It's you versus floor after floor of bad guys in Combo Crew, a deliciously satisfying swipe-based brawling game from The Game Bakers, creator of the SQUIDS series. Utilizing a string of timing-based fighting moves along with ample social features, the game brings a bit of old school punching and kicking to mobile devices. While these sorts of games usually require heavy duty arcade buttons to smash, with Combo Crew, you don't need no stinking buttons.
Combo Crew utilizes a very simple swiping mechanic to handle every bit of combat there is. Swipe anywhere on the screen to have your character attack. Swipe and hold to summon a charge attack, or swipe with two fingers to start a combo. When an enemy steps up with a flashing red exclamation mark over its head, tap the screen to queue up a counter attack. Unless you're in the middle of a long combo, your character will turn around and give 'em what for. You don't actually control which enemies you attack, which is a bit awkward at first. After a few minutes you'll begin to see the simple beauty offered by the no-brains swiping technique.
And now for the fun part: upgrades. Defeating enemies and completing missions earns you coins. Coins can buy perks, which are permanent stat and ability boosters, or items that bestow temporary bonuses. Either way, you're going to need some help if you want to escape this place alive. Combo Crew is dripping with satire, but you don't have to be a big time brawling game fan in order to appreciate what it has to offer. In fact, Combo Crew is a delight for even the most casual players. Just sit, swipe, swipe a lot more, and hope you survive!
NOTE: This game was played and reviewed on the iPad 3. Game was available in the North American market at the time of publication, but may not be available in other territories. Please see individual app market pages for purchasing info.
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