It's addicting, open, and at the same time structured. It also offers a decent amount of character progression. It ticks a lot of boxes on a lot of different checklists, and is bound to appeal to players with a number of different preferences.

Like a good thrill ride, Lumicon goes from banal and meditative, comfortable and easy to a tilt-a-whirl of tossing, screaming, stomach-flipping nostalgia. It's why I stand in line for 45 minutes in the first place.

The visuals are very well done, making it easy to track the action even on small iPhone and iPod screens.

It's a little cumbersome placing one finger on a shape to move the machine along the riverbed, blocking the player from seeing what's going on but, other than that, Eager Beaver ticks all the relevant physics puzzler boxes. It's not quite as interesting a concept as we usually see from Chillingo but the cute appearance of Edgar goes a long way to rectifying things.

Astronot nails the retro experience like no other game on the App Store ever has. That's not always in the player's best interest, but for those willing to deal with the challenge, it is rewarding.

Not a bad game. It's just kind of bland. Fans of Centipede might enjoy an iPad-friendly version of the game, and it does have gnomes in it. Everything is better with gnomes. It just doesn't take a lot of risks, doesn't do anything particularly unexpected.

Some character unlocks and powerup upgrades may take a while, though it's really just a matter of playing the game enough to unlock them. Or buying coins to get them quicker.

Yesterday offers a mature experience in a genre full of softer, more family friendly affair. It's a little too physically dark at times and its obtuse puzzles may put some people off, despite the hints system counteracting some issues, but it's an interesting tale, nonetheless.

While it might look like more of the same at first glance, Bonzai Blade is still very much worth a second (even third) look. It's familiar, yes, but it does plenty of things differently – better, even – while still utilizing the expected elements that have made the genre so popular in the first place.

Bungee Monkey is an impressive game and a bargain at less than one dollar. It's perfect for gamers of all ages and really has a family-friendly appeal. If you're in the market for a new pick-up-and-play game, I'd recommend purchasing this one.

In its present incarnation it's difficult to recommend, but at 99 cents it won't break even the piggy bank if you're curious, and you could certainly do far worse.

The app seems perfect in every way, and hats off to Codito for pulling it off.

It's still very much worth a look for those who enjoy this kind of thing, but potential players need to understand that it's not something that can be played effectively while sitting in one spot.

As far as graphics and sound go, this game is great.

The edgy comic book intros and menu art make this game feel a lot like an exploitation film from the 70′s. That makes it very difficult to recommend the title for children, but more mature gamers will certainly have good fun with this game.

Stunt Bunnies Circus is compelling. It's hard not to try "just one more time" and even harder not to laugh out loud.

So while I can't recommend it for iPhones as it is, I definitely recommend checking it out on iPad. If you liked Bit.Trip Beat but wished there were more mazes (and less beats) in it, Cosmica is the game for you.

Light Byte may look like just another matching game, but the overt simplicity and the subtle layers of complexity mesh wonderful. Pick it up, but don't expect to put it down.

The simple design looks impressive on the iPad and it's nearly impossible to stop playing after just one game. It will be worthy of five stars once the glitches are fixed-which the developers state will happen very soon.

A fresh take on the genre but also obtuse to master. The tutorial might explain all this but it's still quite a steep learning curve which may put some players off. It's worth pursuing, however, as it's an interesting take on a tried and tested formula.

A great example of interactive storytelling.

The sheer wealth of gameplay alone makes the investment well worth it. So get out there and raise some hell, er, heaven.

It's frivolous entertainment easily picked up to waste spare time, but it's not worth a trip over the rainbow.

The game is enjoyable and somewhat addictive, but it's not the original. I can't connect fully to the experience. It's a dim looking-glass view of the past, which, in the present, is simply not the same.

I was extremely disappointed by Razor: Salvation. I enjoyed Siegecraft, but a lot in this title just feels half-baked.

Fish Heroes won't win prizes for originality but it maintains a fun edge and it's consistently satisfying clearing a level with few fish. It's a great one to drop in on regularly to chip away at those 3 star scores.

Mad Acorn hasn't much depth, but it does have some really nice visuals, the great art, and inherent replay value based on desire to get better, rather than through extraneous incentives. It's a great pick-up-and-play title and solid summer casual gaming choice.

Suffering through killer plyometric workouts and dropping weighty fists of cash for brand name cleats may have to wait. For now, I can rest my aching pregnant bones on a cushy leather sofa and watch The World Cup.