Mage Gauntlet

Review

Common Sense Media says

Terrific homage to the golden age of RPGs.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Mage Gauntlet is a role playing game that harkens back to the 1990s era of 16-bit graphics. It is story intense and combat intense, but because the graphics are so deliberately outdated, there's nothing very objectionable here. Kids may wonder why the game is so "blocky," but old school gamers will appreciate the throwback. Users can share high scores via the Game Center social network, but participation is optional.

  • Ease of use5
    The game's controls are incredibly smooth and work flawlessly. The game carefully ramps up the difficulty, never getting to a point of frustration. 
  • Violence2
    You'll face off against plenty of enemy hordes, but the game's graphics are intentionally blocky (as an homage to early RPGs) and there's nothing too scary or violent by today's standards. 
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
  • Privacy & safety4
    Some privacy concerns. Players can opt in to Apple’s Game Center to track scores and achievements, and for some games, challenge friends. Players can send and receive friend requests using an email address or Game Center nickname, revealing the first and last name associated with each party’s Apple ID and, in the case of email requests, the sender’s email address. With iOS 5, players can opt to have a private or public profile, which can include a photo. With a public profile, your real name is visible to all other players, and Game Center will recommend you to other players using your real name. With a private profile, only your friends can see your real name, and Game Center will not recommend you to other players.
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Is it any good?

 

Imitating the style of a 15- to 20-year-old game is a risky bet these days, but Rocketcat Games nails it with MAGE GAUNTLET. From the artwork to the storyline to the levels, this feels like something that could have come from the mid-1990s -- and that's meant as a compliment. 

There's plenty of action (almost too much), plenty of loot, and a nice selection of magic spells to choose from. The story (which is much longer than you'd expect) is deliberately silly, but quickly hooks you. It does sometimes feel like you're on a treadmill while playing, though. But played in short doses, this is an RPG that you'll find yourself returning to regularly. 

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This review was written by Chris Morris

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This review was written by Chris Morris
Category:Role Playing Games
Platforms:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Price:$2.99
Size:15.60 MB
Publisher:Rocketcat Games
Version:1.01
Release date:October 27, 2011
Minimum software requirements:iOS 3.1.2 or later
This review was written by Chris Morris

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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