App reviews: Save the Line, Pac Man

This quick little puzzler requires fast reflexes and lots of patience. Players are the stewards of a line, which you have to save from hitting all the obstacles the game throws at you. You can slide the line or tap it to teleport around certain objects. You can also use (and buy) a power-up now and then to make yourself briefly invincible. It doesn't sound that complicated — and it's not, honestly — but it can get pretty challenging.

Players should be warned that the app can become pretty addictive. It is ad-supported, so players should expect to see a lot of short advertisements for other apps. You can also opt to skip a level by watching an extra advertisement. Or, if you prefer, you can pay $2 to skip ads entirely. Free, for iOS devices.

PAC Man

What's not to like about PAC Man? Whether you have genuine nostalgia for that hungry little yellow dot, or maybe just like all things retro, it's nice to be able to have this classic game right on your smartphone. You can opt to control the game by swiping in the direction you want, or by opting for an on-screen joystick. You can play the classic version or opt for a multiplayer or tournament game, in which you play against other people.

The game is set to an easy playing mode by default, but you can increase the difficulty in the settings if you want. Once you're out of lives, you can either buy tokens or watch an ad to get another shot. The game is free to play, though you can buy more maze themes if you'd like. Free, for iOS (called PAC Man Lite) and Android devices.