Classic-style 2D platforming games can be a great fit for the iOS platform, that is, if the controls are sufficiently responsive. Ravenous Games, the developers of Cave Run [$1.99], have a new 2D platformer on the horizon, and while I can't yet comment on how good the controls are going to be I'm definitely sold on the visuals and style. The story goes that a group of mad scientists have banded together to form � you guessed it � a "League of Evil" and are hellbent on causing general mischief and mayhem throughout the world. It's up to you as a Special Agent with unique acrobatic abilities to do something about stopping this threat. The pixel graphics and chiptune music in this trailer are right up my alley, and the gameplay totally gives me a Mega Man meets Ninja Gaiden vibe, which is definitely a good thing:

Currently League of Evil is scheduled for a February 3rd release, and will feature a whopping 60 different levels to play through. In fact there is already a Flash version of the game available that you can check out here, and if that version is any indication of what to expect then the iOS version of League of Evil should be simply awesome as long as they nail the controls. You can drop by the upcoming games thread in our forum where the developer is constantly posting new screens and info, and we'll be looking forward to checking out League of Evil when it launches hopefully in a little over a month.

Today Joystiq caught wind of a cryptic teaser site for a Japanese mobile phone port of Chrono Trigger, which is yet another classic 16-bit era RPG by SquareSoft. The site itself isn't home to any more information other than the Chrono Trigger logo and "Spring 2011." Chrono Trigger was a remarkable RPG that had many revolutionary systems such as time travel, multiple endings, and other things not previously seen on home consoles. (For a full rundown, check out the extensive page on Wikipedia.)

We're not sure just yet whether this means the game is coming to Japanese mobile phones, the Japanese App Store, or anything else other than it's coming to mobile platforms in one way or another next year. However, with the success Square Enix has seen with their titles on the App Store, I'd find it to be almost impossible to believe that Chrono Trigger wouldn't eventually end up running on iOS sooner or later.

[via Joystiq]

Trilobyte recently had an update to The 7th Guest [$2.99 / $5.99] land on the App Store which addresses a few complaints that we had in our review and that forum members had in the game's thread. Music now loops properly, and the game's animations have been slowed to their intended speed allowing for much more dramatic movement through the house.

The virtual mouse cursor and vintage save system still persists, but it's really great to play the game at the original speed it was intended to be played at. It would be nice if there was a toggle somewhere in the options for a "turbo mode" to make the game as fast as it was before, but maybe we'll see something like that in future updates or even in the upcoming sequel 11th Hour.

There's been a lot of Battle Bears-related news coming from the folks at SkyVu lately. We first took a look at their newest iOS game Battle Bears -1 [Free] back when it was released in June. There was a lot to like about this humorous third-person shooter, stuff that we noted in our review, but there were some negative aspects as well. Then the game was updated over the next couple of months, and version 1.2 of Battle Bears -1 took everything we didn't like about the game and soundly pounded it into pieces, helping realize the potential that was contained in the initial release. Since that 1.2 update in August, Battle Bears -1 has received a ton more goodness in the form of updates, which have culminated in the recent version 1.5 that hit over the weekend.

The version 1.5 update adds the long-awaited third campaign for the lovable, timid, nub-handed, and slightly overweight Wil. Wil's campaign takes place after the other Battle Bears, Oliver and Riggs, have already safely escaped the mothership Ursa Major. Wil is left all alone to fend off an onslaught of zombie huggables over two dimly lit new levels chock full of Portal and 2001: A Space Odyssey references. This campaign is also a little different than the others in that you must negotiate a twisting maze of claustrophobic air vents in order to get to the main levels on the ship's corridors. Wil comes equipped with an arrow that he pulled from his leg as a melee weapon and a shotgun which he lovingly named Boomstick McShootington. Wil's campaign is a lot of fun, with hilarious new cutscenes and a story with a cliffhanger ending.

There have also been a number of other additions to Battle Bears -1 since our last post about the game. You can now obtain super versions of your weapons when playing as Oliver or Riggs. Collecting 3 full clips of ammo for a weapon turns it into a super weapon for the duration of those clips. For example, instead of normal rockets from the Bearzooka you'll fire one huge rocket that does incredible splash damage. Additionally, both the Riggs and Oliver campaigns have been extended, and Oliver's ends in an absolutely epic new boss battle. In it, Oliver transforms into an alternate version of himself and fights against a humongous boss in outer space in a battle that's unlike anything else in the game, and harkens back to some of the epic boss battles from the Star Fox or Legend of Zelda series.

The truly crazy part of all this is that currently every Battle Bears game is available for free. The original Battle Bears: Zombies! and Battle Bears -1 will be free at least until December 28th. The iPad only Battle Bears Go was supposed to be free for only a day, but somebody at SkyVu apparently forgot to flip the price switch back to "on" so at the moment it's still free. Also, the formerly 99� downloadable Riggs campaign is now permanently free, with the brand new Wil campaign costing 99�. As a bonus, if you owned Battle Bears -1 before and had already purchased the Riggs campaign, you'll get the Wil campaign for free when you update.

I'm really impressed with how far Battle Bears -1 has come since it was released, and there's still more planned for the future including additional campaign content, Game Center integration, and Retina Display support. Plus, SkyVu is currently at work on a brand new title that takes place in-between the first two games called Battle Bears: 0. There's plenty of gameplay spread across the three Battle Bears titles, all currently available for free. If you need something to do during the holidays, act quickly and download any or all of these games now, and drop into the thread in our forums where SkyVu actively monitors feedback and suggestions for future updates.

Fruit Ninja Lite, Free - One of the standout developers of 2010 was Halfbrick Studios, and with the year coming to a close they have some newsworthy items to end on a high note with. Back in April, they released Fruit Ninja [99�] to the App Store and it quickly shot up to the top of the charts and has remained at a relatively high position ever since. There is something strangely appealing about slicing up fruit on a touch screen, and the game was a completely unique idea and a novel use of the device's strengths. A few months later an iPad version was launched, Fruit Ninja HD [99�], which added a fun same-device multiplayer mode and a larger play area.

Many of us already own Fruit Ninja, but if you're one of the few who never understood what the fuss was about, and weren't about to spend the money to find out, Halfbrick now has you covered with two brand new lite versions, Fruit Ninja Lite [Free] and Fruit Ninja HD Lite [Free]. If you try the game out and end up liking it, the iPhone version can be picked up for 99� and for a limited time the iPad version can also be had for 99�, down from $4.99. Both versions of Fruit Ninja also come with the brand new Arcade mode and online multiplayer using Game Center.

Age of Zombies™, $0.99 - If you're looking for a side of Steakfries to go with your free fruit, Halfbrick has you covered here as well. Age of Zombies [99�/Lite] just received its latest update with a number of new enhancements. First is the ability to select and replay any completed level from Story Mode, rather than having to start at the beginning each time, and 3 brand new maps for Survival Mode. Also, the scores from Game Center or OpenFeint can now be pulled down directly into the game while you're playing, so you always know onscreen what the next online score is that you need to beat. If you do overtake someone on the leaderboards, a little dialogue will drop down with some smack talk from Barry towards the other player.

Finally, in the spirit of Christmas, Barry has donned a Santa hat and candy cane gun to dispatch the new elf zombies that permeate the game. In addition Age of Zombies is currently experiencing its first ever sale, and just like with Fruit Ninja HD it can be purchased for just 99� for a limited time. Make sure to take either of the Fruit Ninja games for a test drive with the new lite versions, and if you own Age of Zombies mash away at your update button and give the new content a spin. Also don't forget to jump on these 99� sales while they last, and after a year of great games from Halfbrick I can't wait to see what they in store for us in 2011.