iOS Gaming Watch List: NOVA 3, LostWinds 2 and more

We're taking a look at the most promising iPhone and iPad releases for May 10, 2012.

Each week the iOS Gaming Watch List will inform you of some noteworthy releases coming to the App Store.

Major releases tend to hit on Thursdays, so we'll be coming at you every Wednesday with the games to look out for, as well as some of the bigger content updates on the way. While this won't be a comprehensive list of games releasing for a given week, it does offer a quick selection of games and upates that show promise or look interesting for one reason or another. Worth noting that we have not played many of these games, so you shouldn't take these as short reviews. Think of this more like a helpful guide of games to investigate as they launch on Thursday.

Unfortunately, since these are pre-release games, App Store links are not available, but if you search for the title within the App Store tomorrow, it should pop up.

Gameloft has developed a bit of a reputation, lifting general game concepts from other games to make its own. The NOVA franchise started out as a Halo clone but with NOVA 3, it appears to have evolved into more of a nod to Crysis. But, what Gameloft lacks in ingenuity, they seem to make up for in technical know-how. This is one impressive-looking mobile game, and comes with a full campaign as well as 12-player, vehicle-centric multiplayer. I'm still not convinced that an FPS can work on a touch screen, but if you've a taste for the genre and don't mind the lack of analog sticks, NOVA 3is definitely worth checking out.(Universal app, launching at $6.99) - App Store Link

LostWinds was one of the first WiiWare games, but as that platform slowly vanished off the face of the Earth, the franchise had to find a new home. Seems that they've settled on iOS and now the developers are slowly bringing all the games they've released so far onto the mobile platform. The latest is LostWinds 2: Winter of Melodias, which takes the basic, windy tenets of the series and adds the ability to mess with the seasons.(Universal app, launching at $3.99) - App Store Link

This Could Hurt places a cute, cartoony character in a large number of environments that could very easily tear him limb from limb. It appears to be a slow-paced, puzzle-ridden platformer that requires more strategy than quick reflexes. That's a good thing, as we all know how platformers can flounder on a touch screen. It's the sort of game that, at a buck, is probably a safe bet. And hey, Game Center achievements are there to sweeten the pot.(Universal app, launching at $0.99) - App Store Link

This trailer is worth watching if only for the ridiculous accent. Is it European? Is it American? Who knows, but the guy has a future as the lead in Heavy Rain 2! Anyway, Jake Escapes looks like a blend of Elevator Action and Rampage. Climb buildings, avoid obstacles (Tetris blocks?) and avoid the nefarious Bob.(Universal app, launching at $2.99) - App Store Link

Apparently there's a company in Australia called Penny Skateboards. And, in order to promote their Down Under, skateboardin' ways, they've made an iOS game. It's not Tony Hawk by any stretch. If anything it looks more like Skate or Die. But a cool art style and a cheap price tag make this worth a glance at the very least. (Universal app, launching at $0.99) - App Store Link