The App Store has an originality problem. Too often, developers ape the exact themes and mechanics from top-selling games, creating a sea of never-ending cartoon birds and temple chases. But despite the incredibly familiar mechanics driving Marvel's new Avengers Initiative, there's no denying the satisfying crunch of a Hulk fist smacking a Skrull. Sure, it's a bit of a knockoff, but the best examples of imitation lead to great new ideas.
Let's make this abundantly clear: if you've played either of Chair's fantastic Infinity Blade titles, you already know the basic setup of Avengers Initiative. You'll guide a surprisingly subdued Hulk through one-on-one melee battles, swiping at the screen to bring those big, green mitts in contact with an enemy's noggin. Tapping the lower side of the screen leads to a dodge, and... well, you know the drill.
Multiple paths lead to new encounters, but outside of a few (albeit great) boss fights, there's very little variation in enemies. The Infinity Blade similarities are not limited to combat, either. Avengers Initiative replaces gold bags with ISO-8 gems, for example. But it's unfair to call Avengers Initiative a straight clone; there's plenty of excellent new concepts that differentiate it from its clear inspiration.
Finishing moves are a welcome addition to the formula, for example. At the conclusion of a match, beating up your enemy will slowly fill up a meter. Gain enough hits, and it's possible to witness Hulk unleash some crazy antics on his foe. Mixing and matching perk-equipped costume pieces is fantastic, as is the nice assortment of upgradable powers. Moreover, the Marvel universe characters just work splendidly in the game's context. The developer is planning free updates in the way of Avengers characters, so there's the possibility of a ton of future content.
The bottom line. While it's not a revolution in the ideas department, Avengers Initiative is a slick melee-combat adventure with a ton of potential, thanks to upcoming character updates.
of 5
iPhone or iPad running iOS 4.1 or later
Ties in nicely with Marvel Universe. Smooth melee combat. Gorgeous visuals.
Just barely above an Infinity Blade knockoff. Somewhat repetitive enemy types
