Game Reviews

Light Apprentice

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Light Apprentice

Stories and video games have gone hand-in-hand since Jumpman saved his girlfriend from a giant monkey.

Sometimes, games prove to be brilliant storytellers. Other times, following a story alongside a game is like trying to assemble a model while someone screams in your ear.

Light Apprentice from Bulkypix uses a unique engine for delivering its story. Players participate in an interactive comic book, where panels melt seamlessly into battle scenes.

It's a super-neat idea, and it makes your day when you first experience the transition from passive observer to active player.

Unfortunately, you don't get much of a chance to enjoy Light Apprentice's cool ideas. The first available chapter is short. Like, "Was that a demo?" short.

Light up the night

Light Apprentice takes place on a post-apocalyptic planet that's supposed to be under the care of several Apprentices. Apprentices are specially trained in magic and battle - but they've also mysteriously disappeared.

The one exception is Nate, the Light Apprentice. He's discovered in stasis deep underground, and is woken up by magic-user named Tlob. Together, the two set out to escape their underground prison and, hopefully, find the other Apprentices.

At times, Light Apprentice presents itself as a comic book. Other times, players work through point-and-click adventure scenes. Both scenarios often give way to turn-based battles featuring slimes, lizards, and eerie shadow creatures.

In battle, you can attack, defend, and use items or skills. It's pretty standard stuff, though there are a couple of unique features that stir things up.

In order to execute the very best attacks, you need to tap the screen according to a visual cue. It's a small thing, but that little bit of interactivity keeps encounters from feeling stale.

You can also choose pacifism by defending against enemy attacks, and then running away. It's a bit more of a drawn-out process compared to just whomping the baddies, but being kind to monsters results in different story scenes, and more respect from Tlob.

Choose your own tiny adventure

It's a good thing Light Apprentice offers a reason for replay, because a single playthrough of its sole chapter takes less than an hour. Even the two different ways to play the game (pacifism vs aggression) do little to stretch out the meagre content.

To make things even more disappointing, battles are very easy to get through, even if you choose not to fight. And while the adventure scenes are implemented cleverly, none of the puzzles are stumpers.

As a consequence, Light Apprentice comes with a cautious recommendation. Its concept is great, and its story and setting are interesting (though there are grammar and spelling mistakes galore that could really stand a clean-up), but there just isn't a lot of content - yet. More chapters are incoming, but there's no word on when, or how much they'll cost.

It'll all be over soon

Light Apprentice is incredibly short, and it's not a cheap download by mobile standards.

It's certainly charming, though, and engaging enough to keep you interested through the entirety of the jaunt.

Download it now if you want to get onto the ground floor of what may prove to be a saga worth talking about - or wait around a bit to see what kind of additional content (if any) emerges.

In its current state, Light Apprentice is a good start, but a difficult recommendation.

Light Apprentice

Light Apprentice is a promising start to what may turn out to be a decent series, but its short length and simplicity can't be overlooked
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