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App Army Assemble: The Lost Shield - Zelda meets Breakout on iOS

Yes, you read that correctly

App Army Assemble: The Lost Shield - Zelda meets Breakout on iOS
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iOS
| The Lost Shield

Here's something completely unexpected - a Game Boy inspired iOS game that combines Breakout with The Legend of Zelda.

Yup, that truly is the best way to describe The Lost Shield, which launched last week on iOS.

You play as a hero that discovers a shield that, ironically, will destroy the world, and have to set out on a Lord of the Rings-style adventure to return it to its home.

Along the way you'll meet a band of characters who'll join you on your quest, and each one has its own unique abilities that will help you.

It's a fantastic idea in theory, but in practice perhaps leaves a little to be desired. At review, we described it as: "A unique blend of genres hurt by frustrating physics and other issues".

But don't just take our word for it. We also gave access to our band of merry mobile gaming experts in the App Army who had the following to say.

Kainen Ryan

Now this is a surprise. I thought it would be another RPG combined with Angry Birds but I quickly learned I was wrong and was, in fact, playing an interesting spin on Breakout.

It's a good step forward for the genre. I can't say 50 levels down the line I'll be still playing this but so far I'm impressed.

Ethan Harold

I don't like this very much - it's just a glorified Breakout-clone. There's not enough here for me.

Tony Teulan

This is an absolute gem. Plenty of games go for the Gameboy look, but this one nails it perfectly and is pretty unique.

It can be a little janky though. Your projectile occasionally gets stuck and the physics can be a little off. But the combination of RPG and Breakout makes for a great experience.

This will be on my device for a long time.

Laura Egri

I love the Gameboy-inspired visuals and the concept of combining Breakout with an RPG. Using the hero as a paddle and the party members as additional boosts feels natural, and the story, boss battles, and secret areas are a joy to behold.

The time limit is a bit of a downer, as I'd have liked more time to explore each level but as it is it's a fun and clever game.

Quincy Jones

This is a solid game, which is fun to play and has a great little plot.

It could easily have been just another Breakout clone but there's more to it and that keeps me coming back for more.

The additional party members add different abilities and there are cool boosts to collect as well. I really liked the boss battles and the fact that each level had a different objective.

I really don't mind the timer since it adds urgency but maybe a boost that added more time would appease others.

Oksana Ryan

This isn't the best game I've ever played but neither is it the worst. I turned the sound off right away because it was annoying but the retro graphics were lovely.

It's easy to play and there's enough variety in each level to keep you entertained. However, for me, it lacks something extra to make it stand out from the crowd. It's a good game but not amazing.

Chase Geier

It's okay. The graphics are fine and it plays well but there's nothing special and it doesn't add anything to the genre or mobile games in general.

Dcalbie Dcalbie

Whether you like the aesthetic or not, Game Stew completely nails the look and feel of a Gameboy game, and has successfully merged RPGs with Breakout.

Unfortunately, this genre lives and dies on ball control and I had issues with that. There's so much going on during each level but most of the challenge came from battling with the poor physics.

James Rooney

I doubt I'll return to this game. The graphics are okay but I found it a bit boring.

The App Army is Pocket Gamer's very own community of mobile game experts. Each week, we provide them with a bunch of free codes and early access to the hottest upcoming games so they can provide their thoughts in features like this. We also host regular community-driven events with them in mind like tournaments, giveaways, and multiplayer evenings. To join, simply follow this link to the page on Facebook and request access. We'll get you in right away!
Chris James
Chris James
A footy game fanatic and experienced editor of numerous computing and game titles, lively Chris is up for anything - including running Steel Media! (Madman!)