Lili review (iOS / Universal)

10 word description: 3D adventure RPG hybrid. Explore several island environments, solve puzzles.

10 word review: Very pretty, amused with itself, entertaining. Movement controls can irritate.

You will like this if you enjoy: Explore-em-up adventure games with very nice graphics.

The good news: Visually rather stunning; definitely some of the best graphics on iOS. Plenty to do, particularly if you avoid all the super-item IAPs. The non-combat combat not only works well but provides a good challenge and increases the incentive to pick lots of flowers (currency) to get helpful items from the shop.

The bad news: The useful super-items such as the map and the skeleton key can only be obtained via IAP, not through playing the game. Just stop doing this, please. The theme and characters are maybe just a little bit too bizarre and the constant mockery and derisive humour in almost every conversation and item description is not as entertaining (or necessary) as the writers obviously think it is. The control system (one tap move, two taps run, one tap stop, swipe to look around) frequently does the exact opposite of what you wanted to do. Combat controls are fine.

Arcadelife verdict: I know this review is a bit late, considering how long Lili has been out, but it’s a good game (despite my bad news ranting) and it deserves a review. Running around the great looking environments is fun, slightly marred by the annoying movement controls, and the flower-picking combat sequences are always enjoyable, even when you lose. I wonder if the game might be even more popular if the theme and characters were not quite so weird; at times the objectives and story feel completely unimportant because they have so little association with reality. I know video games don’t need to be realistic but when you’re trying to get a player to have some kind of empathy for the protagonist, at least make the world she inhabits seem real enough to be significant. Oh, and could you make a few more of her outfits purchasable with in-game currency as well as with real money?

Arcadelife rating

Presentation – 9/10
Visuals – 10/10
Controls – 6/10
Content – 9/10
Fun – 8/10
Final rating – 8/10

VERY GOOD

Rating categories explained here.

Version reviewed by Arcadelife is 1.2.1

BitMonster Games website link

Arcadelife played and reviewed this game on:
4th gen iPad (iOS 6.0.1)