Review: Infinity Blade II brings big adventure to the smallest screen

If you're used to iOS games that serve as simple time wasters that you can play to occupy your fingers and half your mind while the other half pays attention to a Law & Order rerun, you'll have to set aside your expectations for Infinity Blade II (download Infinity Blade II for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad). Much like its predecessor, this is one of the rare mobile titles that delivers a game-console-like experience demanding your full attention to play.

An epic fantasy world
If you're not watching closely, you might miss part of the fantasy- and sci-fi-tinged story, which follows your reluctantly immortal protagonist as he attempts to rescue the one person who can bring an end to his eternal cycle of death and rebirth. While the actual writing is packed with a bit too much meaningless exposition and fantastical claptrap, there are a few clever and moving moments that come through all the more clearly thanks to strong animation and voice acting.

Those strong production values extend to the game world as a whole, which is a magnificent work of sprawling architecture rendered with stunning texture and light. This is the game to break out when you want to show off just how beautiful a real-time 3D world can be on an iOS device, though hardware made before the iPhone 3GS or third-generation iPod touch need not apply. A stirring soundtrack and suitably impactful sound effects don't hurt the presentation, either.

Dodge! Parry! Block!
On to the game itself, which plays out as a series of one-on-one sword duels between your heavily armored character and a host of inventive enemies ranging from a 20' Amazon, to a demigod with a creepy rotating mask for a head, to a giant, snarling dog-beast made out of pure muscle.

Despite the fantasy setting and sword-and-sorcery aesthetic, the game actually plays like nothing so much as a touchscreen version of Mike Tyson's Punch Out on the original Nintendo Entertainment System. As in that boxing classic, you'll spend most of your time in Infinity Blade II parrying, dodging, or blocking oncoming attacks using precise directional swipes and well-timed taps of on-screen buttons. Once you find an opening, you slash repeatedly on the screen to unleash waves of satisfying blows that are great for venting some frustration.

Ramped-up action
Things start easily enough, with enemies that heavily telegraph a few simple attack patterns and conveniently slow down as they swing their weapon toward you. The action picks up quickly with enemies that feint as if to make one kind of attack before pulling out a sneaky kick or shield smash that requires a completely different defensive strategy. You'll need an attentive eye for detail, as well as some incredibly quick reflexes, to hold off the rapid-fire combos that come near the end of the game. (A strong index finger is also required, as you'll be stabbing that touchscreen with intensity in response to the nonstop on-screen prompts.) 

In between battles, Infinity Blade II lets you search the environment for hidden sacks of money and item-filled chests to help you customize your character's strength, defense, agility, and even magical abilities to suit your style of play. Most of the random enemies you encounter will continue to power up as you do, but you'll need to grind out at least a few hours' worth of character improvement before you can feasibly take on the bosses that serve as unforgiving walls, killing you without a thought if you dare take them on too early. 

Tecca's take
Though the $7 asking price is high for an iOS game, Infinity Blade II’s strong production values and engrossing gameplay help it remain intriguing a lot longer than some cheaper, simpler titles. It's not nearly the epic experience of a console game like Skyrim, but it's as close as you're going to get on a mobile product any time soon.

Infinity Blade 2
Price: $6.99
Tecca rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Download: Download Infinity Blade 2 for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

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