Tin Man Games continues to broaden its selection of interactive Gamebooks with the release of Island of the Lizard King, a Fighting Fantasy role-playing book written by Ian Livingston. As a brave adventurer, you must travel to Fire Island to free the slaves of Oytser Bay from the treacherous Lizard King. The journey ahead will not be an easy one as greedy pirates, cannibalistic tribesmen and nightmarish abominations await.
The Lizard King is the first book in the Fighting Fantasy series to shed the trap/puzzle formula of previous books and rely mostly on creature encounters. This makes the game more difficult, as most enemy encounters can’t be avoided. Like its predecessors, Island of the Lizard King includes three difficulty settings: First is Adventurer, a mode where you play the Lizard King the way it was intended. You are given unlimited bookmarks (i.e. save games) and your Stamina (i.e health) is calculated by rolling two, six-sided dice + 12.
Second is Hardcore Hero, a mode that is labeled the ‘Ultimate’ challenge. Your character’s Skill is calculated by rolling one, six-sided die +4, making you weaker. Also adding to the challenge is a lack of food provisions (you are limited to three). Last is Free Read, a free-for-all mode that enables ‘unlimited’ healing for your character and the ability to unlock choices in the story that may be otherwise inaccessible. Additionally, you can move backwards in the story if you dislike the outcome. While playing in Free Read, you can be an ‘old-school cheater’ as the game politely implies.
The character creation process is relatively simple and involves rolling a pair of six-sided dice to determine your character’s Stamina, Skill and Luck. Once this process is complete, you can choose from one of three available potions – Potion of Skill (Restores lost Skill points), Potion of Strength (Restores Stamina) and Potion of Fortune (Restores lost Luck).
The adventure begins rather quickly as you arrive at Oyster Bay, a quiet fishing village that is sixty miles from the infamous Port of Blacksand. While there, you learn of the Lizard King’s recent enslavement of villagers from life-long friend, Mungo HisWeather. With Mungo’s assistance, you both set sail to Fire Island to put an end to the Lizard King’s reign. As you explore the island, the game presents a series of decisions that can affect the story’s outcome. Some decisions involve a simple change in direction, while others can be more prolific such as sticking your hand inside a hole; climbing a rocky hillside; or chasing an unknown creature through a marshy bog. The decisions you make could easily end in your demise.
Combat relies on a dice-rolling system where two-sided dice are rolled to determine the outcome. Like previous Fighting Fantasy games, a pair of white dice represent the player and a red pair represent the enemy. As the dice are rolled for both you and your enemy, they can be manipulated by shaking the iPhone.
The final dice rolls are then added to both you and your opponent’s Skill to determine who will attack. It is possible to increase the damage dealt to your enemy by ‘Testing Your Luck’. Similar to combat, you must roll a number that is equal to or less than your Luck for it to work. Failing the Luck roll will weaken any damage already dealt to your enemy. This method can also be used to decrease the damage your enemy inflicts on your character, but it can also increase that damage if the roll fails.
A mapping system has been included due to the sheer size of the adventure. While it doesn’t include any additional features (i.e. like the ability to make notes), it does keep track of your location. An Adventure Sheet includes your character’s stats and any items collected during your adventure. A section of the Adventure sheet is dedicated to your inventory, which can contain items such as potions and provisions (i.e. food), to name just a few. Using an item from your inventory is as simple as tapping your finger on it.
Island of the Lizard King tells a compelling story of oppression in a fantasy world teaming with untold dangers and mythical beasts. As a game, the Lizard King is a solid entry in the Fighting Fantasy series with its polished combat system and well-written story. iOS gamers looking for a change in their gaming regiment will find that Tin Man Games’ latest release will not only satisfy their gaming needs, but change their perspective on interactive books; there’s nothing else quite like it.
Mike Pittaro
Platform: iPhone 5 (Also playable on iPad)
Rated 9+ for the following:
• Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence
• Infrequent/Mild Horror/Fear Themes
Compatibility: Requires iOS 5.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.
Developer: Tin Man Games
Publisher: Tin Man Games
ESRB: N/A
Price: $5.99
Island of the Lizard King’s Official Website
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |  |
| While the game includes a feature to view The Island of the Lizard King in its original format (i.e. black and white), the remastered illustrations in this release come to life with lush, vibrant colors. | |
| Sound | |
| The in-game soundtrack adds to the game's appeal. | |
| Gameplay | |
| A compelling story and a rock-solid adventure system. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Gamers looking for something different will find the Island of the Lizard King, and all books in the Fighting Fantasy series, a refreshing change of pace from the norm. | |
