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Tag: Rpg lite »

Swipe & Slash Review

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Rob Thomas on September 9th, 2014
Our rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: DUNGEON MATCH
Oh, nevermind. Just another Threes! clone. What? Y-you mean Swipe & Slash is actually a fun RPG-lite dungeon hack using Threes! as a combat engine? Oh, well why didn't you say so?
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Dungeon and Girls Review

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, compatible with iPad
By Rob Thomas on March 28th, 2014
Our rating: starstarstarhalfstarblankstar :: KAWAII QUEST
Sad that there aren't more old-school dungeon hack and painfully cute anime monster girl mash-ups? Well look no further than iQuibi's Dungeon and Girls.
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Abducted Review

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Lucy Ingram on December 23rd, 2013
Our rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: BEAUTIFULLY CLEVER
Episode one in a colossal science fiction adventure, Abduction packs in survival horror and RPG-lite elements to build upon a highly immersive storyline.
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Solstice Arena Review

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Rob Rich on June 14th, 2013
Our rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar :: BRB
Solstice Arena is a very solid attempt at a mobile MOBA, but actually playing against other people can be a chore.
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Avengers Alliance Review

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Rob Rich on June 13th, 2013
Our rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: BE PATIENT
One of Facebook's most popular superhero games comes to iOS, albeit with a couple of nagging issues.
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Deep Dungeons of Doom Review

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Rob Rich on June 7th, 2013
Our rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: OLD SCHOOL IS THE NEW SCHOOL
Deep Dungeons of Doom is more than just a goofy title. It's also a surprisingly great distillation of action RPG elements.
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Wanderer: War Song Review

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Rob Rich on February 21st, 2013
Our rating: starstarstarblankstarblankstar :: ALL BARK
Pretty and as enticing though Wanderer might be, it's still got a long way to go on the inside.
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The Villain Review

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, compatible with iPad
By Rob Rich on February 5th, 2013
Our rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: BE THE BADGUY
It can be difficult to truly enjoy The Villain when it's full of so many small issues, but its heart is in the right place.
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Descent: The Adventure Review

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, compatible with iPad
By Rob Rich on February 1st, 2013
Our rating: starstarstarhalfstarblankstar :: ONE DULL DUNGEON
Having a solid base doesn't entirely make up for the rest of this puzzle-RPG's shortcomings.
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War of Eclipse Review

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, compatible with iPad
By Rob Rich on December 4th, 2012
Our rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: DOWN
Fight to reclaim the planet from an army of gigantic mutant flying things in Game Stew's latest one-touch time killer.
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Asura Cross Review

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Rob Rich on November 26th, 2012
Our rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: A STRANGE JOURNEY
Asura Cross isn't the most polished game out there, and the bizarre cross-over of adventure and fighting game might not interest everyone, but it can be quite fantastic if given the chance.
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Hellfire Review

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Rob Rich on November 2nd, 2012
Our rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
Hybrid games are often quite popular but not many of them manage or even attempt to combine these disparate elements so effectively.
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Rage of the Gladiator Fights its Way from the Wii to iOS

Posted by Rob Rich on November 1st, 2012

I unfortunately missed out on the chance to play Rage of the Gladiator when it was originally released on the Wii, despite my legitimate interest. Luckily I’ve gotten a second chance because Gamelion is porting it over to iOS devices as a fully re-mastered and arguably definitive version.

The basic story is that Gracius, the main character and gladiator extraordinaire, is fighting for his freedom and for revenge against those who’ve slain his father. How? By cutting a swathe through a horde of inhuman bosses. Anyone who’s played Infinity Blade will be familiar with the adapted control scheme (tap arrows to dodge left/right, tap buttons to block, swipe to attack), but combat in Rage of the Gladiator feels decidedly more arcade-like than Epic’s, well, epic. Attack and response time is a bit faster, fights are broken up into three “rounds” much like a boxing match, and there are a number of weapons and skills to unlock and purchase as you progress.

Again, while Rage of the Gladiator is indeed similar to that other popular swipe fighter it’s not exactly a carbon copy. There’s a noticeable emphasis on giving each combatant their own personality, and with the addition of a jump button and some rather complex combo attacks it can be quite the ordeal to make it through a fight in decent shape. It‘s definitely a challenge but every pattern can be learned eventually and it can be exceedingly satisfying to knock a particularly bothersome foe in the jaw with a warhammer in slow motion.

Anyone interested in a first-person arcade-esque gladiatorial beat down should keep an eye on the App Store. There’s no official word on a price but Rage of the Gladiator is set to release sometime in November.

Dragon Island Blue Review

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Rob Rich on September 3rd, 2012
Our rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: A SLOW BURN
Could it be? A monster collecting and training game that doesn't limit players' involvement with arbitrary timers and pseudo-required in-app-purchases? Why yes it is!
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Angel Salvation Review

Posted by Rob Rich on August 17th, 2012
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Developer: ONECLICK GAME
Price: $0.99
Version: 1.0.0
App Reviewed on: iPhone 3GS

Graphics / Sound Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar
User Interface Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Gameplay Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar

[rating:overall]

The forces of good and evil, Heaven and Hell, are constantly at war. This time around, the conflict is being depicted through a kind of mish-mash of match 3, RPG, and Pokemon. It’s got the looks and it’s got the wacky combination of gameplay elements, but does Angel Salvation hold up under scrutiny? Yup, pretty much.

The general gameplay in Angel Salvation is very similar to most match 3 games with one notable exception: a given gem can be moved anywhere on the board - both horizontally and vertically - over any distance. Matching a given set of gems will power-up a team member of the same color and unleash an attack, which varies in strength based on how many gems complete the set. And individual characters can unleash special abilities when charged that run the gamut from healing to massive direct damage attacks. Then there’s all the collecting. Gems earned through combat and help points earned through, well, combat, can be used to earn new warriors that can then be incorporated into the group. And then enhanced with unwanted characters or evolved into stronger forms once they’ve leveled up enough.

Angel Salvation is a good looking game for sure, but it’s the combination of puzzle gameplay and monster collection that kept me playing until the wee hours of the morning. Matching up those gems and seeing them cascade into combo after combo, then watching the ensuing barrage of carnage is always a pleasure. And collecting, leveling, and evolving heroes is a major hook.

The same care and attention given to the visuals and the matching game hasn’t been given to everything, sadly. Menus are set up oddly at times; the way I can’t double-back to the main Heroes menu from any of the sub menus without hitting Back several times or jumping over to a different menu and back again is one example. The way fairly significant information - such as money required for enhancements - isn’t communicated clearly is another. But the largest issue is the need for a consistent Internet connection. Yes, for some strange reason Angel Salvation is an online-only game. Even though the online elements (namely friends) aren’t a major focus. It's still a great game overall, but being unable to play unless online is majorly restrictive.

Angel Salvation can feel unpolished in bizarre ways at times, and the Internet requirements create a pretty substantial obstacle in certain situations, but the game proper is actually pretty great. It combines role playing, collection, and match 3 elements incredibly well and it can be very difficult to put down when trying to earn enough tertiary characters to level up a favorite.