CraftedBattle Review

Not everything has to look like MineCraft. It's a look that works well for Notch's unique creation but that doesn't mean it's vital for others to emulate it. CraftedBattle is one such game that hasn't learnt that lesson yet, focusing more on its MineCraft style influences than quality gameplay. That's not to say it isn't of interest, however.

Allowing players to create their own maps and compete in death match arenas is something that hasn't been exploited quite significantly enough on iOS. In the case of CraftedBattle, it's quick to play but also offers a reasonable amount of options, too. It's a shame, then, that it still feels far too limited and lacking some much needed finesse.

Crucially, there's no way of playing online against real players. It is possible to play against up to 15 different bots though, but they are far from the brightest bunch. It doesn't take a huge level of concentration or thought to defeat them. Still, the options are there with health regeneration possible as well as the choice of a free for all or team death match, adding to the variety.

This variety doesn't come from the weapon choices, given the options of either a machine gun, sniper rifle or regular rifle, plus a handy knife for up close and personal kills--something that's important given the lack of manual reload. This simple gameplay extends to the control scheme, which is quick to learn but lacks some depth.

Besides the death match side of things, there's a selection of challenges to complete in which makes the price slightly more acceptable, but the real meat comes from the map creation tool. It's quite limited, not least in the way in which maps can be exported, but it's a neat idea. Players can edit the game maps to their heart's content, assuming they don't want to add things like trees or other obstacles. Also, assuming they don't mind doing so from a first person perspective. However, it is possible to add different environments such as grass or dirt, as well as manipulate a map in a different way than originally intended. Spawn points can also be changed around.

Like the rest of the game, CraftedBattle's map creation shows promise amongst its many limitations. It'd be tough to recommend it above other, more polished offerings out there, but it's still an interesting curiosity. With plenty more work, it could be something more tempting. Maybe.