Gameloft is responsible for a good portion of the App Store and Google Play Store's big-ticket releases, and a lot of the games are, to be fair, alternatives to the big-budget releases, they're exemplary of what the company is capable of. We've handpicked five Gameloft titles that demonstrate why you should definitely be paying attention to this mobile gaming juggernaut -- excluding, of course, the Modern Combat series that we've been covering over the last few days. You should already know where we're coming from on that.
1. Gangstar: Miami Vindication
Gangstar itself is an homage to the Grand Theft Auto series, with Vindication mirroring that of the '80s-tinged Vice City. Wreak havoc upon Miami as you cruise around from running over civilians, gunning down your enemies, and humming your favorite new wave song since the game is devoid of the licensed tunes Rockstar worked (and paid) to acquire. It's still a multifaceted and enjoyable romp through the city, sandbox-style, and one of the best mobile alternatives to Grand Theft Auto that money can buy.
2. Eternal Legacy
While there's no dearth of role-playing games on the platform to speak of, there are those with higher production values that aspire to do something greater. Eternal Legacy is Gameloft's answer to Final Fantasy, right down to a turn-based combat system, stereotypically "Japanese" characters, and a sprawling narrative that you'd expect from this type of game. Don't play too much, or you'll think you've just been transported back to the golden days of the PlayStation RPG.
3. Backstab
Henry Blake may not be as cool as Altair, Ezio, or Kedward, but he's still an interesting protagonist that you'll want to get to know during the course of Backstab, Gameloft's creation of the Assassin's Creed series. As an affordable alternative to the blockbuster stealth franchse, it demonstrates a much darker side to the world of revenge and redemption, as well as silky-smooth gameplay.
4. Shadow Guardian
Nathan Drake may be popular for his rugged good looks and movie-tier quality of his console adventures, but Gameloft was, impressively enough, able to match the quality and content of the Uncharted series with this multifaceted 3D adventure -- just don't expect the same caliber of star power for its voice acting and narrative.
5. N.O.V.A. 2
We'll probably never see a true Halo experience on a mobile platform, save for Halo: Spartan Assault, and that really doesn't count. N.O.V.A. 2 is a futuristic shooter with varied environments that channel the sci-fi aesthetic in a way that complements and pays homage to the Halo series. Not to mention the N.O.V.A. games are just well put-together games in general. If you've got a hankering for a shooter that's not a bunch of rust reds and browns, N.O.V.A. 2 is your best bet out of the Gameloft stable.
1. Gangstar: Miami Vindication
Gangstar itself is an homage to the Grand Theft Auto series, with Vindication mirroring that of the '80s-tinged Vice City. Wreak havoc upon Miami as you cruise around from running over civilians, gunning down your enemies, and humming your favorite new wave song since the game is devoid of the licensed tunes Rockstar worked (and paid) to acquire. It's still a multifaceted and enjoyable romp through the city, sandbox-style, and one of the best mobile alternatives to Grand Theft Auto that money can buy.
2. Eternal Legacy
While there's no dearth of role-playing games on the platform to speak of, there are those with higher production values that aspire to do something greater. Eternal Legacy is Gameloft's answer to Final Fantasy, right down to a turn-based combat system, stereotypically "Japanese" characters, and a sprawling narrative that you'd expect from this type of game. Don't play too much, or you'll think you've just been transported back to the golden days of the PlayStation RPG.
3. Backstab
Henry Blake may not be as cool as Altair, Ezio, or Kedward, but he's still an interesting protagonist that you'll want to get to know during the course of Backstab, Gameloft's creation of the Assassin's Creed series. As an affordable alternative to the blockbuster stealth franchse, it demonstrates a much darker side to the world of revenge and redemption, as well as silky-smooth gameplay.
4. Shadow Guardian
Nathan Drake may be popular for his rugged good looks and movie-tier quality of his console adventures, but Gameloft was, impressively enough, able to match the quality and content of the Uncharted series with this multifaceted 3D adventure -- just don't expect the same caliber of star power for its voice acting and narrative.
5. N.O.V.A. 2
We'll probably never see a true Halo experience on a mobile platform, save for Halo: Spartan Assault, and that really doesn't count. N.O.V.A. 2 is a futuristic shooter with varied environments that channel the sci-fi aesthetic in a way that complements and pays homage to the Halo series. Not to mention the N.O.V.A. games are just well put-together games in general. If you've got a hankering for a shooter that's not a bunch of rust reds and browns, N.O.V.A. 2 is your best bet out of the Gameloft stable.
