Lory Gil

Writer of all things app related, traveler of the space-time continuum, baker of really great cookies. Follow me @appaholik

Vhoto review: get the best photos out of your videos

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 27, 2018

I may have mentioned before that I like to take pictures of bands. I’m always trying to get great pictures of a guitarist doing a mid-solo jump, or a singer climbing around on PA speakers. It’s a lot harder than you’d think, especially using the iPhone camera since the shutter triggers just a bit slower than I’d like.

Vhoto takes all of the guesswork out of knowing the right time take a picture by turning your video clips into photos. You don’t have to scroll through frame after frame either. Check out our Vhoto review to learn more…

Talisman review: an old-school board game comes to life on the iPad

Lory Gil ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Talisman is a fantasy board game that first came out in 1983. Fans of role-playing titles were keen on this adventure because it mixes traditional adventuring with a bit of character stats building. The game has been revised three times and has about a half dozen expansions under its name.

Talisman: Digital Edition is the only official licensed version of the decades old game and uses the revised fourth-edition rulebook. Now you can role the dice to see where you will journey while playing alone, or against up to three additional players on Game Center. Check out our Talisman review after the break...

Shadow Fight 2 is like Street Fighter in the dark

Lory Gil ∙ May 7, 2014

Shadow Fight is a popular hand-to-hand combat game on Facebook. Players fight against opponents using combo moves and special attacks. When they are not fighting, players increase their reputation by visiting friends’ dojos.

The sequel, Shadow Fight 2 recently launched in the App Store and features plenty of weapons, opponents, and bosses. Work your way to the top of the list to become the best Martial Arts fighter around…

… and then it rained review: a relaxing game that challenges your reflexes

Lory Gil ∙ May 6, 2014

I love the sound of rainfall. It is a relaxing, rhythmic sound that isn’t invasive to your ears, but helps clear your mind. I oftentimes use audio effects apps that include the sound of rainfall to help me sleep. I don’t usually relate the sound to playing video games, though.

… and then it rained is a simple game that features the calming sound of rainfall, but requires fast reflexes, which is the opposite of how you feel while relaxing to the Zen-like soundtrack…

Metal Slug Defense turns the run-and-gun series into a tower defense game

Lory Gil ∙ May 5, 2014

The prolific Metal Slug series of games first launched in the mid 1990s on Neo-Geo. There have been dozens of subsequent releases and spinoffs staring the skilled military team of fighters, including a touch version of Metal Slug that has since been removed from the App Store.

Metal Slug Defense is a completely new take on the game, mixing the look and elements of the original with a tower defense style mechanic that has impressed fans of the genre instead of driving them into a rage…

Botanicula review: a humor-filled adventure game with an engaging storyline

Lory Gil ∙ May 4, 2014

Fans of puzzle games will likely remember the stunning and bizarre world of Machinarium. The game was acclaimed for its beautiful landscapes, intricate puzzles, and overall immersive gameplay.

Amanita Design is back with another incredible contribution to the puzzle game genre for the iPad. In Botanicula, the world is more natural with trees, bugs, and moving plant life. The world also has a creepy unnatural element to it with the likes of the photosynthesis-sucking spiders that are terrorizing the residents of the tranquil community…

The best apps for learning how to code

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

These days, kids in elementary school are already learning how to code. It can be really intimidating for someone who doesn’t even know what HTML is. Even though computer knowledge is much better for the average person than it was 20 years ago, there are still a lot of secrets hidden behind those cool programs we use.

If you are too old to have learned code in school, too young to have started yet, or just want to practice the basics you learned so long ago you’ve forgotten, we’ve got a list of some of the best apps to learn how to code…

Apps of the week: Intake, Bicolor, Mingle, and more

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

This coming Sunday is unofficially called Star Wars Day around the world. To celebrate, I’ll be attending a local Star Wars convention, seeing a Star Wars-themed band, and watching the first three films in their original, unspoiled form on VHS. May the Fourth be with you.

Whether you are itching for some Star Wars action, fancy a bit of medieval architecture, or want to get in touch with someone really, really fast, we have a list of apps and games that are sure to get your Midi-chlorians pumping…

République episode 2: Metamorphosis now available to purchase

Lory Gil ∙ May 2, 2014

Last December, we reviewed Republique, a new stealth game that really set the bar for the genre. Players followed the story of Hope as she tries to escape the oppressive and manipulative compound she has been imprisoned in. Moving from room to room, activating various cameras and turning off security features, players help Hope avoid detection as she plans her getaway.

Episode 2: Metamorphosis is now available for download as an in-app purchase. The story continues where the first episode, “Exordium” left off. Will Hope ever find justice and expose the corrupted government? With your help, maybe…

Wayward Souls review: a roguelike with permadeath that kills it

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

There is a lot of different kinds of role-playing dungeon crawl games. One of them is called “roguelike” or “rogue-like” if you prefer proper grammar. In it, players explore procedurally generated dungeons, collecting loot and slaying villains. One of the most important characteristics of a roguelike is permanent death (also know as permadeath). That means if you lose all of your hit points, the game ends and you lose all of your loot. Dead is dead.

Wayward Souls is a roguelike that sets an example for other iOS developers to follow. It is incredibly challenging, full of lootable treasure chests, and when you die, you lose it all…

SkyFehl is a simple and silly arcade game

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

I love games that are a bit tongue-in-cheek. Developers who don’t take themselves too seriously are probably going to go far if they apply their humor to their titles.

SkyFehl is a simple arcade game that is rich in strange landscapes, silly effects, and a veritable who’s-who of playable characters that might get them shut down if they weren’t so clever about it…

Suited Up review: target your jump to hit your mark

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

One of the most popular types of games in the App Store is the physics-based aim-to-shoot kind. We can attribute the success of the genre to Angry Birds. It may not have been the first, but it was certainly the most popular. If you are a fan of physics-based games, but are getting tired of the same old slingshot style mechanics, there is a new bird in town.

Suited Up uses the idea of aiming to shoot, but players must select the point at which the jumper will arc. Instead of dragging to aim, just tap the screen to mark your target and see where you land…