Monthly Archives: September 2010

Fist of Fu Preview: Kicking Butt Kung Fu Style

Fist of Fu Preview: Kicking Butt Kung Fu Style
By Vincent Haoson (Vincenthaoson), OnRPG Journalist


Fist of Fu is the latest action game from the company who brought us games Fiesta Online and Secrets of the Solstice, Outspark. The game is an over the top kung-fu themed cell-shaded semi-side scrolling beat em’ up that hails back to kung-fu movies of old.

 

 

Fists of Fu Creation

 

First Impressions

Upon entering the game you are welcomed into a Chinese town getting yourself acquainted on the game controls that are pretty easy to grasp. Being a big fan of beat em ups, it took me less than a minute to get the controls and get my kung-fu on.

 

The game’s background and BGM are very perky and vibrant that it seemed I was transported into a kid’s show. Moving through the town is easy enough because you only have two directions to move to. For a game that’s just started you can see a lot of people milling around the town which is pretty packed specially on peak hours.

 

Not Your Usual Kung Fu

Fists of Fu Flashy

 

Before I continue, I think I have this responsibility to dispel the idea that when you hear the word Fu you’d expect martial arts, especially on a game that incorporates the other half of Kung. Fist of Fu doesn’t circle around the different martial arts techniques in kung-fu, in fact, the characters in the game have weapons, and you have the archers the swordsmen and the magicians.

 

The classes in fact remind me so much of another MMOG beat ’em up, Grand Chase. The similarities are there however, Fist of Fu gives you a choice on which character class you’ll be using and you’re stick with that character till you create a new one, unlike in Grand Chase where you have the freedom to switch the character class you’re using.

Customization

The game has no character customization features. In fact you’re stuck with the look of your character till you grow tired of it. The only thing that varies visually is the clothes and the weapon your character uses. The clothes vary from making your character look cute to killer armors that can make you drool a river. However the game is not just about the items but also of the your skills with the keyboard or pad depending on your control device.

 

Grading System

 

Fists of Fu Grades

 

In every instance you finish, you are graded on your performance in the instance. Similarly to Devil May Cry being able to execute the numerous combos the game has helps you get those high grades that can translate to better experience and money rewards. The moves themselves are not pretty hard to do specially for beat ’em up veterans however it’s figuring when to use the combos at your arsenal is where you need to have a harmonious combination of wit and reflexes.

Battling with your dexterous fingers and sharp wit!

This is where I can say that the game is not just a “who gets a stronger weapon” wins MMOG. There will be moments where a wily player will outlast and even beat the better equipped ones because he has used all his wit in winning.

 

Fists of Fu Skill Tree

 

Keeping players on their toes is the one thing I like about Fist of Fu. There will be moments that you’d think the stage is as easy as pie, and I admit it will come. However there will be instances where you’d have to be careful. You can’t get too complacent in some of the instances especially those instances that are as easy as pie on the easy levels. I’ve experienced the sad realization of that during one run when I forgot that the level I was set in hard. My character got his butt handed to him when I was flocked and eventually knocked out.

 

With that in mind, I’m placing all my bets that the game’s PvP is going to be pretty exciting and hardcore PvPers will definitely sport an injured wrist. However the PvP is not yet available when I logged in so it’s still under speculation if I am accurate or not, however based on my experience I may not be far off from that assumption.

Titles

 

Fists of Fu Achievements

 

There’s a nifty game system that’s in place in Fist of Fu and normally you wouldn’t see it in this type of game. Fist of Fu has a title that doubles as an achievement system in place. You can earn titles after achieving acts of feat such as finishing a series of instances or killing a certain amount of monsters. Earning these titles would give your name a cute graphic that’s corresponding to the title you’ve earned.

 

I like the idea behind the titles because it gives players a good goal to reach especially if you don’t like PvPing or PvEing without any reason.

Conclusion

Fist of Fu is a pretty fun game to play, the mix of over the top characters and an easy to grasp game control system makes it a game everyone can pick up and play after the first few minutes. However, this game is also the type where your skills will be tested and if competitive players will definitely enjoy the challenge. The thing is the game is still open to players who are just looking for a game that’s easy and fun to play. You can just keep on PvEing without any problem because the game’s PvP system is only ingrained in as much as earning more items and titles.

 

I strictly believe that Fist of Fu has a lot of potential in being a hit of an MMOG. It’ll be a bigger game when the PvP system comes out. One of the things that bug me about the game though is the obvious delay in terms of acquiring the drops which can pretty much offset my pace. Fist of Fu is solid enough of a game not to be noticed by the public, just as long as out spark deals their cards right then they have a winner in the form of Fist of Fu.

 

The New Face of Monato Esprit – Review

The New Face of Monato Esprit – Review
By Briana Williams (Columbae), OnRPG Journalist

 

In July of 2009, Reality Gap launched their fantasy based MMO, Monato Esprit. Since then, the game has grown slowly and garnered varied criticism for generic game play, a predictable premise and, most notably, a completely player-driven economy heavily reliant on currency purchased with actual money. It has a low population and a poor reputation, but it is possible that much of the negative reaction is undeserved, especially in light of recent developments in Reality Gap’s business model.

 

The June 14th patch introduced new elements that have significantly altered the nature of the game. A new career has opened up customization options, new areas have opened up the Monato world, and a revamp of the currency system has turned the economy on its collective head. Unfortunately, new bugs and difficulties have surfaced as well, and not all of the existing problems have been addressed. The sum total of the good and bad make up the new Monato Esprit experience, and it is markedly different from the game that launched last summer.

 

Monato Esprit: Land of Dreams

Reality Gap’s flagship MMO is a generic fantasy title set in the aptly named Monato Esprit – the land that gives birth to our dreams. All is well until an evil spirit begins turning good dreams into nightmares. Players are Archons, winged humanoids trusted to protect Monato Esprit from any possible threats, and it is their responsibility to use the power of magic crystals to fight the nightmares and take back their peaceful land.

 

The game itself is a typical one, similar to hundreds of other fantasy based MMOs on the market. There are no surprises in character creation; with only one race and limited customization options, most avatars look alike. When the game launched, there were only four classes – hwarang, templar, mage, and cleric. The new update has brought the new harlequin class into play, and the sheriff class is said to be next on the agenda.

 

Monato Esprit

 

The game’s aim is to level up through PVE encounters, primarily quests and dungeons. Quests are generous enough to prevent serious grinding. Most are easily accomplished solo, but party play is helpful down the line. Dungeons, on the other hand, are poorly implemented. Although they are instanced and provide a surprisingly creepy break from an otherwise cutesy game, the mini-map support is weak and confusing, making them wearisome affairs. There is no PVP option at all, though supposedly a guild versus guild feature is on the horizon. The community is very, very small, but warm and helpful. The overall experience is a pleasant but generic one, with the exception of…

 

Crafting! Endless Possibilities

Monato boasts one of the best and most developed crafting systems out there. Through alchemy, which every Archon can perform, it’s possible to create any item a player could need. By combining raw materials gathered from monsters, equipment, potions and wings can all be produced. Likewise, existing items can be broken down into raw materials to create new items. Alchemy rewards players fairly for time and effort invested, and it clocks in as one of the best reasons to play.

 

Mad Money: Monato’s New Economy

With the release of the June patch comes the single largest change to Monato Esprit,  the introduction of a gold system. Previously, the economy was entirely player driven with no gold drops and no NPCs to sell or buy from. All transactions were either direct trades or hinged on the use of MetaTix, the in-game currency purchased at the cash shop. A truly free to play experience was not a reality, as some dungeons, weapons and even repair costs for gear cost MetaTix. The introduction of the gold system permits players to enjoy the game’s content, repair gear and generally enjoy themselves without a financial commitment.

 

 

Montano Esprit Alc

 

The downside to the new patch is the number of bugs that have been introduced. Some recipes, scrolls and skills do not work properly while some do not work at all. These issues will hopefully be cleared up in coming weeks, but they may present a stumbling block to new players.

Outstripped by Passing Butterflies: Gameplay

Monato Esprit employs a mouse based control system with no WASD configuration. How your keys are tied to skills and potions and targeting can be difficult. The weakest aspect of Monato’s overall game play is the speed. Motion, combat and skills are all very slow, often seeming delayed. The result is a slow paced game where action does not feel like action.

 

The game’s stability has so far been questionable at best. Crashes were common and served as a major detriment to building a strong population. Reality Gap is striving for increased stability with the new the update, but time will tell if the server’s downtime will reflect these changes.

 

Absolutely Average: Graphics and Sound

The look of Monato Esprit supports the predictable fantasy premise with predictable art and unsophisticated graphics. Though not unpleasant, it has a dated feel to it; avatars and structures are heavy, clumsy and a tad angular. A clever color palette leaves it feeling warm, however, and the cutesy character designs still manage to be very inviting.

 

Montano Esprit Character

 

The greatest weakness in the sound department is the repetition. Many of the effects and background songs are frequently recycled over and over. On the bright side, the sound is usually appropriate and does a great job of enhancing game experience. Overall, Monato is not a piece of technical wizardry, but it functions well as a cute, peppy, fantasy-based MMO – which is exactly what it is.

 

Give it to Me Straight

Many gamers gave up on Monato Esprit before the title had a chance to evolve. The bad news is that Monato is a predictable game with a low population and a poor reputation. The good news is that Reality Gap has listened to player feedback and made major, game-altering changes to its premiere MMO in their quest to improve it. To walk away without giving Monato Esprit a fighting chance is a crying shame. With the first of many major developments in place, it is the rare game that works with players to create a better experience. It is hard to say how it will evolve, but it is probably safe to assume that it will be a title to watch.

 

Pros:

-Excellent crafting system

-Plenty of quests

-Evolving economy

 

Cons:

-Cookie cutter fantasy premise

-Very low population

-No PVP option

Craft of Gods Opens F2P Server

Craft of Gods Opens F2P Server

 

Kalicanthus announced the opening of a new Free to Play server for Craft of Gods, which will run aside of the already existing Pay to Play server.

 

The server has been introduced in order to give players one more free choice and make Craft of Gods, now more than ever, ‘the game of free choices’, not only with regards to gameplay, but also regarding the payment methods.

 

Kalicanthus announced the opening of a new Free to Play server for Craft of Gods

 

“We feel, that this is an innovative and unique feature” says Fabrizio Cali, CEO at Kalicanthus, “which will give users one more choice on how they prefer to play the game. They will now be able to choose whether they want to pay to play by subscription or if they prefer to play for free and buy the items they want in the item shop. It is very simple: they just choose between the two servers”.

 

Players who buy the retail box can convert the value of the box (29,95 Euro) into 50 Euro of virtual currency and have a number of great free bonuses on top.

 

In order to enter the new server and play for free, users will have to register an account on the website and download the client.

The game itself is the same on the two servers. The P2P server will continue to offer the complete game, including all its features and items to those users who chose subscription, while on the F2P server some items and features will be available only if acquired through a new premium currency called ‘Kun’, which can be purchased through the Kalicanthus Item shop.

 

Players will be able to transfer their characters from one server to the other, with some minor limitations. The detailed list of differences between the servers and all details regarding the character transfer can be checked out on the Craft of Gods’ website.

Dark Age of Camelot

Dark Age of Camelot is a 3D medieval fantasy MMORPG that revolves around war between three realms following King Arthur’s rule.

DAoC includes both Player versus Environment and Realm versus Realm combat. Players can choose to adventure alone or join groups. Players may also join battlegroups, which are formed so all members are able to get completion of credit in large scale PvE encounters and for communication purposes in RvR.

Player vs. Player combat takes the form of Realm versus Realm, a term which DAoC invented.[1] RvR is restricted to the zone New Frontiers where action ranges from massive battles to one vs one fights. Players are awarded realm points for each enemy realm player they kill. After gaining a certain amount of realm points, you gain a Realm Rank. While gaining Realm Ranks, you gain Realm Ability Points, one for each rank you gain. You are able to purchase with your realm abilities points certain skills unique to your class. Participating in RvR combat is strictly voluntary in DAoC and free-for-all PvP only exists on a dedicated server.

PvE focuses on defeating monsters found in dungeons, the open world, and RvR zones. Players earn experience points towards obtaining levels by killing both monsters and enemy players. Gaining levels yields new skills, abilities, and access to expansion areas. The current maximum level is 50. Expansions to the game offer alternative advancement type levels that grant additional abilities to level 50 players.

Business Tycoon Online announces new Concept Vehicle System

Business Tycoon Online announces new Concept Vehicle System

 

DOVOGAME has just announced an addition to the fantastic Vehicle Combination system that has brought many valuable cars with amazing attributes.

 

Previously, Tycoons who used the Vehicle Combination system had a chance to receive a special Concept vehicle that could be given a custom name by the lucky owner. These Concept vehicles boasted high attributes, as well special bonuses, including increasing store revenue, increasing Factory production rate, and increased raw material supply rate. As well as being custom named, these special attributes truly makes the owner of these Vehicles stand out.

 

Business Tycoon

 

Different from Vehicle Combinations, Concept Vehicle Combination enables you to select up to 5 cars. These 5 cars must add up to a total value of at least 150,000 Gold. Combination Scrolls cannot be used and the combination cannot be started until the Gold valuation is met. Once the value reaches 150,000 Gold, the combination can be started. Players are guaranteed a Concept Vehicle, worth at least 199,999 Gold, and will then be able to name the vehicle anything they want. Not only will these vehicles have high basic attributes, they also have all three of the special attributes! This makes owning a Concept Vehicle a must for those looking to stand out and obtain an advantage in the business world of Liberty City!

 

For more details on Concept Vehicle Combinations, check out the official BTO website.

ESTSoft announces details on the Fourth Episode of CABAL Online

ESTSoft announces details on the Fourth Episode of CABAL Online

 

ESTSoft today announced details of the latest free expansion for CABAL Online, the hugely popular free-to-play massively multiplayer online game (MMORPG). Episode IV: Porta Inferno will be released this month for free download in Europe and the United States, expanding the level cap to 180, adding a brand new hunting region and introducing a range of stunning new skills. It will continue to build on the winning formula that has made the game a global success, with fast-paced action, a unique combo system and spectacular skill animations.

 

CABAL Episode IV will lead players through the portal to the gates of hell, transporting them to the edges of the world to a place inhabited by the deadliest and most vicious scourge. It will put them face to face with the strongest foes ever to grace the lands of Nevareth, with outdoor bosses and a series of challenges to overcome.

 

Other notable features of the expansion include:
– Increased level cap from 170 to 180.
– New Maps – Porta Inferno and Chaos Arena Level 6.
– New Quests
– Revamped item upgrading system – Ability to upgrade equipment to +15, giving the item improved stats and appearance.
– Social Network Integration – Register and post tweets to a twitter account while inside the game.
– Expanded War System – All players above level 51 will now be able to participate in the nation war battles.

 

More information on CABAL Online Episode IV, including preview screenshots and trailers, can be found on the official game website for the United States and for Europe.

 

Cabal

High demand cripples Final Fantasy XIV open beta launch

High demand cripples Final Fantasy XIV open beta launch
Neil Kewn (Murxidon) – OnRPG journalist

 

Overwhelming demand for the Final Fantasy XIV open beta has crippled game servers and forced restrictions on the number of players able to test the forthcoming multi-platform MMO.

 

Despite the open beta period launching over six days ago, players who managed to secure a beta key have reported numerous issues with the game. Including long download times, failed logins and cursor problems.

 

In an effort to ease the congestion on Final Fantasy’s servers, Square Enix temporarily limited the number of beta keys available to hopeful players. Keys are now readily available, but complaints are still flooding FFXIV message boards. Server issues continue to plague the open beta, with the entire game being taken offline at numerous points for several hours at a time.

 

FFXIV Logo

 

According to IGN, The open beta test was originally postponed after a number of “critical bugs” were found, but the launch went ahead several hours later. Reaction to the game has been mixed, with OnRPG members reporting numerous performance and mouse issues, but offered praise for the game’s impressive visuals.

 

Final Fantasy XIV is the latest iteration in the acclaimed role-playing series, and the second massively multiplayer game bearing the Final Fantasy hallmark to enter the MMO market. The game is scheduled to hit shelves on September 30, with a PlayStation 3 release next year. Square Enix have not ruled out an Xbox 360 version of the game.

 

It is traditional that the open beta phase of any MMORPG encounters a few hiccups along the way, but Square Enix should have anticipated that a game of this magnitude would attract a sizable number of players willing to participate in the beta, especially considering they went through the pitfalls of MMO testing eight years previous. With the game’s official release just a few weeks away, Komoto and Co. don’t have a lot of time to iron out the bugs before the game goes live. Let’s hope players won’t have to wait for post-release patches to get the polish the series usually has an abundance of.