While the movie doesn’t launch for a couple of days, the official video game for Thor: The Dark World has been out since last week, proving once more that the might of an Avenger and some clever game mechanics are nothing compared to the power of malicious microtransactions.
Another Marvel movie, another incredibly pretty free-to-play game from Gameloft, the official supplier of mobile superhero video game tie-ins. When last we left it, the developer had slipped us a mickey in the Iron Man 3 game, it’s gorgeous armour tarnished by nickels and dimes bouncing off of it at mach 3.
But Iron Man 3 was a mission-based endless runner, the cheapest, dirtiest mobile Iron Man game imaginable. Thor: The Dark World features a unique sort of gameplay that threatens to elevate this title beyond the realm of quick cash-in, at least in the early stages.
Thor is best-described as a single-player MOBA — multiplayer online battle arena. Thor is the champion, controlled directly by the player as he traverses multiple stages spread across the mortal realms, either defending his base or attacking the base of his enemies. As he battles he gains the power to summon various einherjar, NPC combatants that automatically traverse each level, engaging enemy forces.
As he progresses through the game’s story, facing off against the forces of Loki and a mysterious new enemy, Thor earns experience points, gold and runes, used to purchase upgrades, unlock new skills, and enhance the power of his einherjar and guest heroes (the Warriors Three, Sif, his little brother). He can even unlock a variety of special costumes, each with its own special benefits.
In early stages its easy to get swept up in the excitement of this unique sort of point-and-click action role-playing, which likely accounts for many of the overwhelmingly positive reviews on iTunes and Google Play. Thor: The Dark World is unique among movie tie-ins, attempting to do something different rather than simply pasting Thor over stale mobile gaming mainstays.
But as the game progresses, it’s flaws really begin to shine. The controls, a tap-to-move-and-fight affair, frequently fail to respond correctly, and throwing Thor’s signature hammer is an incredibly hit-and-miss affair. The NPC characters are mindless drones, wading through damaging traps as if they weren’t there, or wandering away from defensible mission objectives to do their own thing (that thing is normally dying).
And this is a Gameloft free-to-play movie tie-in, so money must be made. The game gifts Thor with a number of healing potions at the start. Once they are gone, the only way to continue should he fall is through application of Uru, the in-game currency purchased with real money. I might be compelled to pay if the game promised more diverse enemies and level goals as it continued, but the action soon grows repetitive and there’s no need to pay for that.
Thor: The Dark World — The Official Video Game is certainly a step in the right direction as far as mobile movie tie-ins go. The attempt to create something new is quite appreciated. Now if we could just go back to the old way of paying for games, we’d be golden.
Thor: The Dark World
Genre: Weird Action RPG/MOBA Hybrid
Developer: Gameloft
Platform: Android, iOS
Price: Free
Get Thor: The Dark World on Google Play — Get Thor: the Dark World on iTunes
Comments
16 responses to “App Review: Thor: The Dark World Is A Game Unworthy Of The God Of Thunder”
My youngest son is super hero mad and loves the Avengers to bits. And, like most 6 year olds, he has terrible taste in video games. I’ll have to let him lose on this bad boy. He’ll be in heaven.
This may be because he hasn’t had enough experience with good superhero games.
Maybe you could try him on…uhh…
Marvel Avengers Alliance on Facebook, I guess.
If you’re willing to go back a bit, he might enjoy Ultimate Alliance. You ould probably pick that or its sequel up for cheap.
It’s just kids in general, they have taste in their ass. I’ve gone back to play a lot of games from my childhood, especially my favourite ones. It’s surprising because some of them (Super Mario Bros) are still incredible, and others are just trash. But when you’re 6, you don’t give a shit, all games are amazing.
Same goes for movies and cartoons. Have you tried watching the Transformers cartoon? It’s pure, utter shit that’s only good for laughing at. The dialogue and voice acting is friggen hilariously bad.
I bought the first boxed set available for first-gen Transformers.
That was a sobering experience.
Best enjoyed while not (sober)
Oh god it’s true, He-man is even worse…
I think the only 80s cartoon that i’ve re-watched that actually holds up in Robotech/Macross.
Yeah, and even then… Over-dramatic and nonsensical still gets its turn.
Marvel Heroes.
You’re welcome.
Do I look to be in a free-to-play gaming mood?!
10/10
YOU WANT ME TO PUT THE APP DOWN?!
“Doth mother know you gameth with her credit card?”
Wait, a movie tie-in mobile app game turns out to be pretty shitty thanks to terrible microtransaction bullshit?
This challenges everything I know and believe in.
Movie came out in australian cinemas last week. It’s ace.
This review wasn’t very positive. Must be a Thor point.
This joke, I like it, BRING ME ANOTHER!