Whenever I play an RPG, I tend to play as a thief. I like sneaking around and taking out my enemies from behind, as well as picking the lock on the backdoor in order to bypass armed guards standing at the main entrance. Apparently I'm not the only one who feels this way, since Nexon has released MapleStory Thief Edition for the iPhone, a new action-RPG that is based on the popular MMORPG MapleStory, unplayed by me until now.
Runic Games' dungeon crawler Torchlight is officially getting a sequel, and one of its most exciting new features is that there will be a multiplayer co-op mode so friends can adventure together. That co-op mode was revealed for the first time in a trailer released at the Gamescom 2010 conference.
It's a little-known fact that all spies are actually stunning supermodels who infiltrate enemy bases in between photography gigs for posh magazines. Or, at least, that's the impression one gets from playing The Agency: Covert Ops, the action-packed Mafia Wars-style RPG by Sony Online Entertainment. At first, it's tempting to dismiss this fulsome helping of eye candy as little more than a flamboyant advertisement for Sony's upcoming MMO shooter of roughly the same name, but after only a few frantic player battles and rooftop escapes, it's clear that Sony has created a game worth visiting.
Dragon Hunter is a 2-D adventure game reminiscent of the old school console games of yesteryear. Its hack-n-slash style game play is simple to learn, which is good for players of all ages. Unfortunately, the game needs to offer more variety of game play to keep you playing in the future.
I'm often wary of "free" MMO games on both the iPhone and the Web. Unless you're willing to shell out regular amounts of cash, they're often slow experiences that feel less like fun and more like tedious work. As a result, I started The World of Magic, a free MMORPG for the platform, with more than a little wariness. I was expecting a ponderous game that would leave me a bit poorer and frustrated. Instead, I found a fast-paced little adventure that was full of fun.
Ever since Harry Potter first entered the cultural consciousness, there have been more than a few people who have imagined just what it might be like to actually go to a wizarding school like Hogwarts. And with Academagia, now they finally have that chance. While the game moves slowly and features an almost overwhelming amount of content, if you give it the time, it will absolutely absorb you.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords was a groundbreaking blend of gem-swapping and role-playing, where you played a heroic adventurer who battled baddies via match-3 showdowns. Puzzle Quest 2, retains the fantasy setting but slims the gameplay down quite substantially. Whether or not you think it's an improvement depends on whether you prefer the epic RPG feel of Puzzle Quest or the lighter hack n' slash vibe of its sequel.
While the iPhone is probably best known for its vast library of pick-up and play titles, that doesn't mean the platform can't be home to deeper, more engaging games as well. And there are few genres deeper and more engaging than the Japanese RPG. Crimson Gem Saga may not be the most original JRPG out there, but it's charming and solid and, aside from a few control issues, is a great fit for the iPhone.