Imagine sitting in the local pub and sipping on a favourite pint, then seeing Gandalf over the other side of the bar playing Space Invaders. That’s the impression I get with this game, as my fancy little wizard charges up the screen shooting fireballs from his staff at wandering goblins and other assorted fantasy creatures.

Every so often a poor little warrior or lonely archer will appear, trapped in cages by the goblins, crying out to be rescued. Run into them, and the little guys join the party, acting as wingmen, helping to beat back the hordes of monsters.

It’s just like running into a power up during a space shoot ‘em up game only instead of getting extra lasers, you get an archer running next to you, shooting arrows up the screen. It works rather well, and I soon found myself cheering on my brave band of adventurers as they laid waste to endless hordes of goblins and other assorted fantasy creatures from the genre.

But all good things must come to an end and very soon I’ve been hit too hard from a monster one time too many and it’s game over. But the adventure must go on, and all those lovely gold coins I’ve collected can be used to buy power ups for my little wizard, or archer, or fighter. Each power up allows the little guy to fire faster, further, harder.

The game merges fantasy with shoot ‘em up very well and is fun to play. Using the iPad in portrait mode adds to the fantasy space invaders feel and the tilt controls work really well, as does the alternative two button option. There is that “just one more go” addictiveness to the game, and being able to buy power ups and eventually unlock other characters to play adds to the long term appeal.