Here’s my Metro News reviews for the week of April 25th
The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage
Sydney Padua
Kindle/iBooks/Kobo
There are lessons and laughs in this graphic novel account of the first computer where Victorian inventor Babbage and pioneering programmer Lovelace become crime-solving Steampunk detectives. Both characters are wild, eccentric fun, but their in-jokes require footnotes that might only be insightful to history buffs and computer geeks.
State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition
Xbox One
Rated: Mature 17+
Three and a half stars
The zombies are manageable in State of Decay because you can build bases and form communities, leaving you free to explore large towns and their secrets. The twist is that death is permanent and it can be jarring when your character dies and you’re forced to continue on through someone else’s story.
The combat system lets you get good at survival while a constant introduction of new zombie types to keep you on your toes. It’s the stories that never end well, they always feel unresolved as if you’ve skipped some steps. The people of this world can act very strange and seem very sinister, but unfortunately you’ll never find out why.
State of Decay was originally released for the Xbox 360 as a downloadable title. Here’s it’s packaged with two expansions, Breakdown and Lifeline, that use the game’s survival system to present specific challenges. All together the content delivers the value of a regular retail release and both the characters and zombies have such a strong presence that this becomes one of the better zombie games out there.
MediSafe
Apple Watch/iPhone/Android
Free
From your watch or from your phone, this app’s notifications will help you remember which pills to take and at what times. You can use it to keep track of refills, sync your reminders with family members, and even add glucose, blood pressure, and temperature readings for a helpful overview.
Epicurious Smart Timer
Apple Watch/iPhone/iPad
Free
A step-by-step cooking timer that works on both phone and watch, Epicurious’ newest feature provides custom countdowns to match specific foods, vibrates to let you know when to flip a steak, and finishes with thumbnails photos that show how your ingredients should look when they’re done.
Spy_Watch
iPhone/Apple Watch
$2.29
Does your secret agent take out the guards or charm his way past? As his boss you must follow his pursuits by responding to notifications and glanceable updates. This is not an activity you play in one sitting, but in small, yes-or-no decision breaks throughout the day.
