Gameloft's Iron Blade: Medieval Legends review: Engaging but pretty heavy on processor & battery

Game: Iron Blade: Medieval Legends RPG
Publisher: Gameloft
Genre: Action
Price: Free
Platform: Android/iOS
Review:

The game is set in a medieval, alternate-reality, fantasy Europe complete with castles and gargoyles. But while real gargoyles are just stone figures set to decorate historic monuments, this game will pit you against a horde of them. Iron Blade revolves around Damien, a professional monster slayer and totem destroyer who teams up with fellow monster killers to stop their world from plunging in eternal darkness.

The game has a linear campaign divided into 11 parts, each with its own sub-boss called Commander. Though the bosses differ from each other in appearance and style, they are linked to each other as part of the complete narrative. Boss names vary from Esquin the Betrayer, Geoffrey the Tainted to real life mythological demon, Samael the Usurper.

The game can be played using energy, which is steadily replenished over time. As the player progresses through the ranks, he gets better weapons and equipment, as well as more energy to use at a stretch. The game also features a multiplayer mode, where players create their own fortress. While it does not revolve around laying bricks and hanging paintings, the player can assign a certain number of “guards” to protect his fortress. Consequently, it is this group of guards that the player must fight in order to raid other fortresses to loot in-game currency.

The fighting style involves a battleground where the player can move about in 3D to reach out and attack his enemies. The player has a range of light attacks, heavy attacks, ranged attacks and special moves at his disposal. However, as there is no individual joystick to move the player in the arena, aiming and targeting one specific NPC becomes difficult. The inclusion of an auto-attack feature helps players progress through easy missions or repeat previous missions for additional bonuses.

The graphics are at par with most modern MMORPG games, but the inclusion of fine parameters such as NPC continuity ensures that the fallen soldiers do not simply disappear as soon as killed. That said, Iron Blade is a heavy game which requires a lot of processor and battery from the phone. It tends to suck the phone’s battery dry if not taken care of. It also requires a constant connection to the internet which makes it impossible to be played in places without connectivity.

Pros:
Engaging gameplay
A plethora of weapons and armour
Interesting nomenclature
Ample options apart from the main campaign

Cons:
Heavy on battery and processor
Lack of directional control
Difficult to understand enemy targeting
Could get repetitive for OP (OverPowered) Players
Requires constant internet connection

You can download the game from here.