Rapid Review: iSlash - Fast Like Ninja
iSlash ($0.99) by Duello Games uses the slashing mechanic of Fruit Ninja, but combines it with a game mechanic similar to JezzBall. You're given various 2D wooden shapes, and you have to slash them down to a small size of a given percentage left. To make things tougher there are ninja stars bouncing around inside the objects, and you can only cut the wood if there are no ninja stars in the part you're cutting off.
You have to be quick with your swiping as the ninja stars bounce around quickly, and there is a lot of wood to shave off to cut these objects down to size. There are 70 levels of wood slashing, and later on there is metal on the outside of objects that you can't cut through. Luckily new bonuses are introduced as well that you can earn when you cut off big slices, and they allow you to destroy one ninja star or slow down time.
The levels are extremely challenging, but the game keeps you coming back to try to beat that challenge. Making it through all the levels is a huge accomplishment, and there are online high scores and achievements via OpenFeint and Game Center to show of your accomplishment. Each level offers a unique challenge with constantly different shapes, and new types of ninja stars to deal with including bombs and ghosts.
iSlash is so well polished with retina quality graphics with such ornate backgrounds, and wood cutting animations. The included soundtrack has some ninja elements, but also fits the soothing zen puzzle feel. Occasionally when slicing the game picks up your finger swipe a little off set so you run into metal or are too far into the wood, and a ninja star hits you.
For only $0.99 iSlash is a steal and should buy that offers an outstanding gameplay experience in a beautiful package. It requires great timing and quickness with a ton of challenge so you need to be fast like a ninja.
