It's time for another look at the best applications available for the world's most popular smartphone platforms.
In this edition, we have an old favourite updated, a console developer's first mobile title and a few more gems!
Tiny Heroes
There are plenty of tower-defence games available on Apple's App Store, with Plants vs Zombies being the most prominent example of the genre.
However, Tiny Heroes is a great alternative, charging you with defending your gold-filled dungeon from thieving wizards and other characters.
The best part is that Tiny Heroes is absolutely free to download, being available on the iPhone and iPad. So check it out if you're looking to quench your tower defence thirst.
Sideswipe
RSS reading applications can be a dull affair, but it doesn't need to be like that, as this BlackBerry application shows.
Swideswipe gives readers a variety of news categories to peruse, with users able to search by topic and save posts too. The social aspect is well-implemented, letting you share your articles via Twitter, BBM and traditional email.
While it might not be as aesthetically pleasing as apps on other platforms (Pulse, Flipboard and Google Currents come to mind), BlackBerry fans should give it a go anyway.
Fibble
Superstar developer Crytek's first mobile effort isn't quite what we expected from the German developer, being a puzzle/platformer.
The iOS exclusive (for now) title has you playing as an extraterrestrial explorer searching an ordinary home for his friends, with beautiful visuals and intricate physics involved.
Fibble is available on iTunes for $1.99 with a free trial if you're still not convinced about it. Of course, this is where your US or UK Apple ID comes in handy once again.
Twitter 3.0 for BlackBerry
"What's this old app doing here? It's been out for ages!" I hear you say. However, the latest update for Twitter brings a raft of new features to the table.
Automatic link shortening, slick BlackBerry Messenger integration and tighter integration with the device's camera make the latest update worth downloading.
One of the most popular iPhone apps makes the transition to Android devices, letting users customise the hell out of their photos.
Besides the nifty photo effects, Instagram also brings a social layer, letting users follow one another. So get shooting!
Epic Astro Story
Japanese developer Kairosoft has built up a fantastic reputation thanks to its series of simulation titles, often placing you in charge. Some of its titles see you play as a motor racing manager, restaurant owner and even a game developer.
The next title in this series is Epic Astro Story, available for both Android and iOS, which has players building a space colony. You'll need to build an infrastructure for your people, draw alien tourists while also warding off some of the less savoury life-forms out there.
Snake 97
Who could forget the first mobile phone game sensation way back in 1997? Yep, Snake is that old, appearing on Nokia handsets.
Now, someone has seen fit to bring a free version to Apple and Android devices, complete with a "physical" keypad in the vein of the original mobile phones.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance drops stealth for hack and slash action, but it works perfectly.
We put Vodacom's super-fast LTE network to the test in Cape Town. How well does it hold up?
The latest Crysis game is an entertaining experience, but you'll want to play this on PC instead.
