| FreeJack releases Japan map Posted: 03 Jun 2011 02:29 PM PDT FreeJack players can enjoy a new free map, starting today, called “Go! Sakurunner!!”. The map takes place in a Japanese city, and features billboards, cherry blossoms, temples, and a modern monorail all mixed together. Also announced today by FreeJack’s publisher, GamerKraft, is the delay of the official release of the game – being pushed from June until later this fall. The delay is in place to help the developers improve the game’s quality and development.  FreeJack Gameplay Screenshot
Source: PARKOUR RACER, FREEJACK, GETS NEW JAPAN MAP Delays Full Release into Fall 2011 Toronto, CANADA—June 03, 2011— Game Bridger Entertainment, a global publisher of interactive online entertainment media and the proprietor of the GamerKraft global free-to-play gaming portal, announced today that it will delay the full release of its parkour racing game, FreeJack, into Fall 2011. It's not all bad news for FreeJack fans though, as the firm also released today a new map for the game. The new Japan-themed track, titled "Go! Sakurunner!!", is available now via a free patch update. To learn more about FreeJack, visit: http://freejack.gamerkraft.com. FreeJack's full release, originally slated for June 2011, will be delayed into the fall. Game Bridger Entertainment expressed a high quality standard and a need for more development time as the main reasons behind the delay. "FreeJack's full release will represent a major step for the FreeJack brand and will introduce many new features to the game. In order to deliver a full version worthy of the dedicated FreeJack playerbase, Game Bridger Entertainment has decided to delay its release into fall 2011," stated Eric Wei, CEO of Game Bridger Entertainment. Despite the delay, FreeJack introduced an all-new Japan themed map today, called "Go! Sakurunner!!". The track unfolds through a colorful Japanese city center. Flashy billboards, cherry blossom trees, a monorail, and ancient Japanese temples are just some of the sights and sounds players can expect to encounter on their run through the map. "Go Sakurunner!!" is available now as a free patch update. Download and play FreeJack for free from: http://freejack.gamerkraft.com. FreeJack is a free-to-play parkour racing game for Windows PCs. Players race head-to-head across the urban metropolis of New Jack City in high-octane foot races, chaining together stylish flips and tricks into combos to increase their speed and cross the finish line first! Players can personalize their character with fresh outfits and running gear and even customize their own unique in-game living space with cool furniture and accessories to show off to friends! FreeJack also supports online leaderboards, a club/clan system, in-game friends lists, and more! FreeJack was voted by players the Best New Game of 2010 in the MMOsite's Annual Reader's Choice Awards. FreeJack is part of the GamerKraft free games portal. GamerKraft. Play Free. FreeJack is free to download and play. Visit the official FreeJack homepage at: http://freejack.gamerkraft.com. For more information about the GamerKraft free-to-play games platform please visit: www.gamerkraft.com.
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| Spiral Knights Posted: 22 Jan 2010 08:19 PM PST Spiral Knights is a 3D Action MMO with bright animated graphics. Play cooperatively and clear dozens of stages, each with various monster and puzzles to solve. The look and feel of Spiral Knights is reminiscent of dungeon crawlers, particular games like Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure.  Publisher: Sega
Playerbase: Medium
Graphics: Medium Quality
Type: MMO
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: N/A
Filesize: 300 MB Pros: +Cooperative gameplay. +Fast paced, action oriented. +Varied game modes, environments, and monsters. Cons: . -Dated graphic effects. -Repetitive gameplay. -Somewhat dependent on cash shop for steady progression.   
OverviewSpiral Knights OverviewSpiral Knights is an MMO that looks very interesting. As a co-op dungeon crawler, Spiral Knights offers fast paced gameplay through carried environments. The game will be stage based and players will be able to chose from various character types, customizing them as they go along. Not much is known about the game and the official site only offers some flavor text about the story. The teaser video released shows exciting gamepay and a graphic style that resembles the cartoony Zelda games popular on the Nintendo DS and GameCube, particularly the Zelda Four Swords series. Spiral Knights ScreenshotsSpiral Knights Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewSpiral Knights ReviewBy, Jaime Skelton Spiral Knights Review Many games start with you crash landing on an unfamiliar planet, needing the help of new friends to
survive. The struggle to exist in an unfamiliar land is a common trope in video games. Spiral Knights,
developed by Three Rings (makers of Puzzle Pirates) and published by Sega, manages to pull it off
with cute wit and style. Graphically similar to games such as Zodiac Online and Fairyland Online,
Spiral Knights brings forth some interesting, unique game-play mechanics. These features set Spiral
Knights above and beyond similar top-down MMORPGs. Keep It Simple; Jump Right In! Character creation may make the game seem fairly limited. There are only three helmet, three
armor and five color schemes to choose from. There is no gender selection – one helmet does make
you "female" by adding pigtail looking tufts. Outside of choosing a personal color and your name,
that’s all you’re given. There are neither classes nor races to choose from in Spiral Knights. In fact,
your character is defined solely by the equipment you use. Once you’ve created a character, you’ll find yourself near a crashed escape pod. The first few areas
of the game teach you how to move, attack, change weapons, pick up objects, and how to handle
certain enemy types. The controls are very simple to learn and understand. The game can be played
with the mouse alone, as movement and combat are controlled with the left and right mouse buttons
respectively, in the direction the cursor faces. Into the Mist The user interface itself is clean and out of the way. The upper left contains various game menus,
including the main menu, the social menu and the uplink menu (the game’s mail system). The top right
hosts your mini-map, and also includes your character information, equipment arsenal, and crowns, the
in-game currency. The bottom left houses the chat pane. At the bottom right of the screen, your energy is shown. There are two types of energy in Spiral
Knights: Mist and Crystal energy. Mist energy is the standard energy bar, while Crystal energy is
additional energy purchased through the cash shop. You start with a maximum of 100 Mist energy.
Adventuring in the Clockworks uses Mist energy to go down floors, use gates, activate friendly
NPCs, and more. Once at zero energy, you’ll be unable to advance, and must wait for your energy to
replenish. It takes about 15 minutes to recharge one unit of energy, so expect to wait around 24 hours
for energy to fully recharge. Going Spelunking After the tutorial quests that deliver you to Haven, the game’s hub, Spiral Knights becomes open-
ended. This can be a jarring experience. Your gameplay goal is to reach the core of the planet by
getting to the deepest level (called stratum). Going deeper into the dungeon involves activating gates,
which is done using minerals found while exploring, plus a small crown cost to access later strata. The
minerals you use along with the time of day determines the stratum’s theme, or the types of monsters
you’ll find. This system ensures gameplay varies from day to day. Spiral Knights does require some social interaction. By default, entering the Clockworks will partner
you with up to three other players. There are options for solo play, however, there are several advantages to traveling with other Knights. Minerals, Heat and crowns are all equally shared, not divided, across the party. There is also strategic value to multiple players in combat. Experience – How It Work? Spiral Knights does not feature a traditional character progression system. Characters do not level
up; instead, a character’s equipment gains experience, called Heat. Each piece of equipment can gain
up to ten levels through gathering Heat. The game includes swords, guns, bombs, armor, helmets,
and shields. Some pieces of equipment can be upgraded to the next tier once they are level ten, using
crafting components found in the dungeons. There are also trinkets to equip, with various stats and
abilities, though these do not grow in level. Leveling is on a curve; early levels are easier to gain,
while later levels require higher amounts of Heat. However, it’s never terribly daunting to get a piece
of equipment to level ten, and unlike other MMOs, there is no risk of your equipment breaking through
upgrades. As you explore, you’ll find crafting materials in addition to minerals. These materials can be used to
create new equipment or upgrade existing pieces. Vendors sell random recipes throughout the day,
and it can sometimes be difficult to obtain the recipe you need. The interface is fairly straightforward
and intuitive, making it easy to make what you need and move on. It’s made easier due to Alchemy
Machines being found almost everywhere. Friends and (future) Foes Players can join guilds, which are a great way to gather groups for various adventures. In addition to
their own special chat channel, guilds have the benefit of a guild hall, where guild members can craft
and socialize. It takes 500 energy and 1000 crowns to start a guild, so some purchase of Crystal energy
will be required. PvP is currently disabled; however, there are plans to reintroduce it in the future – there is no known
ETA when this will be. Battles will be four person free-for-all arenas with four tiers of combat. Each
tier places various restrictions on equipment, except the top tier where anything goes. Each tier also
will have progressively higher crowns cost to participate. Final Verdict: Great Spiral Knights is a whimsical, fun adventure into the unknown depths of a planet. The simple combat
system, coupled with a vast array of equipment, is engaging enough to bring players back. The major
downside of the game is the lack of in-game information, although the publisher maintains a wikia
page. With the unique way dungeons are created with random elements ensures no two adventures are
quite the same. With a positive grouping experience and friendly atmosphere, Spiral Knights offers a
casual, drama-free gaming experience. Even hardcore gamers will find plenty of things they can do. ScreenshotsSpiral Knights Screenshots VideosSpiral Knights VideosSpiral Knights Gameplay Video
Click here to view the embedded video. System RequirementsSpiral Knights System RequirementsWindows & Linux- Windows XP, Vista or 7
- Java 1.5
- Display 1024×600
- 1.3 GHz processor
- Graphics: 64mb Video Memory. GeForce 5 series, ATI Radeon 8500. Latest video driver.
- Memory: 512mb for Windows XP or 1gb for Windows Vista/7
- 300MB Hard drive space
Mac- OSX 10.4
- Java 1.5
- Display 1024×600
- 1.3 GHz processor
- Graphics: 64MB Video Memory. GeForce 5 series, ATI 8500. Latest video driver.
- 1GB memory (1000MB)
- 300MB hard drive space
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| The Lord of the Rings Online Posted: 07 May 2009 11:36 PM PDT The Lord of the Rings Online is a 3D, fantasy MMORPG based on the now legendary LotR franchise. With characters from the movies and books, LotRO is sure to entice fans, but there’s plenty here for those unfamiliar with the story. A massive game world, an interesting PvP mode that allows gamers to play as monsters, and player housing are just some of the features this game has to offer.  Publisher: Turbine
Playerbase: High
Graphics: High Quality
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: Duels / Battlegrounds
Filesize: 6.6 GB / 9.5 GB (high rez) Pros: +Well established backstory/lore. +Story-driven gameplay. +Player housing. +Rewarding quests. +Titles to earn and Hobbies to learn. Cons: -Huge download and slow install. -Feels like a single player game at times. -PvE offers no challenge during early levels.
OverviewThe Lord of the Rings Online OverviewLord of the Rings Online is a formerly pay-to-play MMORPG that is now free-to-play! The game places a heavy emphasis on story and lore. Right from the start, players are thrown into the thick of things with interactive quests. Players are only given the option of choosing between the ‘good’ or ‘free’ races which include Humans (referred to simply as ‘Man’), Dwarves, Elves, and Hobbits but can play as monsters in special PvP battles starting at level 10. There are a total of nine classes available, though not all are available to all races. PvP in LotRO is a bit different than most MMORPGs; players fight in large battles either as special level 50 monsters or as their normal characters. The 9 Classes Are: Burgler - The rogue-like class of LotRO. Buglers fight with daggers and excel at debuffing and crowd control. They can deal heavy DPS as well but have now defense and health. Races: Man, Hobbit. Captain - A class unique to the race of Man. Captains can use a large variety of armors and weapons. They control pets, have buffing abilities and are capable of tanking. Races: Man. Champion - A melee DPS class that has several area of effect (AoE) moves. Champions can dual-wield and tank when they need to but are mainly concerned with dishing out damage. Races: Man, Elf, Dwarf. Guardian - The main tanking class of Lord of the Rings Online. Guardians can use most weapon types and all armor types. They can deal moderate damage, but are most useful in absorbing damage for their allies. Races: Man, Elf, Dwarf, Hobbit. Hunter - The classic archer archetype. Hunters deal heavy damage from a distance using bows, but have lower defense and health than the melee-oriented classes. All races can play as hunters. Lore-Master - A multi-purpose spell casting class. Lore-Masters hurl spells from a safe distance, summon pets, and are capable of crowd control (CC.) Races: Man, Elf. Minstrel - Minstrels sooth their allies wounds with enchanting songs and boost their fighting potential with powerful chants. Since they are the main supportive class in he game, the Minstrel class is available to all classes. Rune-Keeper - The main offensive spell casters. They hurl powerful spells at their targets but are also capable of healing their allies. With low defense and health, they must be defended by their allies. Races: Elf, Dwarf. Warden - A jack-of-all-trades melee class that uses medium armor and several weapon types, including throwing javelins. Wardens are mainly concerned with dealing damage, but can serve as off-tanks. Races: Man, Elf, Hobbit. The Lord of the Rings Online ScreenshotsThe Lord of the Rings Online Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewThe Lord of the Rings Online ReviewBy Erhan Altay The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy brought J.R.R Tolkien's classic, high-fantasy franchise back into the mainstream. Following the release of each movie, new editions of the books and licensed video game tie-ins quickly hit the shelves. Most of these games were short-lived and mediocre at best, but one lives on and continues to prosper. The Lord of the Rings Online was officially released in 2007 by Turbine, the same company behind the early MMORPG hit Asheron's Call and the now free-to-play Dungeons and Dragons Online. The game enjoyed modest success as a subscription-based game, but after Turbine's success with the free-to -play relaunch of DDO, it was announced that The Lord of the Rings Online would be converted to a free-to-play MMORPG.  A Game of Epic Proportions
LotrO is still a relatively new game, but it has already gone through several patch cycles and had two expansion packs released. Astonishingly, the client download is at least 6.6 GB. I say at least because a high res client is also available at over 9.5 GB. Even after the download, players have to go through a long installation and patching process so be sure to start it overnight. After getting all that settled and launching the game, players are welcomed by a fancy cinematic that outlines the game's lore. The Lord of the Rings Online takes place as the Fellowship are on their way to Mt. Doom. The Free People of Middle Earth are at war with the forces of Angmar, which is lead by the head of the Nazguls, the Witch King. Each of the four races (Men, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits) have a short intro video that players can watch during character creation. Each account has two free character slots though more can purchased via the cash shop. The game deviates from the movie/lore slightly by allowing caster classes (true magic users seem to be a rare and dying breed in the LotR canon) and making Hobbits powerful enough to compete with the other classes in combat. Players cannot chose 'evil' races, but can play as monsters in special PvP modes which we'll discuss later. 
The Free People Appearance customization is robust. Each race has several variants; players can be a dwarf from the Misty Mountains or from the White Mounts. A human character can hail from the realms of Rohan, Gondor, or other famous locales. Members of the same race from different locations have different hair and eye color options, which gives the game extra depth. Besides the regional features, there are the standard compliment of hair, face, lip, and eye style customization. The total number of races is rather limited (four) but the nine available classes should make up for it. Not all races can play as all classes, so refer to the overview section for additional information. The Warden and Rune Keeper classes are not available to free players and must be unlocked through the premium shop. After character creation, each race starts in a unique area where they are given the option of running a tutorial instance. I'd suggest accepting this tutorial only because it has story elements that help 'immerse' players in the game world. LotRO puts great emphasis on story-driven progression, as there are many 'drama events' where players watch as special events occur. Even the quest and NPC dialogue is well written, especially compared to most other free-to-play MMORPGs. 
Questing All the Way The first generation of MMORPGs had quests as optional side activities with only a few being required. Since the release and popularity of World of Warcraft, almost all games have adopted the quest-centric method. LotRO is no different, as players have a quest log which can hold up to forty quests; almost every NPC in town is likely to have an errand for you to run. Grinding is completely discouraged, as killing mobs yields little experience. It is by completing quests and handing them in that players have any chance of leveling. Questing is further encouraged by the 'deed' and 'title' features. By completing all available quests, players accomplish deeds, which grant special trait bonuses and titles. Some deeds are simple to complete while others take many hours to earn. The emphasis on quests and story mean you'll never be left wondering what to do next, but the trade off is that the game often feels like a single player venture.
Training and Progression Each level, players can train new skills (active or passive) at their class specific trainers located throughout Middle Earth. There are six stats in LotRO, but they increase on their own without player input. Besides skills and stats, each player has certain traits. There are several types of traits: racial, class, virtue, and legendary. These are obtained in a variety of methods, by completing deeds, reaching certain levels, or participating in PvP. The trait system helps differentiate members of the same class and ensures that no two characters are identical. The experience rate is generally fast-paced; it took me around forty-five minutes to hit level 6 on my first character while goofing off. Originally, the max level was 50, but with the most recent expansions, it has been raised to 65. Starting at level 10, players can create a monster character that begins at the max level and fights against regular characters of level 40 or higher. This Monsters vs Free People PvP mode is one of LotRO's more interesting and unique gameplay features.  Tech Specs The Lord of the Rings Online is a very flexible game. As mentioned earlier, there are two available clients (standard and high resolution) as well as a multitude of graphic options to chose from. This means the game works on a wide range of machines and can look quite ugly or beautiful depending on the available computing power. If your machine can handle it, I highly recommend getting the high res client, as it really is a whole different experience. The game's soundtrack has also been hailed as a masterpiece. It received so much attention that Turbine has released a sixty-one track OST as a free download on their site. Fans can listen to all the tracks on RPGMusic.org  You Shall Not Pay! Overall, LotRO is what you would expect from the granddaddy of all fantasy franchises. It's more story-driven than most MMORPGs, but still encourages grouping with dozens of high level instances. Groups are called 'fellowships', while guilds are referred to as 'kinships', which adds some unique flavor to the experience. Players can perform special moves while in groups, but it isn't enough to entice early level group activity. You'll likely play on your own until the very high levels. Players don't have to know anything about Lord of the Rings to enjoy the game; it might even help to not be familiar with the franchise since that will prevent you from comparing your mental image of Middle Earth with the one presented in the game. Lord of the Rings Online went free -to-play in September 2010, but still supports an optional subscription. Players are also free to purchase premium features piece meal. Permanent stat bonuses, additional inventory slots, and other goods are all available in the cash shop. The game can be enjoyed without dropping a dime, but some premium items do give players large advantages. This isn't much of concern in LotRO since it is mainly a cooperative, PvE experience. PvP plays a much smaller role than in most MMORPGs. Final Verdict: Great The Lord of the Rings Online holds true to the franchise and offers a very linear, story-driven experience. There are always plenty of quests to do, new areas to explore, and deeds to accomplish. The inability to play as the 'evil' races is somewhat made up for with the ability to play as monsters in special PvP zones. LOTRO is a full-feature MMORPG with high production value. Now that it's free-to-play, everyone should check it out. ScreenshotsThe Lord of the Rings Online Screenshots VideosThe Lord of the Rings Online VideosThe Lord of the Rings Online Free to Play Commercial Click here to view the embedded video. The Lord of the Rings Online Free to Play Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. The Lord of the Rings Online Gameplay – First Look
Click here to view the embedded video. System RequirementsThe Lord of the Rings Online RequirementsMinimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP
CPU: Pentium 4 1.8 GHz or AMD Equivalent
RAM: 512 MB Free
HDD: 7.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: 64 MB GeForce 3 or ATI Radeon 8500 Recommended Specifications:
OS: Windows XP / Vista
CPU: Pentium 4 2.8 Ghz / AMD Equivalent
RAM: 1024 MB or more
HDD: 10.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: 128MB Geforce 6800 / ATI Radeon X850 or better |
| Fiesta Online Posted: 03 Mar 2009 04:42 PM PST Fiesta Online (or just Fiesta for short) is a 3D fantasy MMORPG. The game has cute, cell-shaded, anime inspired graphics and lively music. The game’s entire world is vibrant and has an upbeat atmosphere.  Publisher: Outspark
Playerbase: High
Graphics: Medium Quality
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: Low
PvP: PvP Zones
Filesize: ~1120 MB Pros: +Beautiful cel-shaded graphics. +Great interface. +Good skill progression system. +Solid Item crafting / resource gathering systems. +Easy to learn. Cons: -Only one stat point per level. -Repetitive combat. -Five starting classes.
OverviewFiesta Online OverviewFiesta Online is another interesting MMORPG published by Outspark. The game has three starting classes, each one of which has two job advancements; one at level 20 and the other at level 60. The game’s most notable aspects are its attractive cel-shaded graphics and its solid item crafting system. The game isn’t nearly as in-depth as some of the newer free MMORPGs, but Fiesta is still an all-around fun game well worth checking out. The game’s four playable classes are: Fighter- Fighters are the generic ‘warrior’ archetype in Fiesta. They are extremely capable in melee combat and have the most hit points and armor in the game. They are proficient with both one-handed and two-handed weapons. Mage – Mages are the traditional offensive spell casting class in Fiesta. They can do a great deal of damage from a distance with their magic, but are extremely vulnerable in melee range. They have low hit points and minimal defensive capabilities. Cleric - Clerics are experts at supporting party members in combat. They have a variety of healing and buff skills which make them incredibly valuable to a party. They are the weakest class in the game but when they with a group they’re extremely useful. Archer – Archers are deadly with the bow. They are fast and agile which allows them to deal damage rather quickly from a distance, but are vulnerable in melee combat. Trickster – A dual-wielding class that is capable of dealing large amounts of damage in short bursts. They are melee oriented and have decent HP. Fiesta Online ScreenshotsFiesta Online Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewFiesta Online ReviewBy Jaime Skelton Launched in 2007 in the United States by Outspark, Fiesta is a classic and well-known free-to-play anime-style MMORPG. Similar in ways to Fly For Fun, Asda Story, Dream of Mirror Online, and Mabinogi, Fiesta’s cel-shaded graphics and simple gameplay introduced many players to free-to-play MMOs. After a few years in the MMO market, Fiesta Online is still going strong, and there’s a few good reasons why.  Choosing your Path Like any game, getting started in Fiesta Online requires going through character creation process. At the start of the game, you may choose only one of four classic classes – fighter, cleric, mage, or archer – and your gender. Character customization is extremely limited, offering only the chance to change your face, hair style, and hair color, each with only about three options each. For those concerned about the lack of classes, be reassured – each class becomes stronger with advanced classes at level 20, 60, and 100, the last of which offers a choice between two final specializations. Customization also comes in the ability to choose what extra stats are assigned each level in the "free stat" system. A Helping Bird Fiesta’s tutorial system is very limited and hands-on. For new players, a helpful NPC will offer a simple tip on picking up the first quests before sending them on their way. Tutorial tips come along instead with a bird-head alert in the upper right of the screen, offering explanations of each crucial game element, from combat and leveling to upgrading items and the mentor system. The alert also serves a dual purpose to let you know when new quests are available, and from whom. While the bird serves as a helper for those new to MMORPGs, many experienced players may find it aggravating, especially as it appears for each new character.  The Classic Grind … Like many MMORPGs, Fiesta features a quest system to help players level as well as earn useful rewards. However, leveling takes the style of older MMOs, in which grinding is more crucial to gaining experience than questing. In fact, new players will discover this element before level 5; quests are given at a level before they can be reasonably completed by a new player with no assistance. For this reason, many players choose to grind out their early levels and skip quests entirely, as early level rewards are purchasable from vendors. … and the Value of Friendship The other option in starting off to the right foot, of course, is to have the help of friends, or at least, the kindness of passing strangers. A mentor-apprentice system exists for high level players to help out lowbies with bonuses for both, which can be one of the most efficient ways for a low level player to earn their experience. High level players may also choose to pass through and offer buffs or free potions and buff scrolls to low level players. Either of these ways can offer a powerful boost to players to make them strong enough to handle higher level mobs without being weak and risking death, or long rests after each enemy’s death. The final point to be made of this is that Fiesta is a game geared primarily for group efforts; solo players will struggle often without outside help or long grinds.  Battling for Glory & Profit Like many classic MMOs, Fiesta utilizes a skill-on-use system, in which players may both auto-attack enemies and input skills used on an action bar, as they choose and are available. Special HP and SP stones are available to use to restore health and spell points, respectively. In between fights, players can also use "Home" to rest in their mini-house (a mushroom on default), and regenerate their stats. To earn money – used for buying gear and other useful items – players must sell what they find on the enemies they kill. While some "junk" is dropped, most of the items found are useful for the game’s crafting system, called Alchemy. Players can learn professions in this system as soon as they are created, and may choose two total professions from five – allowing them to produce enhancement stones, potions, scrolls, or change items into a higher or lower quality.  Kingdom Quests & PvP There’s more to do than grind, quest, and craft in Fiesta, of course. For players who prefer PvE, Kingdom Quests become available every two hours. Designed for players anywhere from level 5 up and separated into level spans, they can be joined individually or with a party. Each quest has its own victory conditions that can be achieved by the players inside within a set time limit. Each player inside will earn a present box if they are successful, and may earn anything from materials, scrolls, and potions to enhanced and rare equipment. For PvP fans, once reaching level 20, several different zones become available for player versus player battling. Each city has its own battle zone, and several battlefields also become available. Guild wars are also available for those who are socially inclined to join a guild and participate in group PvP. The player versus player experience is only designed for showing off skill, and sometimes earning items and other perks like titles; experience is not rewarded.  Final Verdict: Good Fiesta is easy to get into, with plenty for players to do in both PvE and PvP. It makes a particularly good introduction to free-to-play MMORPGs, with an active and helpful player base and plenty of regular maintenance from its publisher. What holds Fiesta back mostly is its grinding nature: any player who hates grinding is going to find Fiesta boring or frustrating. If you don’t mind a balance between grinding and quests, and enjoy a game that rewards cooperative gameplay, Fiesta has a lot to offer. ScreenshotsFiesta Online Screenshots System RequirementsFiesta Online System RequirementsMinimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / 2000
CPU: 1.6 GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent AMD processor
RAM: 512MB Free
HDD: 3.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce MX or equivalent Recommended Specifications:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / 2000
CPU: 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent AMD processor
RAM: 1GB Free
HDD: 3.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce TI or Radeon 9200 |
| Runes of Magic Posted: 10 Jan 2009 09:36 AM PST Drawing much of its inspiration from the mammoth MMORPG World of Warcraft, Runes of Magic brings to life the fantasy world of Taborea with beautiful 3D graphics, and with over 600 quests to complete offers players much in the way of content and features. With fully-realized dungeon encounters, unmatched character customization, a unique multi-class system, in-game player housing, and a growing community of over 2,000,000 – Runes of Magic guarantees something for everyone.  Publisher: Frogster Interactive
Playerbase: High
Graphics: High Quality
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: Open / Duels
Filesize: 6.7 GB Pros: +Fantastic character customization. +Unique multi-class system. +Player housing. +Heaps of different PvP options. +Huge game world. +Fun end-game raiding. Cons: -Cash shop can imbalance the game. -Sensitive language filter. -Similarities to WoW may deter some players.
OverviewRunes of Magic OverviewRunes of magic is a feature rich MMORPG that uses a graphic style very similar to WoW’s. The familiar interface and animations help new players and MMO veterans adjust to the world of Taborea. The game supports both individual player housing and guild controlled castles located in separate instances. But what really sets Runes of Magic apart is the dual-classing system whereby characters can pick a second class at level 10. With a total of eight classes and two races (Human, Elf) to chose from, players can create truly unique characters. Classes: Warrior – Masters of armed combat. Warriors can use any close combat weapon and any type of armor besides plate. They deliver special strikes and blows which have various effects on their targets. Scout - Adapt at long-ranged combat, Scouts use their bows or crossbows to deal heavy damage. They are vulnerable at close range and rely on a series of evasive and delaying skills to keep enemies from closing in. Rogue - Specialized at inflicting deadly blows at a fast rate, rogues use daggers which can cause heavy bleeding or be coated in poison. They are very capable at doding blows, but their speed comes at the expense of armor and health. Rogues can also lay traps, scout, and increase a group’s income generation. Mage - Commanding the elements of fire and lightning, Mages deal heavy damage from afar. They possess direct damage, and area of effect spells. Mages can also cast barrier spells and strength buffs, adding to their utility. Priest (Human Only) - While priests can cast water based spells to deal damage, they primarily play a supportive role. Priests can cast healing spells, boost their allies stats, and even bring fallen comrades back from the dead. They can equip shields which aid their defense, but are still frail. Knight (Human Only) - Heavily armored fighters, Knights are the only class that can wear plate armor. Knights go into battle head-first equipped with shields and light-based attacks. They are the tanks of RoM and have the ability to draw their foes attacks towards themselves. Druid (Elf Only) - Attuned to nature, Druids are a versatile class capable of healing allies, casting damage over time spells, and even mind controlling opponents. Druids possess a special ability that allows them to gather Nature’s Power and unleash it at anytime to cast powerful spells. Warden (Elf Only) - Close combat specialists. Wardens can use a diverse set of weapons and can wear chain armor. Wardens can summon powerful pets to fight alongside them, and have access to magical spells which strengthen themselves and weaken their opponents. Runes of Magic ScreenshotsRunes of Magic Feature VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewRunes of Magic ReviewBy Cody 'Neramaar' Hargreaves To get it out of the way nice and early, and to give those that disagree with me a chance to respond without having to read the entire review, Runes of Magic is a WoW Clone. There, I said it. Have at me with your silver tongues and sharpened wits, exact your revenge upon my flesh, for I have gone where many have before, and branded a game a clone of World of Warcraft. The thing is, and this is where I might lose you, so pay close attention – I think that it's a good thing.  I KNEW THIS LOOKED FAMILIAR…
You see, throughout these past short years, years that have been particularly kind to the MMO industry, games have been cloning one another on an almost daily basis. Hell, if you wanna get real technical – any game portraying an open 3D world with a third-person perspective is a clone of the original Everquest – and although I can't think of it off the top of my head – Everquest is probably a clone of another, albeit less popular, MMO game. Cloning is simply part of the industry, and as much as I don't particularly like the idea – it's here to stay, and it's something we have to get used to. With Runes of Magic (henceforth referred to as RoM), it's different. They haven't simply cloned the gameplay style, or the character textures – they've pretty much cloned the entire damn game, right down the names of a large portion of the skills and spells. The biggest key difference between the two of them lies solely in the fact the RoM is free to play, and WoW is not. There is however a great many additions that have been added to the WoW formula in RoM, and therein lies salvation.  FILLING IN THE BLANKS
For the three of you reading this that have absolutely no idea what the WoW formula is, or any other standard MMORPG formula for that matter, it is simply the standard way that MMORPG games are played. You create a character, and spend a large quantity of your life making that character great, through killing monsters and gaining experience and equipment, thereby making your character stronger. Thanks to the countless content updates and additions to these games, this cycle is damn near never ending – and is the main contributor to the new 'MMO Addiction' craze that's taking the world by storm. This is the process that almost every MMORPG game takes – and is the same process that was perfected by Blizzard with WoW – hence the 11.5 Million active players. The reason I have never labeled any other game a WoW clone is because cloning this simple process of playing isn't really cloning WoW. Cloning the skills, environments, quests, and a plethora of other features however, is. There – only took me five paragraphs to explain why RoM is a WoW Clone, now on to why this is such a good thing.  GO ON, FLAUNT IT
The key here, and the thing that gives RoM so much of its undeniable charm, is in the improvements and additions that have been made to the formula – many of which are incredible additions that truly make the game. One such addition, also the one that I like the most, is in the character creation whereby players are able to choose the size of each of their individual body parts – giving each player their own individual look and style. Add to this over 30 different face and hair options, and you have a recipe for total character customization – a simple, yet highly appreciated addition to the game. 
MY HOME IS MY CASTLE
Not enough customization you say? Then take a look at RoM's unique multi-class system that allows players to combine their main class (out of a possible Warrior, Knight, Rogue, Priest, Mage or Scout) with a second class – adopting all of their secondary skills and abilities. This allows for over 30 different class combinations in total and should be more than enough to help you stand out from the crowd. Hell – if you're really keen on appealing to your personal preferences, RoM even includes your very own house that you can use to store your loot and goodies, and decorate to your liking with furniture purchased through the in-game shop. Of course, to use the in-game shop, you'll need to get your credit card handy, and fork over some dough for a few diamonds. 
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
Diamonds are the in-game currency used in RoM, and can only be obtained by spending real hard-earned dollars – well – future real hard-earned dollars, as you'll need to use a credit card to make a purchase. Diamonds can be used to purchase a number of different things in RoM, from furniture for your house or upgrades for your weapons, to additional bag space and mounts to travel faster across the world, and although you don't need to purchase diamonds – you'll definitely want to, as they make the playing experience a lot more fun when you do. One downside to the game’s cash shop is that the most powerful enchantment items are only available through the cash shop.
CAUSE AND EFFECT
Also thrown into the mix in RoM is an older style PvP system in which you have full access to attack any player you choose provided that you are both above level 15. Of course, doing so will net you some negative karma – causing you to turn red and drop your equipment if you're killed. I've been a massive fan of this style of PvP back since the days when Lineage 2 was a top game, because you really have to think about who you kill as the repercussions can be deadly. There's nothing more fun then losing your cool with a party member, ganking them out of pure frustration, then running for your life from a horde of greedy gamers drooling over the weapons they might get if they can kill you.
Of course, for every good part of a game, there is surely a bad part to follow, and at present, RoM could still use a lot of work. There's nothing especially game breaking to mention, just a few little kinks that need ironing out here and there. Things like bad translations, and in some areas, no translation at all. Missing sounds, such as the hooves of your horse as it gallops across the countryside, or the always expected 'chink' your mining pick should make as it hit's the rock – missing sounds like this really draw from the immersion, and show a severe lack of polish. Runes of Magic is the gold standard of the free-to-play MMO experience. Since its release back in early 2009, Runes of Magic has enjoyed numerous major content updates, called “chapters”, which added enormous amounts of new content to the game. As is, Runes of Magic is one of the most content rich free to play MMORPGs out there.  Final Verdict: Excellent
Runes of Magic didn’t just raise the bar, it continues to push it higher. It is a stalwart example of the glorious free-to-play gaming era that we have only recently begun to experience, and although it currently still has a number of flaws, it's already one hell of a gaming experience, and a must play for any MMO gamer. Since the game’s original release back in 2009, the game has enjoyed numerous major expansions called “Chapters” which introduced a lot of new content to the game. Frogster has done and continues to do a stellar job with Runes of Magic – making it one of the best free to play MMORPGs ever. ScreenshotsRunes of Magic Screenshots System RequirementsRunes of Magic System RequirementsMinimum Requirements:
Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz or equivalent
RAM: 512MB or more
HDD: 7 GB
DirectX 9.0c compatible with 128MB RAM Video Card
Recommended Specification:
Intel Pentium 4 Core Duo 2.0 GHz or equivalent
RAM: 1GB or more
HDD: 7GB or more
DirectX 9.0c compatible with 256MB RAM Video Card
|
| Golfstar Posted: 03 Oct 2010 01:01 AM PDT Golfstar is a 3D golfing MMO. Create a custom avatar using a variety of clothing and accessories and play a few holes alone or with up to 30 other players. Golftstar has anime inspired character designs and allows simultaneous play, making multiplayer games much faster paced.  Publisher: Gamigo
Playerbase: Medium
Graphics: Medium Quality
Type: MMO
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: N/A
Filesize: 975 MB Pros: +All players can play simultaneously in multiplayer. +Variety of clothes and accessories available. +Up to 30 players per match. +Great interface Cons: -Very Similar to other Golfing games. -Few playable characters. -Limited golf-course variety.
  
OverviewGolfstar OverviewGolfstar is a Korean developed golfing MMO being published in North America and Europe by Gamigo. The game was developed by Com2uS and has anime styled characters. The golf courses and surrounding environments are well rendered. Golfstar supports multiplayer matches of up to 30 players, and allows them to all play at once. This speeds up gameplay tremendously and is an improvement over several older golfing games. Like other golfing MMOs, players can customize their avatars and explore persistent shopping areas. As players progress, they’ll be able to learn passive skills that improve their stamina and strength. Golfstar competes with games like Pangya, Shot Online, and Tiger Woods Online. Graphically speaking, Golfstar looks fantastic and is well worth checking out for those interesting in golfing games. Golfstar ScreenshotsGolfstar Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewGolfstar ReviewGolfstar Review There are few sports that have as much international appeal as golf: the polite atmosphere, the calculated shots, and the athleticism required have inspired even video game players. In recent years, golf games have made their way into the online arena, hoping to capitalize on the multiplayer aspect of online gaming. One of these games, Golfstar, is published by gamigo. While similar to Shot Online, as well as other golf games like Pangya and Tiger Woods Online, Golfstar still has plenty to offer the online golf fanatic.  Take Your Pick Golfstar’s character creation is very limited: there are two male and two female stock characters, complete with a name, age, and biography, to choose from. These characters can be customized a little: each has two hair styles and a few hair colors, plus two faces, to choose from. Still, you’ll have the look of looking like one out of every four players, with the only distinguishing feature being the clothing you equip in-game. Fashion items also offer bonuses, however, so you still may end up looking pretty similar to the player you’re putting against.  Teeing Off While Golfstar aims for fair realism, the controls during play are relatively simple. Swings take place in two phases; the first has you hold down the space bar to fill your power meter and letting go when the power is to your liking, while the second phase has you tap the space bar within a small aiming reticule on the ball itself (the closer to the center of the ball, the better the shot). This mechanic works the same for both regular shots and putts, with putts showing their power meter on the green itself instead of as a swing bar. There are a few additional controls as well. Using the mouse will let you aim left or right. Camera controls are also managed by the mouse, and three views, allowing you to focus on either the hole, the projected landing area, or the golfer, can be switched between with the keyboard. Golfers can also learn skills, which can be added to an action bar and used with standard 1-0 hotkeys for easy access. While these controls are easy to master for a beginner, the mouse controls are on a reverse axis, which may slip up a player from time to time.  How’s the Weather? While the graphics and controls of Golfstar are softly realistic, the challenges facing golfers on the holes are not. Like Shot Online, Golfstar impressively takes into consideration all the factors affecting a golf game, from wind and slope, to weather and humidity. Every condition you come across on the course can and will affect your shot, making it important to take a full scan of your situation on each shot – an impressive feat sometimes, as each shot is limited by a time of 30 to 90 seconds.  Get a Grip Golfstar is not just a free-for-all golf game; equipment and player statistics play a major part. The game features a full set of fashion items for players to equip (purchased with both the game’s in-game currency and in the cash shop), many of which affect a player’s stats. Clubs are also a major necessity in game, as are various items that can help improve a player’s accuracy, power, stamina, or control. As you play on courses, you gain experience and money. Experience will help you gain levels, which in turn grants you a few points that you can allocate between the four stats mentioned above. This is where players can really customize their experience, putting points in the stats that they are weakest at, as well as those they feel will give them an edge on the courses. Players also get to learn skills, special abilities that can be activated while on the course to help give their shots an edge.  Get on the Course Already There are only four courses available in Golfstar right now, and they all look generally similar to each other with the exception of White Cliff, which offers some beach-like obstacles and background noise. Thankfully, there are several game modes to make things more interesting. These modes are stroke (a standard golf match with the lowest score winning), match (head-to-head per hole, with one or two people per team), skins (where players bet per hole to win in-game currency), and both competition and team competition, which can feature up to 30 players golfing at the same time. Not only does Golfstar allow a large number of players on the course at once, it also makes sure that golf play goes quickly by making all players play simultaneously. While this does give a little illusion that you’re playing alone, it also significantly speeds up the golf game – a usual problem for most golf MMOs. The game also supports guilds, and hosts a regular guild day every Friday in which guilds get boosted experience and rewards as they play on the greens. Final Verdict: Good Golfstar is one of the better golf games available online; it’s realistic, it’s fast, and it supports its community through in-game lobbies and guilds, helping make it feel like a little less of a lobby and more like a golfing community. However, the game also has a very limited amount of content, and follows the same style of equipment rules that many FPS games do – permanent equipment is almost nowhere to be found (even your starter set has a thirty day limit.) While you can earn money in game to pay for clubs, you’ll have to keep a close eye on your inventory to make sure you don’t go broke and lose out on valuable stats. If you’re looking for a more realistic golf game, this might be your best bet – just watch your pocketbook. ScreenshotsGolfstar Screenshots VideosGolfstar VideosGolfstar Gameplay Teaser Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. System RequirementsGolfstar RequirementsMinimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 2000
CPU: 1.0 GhZ Pentium 3 or Equivalent AMD processor
RAM: 512 MB Memory
HDD: 3 GB Free
Graphics Card: GeForce 5200 / Radeon 9200 or better Recommended Specifications:
OS: Windows Vista / 7 / XP / 2000
CPU: 2 GHz Pentium 4 processor
RAM: 1 GB Memory
HDD: 5 GB Free
Graphics Card: GeForce 6600/ Radeon 9600 |
| Faxion Online Posted: 18 Sep 2010 07:28 PM PDT Faxion Online is a 3D fantasy MMORPG with combat driven gameplay and a heavy emphasis on PvP. Fight on the side of Heaven or Hell in the epic struggle between Good and Evil. Faxion Online has multiple methods of progression and promises to reward player skill rather than grinding.  Publisher: UTV True Games
Playerbase: Low
Graphics: Medium Quality
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: Battlegrounds / Duels
Filesize: 1.4 GB Pros: +Competitive PvP system. +Fight for control of territory. +Action oriented gameplay. +Multi-classing. +Unique environments. Cons: -Combat feels a bit slow paced.
OverviewFaxion Online OverviewFaxion Online pits the armies of Heaven and Hell against each other for control over Limbo, the territory that exists between them. Players will be able to join the side of Good or Evil in the struggle for control over various regions, each named after one of the seven deadly sins. Faxion Online promises action driven combat, and a heavy emphasis on PvP. The production team includes people who worked on Ultima Online and Shadowbane so expectations are high. Faxion is being developed as a full feature MMORPG, so expect ample PvE content, an expansive backstory and lore, and a wide range of environments to explore and monsters to slay. The game hopes to use a novel progression system which moves away from the typical grind based ‘stand and fight’ model. Offline advancement and multi-classing will help ensure the most skilled player comes out ahead, not the one that put in the most time. Faxion Online ScreenshotsFaxion Online Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewFaxion Online ReviewComing soon… ScreenshotsFaxion Online ScreenshotsComing soon… VideosFaxion Online VideosFaxion Online Official Teaser Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. System RequirementsFaxion Online RequirementsMinimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.0 Ghz
RAM: 2 GB
HDD: ~2.5 GB Free
Graphics Card: GeForce 6600 (512 MB) Recommended Specifications:
OS: Windows Vista / 7
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz or better
RAM: 3 GB
HDD: ~2.5 GB Free
Graphics Card: GeForce 7900 or better (1 GB) |
| Iris Online Posted: 17 Aug 2010 11:21 PM PDT Iris Online is 3D fantasy MMORPG with a gypsy theme. Players can chose between three races and can explore the anime-inspired world of Arcana. Experience a unique environment centered on 22 tarot cards, including The Fool, The Chariot, and Wheel of Fortune.  Publisher: gPotato
Playerbase: Medium
Graphics: High Quality
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: Duels / Colosseum Matches
Filesize: ~ 2400 mb Pros: +3 playable races, 6 starting classes. +Unique tarot card feature. +Transform into monsters using cards. +Themed instanced dungeons. Cons: -Limited inventory space. -Familiar gameplay and character progression. -Visual style may not appeal to some players.
OverviewIris Online OverviewIris Online is a free-to-play MMORPZG developed by Eyasoft, the same studio behind Luna Online. Like Luna, Iris boasts a cute, anime-inspired visual style. But don’t let the graphics fool you, Iris Online is a full-feature MMORPG with a unique gypsy theme. Tarot cards effect much of the world, including the twenty-two instanced dungeons, each of which have a different theme based off one of the cards. Players can collect monster cards off almost any enemy in the game and use them to transform into those monsters. PvP battle zones pit up to fifteen players near the same level against each other. Players progress by gaining experience and skill points. The game has a variety of races and classes to choose from. Human - Easily adaptable race that possess great strength and excels at technology. Fighter - Fighters rely on brute strength and large weapons to deal heavy damage at melee range. Mage - Arcane spellcasters who fight from a distance. They can buff allies, but are fragile in combat. Hybrid - Half-human, half-animal. Hybrids have high strength and stamina, though their knowledge of magic is limited. Warrior - Equipped with heavy armor, warriors are always at the forefront of battle where they can defend their allies. Rogue - Shrewd combatants that rely on speed and cunning. Rogues exploit vulnerabilities in their opponents. Elf - Elves are the oldest race in Arcana. They have unmatched knowledge and an affinity for nature Ranger - Trackers and outdoorsmen. Rangers are masters of stealthy movement and the gun. They can also use daggers. Shaman - Masters of fire, air, earth, and water magic. Shamans can summon elementals to aid them. Iris Online ScreenshotsIris Online Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewIris Online ReviewBy Erhan Altay Most anime-themed fantasy MMORPGs tend to be very similar, but once in a while a game like Iris Online comes along and adds a new twist to the genre. Iris Online is developed by the Korean studio Eyasoft and published in North America on Gala-Net's gPotato portal. Eyasoft is behind a number of anime styled games including Luna Online and the recent Legend of Edda, but Iris Online is different from those titles. It has a 'Gypsy' theme, which means the world is filled with tarot cards, carnivals, and circus themed areas and instances. Behind the brightly colored visual style is an in-depth MMORPG with varied races, classes, PvP options, and other features.  Races of Arcana Iris Online entered beta testing in the middle of October in 2010, and with a 2.4 gb client size, its a fairly large game. Each account has five character slots per server, which is almost enough to cover the six starting classes. There are three playable races to chose from: Human, Hybrid, and Elf. Each of these has two distinct classes available, for a grand total of six. There are a few face, hair, and hair color options, but appearance customization is very limited overall. The character models themselves look great. After character creation, the game prompts players with an option to take part in the tutorial. It's short, and explains some of the original features found later in the game. There's also a reward for completing it, so new players should run through it at least once.  Sign Up for the Circus The tutorial in Iris Online takes place in a circus-themed zone where players are introduced to a new aspect of gameplay in each room. The game supports both keyboard (W,A,S,D) and point-and-click controls which will please many gamers. Better still, the keyboard controls actually feel fluid. This is one of the few Asian developed free-to-play MMORPGs where I felt more comfortable using W,A,S,D over the mouse. Players can even jump by hitting the space bar, but this propels them far into the air and is rarely practical. After learning to move, the next quest explains a bit about the game's lore. Most gamers will skip past this, but just remember that the world is called Arcana, and the races had to work together to defeat some evil force long ago. Next, players can choose between three cat mounts. Mounts come in all shapes and sizes in Iris Online including giant cats, crabs, and so on. Newbies won't be able to keep their tutorial mount, it only serves to show them how to use one. The interface in Iris Online is simple, the map is opened by hitting 'M', the quest log opens with the 'L' key, and inventory with the 'I' key. The only major complaints with the interface are the limited inventory space of twenty-five slots that new players start with, and the inability to view maps beside the one a character is currently in.  Fortune Telling One major feature that distinguishes Iris Online from other free-to-play games is its Gypsy theme. Tarots cards, which are still used by fortune tellers today, have perhaps the most well known aspect of Gypsy culture. These cards, and especially the twenty-two major ones, play an important role in Iris Online. Each of the original twenty-two instanced dungeons in the game are based off one of the twenty-two major Tarot cards. Veteran gamers may have come across these cards before in other games like the Persona or Ultima series. They include cards like 'The Fool', 'Judgment', and 'The Emperor.' The order that a person draws these cards is supposed to reveal something about their fortune, but in Iris they play a role in weapon customization, crafting, and monster summoning. The tutorial explains most of these features, but its important to note that besides the twenty-two major tarot cards, there are fifty-six minor ones. On top of that, nearly every monster in the game (including raid bosses) have a chance of dropping cards. The cards monsters drop come in two forms: one type can be attached to equipment Ragnarok Online style, while the other kind is used to temporarily transform into the particular monster that dropped it. Each monster has a unique set of skills, and buffs. Cards are also used in crafting and can be combined with other items to create completely new items.  Character Growth Progression in Iris Online is fairly linear. Players gain experience by hunting and completing quests, but they also gain SXP (skill experience) independently of their base experience. When the SXP bar fills, players are rewarded with a skill point which can be distributed among the multple skill trees each class has. Each starting class has access to two or more weapon/spell types, and each is represented by its own skill tree. Rogues, for example, can use rifles or dual daggers. Shamans can specialize in divine or offensive magic. Fighters can specialize in two-handed swords, dual swords, or sword & shield skills. All classes have a passive skill tree which contains permanent boosts to health, damage output, or particular stats. It is possible to spread skill points across multiple specializations, but this is not recommended. Players can a free skill reset at level 30, when they can make their first job change, but must use a cash shop item if they mess up before or after that time. Base experience is a lot simpler. Players don't receive stat points as they level, they increase automatically and can be raised further with magic equipment and buffs. Besides skills, there is one extra layer of customization in the form of an elemental 'Force.' There are four forces to chose from: Helen (fire), Nero (water), Annes (wind), Dera (ground.) Why does Nero represent water? I'm not quite sure, but there are several translation quirks throughout the game and this may just be one of them.  Point A to Point B Gameplay in Iris Online is heavily quest-based, and players are usually lead from one zone to the next in a linear path. New players start in the town of Terminus, which is in perpetual night and progress to hunting grounds that are at different times of the day. The assortment of quests should be familiar to MMORPG fans; kill quests, item gathering quests, and talk to NPC X quests. To auto-move to a location, players must bring up the map and click on a certain area. There's no quest objective to quest objective auto-navigation, which is actually a good thing since too much automation can make a game boring. Combat relies on actively using a variety of skills, as they usually have cool downs of a few seconds. Luckily, every class is equipped with an assortment of skills and mana regeneration is pretty high. Interestingly, spells and skills cost a percent of total mana, not just a set amount. This makes the MP recovery rate a very important stat for every class. The constant use of skills keeps combat exciting, and monsters in Iris Online start aggroing at an early level, which makes things more challenging. Early quests reward players with dozens of HP/MP potions, but these will run out eventually. There's no death penalty until level 10, and players are free to spawn right where they died. After level 10, death carries a small exp penalty, and resurrecting where you fell causes a debuff for several minutes.  Carnival Games Iris Online has many small features that help round it out as a full-feature MMORPG. These include an auction house, the ability to open personal shop stalls, and a title system. Titles are earned in a variety of ways, the most common being consuming tokens dropped by monsters. Titles effect the stats of a character when equipped, and can have both positive and negative effects. A title geared towards casters may increase magic damage and intelligence, but may decrease strength. Iris Online also has several PvP modes on top of the standard duel. Every so often, players are prompted on whether they want to participate in a capture the flag or team deathmatch event. If enough players within a certain level range agree, everyone who chose to participate is teleported to an instanced Colosseum field where two sides (each with up to eighteen players) duke it out. The game keeps track of PvP stats, including total kills, deaths, and also rewards points towards the player's currently chosen 'Force.' Besides large-scale PvP events, players can also group up to clear instanced dungeons scattered across the world.  You've Come a Long Way The visuals in Iris Online are very reminiscent of earlier anime-styled games, particularly Fiesta Online, Seal Online, and perhaps a bit of Rose Online thrown in. Being a newer game, it’s not much of a surprise that the graphics in Iris are better than those previous games. It’s a high quality title, and a slightly more mature alternative to Eyasoft's more chibi-oriented titles. Final Verdict: Great Iris Online may feel familiar at first glance, but it has a lot of depth and a unique theme. With three races and a large assortment of classes, Iris Online offers varied gameplay options but with a simple to understand progression system. Instanced dungeons, instanced PvP battlegrounds, and the multi-purpose card system all add up to make Iris Online a top-notch MMORPG. It doesn't breakthe mold enough to earn the top score, but it’s still a game well worth checking out. ScreenshotsIris Online Screenshots VideosIris Online VideosIris Online Cinematic Trailer
Click here to view the embedded video. Iris Online Gameplay Trailer
Click here to view the embedded video. Iris Online Gameplay – First Look Click here to view the embedded video. System RequirementsIris Online RequirementsMinimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / Windows 7
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.0 Ghz
RAM: 1 GB
HDD: 3 GB Free
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon 9500 / nVidia 5200 (128mb memory) Recommended Specification:
OS: Windows Vista / 7
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3.0 Ghz or better
RAM: 2 GB or more
HDD: 4 GB Free
Graphics Card: Geforce 6600 GT / 256 mb video memory or better |
| Champions Online Posted: 23 May 2010 08:58 PM PDT Champions Online is a 3D, superhero-themed MMORPG. Create a unique hero using the game’s amazing character creation system and play through the game’s well-crafted story arcs. Champions Online boasts a powerful graphics engine that makes use of cel-shading and other interesting features to present a unique visual style.  Publisher: Cryptic Studios
Playerbase: High
Graphics: High Quality
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: Strong scenarios / PvP regions
Filesize: 2500 MB Pros: +In-depth character creation. +Unique colorful artstyle. +Fast-paced, action-oriented gameplay. +Tons of variety between characters. Cons: -Odd use of instancing & save points. -Balance issues. -Few missions to complete, lots of grind.
OverviewChampions Online OverviewChampions Online is a 3D superhero themed fantasy MMORPG set in Millennium City. The game used to be pay to play with a free trial, but officially went fully free to play with a cash shop and subscriber option on January 25, 2011. For gamers with a love for deep character customization and fast, smooth gameplay, the Champions Online is definitely a solid choice. There are no classes in Champions Online; players are free to choose any power from any powerset to realize whatever vision they have in mind for their characters. These powers are organized into theme frameworks, which are listed below: Might: Your standard super-strength powerset. For characters looking to imitate the biggest and the burliest heavy hitters, though your character need not appear large! Munitions: A framework containing just about every conventional firearm imaginable, from rocket launchers, to gatling guns, to shotguns, to grenades, and to a number of very cool looking "gun kata" style dual pistol attacks. Martial Arts: Choose from unarmed, claws, single blade, or dual blade within the martial arts frameworks, each with unique advantages. Sorcery: From black magic to white magic, from primal sorcery to arcane sorcery, this set contains a great deal of unique attacks and area-centric buffs. Plus, the arcane bolts just look cool! Supernatural: Whether you choose to be a chain-swinging demon with toxic breath, or a creepy creature with supernatural, shredding claws, this set is a grab-bag for every imaginable kind of weirdness. Telepathy: Powerful crowd-control, the best heals in the game, and arguably the best AoE attack in the game. Telepathy has a number of solid powers to choose from! Telekinesis: A thematic favorite, TK is a set for people who want to have psychic blades, a la Psylocke from X-men, or even a Protoss zealot from Starcraft. Some of the best melee damage in the game is in these powers! Gadgeteering: Orbital cannons, laser guns, robot minions, photon mines, shrink rays, resurrection serums… gauntlet chainsaws? Yep. It’s all here. Power Armor: You are Iron Man. Just don’t name yourself that. Make a suit of awesome powered armor and go nuts. Or make a lizard person that shoots missles out of their chest for some reason. The choice is yours! Archery: A number of surprisingly high-tech looking bow attacks, from arrows with explosives tied to them, to arrows that explode in a pretty sphere of energy. All archery attacks can be used and charged while moving! Energy Projection: From flinging flames, to ice bolts, to lightining bolts, or force bolts. It’s all in these four powersets. Set stuff on fire, encase enemies in icy prisons, place forcefields on your allies, or just annihilate whole armies with columns of electricity. Darkness: Summon clouds of fear, attack enemies with blasts of pure shadow, lick at your foes with dark tendrils, drain life, and create nether voids. This set pretty much speaks for itself. Celestial: The consummate "healer" set, many of the attacks in Celestial are pretty balls and beams of light, which can either damage enemies or heal friends. Champions Online ScreenshotsChampions Online Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewChampions Online ReviewBy B. Olivia In October of 2009, Cryptic studios (known for being responsible for the creation of the City of Heroes/Villains franchise, also known as CoX) released a game highly anticipated among fans of CoX: Champions Online. Champions is known for a number of unique features, including an open power system, dazzling graphical capability, and arguably the best character creator of any current MMORPG. For anyone who loves tweaking builds, creating themed characters, and designing avatars to be whatever character is lurking around in your brain just waiting to be expressed, Champions is a ticket to genuine entertainment. Champions Online was originally released as a pay to play MMORPG with a free trial, but a new free-to-play option has been added on January 25th, 2011.  Tailor-Made The first thing anyone will notice about ChO is the character creator. It’s the first thing you’re prompted to do, after selecting your two initial powers and starting stats. People new to super hero MMORPGs (of which there are only really three) will probably be completely overwhelmed by the character creator in Champions. There is nothing I can really say to someone to prepare them for this, except that just like playing the game itself, getting good at making characters in ChO takes practice. Like Perfect World, which also has an incredible character creation system, there are hundreds and hundreds of parts for every imaginable aspect of your character, from choosing eye types, sizes and gradients, to arm accessories, thigh accessories, leg types, tails, ears, nose or noseless, alien or demonic, it goes on and on and on! If you can imagine it, you can make it in this character creator. My main character is a tall, willowy techno-paladin from the future! She’s so awesome. Half the fun of a game like Champions Online is being able to create a character you love and then being able to play as that character. Of course, you can’t be complete without the proper powers…  Pick a Power! Any Power! (for money) Paying players (those who subscribe monthly to become “Gold members”) have complete control over how their character progresses. In Champions Online, you can pick any power in the game for your character. The various powers are organized into frameworks (telepathy, unarmed martial arts, supernatural claws, etc.), which are then organized by tiers (you can access the various power tiers depending on your level and the number of powers in a single framework already selected), but it’s important to note that after a certain level (level 26) you are free to choose any power in the game, from any framework, regardless of tier. Do you want a martial artist dark sorcerer with a laser sword and a gun that turns people into teddy bears? Okay! Do you want a werewolf that attacks with claws and carries a gatling gun? Why not! It’s this open system, combined with the character creator, that has drawn so many people to Champions Online. When the game was pay to play with a trial, users could only play through the game’s tutorial and had a level cap of 15. Now that the game is free to play users can fully explore the game and build their superhero the way they want to. One of the game’s biggest strengths is its character growth system.  Supreme Stats! Archetypes! On top of this, as if your customization wasn’t enough already, players choose two "superstats", or characteristic focuses. At level 6 and level 13, you will be asked to choose a stat to focus on from the following list: strength, constitution, intelligence, recovery, dexterity, endurance, ego, and presence. Each stat offers unique secondary benefits, such as intelligence offering a power discount and cooldown reduction, or strength affecting your knockback strength and resistance as well as your ability to lift large objects. Whatever focus you choose, it determines how much damage you deal. So, this means that the character you’ve designed doesn’t have to be tied to a specific stat depending on your power choices; your powers are fueled by whatever stat you please. Does your gun-toting paladin aim their shots using a combination of intuition and agility? Go with DEX/EGO! Does your magician cast spells, but also have a ton of HP and super strength? Go with STR/CON. No matter what, any gear pushing up your two stats increases your damage. This, in my opinion, is super cool. Unfortunately, choosing your stats is only available to subscribers. If you’re playing the game free-to-play, then you’re going to be limited to locked in frameworks called archetypes. Archetypes can still be very effective, and you can choose how to enhance the powers you get, but the progression and stats are locked. To some people, this is actually a boon (plenty of people find the open power system overwhelming), and to others, it’s maddening.  Ground to a Halt The gameplay itself, as we’ve noted, is an epic blast. It is just plain satisfying to play this game; it’s a smooth, action-packed experience. Watching your character effortlessly gun down and knock around enemies and shoot blasts and what have you is too much fun. On top of it all, simply creating new looks and new builds is a lot of fun, and can keep many people occupied for hours. Unfortunately, there is a limit to how entertaining Champions Online can be. Even over a year after release, and with a new area, two adventure packs and some revamping, Champions Online still feels like it’s hurting for really engaging content for players to enjoy. Once you slam into the level 40 cap, you’ll find yourself wanting things to do. The game does have opportunities to get new and better gear through the adventure packs and high end instances, like Therakiel’s Lair. You can also try these challenges on varying degrees of difficulty, alone or with friends, ranging from “normal” to “elite.” If you’re a completionist, and enjoy a challenge, trying to finish Therakiel’s Lair on elite with a good team is a pretty good time, but it’s very difficult. Unfortunately, with only a handful of major end-game areas to enjoy, Champions is in a content-void position. End-game gets boring, so the usual answer is alting, or PVP. PVP – Friend… or foe? PVP in Champions Online is a mixed bag. You’re certainly not going to meet the greatest examples of sportsmanship and human decency doing PVP, but that’s true of any online arena. PVP in Champions can actually be really fun – even I was able to get into it. Unfortunately, with such an open power system (unless you’re PVPing in the archetype arena, which you will be, if you’re playing this for free) things can get imbalanced relatively easily. Players will find the most effective, brainless way to dominate, and that is what they will do. There are multiple “builds” that can work in PVP, but making them requires a great deal of creativity and dedication. The rewards for PVP are marginal and not nearly as good or easy to obtain as the PVE rewards, making PVP and dueling more of a fun change of pace, rather than a legitimate end-game focus. This may change over time.  Final Verdict: Great While some people may be irritated that they have to pay in order to be a true “Freeform” character, others will be very pleased with the addition of archetypes. Playing Champions for free is a surprisingly full experience, and your character’s progression is still fairly customizable. You can also purchase additional, fancier archetypes from the C-store, or cooler travel powers. As far as free titles go, Champions Online: Free for All is a great game. Just don’t upgrade to gold status… once you get a taste of full, freeform customization, you might never be able to go back to the archetypes. ScreenshotsChampions Online Screenshots VideosChampions Online VideosChampions Online Official Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. System RequirementsChampions Online System RequirementsMinimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP SP2/ Windows Vista/Windows 7
CPU: 2.5GHz Single Core or 1.8GHz Dual Core
RAM: 1 GB
HDD: 5.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 / ATI Radeon X700 / Intel GMA 4 Recommended Specifications:
OS: Windows XP SP2/ Windows Vista/Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit)
CPU: Intel E8400 Core2Duo or Better
RAM: 2GB or more
HDD: 5.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 or Better / ATI Radeon HD 3850 or Better |
| Loong: The Power of the Dragon Posted: 17 Mar 2010 06:00 PM PDT Loong: The Power of the Dragon is a 3D fantasy MMORPG set in ancient China. The game has an original art style, a classless progression system, and boasts over 1000 quests. Take part in epic PvP battles that support up to 500 players!  Publisher: Gamigo
Playerbase: Medium
Graphics: High Quality
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: High
PvP: Castle Siege / Duels
Filesize: ~ 2270 mb Pros: +Quest driven progression. +Varied weapon types. +PvP combat supports up to 500 players. +High quality animations. -Fluid gameplay & interface. Cons: -Familiar setting. -Mobs offer little challenge. -Poor English translations. -Quests & combat feel repetitive.
OverviewLoong: The Power of the Dragon OverviewLoong: The Power of the Dragon is set in ancient China, but sets it self apart from other oriental themed MMORPGs with its unique art style and classless progression system. Chose from several weapon types, and learn skills from eight unique talent trees. Progression is heavily quest driven in Loong, and an auto-navigation feature makes traveling between objectives simple. Players unlock several skills during the first few levels, and also earn their first mount and pet early on. The game has fluid gameplay and controls that allow for keyboard and point & click movement. Weapon Types - Sword, Sabre, Polearm, Bow, Totem, Glove, Zither Talent Trees - Sword, Sabre, Polearm, Bow, Battle, Yang, Yin, Healing, Zither, Magic Loong: The Power of the Dragon ScreenshotsLoong: The Power of the Dragon Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewLoong: The Power of the Dragon ReviewBy, Erhan Altay Loong: The Power of the Dragon is an Asian developed MMORPG set in ancient China. The German publisher Gamigo is bringing the game to both the European and North American region. Despite the familiar setting, Loong is a high quality title with an original art style, innovative class system, and other interesting features.  Not a Loong Wait Despite being released in China earlier this year, Loong is already ready for beta testing in the West. The game is a big budget project that is estimated to have cost over $10 million dollars to develop. Traditionally, MMORPGs took several years to move from Asia to the West, but the pace is definitely starting to pick up. Unlike most games out of China, Loong is a high quality MMORPG with great 3D graphics, cool attack animations, and high production value all around. At around 2.7 gb, the client size is pretty large, but the download shouldn't take long. Loong isn't Gamigo's first Chinese MMORPG. Martial Empires is an earlier high quality title, but that game is only open to European gamers. Luckily, Loong more than makes up for what we've been missing.  Pick a Weapon, but not a Class The login screen in Loong is highly stylized and sets a good mood for the rest of the game. The loading screens are a bit odd, they include animated backgrounds and real images of ladies in sexy outfits. The character creation process is very streamlined. There are five hair styles, six hair colors, five face styles, and three outfits per gender. Several 'detail' options are also available which represent things like tattoos and scars. There's also an option to preview several high level armor designs on your character before creating it. Overall, appearance customization is rather slim, especially compared to some older MMORPGs like Martial Empires or Perfect World. Like Heroes of Three Kingdoms, players don't select a class in Loong. Instead, they chose from seven weapons: Sword, Sabre, Polearm, Bow, Totem, Glove, or Zither. The initial weapon selection has no effect on character progression, players are free to switch between them freely. Eventually, players will have to select which weapons to specialize in by distributing talent points among specific skill trees.  Dragon Village New players start in Dragon Village where a number of NPCs offer simple talk quests and describe some of the game's basics. Movement can be done with either W,A,S,D or point-and-click. While most Asian MMORPGs fail at pulling off fluid keyboard controls, Loong does it excellently. I found myself using keyboard controls throughout my whole experience. There's a very simple auto-navigation system that helps players get to and from quest objectives. This means travel very simple, and also ensures players won't have to read any of the quest flavor text. The rest of the interface is well organized, 'b' opens the inventory, 'q' opens the quest log, 'k' brings up the talent trees, and so on. It's not until around level 6 that players start earning talent points, but they will receive 2 stat points every level starting at level 2. Those who follow the beginner quest lines will find themselves leveling rapidly, even without having to kill more than a few monsters. At level 5, newbies quality to leave Dragon Village and enter the zone of Dragon Castle. This zone serves as the capital city, but the surrounding areas are also the primary hunting grounds for the first few dozen levels.  One, Two, Three The early level quests do a great job giving players equipment and consumable items, but players must eventually decide which weapons to specialize in. There are a total of ten talent trees in Loong, and it is recommended to focus on one during the early levels. It is possible to reset talent point distribution quite easily, especially while under level 30. Each weapon has a primary and secondary stat, so be sure to distribute talent and stat points favorably. The six stats are: Physique, Strength, Qi, Spirit, Agility, and Skill. Simply hover the cursor over any of them to find out what they do. Before long, player will unlock several skills in their chosen talent tree and be off using them in combat. Even without skills, the monsters in Loong barely put up a fight. Difficulty seems to be something Chinese developers in particular seem to ignore. Simply spamming 2-3 skills is enough to fell any monster near your level range. You'll barely receive any damage in return. This means there's no need to rest between battles, and the fact that no mobs under level 20 seems to be aggressive add up to a low sense of challenge. Player will simply move from one hunting ground to the next, stopping long enough to kill a few defenseless critters before moving on.  Ride a Pony Loong introduces players to the game's pet system early on. Pets are called 'spirit beasts' and come in a variety of rarities and skills. Some can be ridden, others can pick up loot for their master. Players can transfer, or 'pour', some of their experience towards their pets to help them level up, and pets can even be equipped with special items. Several stats track the potency of a pet including 'potential' which measures the amount of skills the pet can eventually learn and its growth rate. A pet may look cute and small, but when mounted it grows into a full size steed. This is but one of many interesting animations. If a player clicks on the ground to move there, a splat of ink appears and vanishes. The game's animations are realistic, but with an artistic touch. Jumping (space bar) also functions a bit differently. After jumping, players appear to glide down slowly. Like so many recent MMORPGs, Loong also has a title system where players can equip titles that they've unlocked by completing quests or performing other tasks. There are a ton of other small features which, added up, make Loong a much more in-depth game. Crafting skills are separate from the talent tree, and include both resource gathering skills (like mining) and production skills.  Cramped Quarters The experience in Loong is well paced, handing it quests gives a burst of experience and there are always plenty of quests available. The quest log even lists available quests which players can auto-navigate towards. Some quests are repeatable, but the sense of grind doesn't kick in until mid level. The game encourages some player cooperation in the form of a mentor/apprentice system. Players have to be at least level 50 to be a mentor, but there's no real reason to even talk to another person during the early game since the PvE offers so little challenge. Before long, players will find themselves having to throw away items since their inventory fills up so fast. New characters start with 20 inventory slots, but can increase this by using 'auxiliary bags' obtained in the item mall. There are plenty of convenience items like this for sale in the cash shop, but nothing that dramatically effects balance. Like Soul Order Online and Forsaken World, there's an odd feature that rewards players with some freebie items every few minutes. It's called 'Dragon Blessing' and the small interface menu for it is located near the middle of the screen. Users playing Loong on a small resolution will want to turn all these extra menus off since it can cramp the gameplay area. Another box appears on the left of the screen every time a player earns new attribute or talent points. Speaking of resolutions, the graphic options in Loong can be a little confusing. I couldn't figure out how to play in windowed mode, but I did discover a new mode where the game is nearly full-screen but the taskbar is still visible and you can launch other programs with Loong remaining in the background. Final Verdict: Good Loong: The Power of the Dragon is a high quality MMORPG with a familiar oriental setting. The classless, talent tree driven progression helps set it apart from its competitors. There are also a lot of small features that, combined, give Loong a high production value. The only problem is that due to the lack of difficulty, much of the early level combat feels repetitive. Its definitely a game worth checking, just be ready for some grind. ScreenshotsLoong: The Power of the Dragon Screenshots VideosLoong: The Power of the Dragon VideosLoong: The Power of the Dragon Cinematic Trailer
Click here to view the embedded video. Loong: The Power of the Dragon Gameplay Footage Click here to view the embedded video. Loong: The Power of the Dragon Gameplay Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. System RequirementsLoong: The Power of the Dragon System RequirementsMinimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7
CPU: 2.4 Ghz Intel P4 or equivalent
RAM: 512 MB
HDD: 4 GB Free
Graphics Card: GeForce 5200 / Radeon 9550 Recommended Specification:
OS: Windows Vista / 7
CPU: Pentium Dual Core E2140 or better
RAM: 2 GB RAM or more
HDD: 5 GB Free
Graphics Card: NVidia 7600 GT / ATI X1600 XT |
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