Infinity Blade iPhone/iPad Game App Review

An older game, which has a sequel now, but I decided to review it anyways as it is one of the more impressive titles in the app store. The premises of the game is simple: you play a hero who is avenging their father who was killed by the god king via the Infinity Blade. If you die to the god king, you play the son of your hero in the next blood line. I killed the god king after three generations, about seventy years, yet nothing changed. But let’s not poke holes in Infinity Blade’s logic because the game is about the combat and the eye candy.

Speaking of which, Infinity Blade is gorgeous, even compared to titles released for home consoles. The artwork is consistent, the lighting gives depth to the world, and the textures are detailed. The game runs with barely a hitch on an iPhone 4, so I suspect it runs even smoother on later generations of iPhones. On my iPad 3, Infinity Blade ran flawlessly. Though I did find the textures to not be as crisp on the iPad compared to my iPhone 4. Doesn’t matter because the game is drool worthy either way.

The rooms and hallways of the god king’s castle you explore are where some of the most impressive visuals are, and for such a short game there is penty of variety. The god king’s castle stands on a cliff, overlooking an ocean, and skulls tied to ropes, hanging on trees, swing to the breeze. Look up, and you can see the seagulls flying below pastry-like clouds. You got an underground dungeon with bones, rot, and old roots hanging from the ceiling. In the god king’s room, the floor is like a mirror, and the god king sits on a pretty bitching throne (gives the Iron Throne a run for its money, in my opinion.)

Even the enemies are a pleasure to stare at, even though some are ugly. It’s a good thing the developers put effort into make the enemies not only look graphically, but also visually because the combat system requires the player to watch what the enemy is doing to either block, dodge or parry. There is a discrete hud, which offers two dodge buttons, a block button, and health bars Mortal Kombat style. Infinity Blade has simple RPG stats (health, attack, block, magic) to determine combat damage and sustainability, but how effective the player in combat is determined by their skill and capacity to memorize the enemies moves. As you progress into later blood lines, not only do enemies become stronger, they become faster. To beat the god king, you have to master block, dodge, and parry.

Infinity Blade, however, can be repetitive as you explore the same areas of the castle, and encounter the same enemies in each blood line. But their are hundreds of equipment combinations, all purchasable with the in-game gold (there is an option to buy more gold with real money), and each item grants different stats and abilities. I enjoyed experimenting with a weapon that did little damage, but healed my hero. Another weapon did unparalleled amounts of damage, but had no special effects.

There is also an Arena mode, which has survival and multiplayer. Achievements too, if you are signed into game center.

Infinity Blade is one of the best iPhone/iPad games available in the app store. It combines glorious graphics, deep and on-the-go gameplay for only $6.99. A must buy for avid iPhone and iPad gamers!