App Store ate my previous review attempt, so I’ll summarize:
The TL;DR is that this is more of an enjoyable social experiment you pay to participate in, than a game. Anthropologists and sociologists would have a field day studying it. 90% of the enjoyment I get out of it is interacting with my fellow Clan members.
Beyond that, F2P will hit a wall attempting to progress after a few days, and even modest spenders will progress very, very, very slowly.
On the plus side, “whales” spending stupid money will have zero impact on your experience. There’s no “griefing”, either at an individual or Clan level.
The basic game mechanics are solid, if simple, and progression is rare enough that you do get a sense of achievement when it happens. You’ll do a lot of “grinding” to get there, though, and this game demands at least a few minutes of attention several times a day, even as a paid player, to progress.
4 stars because a few bucks here and there when discount sales are on really is required, and because the PvP Arena has the most irritating mechanics ever. Ugh.