Slick ninja platformer Shadow Blade has just sprung from the shadows of the App Store to deal a killing blow to your spare time.
Nailing platforming mechanics on touchscreen devices is a tricky feat, one which many fail to accomplish. For every decent mobile platformer like League of Evil, there's an army of Duke Nukem: Manhattan Projects waiting in the wings.
However, after a quick hands-on, we can report that the newly-released Shadow Blade from developer Dead Mage appears to be one of the good ones.
Taking control of a wall-leaping, sword-swinging ninja, you have to run, jump, and swipe your way through a series of treacherous environments and enemies. There are goons at every turn eager to chop you down to size - provided you don't get taken out by the wall spikes and electrified traps first.
What makes Shadow Blade exciting is the game's flow. This partially due to the handsome animations and silky-smooth framerate. Mostly, though, it's because both the classic button controls and gesture controls are incredibly responsive, putting you right in the centre of the action at all times.
We're in the middle of reviewing Shadow Blade as you read this. But, if you're eager to try it for yourself, you can buy it from the App Store right now for £1.49 / $1.99.
