Inotia 3 – Children of Carnia is the latest installment in the acclaimed Chronicles of Inotia series from developer COM2US. Even though this is the third installment in the series, this is the first of the series to land on Android. So how does it stack up on Android?
Title: Inotia 3 – Children of Carnia | Developer: COM2US | Genre: RPG | Players: 1 | Size: 17MB | Version: 1.1.7 | Price: Free
This tile-based RPG builds of the successes of the previous two games, although the developers have done little to improve game play. Whilst this lack of innovation may put off some gamers, fans of the series certainly won’t complain at this ‘third-helping’ of the successful RPG series.
Notable Features
- Adorned with crafted animé-style artwork
- Robust interface with configurable controls
- Completely free, although supported through ad’s and micro-transactions
Game play
Inotia 3’s story is as predictable as can be expected- filled with the clichés, poor dialogue and generic villains that we’ve come to know and love. This won’t come as revelation to gamers, as it’s something we’ve come to accept in casual RPG’s released on mobile platforms such as Android. As such the game is easy to pick up and play, although by removing the need to invest any emotional attachments to the characters, it can at times appear shallow and only maintain a tenuous hold of your attention.
The quest system adopts a traditional approach, whereby missions are provided by the NPC’s dotted throughout the world. The variety of missions, in keeping with the genre, is a mix of fetching items or battling monsters. Whilst gamers would expect nothing less from an RPG title, the repetitive quests quickly become stale as you grind your way various mob’s in the vain hope of achieving something more worthwhile.
At the start of the game you’re given the opportunity to choose your characters class from a pool of typical sword-and-sorcery types. This initial choice will have an impact on the tactics you’ll adopt later in the game when fending off Carnia’s more dangerous inhabitants. However, the clunky controls (which I’ll talk about later) can make it difficult to execute anything more complex than a simple rush or retreat. Unlike other RPG titles, there is also little re-playability afforded by choosing different class types, with your choice having little to no bearing on the story or fundamental game play.
Shortcomings aside, the casual nature of the game results in a highly accessible title, allowing new players to quickly become involved in the dark (albeit predictable) mysteries which abound the lands of Carnia. Playing the previous two ‘Chronicles of Inotia’ titles is far from a pre-requisite in understanding the games back story, and the game can be enjoyed as much as a standalone title as it can part of a series.
Interface and Controls
Whilst he controls for Inotia 3 are clear and well organised- they appear cramped on devices with smaller screens. These ‘busy’ controls offer stark contrasts between the elegantly designed menus and inventory system- which are well presented if not for the odd design choice. Luckily, it’s possible to customise the standard layout in the settings menu, which is of huge benefit for players who, like me, prefer a simple interface over one crammed with hot keys.
Interacting with the environment is facilitated through a single touch of the games ‘Action’ button, and whilst this keeps things simple it does once again highlight the lack of depth that the game possesses. Character movement is controlled via the 4 directional keys, and although they’re easy to master, you can quickly become frustrated in combat situations where you require a greater degree of freedom.
Combat is arguably one of the finer points of the game. It’s robust and at times requires the player to make important tactical decisions in the delivery of your party’s special abilities. You can quickly cycle through your party members to create powerful combinations, some of which prove to be highly effective when dealing with certain mobs.
Graphics
One of Inotia 3’s greatest assets is the exceptional artwork and asset designs. The use of classical animé style avatars has become a recognised convention within modern RPG’s, and Inotia 3 does not fail meet the high standards of the genre. The special effects are also noteworthy and well animated, which can lead to some dazzling moments in combat. Unfortunately the tile-set used throughout the levels do not quite match the levels of sophistication found throughout the rest of the game.
Overall
I’ve awarded Inotia 3 a 3.5 star rating. The games simplicity will be attractive to most casual gamers, although hardcore RPG enthusiasts will likely become frustrated with the lack of depth throughout the game. Inotia 3 plays to its strengths and those who have played the previous 2 games will enjoy a similar experience.
