Build and defend your Spartan city in new Android game

If you were one of the ten people who watched 300: Rise of An Empire or you still can't get over the first (and better?) film, then you will get to be one of the brave citizens of this ancient,historic Greek city, even if it's just on your smartphone or tablet. However, this is not just a "movie" to watch, but you need to be totally into strategic city-building games to fully appreciate the Age of Sparta, now available for Android devices.

The basic premise of the game is that you need to build and grow your own city, building various structures like monuments, research facilities, and whatever your city needs to prosper. You also need to build an army (this is Sparta after all), and depending on what your city is all about, there are different kinds of troops available, and there are even monsters and creatures since we're dealing with Greek mythology here. Your city "should rival Olympus", which of course will challenge the gods, but just honour them in their temples and they might even help you as you protect your citadel.

Aside from the city building aspect, you'll also get to engage in a battle featuring animated combat scenes. But with Zeus' thunder bolt and Hades' dark wrath, how can you lose? Well, first you need to get the gods on your side to ensure victory, although how you can do that exactly is not that clear from the description. But you can also ally with other players from around the world, and gang up on the enemy, whether it's Xerxes himself or other players bent on capturing your city and your troops.

Age of Sparta is available on the Google Play Store for free. But of course it will tempt you to make in-app purchases so your will better be strong against the forces of the credit card.

Sonic Runners is a side-scrolling version of the classic SEGA game

Sonic Runners will always remind me of my childhood when Super Sonic is the fastest and cutest hedgehog to grace the screen. This is a more modern version of the endless runner game with new mobile friend controls. To run, jump, and spin, you only need to tap on the screen to finish Sonic world in lightning speed. (Come to think of it, this was perhaps the inspiration for Temple Run.)

Sonic Runner features a new side-scrolling action designed by the original Sonic development team. TEAM SONIC has made another set of challenging and super-fast levels complete with the classic enemies, hidden rings, retro design, and loop-de-loops. As you play the game, you will called to unleash different color powers. To destroy obstacles, you need Asteroid Power. To be able to burrow underground, you need Drills, And for more hi-speed movements, you need Laser Power.

Play as Sonic or as his friends to unlock Tails and Kunckles as new characters. Power attributes, speed, and aerial techniques can be mastered by the hero. And to be more powerful, collect rings to evolve the powers of your character. There will be endless running but you need to complete each stage. You can run with the power of Companions to make sure you finish a level.

To make the Sonic Runner game more exciting, all-new ranking battles were added. You can reign supreme in these four ranking categories: Historical, World, Friend, and Rival League. Who knows, you can end up with a new "Sonic Record".

Download Sonic Runner from the Google Play Store

Story Timeline

• Sonic the Hedgehog games on special offer through the Play Store


• Humble SEGA Mobile Bundle brings Sonic at budget price


• Humble SEGA Mobile Bundle gives more Sonic and some monkeys

Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf RPG gamebook gets a complete edition

If you're tired of the fast-paced, high-octane action games on smartphones but aren't exactly willing to go over to the more laid back yet addictive, sometimes frustrating, casual games, then maybe it's time to give gamebooks a try. Fortunately for you, one of the more popular ones is landing with a bang. Although Joe Dever's Lone Wolf has actually been around for quite a while, even on Android, it is only now that it is coming in one complete package, and with a time-limited discount to boot.

For those not familiar with the genre, gamebooks are games that unfold in a Choose Your Own Adventure style of gameplay. Most of them resort to lots of text with a few added graphics, so yes, you will be reading a lot in this type of game. That, however, is where Lone Wolf differs. Although it still does employ text-based narratives, it makes heavy use of graphics. The user interface, for one, is laden with stylized medieval knobs and controls. Cutscenes are often animated. And the battles? Well they happen in almost turn-based full 3D style. The latter part might be a problem for some who've found Lone Wolf's implementation a tad unsatisfying.

As for the contents of the game itself, you take the role of the titular hero who is the last of an order of warrior monks tasked with protecting the land. Although the game does play out like a book, any one with experience in CYOA books will know there are multiple paths and multiple endings. And, like in any RPG, you can customize your character with various abilities (Kai disciplines) and items.

Joe Dever's Lone Wolf has been available on Android for some time now, but, while the first chapter of the game is free, the next three have to be purchased in-game. That is what this complete edition brings to the table. A full game, no in-app purchases required. This includes all four chapters of the game: Blood on the Snow, Forest Hunt, The Shianti Halls and Dawn over V'taag. Sadly, the game does have a rather hefty price tag of $9.99. And that's only for now, with a promo discount, so better grab it if it tickles your fancy.

Download: Joe Dever's Lone Wolf Complete

Which App for iPhone Do You Wish Was on Android?

Only a few years ago, it was normal for a major app release to be available for iOS but come months later to Android. That seems to no longer be the case, as Android has advanced tremendously with Google putting a huge effort into its Play Store and ecosystem. However, while the majority of major app releases are now made available for both platforms at the same time, there are a few iOS exclusives that some of us wish were on our favorite mobile OS (Hyperlapse comes to mind). Let us know which apps for the iPhone you wish were on Android.

The post Which App for iPhone Do You Wish Was on Android? appeared first on xda-developers.

Revamped Major Magnet game now back on Android, arcade-style

Sometimes, you just need a little magnetism to succeed in life. Or in this case, you need a whole lot of magnets to save the world. The original game has gotten critical praise and awards from other platforms, and now finally, it has made its way to Android, revamped and ready to win over more fans with its magnetic appeal. Are you ready to meet Major Magnet and help him save mankind?

On the surface, Major Magnet: Arcade looks like a pinball machine gone mad, with its bright and colorful lights and crazy graphics. Even the characters are insane and weird, with Manic Marvin as the titular hero whose mission it is to save the world from megalomaniac Colonel Lastin, with the help of his loyal sidekick Gus the Guinea Pig and a host of other creatures. To be able to toss, swing, and shoot the Major, you need to tap and grab the magnets and get enough momentum to get him from one place to the other.

There are 76 stages across 3 unique worlds in Major Magnet's physics-based gameplay. You'll get hand-animated graphics, classic arcade soundtrack, and a story-adventure to propel you from one stage to another. You can connect the game to your Facebook account to share items and high scores with friends (that is, if you can risk the irritation of friends who don't like receiving item requests).

Major Magnet: Arcade is available to download for free from the Google Play Store. Of course there are in-app purchases for a game like this, so make sure your permissions are set to the one you prefer.

Hundreds of Free Apps On The Amazon App Store

The Amazon App Store has started a huge sale, 365 apps are now available at a discounted price including 145 which are currently free. With no indication of how long this sale will last it’s definitely worth a look sooner rather than later.

The post Hundreds of Free Apps On The Amazon App Store appeared first on xda-developers.

Leaked Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge promotion shows curved screen glory

We have seen several leaks in weeks past that talk about the coming Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone and the S6 with curved edges on the screen. So far, we have seen the specifications for the smartphone leaked via AnTuTu benchmarks. Just yesterday, a rumor surfaced claiming that the device would be called the Galaxy S Dual Edge.

That rumor was supposedly from an industry source that was in the know. It seems that source is wrong, at least if this leaked Samsung marketing campaign for the Galaxy S6 and its curved screen brethren is legit. The images you see here are claimed to be from a leaked marketing campaign for the new smartphones.

According to the leaked images, the curved edge smartphone will be called the Galaxy S6 Edge with the standard smartphone simply called the Galaxy S6. The leaked image also tips that Samsung is going with the "Six Appeal" slogan, which is clearly supposed to make us think of "Sex Appeal."

The rumor from yesterday about the name of the curved screen device also suggested that Samsung wouldn't be using the curved edges of the screen on the S6 Edge (or whatever it is called) for notifications. If the source from that rumor had the name wrong, the tidbit about no notifications on the curved screen sides could be wrong as well.

SOURCE: Android Police

Story Timeline

• T-Mobile releases Galaxy S6 teaser, boasts of its "Six Appeal"


• Samsung Norway shares some Samsung Galaxy S6 photos ahead of MWC launch


• Samsung Galaxy S6 leaked photos look very real