iOS games are becoming more and more sophisticated. While the popular puzzle arcade games such as Angry Birds and Plants Vs Zombies are pioneers of their devices, the advancement of touchscreen games is starting to compete with the quality and graphics of traditional video games. The softly detailed pastel world of Angry Birds and say, Clash of Clans, can hardly be compared with console games such as God of War. They compete in two completely different categories.
Yet, recent gaming industry has provided touchscreen devices with such feats of design such as Infinity Blade III and Horn. These games have changed our image of what touchscreen games can and will become: Highly playable full-scale adventures with stunning graphics.
With that in mind, here’s another product of Finnish game design that might impress those who always wished they could play Zelda on their iPad. Finnish video game developer Cornfox & Bros launched their new game last week, Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas, at $9. Peaking the App store charts around the world, Oceanhorn has been received among players in a way the company hardly finds possible to top.
And no wonder, the game itself is beautifully crafted. Whether your hero is walking through the villages of the good people of Tikarel or navigating in the high seas with a raft, the eyes rest and feast on the visual world presented before you.
The last touch of artistic taste comes with the soundtracks of legendary Nobuo Uematsu, the man behind the sound design of the Final Fantasy series, which to say the least, give the games some serious credibility.
Unfortunately, we’ve heard the gameplay is reported to have some serious issues, which is a sad minus for the graphically impressive package. The aiming system is inaccurate and the various ledges will drop your character into chasms without much logic. Another unfortunate fact is that some say the storytelling has been poorly made. Many plot related questions will remain unexplained and the story goes forward whether you like it or not.
Nonetheless the game has surprised us all with its visual design, so slight mistakes here and there can easily be tolerated. Top spot on the App store cannot mean every purchaser of the game are wrong.
But where does the inspiration for the game come from?
For those who have any history with the legend of Zelda, you wont need a second glance at Oceanhorn to make the connection between the two. Right or wrong? That’s up to you to decide.
