack of an intuitive aiming control over your shot’s elevation, making crucial head shots near-impossible to pull off, let alone master. Also, shot precision proves a bit difficult, thereby making your task of avoiding civilian casualties a tricky order.

The remade version for the iPad promises incredibly good fun and excitement. Although at times it may become a bit repetitive, it is still overall an excellent game, whether or not you’ve ever kicked a football in your life.

Price: £0.59
Size: 199MB
Download

FIRST TOUCH SOCCER

In some circles, this app by X2 Games has been dubbed as a legitimate rival to FIFA 11 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2011.

Meant as the next instalment of the X2 Soccer Series, First Touch Soccer has entered the scene with an arsenal of beautiful graphics, and intuitive user-friendly controls. The app is loaded with over 250 teams with 30 competitions. The incredible AI executes dynamic player movements that give you the feeling of competing with an actual human opponent instead of a series of stiff, programmed CGI figures.

The game features more refined virtual controls featuring a D-pad that allows for faster player movement the father away from the centre you touch. This eliminates the need for separate button commands for sprinting. Along with the D-pad are three buttons for shooting, passing, and lobbing.

Player movements are notably realistic, although the controls could do with a bit more tweaking for smoother shooting or passing. Also, switching from one player to another involves swift direction change that makes aiming for wide shots a bit trickier than it could be.

A total of 9 game modes allow you to play a quick game, play with a friend via online multiplayer mode, or even manage an entire team that involves formation strategy, player line-up and almost every other strategic element you can imagine. Customization is allowed for almost everything down to the team uniforms.

First Touch Soccer also enables full instant replay that allows for camera control, and is YouTube-integrated, letting you upload your best in-game moments; nothing like a bit of slow-mo glory in brilliant graphics.

Players using iOS version 4.1 or earlier would do well to upgrade to at least 4.2 or later for better play experience.

Price: £2.99
Size: 309MB
Download

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