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Reviews: ‘Infinity Blade’ and ‘Zombie Smash HD’ for iPad
Back when Steve Jobs unveiled the next generation of iPod Touch devices in September, he showed off a stunning proof-of-technology demo for “Epic Citadel,” which showed off the horsepower of the tiny media player.
Only a few short months later, that demo became a full-scale mobile game, “Infinity Blade,” which shows off graphics to rival those in $60 retail console games (at $5.99, no less and it works on both iPhone/iPod Touch devices and the iPad with the same downloaded app). But if it were just eye candy for Apple’s Retina Display or the iPad’s big screen, that would be no great surprise.
Instead, “Infinity Blade” is a full-fledged role-playing battle royale with intuitive controls, a good variety of weapons and skill upgrades and a seemingly never-ending array of villains to conquer. You play an adventurer storming a castle to avenge your father to topple the evil “God King.” You fight several brawlers before reaching this sleek, evil King and, if your skills are up to it, you can choose to join him or battle on. If you’re defeated, you begin a new “Bloodline” as the protagonist’s son. And so on and so on.
Though the game can ultimately feel repetitive, there’s an addictive quality to the racking up of experience points and upgrading armor and weapons that keeps the game engaging. The fights themselves are an exciting test of reflexes and finger coordination. A recent app update added more inventory options, higher levels to conquer, the option to purchase in-game gold with real-world cash and the ability to play your own music during the game. It’s a show-stopper on the iPad, a great, easy-to-learn game that is one of the best mobile action games you’ll find.
Though not nearly in the same league in terms of graphical power, “Zombie Smash HD” is just as fun and challenging. There are plenty of zombie-themed games for iOS and a lot of them fall into the “Tower defense” genre, where you’re trying to preserve your home base against an onslaught of attackers. (In this case, the undead.)
What makes “Zombie Smash” special is the way you defend your home. Rather than picking out weapons and defenses and seeing what happens, you must use your fingers to pick up and fling zombies around, dismembering them until they can no longer advance. Sounds simple, but when more than 50 are rushing at the same time, your fingers get a major workout.
The iPad’s multi-touch interface allows you to pick up not just a zombie at a time, but many. In order to survive each night’s onslaught (the levels of the game are presented on a survival calendar), you’ll need to flick those zombies around with at least eight fingers (and maybe your thumbs).
The satisfaction of watching the zombies sail around the screen like ragdolls can’t be overstated. Power-ups are available to employ land mines, a giant wrecking ball, an “Indiana Jones”-like boulder and even a sniper rifle. Each level ends with a slo-mo defeat of the last remaining zombies on a level. Using stars you collect by tapping on the screen during levels (which adds to the frantic gameplay), you can buy upgrades for your house, more advanced versions of power-up weapons and other goodies.
There are bonus levels once you last through a month of zombie attacks and other modes to unlock. There are lots of games in the App Store, but this one stands dismembered head and shoulders above nearly all of them.
“Infinity Blade”
$5.99 for iOS devices
Rated 9+ for violence
“Zombie Smash HD”
99 cents for Apple iPad (“Zombie Smash” also available for iPhone/iPod Touch)
Rated 9+ for crude humor, violence and horror
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