iAppLover

iPhones are rapidly becoming more than just a cell phone – it could count as its own mini-gaming platform.  It may not be its real purpose, but give people a solid engine or robust hardware and you’ll find yourself with people who want to push the bar.

Numba is one of the newer generation iPhone games out there, one that will probably gain more popularity as this use for the iPhone picks up in momentum and speed.

For people sick of looking at letters in a grid, they now have the option of looking at numbers on a grid.  While that is somewhat accurate, it fails to fully realize the fun that comes along with that change.

The objective of the game is to pick numbers in a line that correspond to a pattern.  Patterns can be anything from a steady and consistent increase in value to simply being the same number and connected to each other.  Various bonuses apply depending on complexity, color and number combination.

For the less than mathematically minded, the tutorial is there to make sure that you don’t miss out on this simple yet ingenious game. Just from the concept alone I could tell that this game would require a fantastic tutorial.

Math doesn’t exactly have a good reputation when it comes to enjoyment, with its reputation running more on the terror side of the tracks. Luckily, the makers of the game, I-Play, realized this and have packaged a very in-depth and easy to understand tutorial to make sure that people don’t get lost.  In the tutorial, you explore the game from every angle and of course, it teaches you what patterns to look out for.

The mental exercise involved in playing the game is what really sells it for me.  Spotting patterns in a lake of numbers requires intense observation and quick calculation, taxing your brain at a level you might not always be at. That’s important for anyone who cares about their brain – like a muscle you better use it or lose it.  Well, you won’t lose it but don’t expect to be as on the ball as you used to be.

Production and presentation are rock solid, with visuals and sounds that are clear and concise.  It doesn’t try to Las Vegas your brain into shock, which is always good.  It occasionally hiccups on the iPhone, but it’s not enough for it to get in the way of the gameplay.  It doesn’t even feel like a math game when you really get into it – it’s just a game and a really nice one at that.