As the new school year rolls around, Wired traditionally takes a look at the apps for iOS that will streamline your efficiency and make you a conscientious student. While productivity apps like iStudiez Pro, Evernote, Wunderlist and GoodReader might be helpful over the course of the semester, what happens when you inevitably get… bored in school?
Gaming has come a long way on iOS since the days of the Angry Birds craze. Now the iOS platform is not merely for ‘casual’ gamers – there are now games out there that will draw you in and engage you on more fundamental level than propelling peeved-off birds across the screen.
Infinity Blade II (iOS, US$6.99)
Voted as one of the best games for the iPad, Infinity Blade II is an action role-playing game that fulfills traditional fantasy RPG elements: an engaging storyline, stunning visuals, and an epic quest. But it’s the gameplay and combat that really stands out in Infinity Blade II. Combat is intuitive and easy to pick up, yet as the game progresses, you’ll need to be faster and more precise in order to land your strikes. The hack-n-slash elements of combat merely require a swipe of your finger or an on-screen tap, but with a variety of play styles that is up to your fancy, each Infinity Blade experience will be different for any player.
Couple that with in-depth character customization in terms of items, weapons and gems, and Infinity Blade II will be a huge aid in your quest to kill off boredom.
Final Fantasy remakes (iOS, price varies)
The Final Fantasy series have effectively become synonymous with Japanese RPG, big swords, and awesome hair in gaming, but that doesn’t change the fact that these are some of the most engaging, enjoyable, and nostalgic games in the history of gaming.
Square Enix’s decision to port over some of the older Final Fantasy titles means that gamers can either recover the nostalgia or experience the series for the first time for themselves. Final Fantasy I through V, as well as the spinoff series Final Fantasy Tactics, are definitely worth a playthrough. In the interest of time, however, the better titles in the series that are really worth checking out would be Final Fantasy IV, V, III, and Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions. These are faithful adaptations of the originals, so you’ll be getting turn-based combat, character management, wonderful storylines, and, of course, the quintessential RPG element that defines Final Fantasy.
Minecraft Pocket Edition (iOS/Android, US$6.99)
It’s Minecraft. That you can carry around. If you have yet to be addicted to building sprawling castles or towering skyscrapers, or felt the rush of panic as a Creeper threatens to blow up hours of your painfully-crafted handiwork, then this is a good place to start.
However, some liberties have to be taken for the pocket edition. So gone are the enemies, the health and hunger bars, and the crafting and resource-gathering. Instead, you get only the full-fledged building experience. With unlimited blocks that span 27 different materials, the world really is your oyster – one that you create, tear down, improve, and generally let your creativity take over. It’s Lego for the digital, mobile generation, except that its infinite in scope and the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
Gamers who need a goal or love a storyline probably won’t enjoy it. Gamers who want to create, roam, and generally have infinite control, however, will love it. And now you can carry that world everywhere you go, and escape into it anytime school gets dull – nothing beats that!