Fallen Knight

It would feel like the last thing that an iOS needs are another side-scrolling shooter. I mean, there are thousands of these games, right? Would you want to play another one that's the same thing with a different skin? It appears that Fallen Knight didn't get the memo. Here we are with what seems to be yet another stereotypical Apple Arcade offering.

Not often, but sometimes - there is more to it than meets the eye. Some of these side-scrolling shooters will dazzle you with their explosive approach to animation and level design. Even the combat can feel good to the touch and satisfying when you finish each part of the loose story. I sort of getting the feeling that Fallen Knight won't do any of those things, but, might as well check it out.

On a Quest for Nostalgic Resonance

Hopping into Fallen Knight, it's not exactly sure what they are trying to achieve from a gaming perspective. If I didn't know any better, it would seem that Apple Arcade has commissioned a basic platformer. They want to fill their library and justify players paying the subscription fee to play every month. But isn't that just a silly thought?

Honestly, that seems to be the tricks of the trade these days. Fallen Knight is one of the most stereotypical side-scrolling action games you could possibly muster. All the mechanics resonate from the shared ideas of the early 90s platformers, with modern visuals and less pixelated, sleek animations. They aren't pulling the wool over our eyes, though. This is not a hunt for classic gaming nostalgia in any sense.

You'll play as Lancelot, a name as blandly copied as every element of gameplay. The player will use the frustratingly compact series of controls to progress through each similarly tailored level and whack uninspired enemies with your swordstick. Bar a few variations in foes and bosses - the difficulty stays the same, and so does everything else.

Fallen Knight really does have that feel of a bland development approach. There's nothing that's inspired - every element of gameplay feels like a copy of popular mechanics at the time. The narrative even rips off the Knights of the Round Table story. They set their version of the tale in space. While there's nothing inherently wrong with how the game pans out - its blandness and uncreative progression make it frustrating.

Oh, How the Knights' Have Fallen

You can't help but think that Fallen Knight resembles those rubbish games found in in-flight entertainment. Those were developed solely to make it look like there is plenty to their gaming library. The whole notion of why it exists is obnoxious to the player and seriously questions why Apple is getting into gaming when there are so many better options.

Pros:

• Visuals and animations are polished and look good

Cons:

• Bland gameplay copied from other platformers
• Has the idea of a game developed to fill a library void
• The uninspired narrative that leaves a lot to be desired