Yearly Archives: 2009

4Story Review: Totally Playable Ripoff

By Kei Beneza (Dividelife), OnRPG Journalist

There’s been a lot of flame wars throughout the net about 4Story being a World of Warcraft (WoW) Ripoff. I personally believe that despite awkward similarities, these games are still fantasy RPGs and would more or less be quite like each other regardless of their story or interface. When I started playing 4Story Online, I was surprised as to how WoW-like it was. Then again, if this type of gameplay makes this MMO work then I guess it was a good choice for an interface. People have debated and argued about the game’s so-called “Lack of originality”. But then again, There’s been a lot of click and attack games that look more similar to each other than this game does to WoW. Let’s dive in and see what this game has to offer.

Some Similarities

Referring to what I stated above, If you like World of Warcraft then you’re definitely going to love this game. Some people scurry around the net for free-to-play games that cater the same features of the highly renowned game World of Warcraft. After seeing this game, I surprised as to how WoW-like everything was. It’s as though every aspect of the game from questing to combat has been based on its pay-to-play (P2P) counterpart. A poor man’s WoW? I don’t think so. Despite its similarities, 4Story online still has a lot of things that makes it loved by MMO players worldwide.

4Story online focuses on the world of Iveria where three kingdoms (namely: DeFugel, Craxion and Broa) suddenly waged war on one another. The game doesn’t really cater much of a storyline aside from you being the legendary hero who was bound to change the cruel fate that beheld Iveria (yeah… you, me and everyone who plays this game).

Characters

Upon creating a character you’ll be prompted to choose one of three races. The three races (Human, Fairie, Werebeast) are there to amplify your class’ playstyle. A Werebeast for example has a high strength rate and low mana. This makes them formidable melee attackers while the humans get a perfectly balanced stat that can do less damage in that field. If you’re gonna choose a class, then why not boost its efficiency through your race?

The ingame classes are pretty much the same as that of World of Warcraft. Although they are referred to differently, you’ll be seeing a lot of similarities if you’ve played both games. This however doesn’t kill the fun since even though it’s practically guilty about mimicking a game, at least it mimicked a pretty good one. The classes are as follows: archer, assassin, priest, summoner, warrior, or wizard. Yeah it’s pretty easy to see that they’re practically re-sculpted versions of WoW classes but hey, no complaints here.

4Story Ninja

Oooh nice!

One amazing aspect of the game is how sorcerers or spell casters can acquire magic through special items known as Tears of the Godess or Sealed items. Unsealing them may cost a lot, but it’s worth trying over and over again when you know what you’re looking for.

The game also lets players open their own personal shop. Not really the Auction house type but at least people know whom they’re buying from. This is made for quicker transactions in the field. At least you don’t have to go to a mailbox just to check if you’ve earned something. Banks, portals and other World of Warcraft features have been renamed despite their similar services.

We didn’t mind this before… Ooh! Good job!

Once a feature merely called “Change target” has now been emphasized further and is now a  FEATURE known as “Hunting”.  Remember when you used to press tab to scroll around the mob just to allow you to hit a specific creature throughout an angry mob? Yeah, 4Story managed to turn this into an actual game feature. By pressing TAB, you can scroll around mobs allowing you to further enhance your ability to target things. This was merely a default action back in World of Warcraft… but I guess not everyone managed to use it. Maybe that’s why it’s quite emphasized here.

Visuals

Yeah, the grass alone reminds me of World of Warcraft. The visuals are pretty much the same as its counterpart. Brightly lit, high contrasted, moody and ambient are some of the words that would mostly describe the visuals. It’s all a bit cartoony, which is good since there’s too many realistic looking MMOs to go around. Something new for a Free to play (F2P) game I suppose. Mental Note: Having F for a loot button is kinda awkward.

I’ve seen this black and white world before

Upon dying, you’ll be forced to enter the spirit world if not resurrected. In order to get back on the road, you must either find your dead body or ask the Chaos monk to resurrect you of course with a couple of side effects. Yes, quite familiar isn’t it?

Sounds

The ingame music lacks a certain ‘oomph’ to it. Sometimes it’s quite mellow which doesn’t really suit a place where combat is most likely to occur. The battle sounds are quite extravagant though. Hearing your sword pierce through your enemies has never sounded this intense. Even the spells sound a bit more fiery than World of Warcraft itself. Sounds serve as the chain that binds the visuals together. Might I say that the ingame sound effects managed to bring this game to life.

Should I play?

Quite frankly, Yes you should! The game has a good amount of players. If you’re tired of normal Grinding then this game is quite good. I’ve yet to grind so far and it looks like I wont be doing so any time soon.

4Story Players

Verdict

There’s not much to say, it’s pretty much like World of Warcraft in almost every way. Then again, it’s free. So if you’re looking to play a game thats pretty similar to WoW then this game would do you justice. The visuals are easy on the eyes and yet it doesn’t demand much from your computer. This game is heaven sent for almost every MMO gamer out there.

 

Pros:
– WoW like interface
– Good character balances
– Good sound effects
– Nice visuals.

Cons:
– Looks too much like WoW?

NHN revealed today more details about the closed beta schedule

NHN revealed today more details about the closed beta
schedule for its upcoming MMORPG Karos Online. Players registering at can apply for access to the first Closed Beta Weekend Event, which will take place from Friday, August 21st until Sunday, August 23rd. The precise times when the servers will open will be announced on Karos Online official website.
 
There will be more Closed Beta Weekend events, dates to be released later. Access to any Closed Beta Weekend event also grants access to the following ones. The game is scheduled to be released in English during Q4 2009, followed by versions in German and Turkish.
In the first Weekend Event, players can choose from three different character races, with each race offering one class. Classes can specialise twice during the course of the game, a choice of four focused sub-classes . During the first phase of Closed Beta, only the first specialisation will be available.
Races and classes in Karos Online:
– Humans are the dominant race in the world of Asmara. Although their physical forms offer little advantage, Humans are highly adaptable and adept at survival. Their intelligence and cunning sense of diplomacy have enabled them to spread quickly across Asmara, developing a wide variety of languages and cultures.
– The Human Blader is a valiant melee fighter, who specializes in wielding two-handed weapons. He specialises first into a Swordsman or Spearman.
– The proud, handsome race of Shadows are easily distinguished by their pale blue skin and fine figures. They come from the remote Eastern Regions of Asmara, and have only recently come to friendlier terms with Humans after centuries of open hostility. The Shadows have a very sophisticated native culture, and their blood carries a unique type of magic, which has passed down through many generations.
– The Shadow Rogue is a deadly master of deception, expert in wielding dual weapons for maximum damage. He can specialise in either Daggers and their critical attacks, becoming an Assassin, or Swords and the art of Evasion, becoming a Duelist.
– The Seroines are a beautiful half-human, half-elemental race who are very closely bonded with nature. Seroines have interacted with Humans for a long time, have no appetite for
conflict or politics and pursue balance in everything they do. They are very gifted with magic, and can communicate with the natural spirits.
– The Seroine Bowmistress is a skilled expert in ranged combat. She can specialise in either stunning and mesmerising opponents as an Archer, or longrange, high-damage attacks as a Ranger.
Two more races and six more classes will be revealed and made accessible to players during the Open Beta and after Commercial Launch.

Gala Networks Europe announces Canaan Online

Gala Networks Europe are proud to announce details of our sixth game (third in the English market), Canaan Online. 
 
Canaan Online is the first fully open-world 3D mmorpg, available completely in Flash. It will be launching in English, French and German in early 2010, with additional languages to follow throughout 2010.
 
Canaan Online marks gPotato.eu’s first foray into browser games, and continues our strategy of bringing the best games from across the world to European users.

GodsWar Online: Latest Patch Adds Pets, Events and More

The latest version of IGG’s GodsWar Online is now live. Version 1.0.237 introduces the new pet system, some special events, class balancing and other changes.
 
New pet system added
The new system adds many cool new functions such as pet enhancing, merging, transferring and more. The item mall is stocked with items to help players train their pets in whatever way best fits their play style.
 
Zeus’ Gift Event begins
This event focuses on the idea of giving, and in return players can receive EXP, talent points and valuable items.
 
Sign-in Event launched
In connection with this event, the Nameplate Claiming and Renewing functions have been added. Players can trade nameplates for EXP and talent points.
 
Equipment Stats Enhanced
Lower than Epic quality or Grade 10 equipment items have had their stats enhanced.
 
Classes Balanced
A number of class skills have been adjusted to create a more balanced gaming environment.
 
In addition, players who have reached Level 120 are temporarily restricted from leveling up, but they can accumulate EXP for later use once the level cap is removed.

Gamenetworks Announce the Open Beta of CTRacer

Gamenetworks confirms today that the open beta for CTRacer will start on August 21, 2009 [08:00 +9GMT]. CTRacer is one of the newest casual racing gamer ever for global market. CTRacer features an extensive list of unique racing cars which players can customize.  Players can customize each car’s appearance as well as modify its performance and color with different characteristics. There are many fun and challenging race tracks where players can master and compete with other drivers.
During the Open Beta period, players will experience handful of events in-stored for them. CTRacer will hold its first event ever; the Reckless OBT driving event. Where players have to team up with each other and race against the other players’ team. It’s freestyle, no holds-barred race.
Aside from that, the game will also conduct the CTRacer Grand Prix; it’s a classic, championship style of race where players can experience real racing at its best. A weekly and a monthly tournament for players to prove that they have what it takes to be number one.
Players can also spread their love for CTRacer by joining the CTR Ordinance # 1: Plug Me Baby, an offline contest wherein a player will post their selected line that promotes CTRacer in any social networking sites they belonged.
Lastly, CTRacer will hold the Guild Raising event. It’s for the like-minded players to come together and help each other with quests, territorial battles, and of course, races.

World of Battles

World of Battles is a new MMORTS featuring nine different races each forming their own faction. Within this immense clan war players can recruit and train their armies, customize their units and soldiers and put them to work.
 
Take part in huge battles in order to establish yourself as a warlord and progress in the online World of Battles’ ranks. Players can connect for quick play or participate in one of the many official tournaments.

Sho Online Review: Improves After First Impressions

By Bryan King (Bryan), OnRPG Journalist

‘Sho Online’ is an online game that is based on one of the four Chinese tales called the ‘Fengshen Yanyi’. The Fengshen Yanyi is a story that is created based on the real historical events. It merges the conflicts between the Yin and Zhou era to the imaginary world of Taoism. The starting point of this game is 50 years after the original ‘Fengshen Yanyi’ incident took place. Even though the Zhou’s revolution was successful, they were still confronted with the remaining forces of the Yin’s.

Under the circumstances where conflicts between the Chun and Jeol factions of the upper world rising, each players are positioned within the nation that they choose to be in. Over 80 different regions created through the historical research, players are to expand their territories by going through the new challenges that they encounter throughout the game. Players will fight till the day that they are acknowledged as heroes.

It is based on the theme of war between the two nations (Yin and Zhou). ‘Sho Online” brings fast game play as well as realistic war environments to each and every player of the game. Monsters with artificial intelligence, endless war between the two nations to expand their territories are the main points of this game.

Gameplay Elements

At the beginning of the game, during character creation, you have the choice of 3 base classes. Warrior, Assassin, and Soolsa. Later in the game, at level 10, you are able to branch out of those classes and expand to one of two classes for your base class.

The Warrior –  The Adamantor (Highest HP/Tank class) and The Demon Knight (Support Warrior that can serve as an off-tank, off-healing, or off-DPS).

Assassin – The Dagger Master (Assassin-type class, can set traps and hide.) and The Archer (Ranged DPS class)

The Soolsa – The Taoistic Priest (Support class, indispensible to allies) and Dark Soolsa (Wizard/Sorcerer, uses elemental skills)

While making your first character you choose a faction, Yin or Zhou. Both of these factions have respective and contested hunting territories, but those contested territories are not accessed until later in the game. These factions have different storylines and reasons for fighting in a long, expansive war. The first 1-10 quests are relatively self-explanatory and at level 10 you are able to choose your sub-class and get a promotion quest, which is a quest you get every ten levels to increase basic stat points and gain exclusive quests.

Sho Online Characters

The overall PvE elements of SHO early-game seem pretty boring. You do the basic “kill X monsters and return to NPC X” in the beginning of the game, which might repel players from staying past level 10. Past that, the game gets pretty interesting. There is a level-tiered instanced monster arena in which players partake in defeating waves of monsters that increase in difficulty, but offer great rewards. This system is named the “Slaughterhouse”. The most advanced and shining experience in SHO Online, personally speaking, would have to be the War System.

War System

Although SHO Online has contested maps where you can buy high level armors, weapons, and accessories, as well as defeat strong monsters, it also contains a full-fledged war system. Every eight hours, a governor for each dynasty (Yin and Zhou) is spawned in Cheon-Un Gate, a neutral area that both dynasties can equally reach. Once either of the governors is assassinated, war is declared and players will be teleported back to their base and prepare for war. Players can then buy a teleport to the Battle Area and wait for the war to start, which is a window time of five minutes. Players can also use siege vehicles, which are vehicles that can be bought and used in war, each of which have catalysts that can be used to unleash powerful attacks against opponents.

Warriors can use: A Chariot or Crush Cart

Assassins can use: Ballista or Flamethrower

Soolsas can use: Battle Wagon or Catapult

Each dynasty needs to follow and complete certain objectives to advance forward and push the enemy back. These objectives may include protecting a friendly NPC Defensive Commander, attacking an enemy NPC Defensive Commander, etc. These wars last an hour, and the dynasty with the most captured territories by the end of the war wins, or the war can be declared a draw. Each player receives a personal Experience, Mun (in-game currency), and Fame (War Experience) reward based on contribution to war, heroic deaths, kills, etc. The over-all winning dynasty gets multipliers added to their personal rewards.

Fame increases your War Rank. There are a total of 10 War Ranks within the game, each of which is distinguished by a medal near your character’s name and house (guild). With a higher War Rank, you can higher mercenaries to help you battle in war, and is a pre-requisite to buy certain legendary equipment.

War in Sho Online

The War System doesn’t have any level boundaries, so if you’re level 20 and get destroyed by a level 65… it’s all fair in love and war. I personally was hoping for a split level battle field, but that might split up the war population too much. Going to war, in conclusion, is an extremely fun experience. Many games cannot recreate the experience you have while playing the RvR War System on SHO, which does give the game the upper hand on most F2P MMOs.

Community

SHO Online’s community is a major factor of the game, I noticed many friendships, houses (guilds), and much GM interaction within the game. GMs visit players on weekends and run an array of events that players can choose from (X2 EXP, X2 Gold Drop, Monster Spawn, Hide and Go Seek, and many more) . I noticed that players would run personal events to help new players out, and given the fact that many MMOs don’t do that these days, that’s impressive. However, I did notice claims of “GMs giving players items” on their forums, I doubt these are true, but it is not eye-catching for a reviewer to see.  Overall, SHO Online’s community further enhances the game itself.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SHO Online provides a decently presented package. The graphics are not that impressive, early gameplay is not too enjoyable. However, the war system and community and well developed and will attract players of different tastes to SHO Online.

Pros:
– Extremely fun RvR
– Great Community
– Expansive Storyline.

Cons:
-Boring Early Content
-Graphics Not Impressive.

Wonderking Enter Closed Beta 2

Ndoors Interactive today announced the launch of a second closed beta for their new MMORPG, WonderKing. The second beta will give new players a chance to enter the world of WonderKing before the game’s official launch and see for themselves what over 20,000 other players have already had a chance to enjoy.

The second beta also serves as a period of fine-tuning for the gameplay and back-end which will ensure the highest quality experience at launch. “Over 20,000 players spent nearly half a million hours playing WonderKing in the first closed beta,” noted Peter Kang, CEO of Ndoors Interactive. “We truly appreciate all the players’ time and feedback. We received incredibly beneficial feedback that we’ll be implementing in the full launch to ensure a top-notch experience.

The second beta will allow us to receive additional feedback from new players and test some of the adjustments made from the first beta.” Designed for gamers of all ages, WonderKing is a 2D, side-scrolling MMORPG that is set in a vibrantly colorful world and features some of the most uniquely creative character designs and gorgeous graphics in any game in its genre. WonderKing’s unique features include dynamic PvP battles, a pet system, a sophisticated class advancement system, and much more. As with all of NDOORS’ titles, WonderKing is 100% free-to-play.

To sign up go to: http://www.onrpg.com/MMO/event/New-Wonderking-Closed-Beta-Accounts-Giveaway

Wonderking