Michal Ždanský A long awaited game from a gaming company Epic, mainly behind the great Unreal Engine that powers dozens of top games, and which it has now made available to other developers as well. You may know Infinity Blade by the name Project Sword, which was presented at the Apple Keynote as a swallow of the Unreal engine. A tech demo was released not long after Epic Citadel in the form of a virtual walk around the citadel and its surroundings.
On December 9, 2010, the finished game headed to the App Store, and we can now enjoy what is probably the best graphical effort on iOS. The story of the game takes us to a medieval environment where, in the role of a knight, we decide to avenge our father, who was killed twenty years ago by a cruel ruler, aptly named God King. Our quest begins in front of the castle gates, where we immediately meet our first opponent.
During the first few opponents, you'll be guided through an interactive tutorial to familiarize yourself with the controls. The control is quite simple, you defend yourself with the shield in the bottom middle, you dodge with the arrows on both sides, and you massacre your opponents with finger strokes anywhere else. You probably remember the game right away Fruit Ninja, where you chop up fruit in a similar way. Although this method of attack may seem impractical, it seems quite natural, since the path of the sword exactly copies the path of your finger.
In addition to attacking, you can also parry an opponent's attack with your sword. It is those dodges and parrying that result in the only opportunity where you can properly attack your opponent and deal significant damage. After some time you will also gain access to special attacks and spells. The fight is also interspersed with several cut-scenes and culminates in the effective killing of your opponent.
For each defeated enemy you get experience, money and sometimes some item. The game contains basic RPG elements, so your character's abilities develop, you get special attacks and spells, you upgrade your equipment with money or experience, and you also buy new items. You can do this at almost any time.
If you're used to relatively free movement in Epic Citadel, expect a heavy blow. If you didn't like the “On rails” way it came with Rage HD, so Infnity Blade follows a similar path and doesn't leave you an iota of free movement. You can look around as much as you like at each location, but you can only go where the circle indicates. And there are never many of them, usually it is a direct progression further in the location, the next circle points to the opponent and the last one to a nearby chest with some object or money. At least there are also pouches of gold coins and health refill bottles scattered around the map that you can click to collect.
The entire gameplay consists of gradually defeating opponents and progressing further into the castle to the God King himself, whom you will regret for ever crossing your father's path. Although there are not a lot of opponents who cross your path, you still can't get rid of the feeling that the game is relatively short. Although, defeating the God King himself is not easy, and it will take you several generations to succeed. So every time the main boss defeats you, you move forward twenty years and do the whole round again. This can ultimately make the game quite long. In fact, the entire game system is based on this, as your experience and items still remain with you, and with further development you have a better chance of defeating the main villain.
In order to judge the game from a purely technical point of view, I must say in advance that the graphics are simply breathtaking. Especially when your opponents come into the scene, from nasty orcs to golems, only then will you know the power of the Unreal engine. Side by side with the graphics is the music side of the game, which deserves nothing but praise. Boys from Epic they devoted themselves to the development of this game only what is true and we just have to be careful not to trip on our jaws that dropped to the floor in amazement.
Although the game is now linked to Game Center, it does not yet include the multiplayer that we could see at the Apple Keynote. At the moment it is only used for achievements and leaderboards. Multiplayer should come in the next update along with a new battle arena, new items and enemies.
Finally, I would like to point out that only owners of the iPhone 3GS, 4, iPad and iPod touch from the 3rd and 4th generation can play the game. Older models are not supported due to graphic requirements. You can find Infinity Blade in the App Store for €4,99.
Infinity Blade - €4,99
I have nothing to add, it's absolutely wonderful. That graphic. The controls and environment also look luxurious. I guess I'll buy it.
I bought it and it's SUPER, so it's a little easier game than I expected, but GOOOD :-)
I confirm. Then I enjoy it and it's not completely simple either. Sometimes there will be a detour along the way - so every generation is a little bit different.
Hello, so show off, have you beaten the God King yet? I managed it in the 5th generation.
I bought it, but I can't participate in the general excitement... sure, the graphics are great, but what next? Only the graphics are not enough for me - I expected a little more, but at least they can see how the games can look like, so just add to the fun and playability...
The graphics are great, but it's terribly stereotypical, one single branch, otherwise it's all the same beatings in the same castle all the time, only the opponents change. I'm at the beginning of the 3rd generation and I don't care anymore :( - if only the day/time of the year and the weather changed. Is there anything after God King, or is the game really just those few opponents in the castle going round and round?
I want to ask, I have an iphone 2G 3.1.3, but my iphone ignores the game, it's just not there. Does anyone know what I'm doing?
It is always written in the article and in the description of the game on iTunes: "Finally, I would like to point out that the game can only be played by owners of the iPhone 3GS, 4, iPad and iPod touch from the 3rd and 4th generation."