Does anyone else out there feel like the “Genius” recommendations in the App Store app are totally bogus? To be fair, my recommendations are probably a little skewed because I use my phone for testing apps and games that I’m reviewing. Some of those apps and game I get to pick myself, but many of them are assigned to me, and aren’t apps I’d normally check out.

As a result, my “Genius” recommendations are usually all total garbage that I have no interest in. Today was a rare exception. Based on my interest in Frotz (which I reviewed here), Genius recommended that I check out a game called Choice of Broadsides. It’s a totally cool game that I never would have found otherwise!

What is it and what does it do

Main Functionality

Choice of Broadsides is a choice-based text adventure game, similar to those old “Choose Your Own Adventure Books.” The developer, Choice of Games, describes Choice of Broadsides as a “swashbuckling naval adventure, in the spirit of C. S. Forester’s Hornblower or Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin books, with a dash of Jane Austen.”

Pros

• Easy to restart the game from the main menu
• Combines text adventure with RPG dynamics: your character has stats such as “tact,” “courage,” and “intelligence” that change as you make choices in the game
• A game that rewards careful reading and intelligence with success

Cons

• Few graphics, which is to be expected in a text-based game, but some users may wish for more visuals to complement the lush storytelling
• Costs $4.99 to remove ads
• Naval history is admittedly a field that not many people can get into (however, Choice of Games have similar titles with different settings that might appeal to you more)
• Not the best game if you’re looking for a casual timewaster

Discussion

Choice of Broadsides starts off in the middle of a battle, which is a great way to draw players in. Not long into the game, however, you’ll get a bit sidetracked as you fill out a questionnaire that will tailor your profile and attributes based on your responses. It’s a really clever way to establish the world of the story, and engage players.

Ladies (or parents with female children) will really appreciate the fact that you can play as a female character. In fact, if you choose to play as a female character, you play in an “alternate timeline” where women are the exclusive gender allowed to serve at sea, while men stay on shore and rear children. It’s rare to find a game that has such positive female role models.

The ads are really obnoxious in this game, and can sometimes take you a bit out of the world of the story. I’d gladly pay 99 cents to get rid of the ads, but $4.99 seems a bit steep compared to what other games are charging.

As expected in any text-based game, Choice of Broadsides really needs to be played by people who love reading, and who have the attention to catch small details in the story that they will be quizzed on later. If you have the focus, Choice of Broadsides is sure to be a richly rewarding text-based experience.

Conclusion and download link

Choice of Broadsides totally sucked me in from the word “go.” I’m so glad that Genius recommended this game to me, and I can’t wait to check out the other titles from the same company. If you loved “Choose Your Own Adventure” books growing up, have a soft spot for naval history, or just love a ripping good story, check out this free game ASAP.

Price: Free

Version reviewed: 1.1.4

Requires iPhone/iPad/iPod touch, iOS version 5.0 or later

Download size: 28.8 MB

Choice of Broadsides on Apple App Store