iOS Gaming with Hero Academy and Pocket Planes

Hero Academy steam

We said it was going to be kind of dead around here, and boy, we weren’t kidding. I can’t really speak for the other dudes, but summer is kind of the time where real life takes precedent over other things, so sorry about that. When the weather turns grey and people retreat back into their homes, that’s around when gaming news picks up again.

That said, it’s not like there’s nothing to talk about, as my iOS devices have been getting a fair bit of use recently with some newly discovered games I’ve been playing: Pocket Planes and Hero Academy.

Pocket Planes is made by NimbleBit, who struck it big with their tower management sim game Tiny Tower. Those rascals are back at it, but this time you’re trying to turn a fledgling airline into a global powerhouse. You start off with small planes in one region and eventually expand your operation to be global, gathering bigger and bigger planes and opening new airports. It functions on the same “hurry up and wait” mechanic that Tiny Tower did, where you have to just let the game sit while your planes travel from point to point, but you can use Bux to speed them along their way. It lacks the same inherently addictive quality that Tiny Tower had, but hearing the little “ding” notification whenever one of your planes arrives is a Pavlov’s bell that’s hard to ignore. You have the ability to join a flight crew to earn aircraft parts and Bux, and there’s a minimal amount of jobs you need to complete for each challenge to be elegible for the reward. It’s a great way to get a little boost if you can participate and helps make Pocket Planes feel less isolated than Tiny Tower did.

Hero Academy is definitely one game you should try out, and it’s been draining the batteries of the GamerSushi staff’s iPhones over the past week. It essentially plays like Wizard’s Chess from Harry Potter, except you take control of one of four (for now) themed teams and use their unique abilities to trounce your opponent. The human Council is the only free race (the game itself is free as well) but additional races offer more strategies for the low price of $1.99, if you’re so inclined. It’s a really fun asynchronous strategy title which Anthony is way too good at. Seriously, he’s scary. The game is coming to Steam soon (with a Team Fortress 2 team) and it will be cross platform.

Anyone else tried these games, or down for a few rounds of Hero Academy?

Written by

mitch@gamersushi.com Twitter: @mi7ch Gamertag: Lubeius PSN ID: Lubeius SteamID: Mister_L Origin/EA:Lube182 Currently Playing: PUBG, Rainbow 6: Siege, Assassin's Creed: Origins, Total War: Warhammer 2

6 thoughts on “iOS Gaming with Hero Academy and Pocket Planes”

  1. I heard about Hero Academy through the Rooster Teeth Podcast and upon hearing of a TF2 team (coming soon), I quickly tried it and subsequently enjoyed the game. Its simple, but has some complexity and interesting mechanics and combination possibilities. My username is “C4lvinist” if anyone is interested in playing.

  2. Thanks for the compliment, Mitch.

    I didn’t like Pocket Planes as much as you did (Still prefer Tiny Tower), but I can see the appeal. Hero Academy is so fun that I am glad the servers were down today, otherwise I would still be at work, trying to get things done.

    Download it and fight me:

    edgewalker81

  3. I went to a networking event where the president of Robot Entertainment was a speaker, so I’ve heard about Hero Academy but never knew anyone that played it. I just downloaded it and am giving it a try, if anyone wants a free win I’m ThaneKrios (DrellAssassin was invalid for some reason).

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