Eli Roth, director of such movies as Hostel and Cabin Fever, is well known for his use of visceral gore and violence. He has never shied away from the grotesque and morbid. Hence, why one of his newest films is no surprise. The Green Inferno is a homage to the cannibal exploitation films of the 1970s such as Cannibal Hollocoust, a film that when first released caused an uproar, and the director and crew were arrested because viewers believed the one-screen deaths were real.
Fans of Roth's style, and of exploitation films, have been eagerly awaiting the film's release. However, some financial issues with the distributor have pushed the film back into limbo, and the current release schedule is basically non-existent. This is a shame because the trailers for the film show such promise.
However, there is some good news. To wet your whistle for the film while you wait, Roth has released an app--"The Green Inferno: Survival"--for iPhone and android.
Fans of Roth's style, and of exploitation films, have been eagerly awaiting the film's release. However, some financial issues with the distributor have pushed the film back into limbo, and the current release schedule is basically non-existent. This is a shame because the trailers for the film show such promise.
However, there is some good news. To wet your whistle for the film while you wait, Roth has released an app--"The Green Inferno: Survival"--for iPhone and android.
"The Green Inferno: Survival" is a tower defense style game that pits you, a group of plane crash survivors, against a tribe of cannibals.
At the beginning of the game you have eight survivors who are stranded in a clearing in the middle of a rainforest. Paths lead out from the clearing from your group.
As the game starts you will see cannibals with red dyed skin heading towards you down various clearings. You must use your survivors to build traps and barricades to protect yourself from the cannibals. Mud pits slow the cannibals down, pits trap the cannibals, and wooden spear fences kill them off.
As with all games of this type each new level, and each new wave of cannibals, gets harder. New types of cannibals with different colored skin can do different things. Some can jump pits, others can resist fire. There are even boss style enemies who can break through your defenses.
On top of all that, the more people who get carried off by the cannibals, the harder it is to build your defenses at a fast pace. And even with the upgrades you get between levels it can be extremely difficult to survive.
At the beginning of the game you have eight survivors who are stranded in a clearing in the middle of a rainforest. Paths lead out from the clearing from your group.
As the game starts you will see cannibals with red dyed skin heading towards you down various clearings. You must use your survivors to build traps and barricades to protect yourself from the cannibals. Mud pits slow the cannibals down, pits trap the cannibals, and wooden spear fences kill them off.
As with all games of this type each new level, and each new wave of cannibals, gets harder. New types of cannibals with different colored skin can do different things. Some can jump pits, others can resist fire. There are even boss style enemies who can break through your defenses.
On top of all that, the more people who get carried off by the cannibals, the harder it is to build your defenses at a fast pace. And even with the upgrades you get between levels it can be extremely difficult to survive.
"The Green Inferno: Survival" is like most other games in the tower defense genre. It's simplistic, it's quick and easy to learn, and it is difficult to master. It doesn't do much to stand out from the crowd but that doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the game.
I really enjoy the dark horror theme the game has. Most mobile games are either goofy, or cartoony, or cheesy. This sheen over mobile games grows old quickly. "The Green Inferno: Survival" is a breath of fresh air in that respect. Despite its slightly cartoony look the game still has the dark aura.
Additionally, the game is easy to pull out and play on the go. Many mobile games suffer from long load times or lengthy chapter or levels. "The Green Inferno: Survival" loads very quickly and plays quickly too. So it is perfect to pull out while you are waiting for something, one the bus, in the doctor's office, etc.
Finally, the game has some fun elements. I like the idea that you lose people from your group and the game gets more difficult. I like the different methods of defense as well.
I really enjoy the dark horror theme the game has. Most mobile games are either goofy, or cartoony, or cheesy. This sheen over mobile games grows old quickly. "The Green Inferno: Survival" is a breath of fresh air in that respect. Despite its slightly cartoony look the game still has the dark aura.
Additionally, the game is easy to pull out and play on the go. Many mobile games suffer from long load times or lengthy chapter or levels. "The Green Inferno: Survival" loads very quickly and plays quickly too. So it is perfect to pull out while you are waiting for something, one the bus, in the doctor's office, etc.
Finally, the game has some fun elements. I like the idea that you lose people from your group and the game gets more difficult. I like the different methods of defense as well.
Summing it Up
"The Green Inferno: Survival" is just like most other tower defense games. But it is the dark theme and the stamp of Eli Roth that give it an edge. Trying to survive as a group of activists against a tribe of cannibals is simple, fun, and just challenging enough to make the game fun. The game can be downloaded for free for mobile devices. If it is meant as a simple promotional tool for the film, it does a fairly good job.