The Quest - iPhone App Review

The Quest
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-quest/id305553708?mt=8
Cost: $4.99
Developed by Redshift
Published by Chillingo
Last Updated on August 30th, 2011


The Quest is a turn-based RPG featuring an FPS (first person) view and hand-drawn artwork. Originally developed for the Palm and Pocket PC devices, the game offers an in-depth skills system very reminiscent of the Elder Scrolls series.

The Quest is definitely not for the casual gamer who needs their hand held right through till the end. Hell, even if you're a seasoned RPG veteran you may encounter some difficulty. However, regardless of your gaming prowess I encourage everyone to give this game a try. Odds are you'll like it.

Character Creation

When creating your character you are given the choice of several races (each come with their pros/cons) as well as several preset classes. These classes come with 6 preselected skills which normally work together nicely. Despite this I think it's much more fun to create my own class.

Combat

The combat can be fairly difficult and frustrating, especially early on in the campaign. It is likely you will die quite often so I suggest you make liberal use of the save feature. Smart use of potions, scrolls, and spells is highly recommended.

In order to recover mana or health you need to either consume a potion or rest. To rest you must have both food and water in your inventory and be far away from any enemies. While resting however there is a chance that it will begin to rain, which of course ruins your sleep and leaves your mana and health in less than pristine condition.

It can at times be difficult to navigate the world but after awhile you become used to the map and are able to traverse the forests, jungles, and cities without too much trouble.


Conclusion

The Good

• Excellent skills system
• Combat is difficult and rewarding
• Many different ways to play

The Bad

• Navigation can be challenging at times
• Quests can be somewhat confusing (Not necessarily a bad thing...)
• Graphics (They are important to some people)

Should I buy it?

If you enjoy a challenge and love "old-school" RPGs then I don't understand why you haven't bought this game yet. If you're new to the RPG scene then I still highly recommend The Quest, it's what a good game should be.

Thanks for reading!

Pocket RPG Sale Update

Hey All

Just wanted to let you guys know that Pocket RPG is having a launch sale right now on iTunes!

Pocket RPG has pretty cool loading screens

It's regularly $4.99 but for a limited time it's on sale for only $0.99!

It's an excellent app and I encourage you guys to go pick it up and save yourself some money.

Check out the review @ http://swordandboard-rpgappreviews.blogspot.com/2011/09/pocket-rpg.html

Thanks for reading!

"Choice of Games" Series - iPhone Apps Review

"Choice of Games" Series
http://www.choiceofgames.com/category/our-games/
Cost: Free - $2.99
Developed by Choice of Games
Last Updated On: N/A

The "Choice of Games" series for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch are a number of text-based choose your own adventure games. These games give you the opportunity to live the life of a fire breathing dragon, a highly-sophisticated vampire, a ships captain, and numerous others.

Choice of Broadsides

Gameplay

During the game your character will encounter obstacles or conflicts that they need to overcome to continue the story. You will be presented with a number of options to solve the problem. They do a fairly good job of giving you a wide variety of choices but it often feels that in the end, regardless of your decisions, you end up in the same place.

Choice of Dragons

It would be nice to see a wider variety of endings and "routes" in the games. Despite this, they still manage to be quite a bit of fun and have a fairly decent replay value.

Conclusion

The Good

• Decent stories
• Good replay value
• Lots of choices

The Bad

• Stories all seem to end the same way
• Paid versions are much to expensive
• Fairly short

Should I buy it?

If you've ever read and enjoyed a choose your own adventure book you should definitely pick up the free "Choice of Dragons and "Choice of Broadsides".

I wouldn't recommend the paid games like "Choice of Vampires" as they just don't provide enough gameplay to justify the high cost.

Thanks for reading!

Follow Sword and Board on Twitter!

Hey All!

Just wanted to let you guys know that you can follow this blog on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/Sword_and_Board

I will be announcing any new blog posts or information there, also if I find any good deals on the App Store I will be sure to let you know!

I've also got a couple of contests in the works so make sure you stay tuned for your chance to win!

Thanks for reading

Heron

Pocket RPG - iPhone App Review

Pocket RPG
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-rpg/id411690524?mt=8
Cost: $4.99
Developed by Crescent Moon Games LLC
Last Updated on September 13th, 2011


Pocket RPG is a top-down action/role-playing game that features a very unique leveling and item system. It's a fun game but there are a few things in it that may upset the more traditional gamers among you.

Menu Screeeeeeen!

Gameplay

Pocket RPG features the standard top-down with two analog stick layout that has seen so much success on the mobile platform in recent years. At this point it is becoming a little tiresome for every game to look and play pretty much the same, but you could make the same case for any genre on any platform. That being said, Pocket RPG does an excellent job making the combat and mechanics feel very natural.

Shooting Arrows at Crates

Crescent Moon Games did a good job incorporating additional elements of strategy into the game, such as in the form of spike traps that you can lure enemies onto. This can make the game much more fun as you can use cunning and guile instead of brute strength to defeat bosses. Unfortunately (or maybe not depending on your play style) I was able to best most of the bosses using brute strength alone which somewhat defeats the purpose of strategy.

The Twist

I told you that Pocket RPG had a very unique feature that helped set itself apart from more traditional role-playing games and this is it. Every time you start a new quest or mission you begin at level zero and have to level up all over again. Instead of buying new gear with the gold you collect you simply put it into weapon upgrades which increases the chances of that type of weapon dropping during the next quest.

My bad ass Dark Ranger...At least until I finish this level

I don't know about you guys but collecting gear over the course of a game is one of my favourite parts on an RPG. The fact that I didn't get to keep my gear was fairly off-putting at first but after awhile I was able to get past that initial hurdle and learn to really enjoy the game.

Style

I really liked the style of the game, it seemed to fit the gameplay quite well. Both the gameplay and art direction really reminded me of Torchlight, which is a fantastic game that you should really play if you haven't.

Conclusion

The Good

• Enjoyable combat, allowed for the use of strategy.
• Great art and gameplay style.
• Very unique leveling and gear system, brings a new flavour to RPGs.

The Bad

• Almost all the encounters could be beaten by "brute strength" tactics, no need for strategy.
• Leveling and gear system deviates from traditional RPGs.
• Combat can feel fairly repetitive after awhile.

The game also features cool loading screens

Should I buy it?

When I got Pocket RPG it was on sale for $0.99 which felt like a steal. At $4.99 it does feel fairly pricey but if your in the mood for a game similar to Diablo/Torchlight than this should be on your shopping list.

If you're a traditional RPG player and are a bit hesitant about the games leveling and gear system I encourage you to wait until Pocket RPG is on sale and pick it up then. Who knows, you might like it!

Thanks for reading!

Braveheart

Braveheart
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/braveheart/id401885524?mt=8
Cost: $0.99
Developed by Gaijin Entertainment
Last Updated on May 23rd, 2011

Braveheart is a top down action/role-playing game in which you progress through a number of stages and zones in your quest to find the Holy Grail, a legendary chalice that is guarded by the Great Dragon, a being of supreme power! It features a fairly unique combat system and the constant upgrading of skills and weapons is sure to keep the player coming back for more.

Yep, that's a menu

The Story Begins

The game begins with a speech by King Wilhelms herald, who tells of how the King has declared a quest to find the Holy Grail. The herald goes on to announce that whomever can retrieve the Grail would be awarded half the kingdom as well as his daughters hand in marriage.

Sounds like a pretty cool cup

This is the point at which you, the good Sir Richard, having become exceeding drunk decide that it would be an excellent idea to take liberties with the Kings daughter. This of course doesn't go over well and it is determined that instead of being put to death you will be forced to undertake the Kings quest and seek out the Grail.

Awww yeah!

Gameplay

Braveheart features a top down combat system in which you mainly utilize two virtual analog sticks. The left stick is used for movement while the right is used for swinging your melee weapon or for aiming your crossbow. The game does quite a good job of walking you through the initial stages of your first battle, showing you how to move, swing, and shoot.

Showing you how to swing that big ass flail

The melee combat is quite intuitive and I was able to get in there and smash faces with my flail right away. When you're using the flail and your thumb comes off the weapons pad it can be a tad difficult to get it going again but once you do it's business as usual.

The ranged combat in the game felt rather clunky and forced, so if your looking for a shooting game you may want to look elsewhere.

Words and stuff

As you defeat enemies they randomly drop gold as well as giving you experience. You can use gold to purchase new weapons or to upgrade the ones you already have, you can also use it to purchase perks which give your character a momentary bonus during combat, i.e. faster health regeneration.

When you've gained enough experience you of course level up, this gives you the opportunity to upgrade your skills and attributes. I personally decided to go with a mix of Flail and Wisdom during the game, Flail increases melee damage while Wisdom increases XP gained. 

Level-Up Menu

As you play the game and complete levels you will advance through stages i.e. The Dark Forest 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and so on. You can also go back and replay earlier stages for XP and gold if you find the later stages are getting too difficult.

The Map!

As with most games now you are able to purchase a large amount of gold for real money. Braveheart also offers an In App Purchase that will increase the amount of gold that is dropped in game for $1.99.

Conclusion

The Good

• Excellent melee combat
• Good upgrading system
• Entertaining story

The Bad

• Doesn't deliver on ranged combat
• Combat could feel monotonous during long gaming sessions

Should I buy it?

If you enjoy swinging around a giant hunk of metal attached to a chain then this is the game for you. If you are only interested in ranged combat then you might be better off with something else. Overall I highly recommend Braveheart as I have gotten many hours of enjoyment out of it and I hope you will as well.

Thanks for reading!

Dungeon Raid

Dungeon Raid
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/dungeon-raid/id403090531?mt=8
Cost: $2.99
Developed by Fireflame Games
Last Updated on May 3rd, 2011


Dungeon Raid is a cross between three genres; puzzle, strategy, and role playing. What it doesn't have in mind-blowing graphics it makes up for with solid game play and mechanics.

Yay! A menu!

 The Story Begins

Or should we say lack of story. Unfortunately Dungeon Raid does not feature much of a story. The only thing it has is a small paragraph at the start of each new game explaining why you have to kill the monsters. You get a different back story each time you play and its usually worth it to give it a quick read.

This story is deep yo.

 Game Play

 Dungeon Raid is a match-3 puzzle game incorporating strategy and RPG elements. Your goal is to link a combination of 3 or more skeletons together and kill them. It starts off fairly easy as you will be able to kill the skeletons off with one-hit. However, as the game progresses the skeletons get more powerful. In order to combat this you can link together 3+ hearts which will heal you, or 3+ shields which will protect you. You also need to collect coins which will allow you to buy new gear, increasing your defense and damage. As in all match-3 games the more you can match together at one time the more xp/health/gold you will get.

Shielding up!

When I first picked up the game I found the gameplay quite boring, it took awhile before I was able to really get into it. Once you level up and get spells the game becomes much more interesting.

Ahh yeah Explosive Potion!

It's important to always keep an eye on your health bar, I didn't and ended up dieing. A lot. make sure you focus on and take down the special monsters quickly, they can put out a ton of damage.

Not again...

Conclusion

The Good

• Addictive game play
• Great replay value
• Excellent upgrade and spell systems

The Bad

• Lack of a proper story mode might be a deal-breaker for some (I personally really liked the funny background stories)
• No tutorial or help section, you have to figure out most of the game for yourself (Again, a pro to some a con to others)
• No save system, dead is dead. Perhaps a hardcore option?

Should I buy it?

Dungeon Raid is an excellent puzzle game that fluidly incorporates RPG and strategy elements. If you need a story driven game then this probably isn't for you. Also, if you need graphics and flashy spell effects then you should probably skip Dungeon Raid as well. If you enjoy well made games that feature solid mechanics and a great upgrade/spell system then I think Dungeon raid is for you.

Sword and Board Rating: 4/5


 Thanks for reading!

Solomon's Keep

Solomon's Keep
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/solomons-keep/id365183754?mt=8#
Cost: Free!
Developed by Raptisoft
Last Updated on June 2nd 2011

In Solomon's Keep you play a young wizard about to graduate from Wizarding College. Known as Sirius, your teachers have given you one final test. To defeat Solomon Dark, one of the greatest wizards to ever live. Your quest will be fraught with death, peril, skeletons, and bad RPG jokes.

The Story Begins

When you first enter the game you are in the town of Dead Hawg, the towns inhabitants include Sirius (you), and four professors from the Wizarding College. The professors are there to offer aid during your quest. They sell equipment, potions, experience and a number of other things. They can also offer advice.

I feel that a lot more could have been done with the professors. They could have offered side-quests, challenges etc. Hopefully this area will be expanded upon in later patches.

The Professors of Wizarding College

Combat

When they made Solomon's Keep, Raptisoft went for a fairly simplistic combat system. You have one primary spell which will be your main damage dealer. This spell is controlled by the bottom right virtual analog stick. You can also have as many as 2 secondary spells, which can be activated by pressing their icons along the right side of the screen.

Game Control Scheme

The true genius of Solomon's Keeps combat system is your ability to upgrade and combine spells. When you level up you are presented with three upgrade options. These options could be a new spell, increased mana or health regeneration, increased gold or xp, and spell upgrades.

Your Main Spells

Spell upgrades are where I really got a lot of enjoyment out of the game. You can upgrade your spells to slow enemies, to jump from target to target, to do splash damage or damage over time, and many many more. I was able to upgrade my lightning bolt attack to the point where I was able to hit every monster in a room instantly. Having a couple dozen monsters explode all at the same time is extremely satisfying.

Upgrade Menu

 One area where I found the game lacking was in gear and item upgrading. In Solomon's Keep you have three item slots; one staff and two rings. Options for these items are severely limited and I found myself wanting more variety and customizability, similar to how the spell upgrading system was done. I think that the addition of more gear slots, like robes, necklaces etc. would have added addition depth to the game.


Conclusion

The Good

• Excellent spell and skill upgrading system.
• Fairly simplistic combat system leaves more room for fun.
• The game doesn't take itself too seriously and pokes fun the the whole fantasy genre.

The Bad

• Lack of side-quests or story leaves little motivation to complete the game.
• Lack of gear customizability is a letdown, especially after the spell upgrade system.

Should I Buy It?

Solomon's Keep is a fantastic game and continues to provide me with many hours of gaming pleasure. The spell upgrade system is tonnes of fun to play and experiment with. The combat mechanics at times feels somewhat bland but yelling "Lightning Bolt!" while exploding enemies somewhat makes up for it. Also, since its free you've got nothing to lose. Download it!

Sword and Board Rating: 4/5

Thanks for reading!

Epic Dragon

Epic Dragon
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/epic-dragon/id321929119?mt=8
Cost: $0.99
Developed by Dracosoft
Last Updated on July 31st, 2010

An old favourite of mine, Epic Dragon is a 2D, turn-based RPG in which you will fight legions of goblins, masses of zombies, the all-powerful Counsel of Dragons, as well as some jelly things and a couple of wooden mannequins.

Menu

When you first open up the game you are greeted by the Epic Dragon menu, as you can see from the picture below the game features slots for three games, this is nice as it allows you to play around with the different character classes and builds. To start a new game you simply click on an empty slot.

Class Selection

In Epic Dragon you can choose from 13 classes to play, each has their unique strengths and weaknesses. the classes range from hard hitting warriors to lightning fast rogues to fireball flinging wizards. For this review I chose the always fun "guy with a massive axe" class.

The Story Begins

Once you've chosen your class and picked out a name you are greeted by a blue-robed wizard that we will call Steve. Steve tells you the story of the great King Thanatos, ruler of Arcadia, who everyone loved until one day he ran off into the woods and was never heard from again.

Tutorial

After learning of Thanatos you are once again greeted by Steve (old guy in blue robes) who informs you that you will be playing the Hero of this tale and that he will be taking up the mantle of Narrator. He then graciously explains how to kill stuff, after which you will be thrown into an epic battle in which you must defeat the three evil wooden mannequins.

If you were able to defeat the three swordsmen of wooden devastation, you will be notified that your prowess in battle has been rewarded and that you have leveled up. You will have one point to place in either Attack, Defend, Magic, or Speed and another point to place in Fire, Water, Earth, or Air.

Post-Tutorial

Once you have completed the tutorial you are brought to the main screen of the game where you will find quests that are currently available, a shop to purchase gear upgrades, and a status menu where you can view your inventory and stats.

In order to progress the story you must complete, you guessed it, story quests, these involve fighting boss monsters that are a much more substantial test than regular monsters. But fear not, you may have help...

Combat

Combat in Epic Dragon is time-based, which means that you will be able to attack once every x seconds. The more Speed you have the less time you have to wait until you attack. Each character has their basic attack and a power attack. Each time you attack you gain one power, and each power attack takes from two to five power to use. Power attacks are much stronger than standard attacks and have powerful properties, such as doing equal damage to all enemies, or allowing you to instantly attack again.

Touching an enemy will put an arrow above their head, forcing your Hero to attack them. This is useful for when you need to bring down a dangerous foe quickly. Unfortunately this is all the game really offers in terms of in-battle strategy.

Conclusion

The Good

• Simple game mechanics make it easy to pick up and play
• Fun, comic styled story telling
• Decent replay value with all the different classes

The Bad

• Simple game mechanics makes it hard to get really into the game
• Lackluster combat leaves much to be desired
• The lack of variety in enemies and bosses leaves the game feeling very "grindy"

Should I Buy It?

If you enjoy building and leveling characters I highly recommend Epic Dragon, it can be extremely rewarding at higher levels . But, if you enjoy games with lots of strategy and intricate combat systems I would save my money and look elsewhere.

Sword and Board Rating:  3/5


Thanks for reading!

Welcome!

Hey All!

Welcome to Sword and Board, a blog dedicated to reviewing and recommending Role Playing Games for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

I've always been a huge fan of the genre and have played everything I could get my hands on. Now with the incredible mobility offered through the iOS platform I can take my addiction everywhere.

When I'm not playing games on my iPhone I'm hunting for the latest and greatest RPG offerings from the App Store. Now this is where you come in!

The purpose of this blog is to allow me to share the games that I've found and enjoyed in the hopes that you will go out, download them, and have a good time.

Thanks for reading!