Under The Wire: Vampire The Masquerade – Bloodlines

Neil Kewn – OnRPG Journalist

Vampires have enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence in recent years, thanks in part to the Twilight saga and its controversial portrayal of the bloodsucking mutants. Whilst Robert Pattinson isn’t for everyone, those who wish to sink their teeth into a more interactive vampiric tale have a nice selection of games to choose from. BloodRayne, the Dracula saga, Vampire Rain and even The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion all have their own take on our freaky friends. Yet possibly the most notable vampire title comes in the form of 2004s Vampire The Masquerade – Bloodlines, developed by Troika Games. It’s an immersive PC role-playing game that gives players the chance to satisfy their bloodthirst in the safety of their own home.

Bloodlines is very much driven by a narrative, based on the pen and paper role-playing series Vampire: The Masquerade. You can expect a very detailed and atmospheric tale. But there is also a lot of freedom to be had, and you often find yourself branching off to take part in many of the games intriguing side quests. You take on the role of a fang-wielding shadow dweller, and it is perfectly possible to play like one – lurking in the shadows and feeding on unsuspecting members of the public never gets old.

Similar to many of today’s RPGs, Bloodlines lets you approach quests in any way you see fit. You don’t necessarily have to enter combat to get things done (although it usually helps) and progress can be made through choices made in conversation. Want to avoid a fight with a thug? Try and seduce him. You can be as aggressive as you want to be, with a multitude of different outcomes in each given scenario.

The characters that populate the streets can also usually be of serious use to you, helping you keep your blood level topped up or providing useful information or quests. Persuading a lost businessman to wander down a dark alleyway for a little midnight feast is an effective way to avoid a “frenzy” – a ferocious state where players lose all control over their character. It really adds to the dark and dangerous atmosphere the game sets out to create.

Bloodlines was one of the first games to utilize Valve’s infamous Source engine, and seven years later it still looks good. Textures are crisp, lighting is great and character models are detailed. It may not have the physics the Source engine became famous for, but the game is stable and runs at a nice frame rate even with maximum settings and a few mods attached. The musical score is excellent, with dark ambient tracks contrasting the thumping club beats found in the rougher parts of town. Voice work is also a highlight.

The game begins with a character creation process. This can be done one of two ways. For those wishing to take a more narrative route, a series of questions assigns points into various abilities for you. This of course can be done manually, and a short tutorial introduces you to many of the games mechanics. From there, you branch from quest to quest solving puzzles and satisfying the needs of non-player characters, earning you experience to level up and improve your skills.

Feeding on mortals is an important activity in Bloodlines. Like all good vampires, you require regular fixes of fresh human blood to stay effective. When your blood bar is empty, you can no longer use many of the skills and abilities you have harnessed. Feeding is assigned to the F key, but draining the poor victim’s neck for too long can kill them and performing the deed in front of other mortals is a punishable offence. Masquerade points are lost for exposing your true self to humans, and once your reserve is depleted the game ends.

In terms of interface, combat and abilities are assigned to the left and right mouse buttons. Left executes your primary attack while right click performs any buff, skill or curse you have currently selected. There are a variety of weapons at your disposal ranging from melee equipment like baseball bats and police batons, to pistols and other forms of firepower. The game can be played from both a first and third person perspective, switching automatically depending on what weapon you are wielding when you begin an attack. Unfortunately, combat itself is lacking. Many of the melee attacks fail to register at times and weapons can sometimes be drastically underpowered. This improves as you make your way through the game, but it never really excites. I found myself trying to avoid confrontations with my silver tongue more often than not.

Clans make up a substantial part of Bloodline’s narrative and gameplay, and there are seven for you to choose from. Each offers their own distinct way of playing, and depending on which you choose it can drastically alter the way you progress through the game. The bloodline you side with more or less acts like your class and you gain perks in specific skills to compliment this. The skills, or disciplines, on offer range from movement enhancements, better strength and increased ferocity to more effective curses, sorcery and even invisibility.

In addition to heeding to the Masquerade, Humanity signifies how close you are to losing your being. Doing bad deeds such as killing mortals or attacking police is met with loss of humanity and the potential to lose yourself completely when blood levels run low. Sadly one of the game’s main drawbacks is its dreadful artificial intelligence, and coupled with some subpar combat, making use of your abilities can be a very frustrating experience. Often you can feed on humans whilst others look on bemused, leading to no repercussions for your vamp.

Despite its drawbacks, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is a stellar vampire title and extremely enjoyable role-playing game. There is plenty of content here to keep occupied with for hours, and a loyal community is still developing high quality mods to add to the experience. With its engrossing story and great vampire mechanics, coupled with excellent sound and a ridiculously high level of replay value, Bloodlines is a cult title that any fan of the genre should check out.

 

When Heroes Clash – DC Universe Online versus Champions Online

By Stephen Boyd, OnRPG Journalist

In comic books, there is a long history of misunderstandings between heroes which then lead to fights, which then lead to eventual team-ups to defeat the villain of the peace. The Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner had the first of these ‘incidents’ way back in 1941.

Arguments about who would win in a fight, Superman or The Hulk have raged since the introduction of the latter back in the Sixties. These disagreements never come to a head, as the different universes they inhabit (generally) leave their paths uncrossed.

Without a shared villain to team up against (except maybe City of Heroes) these two may have to go in a fight to the finish. But this battle could have looked very different if things had gone as planned.

Cryptic originally held the license for Marvel Universe Online.

 

Look up in the sky! It’s…………..um?

IN DC Universe Online, you fight alongside and are mentored by the biggest of the big guns. Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are three of the largest figures in not only comic books but in merchandising and the worlds of television and film. The Defender, Doctor Silverback and Ironclad? Not so much. While these guys are recognisable to those that played the pen and paper role playing game, their mainstream profile is practically zero. But this could have been a very different situation indeed.

When Cryptic started work on the first iteration of this project they were handling an arguably bigger license than DC Comics in the form of Marvel. Marvel Universe Online was cancelled due to license arrangements. After long legal wrangling Marvel eventually took their license back and Cryptic instead bought the IP for the popular pen and paper role-playing game.

 

License: DC Universe Online. DCUO 1 – CO:FFA 0

 

You pays your Money, you takes your chance!!

Subscriptions for MMOs are a tricky topic to handle. For every reason that can be given for subs being applied to MMOs, there is one argument that is used to counter it. PEOPLE LIKE FREE STUFF! As more and more MMOs switch to the free to play model (The Lord of the Rings Online being one of the most recent examples) more and more players are taking the micro transaction route.

DC Universe’s subscription plan has already taken a cut in the Legends pricing program to €27.99 for 3 months as opposed to €15.99 a month. One would have to imagine that Cryptic’s decision to go free to play on Champs was a direct result of the imminent release of DCUO. While I have absolutely no problem in paying a subscription for a well-run MMO, I have an innate distrust of the MT method of gathering payments. It is always seems that the amount of money spent buying items or features for your game piecemeal is more expensive in the long run.

 

Payment: Champions Online: Free For All. DCUO 1 -CC:FFA 1

 

The Look

Graphics in computer games are important. Shocking I know, but it’s a fact. DC Universe looks spectacular. From the moment you leave your base and take start to navigate the game world, the vistas are spectacular and the graphical detail is impressive.

This is only enhanced when your character is a flyer and can take advantage of the huge draw distance allowed by the Unreal engine. Champions Online looks like a Playstation 2 game. While this in itself is not a terrible thing, remember Shadow of the Colossus and God of War were on PS2, compared to DCUO Champs looks like the hot girl’s plain friend at the dance.

 

Graphical Quality: DC Universe Online. DCUO 2 – CC:FFA 1

 

Time to build us a Hero!

Character creation is one of the elements that makes players invest in an MMO. If you are going to be spending hundreds of hours watching the back of your toon, you want them to at least look cool. When I first started playing DCUO, I heard a lot from fellow players bemoaning the fact that the character creator was extremely limited. The options that are there for your general look are varied, but do not compare to those offered in CO:FFA.

The costume creator in Champs is one of the best I have seen in any game and almost matches up to my favourite Character Creation engine of all time in Smackdown vs Raw. Each costume element in Champs has dozens of variations and the colours can be selected over a five-colour palette.

I have complained about the colour options in my previous DCUO articles, so I won’t go into it in depth here. Another feature which both games are crying out for is available in the pay to play version of Champions Online, and that is power customization. In the full version of Champs, players have the option to both move their power effects, say for energy blasts to emit from your eyes rather than hands, and to change the colour of the power effect. In DCUO all mental powers are purple, for instance. Having the ability to change these power effects would add another level of individuality to your character. If CO:FFA had the power customisation its paid brother had, the point would have gone to it.

 

Customisation: Tie. DCUO 3 – CC:FFA 2

 

Motion denied!

As a superhero, just walking along is not an option. Both Champs and DCUO have multiple movement types to select. In DCUO, your movement type is unlocked after two or three levels. In Champs, you must reach level six before accessing your special moves.

One of the plus points of DCUO is that you feel like a super powered being as soon as your flight, super speed or Acrobatics kick in. In Champs you must wade through the entire starting zone and defeat your first boss before the powers are unlocked.

On the plus side of Champs though, you can combine different movement types to give an individual set to your hero (or villain!)

 

Movement: Champions Online. DCUO 3 – CC:FFA 3

The Big Picture

Both games have their merits. Both have their drawbacks. The F2P model of Champs is a great option for players that want to try a super hero MMO for no financial commitments. Graphically and storywise, DC outweighs its competitor by a substantial amount. But, as the scoreline above shows, the final tally is a tie. As Sony and Cryptic look at the competition, they must be thinking about what their next move is. At the end of the day, any cross-pollination between the two, and their other rival in City of Heroes, can only benefit us, the players.

I would have liked to have a winner in this contest, but as the scorecard shows, a tie is a tie. Maybe I’ll come back and do the same in a few months and a victor can then be crowned.

Battlefield Play4Free Preview – Dead on Arrival?

By Neil Kewn (Murxidon) – OnRPG Journalist

Electronic Arts is taking their renowned Battlefield series into the free-to-play arena for a second time later this year with Play4Free. Almost two years since Battlefield: Heroes brought us a more slapstick take on the series’ famed multiplayer military mayhem, this new iteration takes us back to the game’s roots. Play4Free returns to what made Battlefield great – two teams of soldiers doing their utmost best to obliterate each other with an assortment of powerful weaponry and vehicles. However, unlike their commercial counterparts, you won’t have to pay a dime to experience any of it.

In recent years Battlefield has taken a more realistic approach to warfare. The series has always taken their military hardware seriously, but the absence of the famed fighter jets and similarly expendable modes of transport in Bad Company 2 did not please everyone. Don’t get me wrong, Bad Company 2 was an excellent game in its own right, but we haven’t seen the ultimate vehicular carnage BF does so well for a couple of years now. Play4Free is set to change that, promising to include a variety of conveniently placed tanks, jeeps and aircraft.

 

There are four classes to choose from. The standard Assault class is equipped with a wide assortment of assault rifles and ammo packs; it’s their job to resupply the team with ammo when necessary. Similarly, medics aid the wounded whilst providing covering fire with a light machine gun. Engineers specialise in repairing and destroying vehicles on the field, whilst Recon is the class everyone loves to hate – the controversial band of snipers. Character creation is relatively basic at the moment. Picking a name, skin, hairstyle and class is all it takes to design your own mercenary. Each texture is more horrific than the last, but I doubt many consider facial appearance to be a priority in games such as this. First time downloads are relatively slow right now, but things are improving with each new patch.

Those who have played a multiplayer team-based first person shooter game before will feel right at home in Play4Free. The game feels very much like a Battlefield title – your soldier won’t be indestructible and you must make use of the available cover to survive. The interface is concise and unobtrusive, with helpful hints cropping up whenever interactions become available. As of now there isn’t a server list, only the ability to jump straight into a game or join one of your friends. Hopefully this will change upon release.

Electronic Arts insist that you can “Play4Free”, and on the whole that is correct. As things stand players are getting a tried and tested slice of Battlefield action for absolutely nothing. As with the majority of free online games, micro-transactions will eventually offer perks and upgrades for your soldier. Furthermore, playing the game earns credits that can be used to purchase items in the store. Credits can help you obtain high performance weaponry and other equipment for a set number of days, but you will need to buy “Battlefunds” in order to purchase anything you wish to keep indefinitely.

 

 

Right now, players are required to launch the game via Play4Free’s official website. The page also relays server, soldier and payment information – you can even create new soldiers. There is little reason that this couldn’t be incorporated into the client though, eliminating the need for this minor inconvenience. Once launched, the main menu displays your active soldier, their rank, weaponry and appearance. You have many options to customize their look and style, from new helmets and body armour, to uniforms and goggles.

Beta tag aside, playing an actual round can be a frustrating process. The client often outright refuses to join a session. Lag isn’t uncommon, practically removing any fun or playability from the game. Right now it wouldn’t surprise me if EA were merely stress testing, as such fundamental flaws do little to form solid multiplayer gaming. Strangely, the EA Store is already open. I can’t help but feel that those who do commit to testing Play4Free are expected to hand over cash to do their job properly, why aren’t cash shop items free in the beta?

Once in a while, it is possible to end up on a reliable server. There are only a couple of well-known maps available now, but the features implemented will be very familiar to fans of the series. The objective is to secure a number of bases on each map. The team with the most bases will slowly deplete the opposing team’s hold on the area, the first team to reach zero will forfeit the round. Running across the relatively large maps isn’t advised, so make use of the vehicles on offer. There are several implemented at the moment (jeeps, trucks and fighter jets to a few) and they vary by map. Teammates can hop on board to provide fire on the move or make use of the mounted weaponry the vehicle may have.

 

Play4Free incorporates the levelling elements found most popular FPS games, allowing your veteran to level up in experience and skills. Interestingly, points earned in the field can be used to customize and populate various “talent trees”. You may choose to become a skilled helicopter or fighter jet pilot, or improve your resiliency and usefulness on the battlefield. This element adds an interesting dynamic to the game, hopefully resulting in a wide and varied assortment of teammates skilled in a multitude of different areas. Hopefully this will go a long way in encouraging teamwork.

The game doesn’t have the graphical prowess of its predecessors. Built upon a modified version of Battlefield 2’s engine, EA are aiming to attract as many shooter fans as possible by keeping system requirements to a minimum. There are a few nice graphical effects here and there, and smoke does a great job at obscuring your view. Sound direction has always been a highlight of Battlefield, and Play4Free is no exception with its high-impact explosions, rifle shots and typically atmospheric environmental sounds.

It remains to be seen whether or not Play4Free captures the imagination of PC shooter fans. It has potential, but with the forthcoming release of Battlefield 3 it’s possible that the majority will skip this stripped down version. For those looking for a shooter to tide them over, the game offers a familiar FPS experience without cost. It looks good, sounds great and inherits the intense multiplayer warfare seen in other iterations of the series. It’s Battlefield at its most raw, only free.