Android Smartphone Game Round up

By: Malisa Kopicko Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Although Google Android smartphones, such as the HTC magic and the T Mobile G1, can be great tools for increasing your productivity on the move, you can also have fun playing games on them too. Here are just a few:

4NumGuess: This bizarre number guessing game does not come with instructions, and has to be played in side-view mode. Numbers need to be entered using the on screen display, rather than the keypad, which may seem an odd decision but it means that it is fully compatible with machines without one.

Amazed - This maze game uses the accelerometer as a control device, and requires you to tilt the phone to guide a white ball along a 2-dimensional path towards the goal. It uses a grid-based maze with a lot of 90 degree turns, and is infuriatingly addictive.

Asquare - In this game you have to match three shapes by swapping any two, the aim of the game being to match as many trios in as few turns as possible, with your score being based on your ratio of turns to matches. There is no real game over situation, so you can just play it until you get bored or have to do something else.

Backgammon - This mobile version of the classic boardgame is a decent version featuring all that you would expect. However, the game also serves as a demonstration of how hard it is to drag and drop using a touchscreen, as every slight loss of contact is interpreted as a drop. It is only marginally more playable with the mini trackball.

Bonsai Blast - In this colourful game, you have to shoot coloured balls at an oncoming line of balls before the line makes it to the end of the path. The graphics are excellent, although the touchscreen control method can take a bit of getting used to.

Brain Genius Deluxe - If you like the idea of brain training games, then you will love Brain Genius Deluxe, in which you have to complete various tasks and puzzles. As you complete these tasks, you unlock various games, such as SuDoku, Crosspix, Sliding Puzzle, and Jigsaw, which you can then play at your leisure. The games make use of all the control functions of the phone apart from the keypad, although the if your phone has a mini joystick then you will probably just want to use that, as both the accelerometer and the touch screen can be frustrating to use.

Bubble Bash demo - This cute-looking game involves shooting coloured balls at other coloured balls, in order to make them disappear. The aiming can be difficult using the touch screen, but it is otherwise a fun game.