There’s no two ways about it; the Retina Display on the latest version of the iPad has created a mobile gaming platform that is, as yet, unparalleled. And plenty of games are looking to take advantage of the improved graphics capabilities (not to mention touch and gyro functionality) to engineer games that offer more than just a point-and-click experience for mobile users. Remember back in the day when you had to make do with the substandard graphics of the Gameboy? Okay, so it was pretty impressive for the time. And every new addition to the mobile gaming universe has improved upon the original, from the Nintendo DS to the PSP to cell phones and now tablets. But we’ve certainly come a long way from the 8-bit platform that first allowed us to take our games on the go. And offerings like Autumn Dynasty take full advantage of the advanced technology available today.

Can we just start by saying that this game is absolutely beautiful? The design aesthetic for this real-time strategy game was based on Chinese paintings, and in fact, you’ll get the chance to interact with the scroll-like maps by painting your battle plans directly onto them (i.e. directing your troops against the enemy). But there’s a lot more to this epic adventure fantasy than simply sending your forces towards the masked guerillas and their peasant paratroopers. Created from scratch specifically for the iPad, this game combines storytelling, strategy, and phenomenal visual concepts to create a world that is truly immersive. And although the price may seem high to some mobile gamers (it comes in at $6.99), there are a lot of features to recommend the download.

For starters, the story is pretty solid (not a high priority for many mobile games). You are a member of the Autumn Empire, a land that has long been protected from invaders by some awesome defenses (the firedust and the Thousand Sun Weapon). But like all great kingdoms, this one has started to wane, opening the door to civil war and a power play by hostile parties to gain the secrets that have long kept the empire’s adversaries at bay. You, of course, are tasked with commanding troops and making a stand to hold off the attacking forces and save the land. It’s legen – wait for it – dary.

But there’s a lot more to this game than a fantasy adventure. Anyone interested in RTS gameplay will find a lot to love here with tactical maneuvering that forces you to train your troops and use the terrain to your advantage to vanquish your foes. In addition there are multiple battle maps and varying levels of difficulty to keep players from novice level to expert engaged. And the Bluetooth connectivity and online features allow you to play with (and compete against) your friends.

If you’re looking for something simple that you can pick up and put down when you have a few minutes, you may want to opt for games like Angry Birds of the offerings at TomandJerryGames.co. But if you’d rather enjoy a game that fully utilizes the graphic capabilities of the iPad and immerses you in a world of complex tactical warfare, then Autumn Dynasty could be just the game you’ve been looking for.

Editor’s Note

Thanks to Evan Fischer for this guest post. He is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.

[appext 522003675]