02-02-2019, 05:47 AM
The Weekender: Frontiers Edition
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/the-weekender-frontiers-edition.jpg" width="1920" height="1080" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/the-weekender-frontiers-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted" /></div>
<p>I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a pretty good week. We finally got that list <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/guides/war-games-android-ios/" target="_blank">of the best wargames on mobile</a> up and running (been wanting to do this for ages), so that’s another niche well served. I also got to review the excellent <em>Star Traders: Frontiers</em> (more on that below), and as well as overhauling our RPG list, we had <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/situation-report-the-best-ios-strategy-games/" target="_blank">a nice trip back in time to 2012</a>.</p>
<p>Coming up next week should be quite a few more reviews, along with the usual round of updates, including some more war games, and any interesting new releases we haven’t caught up with yet.</p>
<p>Meanwhile in mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Star Traders: Frontiers (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-traders-frontiers/id1442583232?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.startraders2" target="_blank">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/star-traders-frontiers/" target="_blank">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>No need to really say much more on this one: The Trese Brother’s excellent sci-fi sandbox RPG is now made the hyperjump form PC to mobile devices. This can be considered the spiritual successor to their original <em>Star Traders RPG</em> and is a million times better. The post release support this game has enjoyed on PC (and will no enjoy on mobile) makes this a must-have for anyone who feel this ticks their boxes. Just mind out for the initially intimidating learning curve.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5wxoMy6J2W8?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>The Escapists 2: Pocket Breakout (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/escapists-2-pocket-breakout/id1356167732" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.team17.escapists2&hl=en_GB" target="_blank">Android</a>) <em>– Full review coming soon!</em></h3>
<p>We quite liked <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-the-escapists/" target="_blank">the first <em>Escapists</em> game</a> when it launched onto mobile in 2017. This curious prison sim/RPG game is a more narrative counter-point to the likes of Prison Architect, which is more of a management sim. We’re working on getting you a review as soon as possible, but in the meantime, here are the official features:</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Five, handpicked sandbox prisons to escape from! Break out from minimum security penitentiaries like Centre Perks or for the more hardened criminals Rattlesnake Springs!</li>
<li>Local multiplayer for up to 4 players</li>
<li>New ways to escape</li>
<li>Customise your con with new customisations to create your perfect prisoner</li>
<li>Buy, barter and beat your way to acquiring the much-needed items to create dozens of crafting combinations to aid your escape!</li>
<li>Put the craft in crafty! Scheme, sneak and traverse through prison life. Forge friendships, pull the wool over guards’ eyes as you use your skills and wits to plot your escape!</li>
<li>Blend in to bust out, prison life is filled with routine, make sure you attend roll call, clock in for your job and remain under the radar! If you have the time, learn a hobby or even join a band…</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/oDPtBf6P1wQ?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<p>Something we also forgot to mention, Yobowargames last year released iOS versions of <em>Battle for Korsun</em> and <em>Invaders from Dimension X</em>, which we’ve got full reviews in the works for.</p>
<h2>Pre-Order</h2>
<h3>A Few Minutes of Glory (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-few-minutes-of-glory/id1447578204" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a>)</h3>
<p>The description of this is what sold it to us – take the founding principles of the RTS genre as pioneered by the likes of <em>Age of Empires 2</em>… And turn into a text-based strategy game. This is a game where you make strategic decisions such as resource collection, what units to build and so on, and then the tactical battles are handled by the game itself. We highly suggest you check out the store page at least – it seems fascinating, and in many ways isn’t so far removed from something like <em>Six Ages</em>.</p>
<h2>Updates</h2>
<h3>Rome: Total War (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rome-total-war/id1106831630" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.feralinteractive.rometw" target="_blank">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-rome-total-war/" target="_blank">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>Everyone’s favourite grand-strategy game has just been updated to version 1.10, which adds an additional 8 factions (bringing the total to 19), the ability for units to march together at the same pace (<em>total phwoarr</em><strong>-ED</strong>), as well as a new range marker feature, showing the firing distance of your units. This patch is only being advertised for the iOS version, but looking at the Google Play store page it looks like Android already had the most up-to-date build.</p>
<p>There’s also a trailer just for the patch, because why not:</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PyS_UnlydIk?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>There’s nothing in the sales department we feel is worth highlighting this week, although do let us know if you spot something yourself, we can always do a quick update!</p>
<p><em>Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/the-weekender-frontiers-edition.jpg" width="1920" height="1080" title="" alt="" /></div><div><div><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/the-weekender-frontiers-edition.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted" /></div>
<p>I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a pretty good week. We finally got that list <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/guides/war-games-android-ios/" target="_blank">of the best wargames on mobile</a> up and running (been wanting to do this for ages), so that’s another niche well served. I also got to review the excellent <em>Star Traders: Frontiers</em> (more on that below), and as well as overhauling our RPG list, we had <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/situation-report-the-best-ios-strategy-games/" target="_blank">a nice trip back in time to 2012</a>.</p>
<p>Coming up next week should be quite a few more reviews, along with the usual round of updates, including some more war games, and any interesting new releases we haven’t caught up with yet.</p>
<p>Meanwhile in mobile gaming…</p>
<h2>Out Now</h2>
<h3>Star Traders: Frontiers (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/star-traders-frontiers/id1442583232?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.startraders2" target="_blank">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/star-traders-frontiers/" target="_blank">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>No need to really say much more on this one: The Trese Brother’s excellent sci-fi sandbox RPG is now made the hyperjump form PC to mobile devices. This can be considered the spiritual successor to their original <em>Star Traders RPG</em> and is a million times better. The post release support this game has enjoyed on PC (and will no enjoy on mobile) makes this a must-have for anyone who feel this ticks their boxes. Just mind out for the initially intimidating learning curve.</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5wxoMy6J2W8?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h3>The Escapists 2: Pocket Breakout (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/escapists-2-pocket-breakout/id1356167732" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.team17.escapists2&hl=en_GB" target="_blank">Android</a>) <em>– Full review coming soon!</em></h3>
<p>We quite liked <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-the-escapists/" target="_blank">the first <em>Escapists</em> game</a> when it launched onto mobile in 2017. This curious prison sim/RPG game is a more narrative counter-point to the likes of Prison Architect, which is more of a management sim. We’re working on getting you a review as soon as possible, but in the meantime, here are the official features:</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>Five, handpicked sandbox prisons to escape from! Break out from minimum security penitentiaries like Centre Perks or for the more hardened criminals Rattlesnake Springs!</li>
<li>Local multiplayer for up to 4 players</li>
<li>New ways to escape</li>
<li>Customise your con with new customisations to create your perfect prisoner</li>
<li>Buy, barter and beat your way to acquiring the much-needed items to create dozens of crafting combinations to aid your escape!</li>
<li>Put the craft in crafty! Scheme, sneak and traverse through prison life. Forge friendships, pull the wool over guards’ eyes as you use your skills and wits to plot your escape!</li>
<li>Blend in to bust out, prison life is filled with routine, make sure you attend roll call, clock in for your job and remain under the radar! If you have the time, learn a hobby or even join a band…</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/oDPtBf6P1wQ?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<p>Something we also forgot to mention, Yobowargames last year released iOS versions of <em>Battle for Korsun</em> and <em>Invaders from Dimension X</em>, which we’ve got full reviews in the works for.</p>
<h2>Pre-Order</h2>
<h3>A Few Minutes of Glory (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-few-minutes-of-glory/id1447578204" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a>)</h3>
<p>The description of this is what sold it to us – take the founding principles of the RTS genre as pioneered by the likes of <em>Age of Empires 2</em>… And turn into a text-based strategy game. This is a game where you make strategic decisions such as resource collection, what units to build and so on, and then the tactical battles are handled by the game itself. We highly suggest you check out the store page at least – it seems fascinating, and in many ways isn’t so far removed from something like <em>Six Ages</em>.</p>
<h2>Updates</h2>
<h3>Rome: Total War (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rome-total-war/id1106831630" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a> & <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.feralinteractive.rometw" target="_blank">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/review-rome-total-war/" target="_blank">Review</a>)</h3>
<p>Everyone’s favourite grand-strategy game has just been updated to version 1.10, which adds an additional 8 factions (bringing the total to 19), the ability for units to march together at the same pace (<em>total phwoarr</em><strong>-ED</strong>), as well as a new range marker feature, showing the firing distance of your units. This patch is only being advertised for the iOS version, but looking at the Google Play store page it looks like Android already had the most up-to-date build.</p>
<p>There’s also a trailer just for the patch, because why not:</p>
<iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='654' height='368' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PyS_UnlydIk?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' allowfullscreen='true' style='border:0;'></iframe>
<h2>Sales</h2>
<p>There’s nothing in the sales department we feel is worth highlighting this week, although do let us know if you spot something yourself, we can always do a quick update!</p>
<p><em>Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
</div>