Monthly Archives: December 2009

World of Dragons

World of Dragons is a MMORPG (Massive Online Role-Playing Game) set in a vast world inhabited by many different races and fantastic creatures named Iglion.

The story begins with the announcement of the possible return of the Black Dragon, an ancient evil monster who already tried to conquer the entire land forty years ago. Adair, a mighty hero was able to defeat him in the past, by using the power of a mystic medallion, but he had to sacrifice himself in the fight.

Now, in order to avoid the dragon resurrection, the player must find the four pieces of the amulet, which were spread about Iglion so nobody could use its power without the approval of the four Kingdoms.

Wolfteam Review

Watch the official OnRPG video review for Wolfteam, an innovative MMOFPS where you can play a soldier like a regular shooter, or transform into a wolf, enteringĀ a totally new gaming aspect!

Mafia 1930 Review: Old-school Mafia at it’s best

Mafia 1930 Review: Old-school Mafia at it’s best
By Vincent Haoson (Vincenthaoson), OnRPG Journalist

 

Mafia 1930 puts you in the seat of an upstart mafioso trying to establish your reign in an otherwise corrupt world. You are given everything that you need in your disposal and it is on how you run the various black market institutions that would make or break you in this world.

 

Interface

Mafia 1930 is not a purely text-based browser game. There are certain images included in the game interface such as a face of a beady looking guy- for your drivers, a pompous looking pimp or even a beautiful gal for your prostitutes.

 

The images in the game does help in making you feel that what you are playing is in fact in the era of the 1930s where the fashion then are three piece suits and the like.

 

Another thing about the game’s interface is that it uses a color coding system where it the game does make you feel like you are sent back in the mafia days of old. Though this can prove to be problematic with other computers that have a different resolution, because it can hurt the eyes. This is exactly one of the little things that make the game a truly authentic experience.     

 

I’m the Godfather

In establishing any kind of empire the first most important factor for any would be mafioso would be to have a stable source of income. As your means of income you have the usual black market businesses such as prostitution, gambling and protection money. This are the “established” illegal activities you can undertake as your way of getting those resources to make your mafia empire.

 

Aside from the established illegal activities you can also gain resources by, of course, being aggressive and attacking weaker families.

 

Similar to the real mafia, you are given full reign in everything that is going inside your area of influence. The game makes your really feel that you are the person in charge of your territory by giving you the authority to do hits, establish businesses and hire people that would be running the show in place for you. You are the Godfather so to speak.

 

Crime does pay

Of course in building your mafia empire, the most important aspect of it would be money. Of course as the leader of your district you are given a lot of options on how you can earn that ever important dollar.

 

Your income earning choices include Smuggling, Prostitution, Gambling, Protection and the setting up of “legal” establishments such as bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

 

The various illegal choices you have in the game authenticates your mafioso experience. Nothing beats the feeling of you becoming the devil’s advocate by providing the sinful desires in form of drugs, sex and booze to the general public without actually doing it in real life.

 

Establishing your Mafia Empire

Of course money alone does not prove that you are stronger than your competition. You would need to acquire equipment and personnel to make your empire run.

 

You can purchase ships, boats, vehicles and even trains as part of your Mafia’s vast empire. Each vehicles you acquire provides a bonus in the various illegal racketeering you would be doing as you play the game.

 

This adds to the whole, “I’m the head honcho of this district, look at my ferrari” feel of the game. Of course who wouldn’t want to have their own set of transportation to make their business better right?

 

Mafia War

Attacking comes in two varieties, either you go looting or you takeover a district. The preparations behind each kind of attack and the resources you need to use per attack makes it a critical decision for you. This puts more emphasis that running a a mafia family is not brawns but brains as well.

 

The family that kills together

Of course when it comes to Mafia games Mafia families would be one of the things people would look for. Mafia 1930 does deliver because the game gives you the option of creating your own family.

 

Conclusion

Mafia 1930 is a game that has wonderfully integrated the world of old school mafia into a web based game that has in its own right makes you feel that you are in fact running a mafia empire. The game gives you everything you need to establish your empire it now boils down on how you manage whatever resources you have to determine how strong your empire would be.

 

You can say that the game has in its own right, successfully makes you feel that you are a bad ass leader of a mafia family. This is a success in itself because there are games that promise you that you would be experiencing how its like to establish your family but only puts you in the seat of a low grunt .

 

The downside of this game though is that the game is more like an accounting game because you would have to consider the expenses of your businesses and actions in relation to the income you may possibly earn from doing so. Though this cements the idea that you are running your mafia empire, however this may prove to be troublesome for those who are not used to such gameplay.

 

All in all, Mafia 1930 does provide you an authentic old school mafia experience. Of course the game is more of a strategy centric game rather than an action based browser game. Players who are used more individualistic gameplay should shy away from Mafia 1930, but if you are open minded enough then its highly possible you may enjoy the game..

 

Pros:
– The game makes you feel that you are running an underground empire.
– You are given free reign on how you run your black market empire.
– There is ample time for players to get acquainted with the game.

 

Cons:
– The game can be overwhelming for new players especially with the amount of options given to you from the start.
– This game is a numbers game so don’t expect anything really spectacular.
– The newbie protection is longer than you would normally expect, making you not experience the full potential of the game after nearly a month.

Mythos Browser Game: May The Gods Help You

Mythos Review: May the gods help you

By Vincent Haoson (Vincenthaoson), OnRPG Journalist

 

The Greek gods have been a forefront in a lot of games either in consoles and online. From the games like Herc’s Adventures from the old PlayStation, to browser based game Ikariam you would see Greek gods as the provider of bonuses and whatever necessities for you to be successful in the game. The browser-based game Mythos is no different.

 

12 gods one hero

In Mythos you are the leader of a village that is worshipping a certain Greek God of your choice. Whichever God you choose determines the bonuses you have. You also get to acquire a hero that you can level up, and improve that which will eventually help you out in the later stages of the game. Come to think of it, the gameplay is not really new or innovative. As most games of this genre have the same concept and even the game system. So, do not expect anything new with Mythos.

 

Market Place in Mythos

The Market Place in Mythos

 

Competitiveness at its best

However, without anything new to offer to the genre, the one thing that Mythos does have is the competitiveness of the game and the relatively fast paced gameplay it provides. Mythos has a time limit system in the form of ages. Your goal within the age is to acquire the most lands because the lands determine your military and economic strength, which serve as your ticket to becoming known within the community. Also, the game has an archive system where, if you are the person who becomes the most prominent player of the age, the annals of Mythos would then carry your name as the title of that age. So the game gives you enough reason to be excited, at least for those players who are looking for a challenge in their browser games.

 

Managing your resources

In any strategy browser game like Mythos, the most important factor in the game is the options of being able to manage your resources. What you have in Mythos is like any other Browser game. You have resources, structures, people and military units to balance manufacture and manage. Everything feels so generic in Mythos. The game even lacks any dynamic images unlike other browser games who have at least gifs included in their interface. On the offside, the beauty of this simplistic interface is that you will not get smothered by almost useless images that are often the bane of browser games with with more dynamic imagery. Also the loading time of the game is fast and crisp and the only thing you would have to waste time on is the time for your structures and unit’s completion.

 

Exploring Mythos

Exploring and Building in Mythos

 

Heroes… no not the series

Aside from managing your resources you would also have to manage the Hero you have. The heroes, as the title suggests, are the coup de grace of your arsenal because they have certain skills and benefits that you won’t normally find in your regular troops. The thing about your hero is that you would have to nurture and train the unit to be of any use against other players. 

Imagine your hero as the prized pet fighter of your empire and you would get the general idea of the hero’s role in your gameplay. The hero also serves as the one thing that makes your overall experience unique and immersing due to the fact that you have something unique in your arsenal you can use. You will have to manage your heroes carefully and use them effectively in your wars if you want to make them worthwhile.

 

Conclusion

Mythos does not offer anything new to the whole genre. What you have is a Greek-gods themed game that centers around you acquiring resources and being the best among the rest. This game concept is not really new as a lot of games are already on this road. As a compensation for its generic nature the game’s greatest strength would be its competitive nature and the fact that the game is a clean and crisp gameplay that you normally would not find in the more heavily animated browser games. 

 

World Map

Simple to-the-point visuals in Mythos

 

The game lacks any other variation aside from the archive system and the heroes system. The game’s units are the ones you normally find in a game like this, the structures and even the Greek god’s skills are already generic so there’s nothing really that would make you stay in the game aside from its competitive nature. Even with such limitations, this game does in fact have a stable amount of users logging in. Obviously this is not brought upon by the game itself but more of the fact that the game does not really take much of your time. The manufacture of units and structures takes a lot of time in real life so that you can just log into the game for like five to ten minutes, click on the updates you need and then log out and the game will run itself. 

 

For the more impatient players this can be an irritating fact, if they are looking to become immersed into this game, but who would do that in a browser game? Mythos is a game that does not take much time learning and playing and a lot of people right now are looking into games like that. Though the setup of the game is already overused and the interface is not really that visually attracting the game does center on the right things that makes it such a good choice for players who don’t have that much free time on their hands.

 

Pros:
– Game updates are done regularly.
– The game is newbie-friendly.
– The game is balanced out even with the inclusion of heroes to your roster.

Cons:
– There is no automated game and that the games new age is reliant on the administrator’s internet access.
– It takes time before a new age begins so there is a lag time per new age.
– The game’s competitive level can be a handful for those who are looking for a browser game that’s a little less competitive.

Bounty Bay Online: Beyond the Horizon cloaks players in camouflage uniforms

For more than a week now Bounty Bay Online players have been exploring the new add-on and finding out just what lies beyond the horizon, across the seven seas.

Bounty Bay Online Travel to South America as well now

Among other things, they’ll come across the continent of South America for the very first time as well as five new character classes, the active pet system and some new instances. The ‘Beyond the Horizon’ release also makes camouflage uniforms available to players.

In total there are 37 new decorative as well as useful clothing items which immediately disguise the equipment a character is actually carrying, so making other players unable to judge their strength. In PvP combat in particular, the camo clothing is a real trump card: The new uniforms don’t only hide the current equipping of the character, they also increase various player attributes, such as the speed they can run, so giving them extra advantages.

Bounty Bay Online - Camoflage Uniforms Allow you to Dress Up!

Female characters can cloak themselves in 21 new outfits, like the Greek camo dress, or a camo suit which makes them look like the Grim Reaper.

Male characters can shield themselves from the prying of others with a total of 16 new camouflage uniforms, such as the battledress or an Asiatic-style outfit.

Pew Pew!

GameHi Updates its No. 1 Free-to-Play FPS Sudden Attack

GameHi, Inc. has released the new map, Cross Counter, to their free-to-play first person shooter (FPS)  Sudden Attack, available today. Fans can check it out at the Official Website in order to take part in what’s currently one of the most popular multiplayer online FPS games in Asia.
Cross Counter offers an all new “Sub-Mission” mode where players are only allowed to use sniper-type weapons. The new map promotes a different playing style by bringing out all the best snipers on a new battlefield of suspense. Taking place in a village in Southern India, desolated for months after a previous battle, the death match, sniper-only map with ground and upper levels, presents a variety of attack routes from the respawn site.

Sudden Attack Tactic Overview

 
With ongoing updates for new maps and firearms Sudden Attack offers a variety of features to provide both novice and core gamers continuous gameplay options. Community inclined it supports several chatting modes, macros and firm clan system, as well as Explosion and Elimination game modes. Quick entry allows users to install in under three minutes and join games without having to wait for a new start. Even new FPS fans can easily adopt in the game with simple rules and easy controls. Additionally, players can earn in-game points for game currency or purchase upgrades through real world cash.
Sudden Attack players are divided into two opposing teams: Special Force and Silent Fox Alliances. Each team is required to have at least one member and at maximum eight members. Players can also group into their own clans to fight within a separated network. Here players can show off group power, where teamwork and coordination play a crucial role. Strong clans can join ‘Clan Battle System,’ an exclusive competition mode in the game. Clan strengths can be proved clearly within this mode, as comradeship and cooperation are decisive factors to secure a win. Additionally, the game makes a breakthrough in comparison with preceding MMOFPS titles with the availability of in-water battle mode.

Sniped in Sudden Attack

Things MMOs Could Do Without (Part1: Health)

Things MMOs Could Do Without – Part1: Health

By Ben Lamb (BGLamb), OnRPG Journalist

The Health Bar

Every gamer would recognize it in an instant. That red bar sitting somewhere nice and visible showing how much ‘health’ we have left, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. It has become such a staple of gaming that the only noticeable thing about it would be it’s absence. Try and think of an MMO (or, for that matter, any RPG) without a health-bar. It has become ubiquitous in this genre, as in several others, and it drives me mad!

 

The concept doesn’t even make sense! You would never describe someone in real life as having more or less health. “Sorry, I can’t work today I don’t have much health”. Health bars seem to simply be a figure counting how many times I can have an axe embedded in my skull, or a sword thrust through my chest without showing any noticeable signs of injury. After which, of course, I promptly drop dead.

 

Health Bars

The Classic Health Bar

 

 

No matter how real and visceral developers try and make combat feel, there seems to be no escaping the visual pantomime where combatants mortally wound each other, over and over again, until one of them finally runs out of numbers. Surely there must be alternatives.

 

The Alternatives

The most apparent alternative to this farcical ‘dance of death’ is to simply declare that the player can only have his skull smashed in with a mace once. While this would add a nice element of realism to the proceedings, it would make most players’ lives rather short. Something more needs to be added.

 

“What about armor?” I hear you cry! Players could wear armor that takes a certain amount of damage before it’s worn out, and then the next blow kills the player. Genius! Then you could have a bar with your armor’s ‘health’ on it and paint it red and stick it somewhere nice and visible and you’ve got ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE!

 

Believe me I had thought about the concept of armor before you (rather rudely) shouted it out. While it does have a tad more realism in concept, it does nothing to change the tedious chore of slowly grinding down somebody’s numbers and it is still going to look ridiculous on screen. Anyway, unless you happen to be wearing mega-full-plate or some kind of personal energy shield, there are always gaps in armor for a well placed dagger.

 

Stamina?

Armor RatingOk, well if we’re after realism, let’s take reality as our guide. Take two blokes, put them in some armor, give them some swords and tell them that the last one standing can have the pretty damsel. How could you take the ensuing scrap and turn that into a stat based MMO fight? There’s going to be lots of pushing and shoving, some parrying and dodging, and (if they have any sense) probably a kick to the groin for good measure.

 

So how about this? The combat is driven by the usual key figures: Str, Dex, etc but players don’t have a health bar, they have a stamina bar. As long as their stamina holds out then they can dodge or parry their opponents blows. Of course against a stronger or faster enemy the player’s stamina will be worn away all the more quickly, as more energy is needed to avoid injury. Then, when a players stamina is completely depleted, they cannot hold off their opponents attacks any longer and the final, fatal blow is administered. Fantastic.

 

 

 

Not only would this feel more realistic, it would look amazing! Very few games have implemented this kind of fighting into their animation or mechanics, despite the fact that it’s how fights really work. “But you’ve just replaced the health bar with another identical bar!” I hear you complain! Well firstly, don’t interrupt; I’ve told you before. Secondly, you’re right, but I haven’t finished yet.

 

PVP

So we’ve got the stamina bar, but it’s still looking an awful lot like the dreaded health bar except it’d probably be yellow or something. On the surface things might look much more exciting, but underneath it all is just a health bar wearing a funny hat, hoping you won’t notice. Well the interesting bit comes when you fight another player (as opposed to a critter).

 

Stat driven combat has the disadvantage that fights can often feel like they have a foregone conclusion. Not only is this not realistic, it is also not exciting. An element of randomness needs to be added and the stamina bar gives the perfect means to do so. Every attack should have a chance to hit home, but that chance should be relative to the amount of stamina remaining.

 

With this model, players would have no trouble blocking and dodging at the start of a fight, but as they lost their strength they would find it harder and harder. You would never know when the killing blow would land. All you could do is watch with growing nervousness as your character becomes more and more tired, hoping that you are the one to get that lucky hit in first.

 

This way, players of slightly different levels could still have a decent fight. Strong players could continue to be very confident against weaker ones, due to the very different speeds at which the stamina bars would be worn down, but could never be guaranteed a victory against even the lowliest foe.

 

Development

While this idea of combat appeals to me greatly, I think it would feel like death could come a bit too suddenly for most people’s liking. In real fights, death often comes by degrees. How about recreating this? Players could take a light hit without it really slowing them down. The next wound would be more serious. The next might leave them severely maimed, maybe limping or unable to hold their shield. Only then could they be dispatched.

 

These different states could be shown visually in the animations themselves and would affect the character’s ability to fight or defend himself. This would serve to lessen the randomness of battles and also heighten the tension. Imagine the fights that could take place! You, the plucky underdog; Outmatched but getting in a couple of early hits, suddenly with a fighting chance as your enemy, stronger than you but now with your dagger plunged into his thigh, slowly limps after you. Or maybe it is your opponent who manages to get that crippling blow in early, leaving your shield arm useless, as you bravely fend off his attacks one-handed before finally getting a lucky decapitation.

 

Conclusion

In the end, maybe this idea isn’t a million miles away from where we started, with the humble health-bar, but doesn’t that make it all the more depressing that it’s never been tried before? The idea of replacing health points with armor points surfaced way back in 1985 with Ghosts N Goblins, and seems to be as adventurous as game designers ever got.

 

So this is my plea, not only to developers, but to gamers too. We can spend so much time in a box that we don’t realize it’s even there, let alone wonder what might be outside it. When something does come along that is truly different, it is very often ignored and unappreciated by players who don’t want to learn something new. These little gems, though often flawed, should be supported and appreciated, because if all you ever play is Blandcraft, then that is all you are ever going to get.

Jade Dynasty Ascension Expansion Tour

Jade Dynasty Ascension Expansion Tour
By Jeffrey Kerkdijk (Hyarume), OnRPG Journalist

 

Jade Dynasty Online just released an expansion called “Ascension”, a good reason for us to check out what’s new. What has changed in the world of the humans on the path to immortality? And what new content is there to be found? I was invited to participate in a special tour in Jade Dynasty and spoke with the Game Masters who showed me some great stuff and shared what was new. Now I share with you!

 

New Skill Pets

Ascension Introduces New Skill Pets

 

Flying mounts

Later introduced in the world of Jade Dynasty are the flying mounts, these mounts are extremely helpful for traveling long distances. But in Ascension they can be used for another purpose, combat! Yes, you heard that right. You can now fly and practice combat while airborne.

 

Realm vs Realm

Ascension introduces a new race called the Athan, the back story says that they are the immortals trying to stop the humans on their path to immortality. This changes the way PvP works in the game, Human players can still fight against the other schools of magic, but they can best unite as one realm and fight against the Athans. There is also the introduction of several zones where realm vs realm is now enabled. These zones exist in both PvE and PvE servers.

 

Arden Race

Arden Race in Ascension

 

Ascension

Ascension is a chance to become stronger in the world of the immortals, players can Ascend at level 135 or at level 150 back to level 15 with better stats. Kinda like the rebirth system you see in many other MMORPG’s at the market. Back at level 15 you will start with better stats and you will also have access to new skills, there are four new trees of skills for those who ascend beyond immortality. As of now players can only Ascend once but this might change in the future.

 

New pets, new transformations!

With the release of Ascension there are also several new pets and transformations to be found as well as new espers for the Athan race, these espers can still allow you to use the “in-game bot”  invigorate, good for those who plan to use that is that pets are now compatible with doing this as well. Pets can be auto-healed with potions, the same goes for you. The new pet’s and transformations look great, be sure to check out the screenshots! Transformations also give you a stat boost and give you other abilities as well.

 

Ascension Balo Race

What the Balo Race Looks Like

 

New area’s

Ascension introduces two new area’s, first one is the new starter area for the Athan race, a temple town within a jungle and nearby a perfect flower field. The second area is a high level realm vs realm area with a beautiful temple. These two new area’s make the world of Jade dynasty even bigger and believe me, the game has a big world.

 

 

Personal opinion

I think that Ascension brings a wealth of new content to the already big Jade Dynasty, the game is fun but there is a big grind, however with the “ingame bot” you can lessen the extend of the grind a bit. The bot isn’t advanced but it helps to kill the grind. From what I have seen the Athan race has a completely different style, and the new starting area seems to be of a completely different style. The new pets and transformations look great and the Ascend system is a welcome addition. Make sure to check out Jade Dynasty Ascension!

 

Visit the Jade Dynasty Game Profile.
Visit the
Jade Dynasty Official Website.

Tian Xia 2

NetEase was established as one of the biggest MMO company in China after clinching the rights for World of Warcraft China from The9. Tian Xia 2, though, is the company’s biggest self developed MMORPG so far, taking 6 years to fine tune the game to perfection.
 
The game is about how 8 clans team up, despite various conflicts amongst them, to defend the human world from the invasion of the demon army.
 
Why is it hot:
NetEase came to prominence when they stunned The9 by outbidding the MMO bigwig for the new license for World of Warcraft China. Since then, the rocky trip to publish the game has not gone well. The company then virtually pulled a rabbit out from an empty hat by releasing Tian Xia 2. With all these attention, the game is assured of its place as one of the hottest MMORPG this year. NetEase also hired rising actress, Yang Mi, as the game’s spokeperson.
 
Game features:
– There are 8 unique clans, each with totally different skills and functions on the battlefield.
– Player Kill (PK) is enabled in all PvE areas once players hit level 30. Killers will be attacked the town guards if they try to enter any town.
– The transformation system allows players to change into a normal or boss mob (items required). Players will then have access to a new set of skills previously not available.
– There are various exciting instances for players to team up and conquer. Each instance is delicately developed and design, so its a new experience everytime players enter.
– The game offers an indepth pet and mount growth system to all players. Watch as the pet grow and changes its looks, and eventually become a strong warrior or mount, fighting valiantly by the side.
– Almost every MMORPG has a guild war feature, so it’s no exception here. Various fortresses are available throughout the world map for guilds to conquer. If you played Ragnarok Online’s Emporium Wars, imagine that in full 3D with a Chinese setting. Add in various siege weapons, and you will have a really massive fight!