Yearly Archives: 2011

Forsaken World Gaze of Lorax Goes Live Thursday!

Forsaken World: Gaze of Larex Expansion Is Upon Us

 

 

Perfect World International will be releasing Forsaken World’s first major content expansion on Thursday the 26th. The Gaze of Larex content update will including a new dungeon, PvP arenas, the advanced Nightmare Carnival, the marriage system, a raised level cap and more, this content update has a truckload of new stuff waiting to be discovered.

 

 

A grand and treacherous new dungeon lies deep within the catacombs beneath the Sleeping Jungle. The great evil only known as Lorax has begun to feed on the seeping magics of these catacombs, filled with dark energy due to a long forgotten tribal war. Calling upon the fallen hero of this war, Goutah, as an undead body guard, Lorax seems to be nearly unstoppable in his devious designs. The tribe of Goutah, brainwashed by the dark magics of Lorax, have taken up arms and will resist any adventurers daring enough to attempt to root out the evil growing within these caverns. Great rewards await the band that can bring an end to Lorax’s evil, but only true Forsaken World veterans should dare try their hand against him.

 

 

The God’s Trial will also be taking an unsuspected twist this week. The Elemental Lords residing beneath Freedom Harbor have finally been defeated. Now it is time for the warriors of Eryda to take up arms against in each in vicious 3v3 and 6v6 team deathmatches to prove their worth to the gods. A fantastic new pvp ranking system will help keep track of your victories and defeats, providing a ranking system as proof of the greatest fighters on each server. Rumors abound that the greatest of the great may even find themselves in the position of a champion’s mount to rub the further heighten their egos!

 

 

The world of Eryda is also expanding with the introduction of the ‘Training Grounds.’ This fully sufficient map will include merchants, auctioneers, healers, and everything Forsaken World players need to get by, as well as new adventures and quests to guide you in your exploration of the realm.

 

 

Finally, Perfect World’s famous wedding system is finally coming to Forsaken World. After much trial and testing in previous games, I believe Forsaken World has truly outdone themselves in their current wedding system. It will be a non-instanced event right in the middle of Freedom Harbor, complete with cherub flower bearers and westernized vests and gowns. It looks fantastic in the screenshots and OnRPG can’t wait to get our hands on some footage of the first weddings!

Guild Wars 2 Reveals Engineer

Guild Wars 2 Unveils New Class: The Engineer

 

 

Earlier this month, ArenaNet revealed a new Guild Wars 2 unique class not present in their first Guild Wars title, The Engineer!

 

Masters of mechanical mayhem, engineers tinker with explosives, gadgets, elixirs, and all manner of deployable devices. They can take control of an area by placing turrets, support their allies with alchemic weaponry, or lay waste to foes with a wide array of mines, bombs, and grenades.

 

Like elementalists, engineers use a single weapon set at a time, but they complement this weapon set by equipping special utility and healing kits. These kits provide the engineer with special weapons and backpacks loaded with a full set of skills to replace their current weapon skills.

 

Weapon Kits: These are utility skills that equip a new weapon in the engineer’s hands when activated. For example, the flamethrower kit creates a short-range AOE weapon the engineer can use to overwhelm foes. The flamethrower has skills like Immolate to damage nearby enemies, Air Blast to defend from ranged attacks, and Backdraft to suck enemies into range of the weapon’s powerful attacks.

 

 

Backpack Kits: When activated, these special utility kits equip a backpack that replaces the engineer’s current weapon skills with a set of more specialized skills. For example, a bomb kit puts a backpack on engineers that allows them to deploy bombs with a variety of effects including smoke, concussion, and fire.

 

Turrets: An engineer can deploy turrets: immobile allied devices that help defend and control an area. When a turret is deployed, the skill in that slot is replaced with its overcharged version. For example, an engineer can deploy a Thumper Turret to cause AOE damage, and then activate the overcharge version of that skill for a big thump attack that knocks down nearby enemies. An engineer can interact with deployed turrets, packing them up and moving them around. This removes the turret—and the option to overcharge it—triggering a short recharge before that turret can be deployed again. Only one of each type of turret can exist at a time.

 

 

Tool Belt: An engineer tool belt is a set of special skills above the weapon skill bar. It enhances the effectiveness and functionality of the engineer’s utility and heal skills. The tool belt can add a self-destruct skill to turrets or a detonation option to all mines. When paired with the grenade kit, the tool belt allows a grenade barrage; with the med kit, it adds a self-healing skill.

 

 

Having played the original Guild Wars, it is very difficult to pin down exactly what this class reminds me of. It seems like it will have the CC presence of a warrior, with the ranged aoe of an elementalist and some of the utility of a mesmer. I look forward to seeing how class balance plays out in the months to come when Guild Wars 2 is finally made available to the public!

Microvolts: Toy Story on Crack

MicroVolts Review –Toy Story on Crack

By Michael Sagoe (mikedot), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

Rock Hippo Productions just broke into the free online gaming market with a quirky third person shooter title called MicroVolts. For those that don’t know: MicroVolts was developed in South Korea under the name “H.A.V.E Online”, which managed to attract tons of negative attention due to the release of a teaser trailer that looked suspiciously ripped off from one of Valve Software’s “Meet the…” character class videos for Team Fortress 2. Despite the negative claims, the developers later revealed that while the game shares a similar visual style with TF2, the gameplay proved to be a whole different story.

 

The premise behind MicroVolts is simple: Toy dolls and action figures are fighting with and against each other over everyday appliance batteries, and you get to play as one of those toys.

 

 

Starting off, there are only four playable characters in the game and only two of them will be available from the start (Knox and Naomi.) Of course, there’s no real difference between each character in terms of how they play, so you’ll mostly be picking them by style preference.   Hopping straight into the tutorial, you should have no problem getting a grip on the control scheme since it uses that typical FPS key layout that we’re all used to (WASD.)

 

MircoVolts’ core gameplay works just like any other third person shooter: You run, you shoot, you jump, you shoot, you crouch and you shoot some more. Pretty straight forward, but general gameplay gets kicked up a bit with the ability to quick swap.  This simply means you can switch between your weapons with little to no delay, allowing you to create different combos and setup kills. From there, players have developed a slew of new attacks such as wave shots and tail shots.

 

This mechanic gives the game a bit of old school twitch play, and while this mechanic makes the general gameplay more interesting, you won’t have to learn most weapon switching tricks since having good aim with good running and gunning skills will be more than enough. Learning how to quick swap on the side will simply make you a more efficient killer.

 

Coffee goes great with a hint of burnt plastic.

 

You can tell at first glance that MicroVolts was made with western audiences in mind from the start, with a visual presentation that comes off clean and colorful as an animated Pixar film and clashes nicely with the death and destruction that happens all over. The map design for most areas can be a bit questionable, but the scope and scale of the environments do a pretty nice job of making you feel like a small toy in a big world, and as far as functionality with layouts go, they seem pretty balanced (maybe except for the Model Ship for team battles and Battle Mine map on zombie mode.)

 

 

The four playable characters in MicroVolts, Knox, Pandora and C.H.I.P, are chock full of personality with cheesy voice overs that sound hilariously bad. So hilariously bad, in fact, that some would say they sound quite good. (Ok, well maybe ONE of the character voices might wear on your nerves after a while, like C.H.I.P’s voice, who sometimes sounds like he’s Eric Cartman from South Park.) Each character reacts and vocalizes themselves towards different situations on the battlefield, so expect lots of banter from them to keep things lively.

 

Personally speaking, one of my biggest pet peeves with free-to-play shooters is when purchasing items are only available as rentals, and MicroVolts sure has it. The options available for item renting will only be one day, one week or one month. I’ve seen this kind of thing used in games before and I think it’s a cheesy ploy to keep the player base dedicated and for the developers/publishers to make bank. Worst of all: the timer on each item you buy starts to count down once you’ve purchased it, so if you’re not much of a dedicated player, you’re going to be wasting your hard earn MicroPoints (in-game currency).

 

MicroVolts is simple enough to get into and enjoyable in short bursts of play, but when you get right down to it, there just isn’t enough going for it in terms of lasting appeal. Some of the game modes available are pretty basic (Team Deathmatch, Free-For-All, Capture the Flag) and the other modes available are just not all that interesting. Elimination mode is just team deathmatch with no respawans, item match mode is just team deathmatch with random power-ups and zombie mode is just… well… a zombie mode (I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t have to explain this one, since just about EVERY online multiplayer game today tries to shoe horn in some kind of zombie mode… You can thank Valve’s Left 4 Dead for that.)

 

Although general gameplay is geared towards teamwork, working with your team simply relies on how well you can communicate which can be done with quick radio chat commands and team chat. Not that there’s anything wrong with this, but it’s as bare bones as team co-op can get, and most bouts in Microvolts are generally dependent on solo performance.

 

 

Most of the weapons and items that require higher levels to unlock are only marginally better than the ones you can get early on, and unless you’re into earning achievements for some extra MicroPoints and bragging rights, you may find yourself losing interest in the long run.

 

In terms of customization, there isn’t much available at the moment. There’s only a handful of different looks you can create for each character, so it may be hard to find a look that you can truly call your own.

 

One issue that players might have with MicroVolts could be the lack of matchmaking options. Once you have hit level 5, you will be dumped into a new channel with the rest of the playerbase, which means there are pros mixed in with newbies that are still learning the ropes.

 

Overall, MicroVolts is a simple and enjoyable shooter that’s great to pick up and play every now and then. If you are just looking for a simple shooter to kill some time with (and have a thing for dolls and action figures), then give MicroVolts a try. Just don’t expect a long lasting experience.

Dungoen Fighter Online Reveals Thief Class with Act X Expansion!

Dungeon Fighter Online: Hail to the Thief

 

 

There’s word around town that the land of Arad has been struck with a bit of a burglary problem lately, which can only mean one thing: The Thief is making her way into Dungeon Fighter Online.

 

Dungeon Fighter Online Thief

 

The much anticipated Thief is a swift, cunning, and deadly character class. As a descendent of the Dark Elf race, the Thief is constantly plagued not only by betrayal, but also by a tragic epidemic that swept through her beloved home of Noire Ferra. Unlike her elven ancestors, Dark Elves do not depend on magic as they have a much stronger physical capacity, honing their abilities in espionage and thievery. But the Thief bears no interest in material goods or precious wares; she steals what she needs, whether it is information, memories or even souls.

 

As the fastest character in Dungeon Fighter Online, the Thief will be a force to be reckoned with. Her two subclasses, Rogue and Necromancer, will give players a chance to fight through dungeons with some of the most versatile character hierarchies in the game. When awakened, the Thief Rogue will transform into Silvermoon, renowned for her unparalleled nimbleness and swift swordplay.

 

Dungeon Fighter Online Thief

 

Players may also choose to evolve their Thief into a Necromancer, who comes with the summoning power of the Spider Prince Nicholas and Ballacre, the great king of fear. When awakened, Necromancer transforms into Defiler, whose Phantom Storm skill brands enemies and summons Ballacre’s army.

 

Big things are happening in the town of Arad, and the introduction of the Thief class is only the first phase of Act X: Rebirth for Dungeon Fighter Online. OnRPG will be getting the inside scoop on Act X at E3 in June!

 

OnRPG Covers All 3 Days of E3. What do YOU Want to See?

OnRPG Covers all 3 Days of E3

 

Good day OnRPG readers! Things are getting crazy at the office here at OnRPG as we are preparing for the biggest gaming week of the year, E3 Expo 2011! In just two weeks Los Angeles is going to explode with press, suits, and geeks crafty enough to gain access into the exclusive and epic E3 Gaming Expo.

 

E3 2011

 

We are quite excited to have privy to speak directly with representatives of companies such as Gamania (Lucent Heart), En Masse Entertainment (TERA-Online), Gamers First (APB Reloaded), Perfect World (Rusty Hearts), and Aeria Games (Realm of the Titans) just to name a few!

 

E3 2011

 

But before our schedule is too filled up, I am curious what our vievwers want to see at E3? Have an obscure game you fear might be overlooked by the majority of the press? Are you dying for more information from one of the big releases in 2011? This is your chance to push for the information that YOU want out of E3.

 

E3 2011

 

Please visit our forum thread here and post about what you absolutely need to see at E3. I will do my best to set up meetings and find out information for you about the games our readers want to see!

The West: This is Not Oregon Trail

The West: This is Not Oregon Trail

by Scott Braquet (SimpleAnatomy), OnRPG Writer

 

 

“You have died of dysentery”, Oregon Trails infamous last words that served as the final blow and the ultimate end to your intense adventure through the American Wild West. Since then we’ve been hooked on this historical era and in search for a unique combination of strong narrative, immense action, and pure ruthlessness that is the Old West. The 2D browser based adventure game “The West” is a formidable replacement.

 

The West Online Review

 

Presentation: 7

The West takes on the challenge of recreating one of the most original times in America’s short history. It attempts to capture the true grit of the Old Frontier by providing detailed back stories on every character you encounter within the game; whether it is Barkeeper Henry with his battered hands and calming voice or the whiskey laden breath of Sheriff John. These characters are pulled straight from an old fashion nickelodeon.

 

The West Online Review

 

The main home screen has easy-to-navigate menus and a combination between the main map and a series of mini map displays that make for easy access to quest locations. All the RPG essentials are there, including a HUD, Character, Inventory, and Quest buttons in a clear and accessible way.

 

Gameplay: 7

Quests: The game begins with a simple tutorial to help guide first time users through the games primary screens. As a Greenhorn, players spend time running errands and completing quests to gain experience. The amount of grinding that takes place in this game would make an old western Blacksmith jealous; with each quest taking as little as five minutes to as much as one hour to complete, with additional travel time tacked on. Once level 10 is accomplished a wide variety of choices open up to customize the path chosen within the game. Each class provides a unique set of advantages that helps users tailor their gameplay to fit their interests. Finally, levels are currently capped at 120 to help achieve a competitive balance between new and old players.

 

The West Online Review

 

Duels: The other way to gain experience is through duels, players have the ability to duel both NPCs and other players. These duels are automatic however, so don’t expect to achieve that Doc Holiday “I’ll be your huckleberry” level of satisfaction. Duels are misrepresented as characters are shown wielding a handgun when in reality they are in possession of a broken jar; and unfortunately, there isn’t any way to name a weapon. It is understandable that no one wants to bring a knife to a gun fight; but if they did they should at least be able to name it; it’s these little nuances that take away from the duel at high noon feeling of western life.

Community: 8

One major highlight of the game has to be its community, the forums are lively and the high ranking players are friendly and helpful. The game’s staff does a wonderful job of keeping a constant stream of quests at the ready for those who love doing them. The ability to found towns and compete in fort wars allows for players to build and break relationships to add an additional dynamic to the game.

 

The West Online Review

Conclusion: 7 out of 10

Bogged down by tedious level grinding, long waits, and a pretty bland dueling system The West is not without its faults and it may not bring back that sense of nostalgia for everyone, however, the Good, Bad, and Ugly of the American Old West was anything but a cakewalk. If you stick around long enough The West will reward you a fool’s gold of good friends and dastardly enemies as you reach for the chance to etch your name into the history books.

 

The West Online Review

 

Happy Scalping.

 

Early Access: Eden Eternal Customization

Early Access: Eden Eternal Pre-CB Series Part 2!

by Darren Henderson (DizzyPW), OnRPG Editor-in-Chief

 

 

I’m back with another Pre-CB preview of Aeria Game’s latest flagship game, Eden Eternal. In Part 1 I gave a basic introduction into why this game is outside the norm and hinted at the substantial content and features list that makes this game a true AAA title. Now it’s time to stop hinting and get down to the knitty gritty of character build and skill customization.

 

Eden Eternal Preview

 

A Character All Your Own

There are four main parts that combine to make each character unique. Though the final names of these components aren’t finalized, I am going to refer to them as General Stats, Class Skills, Class Talents, and Specialization Tree.

 

General Stats

The general stats consist of your basic stats perfected in the glory days of Super Nintendo RPGs such as Health Points, Mana Points, Strength, Wisdom, Accuracy, Luck, and so on. These stats are based on your equipment and level and combine with set percentage modifiers specific to the current class you have activated. The resulting numbers are used to determine:

 

Offensive Stats

Physical Attack
Magic Attack
Accuracy (physical only, in my testing magic never seemed to miss, though longer cast times were easily interrupted)
Attack Speed
Critical Rate (physical attacks only)
Critical Bonus Damage (physical attacks only)
Cast Speed (reduces channeling time of skills)
Magical Critical Rate
Magical Bonus Critical Damage

 

Eden Eternal Preview

 

Defensive Stats

Defense
Evasion
Weapon Parry (Reduces damage incurred by half. Has a chance of activating with certain weapons)
Block Rate (Greatly reduces damage incurred when activated)

 

Many classes deal both physical and magical damage so every stat has at least some use no matter which class you are playing.

 

Class Skills

Though some basic skills exist that are available no matter which class is active, the majority of your battle skills are class specific and cannot be accessed without switching to said class. These skills are connected to an experience system separate from your character experience bar, and you only gain class experience from combat while the class is active. This is an interesting and wonderful feature that makes it inefficient to stick with one class at all times since class experience accumulates at a faster rate than character experience but class level cannot exceed character level. Thus a level 6 Character that attains level 6 Hunter Class level will waste any additional class experience earned.

 

Eden Eternal Preview

 

At certain class levels, you will unlock new class skills or be able to upgrade old skills. I really enjoyed the ease of this system as you simply pay a small amount of gold at any time to upgrade your skills. New skills are acquired by spending class experience points instead of gold, meaning that people with rich friends will have to grind mobs and quests with the specific class active just like everyone else to unlock the good stuff. But no longer are you plagued with having to tread back to town to acquire new skills, meaning you can surprise your friends and unleash a deadly new spell right in the middle of a dungeon!

 

Eden Eternal Preview

 

A vital feature that I am glad was not overlooked in this system is that your hotkey bar is saved separately for each class you own. You have approximately 18 hotkey slots to work with so it should be easy and intuitive to assign a setup that works for you, no matter the class, with buttons left over for your favorite emotes. This way you can change between classes quickly without having to reslot your skills each time. Although I was unable to confirm with my pre-built character, I believe a similar situation is in place to quickly switch between armor sets upon changing class. Whew, bullet dodged!

 

Class Talents

Class talents were not fully translated at this preview but the general idea behind them is that you earn talent points from leveling up your individual classes. These can be spent on general talents such as raising your total wisdom stat by 1% + 1% per level or increasing the effects of all healing skills by 2%. This system is set up like a tree, in which the better class talents are only unlockable once a certain number of points are placed into the lower talents.

 

Eden Eternal Preview

 

I think this was a genius feature by the development team to ensure that players who are not as interested in the one character- multiple class system can really put in the effort to make themselves excel above all others at the class they play most. It also has plenty of branching directions you can take your talents in, which are unique to each class, so you will rarely find someone exactly quite like yourself (unless you read a pro’s how-to guide haha).

 

Specialization Tree

The Specialization tree works a lot like a trading card game. Through various actions and achievements, you can unlock secret specialization cards. As your character grows and masters multiple classes, you can unlock additional card slots on your character to place within these slots. This adds a fun little game of mix and matching as by placing certain cards adjacent to each other, you can unlock powerful additional bonus powers like +12% luck. These card sets you establish are saved uniquely under each class, allowing you to customize a unique card combo to improve the power of each class to your taste. I am not ashamed to say I love this game’s character customization!

 

Eden Eternal Preview

 

This concludes my inside look at character customization. But for those that are joining me on my hype bandwagon, fear not! I will return again with a look at the Dating System and Guilds and Guild Cities in part 3 of Early Access: Eden Eternal!