As popular as gaming is on the iPhone, many of the system's games are severely lacking in quality, and can best be described as "Really great...for the iPhone." That changes with the sword-fighting game Infinity Blade, as Chair Entertainment and Epic Games have created an iPhone gaming experience that can stand up to that of any console.

While many games in theApp Store coast by on indie or D.I.Y. charm, Infinity Blade arrives with insanely high production values. It is the first iPhone game to run on the Unreal Engine 3, the same one used in console hits like Gears of War, Mass Effect and Batman: Arkham Asylum. The Unreal Engine 3 brings beautiful graphics and impeccable physics to most games that utilize it, and Infinity Blade is no exception.

Aside from the game's beautiful aesthetics, what really makes Infinity Blade stand out are its controls. There's been a steep learning curve as developers figure out the best way to transition from making games for consoles with upwards of 12 buttons and two analog sticks, to the touch screen and accelerometer of the iPhone. Too often, their solution is to approximate older control schemes with on-screen joysticks and buttons, but the makers of Infinity Blade have taken a smarter and better approach.

Playing through Infinity Blade there's no question that it is designed for the iPhone's unique control system. Attacks are controlled by simply swiping your finger across the screen, which does an impressive job of recognizing the direction of your swing. Chain a few swings together and you can even pull off a powered-up attack. If your opponent is winding up for a swing, you have a few distinct options, including dodging, blocking, or parrying. Each defense move has its own distinct advantages, and is controlled by tapping or swiping the screen, with no awkward button layouts.

While the controls are impressive, they aren't completely perfect. The areas players touch to dodge are too tiny, which makes it far too easy to accidentally attack. Additionally, the parry mechanic is particularly difficult to time correctly. But both of these are small complaints, as most every action is handled extremely elegantly, such as the different symbols players draw to cast various spells in the heat of battle.

In addition to sensitive, intuitive controls, another rarity in iPhone gaming is a compelling story. No one will mistake the tale told by Infinity Blade for the next installment of BioShock or Metal Gear Solid, but it does offer up an intriguing premise in which it's easy to get lost. Players control a brave knight questing to destroy the God King. To get to the evil ruler, you must make it through his castle, fighting increasingly powerful guards until you face the God King himself. That's where things begin to get interesting.

Don't expect to defeat the God King the first time you face him - that way lies only disappointment. After you receive a sound thrashing, and watch one of the game's well-constructed cut scenes, the story cuts to about twenty years later, when the previous knight's son is getting ready to storm the God King's castle.

Luckily, Infinity Blade utilizes role-playing game elements, allowing you to level up your knight, find and buy new equipment, and even learn new spells. Since all of the father's equipment and experience pass down to his son, your character becomes increasingly powerful as you play through multiple bloodlines. You should expect to play through at least three or four times before you finally defeat the God King.

At first, this can be a frustrating set-up, as it's easy to look at Infinity Blade as a $5.99 iPhone game that expects you to play the same short story over and over again. In a way, that's a fair assessment - Infinity Blade is extremely repetitive. Even the enemy warriors you face only come in three types: Big guy, little guy and big robot guy. However, Infinity Blade's combat and leveling system, combined with your enemies' increasing strength, ensures that there is more than enough to keep you coming back.

Weapons to buy, armor to equip, dodging and blocking techniques to perfect, and magic to use at the opportune time - Infinity Blade becomes an increasingly deep fighter as you play along. It even has multiple endings - a feature usually reserved for sprawling console releases. Some gamers might be disappointed with the lack of control, as you are unable to move your knight off of a few select paths, but what would you rather be doing, exploring empty hallways, or having another sword-fight?

Infinity Blade is the best iPhone game I have ever played. It's extraordinarily well made, with an engrossing premise that works with what can be somewhat repetitive gameplay. While $5.99 is a hefty price for offerings in the AppStore, Infinity Blade is worth every penny, especially with two major updates scheduled before the end of January 2011. For people ready to see what the iPhone is really capable of, Infinity Blade could not be more highly recommended.

Final Score: A