Iron Man 3: The Official Game is amobile phonevideo game developed and published byGameloft. The game was released on April 25, 2013, and is based on the filmIron Man 3. As of 2017 it is now discontinued and not supported by Gameloft.[1] The game is anendless runner, where the player attempts to dodge objects to score points and complete the level and defeat villains from theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The game received mixed reviews, with critics praising the core premise, but criticizing the game's excessivein-app purchases andfreemium-based time restrictions.
The game plays as anendless runner,[2] similar to the gameTemple Run.[3] The game is played both in3D space behind the character, and while flying, without platforming elements.[4]
The player controlsTony Stark in hisIron Man armor, maneuvering him through the game's variouslocations. Swiping thetouchscreen moves the character, while tapping on characters results in shooting projectiles at enemies.[4] For later devices with anorientation gyro, the game was updated to include gyro sensitivity features for moving Iron Man across the screen. This freed up player screen tapping to focus solely on offensive maneuvers. Levels arerandomly generated and play out infinitely, until the player suffers enough damage to KO the character.[5] Damage is suffered from flying human and droid enemies, from running into buildings and other obstacles, from crashing into jets, or from missile fire. A later space location added plasma missiles and asteroids to the list of obstacles to be avoided.
Missions, typically consisting of eliminating a certain number of enemies, or collecting a certain number of items, will reward the player with in-game currency to buy upgrades in weapons or armor.[4] Alternatively, the player may choose to use real money to makein-app purchases.[6] If armor incurs too much damage, the player must start over. There was originally a 30-secondreal time waiting period (longer for some more advanced armors) that would occur while Iron Man's "armor repaired itself".[7] This restriction was removed in later updates of the game.
The game initially offered 18 variations ofIron Man's armor to customize the player character,[8] with another two being added in an update.[9] Further updates added even more armors, with the armors divided into categories based on their special moves. SeveralIron Man villains appear in the game as well, particularlyCrimson Dynamo andM.O.D.O.K.[10]
Following the events ofIron Man 3,[4]Tony Stark discovers thatA.I.M. is still around and still causing trouble. He wonders who could be running them with Killian gone. He soon discovers that theCrimson Dynamo,Living Laser, andEzekiel Stane are controlling major operations within A.I.M. However, it proves to beM.O.D.O.K. that is the true mastermind behind A.I.M.'s latest attacks. After a few humiliating defeats, M.O.D.O.K. upgrades his body and makes copies of his consciousness to numerous networks, ensuring that he can always resurrect himself in a new body if ever destroyed in battle. Stane reveals his identity to Tony, and vows revenge for Tony's refusal to hand over Stark Industries willingly.
As time goes by, Tony rebuilds Rhodey'sWar Machine armors (including theIron Patriot) so that he may have some assistance in taking out A.I.M. The ploy proves useful, as Stane kidnaps Pepper and reveals A.I.M.'s plan to take overStark Industries' network. Tony succeeds in defeating Crimson Dynamo, Living Laser and Stane. Rhodey uses the diversion Tony provides by fighting Stane as an opportunity to rescue Pepper before she is electrocuted to death.
M.O.D.O.K., later attacks again, revealing himself to be Aldrich Killian's consciousness downloaded by A.I.M. and now obsessed with downloading his mind into newer bodies and networks. Tony defeats M.O.D.O.K., but he fails to stop him from downloading himself into the Stark Industries mainframe. Tony manages to physically destroy the Stark Industries network, trapping M.O.D.O.K. 3.0 in the old network and forcing M.O.D.O.K. and A.I.M. to destroyed. Fearing they will try again, Tony decides to declare the old Stark Industries network permanently defunct. He comes up with plans to develop a safer network that would prove a lot harder for A.I.M. to hack into, dubbing it "Stark Resilient".
The game has received a rating of 58/100 from aggregator websiteMetacritic, based on 18 reviews, indicating mixed reviews.[13]USA Today classified the game as "not bad -- but not excellent either", praising the core gameplay, but complaining that thein-app purchases were unfairly priced and burdened progression, and that characters did not accurately reflect their film counterparts.[4]Game Informer echoed these sentiments, stating that they "appreciate how the random levels make each play-through feel different, and Tony's banter... but I would have enjoyedIron Man 3 more if it didn't artificially limit my access to Iron Man's best gear in a cheap attempt to reach into my piggy bank. If you're a fan of endless runners and can put up with the game constantly asking you to post toFacebook or purchase more ISO-8, then you might find this a fun diversion while you wait in line to seeIron Man 3 in theaters."[3]
Gamezebo praised the graphics, calling it one of the "best-lookingiOS games to have come out in the past year", but criticized the original release's 30-second wait before starting a new game, calling it "a rather shadyfreemium gimmick".[14]Digital Spy referred to it as "decent enough", recommending it mostly forIron Man and comic book fans.[15]Slide to Play referred to the game as initially fun, but that as the game progressed, "...certain obstacles feel ridiculously difficult to dodge– almost as though the game is tired of you playing".[5]TouchArcade criticized the graphics, stating that, while nice, created inputlag, even without much action present on the screen, and that it doesn't feel as finished as otherGameloft games.[6]Technology Tell felt that the cost of the in-game purchases, and excessive wait time, would be a hurdle many would not be able to overlook.[7]
