Monthly Archives: April 2017

ESO: Morrowind Review

I will cover as little of the story as absolutely possible. There are restrictions in place on stuff I can/cannot talk about, so I’m going to endeavor to avoid those things.

ESO Morrowind Editorial 1

Go, my ally! No! Get out of the camera!

I love this expansion. I want to get that out of the way, before we get into the nitty gritty on my thoughts on Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind It’s wonderful. I spent a lot of time in chat talking to players about what they thought of Morrowind so far because when I first did a beta for this game, there were some.. negative folks. Mostly “Why are there people in my Skyrim?! This ain’t right!” That was probably the nicest thing I read, those many years ago. However, the game has truly grown and evolved since then, and it’s finally time for the first real expansion for Elder Scrolls Online: That’s right, Morrowind! One of the most interesting things I read was it was like a trip back to some players’ teenage years. The word on the street now is a far more positive one. Everyone I spoke to loved where the expansion is going. Personally, I did not play Morrowind when it was relevant, but I did play it! So it doesn’t have quite the same grip on me as some of those other players. But I did play over the past week, made my Warden, and settled into the untamed wilds of Vvardenfell! I played a Dark Elf/Dunmer [if you will], and one thing that I definitely appreciated was that I was still treated very much as an outsider. No matter what you play, it’s made painfully clear by many of the quest givers/NPCs that you are not welcome on Vvardenfell, no matter what your intentions are. I may not have played when it came out, but I tell you, I’ve really fallen for this world.

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Your ultimate goal is to aid Vivec though. Sure, he might be an arrogant, obnoxious bag of dicks, basically holding his kingdom hostage with that giant boulder hovering in the sky… as long as he’s healthy and powerful, so will that boulder remain in the sky. Come on, really? What a jerk. But his power is waning for a mysterious reason, and we’re going to find out about it. Eventually. But I honestly got as far as learning that there were mysterious circumstances in the air, doing some divination with the Archcanon [who also… didn’t really care for me too much], before I wandered into the world to get into some trouble! That’s what you do as a hero in this world, right? Find out what your ultimate goal is then run in the opposite way? No? Well… that’s what I do! I also found myself mixed up in some politics! There are some pretty heavy choices going on when you get mingled into the affairs of a pair of Dunmer brothers who are running a pretty shady mining operation. So what do I do? Sneak around, try to gather information? Figure out which was right and wrong, get the facts, and appropriate due justice? Well, I can’t tell you, but I can tell you that so far, quite a few bodies have been left in my wake. Even early into areas, there are serious choices going down, and I hope that they have long-lasting effects on the geopolitical landscape.

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What a positively delightful fellow…

This content is unlike anything I’ve experienced in Elder Scrolls Online. You have an overarching goal so far, one that’s a bit more clear than the original ESO story [I think, anyway]. Each zone feels different, reach region with its own problems to solve and its own characters with their own political agendas. I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds! I have heard some people complain about issues with mana recharging though. Apparently, it has to do with balancing PVP and PVE together, but I haven’t had that problem. I leveled some of my abilities into using stamina instead of Magicka so I have had zero issues except in very prolonged fights. However, I am happy with Warden. It’s been an absolute blast, and it feels in a way like they might be too strong. They can tank, heal, dps, they can do it all. And the beauty of the ESO franchise is that you can do whatever! Level whichever skills you want, you aren’t forced down one path. I do recommend putting effort into Animal Companion early though, and get that bear! I mean…what’s cooler than running around with a big pissed off bear that kills on your command!? Absolutely adore them as a class. It really feels like something that belongs in this world, something more customizable than the other classes.

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This isn’t even a bit ominous.

How do I feel? 10/10, Hype Train’s Moving Fast.

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When I went to the studio proper, I didn’t get to play the game, but I learned a lot about it. Now that I actually have it in my hands, I have to say that it’s wonderful beyond my expectations. Elder Scrolls Online has come such a long way since its inception, and One Tamriel was just the beginning. It’s like they were setting up for this all along, and it’s beautiful. The island feels so raw, so alive, the creatures you do battle with are deadly and visually appealing. The Delves [which I won’t go into detail on] are huge! I had plenty to do in each one, and not once did I feel like I could stop for a second. There are too many things going on and as someone who is easily distracted..this is both good and bad. Mostly good! I like being able to turn in any direction and find content. There are absolute piles of lore you can learn from the characters, books, and just by looking around! Fans of the original game [Elder Scrolls: Morrowind] will find lots of nods and references to the original if they look hard enough, and that’s fantastic. As this takes place in the current ESO timeline [which is significantly before the ES Games], I love seeing how we shape and cause the events to make the original Morrowind story happen. That fills me with joy. If you’re a fan of either, you owe it to yourself to be playing it. And this is the best time! Get Morrowind, make a Warden, do the content for Vvardenfell, and then go to the mainland and pick up what went down there! You literally cannot lose. You don’t have to do any earlier content before you play on Vvardenfell, and that’s majestic. More MMOs should do that…

Blossom & Decay

Blossom & Decay is a fantasy sandbox MMO ARPG being developed by KonspiracyGames for compatible Internet browsers. In Blossom & Decay players can develop their own unique story experience in an open world filled with action combat, survival mechanics, and crafting! If you’re looking for a change from the typical MMO, then Blossom & Decay might just be for you! With a focus on balanced gameplay and helping players create their own story it is sure to set itself apart.

Features:

Weapons-based Skills: The skills available to you and their strength are entirely dependent on what weapons and armor your using, as well as what level they are. The higher the level, the stronger the skill.

Ghastly Enemies: Fight ghosts, zombies, skeleton troopers, slimes, archers, and more on your adventures. Make sure to watch out for the Boss as well, unless you think you’re ready to take it on!

Purposeful Death: If you die in the game you won’t merely respawn with the same inventory you perished with. Dying in Blossom & Decay means that any items you had on you drop to the ground and are up for grabs, so make sure you can trust your allies and that you don’t go out adventuring unprepared.

GunFleet

GunFleet is a free-to-play ship shooter MMO developed by Areo Gaming for PC and is available on Steam Early Access. Inspired by the mosquito fleets of different countries of the First and Second World Wars, GunFleet puts players in command of their very own ship that can be used to battle other players. Torpedo boats, submarines, river monitors and more can be brought under your command and used to blow your foes to smithereens! Become a true king of naval warfare in GunFleet!

Features:

Unit/Weapon Variation: Over 40 different units can be controlled and outfitted with weapons like rocket launchers, depth charges, torpedo cannons, long caliber guns, and autocannons. Each of these units currently represents one of four different countries: Russia. Japan, Germany, and the United States of America.

Objective Gameplay: In each battle two teams of up to 7 players will take each other on in the game mode of their choosing. Everything from protecting convoys to straight up exploding your opponents can be done to achieve victory.

Plans for Expansion: New ships will be created and they will see new weapons being added for them to use like naval mines, deployable coastal guns, spotters, and even charges for kamikaze ships! There are also plans for tournaments, a clan system, and new game modes.

Project CARS 2

Project CARS 2 a racing simulation game developed by Slightly Mad Studios and will be available for purchase on PS4, PC, and Xbox One. In this second installation of the Project CARS series players can drive the most iconic cars under the most thrilling conditions that will not only provide an exciting experience, but help players understand the adrenaline rush of actual car racing! Using world-class racing drivers to test the game and being the definitive choice of e-Sports pros, Project CARS 2 proves to offer authentic and exciting gameplay. So hop into the car of your choice and find out what kind of racer you are in Project CARS 2!

Features:

Course Variation: Race in 50 different locations on over 200 courses including elements like ice, tarmac, dirt, mud, and gravel at day or night, wet or dry. You’re sure to find courses that you love driving on, and some that pose great challenges.

Dynamic Vehicle Performance: Vehicle performance, grip, and handling will all change depending on what kinds of condition combinations you encounter in your race. You’ll have to keep your eyes on the road and adapt your driving style to your environment otherwise you might find yourself spinning out of the competition.

Online Championships: Create your own Online Racing Seasons, Live Broadcast how you’d like, and use Spectator functionality to watch other players race to learn from their moves. Intelligent matchmaking will ensure you get paired up with drivers as close as possible to your current skill level. All that’s left for you to do is prove yourself and leave your opponents in the dust!

Oceans & Empires

Oceans & Empires is a free-to-play mobile strategy game developed by JOYCITY for iOS and Android where players can sail the seas and battle each other to expand their empire! Capture cities, make new allies, and see if you’ve got what it takes to dominate the entire ocean in Oceans & Empires.

Features:

Capture Cities: Take over all the cities you can to expand your empire! Sometimes trade cities will become open for war and if you can take them over they’ll give perks to your entire alliance.

Customizable Ships: Customize your ships with different color and pattern combinations to ensure that your enemies remember not to mess with you.

Replay System: Use the built-in replay system to watch battles you have fought in so you can learn from your mistakes and enhance your strategies for future engagements!

Twin Saga Launch Explorer’s Pack Giveaway

OnRPG has partnered with gamigo to celebrate the launch of Twin Saga with a special launch Explorer Pack giveaway!

It’s all down to you to fight for good and to prevent the ruin of the world. In the free-to-play anime MMORPG Twin Saga, a colorful world full of fantastical figures and creatures awaits you. Prove your might in exciting battles, go traveling with Marisa, and complete important quests in this lovingly created anime world. You can change your class at any time. Had enough of the Swordmaster? Then play as a Mage, Gunslinger or Cleric instead.

You can always take a break in your mobile home – in your Terracottage. Here you can invite friends over, relax, and practise your hobbies like crafting or gardening.

The Explorer’s Pack Includes everything listed here.

To Redeem your Key:

  • Save the universal key PLAYTWINSAGA for later use.
  • If you’re German or French, register for the game here.
  • If you’re US or UK based, register for the game here.
  • Once logged in, click the above links to be taken to the page to redeem your code! You must be logged in and use the link to properly access your gift pack!

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Day of Infamy Review – WWII Lives On Once Again

By Michael Sagoe (Mikedot)

 

If there’s one thing that the gaming world will never seem to stop talking about, it’s World-War-Freaking-Two. It’s probably one of the most overdone history retellings of all time, with a long laundry list of titles spanning from shooters, strategy games and flight simulators. Call of Duty, Company of Heroes, Battlefield 1942, Red Orchestra, Brothers in Arms, Medal of Honor, Command… This list goes on and on…

And well, the folks at New World Interactive probably thought to themselves and said “The WW2 theme sure has been oversaturated and overdone through the years… Let’s add one more to that list!” And with that said, here’s “Day of Infamy” a new tactical-focused WW2 shooter created by the same developer team behind Insurgency. While focusing on both co-op and competitive gameplay, Day of Infamy sets out to create a deep and realistic WW2 shooter experience.

With my time spent playing the game for a few hours, I can easily say that the folks at New World have achieved that goal with flying colors. It’s a game that doesn’t bring anything particularly new to the genre or theme as a whole, but what it does is that it plays into its genre and does it well, which I can completely respect and enjoy.

Now while I haven’t actually touched a WW2 shooter since Valve’s Day of Defeat way back in 2003, I was more or less able to get into the swing of things for Day of Infamy, but not before getting my virtual body drilled full of holes.

 

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Controls

Very straightforward control scheme for anyone that has played a modern FPS title before, with one noticeable expectation that the game includes the ability to lean your body using Q/E, walk with alt key and go prone using Z, which is essential to surviving out in the battlefield. Leaning lets you peek around corners and fire shots without exposing your entire body, walking muzzles the sound of your movement and going prone allows you to get low and crawl on the ground or steady your aim for less recoil. Personally speaking, these mechanics took me awhile to get used to, but once I did, I almost couldn’t imagine playing another FPS without them.

Shooting mechanics are a lot more difficult than in most shooters due to the fact that there is no crosshairs and firing bullets have varying levels of gravity drop on them, along with considerable amounts of recoil when firing, so there are very few moments where spraying and praying is a viable option. Still, this really speaks to the developers’ aim of making a very authentic WW2 shooter. While this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I feel that many hardcore gamers and WW2 fanatics will appreciate these challenging controls.

 

Gameplay and Features

As a multiplayer focused game, Day of Infamy main game modes are focused on competitive and co-op gameplay, with tutorial videos that are pulled straight from New World’s YouTube page. While I would have liked to see an interactive tutorial more than a bunch of videos, they make up for this by including a practice mode where you can play solo with and against AI bots. When it comes to game modes within, there’s something for everyone that’s looking for objective-based warfare including defense, capture missions, good ol fashion team deathmatches and more. Players also have a choice between a ton of different playable classes including Assault and Support gunners, snipers, riflemen, flamethrowers, engineers, machine gunners, officers and radiomen, each which serve a singular purpose and appeal to several different play styles. Once you settle on a game mode, players will have about 20 seconds to communicate with teammates before each match starts.

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When playing in a live match for this game, it will demand your utmost focus and concentration, as every little mistake you make WILL result in your death. Pacing is slow but methodical, and as mentioned before, there’s no crosshair and not even a HUD telling players how many bullets they have in their magazine/clip. Because of these elements in the gameplay, you have to rely on your team to back you up every step of the way. Make no mistake, while playing as a lone wolf is more than possible, this most definitely will not be the kind of game that lone wolves can excel at.

There’s something oddly satisfying about executing something as simple as invading a single room against an enemy team in Day of Infamy. In any other game, moments like these would be all over the place and forget within seconds, but with the fact that you can die from a few body shots or one well-placed headshot, you’re going to have to work your ass off to make every single kill or objective capture count.

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Speaking of communication, speaking up to your teammates is far more crucial than in any other FPS game you’ll play. Probably on the same level as games like Battlefield where death can come at you in multiple directions. Even mentioning that you’ve taken a hit and don’t know where the enemy is shooting from can spell the difference between life and death, at the very least for your team, because it’s incredibly easy for teams to snowball their attack into a complete team wipe and soldiers drop like flies, one after another. Players will make certain that you better talk up a storm while playing, too, and at the very least they’ll tell you to make use of the radio commands that are available such as attacking, defending, retreating, regrouping and other useful phrases, all fully voice acted by US, Russian, and German soldiers.

As far as progression goes: Winning or completing matches in Day of Infamy grants access to various different units based on multiple warring factions that served during WW2 including the Commonwealth and the 1st Ranger Battalion. The nice thing about the game’s progression is that it’s all cosmetic based, and the newer units will play exactly like the units that players start off with, making sure that there’s no separation between a skilled player and player than just logged in a ton of hours. You can’t ask for any better for people that love fair and balanced competition.

Overall, the gameplay and features in Day of Infamy are very straightforward and solid for those that enjoy their games to be presented in an old school sort of way, as everything you need to start competing and enjoying the game is given right at the start. No required DLC or micro transactions, no BS. And even better, the game has mod support which offers a whole new world that players can explore once the base game gets stale.

 

Visuals and presentation

Now while the visuals aren’t very special, the atmosphere still manages to get the job done as the theme of WW2 is portrayed as naturally as one would expect, with gritty looking soldiers, gritty landscapes, gritty everything. The quality of the textures and environments seems to be a bit on the dated side, but it’s very much forgivable. Sound design makes up for a bulk of the presentation as gunfire, battle commentary between soldiers and explosions all sound authentic, really making you feel like you’re in the middle of a grand war.

 

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Community

While there’s a few sour grapes here and there, the community for Day of Infamy is surprisingly mature and dedicated as they welcome seasoned FPS veterans, players that are more inclined to play other types of FPS and new gamers in general. They’ll give you the does and don’ts of warfare and do their best to assist you every step of the way. It’s very rare for me to say that an online focused game has a decent community these days, but I can kind of understand why the community isn’t as crude as in other games, because there’s no sort of special progression to work towards, no global leaderboards to climb or anything of the sort. The people that enjoy Day of Infamy (get this) are just playing for the love of the game and for the love of WW2. And with none of that shiny stuff to get in the way, they can all focus on what matters.

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While still very intimidating at times, these players will also show new players no mercy and will quickly enroll you into the school of hard knocks when it comes to getting a grip on live matches. If you felt that playing against bots were bad enough, then get ready to have your crap pushed in multiple times over in online matches. Still, for those that are willing to learn and battle through it on, you’ll be sure to have some fun and perhaps make a few friends along the way.

 

Conclusion: Great

This game doesn’t do anything new to the FPS genre or the WW2 theme, but for what it’s worth, it does its job admirably and can be something that fans of WW2 games can add to their gaming library with pride. From the gunplay to the objective based missions, Day of Infamy is easily one of the more solid WW2 shooters to come out in recent years.