Location-based iPhone game GEO Hunters mixes up battles with Pokemon elements

There's plenty of activity when it comes to location-based mobile games at the moment.

Booyah's just rolled out its DJ Rivals, while Grey Area is bringing Shadow Cities to the US and UK soon. In the meantime, Korean specialist YD Online has released GEO Hunters onto the App Store.

It's a hardcore RPG game that has you fighting monsters to protect your location, as shown on Google Maps, and leveling up - there's a choice of three character classes - to gain better weapons and items such as attack potions, armour and shields.

The turn-based battles are certainly interesting. As an archer class, I had to fire arrows at the enemy, taking into account the distance and the direction and strength of the ever changing wind. You handle direction using the type of swinging meter used in golf games - attempting to tap it at just the correct point for direction, and then tapping again to select the distance.

Once you've defeated a monster, you can then capture it, feeding and strengthening it, also posting it to Facebook. The more monsters you own, the higher your rank in the game. You can even steal monsters from other players, and vice versa.

"We wanted to create a mobile game that combines actual geography with fantasy, while creating a community of engaged competitive players. GEO Hunters has all these qualities, giving great replay value to players," said Dr. Hyun Oh Yoo, CEO of YD Online.

GEO Hunters is free-to-play, and out now for iPhone and iPod touch.