The app?  Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles

Based on? In spirit, the 2007 open-world action-adventure for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. In reality, though, this is a clone of the simplified prequel released on Nintendo DS in early 2008.

Worth the download? If you do so with the right set of expectations. You won’t find another free-roaming sandbox with current-gen graphics, but you will get a surprisingly deep, remarkably fun platforming game in the mold of last-gen Prince of Persia. You’ll also get 6-8 hours of mobile entertainment for half the cost of the DS version. ($10)

The app? Brothers In Arms: Hour of Heroes

Based on? That WWII shooter franchise that isn’t Call of Duty or Medal of Honor. You know, the one with the serious story and the character development and the team strategy and the “Brothers” in its title. You know which one we’re talking about, right?

Worth the download? The look and sound are nice, but the feel of the game is off. Wolfenstein 3D is basic enough to translate to the iPhone, but the control scheme here is trying to accomplish too much with too little. It’s unintuitive. Yet the promise of bazookas and drivable tanks may convince you to plow through anyway. ($6)

The app?  Silent Hill: The Escape

Based on? The survival horror series, responsible for making psychological pain and billowing brown fog as scary as a dude with a giant rusty sword and bloody pyramid for a head.

Worth the download? Not unless you’re a diehard Silent Hill apologist. If you take away the story, characters and overall reason for wandering through repetitive dark hallways, all you’re left with is… repetitive dark hallways. Except on the iPhone, you’re also stuck with clunky graphics and hit-or-miss controls. Drab and dull all around. ($8)

The app?  Vay

Based on? A forgotten JRPG from the forgotten days of Sega CD. As in any proper Final Fantasy wannabe, you lead a small band of adventurers – princes, wizards, pirates and healers – as they battle the forces of world-dominating evil. Taking turns, of course.

Worth the download? Absolutely. This is an entire old-school role-playing game crammed into a tiny icon on your phone screen. Every dungeon. Every town. Every hero, villain and plot twist. Every monster, weapon and spell. While Vay is not the best or most memorable example of its genre, what other app can give you 40-50 hours of play for just… ($5)

The app? The Oregon Trail

Based on? Your school’s computer lab. Migrating your virtual family of floppy disk pioneers across the country without dying from disease, starvation, exhaustion or snakebite was fun, addictive and – yes, teacher – educational.

Worth the download? Depends. Hardcore fans of the original will miss the micromanagement, score system and degree of difficulty. The cartoon graphics and clever minigames – tilt the phone to pan for gold! – might make up for these absences… but you’ll still have to stomach the constant breaks for loading. ($5)

The app?  DanceDanceRevolution S

Based on? The interactive music game in which you step on a platform or mat in time and rhythm to the arrows flowing across your screen. Wait, why are we explaining this? It’s appeared in every arcade and on every console imaginable since 1998.

Worth the download? Yes, with a caveat. DDR’s play style adapts well to the iPhone - instead of stepping on the arrows, you simply touch them at the correct moment. The game’s music will delight fans of the series as well. The potential problem? Other, cheaper and non-licensed games like Tap Tap Revenge and Tap Tap Dance do the same thing with current hit songs. Try the trial versions for both and see which you prefer. ($7)

The app?  Silent Scope

Based on? The arcade mainstay, easily recognized by the large plastic sniper rifle mounted in front of the screen. The First Family has been kidnapped by terrorists and – for enough quarters – only your trigger finger can save them!

Worth the download? Not unless you’ve grown bored with other, superior shooting apps like Metal Gear Solid Touch. The action here is way more repetitive… which would be acceptable (this is an iPhone, after all) if the controls weren’t so imprecise and the shooting didn’t suffer from so much lag. When your game does just one thing over and over, it’d better do that one thing right. Silent Scope fails. ($6)