Did you know that Tucson is filled with zombies, elementals, harpies, and other supernatural baddies? It's true! So is the rest of the world. But, you can help battle against these unseen forces now, in the comfort of your very own home.
"Life is Magic" is a game by Red Robot. In it, you are the hero. Take on the role of a mage, machinist, or monk while you traverse your local streets looking for treasure, battle your way through a dungeon down the block, or teleport across the world and do good deeds.
This game, available on Google Play or the App Store, uses your location for it's data. After it figures out where you are, you are thrown into a very familiar, yet unexplored landscape. Quests are given to you in lieu of a major tutorial, making learning the game a snap.The graphics are in a cartoon-style 2D, which really works out since the animations are very quick and seamless. Battle is done in a turn-based old school RPG fashion, which is a great way to make sure you can get the baddies down in time before they box your ears.
Unfortunately, there's nothing in the way of character customization, and the classes you get to choose from are very limited. The best way to go is to choose one of the three classes that you want to play, and then form a group with two people from the other classes. They don't need to be on to play with them, thankfully, as after you group up you merely borrow their character to play with. When they play, they'll earn you extra energy you can pick up from them later on.
The basic principle is to level up and battle through different dungeons, either fire, earth, or water. This, of course, is made easier by buying items from the real money section, but it's just as much fun to do it the old fashioned way. As you go into town, you'll find people in the different shops to give you quests, which will send you back into the dungeons to complete them. The higher level you become, the harder the dungeons you need to go into (level 1, 2, and 3) until you finally are strong enough to take on the city dungeon.
The way that this game takes advantage of your location is brilliant. It's so much fun to find the dungeons close to home, and try to get on the leader board for that dungeon. In town, you can gain influence over buildings in the area which will not only get your name over the door, but also earn you awesome discounts on what's offered inside. It is difficult, however, if you are located in a rural community. You have to travel if you want to progress through the game. Luckily, you can stay wherever you've traveled to.
Overall, this game is a very fun "on-the-go" app, becoming even more so as you take it along with you. Different places, different dungeons and shops. It is definitely a downfall that there is not more in the way of characters to choose from, as it's extremely limited. However, "Life is Magic" is pretty much the epitome of what a turn-based RPG should look like on a phone or tablet. Definitely should be played by anyone who's ever liked RPGs, especially the old school ones. Great use of GPS locator, and turning fantasy into reality.
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