Pocket RPG iPhone Edition Review

By Andrew Nesvadba, on September 5, 2011

Publisher: Crescent Moon Games
Genre: Role Playing
Released: 1 Sep, 2011
Size: 243.7 MB
Price: $2.99

PROS

Three fun and unique classes; each playable in parallel.
Clever dual-stick combat system; trigger abilities with simple gestures.
Customizable world; players get to set what 'loot' is available for use.

CONS

RPG system ever-so-slightly exploits Skinner Box features; individual enjoyment may vary wildly.
Separate save slots not made clear to players.

VERDICT

Pocket RPG fills the niche of players that have been looking for a hack'n'slash RPG but felt as though they never had the time to complete one; fun, simple and easy to pick up and play.

Full Review
App Store Info

While there are those who wish for nothing more than a juicy RPG that compels them to spend hours mastering skills or defeating labyrinthine dungeons, the iPhone and iPod Touch are arguably not well suited for such epic tales. This hasn't stopped developers from making or fans from loving attempts at bringing classic RPG features to the App Store, but when a developer like Crescent Moon Games thinks outside the box to try something new I have to admit I get a little excited.

Pocket RPG iPhone Edition should be familiar to those of you who sport iPads as it's the shrunk-down version of the game released back in July, but if you missed it the first time around, here's the breakdown.

For the most-part, Pocket RPG looks and feels much like your average Diablo-clone with its top-down view, hordes of enemies and Action-RPG elements that promote jumping in to the fray instead of strategically avoiding combat. What makes this game so special though is its system of starting the player off at level '0' at the beginning of each randomly generated dungeon. This may sound harsh, but the player can opt to craft each one of the three available classes to their style by investing cash and 'stars' towards unlockable skills that specialize their chosen warrior; these carry on between dungeons, eliminating a sense of 'grinding' while also promoting an aggressive play-style as you try to gain levels to do more damage.

Items are also scrapped at the end of each dungeon (item-hoarders may feel a bit put-out) but the upshot is a sense of joy at every item drop instead of casually shrugging it off knowing it can't be better than your 'uber wand of destroy everything'.

Although the game doesn't clearly indicate it, you can play each of the character classes without overriding the progression of another, giving you a chance to wield their unique powers as well.

Ultimately Pocket RPG feels like a stripped back version of your typical hack'n'slash dungeon crawler, but the way in which it messes with RPG conventions makes for a game that's much harder to put down. If you love your Action-RPGs, definitely take a look at this game.

Screenshots