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Inotia 4 Review

By Andrew Nesvadba, on May 3, 2012

Inotia 4
Download on the AppStore
Rating

PROS

  • Detailed 2D sprite-work.
  • Party-system adds some management complexity.
  • Online backups for save files.

CONS

  • Odd class design features; skill requirements almost at odds with required stats for improvement.
  • Reliance on IAP to cover the games item short-fall; usual requirements of grinding to craft/repair/improve.
  • Stiff, unresponsive controls.

VERDICT

The KRPG as a genre needs to move forward from clunky, restrictive games like Inotia 4 if it wants to see success beyond its niche on the App Store; a decent title for fans, but an otherwise hard sell even at its low entry fee.


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As it is, and so shall it always be, given the fullness of time, yet another sequel to a somewhat popular KRPG series makes its way on to the App Store. Inotia 4: Assassin of Berkel by Com2us is the next on the chopping block, and it seemingly fails to learn from the past, instead seeking to exploit its free-to-play status.

You are once again in the control of a teenager keen to prove himself (in this case as the 'virtuoso' of the Shadow Tribe) and you're thrown in to a 'whirlwind' story that revolves around the Channel of Light. After choosing from one of six classes, you can try your luck at plowing through obtuse quests with repetitive tasks in the almost futile goal of earning better gear and higher levels, in order to make your way further through the game.

Let me digress for a moment here - if KRPGs are something that get you excited, this is not the review for you; individual gameplay features such as skill trees; action-oriented combat; crafting; and overly complex side-missions and bosses aren't bad in and of themselves, but it's the way in which games like Inotia 4 utilize them that's in question.

Notably, you feel the cold-hard grasp of someone expecting you to purchase gems via IAP in order to get the most out of all of these features. Grinding is your alternative, but even if you choose to grab the paid version your only reward is a removal of advertising and a handful of gems... no gameplay tweaks to ensure a smoother experience.

Speaking of smooth - the controls also bear discussion as they're particularly unbearable in this iteration. Despite the use of a virtual stick the game insists on wooden, four-direction movement and while the auto-attack system will save your poor thumb from abuse, the alignment requirements and responsiveness are both seriously lacking.

In short, Inotia 4 is let down by a plague of problems - not the least of which are odd character design issues borne of the game's stat-system. The story and graphics may shine through, but it's a hard sell for those who aren't already in love with the genre.

Screenshots

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