Fallen London: Kind of dark, but that's cause you live underground

Fabricated by Failbetter games, Fallen London is a text based browser RPG. Having played quite a few text RPGs myself, Fallen London is similar yet quite different to Zork and the like. Instead of inputing commands, London simply has you click to succeed. The story in this game is also far more important than in other TRPGs.

Long ago, the city of London and all the people in it were carried underground by a huge swarm of bats. Now, as the game itself puts it, "Immortality is cheap, and death is merely an inconvenience," due to the otherworldly state London has become. Your character has somehow found a way underground to the 'Neath, is captured, and put in prison. You must now escape and start working on the four qualities that will allow you to become 'a person of some importance,' namely your dangerous, shadowy, watchful, and persuasive attributes. The entire game revolves around these elements. 

iPhone app

Every time you want to do anything, you must click on an action that has some percentage chance of succeeding. example, If had dangerous quality 21, and my chance of succeeding in a fight against a professional wrestler was 72%, I might decided to chance it. If I succeed, my dangerous will increase, and I might even earn an item. Items are earned through success and losses, and can be bought and sold at the Bazaar. Equipping some items increases specified attributes. Other actions require an adequate level attribute AND enough of an item, so there is some grinding involved at a later part of the game.

"Far and away the best browser game of today. Why? Flavour and Story."   

 -The New Yorker

For you extroverts, there is an IRL social aspect to Fallen London. You and your friends can communicate and interact in-game by playing chess, doing something potentially dangerous, or pickpocketing for fun.

You can register a free account at fallenlondon.storynexus.com, or download the (also free) app from the app store. The app isn't very refined yet, as there are some bugs and long loading times. However, Failbetter has announced that improvements are coming soon!
As of now, the browser edition is better when you have a computer handy, and the app is more convenient for mobile devices.

Amazing story, amazing game. Highly recommended, seeing as making an account is as easy as a 100% Watchful challenge. I'll see you in London!

~Daniel

Wayward Souls: Gloriously Obnoxious Rougelike

Ah, the rougelike genre... simple, unique, and truly infuriating. In case you didn't know, in a rougelike game, death is permanent. Your character doesn't level up, and usually can't purchase items and gear from an in-game store. There are no checkpoints besides the progressing levels. Sound annoying? RocketCat took these ideas and ran with them, which I'm not sure was a good thing, or a bad thing.
Anyway, the outcome was Wayward Souls, a game that genuinely restored my hope in app store games.

One of the playable characters
(also my best :P)

There are 6 individual characters, each with their own story as they all advance through the same levels. Every hero is different, with a different skillset and varying strengths and weaknesses.

I really love the way the programmers at RocketCat built the intro. It explains most of what you need to know, while also kicking off the story for the other characters. Controls are explained, (which are pretty easy to understand, but really hard to master) and separate components of different heroes incorporated into the intro hero. A fantastic way to start the game off.

True to rougelike form, it isn't possible to obtain gear from a store or anything, but you can improve your old gear with Emberforges placed in every even-numbered floor. The item you improve will receive a special power, different from the previous one in good and sometimes bad ways. Remember, though, if you die you won't be able to keep your re-forged gear.

Another really cool thing about Wayward is that most of the rooms are randomly generated. I love games that are random-gen because there is different skill required. You can't say: "Oh, this is where the three evil knights + the thief show up," because it isn't! It's always different! MWAHAHA!
So death is permanent, but most rougelikes have a way to permanently upgrade character stats and abilities. Wayward is no exception, as the money collected in-game may be used to improve champion stats. However, the improvement isn't very large, so you are required to rely on your skill to get you to the next room, floor, level.
Oh, right. I almost forgot to mention that there is no natural health regeneration. Entering the next floor will grant you some lost health, (this health quantity can be upgraded in the way I recently explained) and health potions sometimes show up, but they are pretty rare.

Gameplay

So, what about the money factor? No in-app purchases, but this means the game itself is $7. Totally worth it! Seriously, I enjoyed this game better that the Infinity Blade games, but that's probably cause of that love for pixelated games I told you about last gameview.
This game is a winner!


~Daniel

*UPDATE*

If you were thinking about buying this game, but haven't yet, I would suggest first getting one of RocketCat's other creations: Mage Gauntlet. This RPG is quite like Wayward, and happens in the same universe, which makes it an ideal introduction.

Gemini Strike: There's Actually a Reason for You to Come Back After Dying!

Presented by Armor Games, Gemini Strike is a surprisingly good mobile videogame, with a believable story and original graphics. Being a big fan of Armor Games, I was thrilled to see them continue to make games for mobile platforms. I immediately downloaded Gemini, and was highly impressed with the graphics, which are some sort of futuristic pixel-type. I'm glad they didn't try to make the graphics 3D or something, cause it probably would've looked like crap and also ruined the feel of the game. Anyway, I have a particular weakness for pixelated games, and this was just was I was looking for.

Gameplay

SPOILERS AHEAD! BEWARE!


The spoilers aren't really all that bad, but I'd probably get hate if I don't put something up. XD
The game portrays you as a spaceship pilot for the Alliance, and a vital element of "Project Gemini." Project Gemini produces clones so the consciousness of a pilot can be transferred to a different clone if said pilot is killed. I really like this, because instead of the usual mobile game "energy" aspect which only lets you attempt a specific amount of missions before you must wait for the energy to refill, Gemini gives you 4 "lives." You can only die 4 times before you have to wait for your lives to refill. This ensures that if you have enough skill, you can play as long as you want. Also, like I mentioned in the title, this actually gives a reason for your character coming back from the dead, other than the usual lame excuse: you didn't actually die.
I mentioned the storyline, which I love btw. It reminds me of a TV show where each sector is an episode or something. The dialogue is hilarious, if a little colorful, and it breaks up the monotony of the actual gameplay.
That's actually the only problem I have with Gemini. The gameplay feels quite similar from sector to sector, almost as if they were cloned...
Just kidding! The gameplay does vary in content and difficulty, even if only a small amount.  In the 20 sectors, there are mines and asteroids everywhere. I shudder to think how bad the 70 or 80 sectors will be...
I haven't even beaten the game yet, there's like 100 sectors and I'm only on 27.

*Update*
Still haven't beaten it yet! I'm slowly plodding my way through the 60 sectors now... this is gonna take a while...

I love the customization features. There are almost 3 dozen ships to buy, and countless items to fit your fighter with. Each item will give your ship different stats, as well as new pretty lasers or missiles to explode enemies in full 2D glory. These aspects give the finishing touch to an already-considerable game.
I'm probably just raging about how good this game is because of how much I love Armor, but Gemini is at least worth checking out.
Seriously!


~Daniel

The Infinity Blade Chronicles

With their spellbinding graphics and unique gameplay, Infinity Blade I, II, and III are truly revolutionary mobile games. 

!  (Spoilers ahead, beware!)  !

In Infinity Blade I, you, as a lone knight, must avenge your father's death by killing the tyrannical tyrant who took your dad's life. It's not that easy, though, because you must defeat the King's Titans in order to get to him.

It's almost the same story in Infinity Blade II. You travel around a castle called The Vault of Tears killing ugly enemies and racking up gold to buy better equipment. 

The third installment is a bit different. The game is almost scripted, with different levels unlocked after beating the previous one. This is why my favorite game out of these three is II. It retains the same independent feel of I, but has almost as much content as III.

Infinity Blade II Gameplay

So where do I stand with these games? 

Pros: Mesmerizing graphics, skill based gameplay, large amount of regular and hidden content, great music; done by Imagine Dragons.

Cons: Biggest one is money. Holey cheese, these games are expensive!! Or, they used to be... (quickly checks app store) Okay, they aren't as pricey as they were once, with I being $6, and II and III both being $7. But still, if you want all of them, that's 19 bucks!

Other cons: Slightly grind oriented, and storage! These games all take up one GB or more due to the graphics. 

I also recently figured out that there are graphic novels written by Brandon Sanderson, so if it seems like the storyline doesn't quite fit between games, it's because you're missing whole books worth of info. I myself haven't read the novels, so I can't recommend. Sorry.

You decide for yourself whether the pros outweigh the cons. As for money, I just waited for a holiday sale where III was only $1.

Over all, great games, just a little pricey and space-consuming.

~Daniel

Battleheart Legacy, Where the Hero has Sass

Brought to us by Mika Mobile, Battleheart Legacy is based off their previous game, titled Battleheart. I know, show some originality, guys!
Legacy has the feel of a classic RPG re-textured for mobile devices. The game is extremely in-depth and customizable, with a dozen classes to specialize in and over two hundred equipment items to acquire and use.
While the graphics are great, and the gameplay is quite enjoyable, I think that my favorite part of Legacy is the re-playability. You can start out as a Knight class, beat the game, then make another character slot as a wizard. The second or third time you play may not be quite as entertaining as the first, but using different classes and items still make it fun.
True to RPG form, the game also includes a few NPC quests to complete, including the main quest where your hero or heroine must collect the three "Solar Crystals" for the king. This quest requires your character to be level twenty-nine or higher, so your first time through the game will certainly not be short. It took me like a month to beat the game for the first time, but my most recent character file made it from level one to the final boss in about a week.
The other really cool thing Legacy is the feature of transferring your character slots over the iCloud. So if I start a new hero on my tablet but decide I want this character on my phone, I just have to upload it to the Cloud!

Legacy is one of the first mobile videogames I've seen that doesn't include in-app purchases. Unfortunately, this also means that the game itself costs $4.99, but in my opinion, it's totally worth it.

Reason for the title XD

Learn more about Battleheart and Battleheart Legacy at mikamobile.com, and check the sidebar for the Battleheart Legacy Wiki.
This is an exceptional mobile game that is totally worth the price. If you have five bucks lying around, I very much recommend this game.


~Daniel

No Vain, No Gain

The map above is called the Halcyon Fold, the setting for this Gameview: Vainglory, produced by Super Evil Mega Corp.
You've probably never heard of it, have you? I bet you don't even know what a MOBA is... 
Anyhow, this touch screen video game won't remain unknown for much longer, due to its rapidly growing popularity and player base. The game entails staggeringly good graphics, sensationally addicting gameplay, great lore, and unique heroes to fight with. The best part? It's free! (Boy, It sounds like I'm being paid to do this, doesn't it...)
But seriously, I've been playing Vainglory for almost a year now, and it hasn't gotten boring. Not once. Maybe seriously frustrating sometimes, where I want to throw my tablet at the wall, but NEVER boring. 
For those of you that don't know what a MOBA is, I'll explain the basic aspects of Vainglory and her sister games for you. If you already know what a MOBA is, congratulations! You're officially permitted to skip over this part and read the next bit of my useless babble. Anyway, Most MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) incorporate a Lane where turrets are placed at strategic spots, a Jungle where gold can be acquired, and two team bases. In the case of Vainglory, the goal of the game is to destroy the enemy's Vain Crystal, or Vain. See those weird shiny purple things at each side of the map? Those are the Vains, and your job is to blow up the enemy's while protecting your own. 
In addition to the features I've already discussed, you also have the option of joining a Guild or Team, so that you can play with other players close to your skill level. Rewards can be earned at the end of each Season based on your Guild's level.
Compared to other MOBAs such as League of Legends, Vainglory is quite fast paced. There are only three players on each team, compared to the usual five. This ensures that matches are only about 20-30 minutes long. (Eat your heart out, League!)
Vainglory is compatible with Apple iPads 2 and up, iPhones 5 and up, and requires iOS 6.1 and above. It's also downloadable on high-end Android devices with 1GB of RAM or more, and requires Android 4.2.2 Jellybean or newer.
Over all, this is a spectacular game and definitely worth checking out. See you in the Fold!

~Daniel