iPhysics Top Ten Level Packs

by Eric March on February 18, 2008 at 7:43 pm

A couple of weeks ago I decided that I wanted to do a Top 10 iPhysics level pack article. I created a poll on iPod Touch Fans to put the question to the users to ask their opinions on their favourite level packs — both to make this truly a Fan Choice, and because I have my own level pack in this mix so I didn’t want to appear biased. I must admit that I’ve been putting off posting this article for some time — mostly due to working on the bog and having other things get in the way (like other news stories and that little annoyance called life), but here, finally, I present to you the Top 10 iPhysics Level Packs! These have all been chosen by fans of the game, and the results might surprise you. Without further ado, let me get on with the countdown!

10. Rawd’s Aquarium by Rawd

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Kicking off the countdown is Rawd’s Aquarium. This level pack is controlled entirely with the accelerometer, and the object is to guide Mr. Fishhead around various obstacles in order to get him home. Challenging, fun, but a little short, it is nevertheless a fun pack.

9. Ragdoll Physics by SeBsZ

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Next up, SeBsZ gives us a ragdoll to toss around. Although there are only three levels in this pack, there is still the ineffable attraction to mercilessly tossing a ragdoll around. Does that make me a bad person? Because, really — who doesn’t like tossing digital people around?

8. Original Crayon Physics by r4m0n

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Bundled with iPhysics itself, this is an homage to the original Crayon Physics that was the inspiration for this game in the first place, and there’s no questioning how enjoyable the original was. This was actually a tie with 7th place.

7. Moto Pack by Rawd

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This was one of the first packs to emerge that made use of the motor features introduced with one of the most recent versions of iPhysics, and as such you are able to control various contraptions that will aid you in getting your ball from Point A to Point B. This was actually a tie with 8th place.

6. Moo’n'Patrol by Moo

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With the release of iPhysics 1.0 came a slew of incredible new features, and Moo’s Moo’n'Patrol was one of the first two packs to make extensive and innovative use of them. Moo’n'Patrol features four stages each consisting of several levels apiece, and each stage features its own unique style and method of gameplay. This is definitely one to check out. This was part of a three-way tie with 5th and 4th place.

5. Newton as a Child by Mindfield

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And here we come to my own level pack. Written with an earlier version of iPhysics, this doesn’t have any of the cool features introduced in later versions, but if I may say so myself, it’s still fun. Comprised of 10 levels, Newton as a Child follows a mythical day in the life of Mister Physics himself, Sir Isaac Newton — as a child. I have some sequels planned at some point — if I can find some time between my other projects to work on them. This was part of a 3-way tie with 6th and 4th place.

4. Crayon Golf by Moo

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Created around the same time as my Newon levels, Crayon Golf similarly doesn’t feature any of the cool capabilities of later versions. What it did feature at the time was an innovative design that presented some real out-of-the-box thinking to iPhysics fans, and still holds up today as s good example of using the iPhysics engine to create levels that are distinctly un-Crayon-Physics-like. The object is quite simple: Draw a joint and a club, plus some ramps or bridges where needed, and get your ball into the hole. It’s much more devious than it sounds. This is another pack definitely worth having in your collection. This was the part of a 3-way tie with 6th and 5th place.

3. Sakura by Ohmugi Wakaba

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Now this is some stylish design right here. Sakura is entirely accelerometer-controlled, and as usual the object is to guide your ball to the goal. What sets this level pack apart from the crowd is its stylish, vivid, yet pleasantly soft traditional Japanese-inspired design and its innovative levels which present a very challenging yet tremendously fun set of puzzles. This is up there among my favourites, too.

2. iPinball by Rawd

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Along with Moo’n'Patrol, Rawd was working closely with r4m0n to add new features to iPhysics that would allow him to create iPinball. Featuring excellent silverball action, iPinball has excellent graphics and fast, solid action good enough to satisfy the hardiest of you pinball wizards. Look for new tables to be designed for this in the future.

1. Vehicular Pack by H3X

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As good as this pack of levels is, I honestly didn’t think it would take first place, what with such innovative titles as iPinball and Moo’n'Patrol, and yet the fans have spoken: H3X’s Vehicular Pack is the number one choice — and by a wide margin, too. This pack works similar to the third stage of Moo’n'Patrol in that you have to guide your vehicle to the goal. To do this you must draw ways around obstacles and contend with gravity so as not to upset your car, preventing you from reaching your destination. Good, solid level design is what has earned this pack its lead role in this Top 10, so congratulations, H3X, on a job well done!

Honorable Mention: Moto Pack 2008 by Rawd

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Because Rawd introduced this back just after I began the poll, it could not be included here, but I promised I’d give a shout out to his latest creation, an updated sequel to his original Moto Pack featured above. Moto Pack 2008 features some zany graphics and fun gameplay that makes further use of iPhysics’ latest features and gives you a greater challenge than his earlier pack. Be sure to check it out!

Well, that wraps it up for this edition of the iPhysics Top 10! Down the road — with the release of more level packs and updates to iPhysics, I’ll run another poll and we’ll do this all over again! In the mean time, all of the level packs featured here are available through Installer, so go ahead and grab your favourites and start playing!

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