Mikael Raheem

App Store Updates : The latest free iOS games for the 4th week of May 2014
Get ready for another batch of free games for your iOS devices. You can Stay up to date by adding this link free iOS Games to your book marks.

Don’t forget to Subscribe to our App Store RSS feed to be noted each time we update the iOS listings.

Subscribe to Einfo Games: Freeplay for weekly video updates.

 
Ruzzle Adventure

Description: From the creators of one of the world ‘s most popular word games, Ruzzle, comes Ruzzle Adventure. Take part in the exciting adventure of magical worlds with hundreds of levels filled with mind boggling word puzzles. Can you escape the rising waters, unlock the locked letters or outsmart the Ruzzlers?

 

 
Batman & The Flash: Hero Run

Description: Become the savior of Gotham City and Gorilla City as you do battle with the Joker and fearsome Gorilla Grodd!
– Battle by night: As Batman, exit the shadows and liberate Gotham City from your nemesis, the Joker, and his army of twisted clown thugs.

 
Pablo Cavarez

Description: Pablo Cavarez: Sliding Puzzle Explorer is an original puzzle game, as easy and immediate as the Fifteen puzzle, but fun and deep as the best puzzle games. The goal of each level is to move tiles to create a safe route to guide Pablo to the exit, while collecting treasures and avoiding traps.

 
Dungelot 2

Description: How long can you last? Explore dark dungeons and hack and slash your way to treasure through hordes of bloodthirsty monsters eager to eat you for lunch!

 
Edge of Tomorrow Game

Description: The epic sci-fi thriller game of “Edge of Tomorrow” unfolds in a near future in which an alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world.

 
Elements: Epic Heroes

The dark forces have taken control over the realm! Lead the epic heroes to defeat the Dark Lord and clear the darkness from the world! SIMPLE & INTUITIVE MECHANICS • Tap to control your heroes and go towards an enemy to attack!
• Activate deadly skills to clear the dark forces from the realm!

 

That was Free iOS Games May 2014 Week 4 if games are no longer free or have been removed from the store let us know in the comments.

If you want to share more games with us either a game you love or a game you have made you can do it through our forums.

Make sure you include a title, description, image and a download link. Games shared through the forums have to be on the Itunes store. We look forward to seeing what you have to offer.

Nintendo have revealed that an adapter will be released allowing gamers to play the Wii U’s Super Smash Bros. with Gamecube controllers.
The Gamecube controller Wii U adapter was revealed by Nintendo on Thursday […]

PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate Free in PlayStation’s June Instant Game Collection

At the end of every month, PlayStation releases the games that will be apart of their Instant Game Collection, which PlayStation […]

Sega have revealed an entirely new Sonic Boom character to debut in the upcoming videogame and TV show.
The new character, Sticks, in a jungle badger, who will play a significant role in the series and strike up a powerful friendship with existing character, Amy.

Sega also revealed a bit of background for the character, describing Sticks as a ‘force of nature in every way,’ especially suited to fighting as a result of spending most of her life alone in the wilderness.

This isolation is slated to have a huge impact on her personality and role in the games, with Sega describing the character as unfamiliar with social interaction and struggling with ‘the concepts of sharing, compassion and friendship’.

Hiroyuki Miyazaki, chief content officer for the Sonic Brand at SEGA of America discusses the significance of Sticks’ introduction to the Sonic series,

“Sticks is a significant addition to the Sonic Boom universe and the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. She brings a quirky personality and perspective to the team dynamic, and we look forward to sharing this energetic and funny new character with the world.”

The Sonic Boom Series
The Sonic Boom series was announced back in February as an enormous multi-platform and multimedia project.

The series will include Wii U and 3DS games, a new range of toys and even a new TV series based on the continually popular Sonic series.

The most striking aspect of the series is the redesign of the classic Sonic characters.

Described as ‘bold’ and ‘brave,’ the animation style is very different for the Sonic Boom series that the classic style, and it hasn’t been welcomed by all fans, though Sega has promised to continue the classic Sonic design in its other games.

Sticks will be making her debut in the Sonic Boom TV series in Autumn/Fall this year, and the spin-off game around the same time.

The latest Free Games On Steam for the month of May 2014
There is a great selection of new/recently updated free to play games added to steam this month. Have a look through the list and leave in the comments the […]

The Sims 4 Build Mode Official Gameplay Trailer
A new trailer for The Sims 4 was released today and it shows off the Build Mode featured in The Sims 4. The Build Mode has gotten overhauled in attempt to make it […]

Lego Batman 3 Beyond Gotham, will take Batman out of his comfort zone and into the stars.
The popular Lego Batman franchise is getting another installment as announced by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment […]

Dragon’s Prophet celebrates one-year anniversary and opens new raid instance

One of the most successful fantasy MMORPG is now celebrating its one-year anniversary, and is inviting all gamers and fans from the […]

Mario kart 8 Characters: The List
To celebrate the upcoming release of Mario Kart 8, I decided to put together a ‘definitive’ ranking of the Playable Mario kart 8 Characters. This list will consider the significance of a character, their role in the Mario series and above all, my personal preference.

Feel free to disagree, just let me know in the comments which you agree with and which you think I’m completely wrong about!
MII (N/A)
I’ve left the Mii out of this list, just because they haven’t got a story at all. But obviously, if it was based on my personal Mii, this would shoot right up to Number 1…

THE KOOPALINGS (LARRY, MORTON, WENDY, IGGY, ROY, LEMMY AND LUDWIG) (23)
The first of many new introductions to the series on this list, the Koopalings are technically 7 separate characters, but it felt easier to treat them as one.

Primarily known as Bowser’s henchmen, the Koopalings haven’t really been given much of a starring role themselves at any point, and are more often just fodder for Mario to defeat on his way to Bowser. Until there’s a bit more definition between them, and they start to show a bit more capability, it’s hard to move these from the bottom of the pile!
METAL MARIO (22)
Metal Mario is a strange addition to the Mario franchise, serving most often as a difficult boss or final opponent in Mario sports games or the Super Smash Bros. series.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t really have much of an explanation or reason for being around, so it’s difficult to really root for him.

 
PINK GOLD PEACH (21)
The ultimate proof that Metal people need love too! Introduced as a spin-off from the Metal Mario character,

Pink Gold Peach gets a better ranking simply for being a new character: that’s always more exciting.

 
LAKITU (20)
Lakitus are most often relegated to boring jobs like umpire and filming Mario’s adventures, but Mario Kart 7 finally saw a Lakitu get its chance for glory as a playable character. It’s a big step for Lakitu, a character with not much of a role normally, and much less iconic than a lot of the other Mario characters.

Perhaps a few more appearances as playable characters will turn that all around!

BABY LUIGI, MARIO, PEACH, DAISY (16-19)  

Because they’re all basically the exact same, I’m going to deal with these babies altogether. They are cute, and I’ll be honest, I spend a good amount of my time on Mario Kart playing as these, but as far as the characters go, they just don’t have one.

In the nicest way, the babies just feel like a way to make up the numbers, even if they’re actually quite talented racers.

 
TOADETTE (15)
Toadette suffers from a regular curse in the Mario series: she seems to have been introduced just to give a partner to another character, and apart from that, she’s not really contributed much.

But still, every Toad has to have someone to love them.

 
BABY ROSALINA (14)
Baby Rosalina has a bit more intrigue than the other babies, just because she’s new and probably one of the cutest.

She does fall to the curse of the babies though: they’re really just a bit pointless as characters and genuinely just seem there to make up the numbers!

 
WALUIGI (13)
A distorted, evil version of Luigi, Waluigi was first introduced in Mario Tennis, and has since been portrayed as the brains to Wario’s brawn.

Despite this, Waluigi has never really had a massive role in any game, except for Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix: not the most serious of Mario games.

 
DAISY (12)
Essentially Peach Version 2.0, Daisy seems to have been introduced just to give Luigi his own princess to match Mario and Peach.

She’s appeared in a huge number of Mario games since her inception, and has even managed to appear as a regular character in the Super Smash Bros. games, but she’s never really been as interesting as many of the other characters.

She’s always come second to Peach, and has never really had much of a role, which explains why she falls a bit lower down in this list.
WARIO (11)
A bit of an odd-ball character, it’s safe to say Wario is one of the more unusual villains. Designed to be the perfect opposite of Mario, Wario’s name comes from a combination of the Italian plumber’s and the Japanese word for ‘bad’.

Wario has managed to do quite well for himself, achieving his own games such as the WarioWare and Wario Land series, but he’s never really achieved the iconic status of some of Mario’s other enemies.

 
KOOPA TROOPA (10)
The original source of the iconic Mario shell, the Koopa Troopas originally appeared as Bowser’s henchmen, but since then they’ve enjoyed a more random relationship with Mario, sometimes serving as enemies and sometimes as allies.

Along with the Goombas, the Koopa Troopa are probably the most recognisable and widely-known enemies of Mario, and he’s quickly wormed his way to player character status in quite a few recent titles, including Mario Golf and previous Mario Kart games.

Iconic, quirky and the source of the unforgettable shell, Koopa Troopa deserves the increasing prominence it’s getting!

 
ROSALINA (9)
One of the newest editions to the Mario family, Rosalina first appeared in Super Mario Galaxy for the Nintendo Wii in 2007, but she’s quickly become very popular. Since her first appearance she’s appeared in 9 games and was recently selected to make her debut in the Super Smash Bros. series later this year!

Rosalina was one of my most common choices for Mario Kart Wii, where she was a ‘large’ character with huge speed, but poor handling: almost the polar opposite of her new ‘Baby Rosalina’ counterpart!

SHY GUY (8)
Shy Guy is probably one of the cutest and most likeable villains in the Mario games. Having appeared in countless Mario games as a NPC or enemy, fans were thrilled when Shy Guy was originally announced for Mario Kart 7.

Though he’s loveable and one of the iconic Mario characters, he’s just never really had enough story or character about him to really make him take off as some of the other characters have, but he’s been around for years now, and he’s just too cute to insult!

 
TOAD (7)
For a long time an unsung hero in the Mario games, Toad only recently started to appear as a playable character in video games, having been relegated to NPC, assistance roles in the past.

Perhaps the most likeable and cheerful of Mario characters, it’s hard to hold anything against Toad, and it’s great to see him finally gaining more and more of a role in the series, and a sibling/love interest/best friend (no one really knows) to match!

In Mario Kart, he’s got all-round average stats, making him good for any player type, and his cool Kart designs are always a nice little extra.

 
PEACH (6)
Along with Mario, Peach is one of the most established Mario characters, but that’s not necessarily a good thing.

Despite being iconic, Peach just spends most of her time waiting to be saved by Mario. I mean, you’d think she’d have found some defence against Bowser by now. As close to a love interest as possible for such a child-friendly game, Peach and Mario have enjoyed a long-lasting relationship (if that’s what you can call her being repeatedly saved by him), and in Mario Kart they usually boast similar stats.

A firm favourite with many female Mario Kart players, but a little bit too helpless throughout the rest of the Mario series to really establish herself as one of the best characters.

 
DONKEY KONG (5)
Donkey Kong hovers on the border between ally and enemy of Mario. Originally introduced in the arcade game, Donkey Kong in 1981, he’s been the opponent of Mario at numerous points since then.

Despite his intimidating appearance and tendency to try and kill Mario every now and then, Donkey Kong is actually immensely popular and serves as something of a mascot for Nintendo, though he still lags behind a few of Nintendo’s more iconic characters.

 
LUIGI (4)
Luigi suffers from a huge case of sidekick syndrome. He’s essentially the exact same as Mario. Heck, he’s even taller. He’s just never quite got the same level of hype and adoration as his red-wearing brother.

Nintendo has recently tried to show Luigi some love with the ‘Year of Luigi’ to celebrate 30 years since Luigi’s first appearance. Luigi’s Mansion 2, Dr. Luigi and New Super Luigi U all tried their best to bring Luigi level with Mario, but I think Luigi’s going to forever just be Mario’s greener brother.

 
BOWSER (3)
Aside from Mario, Bowser is arguably the most recognisable character from the series (even though I’m sure a lot of people will disagree!) Mario’s eternal nemesis, you can be sure he’s always there with his evil laugh to try and ruin Mario’s life, but despite that, it’s hard not to love him.

One of the heaviest and strongest Mario Kart characters, you’ll feel it if he comes barrelling into you, and once he gets up to top speed there’s not much that can stop him!

Bowser is the perfect example of a cool villain, and even though he’s utterly dastardly, everyone has a little soft-spot in their heart for Bowser.

YOSHI (2)
Who doesn’t love Yoshi? He’s usually a bit of a jack-of-all-trades in Mario Kart, and he’s undoubtedly the cutest thing ever to come from Nintendo. Sure, you can’t understand a word he says, but he’s one of the Mario series longest serving characters and he’s had his own fair share of games dedicated just to him.

The perfect combination of nostalgia, cuteness and driving skill, Yoshi only just misses out on the top spot.

 
MARIO (1)

Some people will say this is a bit too obvious, but come on, was there ever going to be any other winner?

Give a controller to any new Mario Kart player and you can be almost sure they’ll go straight for Mario.

Not only has he got good all-round stats in the Mario Kart series, but for 23 years Mario has been the eternal nice guy, saving the princess and fighting the forces of evil. Plus, he’s got a cool accent, an awesome moustache that men worldwide are jealous of, and he’s one of the biggest names in all of gaming. He deservedly sits at the top of the Mario Kart 8 rankings.

So there you have it! My ultimate ranking of the Mario Kart 8 Characters. Feel free to let me know in the comments below if you agree/disagree with any of my choices! If you want to read another Mario Kart related article check out  22 Years Of Mario kart Games – The Retrospective

Mario Kart 8 will be released for Wii U on 30th May!

App Store Updates : The latest free iOS games for the 3rd week of May 2014
Get ready for another batch of free games for your iOS devices. Keep updated by booking marking this link for free iOS Games each week.

Don’t forget to Subscribe to our App Store RSS feed to be noted each time we update the iOS listings.

 
Subscribe to Einfo Games: Freeplay for weekly video updates.

 
F1 Race Stars

Description: F1 RACE STARS is completely free to play. However, some game items can also be purchased for real money. These items are optional and not required to play the game. You can turn off the ability to purchase these items by disabling in-app purchasing in your device’s settings.

 
Football Rush 2014: Brazil

Description: Don’t ask why’s Jose running against the traffic! Just dodge all the traffic obstacles and RUN from angry Santos! Kids, do not try this at home, keep the action in your phone! Hours of endless fun awaits you.

 

 
Lumena
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs63yZ8bzxU

Description:Lumena is an impossible rhythm game with an original electronic soundtrack from Modbom.

 

Smash the School – Stress Fix!

Description: From the creators of Smash the Office! High school dream come true! Are you ready to smash stuff!?

 
Godzilla – Smash3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6DJSWeIRM8

Description: Official game of the new Godzilla film from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures! The “King of the Monsters” returns in Godzilla’s mobile gaming debut!

 
Rivals at War: Firefight

Description: TAKE CONTROL of an elite team of combat soldiers. UPGRADE your weapons for each mission. FIGHT alongside your team in head-to-head battles. CONQUER rival teams from around the world. Fight for VICTORY and become the best team!

That was Free iOS Games May 2014 Week 3 if games are no longer free or have been removed from the store let us know in the comments.

Free Play Weekly: The latest free android games for the 3rd week of May 2014
Welcome back to the 3rd week of May 2014 we have another set of  free android games  for you to check out.

Don’t forget to Subscribe to our RSS feed to be noted each time we update the listings. We only update the android feed once a week it is as simple as that. If you are viewing this from a smartphone device you can subscribe to our feed using apps such as feedly to get updates from all your favorite sites.

Subscribe to Einfo Games: Freeplay for weekly video updates.

Steampunk Tower

Description: Tower defense on the rise! Take charge of the immense Steampunk Tower and help the eccentric Lord Bingham protect his precious Etherium Mine.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.chillingo.steampunktower.android.ajagplay’ name=’Steampunk Tower’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

 
Trials Frontier

Description: Explore a vast world on your motorcycle. Compete against your friends on Global Leaderboards. Master physics-based tracks to challenge the world’s top riders for the best times. Race your motorcycle through a world of adventure, crazy characters, and unfairly addictive tracks!
[pb-app-box pname=’com.ubisoft.redlynx.trialsfrontier.ggp’ name=’Trials Frontier’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

 
Football Rush 2014: Brazil

Description: Dash through the busy vibrant streets of Rio de Janeiro and dodge pass dangerous obstacles before the angry referee Santos chases Jose down with a red card penalty! It’s Jose versus the world! Can he make it in time for the ultimate Dream Football Shootout Challenge?!

[pb-app-box pname=’com.happylabs.footballrush’ name=’Football Rush 2014: Brazil’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

 
Lumena
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs63yZ8bzxU

Description:Lumena is an impossible rhythm game with an original electronic soundtrack from Modbom.
[pb-app-box pname=’com.elevate.crawlspace.lumena’ name=’Lumena’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

 
Smash the School – Stress Fix!

Description: From the creators of Smash the Office! High school dream come true! Are you ready to smash stuff!?

[pb-app-box pname=’com.tuokio.smashtheschool’ name=’Smash the School – Stress Fix!’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

 
Godzilla – Smash3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6DJSWeIRM8

Description: Official game of the new Godzilla film from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures! The “King of the Monsters” returns in Godzilla’s mobile gaming debut!
[pb-app-box pname=’com.rogue.smash3′ name=’Godzilla – Smash3′ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

That was Free Android Games May 2014 Week 3 to see the full list of free games head over to our full free play section here.

Super Smash Bros E3 Tournament Will Be Open To The Public
A big announcement from Nintendo as they invite fans to LA to attend the first tournament of their new Super Smash Bros. game for Wii U at E3. On June 10th 2014 Nintendo will present 16 skilled gamers to the Nokia Theater to celebrate everything Smash Bros. related. The new Super Smash Bros. Invitational, will let fans all around become spectators in person and on live stream for Twitch’s E3 channel and Nintendo’s Twitch channel.

To encourage fans, anyone who dresses up as their favorite Nintendo characters will be chosen for priority seating front stage. The tournament will be filmed and photographed so all the best costumes are shown on Nintendo’s YouTube and Twitch channel. The details about the event are listed below.

9:30 a.m.: Wristband distribution begins at NOKIA Plaza at L.A. LIVE, 777 Chick Hearn Court in Los Angeles. A wristband is required for entry, and 3,000 wristbands are available to Nintendo fans on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Fans are requested to not line up prior to Tuesday morning.

Once a wristband is obtained, fans can leave the plaza area and then return later that day, closer to the start of the event.The order that wristbands are obtained in the morning does not impact the order of entry into the venue in the afternoon.
2:30 p.m.: Doors open
4 p.m.:  Super Smash Bros. Invitational begins

The new Smash Bros. game is scheduled for release sometime in 2014, while the Nintendo 3DS version is planned for the summer. For more information about the Super Smash Bros. Invitational, visit
http://e3.nintendo.com/#2014/tournament.

Popular horror title gets a new look and a launch date
Aeria games, a popular developer for free-to-play online games announced the launch for the beta of the new installment in the F.E.A.R series with F.E.A.R. […]

App Store Updates : The latest free iOS games for the 2nd week of May 2014
Get ready for another batch of free games for your iOS devices. Keep updated by booking marking this link for free iOS Games each week.

Don’t forget to Subscribe to our App Store RSS feed to be noted each time we update the iOS listings.

Subscribe to Einfo Games: Freeplay for weekly video updates.

 
dEXTRIS

Description: Like hard games? Dodge spikes at super speed using a cool new “magnetic” control scheme. Scrape along the sides, hover through the middle, or squeeze by at the last millisecond by splitting in two!

 
Snailboy, An Epic Adventure

Description: Meet Snailboy, a cheeky garden mollusc, super obsessed with his quest for the perfect shell. Somewhere in your enchanted garden, this lively little guy has been ambushed by the Sneaky Shadow Gang.

 

 
Mega Dead Pixel

Description: When pixels collide, it’s game over! Tap to steer your plucky pixel left and right as it descends through a minefield of dangerous retro shapes to build up your meter and transform into the almighty Mega Pixel.

 
Toy Rush

Description: Discover, collect, and play with a variety of fun toys! And then attack your friends’ bases in this free tower defense (and offense!) game with a collectible card twist.

 
Striker Soccer 2

Description: Take to the pitch in Striker Soccer 2, the sequel to the hugely popular Striker Soccer. Create your own team of star players and lead them to glory as you show off your skills on the big stage.

 

That was Free iOS Games May 2014 Week 2 if games are no longer free or have been removed from the store let us know in the comments.

Free Play Weekly: The latest free android games for the 2nd week of May 2014
Welcome back to the 2nd week of May 2014 we have another set of  free android games  for you to check out.

Don’t forget to Subscribe to our RSS feed to be noted each time we update the listings. We only update the android feed once a week it is as simple as that. If you are viewing this from a smartphone device you can subscribe to our feed using apps such as feedly to get updates from all your favorite sites.

Subscribe to Einfo Games: Freeplay for weekly video updates.

 
Aliens Drive Me Crazy

Description: The few Alien Spaceships have crept into earth’s orbit with no warning. The loss of global satellite communications puts the world in danger. Take control of your car and blast your way through the city to reach an alien’s base! Defeat invaders and terryfying Bosses to get access to powerful weapons, cars and power-ups!

[pb-app-box pname=’com.rebeltwins.aliensdrivemecrazy’ name=’Aliens Drive Me Crazy’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

 
Snailboy

Description: Snailboy is a fun physics based, puzzle platform game, with rich graphics, killer sounds and over 45 levels of intoxicating game play.

[pb-app-box pname=’air.com.thoopid.games.Snailboy’ name=’Snailboy’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

 
Twin Robots

Description: Rescue your twin and find the way out of each level together! Switch control between the two robots at any time, or even better: play with a friend in local multiplayer! You’ll be running, jumping and solving puzzles together, but beware: both robots are battery-powered, so they consume energy in everything they do. Watch out for their battery levels!

[pb-app-box pname=’com.Thinice.TwinRobots’ name=’Twin Robots’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

 
Mega Dead Pixel

Description: When pixels collide, it’s game over! Tap to steer your plucky pixel left and right as it descends through a minefield of dangerous retro shapes to build up your meter and transform into the almighty Mega Pixel.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.chillingo.megadeadpixel.android.ajagplay’ name=’Mega Dead Pixel’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

 
Summoner Wars

Description: Summoner Wars for Android is a digital card game with all the tactical elements of a board game. Summoner Wars for Android allows players to control the Phoenix Elves faction and battle against AI opponents or go online to play against others.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.playdekgames.android.SummonerWars_Beta’ name=’Summoner Wars’ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

 
Striker Soccer 2

Description: Take to the pitch in Striker Soccer 2, the sequel to the hugely popular Striker Soccer. Create your own team of star players and lead them to glory as you show off your skills on the big stage.

[pb-app-box pname=’com.chillingo.strikersoccer2.android.ajagplay’ name=’Striker Soccer 2′ theme=’discover’ lang=’en’]

That was Free Android Games May 2014 Week 2 to see the full list of free games head over to our full free play section here.

With all the turmoil that has gone on at Naughty Dog; is there cause for concern? Will Naughty Dog be one of the premier developers in the 8th generation?
During the seventh generation of consoles there were few […]

We have a great list of Wii Fitness games for you to check out.
The rise of the Wii back since 2006 spawned a huge new surge in fitness games. With accurate motion sensing technology and some ingenious peripherals, the Wii fitness market called out to a whole new section of gamers across the globe.

There’s a huge amount of Wii fitness games out there, and everyone is bound to find something they’ll enjoy, but if you’re struggling, here’s a helpful list of the Wii titles guaranteed to put a smile on your face while you shed those pounds.
EA Sports Active Series

Almost like your own personal gym, 2008’s EA Sports Active offered personal trainers, 30 day challenges, and a large number of workout regimens. Players can choose their own calorie-burning or timed goals, and can work towards them with personalised routines based on your own preferences and difficulty settings.

Much as a personal trainer might, EA Sports Active also tries to balance the workout, letting you know if you’ve spent too long working on a certain body part. The Wii Balance Board is compatible but not essential, and instead the game relies on a pouch that straps onto the leg and holds the Nunchuk, allowing the game to pick up lower body movements as well.

An expansion pack, EA Sports Active: More Workouts was released in November 2009, and a sequel, EA Sports Active 2 was released in November 2010, adding new regimens and more customisation options.
EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp

EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp stemmed from the EA Sports Active series but focusses much more on the male audience, using American Football to diversify the exercises. The game is fully licensed by the NFL and has even more sensitivity than the other EA Sports Active games, using a heart rate monitor to keep track of your heart rate as you progress through the exercises.

The game modes are entirely different to the rest of the series, including routines such as the 40-yard dash and a 60 day challenge of various football drills.
Get Fit with Mel B

Melanie Brown might be more famous for being Scary Spice in the Spice Girls, but she’s branched out a lot more since then.

Get Fit with Mel B offers over 100 different exercises focussing on everything from cardio to toning, and dance fit to kickboxing. The game also offers real-time suggestions to improve your posture, motions and positioning, and even comes with a personal nutrition plan and recipes.

Released in 2010, the game is also available for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, though there is little difference between the versions. The Playstation Move Camera and Xbox Kinect can offer more real-time observation of more body parts, but the exercises are much the same.

 
Gold’s Gym: Cardio Workout

Gold’s Gym: Cardio Workout was released in the UK and Europe as My Fitness Coach: Cardio Workout in 2009. This game uses the ‘shape boxing’ regimen of the Kyoei Boxing Gym, including shadowboxing alongside more traditional muscle and cardio exercises.

The Wii Balance Board is useable but not essential, and the game also comes with nutritional guidance to offer a rounded fitness regime.

 
Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum

Jillian Michaels is best known as trainer on The Biggest Loser, and it’s unsurprising that she’s made the jump to exercise video games. Both a 2009 and 2010 edition was released, using the Wii Balance Board and Remote to complete four types of workouts: Weight Loss, Strength Training, Intervals and Hill Climb.

Players can choose the exercise, duration and intensity to match the regimen to their needs, and in the competitive spirit of The Biggest Loser, players can play against one another in real-time to see who can burn the most calories

 
UFC Personal Trainer

Mixed Martial Arts has grown in popularity at an astonishing rate over the past ten years, and a Wii fitness game linked to the sport was almost inevitable.

Again geared towards male players, the game’s exercises use motions and targets similar to those used in the sport. For example, punching combos and takedowns are common routines in the game.

 
Wii Fit Series

Without a doubt the most well-known Wii fitness game out there, the Wii Fit series is the first option for many players. The first game to introduce the Wii Balance Board back in 2008, Wii Fit offers a diverse combination of aerobic, balance, yoga and strength exercises.

The Balance Board not only increases the number of game types available but also allows the game to record your posture and weight, enabling a more thorough record of progress to be kept.

Leaderboards and competitions between different users of the game make the Wii Fit suitable not only as an exercise game, but a party game as well. Combining fun and fitness is perhaps why the Wii Fit series has stayed so popular.

A sequel, Wii Fit Plus, was released in 2009 with new activities and exercises, and the opportunity to create your own fitness regime so that you can simply click a button and play all of your favourite activities one after the other.

 
Yoga Wii

More therapeutic and relaxing than many other fitness games, Yoga Wii focusses entirely on using the Wii Balance Board to instruct and guide players through more than 30 yoga exercises and positions.

 
Your Shape

Despite being released on the Wii, Your Shape chose not to use the Wii Remote tracking system, and instead shipped with its own camera to track exercises and motions.

Jenny McCarthy, model and entertainer, fronted this game, which allowed players to tailor exercises to particular parts of the body depending on their preferences.

 
Zumba Fitness Series

The hottest fitness craze of the momentZumba was destined to land on the Wii. To enable the Wii to properly detect movements a belt was included which slotted the Wii Remote onto the player’s hip: the most used body part in Zumba.

The game supported multiple players, making it a party experience, not just a fitness one, and the wild success of the first game led to multiple sequels.

Zumba Fitness 2 introduced different dance styles, including Hip Hop, Merengue and Reggaeton, as well as music by some of the world’s biggest recording artists such as Pitbull and Nicole Scherzinger.

Zumba Fitness Core in 2012 offered more specific focus on the abdomen and even more new dance styles.

Zumba Fitness: World Party is one of the most recent offerings, with more songs and multiplayer options than previous games.

Zumba Kids was the last game ever released for the Wii in Europe before the console was discontinued, and, as the name suggests, focussed on kids and therefore easier routines.

Did we miss any? Want to weigh in on your personal favourite fitness games? Let us know in the comments below!

It’s now widely known that the Xbox One is lagging behind the Playstation 4, and one of Xbox’s biggest names had weighed in on just why he thinks there’s a 3 million consoles gap in sales.

In an interview […]

It’s good to see a little variety thrown in to the established formulas in order to keep things smelling fresh. CodeBrush Games takes a step in that direction by shaking things up with ArcheBlade.

ArcheBlade has all the feel of a MOBA with the touch of a fighting game. The genre is already dominated by the titans like Dota 2, and ArcheBlade needs to be quite impressive to draw in a reliable following. At first glance it really has a lot of potential. How long can that impression last?

 
Gameplay
ArcheBlade is pretty straightforward. The left and right mouse buttons control your attacks. By clicking both buttons in combinations you can use more powerful or contextually important attacks. That would be great if it were in any way relevant.

The big flaw with this – and let’s admit it, all fighting games – is that the handful of possible combo attacks are in no way important to some players. No matter how hard you try to string together that block breaking combo attack, more often than not, you are getting thrown into the air and demolished by someone with an overused right mouse button. In fact, the only time I have racked on any kills is by rolling my face around on the keyboard.

In all seriousness, the combat mechanics need a lot of work. ArcheBlade is the kind of game that seems almost completely devoid of any depth. I won’t lie and say there is absolutely no entertainment value whatsoever. If I could afford all the best items I would also enjoy making newcomers miserable. The cold truth is that this game doesn’t entice me into spending any money, and as a result there is minimal room for progress.

With some more complexity, the mechanics could be more balanced in a way that makes playing ArcheBlade enjoyable in the long run. There just aren’t enough options – or even enough balance between characters – to stave off a team of button mashing madmen.

 
Presentation
The overall value of production is something of a mixed bag. I’m too cowardly to admit I may be biased toward the sexiness ArcheBlade carries in its artwork.

The game may be no more or less enjoyable without an array of sexualized female characters and the equally emphasized masculinity of some of the men. All in all, ArcheBlade looks nice. The fighters aren’t particularly complex in appearance, but they are given enough detail to be a pleasant sight.

Where the inconsistency becomes apparent is in the presentation of the few arenas you may find yourself fighting in. The characters are appealing enough to make me expect some degree of depth to be found in this game’s environment, but to put it bluntly, they just fall short of my expectations.

I can’t reasonably expect something on par with a game whose gameplay is more complex, but I would at least like to see the maps fall in line with the visual appeal of the rest of the game. The few maps that do exist are bland and generic. ArcheBlade is an arena fighting game, so the maps serve the purpose of hosting the often frustrating engagements that come with the territory. Each character has an appearance to suit her personality, but the environments leave way to much unsaid.

Once again on the positive end, ArcheBlade has an appealing soundtrack the compliments the violent fantasy it is set in.

 
Lifespan

ArcheBlade benefits from its relative uniqueness. Being a third person arena fighting game makes it stand out to me. The question is: Is it good enough to keep me coming back for another round?

There are a few maps with different game modes. The variety ends just about there. Not only are you unlikely to be impressed by the handful of maps and modes, the typical round goes down the same way no matter how many times you play it.

There are plenty of characters, but you’ll be lucky to see half of them in game. There are no restrictions on how many people can use a character at once. The bottom line is that no matter how hard you scour the server listings, chances are you’ll just find another match full of scantily clothed women with ranged attacks.

 
Freeness
ArcheBlade’s freeplay model disappoints me. The fact that I have to endure round after round of frustration in order to gather pocket change is wildly irritating. I had received a small teaser for gems, the premium currency, when I started playing. Unfortunately, nothing can be done with so few, so early.

On a more positive note, gear upgrades are mostly locked by level. You’d think this would help to stall the inevitable leap toward pay to win. That might be the case if servers were more restrictive with the level range. At the start you can only afford to unlock one or two fighters with no gear. The abundance of leveled vets makes it impossible to get any momentum.

 
The Verdict
ArcheBlade looks like it should be a quality game that should keep you playing for hours. Unfortunately, the design doesn’t seem to add up to that fleeting impression it gives you at first glance. The mechanics are simple, but fail to bring about any sense of entertaining gameplay. I wouldn’t go so far as to say ArcheBlade’s only appeal purely in the visual aspects of the game. But the bottom line is that the most attractive part of the game is the artwork.