Rocketcat is an awesome studio, they made my all time favourite series of iOS games with the Hook series. These three games based off one core idea of swinging on a grapple hook worked to all the strengths of the platform and at the time of Hook Champ, completely revolutionised my outlook on what a mobile game could be. Their most recent game Hook Worlds managed to transcend the predictability of the endless runner genre and provided a dangerously addictive, varied and surprising Hook experience.

I’m done with Hook games.

Mage Gauntlet is an action RPG played in short, enclosed levels, the layout is similar to Hook Champ where you select the level in an world-map Super Mario style. The design of the levels is similar to Hook Champ where each level type features unique enemies and environments. There’s a fair amount of game to be played here and each level can be played in 5-10 minute chunks which is perfect for commute-gaming.

The controls are quite tight with an analogue movement system similar to that of Dead Space. There’s two touch buttons for roll and attack. Holding down attack charges your special move and both rolling and charged attacks drain the same energy meter.

Spells are quite interesting and varied, power-ups found in the levels store spells in a pause menu system you can either choose to save up or spend, the spells range from fireballs to time manipulation and shields, freezing, etc. Each spell feels quite powerful and you seem to collect them at just the right pace throughout the levels.

All of the charm and wit of Rocketcats previous games is here through its rough and ready pixel art to its eccentric characters and dialogue. Take Zenonia or Dungeon Hunters for example; how fucking boring are the narratives of these games? Very, they’re both so bland and cliche, sure Zenonia is going for that SNES + Deviant Art = Lame Zelda formulae but I have to question why you would do that instead of creating a cast of genuinely entertaining and imaginative characters. Mage Gauntlet does tend to stick its tongue out at the cliches of this type of game but it’s done with respect and a deep understanding of the genre.

The best comparison I can make for this game is Bastion, mechanically this game is very similar; many enemies have clearly visualised, charged attacks and attack animations. Similarly to Bastion the game quickly becomes a task of managing swarms of enemies while you mix up basic attacks, special attacks, rolls and spells. The tempo of the action feels very similar to Bastion and so does the length and size of the levels.

With the charming aesthetic, witty script, tight fighting mechanics and a consistently rewarding levelling and unlock system Mage Gauntlet is a game which is tough to put down. The pacing and size of the levels are perfect for what you want out of a handheld game as it can be enjoyed in hour long sessions as well as 10 minuet bursts, just like with Hook Champ you feel like you are constantly progressing and improving. The unlocking system allows the game to evolve over time where the latter half of the game plays very differently to the first within the types of enemies you encounter and how the levels are structured.

Rocketcat have taken everything I loved about Hook Champ (minus the grapple hook) and transplanted it into a fast and vibrant RPG. Forget the other iOS pretenders, what we have here is a worthwhile, original game that belongs on a modern handheld and not on a 20 year old console.

[9]

Price: £1.99

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/mage-gauntlet/id460697573?mt=8

About the author

Michael Manning

Michael is a sound designer and composer working in the games industry. His portfolio can be found at www.manningaudio.com