Horn is essentially, a game that mashes together Infinity Blade's graphics, LostWinds' music and a lot more excellent elements from a lot of successful games. Created by Phosphor Game Studios of Dark Meadow and Kinect Adventures fame, it's FREE as 'App of the Week' in the Apple App Store. Despite its large size (1.02 GB), I think it's completely worth it, and to get an app like this for no cost at all is a complete steal.
It tells the story of a blacksmith's apprentice named Horn who lives in the village of Cuthbert in a mystical land called Reynes. (The game says that the person who discovered it named it after his uncle's pet bird.) Anyway, Horn is an orphan who lives with his Aunt Bell.
The game begins with the tale of Reynes and how the land prospered in a Golden Age. Then, it introduces the main character, Horn, a looks-like-15 year old boy who wakes up in a ruined, mysterious old tower. He finds a strange crystal and a horn next to him. Then, he sees this giant robot-like creature near him and he follows him, asking for help. The creature gets angry and says that Horn is carrying the horn of the High Pygon Squire. A battle ensues and Horn knocks off the creature's head. The creature (revealed to be called a Pygon) is still alive and chases after its head. He fights more Pygon, and defeats a colossal Pygon and touches it with the crystal he found. It's revealed to be Aunt Bell, who has no clue what happened to her. Horn and Aunt Bell reach their home village of Cuthbert and find it in ruins.
Well, I've disclosed enough details. I recommend that you go to the App Store and get the app for yourself. Have fun!
RATINGS:
Fun: 4.5/5
Horn is a highly immersive game. When one looks at the backgrounds and fight scenes, one can tell that a lot of work has gone into making this game perfect. However, the constant fights against Pygon can, at times, get annoying and a bit boring. But there are secret Grottos filled with Pygite crystals (monetary unit) and cute little Pygon that don't attack you but follow you for a little while with little heart symbols floating above their heads.
Graphics: 5/5
Horn is a work of art, to say the least. The environments are incredible, whether in battle with a Pygon, in a ruined old building or out in the wild. Phosphor Games has taken Unreal Engine to a whole new level.
Plot/Storyline: 3.5/5
Well, it is certainly interesting to think that all people have been turned into robots but you and your aunt. But there could have been many more places to explore in Reynes, not centred around Cuthbert.
Gameplay: 4.25/5
Instead of starting the whole mission/level over again when you die, Phosphor has devised a system of 'checkpoints' where you respawn from if you happen to fall in battle. That's a good idea which can make players continue to play instead of giving up after dying too many times. Also, the levels have mazes and puzzles which are quite a challenge to solve and generally adds to the game's appeal.
Child-friendliness: 4/5
This game doesn't have too much violence and the fights are based on a dodge-and-slash system without any blood. But there still is violence.
Replay Value: 2.5/5
The missions get boring after finishing once; one can remember the way through and the entire maze and fog and secrets goes 'poof'. But the re-battling against the Pygons is still interesting.
Music: 4/5
The music is excellent and is peaceful. But it is a bit wrong to have this peaceful music in battles against giant evil robots seeking to kill you.
Total: 27.75/35
Horn, by Phosphor Games, Free on the App Store.
Get it today!
