EpiX - Epic Pixel Heroes Review

When reading the health and safety guidelines for games, there’s usually some kind of text about not playing for too long, for taking frequent breaks. No one has ever heeded these warnings ever. EpiX - Epic Pixel Heroes is a good reason to take them to heart for a very simple reason: this game is hell on wrists.

There’s a hero in the center of the map, and thousands upon thousands of orcs that are descending upon him. The goal? Frantically tap tap tap tap tap tap tippity tap in order to take them out because they must be defeated. Because orcs are bad. Thankfully, when things get a little too hairy – and they will, because orc hair is not a good thing – the player has four abilities that can be unleashed that recharge over time.

EpiX figures out one thing that it wants to do, and it does it well. It’s all about the tapping and orc smashing, and it gets extremely frantic as time goes on. When things seem bleak, a well-timed ability can be a lifesaver. The game is universal, and does work better on the iPad, but it’s perfectly playable no matter which device.

The game can be rather repetitive, and I suppose that’s the point: it is basically the same one gameplay mechanic done ad nauseam, but it can get rather tiring. I mean, physically. I’d say to only play one level at a time, because seriously – I felt like a case of sudden onset carpal tunnel syndrome was developing from all the rapid, frantic tapping after playing several levels in a row.

The game is free to download, with a “Pro” mode available as a $1.99 in-app purchase, which primarily unlocks new abilities. The default ones are very handy as it is, but some of the other ones, like Lightning Bolt, which creates a bigger tapping radius to help take out enemies.

The repetition will be a killer for some people, but there’s plenty of entertainment to be had here too. For fans of the art style or those that just want a frantic game, this is worth the download.