Sometimes it can be refreshing to play a game that’s simply just about beating evil aliens up, given our modern tendencies to run non-stop, throw characters across rooms or collect an endless assortment of critters or achievement points.

Okay so it isn’t exactly beating things up, more slicing and dicing with a machete, hence the rather appropriate title of new iOS release Take My Machete by South Australian based studio Upper Class Walrus, also known as one man team Rhys Davies.

I could go on about what the game is, but truth be told the trailer above does a much better job of describing the mayhem that ensues once you pick up your machete and attack the incoming alien invasion. There’s far more weapons and upgrades to choose from than just the trusty sharp edged weapon to swing around, including my personal favourite the flaming bow and arrow, but cutting things in half is much more fun.

As with all good side-scrolling action games, there’s a ton of stages and some meaty boss battles to sink your teeth into. The coolest touch though goes to the games’ soundtrack, a mix of old school horror music not unlike that used in the video trailer that’s another nice change of pace. There’s also a nod of sorts to classic games such as Wolfenstein 3d and Doom, with your hero showing battle damage on the lower part of the screen as you go.

If any or all that interests you, go download Take My Machete now for free on the App Store for iPhone and iPod. Be sure to have a look at Rhys’ blog too for some insight into the making of the game.

The year 2012 had many good games, so many that we’ve decided to break up the best iOS and Android apps by genre! We’re days away from entering a new year, and unlike many sites out there, we waited till the last possible minute so we could check out all the indie games releasing in late December (and a few of them made the lists too!). So over the next couple days we’ll be releasing lists of our favorite games of 2012.  If you disagree with any of our picks feel free to leave a comment below and tell us what indie game you thought should have been included! Here’s to another prosperous year in gaming for 2013!

Action

God of Blades - iOS ($0.99)

The dead king rises! Become a spectral warrior who has returned to defend his planet against a rampaging doom-cult and the devouring touch of the cosmic horrors they serve. Wrenching this world from the grasp of oblivion, the Nameless King wields phantom blades forged from the legends and heritage of a dying world.

Rage of the Gladiator - iOS ($2.99)

You play the role of Gracius, a gladiator battling for his life in the arena. Your opponents are no ordinary evil, but are epic boss fights whose tricky attacks will challenge even the most elite gamers. There are no ‘fodder’ enemies – its all bosses — the most fun part of games! Beat them before they brutally beat you.

Beatdown - iOS ($0.99)

Get ready for the best beat-em up to hit the App Store! Wrongfully dismissed from his job, the hero is on a war path to take down anyone who gets in his way of giving the CEO a much needed beatdown! Inspired by the classic beat-em up genre; get ready for BEATDOWN!

ARC Squadron - iOS (Free)

An evil race known as the Guardians is taking over the universe, ravaging planets, and killing all peaceful life forms. You are the galaxy’s only hope for salvation. As an elite pilot serving in the ARC Squadron, you are tasked to take on the Guardians in head-to-head combat and bring down their empire.

Trigger Fist - iOS (Free)

Dominate your friends in intense modern day firefights across six unique environments in four multiplayer modes. Scratch your shooter itch on the go with Free-for-All, Team Deathmatch, King of the Hill, and Sacred Goat — a team based scenario with the objective of carrying a disgruntled goat around the battlefield for the maximum amount of time.

Minigore 2: Zombies - iOS ($0.99)

The furries are gone and a new threat is emerging from the dark corners of Hardland. You must help JOHN GORE fight his way through sunny lakes, graveyards and freezing plains into a stormy forest where the legendary METUSALEM has brought to life murderous chefs, giant lumberjacks, killer penguins, a single moose, three hundred rabbits and the entire undead army of the COSSACK GENERAL.

Beat Hazard Ultra - iOS ($3.99), Android ($3.99)

Join thousands of people rocking out to their music. Grab this game because it’ll make you feel good! Gameplay Powered by YOUR Music! Experience YOUR music collection like never before with this intense music driven arcade shooter. Blast away to your favorite tracks. Watch your firepower pulse to the energy of the music.

Waking Mars - iOS ($4.99), Android ($4.99)

In 2097, life is discovered on Mars. When your mission of first contact becomes trapped by a cave-in, you must master the alien ecosystem to survive. With time running out, you will make a decision that determines the fate of a lost planet.

A play as the heroine Neko, a former stray cat gifted with a new human form and unique special abilities thanks to a stray lightning bolt. She soon finds herself in the middle of a world filled with dangerous creatures and plenty of hazards that want to take her down. Your job is to guide the feline frenzy along each world dicing up said enemies with a host of unique attacks and combos. Check out the video below if you don’t believe me!

If that all sounds and a little strange, it’s as simple as running along and attacking at the right time, building up that high score as much as possible. Ninja Sprint is all wrapped up in a colourful and outlandish world, giving you the option of turning blood into flowers for example. There’s a few super attacks that Neko can take advantage of, some of them clearing the entire screen of any enemies when executed and others … well, I won’t spoil it for you too much. Let’s just say it’s all tounge in cheek.

If Eastasiasoft sounds familiar, you may recall the Hong Kong studio’s previous releases include the likes of Rainbow Moon and the Söldner-X series. Ninja Sprint, however, is probably their most quirky title to date. You can find it for your Apple or Android device today if your curiosity has hit a kitty, blood soaked peak. Otherwise, check out the official website here.

Or I could just go on for ages about riding a dinosaur that shoots lasers out of its mouth, which in itself has to be hands down my favourite gaming moment of the year right now. Then, of course, there’s the in-app purchase program…

My appreciation for Punch Quest could go on for some time, despite the dark cloud that sat over it during its first few months. If you haven’t played it so far, all you need to know is that you run along from left to right, punching and uppercutting a steady stream of ghosts, demons, mages and skeletons in order to reach the highest score possible. But that’s just scratching the surface.

There’s only two buttons, punch forward or uppercut, yet the dynamics of the game world allow for a host of different results. Combos come into play, bouncing dead skeleton heads into other creatures or jumping over platforms to reach power ups and branching paths. Speaking of, there’s a number extra items and upgrades to choose from and it won’t take long before you have a few powerful options in your arsenal. Most are all about surviving longer and dishing out more punishment upon the many villains and critters that litter the runway, while a few will help tick over your coin collection or add a little splash of humour to the proceedings.

I actually delayed this review just to see what would happen to the in-game purchasing system. Originally you would have to purchase upgrades and extras if you wanted them before unlocking by using real life cash. That freemium design, if you’ve been keeping up with the news, became a crutch that held back its success since launch, despite the amount of unique downloads. The result is a paid app with the same content, though with a lack of emphasis on in-game purchases this time around.

While it’s a shame that Rocketcat Games had to make that change, in reality there’s so many coins available during play that most of the upgrades you can unlock easily enough. Or you could simply play without, it won’t hinder your enjoyment no matter what you decide to do. If that wasn’t the case, perhaps this review would have been in a slightly more negative light on said freemium content.

Honestly though, Punch Quest isn’t original. You could bring it down a peg or two for being one of many, many indie games with the same retro stylings that’s quickly becoming a bit common of late. You could also argue that the ‘runner that never stops’ genre has also been done to death on iOS. But the combination of simple yet engaging controls, a wonderful visual appeal and a rousing musical score combines into a well rounded and addictive little package despite all that familiarity.

As for the update to a paid app, there’s so much content and fun to be had that paying such a small fee shouldn’t put you off one bit. In game purchases are null and void now, which should act as a lesson to other devs looking to employ a similar business model. But in the end that doesn’t dent the quality of a game that’s sole purpose was to have fun whilst remembering the good old days. 99 cents is also a more than reasonable price given the quality on offer.

So if you’re late to the party or were hesitant to pick it up before, I implore you to purchase Punch Quest and play it through as much as you can. It’s a deserved contender for one of the best titles of 2012 and certainly a highlight of the ever crowded iOS scene.

Our good buddy Axis Sivitz has been working hard to make his awesome game Button Brigade even more awesome. Everyone’s favorite button-loving, finger-following robot worm has upgraded three times since the game’s release, bringing us to version 1.3. Let’s take a look at the changes:

Version 1.1 of Button Brigade brought us the stress-relieving advantage of checkpoints. The game’s more lengthy levels now include these check-marked buttons at opportune times in order to alleviate the frustration wrought of restarting from the very beginning if you fail. Considering how often I personally was forced to witness my segmented robot-worm’s destruction, I’m grateful to have a new tool to make the pain of those losses a little less.

The update to version 1.2 gives our glorious game a little cosmetic touch-up to make it even more glorious. That’s right– graphics update! As stated on Button Brigade‘s official site, “Every texture has been redesigned for better visual clarity and consistent style.” The comparison is above, with old on the right and new on the left.

And finally, last but not least, we arrive at the latest enhancement to our button-busting adventure. Version 1.3 brings us a redesign of the first three levels, the intent of which being to provide a better introduction to the game and its mechanics.

While not an update to the game itself, a Lite version has been released for those of you who like to try before you buy. If this is the first you’ve heard of the unique iOS action-puzzler that is Button Brigade, we have previously released a news article on and review of the game which should provide you with a bounty of information if you’re interested. You can also head over and check the game out on iTunes or the official Button Brigade website.