Spot Reviews 06/20/25
Jun 20 2025
Garden Tails: Match and Grow (2022) [+] Apple Arcade match 3 game that is very cute. Solve math 3 puzzles to collect seeds which you buy plants and decorate a garden (decoration is automatic). There are various animals that appear and each has a set of plants they want you to add to the garden. In between levels you can look at the garden rendered in 3D simple graphics with the animals roaming around. Puzzles are the usual with lots of powerups and combinations (powerups have animal themes: rabbit, hummingbird, bee, etc.) and various difficulties (branches, dirt, ice that require multiple matches to clear). Nice soothing music and end of level congratulations animation. Overall an elegant match 3 game with a pleasant and thoughtful theme.
Horizon Chase 2 (2022) [/] Apple Arcade racing game along the lines of a 1980's/1990's arcade game, i.e. not trying to be ultra-realistic. Default controls are on screen buttons: turn left, turn right, accelerate. You can reconfigure a bit but no swipe or device rotation controls. Luckily the game is designed for push button turning and I rarely crashed. It has the usual: various tracks, various cars, customize cars. It's a fun game at least for a while.
Jetpack Joyride 2 (2022) [/] Apple Arcade endless runner game. You are a guy with a jetpack, tap (and hold) to fly up and release to drop down as you move forward at a constant speed. Avoid obstacles and pick up coins. Pick up powerups which can be a mecha suit or better weapons (you always fire downwards but other weapons allow you to fire in other directions). Each level ends in a boss fight. Rather polished game with good cartoony graphics.
Trader Joe's Yogurt Cups [/] 4 oz cups of Bananas & Cream, Strawberries & Cream, Mangos & Cream, Peaches & Cream (some other flavors but haven't tried them). Basically tastes and feels a bit like pudding with a flavoring. Good but also 140 calories per cup because it's full of sugar. $4 for a batch of 6 cups. I'll probably try a different yogurt.
Horizon Chase 2 (2022) [/] Apple Arcade racing game along the lines of a 1980's/1990's arcade game, i.e. not trying to be ultra-realistic. Default controls are on screen buttons: turn left, turn right, accelerate. You can reconfigure a bit but no swipe or device rotation controls. Luckily the game is designed for push button turning and I rarely crashed. It has the usual: various tracks, various cars, customize cars. It's a fun game at least for a while.
Jetpack Joyride 2 (2022) [/] Apple Arcade endless runner game. You are a guy with a jetpack, tap (and hold) to fly up and release to drop down as you move forward at a constant speed. Avoid obstacles and pick up coins. Pick up powerups which can be a mecha suit or better weapons (you always fire downwards but other weapons allow you to fire in other directions). Each level ends in a boss fight. Rather polished game with good cartoony graphics.
Trader Joe's Yogurt Cups [/] 4 oz cups of Bananas & Cream, Strawberries & Cream, Mangos & Cream, Peaches & Cream (some other flavors but haven't tried them). Basically tastes and feels a bit like pudding with a flavoring. Good but also 140 calories per cup because it's full of sugar. $4 for a batch of 6 cups. I'll probably try a different yogurt.