I would have unequivocally recommended Darkside if it cost any reasonable amount. However, considering you can download it for free, you have no excuse not to check out this most excellent arcade shooter.

It's all I need from a game, really. And for the love of God, if you've ever enjoyed a Japanese pop song, buy it, because it's pretty much made for you.

While not every element was perfectly executed, it really has a tremendous amount going for it with its lovely score, beautiful art, and memorable gameplay.

It's mature, old school design. Very rough around the edges, and certainly not showpiece for the platform. Ugly, in fact. But it's also a lot of fun, and interesting enough that, given my resistance to cheating, I have a feeling I'll be squatting my way through for another solid three or four weeks.

I just can't recommend Dynamite Jack enough. It isn't the prettiest game on the platform, but it's a shining example of a port done right.

There are very few games like this on the App store, which makes it worth playing if you care even a little bit about the adventure genre. It'll make for a nice breath of fresh air between all those physics puzzlers out there.

Lumicon requires razor-sharp focus and nimble fingers, and there are plenty of strategies to suss out. If you think you and your vocabulary can handle it, you really ought to take a look.

It's deeply absorbing, and a strategy treat that fans of the genre should not miss.

Cartoony, easy on the eyes and smoothly animated, Velocirapture looks like some twisted children's television show's iOS game spin-off. While hardly the deepest gaming experience around, Velocirapture remains one of those engaging sort of titles that are perfect for the long minutes in someone's waiting room.

Webbies might be casual-friendly, but it's got plenty of potential for those of us looking for more of a challenge.

It's a beautiful, well-told story, and an experience that isn't like much of anything being made today. It's worth a look for the sake of novelty alone. And while I can't say they'll all live happily ever after, winning your way through the game's brief tale is a satisfying experience on its own.

You won't be blown away by any of the auditory or visual elements in Boom Brigade 2, but in all honesty that's not what this game is about. Rather, Boom Brigade 2 focuses on a real-time strategy experience with loads of weapons and explosions. On this front, few people will end up unsatisfied.

Band Together winds up feeling just a little bit inconsistent. Judged purely on its puzzling, it doesn't really distinguish itself. The puzzles are well-crafted, but they aren't going to seriously tax most players. But bring in the themes, the atmosphere and the presentation and it starts to resemble an experience that shouldn't be missed.

This is a pretty simple game-the high score chase is great, but there's not much else to it.

The only thing I wasn't nuts about was being forced to play multiplayer when I happily would have battled against the computer AI endlessly, but being a natural-born hermit, even I realize I have to be brave and play with others. Sometimes.

Gamers looking for a novel twist on tower defense should definitely consider checking out Human Defense. While the uneven difficulty and IAP may turn off some, I enjoyed the successful melding of puzzle and tower defense.

Regardless of whether you've been vaguely curious about Magic the Gathering or an experienced player, you need to try Magic 2013 on the iPad. For us veterans of the game, it'll also serve as a cruel tease and horrid reminder of how badly Magic Online needs an iPad port.

The kitsch is intact, and so is the light-hearted fun.

The biggest issue I have with Suspect In Sight lies with its controls. Players are given the option of using either the accelerometer or virtual joystick to control your helicopter. Unfortunately, both simply feel sluggish and not as responsive as I'd like.

An excellent port showcasing a psychedelic flair in its retro-visuals that seems to be quite prevalent in iOS arcade titles (and for good reason). Add in the quick pace, large number of levels and wide variety in difficulties, and you've got a great game worth checking out.

Chrono&Cash is still a good time on its own, don't get me wrong. If you've played Super Crate Box and Spellsword and you still want more, this game makes for a refreshing (if minor) change of pace.

This isn't a game for the control freak, or for anyone looking for a truly deep experience, but for a nice, light death or two? Load it on up, and see how far it takes you.

Of course, everything else in No Red T-Shirts is really all in good fun. But man, it's hard to shake the feeling that there's something a little wrong with punishing protesters and shaking down photographers.

Affliction amounts to an impressive faux VR tech demo that, while impressive and fairly priced, probably won't hold your attention for long.

A great diversion. Retro Dreamer has brought in a lot of its brand of charm, with cute in-joke collectables to discover and tongue-in-cheek descriptions for every little thing. It may not be the best game for those looking to dig up a serious challenge, but it's also far from mindless.

It's a smart variation on the dual-stick shooter theme, and one that's strangely reminiscent of my most recent obsession, Diablo III.

Every day we see games that pander and require as little of us as possible; it's always a relief to play one that's willing to ask for more.

It definitely feels like their most streamlined version of their formula so far, and comes strongly recommended if you haven't done the Kairosoft thing to death yet. But if you've had enough of the sim formula from Kairosoft you may want to give it a rest, lest you end up as burned out on it as I am.