At E3 we got a look at Gamevil's upcoming game in where fighting and special moves take precedence over the RPG storytelling elements found in Zenonia [App Store]. Like all Gamevil games, Hybrid: Eternal Whisper is a port of a popular Korean game that they're localizing to English and customizing for the iPhone interface.

From our preview of Hybrid: Eternal Whisper:

The game is structured around 150 levels where you must fight off a number of combatants on each level. Backgrounds and environments differ across levels and different skills and actions are both learned and earned over the game. The game does carry over some RPG elements including equipment purchases and earning abilities. There are various control combinations and swipe controls that invoke different attacks. Mastering these controls may become essential in progressing through the battles. While no official gameplay estimate has been provide, it seems like this could easily provide many hours of gameplay.

Produced and designed by the same team responsible for Zenonia, Hybrid: Eternal Whisper is scheduled for release this fall. Gamevil is very active on our forums, so for more information, or if you have any questions to ask, stop by this thread.

Toy Kite software released their first iPhone game at the iPhone Launch Party last night. The game is called iSamurai [$0.99] and offers players the chance to finally swing their iPhones like swords.

iSamurai is an accelerometer-based iPhone game that recognizes certain gestures as specific sword fighting attacks or blocks. The developer's video shows it well:

The game comes with both two player (WiFi) modes and single player modes. The single player mode is surprisingly well implemented and pits you up against a computer opponent who calls out their attacks (like Left strike or High strike). In this mode, you must defend yourself by performing the correct block and finding your spot to attack. Meanwhile, two-player mode acts as you'd expect, allowing you to trade blows with a real life opponent.

The moves take a little practice to learn but the game comes with an extensive tutorial with videos of the exact movements.

App Store Link: iSamurai, $0.99

The new game that has taken the TouchArcade forums by storm this weekend is DinoSmash Online [$0.99].

A few choice quotes from some of our regulars:

"Dang it! my battery just died after playing this for 2.5 straight hours…" – Fletch

"This game is one of the most intense games I've ever played on my iPhone. The speed is incredible and you're on the edge for the whole game." – theone1007

DinoSmash Online is an online-only side-scrolling shooting/fighting game. You are a cute little dino which must use one of 5 different weapons to smash, shoot, and kill your opponents.

The game offers two forms of online play: Deathmatch or Capture the Flag. Each level can support up to 16 players which makes for some crazy action. The game is controlled through the use of an onscreen virtual pad as well as three different buttons: attack, jump and grappling hook. A basic tutorial video demos the controls which work well in practice. What that video does not show is just how crazy and frantic the action can get.

To get an impression of that, check out our Deathmatch video:

[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

The game is playable on both Wi-Fi and 3G, though in my brief testing, the 3G connection was spotty. On Wi-Fi, however, the game played remarkably well, without any lag or stutter. The game offers no off-line mode at all, however, so you'll have to make sure you have a connection before playing.

At only $0.99, the game is hard to criticize too much, as it does what it does quite well. That said, the game only offers a single small map for each gameplay mode, and the gameplay may get too frantic and random for some people's tastes. Still, we hope it's just the start of more to come. We'd love to see more maps and options as the game gets more popular.

Still, if you're look for a fast-paced button mashing fighting game, for just $0.99 you shouldn't pass this one up.

App Store Link: DinoSmash Online, $0.99

Capcom released the iPhone version of Resident Evil: Degeneration [App Store] for $6.99.

The app brings the long running Resident Evil video game franchise to the iPhone and iPod Touch. This installation of the game is based on a recently released computer animated movie and drops you into a 3rd person perspective horror shooter. The game lists the following features:

• Explore Harvardville Airport, rescue survivors, unlock puzzles and battle an army of undead.
• Use your in-game PDA to collect intel, manage inventory and access maps.
• “Laser targeting” allows the players to make aimed accurate shots.
• Backgrounds, character models and objects are all rendered in full 3D.
• Tilt device to reload, shake iPhone/iPod Touch to shake off Zombies

While we had heard of the release was coming few details had been released prior to its appearance in the App Store tonight.

The game features an impressive 3d engine and a combination of virtual d-pad and on-screen buttons to control the action. Movement is controlled through the virtual d-pad and a quick flick down on the pad causes you to turn around 180 degrees. An action button appears when something can be done (pick up an item, open a door, climb a ladder) and a targeting button transitions you into shooting mode. In shooting mode, you have a laser sight to target the zombies and you can use the d-pad to aim up/down/left/right.

The game includes a pretty heavy storyline and in-game cut scenes which direct you to your goals. The cut scenes actually work out quite well to tie the action together. In my early experience, the controls seem to work well enough when you take into account the slow deliberate movement of the zombies. Being unable to shoot and move at the same time, however, made for some awkward early fights.

Early impressions are being recorded in a forum thread. Many of the early opinions have been quite positive: Seishu and skamando. Some later (but still early) forum goers are still adjusting to the controls.

You can judge for yourself in this gameplay video embedded below. AppBank also provides a video in Japanese here which shows a different portion of the game.

[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

What we can't easily answer at this early stage is how much gameplay is being offered, but that will be revealed over time. For now, it appears to be a surprisingly well implemented version of this popular franchise.

App Store Link: Resident Evil: Degeneration, $6.99

One of TouchArcade's forum moderators wastedyuthe has turned developer and released his first game: Punk Justice [App Store].

Play Jed, a local punk who wants a peaceful life for his family, as he rids his local parks of the gangs that have claimed them as their own.

The $0.99 fighting game offers simple controls (2 dodging, 2 punching) but can be combined for different attacks. See the strategy guide for more info. The game offers 4 gangs/opponents, each having their own speed of attack and 4 ranks of increasing difficulty.

The game is, of course, being discussed in our forums with some first impressions offered. Congrats wastedyuthe!

[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

App Store Link: Punk Justice, $0.99

TouchArcade was given the opportunity to speak with Adam Mechtley (pictured in yellow shirt to right) who is one of the developers responsible for the upcoming Touch KO boxing game for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Adam provides some background on the game, details the game's features and controls, and provides some new screenshots in this exclusive interview.

Touch KO is a Fight Night inspired boxing game that was announced at GDC this year. It will be published by Chillingo.

TouchArcade: Tell us a little about yourselves. What is your history?

Adam: Matt (pictured in black shirt) and I both work full-time for Flashbang Studios in Tempe, Arizona. We have done a couple of iPhone games (iSplume, Rebolt, Raptor Copter), but our focus is primarily on web games for our portal, blurst.com. These web games include Off-Road Velociraptor Safari and Minotaur China Shop, among others (we do a new game every 8 weeks).

Prior to Flashbang, I had been working in the games industry on console products for several years. I worked as a technical artist for THQ, doing art and programming for a real-time muscle deformation system on an action sports title, and worked on Baja: Edge of Control for 2XL Games. Matt worked on an astrophysics simulation using data from the Hubble Space Telescope before he joined Flashbang.

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Gameloft's much anticipated Assassin's Creed for the iPhone arrived in the App Store [link] tonight. The game is priced at $9.99 and delivers a port of the Nintendo DS version.

The original Assassin's Creed is a popular sandbox-style action-adventure that was first released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles. A version of the game called Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles was later released for the Nintendo DS. The DS version of the game is described as a prequel to the console version and drew mixed reviews as well as the ire of some of our own forum members. The iPhone version appears to be a graphically enhanced port of the DS title that has adapted to the iPhone's touch screen.

How the iPhone community reacts to what seems to be the same essential game as the DS will be quite interesting. Some of the poor reviews of the DS version seemed to cite short gameplay (3-5 hours) and only a very loose association with the original game. It's also quite likely that being compared to the existing library of Nintendo DS titles and being priced at $29 negatively impacted its DS reception. That said, some reviews were positive, with some sites comparing the game favorably to Prince of Persia.

On the iPhone side, the game is a full $20 cheaper, and the length seems on-par with many other high-quality iPhone titles. The game, itself, is an attractive 3D platformer with running, jumping, climbing and fighting. While these sort of titles may be common on other mobile platforms, the iPhone is notably deficient in these types of games. As a result, I suspect iPhone gamers without any pre-conceptions will find the game to be particularly impressive.

Our gameplay video shows some of the platform jumping components as well as the early fighting:

[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]

Fans of Gameloft's Hero of Sparta will recognize a similar control system in Assassin's Creed. The game, however, is less focused on pure fighting and adds a number of mini games as well as some mild puzzle components.

Meanwhile, forum user Big Albie provides additional detailed first impressions based on his early gameplay.

App Store Link: Assassin's Creed – Altair's Chronicles, $9.99

Chillingo has really been cranking them out lately.  The publisher recently made a post in our forums (more pics there) pointing to their upcoming isometric hack-'n'-slash game iDracula, from the developer of Orions: Legend of Wizards.  iDracula invites players to lay down some monster smack–Van Helsing style.

It's a point, shoot and run affair — stop to bag the goodies, guns and power-ups but watch out for the werewolves and other bad guys.

While further details right now are scant, the game will be priced at $0.99 and is set to debut sometime in the next week.  We're anxious to spend some time with this excellent looking title.  Stay tuned for a closer look.

That was quick. After just profiling Digital Legend's side-scrolling fighter, Kroll [App Store] has appeared in the App Store.

The developer provides the following feature list:

• KROLL will immerse gamers in amazing 3-D action with its groundbreaking technology built explicitly for iPhone touch screen with its full graphics capabilities.
• Epic environments enhance the iPhone gameplay experience, with hectic fighting at the mountainside, inside molten magma mines, and high above active volcano in magical floating prison. To learn the secret behind the legend of KROLL, gamers must conquer mythic enemies and creatures.
• Bash’n’Crush your way through nine hectic levels destroying ever increasing amount of enemy hordes and play through awesome cinematic boss battles.
• Extend your experience through 3 difficulty level (Normal, Hard and Insane) for more and more crushing action. Scoring system keeps track of your progress.
• iPhone and iPod touch special features: Use the accelometer of your device to activate special attacks and the touch screen for controlling your character.

Kroll is available for $7.99. App store link: Kroll

Apple CEO Steve Jobs wowed the crowd during the company's World Wide Developer Conference back in June with demos of various iPhone games that were in development for eventual App Store release.  One of the more impressive titles was Digital Legends' Kroll.

As we reported at the time,

Digital Legends has, in just two weeks’ time, put together an amazing looking 3D fantasy adventure game called Kroll that uses OpenGL and touch controls. The company indicates that the iPhone’s rich control schemes and developer APIs makes for a better gaming experience than that of any other mobile gaming device. Digital Legends’ title will be available by September.

Kroll is a 3D-rendered side-scrolling fighter divided into three chapters, each of which includes three levels plus a boss battle.  The game is controlled by touching six icons arrayed about the edges of the iPhone's screen.  Said controls consist of left / right movement, left / right quick attacks, and left / right delivery of slower, more powerful attacks.

Here we are at the end of September and, while Kroll might not hit the App Store by month's end, its release is imminent.  Pocket Gamer recently sat down with Digital Legends' Xavier Carillo and had the opportunity to talk and play Kroll.

"We wanted to mix cutting-edge graphics with very simple and accessible gameplay," says Carillo Costa. "We were inspired by the '80s, from arcades, so we've basically made a scrolling fighter. You can play one level on the bus, or you can play through if you want a longer experience."

We're anxious to get our hands on this most promising iPhone fighter.  And we can expect more iPhone titles in the future from Digital Legends–Kroll 2 is already in pre-production.

"We have a huge wishlist, so we are already working on pre-production on Kroll 2, gathering the ideas and deciding which of them should be in the game," says Carillo Costa. "We've got plenty of crazy ideas, so we're exploring which of them we can put into it."

Meanwhile, Digital Legends has enjoyed working on the iPhone itself. "It's a really capable platform," he says. "There's a lot you can do with it. But what's important is to adapt gameplay to the platform, rather than just porting an existing game."

Stay tuned for a full review of Kroll when it hits the App Store.