Infinity Blade III Reviews

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Written by WorstUsernameEver on September 22nd, 2013

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The primal joys of a perfect parry followed by a killing blow against a hulking monster mean that Infinity Blade 3 was always going to be good fun where it counts. But between distracting feature creep and the inclusion of in-app purchases just because everyone else is using them, it feels like a game that exists more to serve a publishing agenda than an essential closing chapter in a coherent trilogy.

We've followed the Infinity Blade series since the beginning, and this outstanding conclusion makes us proud to have taken the ride. If you own a compatible device, there's no reason why Infinity Blade 3 shouldn't be on it. The spectacular visuals, addictive combat and wealth of collectibles make it another quality addition to Chair's growing portfolio.

There's still nothing quite like the game though, on iOS or elsewhere, but that's exactly what we were lamenting in our opening paragraph. Infinity Blade may have opened eyes to the graphical potential of mobile games but just two games later and even the developer seems to have got bored of the actual game. It's worth playing simply for the spectacle but like so many mobile titles its longevity is very much less than infinite.

As you can see, there are more things I like about Infinity Blade III than I don't. In my opinion, it's worth your time and the $6.99 it costs to get it. I would never chose to play Infinity Blade III over GTA 5, but it's a good way to pass the time while in line at the bank. Try it out.

As ever, it's an excuse to upgrade your weapons and armour, to hone your skills, and the system can be quite rewarding (if somewhat reliant on IAPs). But you'll soon realise that Infinity Blade 3 has a dark side; a noticeable lack of variety and an inconsistent difficulty. It's worth the price for genre and series fans, but tread carefully if you're a newbie.

Infinity Blade III caps off the epic franchise in a largely dazzling manner, though the repetitive nature of the series resonates more strongly than ever.

Infinity Blade is still a great showcase for iOS, and its message to mobile game developers is hard to ignore: visceral, bite-size experiences are a powerful force on mobile. But Android aside, it's also basically the same game we've been playing since the first title arrived in 2010, and while it's definitely the best incarnation so far, the formula feels like it's starting to wear out its welcome. For $6.99, I'll probably pay once more. But unless Chair offers a truly new experience of some sort the next time around, I'm not sure I'd buy an Infinity Blade IV.

Infinity Blade titles are the gold standard for iOS gaming, so, whatever you do, don't miss this one. Keep an eye on TouchArcade, as we'll post the second the game is available for download.

In many ways, Infinity Blade III is grandiose and gorgeous, and the gear that you can unlock is exquisitely detailed. However, the taps and swipes that propel the actual gameplay are starting to feel like the least engaging part of the experience. If you loved the first two games, you will definitely want to see the new environments and characters that inhabit this strange, anachronistic world. Just be prepared to go through the same motions literally again and again.

Even though not all of Infinity Blade III's new ideas pan out, the core experience truly is bigger and better than ever this third time around. It's packed with incredible voice acting, gorgeous visuals, and intense, rewarding combat. All available in your pocket anytime, anywhere. It's a fitting end to a genre-pioneering franchise, and a game that any hardcore gamer should have on their iOS phone or tablet.

Infinity Blade III ($6.99, Universal) is a should buy for one deluxe iOS experience that can be repetitive at times, but still is an overall enjoyable, engaging, and entertaining experience.

If all you were looking for from Infinity Blade III was more of the same, then this game should put a big tick your box. We found the low-level grinding to be a bit of a pain, especially when there's supposedly a story to be told. And, with the same gameplay foundations propping up a lengthier campaign padded with restarts, this episode runs the risk of outstaying its welcome. Niggles aside, though, this is a confident end to a platform-defining franchise, one which should keep fans plenty busy over the coming weeks.

Despite these disappointments, I still enjoyed my wildly addicted time with the game, constantly tweaking my gear to gain every advantage. Even after the review I still find myself lured back for that second time through the campaign searching for gold and rare loot.

There's a pair of currencies in this game. And while you can find money in the environments and win it from bouts, you can also boost your coffers via in-app purchases. I often found myself painfully ill-equipped to tackle the next boss but also running low on money and thousands of bucks away from buying the next sword.

If Infinity Blade III is truly the final game in this storied saga, then the series will probably be remembered as a staggeringly handsome screen slasher that's often a tense, boisterous, thrilling fighter, but just as often tediously repetitive and infuriatingly unfair.

Not a particularly great epitaph, then. Maybe Chair could do better in its next life.

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