My The Quest (iPhone) review:
The Quest is a retro styled RPG available for multiple systems including the iPhone. It features a large free-roam world with many side quests and a focus on exploration – at least 100 hours of gameplay are available in the original campaign. The Quest Gold also comes preinstalled with a few of the available expansion packs.
The biggest gripe one might find with The Quest is that the game is very difficult and requires patience and some grinding. However because of this the game feels rewarding and fresh among newer roleplaying games – which usually favor easier learning curves to keep the player interested.
The bulk of the gameplay comes down to the quests you accept to build your character up and progress through the game. There are a few easier quests at the beginning to help you get accustomed to the gameplay – however they quickly become difficult with multiple pathways and outcomes. For instance one of the quests has you searching for the chest of a murdered nobleman who had been selling fake jewels to unsuspecting buyers. There are three characters who want the chest and each offers a different reward and outcome – the choice entirely up to you. The moralistic reasons presented leave lots of gray room which help make the game feel substantially more mature than other RPGs available on the iOS platform.
The graphics are retro based and this game would not have been out of place in the late 80s or early 90s. This means that the combat leaves much to the imagination and people looking for a more modern 3d RPG will likely not have much fun with The Quest. However the sprite based graphics are well drawn and very detailed – giving each area in the massive open world a unique style which helps keep the game from getting stale as you level up and make your way through.
The combat itself, though turn-based, blends well into the real-time tile-based movement system that the game is designed around. It requires strategy and planning to get through the combat situations. The economy system a required part of the gameplay as you will be stocking up on armor, weapons, potions and spells before venturing out into the wilderness otherwise you will find yourself in situations where you get stuck and can’t progress forward or return to a safe spot. If you play the game keeping all this in mind it is well balanced and you will be able to proceed without too much difficulty.
The Quest definitely gets my recommendation to anyone who is looking for a well drawn deep and rewarding gaming experience on a mobile platform.
9/10