Review: Infinity Blade II

The gentle learning curve of mobile gaming is ever-present with Infinity Blade II, the sequel to the addictive, but repetitive, swords and sorcery adventure for iOS. Gone is the repetition (kind of), replaced by a branching structure which turns the once-linear cycle of death and rebirth into a whimsical, steel-plated action. Let me explain.

A winning formula

Infinity Blade II is all about death. Dying evolves your character, and each time you fight your way to the God King (or a similarly cool-looking boss) and are unceremoniously struck down, you begin again, but retain your items and statistics. Your nameless, gibberish-spewing character from the previous iteration is now called Sirius and the voice acting is now in actual English. Combine this with moody atmosphere, the Dark Souls-like graphics, a plot written on the back of a book of matches and you have a fun, yet nonsensical, game which begs you to push onwards for the treasures hidden within.