Sparta is a game not unlike the iPhone hit “Zombieville USA.” It comes packed with original, fun graphics and intuitive game play, but it doesn’t come without its problems.

In Sparta, you are a warrior armed with a sword and shield as you attempt to defend your empire from waves of archers and swordsmen in various unique levels. You do this using five buttons. On the left side of the screen are left and right buttons for walking. On the right of the screen, there are two attack buttons: a temporarily paralyzing kick attack and a sword strike. There is also a button for your trusty shield to protect the Spartan warrior from health-damaging sword and arrow attacks. I found the controls to be occasionally unresponsive, making it difficult for a smooth gaming experience.

This game has its own original soundtrack that fits it beautifully. Your armed foes make a dying gasp as you kill them with one of three swords you can purchase and upgrade. The problem with the combat is that the game is devoid of health bars for the enemies or any sound that indicates whether your attack was successful or not. You have to wait to see if your enemy dies for assurance of your strike. This can be annoying, because the kills take a moment to register, making it difficult for you to decide whether to keep attacking them or move on to the next victim.

Instructions and a high score page are included in the main menu. These are both good-looking and easy to use. There is no pesky hour-long tutorial, just a picture explaining everything on-screen.

A recent update to the game includes a store that gives players the opportunity to upgrade their weapons and armor, and buy health with the gold they earn by defeating enemies.

The developer has announced an update with several much needed features, such as the ability to buy a whopping nine new weapons, including throwing spears and bows and arrows. Version 1.5 will also enable players to fight in a campaign mode and to battle bosses.

At this point in its development, the game is more of a frustration than a pleasurable gaming experience. However, it might be worth buying given its small price tag and that an update is in the works. Still, I strongly recommend trying the free version beforehand.