Easily Zenonia for iOS. How those games manage even half-decent reviews is a wonder to me. For supposedly being one of the best RPGs iOS has to offer, it sure is terrible in every conceivable way.
Good thing it was free, because if I'd spent 99¢ on it I would have wanted my money back. Seriously, IGN gave it a 9. A nine. In 2010 they ranked it 20th on their list of the 25 best iPhone games. I wouldn't give it a 4 by their own ratings guide. In fact, their description for a 1/10 sounds about on point: "The more you play it, the harder it gets to continue living." But it did have some potential, so I could be forgiving and give it about a 3.5.
An awful localization that does nothing to help the general bad writing and completely generic and predictable plot (isn't half the point of an RPG telling an engaging story?). Generic 20-bear-asses and kill-this-many-of-those sidequests. Too much grinding. Generic enemies (ripping slimes directly out of DQ to boot). Its equipment and weapon cusomization is decent, but poorly implemented in the later parts of the game (by the second-to-last dungeon, you're picking up random drops you won't be able to use for another 15+ levels, a height that's practically impossible and completely unnecessary to reach. Yes, every item you find in the last dungeon is completely useless). Menu navigation is a clunky nightmare, and somehow gets even worse in later games. There's no sense of balance to the magic abilities you can use.
The game did have a decent sense of humor about it, which was one of its only bright points. One quest has you killing polar bears to collect 10 coke bottles. Gave me a little chuckle when I realized what was happening. Then again, sometimes it tries too hard to be light-hearted, frequently breaking the fourth wall for no particular reason. It gets old after the first dozen times.
Playing Zenonia was just an all-around soul-crushing experience that has left me completely jaded toward iOS games.
