Yearly Archives: 2009

Grand Chase Review: Carry a BIG sword and use it

By Vincent Haoson (Vincenthaoson), Onrpg writer
 
Think of girls carrying big swords and swinging them around like toothpicks. Or of archers that shoot more than 3 arrows in one shot or of mages summoning meteors that came out of nowhere hell bent on blowing the life out of you.
 
Sounds like one of those anime show’s you get to watch on the tv right? Well, I can say that you get points for trying to figure it out.
This is but a glimpse of the characters you get to choose from Ntreev’s beat ‘em up MMO, Grand Chase.
 

Grand What!?

Grand Chase is set on a fantasy world of Bermesiah where the two kingdoms of Kanavan and Serdin were at once war due to one, Kaze’aze’s tricks. The Grand Chase are the elite soldiers made by both kingdoms to search and finally eliminate the cause of all the strife Bermesiah has experienced.
 
Your part in this entire hubbub is to become one of the numerous Grand Chasers in this perilous world. The safety of Kanavan, Serdil and all of Bermesiah is iin your hands.
 

The main Players

Unlike in most MMOs where you get to choose only one character among the roster, Grand Chase allows it players to switch from the first three main in-game characters. Lire, Elesis and Arme.
 
The total number of characters that the game is currently 7, aside from the three main characters you get to use Lass, Ryan, Ronan and Amy. You can acquire these character add-ons either by purchasing their scrolls in the premium shop or accomplish mission scrolls that you can acquire using in-game currency.
 

Gameplay

Grand Chase’s gameplay is simple and easy to grasp. The game has arcade controls that you can easily grasp from the first try.
Moving is very simplified in the game because trying to figure out the game controls because you can’t get yourself all mixed up trying to move your character because that is not how you roll in Grand Chase.
 
As you move through he world in Grand Chase, you accomplish series of quests, from trying to eliminate certain monsters to finishing a map within a certain limit. You get gold to buy equipments as you finish stages and level up.
 
The leveling and equipment system in Grand Chase is linear. As you level more and more equipments armors and whatnot are available to you. You can use necklaces, bangles that have special attributes that help you out in Grand Chase. You can also refine your armors using cores to enhance the damage rating or defense rating of your armor and equipment.
 
Besides your usual attacks, each class in Grand Chase has its own set of special skills. Each class has two sets of skills with three types of attacks each. You need to acquire enough energy points to use each one. The problem though with the skills is that if its interrupted then not only can you not use the skills but also lose the amount energy point that is required to use the skill.
 

In-game pet system

Besides the customary equipments, leveling and job classes found in the game, you can also acquire pets in Grand Chase. You can either acquire the egg from monster drop or buy it from the in-game store. The pets in Grand Chase vary yet retain the cuteness factors that are staple to pets.

 
However, the game’s pet system is more than just eye candy. Your pets in also help out in dealing damage and even immobilizing your enemies, pets can also adds to your moves list that can ante up to your skills.
 

This is what Grand Chase is about

The bread of butter is not its quests or even its flashy armors and sound, it’s the PVP where Grand Chase shine. PVP can be done either by 1:1, 2:2 or 3:3. You get to choose from a variety of maps. You also have the option to make the maps drop temporary items that help out in those battles ahead.

 
The game’s PVP has two options, team vs. team or deathmatch. In team battles the goal is to eliminate all the enemies from the other team, the team with the remaining members win. In deathmatch it’s a free-for-all brawl and this basically is the epitome of survival of the fittest.
 

Conclusion

Grand Chase is one of those MMOs where you can easily pick up the basic controls of the game but mastering it could be a handful. This adds the element of challenge for those players who are already fed up with the usual side scrolling MMOs.
 
The sheer energy you get from finishing quests and seeing your Lire, Elesis, Arme, Lass Ryan, Ronan or Amy kick brightly colored monsters to a pulp pumps not only adrenaline but also of  the satisfaction of feeling your hits connect as you play.
 
Though it may be hard to explain it, but Grand Chase has successfully made the connecting combos such a delightful experience. Through the mix of flashy in-game sprites and audio, you can “feel” your combos making damage, thus enhancing the satisfactory feel of doing something cool and powerful that some of the games in this genre fail to accomplish.
 
Grand Chase literally jumps off from the complicated controls of serious MMOs and gives us the most basic yet the most exhilarating experience in gaming. No, complicated quests nor mind-numbing puzzles are found in Grand Chase.
 
The other thing that makes Grand Chase is so appealing is the competitive edge it provides players. The quests and stages in Grand Chase are just the front acts that you need to go through to reach the core of the game, the PVP action.
 
PVP in Grand Chase is one of the most brutal experiences a player can have. Brutal in the sense that unlike in other MMOs where the character’s level and equipment rule supreme, here the skillful are smiled upon by the goddess of victory. Grand Chase is a game that teems of stories where low-level characters with decent equipment beat characters ten levels above them due to sheer skill and of course luck. Sure, having better equipments can be advantageous but if you don’t know how to utilize them effectively they only become dead weight and would eventually make you a laughing stock.
 
The variation of characters you can choose from also gives the players of various fighting styles the chance to get the character that really suits them as a player. Not only that, the game also gives players something to look forward to as they level up because you get to change jobs if you meet the requirements.
 
The game’s pet system is another thing that makes the game sought after. Your pets aren’t just there for eye candy but the usefulness of them in fights raise up the ante competitively. With PVP decisions almost decided in split-second decisions, they have become an amusing and critical part of the gaming experience.
 
Of course, we can’t ignore the flashy equipments players acquire in the game. The variation from cute-styled armors to the more serious and cooler designs brings players the satisfaction of both kicking ass while looking good and just plain grandstanding.
 
Grand Chase is one of those fast-paced MMOs that has is has everything pegged down right. There’s basically nothing wrong in the overall gameplay however, the game has its own shortcomings, but majority of the game’s shortcomings are not due to the lack of trying from the company behind the game but because of the genre itself.
 
There is lack in depth story-wise In Grand Chase, true the game has a running storyline but if you compare it to other MMOs, within the genre, the story is not really shall we say top-class.  Plus, as most beat ‘em ups, button bashing tends to be tiring after rounds of playing. Another thing is that sometimes the disparity of skill within players really puts the pressure to those who are just there for the fun.
 
As far as competitive playing is concerned, not all players are top notch and this can really dampen your experience if you are just one of those ‘local joe’ type of players.
 
Overall, Grand Chase is a PVP game through and through, half of the fun in Grand Chase is found in the PVP rooms. Questing is just your springboard to getting better equipments for the PVP room. If you want some old school button smashing goodness then Grand Chase is the game for you.
 
Pros
– A lot of characters to choose from
– The game is energetic and action packed
– Competitiveness is nurtured within the game
– The mix of sprites and audio is superb
Cons
– The Background and sprites can be too flashy hindering your game
– Bashing gets repetitive in the long run
– If you lack the game skills, its going to be hard for you to be toe-to-toe with other players.

Thirteen1 – First Anniversary

Special Anniversary Edition, Featuring Free LOTRO Item Giveaway, Available Now!
 
Go here now to skip the below text and dive straight into the latest edition of Thirteen1!!
 
To celebrate their 1 year milestone achievement, Thirteen1 are bringing you a sensational ‘new-look’ mag, a bumper issue of your favourite content AND loads of gaming goodies to get your hands on – including a 100% free *exclusive* item for Turbine’s top MMORPG Lord of the Rings Online.
 
LOTRO – The Hauberk of the Mithril Guard Giveaway!
 
That’s right, the fine folks over at Codemasters have provided Thirteen1 with 5000 codes for The Hauberk of the Mithril Guard to giveaway, an awesome item for LOTRO that is currently only available in Thirteen1!
 
You better snap one up quickly if you want to guarantee one for yourself!
 
Top Content!
 
This special issue, officially T1’s biggest ever, comes packed with all of the latest reviews, previews and news that you need – all wrapped up in their fancy new software!
 
They get hands-on with Fallout 3’s latest DLC, The Pitt, enjoy some retro-fighting goodness with the latest King of Fighters release, stare at Ayumi’s backside in X-Blades and go back in time with both Grand Ages: Rome and Empire: Total War.
You can use their brand-new Nintendo DSi to navigate the latest game news, send them your own funny birthday card and check out everything they didn’t get up to at this years GDC.
 
Thirteen1 are also inviting you to join them in getting all sentimental as they look back on a year of running a magazine – with the imaginatively named “A Year of Thirteen1” feature. We don’t know how they come up with it sometimes.
 
Free Comps and Giveaways!
 
As always, the latest issue of T1 comes with loads of free gaming goodies for you to get your hands on!
 
Along with the awesome LOTRO giveaway, there are also some Special Edition copies of the game going free, packed with all sorts of cool extras – including a gold “One Ring” in a velvet pouch!
 
The folks over at Introversion have provided them with copies of their indie-gold ‘Anthology’ – featuring Multiwinia and all of their other hits, you can grab a free digital download of the strikingly original The Path and win a trio of Kalypso Media RTS games to add to your collection.
 
Enjoy the issue!

Titan Online Enters Grand Open Beta

EYA Interactive Co. Ltd. announced today that TITAN ONLINE, its free-to-play, massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), will enter into the Grand open beta on April 28.
 
An epic title based on traditional Asian culture, TITAN ONLINE is a fusion MMORPG that boasts a unique combination of martial arts and robots that takes place in a spectacular fantasy world. Titan Online is based upon the Korean best-selling novel, “Mo Siang.” Set in ancient China, players will experience historic Chinese locales, meet influential figures from various dynasties, experience mysterious aspects of various ancient Asian cultures, all while trying to save the martial arts world by engaging in intense real-time battles.
 
This milestone will contain lots of new game content, including special field items and armor packages, never-before-seen in the world of TITAN ONLINE. There will be 11 new special event weapons available for give-away at various online game sites, as well as support of larger resolutions. All participants will have the opportunity to start from the beginning to maintain balance and fairness. However, there are no plans to wipe the accounts from this Grand Open Beta moving forward.
 
Developed in-house by EYA Interactive, TITAN ONLINE offers a very real picture of ancient China with 75 maps of historical sites, including Dun Hwang, Chang An, Kai Feng, Beijing, Shu Zhou, Shao Lin Temple, Chin Shi Huang mausoleum, Hang Zhou, Tai Shan, The Great Wall, and Hwang Her. In order to create the most true-to-life experience, the EYA development team spent time in China researching the ancient and historical cities so they could accurately reproduce them in the game.
 
The upcoming Grand open beta, which will begin on April 28, 2009, will allow users to tap into a world that has already birthed a veritable civilization of fans in Asia. It will offer players an opportunity to discover enthralling characters in a beautiful 3D, cell-shaded world filled with unique characters. The Grand open beta will continue until the commercial launch and is not limited to a specific number of participants.

Eudemons Online Expansion Preview – Divine Level

Eudemons Online’s new expansion – The Divine Path is scheduled to be released on May 8th, 2009. In this new journey, the Twelve Olympians will open the realm which was once forbidden to mortals. The brave adventurers will be permitted to enter this Divine Realm to explore mysterious regions, hunt exotic Eudemons and pursue new god-like prowess.
 
In the Divine Realm, there will be a new main town, called the Elysium. In this divine city, adventurers will observe magnificent statues of the Twelve Olympians, receive a series of new quests and have a glimpse of stories behind these omniscient deities.
In contrast to the gallant Elysium, there is also a pastoral Blooming Garden in the Divine Realm. In this fairyland, adventurers can forget the gritty conflict for a while, relaxing among the lawns, rivers and fountains.
 
Back to the harsh battleground, those apotheosized adventurers will obtain a new attribute, the Divine Level, which will contribute to their Battle Power. Every grade of Divine Level contributes 1 point to the character’s Battle Power. The exclusive Divine Level attribute will make those apotheosized characters have higher Battle Power and overwhelm ordinary counterparts in a PVP. To upgrade the Divine Level, players have to gain Divine EXP by killing rare monsters, fulfilling quests or using special items in the divine realm.
 
The gate to the new journey is about to be opened. Adventurers of Yartland, prepare yourselves for the test from the deities, and divine your own legends!

The Warlords: The Quickest Way

1. Reach level 23 and earn Free Equipment in 10 minutes
After you create your character and log into the game, ask Ferryman to send you to Lotus Port, then open your inventory to use the “Starter’s Guide”, follow the instructions to complete the quests. By doing so, you will reach level 23 and get a full set of Equipment in 10 minutes.
2. Share Kungfu from your master
As a new player, you must often feel so depressed that you are too weak and enemies can kill you in a shot, why not find a master to protect you from being hurt. Once you have a master, you can share a lot of Kungfu from your master and become much more powerful instantly.
3. Receive bonus exp from enlightenment
Find those fellow players with “Guide” aura to guide you. You can receive this 5 times a day, thus you can gain a lot of bonus exp from being guided.
4. Fury attack and 10 times attack power
You have a fury attack skill every 5 minutes. When your fury skills toggle up for you to use, select the desired skill and right click on target enemies to use. You will notice that you have 10 times the attack power during this unleashed attack. Make full use of it to destroy as many enemies as possible, and you will be surprised by the fast leveling speed.
5. Capture the Guards to serve you
During the fury attack, you can kill rebels that have a yellow aura to capture them and make them your own guard. You are qualified to take two guards with you at the same time. These guards are not only your good companions, but also great support in combat.
To protect you from being killed by the bloodthirsty killers, both PKing and being PKed are prohibitted when you are below level 50. Remember that this rule only works in Lotus Port and Marsh. If you dare to explore other dangerous zones, you may put your life at risk.
Now you must have become an experienced adventurer and feel the way to the top of the warlords is not as long as you originally imagined. You will be an honorable warlord in the near future.
Invite your friends to join you, guide them to level up quickly and share your Kungfu with them. Of course, you will be rewarded with bonus exp for your great contributions.

Fiesta: Level 105 Is Coming

The forces of Teva have traveled beyond the borders surrounding our familiar land and discovered new territory. Breathtaking landscapes, dark dungeons, and extravagant creatures await. Are you ready? Fetch your allies and sharpen your sword as you prepare to reach the new level cap in Fiesta, coming out this month. See some new screenshots on the Fiesta Online screenshots page. New content awaits!
 
New Gear and Skills
 
Isya’s finest artisans spared no expense with their latest creations. Archers, Clerics, Fighters and Mages will each find new armor sets and weapons to make them even deadlier forces of righteousness on the battlefield, while all classes have access to new, more powerful skills.
 
New Maps
 
Prepare to explore the newest regions of Isya! The Level 105 expansion features several new zones including the verdant Alberstol Ruins, the expansive Temple of Spirit and the deadly Swamp of Dawn. Brave adventurers will find additional challenges in Tear’s Marsh, while Isya’s most experienced warriors should head to Abysm Marsh for some intense player-versus-player battles.
 
New Monsters
 
Menacing Black Bears, crafty Caiman and the fierce Fire Taitan are just a few of the new monsters you will find in Fiesta’s latest expansion. Beware the Living Stone and Living Statues guarding the Temple of Spirit! Oh, and don’t forget Phouch. These giant bear-like creatures may look cute and cuddly, but don’t say we didn’t warn you. They pack a punch!

Islands of War

Islands Of War is a MMORPG game set in a fantasy world. Players can create their characters and customize them as they play the game. Islands Of War offers a ever expanding world with a huge amount of adventure and game play for players to enjoy across the world. The game has a bright look and a casual feel using combinations of color to bring it to live. While hardcore players can delve deeper into the customization to form a deeper level of play and character building.

Diary of a MMO Gamer

By Ben Lamb (BGlamb), Onrpg writer
Problems with log-on again. Black screen. Try again in a few minutes.
 
 
That’s better. Low resolution, hard to make things out. Software still booting up, processor chugging away. Movement jerky as I head towards the kitchen. I start the timer on the kettle while I review my quest list for the day.
 
I check the chest in my bedroom. Not expecting heavy combat today, so I select a formal suit of light armour and my standard set of trinkets.
 
I go AFK while I travel, turning over my day’s objectives in my head. The NPC at the desk checks my profile and buzzes me through, giving me slightly odd looks. I stop by the vendor to pick up a Coffee  (+2 int, +3sta) and some more ammunition for my Stapler Of Plenty.
 
First things first, a Search and Destroy mission. I find all the required Informutations quickly and easily, and as I cleanse them I feel my Administration skill rise by 4 points. I cross the task off my list but gained little experience. Onwards to more worthwhile pursuits.
 
I summon Vista, but before I can begin my next quest I am attacked by a particularly vicious Bug. I try my best to fend it off but I am forced to phone IT and get them to send up a Mage to assist. I stand back while he casts various spells to destroy it, gaining substantial experience just by watching. Before he leaves he casts several defensive buffs on Vista, in case of further attacks.
 
I notice the Cooldown on my coffee has finished, so I down another one and check my mailbox. I find the following message:
 
Re: Floor Plan
 
Hi,
I’ve attached the latest copy of the office plan. Can’t think what you would need it for though. What you doing with it?
 
Aha! I look at the attached scroll. Finally my dungeon map is complete. Nothing marked on it yet though, just the basic layout. From here I should be able to deduce the position of the final boss. Yes, there on the fourth floor. That’s by far the largest and best-guarded office in the entire building.
 
It’s coming clearer now. I’ve been feeling how close I am to the next level for days now, this might be what I need to tip me over the edge. I check my gear. Hmm, I should have brought better armour. Never mind. Too late for that now. I load up my stapler, down another potion and head for the lift.
 
As I reach the doors, I pass the Mage who helped me earlier. He nods his head to me.
 
“NEXT LEVEL!”, I yelp.
 
Oops, caps-lock on. He backs away, startled and leaves me to catch the lift alone. I take it up to the fourth floor, praying to catch the Boss without too many minions.
 
I engage stealth mode as I start to prowl along the corridors. Once or twice I catch people staring, as if they can see me, but they don’t engage combat so I must be imagining things. My mind has been feeling slightly fuzzy all day. I take another potion from a dispenser and continue towards the final door.
 
I sneak in through the door into the Boss’ inner sanctum but before I can make my final preparations he starts to speak. He can see me! Damn!
 
“Err…Hello, can I he….”
 
“RARF!”   I quickly use my Bark ability to cut off his dire incantations. He is stunned for several seconds but I can see him mustering another spell. Using my Bestial Roar I charge at him and aim to land a powerful blow with the Stapler.
 
He Dodges the first blow and somehow Parries the second. His unarmed skill is higher than I had first assumed. At this point he unleashed some kind of Demonic Shriek. I cannot instantly tell what this ability does, so I err on the side of caution and back away slightly.
 
Moments later, several low level mobs move in from behind me. Drat, some kind of summoning spell. My only chance is to finish this quickly. I make a desperate dash for the boss, leaping the desk using Tackle. I get a Critical with my Stapler, causing Bleeding damage for several seconds, but before I can do much more damage the mobs manage to Ensnare me.
 
“Hlp!  Quck BOss wounedd!!1”     I yell for assistance, typos spitting from my mouth,  spraying my captors.
 
But nobody comes to my aid. I can’t believe I was so careless to get caught by such a huge mob of minions. This is hopeless now. One of them brings down a heavy blow to the back of my head.
 
I log out.