World of Demons

Every now and then, there will come a mobile game that will look and feel that it's not trying to inundate you with microtransactions. World of Demons is gracing the Apple Arcade as an artistic and intrinsic video game that uses fast-paced action, an extraordinary art style, and a somewhat engaging story. When was the last time you could say that about a mobile game?

There's always a stigma attached to these offerings - but renowned developer Platinum Games has taken the helm to deliver a refined small screen experience. The hardware behind Apple devices is more than capable - and the hack-and-slash specialists plan to exploit it. Let's see if we finally have a mobile game that doesn't try to suck you dry!

Yokai, Bro?

You can judge almost immediately from the art style that the game is heavy on Japanese folklore elements. World of Demons has you controlling a young samurai battling against - you guessed it - a world of demons. The game is not very narrative-based. But for a high octane action game - it doesn't really need to be.

The samurai will traverse different levels hacking away at enemies, initiating some spectacular moves to eliminate them. When all is said and done - some of the monsters will be freed from evil. They will join you on your quest to defeat the Demon King that made their lives so miserable. It's all pretty smoothly controlled - albeit repetitive. The visuals are the real winner of World of Demons, though.

Players can take a lot of pleasure in running around this beautifully crafted world. The color palette and shading are reminiscent of ink-washed paintings of traditional Japan - they look remarkable. It's been a while since a mobile game has brought such immersion factor - even if the mechanics are about as hack-and-slash as you can get.

Having said that - the combat is very versatile and allows for different styles to neutralize your targets. Plenty of options in tactics and weaponry are available, and each battle is as entertaining as the last. Even if there was a narrative, you'd forget about it pretty quickly. Despite no focused objectives other than dominating the battlefield - World of Demons is a joy to play.

Shine Bright Like a Demon

World of Demons defines what a mobile game can actually be when you have a good developer behind it. We already know what Platinum can do with acclaimed offerings such as NieR: Automata and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance. They've taken their hack-and-slash expertise and delivered it into a very accessible mobile game.

Pros:

• A refined mobile combat experience
• Visuals and art style are absolutely stunning
• Various fighting styles keep the game entertaining

Cons:

• Levels become repetitive after a while
• There's a feeling that a more in-depth narrative could suit the game