This week’s Fresh iPhone Games list features the highly anticipated and graphic-rich Infinity Blade from ChAiR as well the sequel to a critically acclaimed dungeon crawling game. Plus, we present other interesting games that were recently released so you can catch up over the weekend.
Infinity Blade (iPhone, iPad) $5.99
You’re going to need a later-generation device for ChAIR’s Infinity Blade, which is probably the most beautiful, technically advanced game to grace the iPhone to date. The game also shows off what mobile gaming is capable of, utilizing Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 3 (the engine that runs games like Gears of War and other big console and PC games).
You can check out our review later (spoiler: we dig it), but suffice to say that Infinity Blade is about one-on-one sword-based combat. You’ll continually take on huge warriors, parrying, blocking and dodging sword attacks while dishing out several of your own using touch controls. The combat is balanced out by role-playing game elements that have you using magic, buying new equipment and upgrading your skills.
We Bowl (iPhone) Free
Create an avatar and take to the lanes in We Bowl, where you can use touch controls to throw the rock and try to grab various game-changing power-ups to take your play to the next level. This arcade sports title features some pretty decent 3D graphics, but it’s optimized for later generation devices — iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 4th generation.
You can challenge your friends to see who can snag the highest score, or play alone and try to earn tickets to unlock new balls, decorate your lanes and deck out your avatar. It’s free to play, and also includes in-app purchases for different items.
Eternal Legacy (iPhone, iPad) $6.99
Gameloft’s Final Fantasy VII clone is out today, and while gamers will recognize the inspiration for this Japanese-style role-playing game, that doesn’t detract from its coolness. Combining elements of science fiction and sword-and-sorcery fantasy, players will wander around in a 3D open world, taking on monsters in turn-based combat. It’s a bit of a throwback to the great RPGs of the 1990s, and Gameloft has packed some great graphical prowess into this one.
If you enjoyed the Final Fantasy games of the last two decades, this is a game you’ll want to check out.
Star Wars: Imperial Academy (iPhone) Free
If you’re a fan of iPhone first-person shooters, you’ll probably recognize ngmoco’s Star Wars: Imperial Academy pretty quickly — it’s basically the company’s Eliminate Pro with a fresh coat of Star Wars paint splashed over it.
That’s not necessarily bad, though, and I always recommend grabbing free apps and giving them a whirl before passing judgment, or being too harsh a critic. You’ll get to take the fight to other Empire cadets over an Internet connection in this multiplayer shooter, using a host of Imperial stormtrooper weaponry and over several well-known Star Wars environments. Sounds good to the fanboy in me.
Dungeon Hunter 2 (iPhone, iPad) $6.99
And here’s one more big launch from Gameloft, in the style of dungeon-crawling RPGs like Diablo. Dungeon Hunter 2 is a top-down hack-and-slash style title with a lot of character customization, in which you choose one of three character classes and head into dungeons to battle monsters and bosses, while gathering tons of loot to drag out with you.
The best part about Dungeon Hunter 2 is its online cooperative multiplayer mode — just like the big PC RPGs that inspired it. You can take to dungeons with up to three other friends, slicing away with swords, blasting with magic and firing arrows.
