Chris Buffa (Modojo): Lili reminds us how far mobile and tablet gaming has come, along with how much further it needs to go. Visually, BitMonster's Unreal Engine-powered effort sits right up there with the best looking titles on the App Store, thanks to a gorgeous world that would have been praised on the original Xbox, PlayStation 2 and GameCube. Even more so, considering all the tiny details and superior resolution that graphics aficionados will appreciate. As a full-fledged experience, it falls somewhat flat, with an awkward protagonist, bizarre combat (if you can call it that) and questionable dialogue. It's enjoyable, but an extra layer of character and story development could have gone a long way.
The freemium model offers a free-to-play game experience that monetizes through the player’s purchase of more-or-less optional in-game content. This distribution method can offer a lot to players.
Like everyone else who remembers driving to the mall to buy a new PC game in a box, I love checking out a game before deciding to buy it. And I'm happy paying for an awesome extra upgrade in a free game. Spending 99 cents in a freemium game for a more powerful sword for my brave adventurer or a faster cupcake oven for my cute little baker often serves as the same kind of pick-me-up as an afternoon latte.
But there’s a depressing side to freemium as well...
The beautiful RPG Lili is now available for a reduced price on the App Store
John Bedford (Modojo): All the best bargains on the App Store today.
