Reviewed: Ooctober 10, 2010
Reviewed by: Jason Flick

Publisher
Chillingo Ltd

Developer
CH Games

Released: September 16, 2010
Genre: RPG
Players: 1

7
8
9
8
8.0

Game Info:

After a brief combat tutorial in the form of a weapons class demonstration featuring the three weapons classes. After that you head off doing the main adventure as well as all the side quests. However I found doing the most basic thing in the game, moving, is one of hardest things to actually do in SEED 2. Unlike the other RPGs on the iPhone, SEED 2 uses a virtual D-pad intead of a virtual analog stick like Inotia. While I do get that it fits in with the whole 16bit nostalgia and the old age of gaming that this new adventure taps into it makes the main character incredibly hard to move unless you’re really quick with your fingertips. It doesn't really help that Litta moves like a human version of Speedy Gonzales.

Despite the awkward and somewhat frustrating controls, SEED 2 has a lot to offer as far as the rest of the title goes. The story is pretty good and fairly long with a lot of classic RPG cliches and story staples. One of the cool things about SEED 2 is that the player can tailor the way they want to play. There are three play styles that players can choose from: warrior, mage and gunner. Each has its own perks such as individual attacks and abilities. The ability to change between classes is just as simple as switching weapons.

The cool thing is that the more you use a sword or a gun the more that weapon will level up and get stronger and do more damage, though the good weapons abilities are not given with a level up. These are earned by doing certain side quests that will unlock these abilities, such as finding a certain number of medals. There are five total active skills that you can earn by doing these quests. You can also strengthen your equipment by Compounding. This allows you to strengthen your armor, weapons and other gear in various ways. There are also different quests for earning buffs that will increase your strength, dexterity and the likes. These can be set to any of the seven quick slots for use in battle which can definitely help. These slots can be used for other things such as potions and antidotes as well.

There is a lot to do in SEED 2 – Vortex of War. Each quest is different from one to the next be it collecting treasure or taking on an entire fortress by yourself. The world of Kalikuf is vast and throughout your travels you will take various modes of transportation such as a boat or air balloon. And speaking of vast, there are 24 towns that you will visit and over 200 unique battlefields to fight on. The best part about SEED 2 – Vortex of War is that the battles are in real-time. No menu selections, no battle load screens, just good old fashioned “hack ‘n slash” action in the tradition of Alundra. I also like the ability to save anywhere in the world with the quick save function via the game HUD or menu. It helps when you do not have to worry about losing large pieces of play time due to a game over.

Graphically, SEED 2 – Vortex of War looks pretty good on the iPhone’s screen. While it doesn’t quite use the full potential of the Retina Display the environments are crisp and detailed. The character models are pretty decent and reminiscent of 16bit grandeur complete with a sword bigger than our hero’s whole body. The story is delivered via still images of the characters in classic RPG standard which is actually legible on the phone’s small screen. Your trips will take you all over the world through ice, fire, forest, and even underwater and each looks really good. The sound department received the same classic RPG treatment with MIDI music that I expected. The music ranges from cheerful to high paced and solemn dark in true old school fashion.

SEED 2 – Vortex of War may only be just over 15MB big but it definitely has a lot to offer. There are plenty of quests to do and classic RPG fun to be had. The ability to tailor your character to the way you want to play and the way they look via clothing is a welcome touch. For those part of the Crystal network you can earn achievements as well as rank yourself among the other players. There is even a reason to play it a second time.

All in all, SEED 2 – Vortex of War is an enjoyable game tarnished only by a control system that makes the adventure a little taxing. One wrong move and it game over so save often. The rest of SEED 2 – Vortex of War sans the control issue is pretty good and a decent title for the mobile RPG fans out there. I can certainly recommend giving SEED 2 – Vortex of War a shot if you’re a fan of old school RPGs.