The multiplayer online battle arena scene is a weird one. Most of the people I know is split between League of Legends and DOTA2 in the PC world, but there’s a few great offerings in the mobile world. Fates Forever (Free) and Heroes of Order & Chaos (Free) are the main ones, and the just-revealed Vainglory looks pretty damn neat as well.
Here’s how they’re pitching it:
Vainglory is an unapologetically core MOBA developed by veterans from the likes of Blizzard and Riot. Built on Super Evil’s proprietary E.V.I.L engine and featuring full Metal support via Apple¹s new iOS from Day One, Vainglory is going to deliver an all-new level of graphics and performance on touch screens.
No release date yet beyond “More news soon," so stay tuned.
I love old games and love pixel art. What's kept me at bay is that I am skeptical of touch screen controls. I can barely tolerate the touch screen controls in Dragon Quest, and that's not a difficult platformer. I also have no interest in getting a controller for my phone.
So what's the verdict. Can I adjust to onscreen controls?
Yes.
Thanks. Well for 99 cents and a great game, it sounds like I couldn't do much better for a trial.
I'm not being a smartass by any means, but if you don't like touchscreen controls and you don't want to use a controller, why are you on a site like Touch Arcade? 98% of all games on the AppStore use either some sort of touchscreen or physical controller controls. (I gave 2% to tilt only games. I'm not sure if that's too much or too little.) Just curious. Anyway, this game is WELL worth the asking price! It's definitely my GOTW. I love everything about this game. One nice addition would be maybe some kind of endless mode? Just for replayability? I'm taking my time, but this is one of those games that you don't want to end, so some kind of endless mode, wether it be a runner or something like Slayin would make me definitely want to keep it on my device after I've beaten it. I know it's asking way too much for a game that only cost a buck. Just an idea.
Some games are designed with touch control in mind. Others seem to exist in spite. I'm also fine with many slower games converted (again, Dragon Quest), but I've been playing games for almost 30 years and am used to a nice controller. I have played little if any action games on a phone, much less ones designed with virtual controls rather than being more touch-based, thus my question.
I'm on touch arcade because there are many types of iOS games. Even if I don't play many games on my outdated phone, I still like the idea of it.
Hope that quells your curiosity.
Makes total sense. I understood your initial comment. I also am not so fond of virtual versions of physical controls, i.e. virtual buttons, d-pads and joysticks, in action games where timing and accuracy of movement are critical. For those kind of games I'd prefer swipe or tap-anywhere or tilt controls. There are plenty of iOS games that are either not action games, or don't use virtual physical controls, so it makes total sense for you to be reading this site.
I just recently got a physical controller, and have been revisiting some games I'd put aside due to not enjoying them with virtual controls. It makes a huge difference. Several driving games and platformers I have just got much more fun with a controller. I'll probably hold off on this game as well until the update with controller support, since I also don't really like playing most platformers with virtual controls.
That said, I grabbed it, and while my thumbs sometimes block my view, it is about as good as could be expected. I like it. However this might be joy induced by how much I love the game itself. It's so cool!!!
Anyway I'm finding the touch controls to be pretty decent. I mean as far as virtual buttons go I don't think they could get much better, and I like it a lot more than I thought. This game will really blow you away with a controller tho I bet!
I'm also wary of platformers with touch screen controls. I picked this up because, hey, it's just a buck so why not? The controls are great. They keep it simple, just left, right and two buttons. They're responsive and the game itself doesn't require super-elaborate button calisthenics. It's obvious the game was designed with these controls in mind, so don't let this turn you off. Great game.
Yeah, I'm really enjoying it!
CONFORMIST
DIPSHIT
??
The only thing I can comment on is the on screen controls on this game is some of the smoothest I have used.
I hate touch screen controls, but rarely had an issue with Goblin Sword.
It was great on my iPhone 4, but on my 6, the buttons are too far apart. :( I wish they'd update and fix that or at least offer a toggle.
Wait a minute, on my iPad I can change where the controls are. Did you try messing about with the options?
Yeah, I can move where the two sets are, but I can't move the buttons closer. The A and B are pretty far apart and so are the two arrows. Maybe I just need to get used to it!
If you don't have a Steel Series MFI controller, you're doing something wrong. ;)
Excellent Review Andrew! I love the fact that you address the pixel art head on. I'm one of those guys that isn't generally attracted to the pixel art but I'm old enough (45) to understand the nostalgia that it brings. I can appreciate a good game regardless of the art but do tend to favor a more modern and high resolution style. After all, we have retina displays now so we can appreciate the same sharpness on our electronic devices that we've been enjoying on printed pages for decades. That said, if I was a platform lover I would probably grab this game based on your review alone. Well done!
Especially like the Billy Joel reference! Billy Joel FTW!
Same here. I'm also 45, so I'm in the right age group to feel nostalgic for pixel art, and can relate to other people feeling that way. Yet it doesn't do anything special for me, and in fact I prefer high res graphics generally. That said, if the gameplay is good I'll overlook the art style. I really enjoyed Wayward Souls for example, and this sounds like a very fun game as well.
HEY! I'm only 22 and feel nostalgic about pixel art graphics!
Of course, my first console, an NES, was ten years old or so when I played it. . .
I've 'beaten' the game having found every secret chest and crystal, conquered the 3 disgustingly hard secret levels, defeated each of the 6 bosses, seen the good ending, finished the time trial achievements and more. I still need to farm more gold for the collector achievements but I've gotten so much bang for my buck already, I feel like I owe the dev some money! The game is phenomenal!
Wow I wish I had your capability! This game rocks, but is a challenge! Or maybe I'm just bad lol.
I've beaten the game but have not seen the good ending. What am I doing wrong? Also, how did you collect 10,000 gems? That's the only achievement I'm missing. :)
Spoiler on how to get the good ending:SPOILERSPOILEREquipTheHolyPendantWhenYouFightTheLastBoss.ENDSPOILER
To farm gems, just keep doing an easy stage over and over. Level 1-15's pretty quick and easy for around 120 gems per run. Use the winged boots to make things easier.
Pleased to see this make game of the week, it's totally deserved. Dev has hinted at a new area in future updates on the games thread which would make this even. Ire of a total steal.
I understand people may not like pixel style, but it's just rude to skate a game for that reason alone without even trying it. Thankfully the AppStore is big enough to cater to everyone's tastes.
It should have been game of the week.
*grins*
Yes, that is all. :)
MFI support?
We have gotten reports that its coming in a future update.
Great review, bought it.
Wow, so this is what, the five-hundredth, "infie 2d platformer
Yeah, but this one is really good! :)
Great review. Great game. The art is fantastic, the controls are sharp and easy, and the level designs and monsters are amazing. Genuinely a deal at $2 and (as the reviewer said) theft at $1. I love it!
Wow, so this is what, the five-hundredth indie 2d platformer to be released this year? I am starting to get sick of all this repitition. Lemme guess, this game is divided into micro-stages and you have to collect gems/keys for bonus points, did they add rogue-like elements (the other overused genre lately)?
What is it that makes the game stand out from the pack? I read in the review that the controls are better than Swordigo, that isn't saying much, thats like saying, "the controls are kind of functional, you might not die immediately." Swordigo is not some benchmark that people should strive for, that should be considered the bare-minimum for any game with a virtual d-pad because they are not that accurate or responsive. Plus, that game came out three years ago. If this is the closest thing to an advance in mobile platformers, that is sad.
Shame on me for comparing the game to another popular game in the genre. I really should have typed more than a 1 paragraph review....
They're not trying to advance anything, just make a fun game, and they've succeeded. The controls are about as best as could be imagined for virtual, touchscreen platforming controls. It's also really cheap. At least it's not an endless runner or tower defense. Now there are some overused "genres".
You will like this game. Give it a try.
I'm really struggling with the accuracy of the jump/attack controls on the touch 5g to the extent that I'm going to put it down until the update arrives that sorts it.
I agree with everything in the review but at the moment I'm dying a lot due to inaccuracies and not incompetence and that's enough to put me off.
I'm dying a lot due to incompetence. One complaint I would have is the "invincibility" after getting hit is of short duration which sometimes leads to losing two hearts, but hey, there's a relic for that!
It reminds me a lot "Wonderboy in Monsterland" . In one word : Great !
I don't see how anyone can complain about this awesome game. It's a goddamn dollar people! If it's not to your liking when watching the vids, seeing screens or reading reviews..move the hell along to the next crappy port of a console game. It's not hard to see that people will be negative about any and everything on TA nowadays. This developer deserves praise for this badass game not some snide adolescent comments from some jackasses who are too cheap to use a dollar from their mommies iTunes account.
End rant/
The game is THAT good. Excellent review. 5 stars easily...kudos
That you for that Rich!
Just bought it, really ag rest surprise. I cannot stop playing!
Agreed! I picked this up the night of its release and it is an absolute steal at 99 cents. Just a really fun, well-done title. I'm hoping to see controller support in future updates, otherwise, this one's pretty darn perfect.
Game is just amazing!!!
This is the real Game of the Week. Its awesome, incredible, terrific and never boring. I only feel I owe the dev money for such a great game. Couldn't put this down. I started playing Phantom Rift but it got real boring fast then I tried this and loving it to death.
I really don't understand the fuss about this game
Yeah MFi controller support would definitely do this game justice, hopefully the reports of controller support is coming soon. Anyways, $1 well spent
Oh and of course no IAP is a MASSIVE plus
I can't stop playing this game! It's so fun!!
I love this game, but the one handed animation is really jarring to me.
After you beat the bosses, are there still levels?
It just goes to show that Megaman hiding in the guise of a medieval RPG really does work awesomely (and Shovel Knight is there for a little more evidence if you still needed it).
I have no complaints about pixel graphics (though outside of Superbrothers I do t really see the point).
What really makes no sense I me though is onscreen buttons marked as A and B. On controllers it makes sense because the buttons will do different things in different games, but for on-screen controls you can mark them as hat they actually do.
*what they actually do
Goblin Sword is like if the Castlevania series had a baby with Mikey Boots. If that appeals to you, you will love this game. The only reasons you might not like this game is the absolute lack of a story, the fact that it will seriously test your patience if you are a completionist, or if you want more than three types of zones to fight in (at present there seems to be a forest zone, a castle zone, and a cave zone).
Goblins + Swords + Pixel Art = InstaBuy
Is it something similar to Swordigo guys?
I don't like that attacking and moving are mutually exclusive. it makes the game have less of a flow.
This reminds me of the game Claw by Monolith Games many years ago! Can't wait to play
Can I play on iPad and then on the go play on iPhone? Can't seem to find a Icloud sync feature.
I love both pixel art and chip tunes. I'm "old," but even many young folks like the style. I checked all the info in http://goblinsword.com it looks like this game will become more and more popular
I tried this after the recommendation in the Sword of Xolan review, which I also loved. I hadn't realized that some people don't like pixel art and chip tunes, because I love them. What really turns me off is Billy Joel. I bought this game and am enjoying it despite your quotes from that lame-o in both the title and the review.
Pro tip: you might think you have a way to make retro games sound cool to kids who don't like them, but citing Billy Joel isn't it.