Yearly Archives: 2010

Legend of Heroes

Legend of Heroes, is a multi-player web game that combines resource management, strategy game-play with role-playing (RPG), a game that will draw players with its simplicity in playing and yet complex with variations. In the Legend of Heroes, the world is a medieval fantasy world, filled with mythical and legendary characters and creatures.

Being a web game, you do not need to download or install on your PC or Mac, you can simply play it anytime anywhere with a web browser and an internet connection, the ideal game for anyone on the go and prefers a slower pace MMORPG.

In Legend of Heroes, player recruits and leads general, called “hero”, which in turn leads an army of warriors and creatures to explore, attack, defeat and conquer enemy castles and armies. The army is made of warrior, mercenaries and mythical creatures which are captured and tamed. Player must take on evil forces to resist their invasion. Sometime a single player’s force is not sufficient to repel the evil forces, the need to form teams and guilds with other players become a key feature in this game. With the concerted effort of other players, only then can the evil forces be defeated.

The various game plays like resource construction and management, training of heroes, exploration of uncharted territories, mission instances, the BOSS warfare, equipment upgrades, etc provides a permutation of development path for all types of players.

So be the LEGEND in the mythical world of Legend of Heroes!

Foreign Legion Interview for OnRPG

Foreign Legion Interview for OnRPG
Buckets of Blood Interview – Buckets of blood and buckets of fun
Questions by Bryan King, OnRPG Moderator and Journalist
Answered by _Pepijn Rijnders, Creative Director Sakari Games

 

I recently had the chance to sit down with Pepijn Rijnders, a developer over at Sakari Indie, the lead artist for Foreign Legion: Buckets of Blood. FL:BoB is an over the top action third-person shooter that encourages users to gain levels and ranks, unlock and purchase new guns, accessories, and even new armor.

 

OnRPG: Hello Pepijn, thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with us and our readers. Could you please formally introduce yourself to readers?
Hello everyone my name is Pepijn Rijnders, I am a male human and was born in Eindhoven in 1978. I started creating games back in 1999 when the CD-ROM was hip and people where afraid their computer would explode when the date counter would reach 2000. After working as a 3d artist at various game studios I co-founded Sakari Games. In august 2009 we released our first title Foreign Legion: Buckets of Blood.

 

OnRPG: In FL:BoB, is there any formal story that is involved? Is there something that players should be aware of or playing? Or is it a game where people can easily just buy the game and become immersed immediately?
The game is all about spilling as much blood as possible. The more gore you generate the more points you get. We created the game as something you want to play during your lunch break. A short burst of fun with no loading times or getting in the story again. It is also pretty easy to play. The controls are the basic WASD to move and mouse too look and shoot. Still there is some depth in the gameplay. You can unlock more weapons by reaching higher ranks. Your choice in weapons has a really big impact on your play style. Plus you can only carry 3 types of weapons so some levels you need to pick your weapons strategically.

 

OnRPG: What features are available in FL:BoB that separate it from other games?
I think the cartoon style works; it helps the game being light and fun. And it has some sort of guts. Shooting suicide bombers in their explosives for premature detonation has a political ring to it. I think you could see it as a silent statement. It’s a bit of a parody to the real world.

 

OnRPG: How long did it take to develop Foreign Legion?
The first version we put on steam took us 4 months with 3 people. We outsourced the music and the sound to Noel Wessels, who did a really good job. The game holds a lot more content now since we made an update for our loyal fans. The added content, like character customization, the leveling system, 5 more levels, more weapons and bonus stuff took us an additional 4 months.

 

OnRPG: What inspiration was used to create this game?
When the US barged into IRAQ for no real reason we made a little game out of protest called Iraq Invaders. It’s a bit like space invaders but tanks roll in and you shoot them to shreds with a bazooka. Now from that I liked to make a similar game in 3d. At the time we were creating the game, we were looking out for battlefield heroes. It seemed cool to play a game just by clicking on a ‘play now’ button in a browser and start shooting. The cartoon style they created really looked impressive. In the end when it came out you had to download 1 gig after pressing the ‘play now’ button and it started an exe from there. That bumped it out a bit. Plus World War II games are not my thing. But again damn DICE created something looking just super cool. I think the cartoon factor is something I myself just miss in a lot of games.

 

OnRPG: Can you please explain to readers the reasoning behind the name of Foreign Legion: Buckets of Blood?
We did not want to pick sides globally. The foreign Legion army is a mixture of all sorts of people from all sorts of nations. That, and of course they are a very hardcore no questions asked soldiers, made it more universal. The Buckets of Blood subtitle just has a nice ring to it. You can read from it that it’s not taking itself to serious and it keeps various spin-offs possible.

 

OnRPG: What audiences do you guys think will appreciate this game the most?
People that are not super hardcore gamers and do not have a fortune to spend on their computer and on games. The specs are so low that it’s even possible to play it on a decent netbook and still look good. I think people with a sense of humor also tend to like the game.

 

OnRPG: FL uses a leveling system that allows players to gain experience and money through doing the missions within the game, what methods are used to prevent players from hitting level 20, stockpiling a lot of weapons, and becoming bored? Are there different difficulties to keep the fun going?
The longer you play the more you unlock. On steam there are also a bunch of achievements that can extend the fun for achievement lovers. The game has an extreme mode you unlock after finishing the game. Only Merlijn Van Holder, who did most of the gameplay, and a handful off hardcore fans can last it a round in that mode. Still the game will full fill your need for blood at some point. But hey 5 bucks for at least 4 hours of proper fun, I think that is a good deal.

 

OnRPG: Do you guys plan to let users use an SDK to create custom content?
A level editor takes a lot of time to build and might not always interest the majority of our audience. On the bright side, we made the game with unity3d and that’s free now. So I’d rather encourage people to download unity and blender, the programs we used to create the game, form a team and start making your own games. Making games is a fun thing to do.

 

OnRPG: You guys have had many patches that have been custom tailored to fit the wants and needs from the community, and went so far as to hire another programmer to further enhance the game. How has your community pushed you guys to take that “extra mile” to make FL:BoB the best game it can be?
Well enthusiasm keeps you going I guess. You create games for people to play them. And if they like them you feel like you did your job well. We are completely independent and feel that the community is the best feedback for what people would like.

 

OnRPG: As the Art Lead for this project, can you explain to users the unique art style that was taken while developing FL?
I can’t really tell where it came from. I think I’m lazy so I exaggerate the stuff I think People like and make that cover up the bits I don’t want to work on. It also might be a heritage from ps2 development. Make your polygons count and keep your shapes visible on a SD TV. Shape is more important than detail to me. A strong shape draws your eyes in the right direction. The bottom line is that I just rebuild the world that is in my head. Good thing that that world is low-poly so performance will never be an issue.

 

OnRPG: As said on Sakari Indie’s blog, a multiplayer mode will be released soon. Please share some details about what players can expect to see in multiplayer competitive mode and cooperation mode.
Soon is a word I’d rather not use. Let’s say when it’s done. I want to release a multiplayer as bad as or even more than our fans. Gee last year I never even thought we would have fans. But sadly time and people do not always match, so just bear with us. We are working on something to keep you happy in the meanwhile…  And what to expect for the multiplayer… well we had so many great ideas from the community, shotgun soccer, chicken hunt, Suicide bomber run… Personally I love the co-op aspect and would like to bring that to the front. Maybe that is because I always get killed all the time in death matches.

 

OnRPG: Will this multiplayer portion be added as an update, DLC, or as an entirely new game?
This would be a new game. The simple reason for this is that to be independent, meaning you do not have somebody else paying your bills for you, you need money to keep going. Now I believe the game now is really good money for value. Adding a multiplayer mode for free will not generate a lot of income. Not enough to live off anyway. So the multiplayer will be sold separately but we will try to use the stuff you achieved in Buckets of Blood in the Multiplayer. Like carrier level we’ve shown on our blog we’d like to go for new and better looking environments too. We might add some Buckets of blood maps as a bonus. We want the game will have a set of new maps specially designed for multiplayer.

 

OnRPG: Also released recently on your blog, there will be a Kart vehicle released in future content. How will this play a role in single-player, and can we expect to see it used by players in multiplayer?
Yeah well that came along by introducing Unity3d to a college from an outsource job. We will put the game online during development so people can respond to the gameplay early on. This will also lay the base for some multi-player tests. The karting game might end up as a full FL spinoff game on steam at a super reasonable price. So to answer the question this will not be added as an update to the single player. The game is meant to be the as fun to play as Mario-kart but a lot more aggressive.

 

OnRPG: Where do you see FL:BoB a year from now?
On all the computers off the readers of this interview next to the other games that will hopefully spin off of this

 

OnRPG: Thank you again for your time, we really appreciate it.

MMORPGs on iPhone – A World in Your Pocket

MMORPGs on iPhone – A World in Your Pocket
By Neil Kewn (Murxidon) – OnRPG journalist

 

MMORPG – Those six letters personify PC gaming. Logging into your level 67 battle mage and spending countless hours mashing mouse buttons and hitting hotkeys. It’s the way these games were meant to be played, right?  Since its release in 2007, the iPhone has been nothing short of a phenomenal success, and with the App Store revolutionising gaming on the move, is the way we approach online multiplayer gaming about to change?

 

Imagine having a full-featured persistent world sitting in your pocket, ready to pick up and play whenever you’re in range of a WiFi or 3G signal. No longer will players be tied to their keyboard and mouse in order to level and adventure with their characters. Developers are looking to capitalise on the lucrative MMORPG market by offering something new, an entirely different roleplaying experience for handhelds. The MMO on the go is a reality.

 

Pocket Legends – Looking for something familiar?

Price: Free        Download from iTunes App Store

 

iPhone Pocket Legends MMO
The first fully 3D MMORPG for the iPhone

 

Pocket Legends is a fully 3D MMORPG from Spacetime Studios, available for your iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad. There are three races to choose from, each with their own class, The Firbolg-like Ursan warrior, the Elven enchantress and the Avian Archer. Instead of a world that all players go about their daily business in, players can host their own “games”. These are instanced dungeons that provide a slew of monsters to fight. There are usually five to ten players in each game, but you don’t necessarily have to team up to earn levels.

 

The user interface is intuitive and the learning curve is extremely short. Multitouch gestures have been incorporated to cut down on the number of buttons on screen, and the app will be very familiar to anyone who has used an iPhone for more than ten minutes. Pinching the screen zooms in, whilst two finger swipes rotates the viewing area.

 

For a platform like iPhone, this full featured MMO is extremely impressive. With PvP Arenas now a reality with the latest update, Pocket Legends is definitely worth checking out.

 

iMobster – Simple, but addictive

Price: Free          Download from iTunes App Store

 

iPhone Mobster MMO
Don’t try this at home

 

iMobster is one of the many text and image based MMORPGs on the App Store. You start as a lowly mobster, performing missions to level up your character and gain notoriety in the criminal underworld. Tasks range from shoplifting, to stealing cars, to organising heists, all with the intention of obtaining better items, vehicles and weapons.

 

From level four, you can attack other players to gain money and experience. The equipment you have determines how effective you are, so attacking a player with an AK-47 and a mob size of four with a lowly revolver isn’t advised. You won’t find flashy 3D graphics here, but the images and animations used are stylish and do a whole lot to enhance the game.

 

The app incorporates an item store that sells “Favor Points”. This in game currency can be used to purchase stolen goods, in game money and new members to your mob. But don’t worry, all of these upgrades are optional and can be achieved just by playing. Developers Storm8 offer a range of text-based MMOs for the iPhone platform, so if gangsters aren’t of much interest to you, try out World War or Vampires Live.

 

Merchant – A new concept, a new experience

Price: Free (paid version available)         Download from iTunes App Store (Netherlands only)

 

iphone Merchant MMO
Location based MMOs – A hugely interesting concept

 

It’s time to brush up your business skills. Merchant is a unique MMORPG, in that it’s based around your real-world location. Taking advantage of the iPhone’s GPS abilities, your phone becomes your caravan. Your handheld home can be taken anywhere in the world, developing your settlement along the way. Players interact with you through trade and thievery, with the objective being buying low and selling high. Commodities available include ore, food, wood and stone.

 

Unfortunately the game is only available in Netherlands, so players are required to have an iTunes account and associated payment from that country to download.

 

Anrufen Online – A classic RPG for on the move

Price: Free (but limited) – $12.99 Premium          Download from iTunes App Store

 

iPhone Anrufen Online MMO
Nostalgia in your hand!

 

Anrufen Online is an isometric MMORPG very reminiscent of Diablo and Ashen Empires. A touch joystick is used to control your character, with action bars displayed along the bottom of the screen. This type of MMO is made for the iPhone. After a while, I actually forgot I was playing the game on a portable device. The fundamentals of classic dungeon running are all here, and it is a perfect time waster for fans of the genre.

 

Unfortunately, Anrufen has been heavily criticised on the customer satisfaction front. Gold selling and scamming is rife, with developers WiStone Wireless Entertainment doing little to actively combat the problem.  It’s disappointing, as the game itself is an extremely solid multiplayer role playing experience. 

 

A viable alternative to desktop-based MMORPGs

The biggest issue with mobile MMOs is exactly that. They’re mobile. The playing area is much smaller, the hardware less powerful and the player is naturally less inclined to commit eight or so hours a day to their characters. But, that is not what these app developers are going for. The games are designed to be played casually, giving people on the go the ability to drop in and play for a few minutes at a time. They succeed in providing a slice of the unique massively multiplayer experience whenever you’re in range of a WiFi or 3G network.

Until there is increased awareness of these pinnacles of portable pleasure, player numbers are going to be low (even more so, when most only play for a couple of minutes at a time). To combat this, users have much more interaction with players that are offline. In iMobster, you can attempt to assassinate players who aren’t even logged in. But in a game like Pocket Legends, you never really get the feeling that the world you’re playing in is brimming with budding MMO adventurers. What has been proven though, is that these games are a realistic (and at times, fantastic) display of the iPhone’s potential in terms of mobile gaming possibilities.

 

iPhone Apple Ipad MMO
Can the Apple iPad become a successful gaming handheld?

 

Can they possibly compete with the more established MMORPGs? Probably not, but I don’t believe that’s what these games are aiming for. The iPhone user base is almost seven million, the iPad is selling like hotcakes and the App Store has over three billion downloads. The audience is there, but only time will tell if developers, and the hardware, can make a successful, lucrative and popular mobile MMORPG.  

Kingdom Heroes Preview: Is It Any Different?

Kingdom Heroes Preview: Is It Any Different?
By Kei Beneza (dividelife), OnRPG Journalist

 

Kingdom Heroes is an Oriental-themed MMO that stretches the limitations of the average MMO. Here you will see structures inspired by ancient Chinese culture, complete with emperors, warlords and the weapons you’d commonly see in those Chinese variety shows. After seeing the awesome cinematic intro, you could say that the game pretty much got me pumped up for dynasty war goodness. How different is Kingdom Heroes from the other MMOs that carry the same theme? I’m hella excited so let’s jump right in!

 

Character Creation

It’s not the best, but I’m pretty much satisfied with Kingdom Heroes’ character creation interface. You’ll be choosing between four unique classes, each with their own set of skills and trademark specialties to fit their users’ preferences. The four classes are as follows (with subclasses):

The Warrior– Your typical well-armored, high damaging, melee death bringer. Evolves to Tiger Captain or Fang Captain

Fencer– A nice mixture of the average rogue and the long-ranged bow wielder. He fights with utmost speed using either blade or bow. It’s quite weird that they decided to call this class a fencer because I see no fencing whatsoever. Evolves to Blademaster or Imperial Guard.

 

Character Creations Kingdom Heroes
Character Creation

 

The Tactician– Your everyday healer. Again given a weird name that doesn’t specify the class’ main profession. Since when did oriental tactician gain healing powers? Anyway, don’t think this healer is weak like others. The tactician also sports a nice set of damaging skills that will blow you away. Unless you want a burning barrel to come your way (serious about the barrel part), don’t underestimate the Tactician. Can evolve to Scholar or Strategist

The Conjurer- Other than the warrior, the conjurer attains a title worthy of his/her profession. Conjurers act as the nukers/spellcasters in the game. They are physically weak but provide powerful spell damage, making them a threat at long distances. Evolves to Mystic or Taoist

 

Kingdom Heroes 

 

Please Select Your—-Build?!

Yep! That’s right— build! Unlike other MMOs, Kingdom Heroes allow players to pick their desired physique. There are four character builds to choose from (two for each gender), each with their own set of custom faces to allow extra customizations. If you want your dude to look like an oriental brute, then by all means pick the Strong Man build. Want to look like the lead guy in Mulan? Youth would be the way to go. It is a shame that we’re not allowed to get muscular babes in the game; then again, who would want to pick those? Unlike male characters the difference between the two female builds are minimal. Seriously… Maiden or Beauty? Loli or Legal would be more appropriate.

 

Control Scheme

Without a doubt, the game’s control scheme is very easy to grasp and quite comfortable when it comes to mobility. Players can always choose to play the traditional way by exploring with the point and click system but can also make use of the WSAD keys to move around a bit more accurately. Holding the left and right mouse buttons will also make your character run, allowing you to steer with the mouse itself. Controls serve an important role in MMO gaming. Not only do they strengthen the playability and comfort level of each game, it also allows you to perform well in the midst of battle. I mean come on, isn’t the point and click routine a bit outdated by now?

 

 Kingdom Heroes Dynasty

 

ALL OUT WAR!!!

Early in the game, you will be asked to pick your faction. It was pretty confusing at first since I didn’t really know what it was for (either that or I just hate reading quest texts). The Kingdom War Feature (still under development) allows users to enter an all-out war scenario to see which faction reigns supreme. Once a faction is declared the victor, they will be opted to dress up their kingdom, at least to protect it for the upcoming war. War here we come!

 

OMG REALLY?!

It’s amazing how things just strike you when you least expect it. By the time I thought this would be nothing more than a generic experience, the game offered me the ability to recruit soldiers (that’s right! Recruit!). Let me see, the last game that gave me the ability to do this was Guild Wars, and as always the feature is a welcomed option. It’s pathetic since I only got one servant to start with, but judging by the swarm of soldiers inhabiting the leveling grounds, I’d say you can get more than five. Not only does it help you beat down monsters, it also makes things a lot easier (not to mention faster).

 

OMG REALLY?! PART 2!

Other than the awesome soldier-recruiting feature, the game also allows players to mount more than just your average horse. All this time, I’ve been craving for an attacking mount. I guess I just didn’t see it coming. The game allows players to ride siege engines and warships during the Kingdom war. Only the Guild Leader can access the main panel so make sure you stay friends with your leader; that is if you want to ride that badly.

 

Kingdom Heroes Interface
Kingdom Heroes Interface 

 

Graphic and Interface

As much as I hate to admit it, the game’s in-game graphics couldn’t keep up with its awesome gameplay. The first thing that strained my eye was the water detail, which looks a lot like a big JPEG file enduring a series of frame tearing. Just to clear things up… I didn’t say that the graphics sucked; however, some of the elements (like the water detail) tend to pull it down to SUCK level.

 

Kingdom Heroes Graphics 

 

The Verdict

Old or new, Kingdom Heroes managed to display a marvelous set of features that are sure to impress any MMO gamer out there. To be honest, I was starting to think that MMOs that share this theme will continue to provide generic features, and boy was I wrong. The Kingdom War feature is definitely worth checking out. With extra features like mountable tanks and ships, who would want to pass up an opportunity to play a game like this? The graphics could use some intense tweaking. It’s still in open beta, so let’s hope the final product does the game more JUSTICE.

 

Pros:
– Fun gameplay
– Simple interface
– Mounts (ALL OF ‘EM)
– The ability to hire servants
– ALL OUT WAR

Cons:
– Graphics could use some tweaking
– Questing is nothing more than a grind for experience (kill this, kill that)
– Needs more monsters (The place is so crowded at times, it’s hard to spot targeted monsters)

Transformers MMO Announced

Transformers MMO Announced

Netdragon and Hasbro have announced that they have begun work on an MMO in the Transformers Universe; for now the working title is aptly named “Transformers MMO“.

 

Transformers MMO - Let's hope Soundwave is in it!

 

I’m afraid that there is a bit of bad news as well as it doesn’t look like we’ll get the game over in the West right away:

 

“Under the agreement, Net Dragon willl develop the large-scale MMORPG “Transformers MMO” for release in 2011 in China and Asia, including Russia, CIS countries including the Middle East and North Africa.”


Translation: We’re going to have to wait for it for a while before it will be localized and released in the US and Europe!

Combat Arms Releases New Block of Content

Combat Arms Releases New Block of Content

Combat Arms has released a new block of content this week. The new update, called Operation: Sector 25, adds a new set of deadly weapons to its industry-leading armory as well as a new zone and a recruitment program that delivers rewards to recruits and recruiters alike.

Combat Arms has released a new block of content this week: Operation: Sector 25

The new zone, called Sector 25, is a lab setting designed as an oval with a center corridor and a core connected to the outer oval hall with a series of passages. Opposing forces can clash in the center corridor or battle over flags at each end of the center core.

Also added to the swelling list of game weapons is the Ultimax 100 machine gun, perfect for mowing down large numbers of attackers, and the DSR-1, a portable sniper rifle well suited for shoot-and-run situations. Additionally, the new Baron’s M416 CQB  epic assault rifle can be found in the MYST-N supply cases. To help identify weaknesses in enemies, a new KDR/HP vision gauge can be purchased that shows an enemy’s kill/death ratios, as well as the amount of hit points they have remaining when targeted by a players reticle.

To help players from ending up in the morgue, a new Balistic Helmet has been introduced that provides added protection from headshots, increases a players speed and protects them from the effects of flash grenades.

The new recruitment program, running through Aug. 25, provides rewards to players who bring in friends to play Combat Arms until they are ranked Sergeant. Players will be given rewards based on how many friends they recruit, and recruits who stay through the sergeant rank will receive GP and other items for their loyalty. New recruits will immediately receive a free Starter Package that includes seven days worth of weapons and gear. The recruit will also have the opportunity to complete a training program, from which they will receive 3,000 GP that they can use to gear up even more.

Open Beta of LOCO – Land of Chaos Online to Begin on August 3

Open Beta of LOCO – Land of Chaos Online to Begin on August 3

 

Burda:ic, a leading publisher of online games worldwide, today announced that the Open Beta Test for highly anticipated RTS action RPG LOCO – Land of Chaos Online will begin on August 3. For the first time, the Land of Chaos will be accessible to any and all players who dare to visit its perilous battlefields, putting themselves in the shoes of 30 characters from two factions vying for total domination.

 

Land of Chaos Online Loco Beta

 

“We’re really looking forward to opening the floodgates to players who have yet to experience the pandemonium that is the Land of Chaos,” said Achim Kaspers, Managing Director of Burda:ic. “With this final test run, we’ll be working around the clock to collect feedback and valuable info as we prepare for the official launch!”

 

Burda:ic has also revealed an official teaser trailer for the Open Beta which showcases some of the game’s most popular characters crushing foes and boss monsters alike. To view the new trailer online, click here.

 

Land of Chaos Online Loco Beta

Dawn Of Nations Review: Does It Compare To Its Peers?

Dawn Of Nations Review: Does It Compare To Its Peers?
By Kei Beneza (Dividelife), OnRPG Journalist

 

Dawn Of Nations is an MMO web browser game set in the unforgiving campaigns of World War 2. The game actually feels a bit TOO much like Evony Online, but since it shares the same war theme, it’s a given that it will also contain the generic browser game basics. To be honest, I’m not really sure why the sub-genre (web browser wars) refuses to evolve. We’ve seen countless games that share the same system, as though the developer’s only goal was to launch something that completely matches the recent threshold of enjoyment rather than create something new and potentially better. So what separates Dawn of Nations from both its predecessors and successors? What makes this war game so different? I guess we’ll soon find out.

 

Starting Up

Upon starting the game, you’ll be prompted to create your commander. Not much to talk about really. At least the game was gracious enough to provide a set of character portraits. Aside from the basic information, you’ll be asked to create your own city in a location of your choice. You will be given a status report regarding the area’s population, allowing you to distinguish the number of players in each area. There’s also the TROOP BANNER name option, but I sort of remember banners being designed and not named. Oh wait, of course! Photoshop and MS paint didn’t exist back then in World War 2 right?

 

Dawn of Nations Starting Up 
Dawn of Nations Starting Up

 

After creating your commander, you will be catapulted to the in game tutorial. May I say that the tutorials were exquisitely presented? Not only do they explain the basics pretty well; they also highlight keywords and key panels to familiarize players with the important parts of the interface.

 

The Better Cake: Officer System

Although the game has expanded its genre’s generic game play, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s just a well-iced cake in freezer full of cakes. The object of the game is very simple: save up, sustain a stable economy, create an army of epic proportions, and DESTROY. The question is… how special is this icing?

 

The first thing that caught my attention was the “Officer System” which is similar to the RTS Hero system, although unlike heroes, officers are assigned to perform specific tasks, some of which are not combat-oriented. All officers have different stats which allow you to distinguish their specialties. An officer who’s high in politics for example would greatly enhance your construction speed, while those blessed with knowledge can speed up your research time. Also, players are able to equip their officers with various items to increase their capabilities. It’s actually quite refreshing to see heroes that know something else other than combat.

 

Dawn of Nations Officer System
Dawn of Nations Officer System

 

So what are the downsides to having an officer? Their salary of course! You didn’t think these sly tacticians would lend you their talents for free now did you? Yes… Officers must be paid in gold for them to continue their services. Failure to do so decreases their loyalty bar, resulting in abandonment. This is BAAAD!

 

Dawn of Nations Equips 
Officer Equips

 

Quests

Yes, the game does have quests (missions). They are a bit linear and rather repetitive at times, but I would strongly advise you to grind  them as they give exceptional rewards that can really aid you in your journey (or skirmishes). 

 

PLS! WAR NAO!

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I strongly disagree with the rookie protection system. It does help you mass up for 7 days without being attacked, but isn’t there a way to turn it off when you’re ready? The part I hate about these types of games is the waiting factor. Declaring war can take as long as 8 hours, depending on whom you are attacking. Declaring war on allies forces you to wait for 8 hours before actual bullets are fired, while attacking players from the opposing faction takes 4 hours. To make up for the epic wait, the game displays a graphical description of the actual combat. It’s pretty satisfying, but would definitely be better if they lowered the wait factor.

 

Dawn of Nations War Nao
Plz War Nao

 

Graphics and Interface

The graphics are actually pretty impressive and greatly satisfies the average browser game’s general lack of animation. In this game, you are able to indicate which of your buildings are being built though an animated wrench on top the structure. It’s not that important, but the mere fact that this game carries an animated action separates it from the average web browsers graphics. The interface is also something to look at, as the menus and options are conveniently placed on the visible portions of your screen. Also, since there are so many resources to keep track of, I’m pretty happy that they managed to find images that perfectly suit the corresponding resource. Some games actually have incomprehensible images, making it hard to distinguish which specific resource it represents. When it comes to graphics and interface, I’d say Dawn of Nations beats its predecessors by a mile.

 

Dawn of Nations Verdict
The Verdict

 

Verdict

As a browser game, Dawn of Nations proved to be much better than SOME of its predecessors. It’s not the best one around, but definitely one of the better ones. The officer system is superb, and greatly expands the depth of game play. One thing that strikes me though is the fact that PAYING players have a big advantage over those who are playing for free. Yes, players can purchase diamonds from the online marketplace, allowing them to speed up their progress.. I guess this serves as a hint for players who want to play the game seriously. Wanna rule? PAY! With an awesome interface, a deep (yet simple) system, and a whole lot of micromanaging, Dawn of Nations is a game worth trying out.

  

Pros:
– Great Interface
– User-friendly
– Officer system
– Different war vehicles.

 

Cons:
– Waiting time
– Cash is King
– May get boring after a few tries.