4 awesome sports games for iOS

Sports games have always been a firm favorite of mine over the years. From the days of NBA Jam on the SEGA Mega Drive (“Boom-shakalaka!”) I’ve always felt that sporting titles are a must in any gamer’s collection. Since the introduction of smartphones and tablets, many of the larger sports gaming titles have inevitably made their way on over to the newer touch screen devices and have just as much success as their console-based cousins. Below are just four of my favorites.

Let’s be honest here, wherever there are consoles, there are FIFA titles. These games have long been enjoyed in bedrooms, dorms, office break rooms and just about anywhere that small groups of sport loving guys hang around. Over the years, EA has done tremendous things with the mechanics of this game and, through constantly upping the level of innovation, a lot for the general gaming environment. Each new incarnation of the FIFA title is met with awe and admiration, and the iOS version is no different. Aside from the amazing graphics, extremely well-adapted gameplay and precise mechanics found in the game, EA has taken it one step further and built in Bluetooth capabilities for the game. Meaning that you can now connect up to two iPhones (using EA’s new Gamepad app) to an iPad and use them as wireless controllers! This not only creates a whole new level of enjoyment for FIFA ’12 as a game, but completely turns the iOS gaming world and how we interact with the games on its head. I think EA has done what all other manufacturers were too scared to do, and I know it’s going to pay off for them.

As a non-golfer and some one who really knows nothing about golf at all, I bought this game while on sale as I’d read quite a bit about how well it was designed. All I can say is that I am now itching to get my hands on a set of old clubs and hit the nearest driving range to see if my understanding of the perfect swing in the game translates in real life, probably not but, it’s got me interested in the game. Tiger ’12 allows you to build up your own golfer from scratch and play until you’re ready to enter the PGA Tour in a sort of career mode, where you can win cash that you use to buy skill points and better yourself through out the game. It also comes with a mini game section where you can play against your Facebook friends in ‘Closest To The Pin’, or just take on one of Tiger’s many challenges. As one would expect from an EA title, the graphics are sharp, the sound effects are perfect and the proper licenses are all there. Hole in one!

Crazy Snowboard — US$0.99