Parents' Guide to Shadow Fight 3

This 3D fighter is a definite upgrade from its 2D predecessor, with detailed characters and easy controls, but its weak story and ad-focused push keep it from being a perfect action title. In Shadow Fight 3, you're thrown into a three-way conflict as a young soldier without knowing who you are or why the conflict matters to you. Various characters blurt random information at you, but in the end, it's easier just to ignore them all and get to the fighting. Combat is the app's strong point anyway, with good four-direction controls, visceral one-button attacks, three different fighting styles (one for each faction), and a 2D format that makes it easy to target your opponent. Shadow Abilities make things even more fun, since they can help you do tons of damage or even stage a comeback when you're about to lose a fight.

On top of entertaining combat, Shadow Fight 3 offers you the freedom to use whatever weapons and armor you want, regardless of fighting style. Granted, upgrading items is still a chore. Upgrades take Shadow Energy, which can only be earned by replaying fights or by performing repetitive side missions. The process is pretty slow, but you can make it bearable by playing Duel mode (there's considerably more satisfaction beating real opponents than AI) or skip it altogether by buying Shadow Energy in the in-app store. Whichever you choose, the app's beautiful sound and visual effects are free, and themed seasonal events like Cherry Blossom and Menace of the Swamps offer a change of pace and the chance to fight special bosses and earn special weapon and armor sets. If Shadow Fight 3 offered a more straightforward story, its gameplay would have more meaning; even without it, though, you're in for hours of shadow-fighting fun.