Sponsored Feature: ZIO Interactive explains the background to its iPhone-bound epic RPG Axion

Korean developer ZIO Interactive is finally bringing its popular mobile RPG Axion to Western shores via the App Store.

Jeremie Sinic, who describes himself 'the multitasker' at ZIO, has been talking us through the upcoming release.

"We have been looking at the App Store trends for a while and it's clear there are more and more gamers coming to the iDevices," says Sinic.

"Also, the fact developers don't have to port games to hundreds of various phones with different specifications and screensizes was a huge factor in why we've chosen to bring Axion to iPhone."

Made to measure

ZIO has been working on the iPhone for some time, but Sinic explains that bringing an RPG out of the Korean market is a much bigger task than simply porting it.

"The iPhone version of Axion has been ready for a while, but we wanted to make sure the game would suit a Western audience in terms of quest design (especially the number of items required to complete them), and the difficulty balance," he says.

Indeed, the similarities between Korean and Western-style RPGs are few and far between: something ZIO Interactive is all too aware of.

"Korean games traditionally have a lot of grinding in them, even to a point that can appear absurd to Westerners. While Axion on the iPhone is still quite a hardcore experience, we made sure to keep this in mind."

Plot refresh

The iPhone version of Axion is a port of the original Axion 2 mobile game, which enjoyed huge success in the Korean mobile market. The story of Axion and his quest for peace is set to immerse the player in his world.

Sinic filled us in on the story so far: "At a time when Rubalt (Lord of Darkness) and Balinor (Lord of Light) were about to ruin the world amidst their destructive war, the other Lords created Axion - a demigod and a Living Weapon - to put an end to the turmoil."

Axion succeeded in breaking up the fight, but as we're all very much aware, bad guys always have a nasty habit of turning up again.

"The last battle between Axion and Balinor (a lord gone mad with purity) ended with them both vanishing through the Door of Abyss" says Sinic.

"500 years later Balinor reappears in Middle-Earth, summoned by his long-time followers. The Lords then decide to bring back Axion and Oberis (the Goddess of War)".

Players control Axion as he attempts once again to thwart Balinor and restore peace to the land.

"Oberis takes the form of a young woman and is the main non-player character. She follows Axion during most of the game" Sinic tells us.

Sharp edged

While Axion may appear to share resemblances with more traditional RPGs such as Zelda and Secret of Mana, there's very little in terms of gameplay that tie it to this group. In fact, it's more in the vein of classic hack 'n' slash Diablo.

"Of course, there are some similar elements between Axion and Mana, like the storytelling through dialogues with NPCs and the topdown view," says Sinic.

"In truth, however, Axion's game mechanics are closer to Diablo's mechanics of fighting, skill upgrades and leveling up, with a lot of space given to item strengthening and customisation," he explains.

Determining whether to rely on brute force and melee attacks, or magic and ranged tactics, is for the player to decide. Fundamental choices are provided, and it's up to you to evolve your strategy.

Players will battle their way through a variety of beautiful landscapes, from snow-capped mountain ranges and dingy caves to spectacular oases and deserted wastelands.

There are also three main cities for characters to rest their injuries and stock up on the essentials.

Fight, fight

Sinic is quick to point out that the battles are a big deal and make up a huge part of the core gameplay.

He says, "The combat system in Axion is one of the key points of the game. Users can customise their moves step-by-step in a dedicated menu, with 360-degree slow attacks, quick stabs forward and jumping attacks available.

"This allows users to adapt to the different types of enemy or simply to create stylish combos."

Of course, it wouldn't be a monumental RPG epic without some sizeable encounters along the way. "You should definitely expect huge boss battles," warns Sinic, "and probably prepare a few potions before fighting them!"

It's also impossible to describe the world of Axion without mentioning how stunning it looks.

"At the time of its release on mobile in Korea, the game's graphics and animations were a huge talking point. I think Axion looks even more splendid on the iPhone."

We'd tend to agree. The hand-drawn scenery and backdrops are gorgeously detailed, with an abundance of wonderfully animated characters to interact with.

"The team did a great job converting the original game to the iPhones" smiles Sinic.

"Instead of simply making the original game fit on to the iPhone screen - which usually creates that stretched effect you can see in many Korean game ports - Axion's graphics were adjusted specifically to the iPhone."

Axion is bound to impress both casual iPhone gamers and RPG veterans alike. It's due for release on May 7.