Revisiting the nadir of Star Wars lore for its latest game may seem like a risk for Rovio, but it's no surprise that Angry Birds Star Wars II (Windows Phone 8, 79p) is more fun than the prequel trilogy upon which it is based.
Following a familiar pattern of good guy-based birds v evil empire-infused pigs, there are now new characters to try, such as Jar Jar Binks and his ever-useful tongue. The ability to buy different characters and thrust them into action dilutes the challenge somewhat, but fresh levels and power-ups are always welcome in the enduringly popular series. There's also the introduction of Skylander-type toys that are scanned into the phone to unlock fresh avian friends, an interesting sign of where Rovio is heading.
Trouserheart (iOS, £1.99, 10tons) is an altogether more original experience, putting you in control of a king who has had his trousers pilfered by some wicked goblins. What follows is an entertaining hack'n'slash adventure, with randomly generated levels that offer lots of action and treasure to be gathered. Don't let the blocky, cartoon style visuals mislead you – this is a challenging, witty title that deserves success.
