guns

Six-Guns is a freemium sandbox cowboy game that models itself after the popular console game Red Dead Redemption. While it may not be on par graphically with the game it resembles, Six-Guns definitely still has good-looking graphics as you explore a huge world and complete quests. The control system is like in many first-person shooters on the iPhone: move your character using a control stick on the left side, and look around by swiping the screen on the right.

The game is set in both Oregon and Arizona (with a way to fast-travel between regions). As you explore, you'll … Read more

Cowboy Guns is a dual-stick shooter set in the Wild West with quests, guns you can upgrade, and a few different gameplay modes to keep you interested. Along with the dual-stick interface (standard movement on the left and firing on the right), you can switch to a different gun by tapping its icon in the middle; use thrown weapons like dynamite with a button on the right; or gain health back by tapping a first-aid icon on the left.

Adventure mode takes you through the storyline: you're a cowboy who faces a deadly gang of criminals called the Crimson … Read more

McGyro is a fun target-shooting game where you tilt your iPhone to aim at targets in an Old West setting. You play as the Sheriff McGyro, and your job is to blow away bad guys that appear as wooden targets.

The storyline is presented in comic book format between each part of the three-part missions. Each mission follows a simple formula: the introduction of a bad guy, traveling to the destination, killing the bad guy's evil henchmen, then killing the bad guy. Scoring head shots gives you extra points so it pays to be accurate, but if you don'… Read more

Ah, the Old West. Things were simpler (and a lot more dangerous) back then.

Your main means of transportation was your horse, a vast frontier was open to explore, and problems were solved with a six-shooter. At least, that's what it was like in the movies. But now you can bring that world and mentality to your iPhone.

This week's collection of iOS apps: sharp-shootin' cowboy games. The first is a target shooter with extra elements that make it extra fun. The second is a dual-stick shooter with missions and evil bosses to gun down. The third lets you explore a huge and open 3D world on horseback--and it won't cost you any gold (or cash) at all.… Read more

A spin-off of the original Contract Killer hit, Contract Killer: Zombies ups the ante by dropping you smack dab in the middle of an undead apocalypse. Fans of the original hit should recognize both the format of the game and the interface.

For those unfamiliar with the original, its controls are simple. Contract Killer is a first-person shooter. You swipe around the screen to look for zombies and set your sights, and tap the fire button to trigger your firearm. There's also a quick-switch button that allows you to swap between your primary and secondary weapons.

The structure of … Read more

TowerMadness has been around for a while now, but the unique challenge and several updates over time make it a must-have for tower defense fans. Featuring 3D graphics that look great on the Retina Display, TowerMadness challenges you to defend a flock of sheep from an onslaught of attacking aliens. You can view the action from above or use a reverse-pinch gesture to zoom in on the action. You'll play on 49 included maps, but you can purchase 28 expansion maps from within the game. A recent update added five more maps, and two new weapon upgrades to add … Read more

Galaxy on Fire is a 3D space combat and exploration game that was a lot of fun at its release in early 2009, but has since been eclipsed by other games in performance--especially its super-polished (and super-fun) sequel, Galaxy on Fire 2, which delivers exponentially on the promise of this original game.

The core of Galaxy on Fire 3D is space combat, and the game excels at providing an immersive, responsive aerial shooter (almost as good as its sequel), in which you can use touch or tilt controls to weave through pitched outer-space dogfights. The game also has some light … Read more

A Space Shooter brings whimsy and comic-book-style graphics to the crowded touch-driven shoot-'em-up category. You play as Commander P. Jefferson, a Buzz Lightyear-like character whose sole purpose is to protect the galaxy. With your double-barrel spacecraft, you get to hunt down aliens, destroy asteroids, and tangle with enemy ships. While the game's story may be somewhat confusing and disjointed, it doesn't take any of the fun out of the straightforward missions.

A Space Shooter's interface is as simple as it gets. Just touch the screen and drag in the direction you want your ship to fly. … Read more

Contract Killer puts you in the shoes of a master sniper for hire. Work your contacts, look for missions, and complete hits in order to gain new weapons, experience points, and money. Become a good enough killer, and you might be able to climb your way to the top of the underworld ladder.

Sniping is simple. Just tap and drag around the scene to find your target. Once you find him, tap the scope button to zoom in, drag around to adjust your crosshairs, and fire away. Aim for the head for an instant kill. But watch out, because crime … Read more