GameClub Brings Popular RPG 'Aralon: Sword and Shadow' Back to App Store With Remastered Graphics

[MacRumors]

Subscription-based iOS gaming service GameClub last week brought popular open world RPG Aralon: Sword and Shadow back to the App Store, with better than ever graphics.

For those unfamiliar with Aralon: Sword and Shadow, it was one of the most popular games in the early days of the App Store as it was the first major open world RPG that was made available on iOS.

GameClub's service is based on reviving classic games that are no longer in the App Store, providing new updates, graphical overhauls, and more. For Aralon: Sword and Shadow, there have been major changes.

When the game was first released, it used programmer art that was super basic. Later on, Crescent Moon, another developer, picked it up and did some graphics updates, and when GameClub took over, there was another major graphics update so it looks much better than it did in the early days. A before and after of the original art, updated art, and GameClub art can be seen below.

Aralon: Sword and Shadow's original graphics​

Aralon: Sword and Shadow after Crescent Moon update​

Aralon: Sword and Shadow after GameClub's revamp​

The original Aralon: Sword and Shadow game was designed to run on early iPhones like the iPhone 4 and the first iPad, but iPhone and iPad graphics have evolved significantly since then. With the graphics overhaul and the experience of playing a classic game on a device that's much, much faster, Aralon: Sword and Shadow is worth checking out for those who liked the first version back in the day.

GameClub is priced at $4.99 per month, and allows up to 12 family members to play with a single subscription. Those who are new to the service can get a 30-day free trial, which is great for people looking for something new to do while stuck inside.

There are now more than 100 titles on GameClub ranging from puzzles to strategy games to RPGs and action titles, all without ads or in-app purchases.

Article Link: GameClub Brings Popular RPG 'Aralon: Sword and Shadow' Back to App Store With Remastered Graphics

 

[Eorlas]

that's pretty impressive, i remember this game from back when.

i'm still fingers crossed that they rerelease Aurora Feint; that was probably one of the best top-down brick combine/smasher things. back from when they didnt put these ridiculous levels in that all the new ones have.

 

[4jasontv]

I might play this if it didn't cost $60 a year. I wouldn't pay that much for a PS4/XBoxOne game.

Preemptive Edit: things I don't want don't add value. I am already uninterested in spending any amount of money on a 10 year old game that should be entering public domain soon.

 

[BrokenDinosaur]

If you previously owned the game, you do not need to pay for the subscription.

 

[cosmichobo]

What a lovely paid advertisement..?

 

[Scottsoapbox]

I currently have both GameClub and Apple Arcade but play more games from GameClub. If you hate "free" to play in app purchases, it's worth checking out.

 

[tbobmccoy]

Does Aralon work on an Apple TV?

 

[FoxyKaye]

For anyone that remembers it, it would be really funny if they picked up and relaunched 'Tris. Just to see what would happen 😁

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

If you previously owned the game, you do not need to pay for the subscription.

How does that work? I owned it - I might be interested in downloading again...

Although really, this thing called the Switch exists... pretty completely killed my interest in gaming on the iPhone.

 

[BrokenDinosaur]

How does that work? I owned it - I might be interested in downloading again...

Although really, this thing called the Switch exists... pretty completely killed my interest in gaming on the iPhone.

I had to go through a bunch of prompts trying to get me to sign up, but after that, it said that since I already purchased the game, I could still play it without signing up.

 

[R3k]

Hmm, think I’ll stick with Destiny2 on PlayStation.

Isn't World of Warcraft also still available on the Mac platform?

 

[Archmage]

that's pretty impressive, i remember this game from back when.

i'm still fingers crossed that they rerelease Aurora Feint; that was probably one of the best top-down brick combine/smasher things. back from when they didnt put these ridiculous levels in that all the new ones have.

I remember both of these games fondly!
[automerge]1587425798[/automerge]

If you previously owned the game, you do not need to pay for the subscription.

I assume so since it's a new developer.

 

[ErikGrim]

Add the original Peggle / Nights to this and you have my money.

 

[Sodium Chloride]

the graphics still look pretty basic with low polygon counts. Pretty outdated for today standard. 10 to 20 years behind the best looking PC games. Why don‘t game developers utilize A12x chip to make it as good as Shadow of Tomb Raider for example?

 

[aleni]

Apple needs to come out with a switch like gamepad controller where we can dock the phone into the gamepad case so it can work like the switch. This will change everything in mobile gaming.

I know there are hundreds og 3rd party controllers where we can slide our phone into them, but all of them are low quality and suck.

 

[NightFox]

The overlay and interface graphics still look like they're out of the 1990s.

 

[psac]

What a lovely paid advertisement..?

I don't know if it is, but one of the main people behind Gameclub (Eli Hodapp - SP?) was the editor in chief of Touch Arcade, which is a sister site of this one. So it might not be a paid ad as much as doing a solid for an old buddy/colleague.

 

[spinedoc77]

Man we really need more games like this, I have very fond memories of this game when it came out. I'm not a big fan of the very simplistic, shallow games that seem to occupy the top spots.

 

[ErikGrim]

the graphics still look pretty basic with low polygon counts. Pretty outdated for today standard. 10 to 20 years behind the best looking PC games

Uh. Probably because it’s a 10 year old game with updated textures.

 

[star-affinity]

Hmm, think I’ll stick with Destiny2 on PlayStation.

Isn't World of Warcraft also still available on the Mac platform?

Destiny 2 is a nice game, but the lock to 30 frames per second on the consoles ruin it quite a bit, in my opinion.

World of Warcraft is still around on MacOS, yes.

 

[cosmichobo]

I don't know if it is, but one of the main people behind Gameclub (Eli Hodapp - SP?) was the editor in chief of Touch Arcade, which is a sister site of this one. So it might not be a paid ad as much as doing a solid for an old buddy/colleague.

Guess I should invest more in this community, and then I may know stuff like that. :}