Game: Pox Nora
Publisher: Sony Online Entertainment
Download or web based: Both, but download offers more graphic options. However management and arranging of runes is only done on the website.
What you get if you pay: Station Cash is bought and used to purchase expanded Rune packs, campaigns, tokens for upgrading Runes, and tickets into draft tournaments.
Review: Pox Nora is a war between factions over territory. Individual turn-based battles are fought over fields containing Nora Fonts that emit energies allowing the controller to summon larger champions and cast more spells. Campaigns can be waged in a single player mode or battles fought against other players.
“Runes” are collected and assembled into stacks of 30 to be used in combat. Beginner sets are acquired after completing a tutorial and series of battles to familiarize a player with each faction and their Champions, abilities, and play style. When assembling custom stacks all 30 runes can be from the same faction or a 15/15 split of two factions can be used.
On each turn runes are revealed from the players collection. These runes contain Heroes, spells, or equipment. With enough Nora it is possible to summon the Champions to the field, cast spells, or place equipment on a player's Champions.
Each Champion has its own amount of AP gained each turn. AP is used to move around the field, use abilities, and perform basic attacks. Most abilities and attacks increase in AP cost if used more than once in the same turn. Any AP left at the end of the turn are rolled over and added to any gained the start of the next turn, up to a maximum that varies from Champion to Champion.
Spells vary from simply damaging an opponent's Champions to changing the terrain itself. Most spells can only be cast within a player's “area of influence.” This area can include targets within a certain distance of owned Champions. Some factions also have helpful spells, from resurrecting a Champion after he falls to teleporting a Champion out of a troublesome spot.
Victory in battle is accomplished by gaining control over all the Nora Fonts and defeating all the enemy's Champions or destroying the opposing Shrine.
Multi-player formats include one-on-one combat or tournaments. Some formats effect the overall influence one faction has over the others.
Rating: 8/10 The variety of Runes allows for a variety of play styles. While the animations of Champions are limited the visuals of spell effects are varied. Ten minute time limit per turn allows for considering and action while still having a deadline to get things done. Between solo campaigns and player tournaments the play options are nearly endless.
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Showing posts with label web. Show all posts
Showing posts with label web. Show all posts
Friday, December 3, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Bite Fight
Game: Bite Fight
Publisher: Gameforge
Download or web based: Web
What you get if you pay: Hellstones can be purchased and redeemed for higher class weapons, “Shadow-Lord” status (extra gold, increase in allowed hunting time, and other benefits), and a chance to switch sides.
Review: Bite Fight is an age old battle between vampires and werewolves. However nobody sparkles in this text based game. One can enter the game as a newly bitten vampire or werewolf. It is possible to be “bitten” by an existing player, gaining a small bonus for the older player.
Quests are obtained by visiting the tavern. While quests do require exploration the areas available are around the small village the game is based in. After taking 10 minutes to “explore the area,” during which a battle may or may not occur, the quest goal is reached and a small conversation is read.
Gold is rewarded for going on manhunts, attacking members of the other “side” or working in the graveyard. Manhunts cost 10 gold, but can be done at 10 minute intervals for up to 2 hours a day. Rewards vary greatly and a battle can sometimes occur giving a small additional reward or an end to the day's activities. Attacking werewolves (or vampires) can also garner gold as well as experience points. Just beware of revenge attacks from offended players. Graveyard work is done in 1 hour intervals and earns a set amount of gold per hour depending on level.
A personal hideout is available for limited customization. Various aspects are upgradeable for a price, each upgrade being a larger or gloomier visual image of the entire hideout. Upgrading also gives extra protection from foes and an increase in inventory space.
Rating: 4/10 Okay as a distraction but a lack of content and the constant wait to get anything done detracts from any possible story.
Side Note This is one of many games available at MMOGame.com, all accessible with one account.
Publisher: Gameforge
Download or web based: Web
What you get if you pay: Hellstones can be purchased and redeemed for higher class weapons, “Shadow-Lord” status (extra gold, increase in allowed hunting time, and other benefits), and a chance to switch sides.
Review: Bite Fight is an age old battle between vampires and werewolves. However nobody sparkles in this text based game. One can enter the game as a newly bitten vampire or werewolf. It is possible to be “bitten” by an existing player, gaining a small bonus for the older player.
Quests are obtained by visiting the tavern. While quests do require exploration the areas available are around the small village the game is based in. After taking 10 minutes to “explore the area,” during which a battle may or may not occur, the quest goal is reached and a small conversation is read.
Gold is rewarded for going on manhunts, attacking members of the other “side” or working in the graveyard. Manhunts cost 10 gold, but can be done at 10 minute intervals for up to 2 hours a day. Rewards vary greatly and a battle can sometimes occur giving a small additional reward or an end to the day's activities. Attacking werewolves (or vampires) can also garner gold as well as experience points. Just beware of revenge attacks from offended players. Graveyard work is done in 1 hour intervals and earns a set amount of gold per hour depending on level.
A personal hideout is available for limited customization. Various aspects are upgradeable for a price, each upgrade being a larger or gloomier visual image of the entire hideout. Upgrading also gives extra protection from foes and an increase in inventory space.
Rating: 4/10 Okay as a distraction but a lack of content and the constant wait to get anything done detracts from any possible story.
Side Note This is one of many games available at MMOGame.com, all accessible with one account.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Earth Eternal
Game: Earth Eternal
Publisher: Sparkplayer
Download or web based: Web based but a small download is required.
What you get if you pay: Credits which can be used for various items including potions for faster running speed, experience boosts and other features.
Review: Earth Eternal isn't your average RPG. While all the characters are humanoid, there are no humans. Or dwarfs, or elves, or aliens for that matter. Characters from Earth Eternal come from the wide palate of the animal kingdom. Lizards and felines and bears (oh my!) are available for players' characters alongside mechanical Clockworks and mythic Cyclops and Daemons. While options to modify each species is very limited the variety of starting animals allows for a degree of personalization.
Quests start off with a couple basic seek-and-destroy or find-the-NPC types in the starting village. Wandering further is easy on the main roads with many foes close enough to the paths to make for easy attacks without many worries about random attacks.
Battle is a simple click-to-attack system. Special attacks and abilities are accessed with programmable hot keys. Enemies vary from walking plants to over sized butterflies. Even a few wandering crabs are sprinkled in for variety.
Rating: 5/10 With the exception of the anthropomorphic animalistic characters there is nothing unique about EE.
Publisher: Sparkplayer
Download or web based: Web based but a small download is required.
What you get if you pay: Credits which can be used for various items including potions for faster running speed, experience boosts and other features.
Review: Earth Eternal isn't your average RPG. While all the characters are humanoid, there are no humans. Or dwarfs, or elves, or aliens for that matter. Characters from Earth Eternal come from the wide palate of the animal kingdom. Lizards and felines and bears (oh my!) are available for players' characters alongside mechanical Clockworks and mythic Cyclops and Daemons. While options to modify each species is very limited the variety of starting animals allows for a degree of personalization.
Quests start off with a couple basic seek-and-destroy or find-the-NPC types in the starting village. Wandering further is easy on the main roads with many foes close enough to the paths to make for easy attacks without many worries about random attacks.
Battle is a simple click-to-attack system. Special attacks and abilities are accessed with programmable hot keys. Enemies vary from walking plants to over sized butterflies. Even a few wandering crabs are sprinkled in for variety.
Rating: 5/10 With the exception of the anthropomorphic animalistic characters there is nothing unique about EE.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Legends of Zork
Game: Legends of Zork
Publisher: Jolt Online
Download or web based: Web-based
What you get if you pay: Coconuts. They are used to gain Action Points, allowing for more battles per day. Coconuts can also be used to purchase avatar icons and carrying capacity increases, among other things.
Review: Largely text based, Legends of Zork is the adventuring of characters exploring the Underground. Combat is accomplished by selecting a field to enter and observing as enemy stats and combat round results appear on screen.
Starting at The White House and gallivanting off to The Dark Forest and The White Cliffs more areas become accessible as higher levels are reached.
Weapons and skills with interesting names are available, but no visuals of them is possible.
Rating: 4/10 OK if you want a brief distraction. Text based battles don't hold much interest. Many lands to explore, just not much more fascinating than a map view and limited pictures from each. Variety of enemies, none displayed as more than a single picture.
Publisher: Jolt Online
Download or web based: Web-based
What you get if you pay: Coconuts. They are used to gain Action Points, allowing for more battles per day. Coconuts can also be used to purchase avatar icons and carrying capacity increases, among other things.
Review: Largely text based, Legends of Zork is the adventuring of characters exploring the Underground. Combat is accomplished by selecting a field to enter and observing as enemy stats and combat round results appear on screen.
Starting at The White House and gallivanting off to The Dark Forest and The White Cliffs more areas become accessible as higher levels are reached.
Weapons and skills with interesting names are available, but no visuals of them is possible.
Rating: 4/10 OK if you want a brief distraction. Text based battles don't hold much interest. Many lands to explore, just not much more fascinating than a map view and limited pictures from each. Variety of enemies, none displayed as more than a single picture.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Shadowtale
Game: Shadowtale
Publisher: Hyper Awesome Entertainment
Download or web based: Web
What you get if you pay: Various “Members Only” perks including exclusive weapons, areas, and quests.
Review: Shadowtale opens with a mysterious woman telling the player about them being a destined hero. A short tutorial quest follows explaining the basics of battle and movement.
The tutorial quest leaves off in the small village of Edgewood. Here many quests can be undertaken and equipment bought to start things off. Arrows on the main screen and a highlighted path on the mini-map make navigating to quest goals simple enough, even if defeating enemies or collecting items is more of a challenge. Enemies include boars, goblins, and some soldiers attacking a nearby castle.
Combat is a basic approach and attack style with free movement in the area and between areas. Using skills and casting spells increase experience in the job the skill is based in. For example, throwing a fireball at an offending blood wolf will increase points in wizardry whether the wolf is defeated with more fireballs or a slashing sword. While experience is gained with each foe defeated, a tone sounds and total experience required for the next level will be displayed when all on screen foes are defeated.
Rating: 7/10 Fairly simple game play in an open world and large number of quests. Graphics are decent for not requiring a download.
Publisher: Hyper Awesome Entertainment
Download or web based: Web
What you get if you pay: Various “Members Only” perks including exclusive weapons, areas, and quests.
Review: Shadowtale opens with a mysterious woman telling the player about them being a destined hero. A short tutorial quest follows explaining the basics of battle and movement.
The tutorial quest leaves off in the small village of Edgewood. Here many quests can be undertaken and equipment bought to start things off. Arrows on the main screen and a highlighted path on the mini-map make navigating to quest goals simple enough, even if defeating enemies or collecting items is more of a challenge. Enemies include boars, goblins, and some soldiers attacking a nearby castle.
Combat is a basic approach and attack style with free movement in the area and between areas. Using skills and casting spells increase experience in the job the skill is based in. For example, throwing a fireball at an offending blood wolf will increase points in wizardry whether the wolf is defeated with more fireballs or a slashing sword. While experience is gained with each foe defeated, a tone sounds and total experience required for the next level will be displayed when all on screen foes are defeated.
Rating: 7/10 Fairly simple game play in an open world and large number of quests. Graphics are decent for not requiring a download.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Sorcery Quest
Game: Sorcery Quest
Publisher: Edgebee
Download or web based: Web
What you get if you pay: Tokens can be purchased and used to create new characters and buy weapons and armor. Extra turns, rings to boost experience gained, and picking up rare loot also use tokens.
Review: Sorcery Quest is a simple game from a company barely a year in existence. After creating an initial party a number of of simple quests can be started from the starting village of Debrinheim. Hunting mushrums and a variety of rats in the Outskirts of Debrinheim get a player familiar with battle and getting the right balance for their party.
New characters can be created and added to the party after acquiring coins from quests or purchased with Edgebee™ Tokens. The exact type of character depends on the coin used. Fighter coins can be used to create Knights, Monks, and other melee type characters. Rogue coins spawn Ninjas, Archers, and other stealthy and long ranged combatants. The third coin type, Spellcasters, make Evokers, Illusionists, and other magic-wielding party members.
The maximum size of a party is determined by the leader's Charisma stat. The more Charisma, the more party members can be managed. To control a larger party a character's Charisma must be set at creation or when reset to a coin and remade. Rare seeds can be acquired that will also boost Charisma along with other basic stats.
Movement outside the village is accomplished using the keyboard arrow keys or the navigation arrows under the on screen map. Besides a chance for a random battle on each square of the map there are treasure chests, sanctuary points for full healing, and the occasional secret passage.
Combat is turn based with a minimum of animations. Special skill use is displayed by a flash of the attacking character's picture and an up/down arrow or small icon displaying any long term effects such as a decrease in defense or paralysis.
Each combat encounter, visit to a sanctuary, or brief rest at a campsite uses up Turns. When the number of Turns reaches zero movement in dungeons is restricted until more are available. Turns regenerate at a rate of 1 every 2 hours and can be purchased with Edgebee tokens.
Player versus player combat takes place in the arena via ladder matches. A player submits themselves to the list and challenges others or waits to be challenged. The matches themselves are automatic and can be viewed after the results are posted.
Rating: 5/10 The simple graphics don't really detract from the game much. The biggest hindrance to long term play is the limit imposed by the number of turns on hand. It is difficult to explore maps and complete quests when only 12 encounters are allowed after not playing for a day. Some enemies are enjoyable. “Not-a-rats” are large rodents wearing silly glasses to disguise their “rat”ness.
Publisher: Edgebee
Download or web based: Web
What you get if you pay: Tokens can be purchased and used to create new characters and buy weapons and armor. Extra turns, rings to boost experience gained, and picking up rare loot also use tokens.
Review: Sorcery Quest is a simple game from a company barely a year in existence. After creating an initial party a number of of simple quests can be started from the starting village of Debrinheim. Hunting mushrums and a variety of rats in the Outskirts of Debrinheim get a player familiar with battle and getting the right balance for their party.
New characters can be created and added to the party after acquiring coins from quests or purchased with Edgebee™ Tokens. The exact type of character depends on the coin used. Fighter coins can be used to create Knights, Monks, and other melee type characters. Rogue coins spawn Ninjas, Archers, and other stealthy and long ranged combatants. The third coin type, Spellcasters, make Evokers, Illusionists, and other magic-wielding party members.
The maximum size of a party is determined by the leader's Charisma stat. The more Charisma, the more party members can be managed. To control a larger party a character's Charisma must be set at creation or when reset to a coin and remade. Rare seeds can be acquired that will also boost Charisma along with other basic stats.
Movement outside the village is accomplished using the keyboard arrow keys or the navigation arrows under the on screen map. Besides a chance for a random battle on each square of the map there are treasure chests, sanctuary points for full healing, and the occasional secret passage.
Combat is turn based with a minimum of animations. Special skill use is displayed by a flash of the attacking character's picture and an up/down arrow or small icon displaying any long term effects such as a decrease in defense or paralysis.
Each combat encounter, visit to a sanctuary, or brief rest at a campsite uses up Turns. When the number of Turns reaches zero movement in dungeons is restricted until more are available. Turns regenerate at a rate of 1 every 2 hours and can be purchased with Edgebee tokens.
Player versus player combat takes place in the arena via ladder matches. A player submits themselves to the list and challenges others or waits to be challenged. The matches themselves are automatic and can be viewed after the results are posted.
Rating: 5/10 The simple graphics don't really detract from the game much. The biggest hindrance to long term play is the limit imposed by the number of turns on hand. It is difficult to explore maps and complete quests when only 12 encounters are allowed after not playing for a day. Some enemies are enjoyable. “Not-a-rats” are large rodents wearing silly glasses to disguise their “rat”ness.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Adventure Quest
Game: Adventure Quest
Publisher: Artix Entertainment
Download or web based: Web-based
What you get if you pay: A one time fee for Guardian status can be purchased to unlock many weapons and quests. Z-tokens can also be purchased for many rare weapons, pets, and pieces of equipment.
Review: Adventure Quest takes place in a fantasy world called Lore. The residents of Lore vary from simple humans to walking lizards to rabbit-like Moglins. These beings live in the many lands and cities of Lore. Mountainous regions, seaside ports, and monster filled deserts are all reached from the starting village of Battleon.
Quests are avaliable at almost any level and outnumber the varied species. From short hunt-and-kill quests to elaborate travels across the land following a familiar looking Frogzard hunter. Monsters can also be attacked individually without undertaking a quest to gain experience, gold, or just satisfy the urge to kill things.
Elements play an important role in combat. Weapons, armor, spells, and shields all are strong in one or more elemental atritbute. Enemies can be strong or weak in elements as well. Finding out what element is needed to maximize damage given or minimize damage received is accomplished by looking at the foe's in-match status screen. Weapons and other equipment can be quickly swapped during battle to allow for the best setup possible with items on hand. Pets from the pet shop can be switched in battle as well to enhance elemental damage.
Combat is a single screen, limited animation, turn-based encounter. Any game controlled companions of the player will randomly attack or not in the same turn as the player themselves. This includes any pets or quest related characters along for the ride.
Rating: 6/10 Despite the simple visuals and limited animations AQ is very enjoyable. The quests allow for a wide variety of gameplay options. The limited weapons allowed to free players is a slight hinderance but not enough to limit play of the game.
Publisher: Artix Entertainment
Download or web based: Web-based
What you get if you pay: A one time fee for Guardian status can be purchased to unlock many weapons and quests. Z-tokens can also be purchased for many rare weapons, pets, and pieces of equipment.
Review: Adventure Quest takes place in a fantasy world called Lore. The residents of Lore vary from simple humans to walking lizards to rabbit-like Moglins. These beings live in the many lands and cities of Lore. Mountainous regions, seaside ports, and monster filled deserts are all reached from the starting village of Battleon.
Quests are avaliable at almost any level and outnumber the varied species. From short hunt-and-kill quests to elaborate travels across the land following a familiar looking Frogzard hunter. Monsters can also be attacked individually without undertaking a quest to gain experience, gold, or just satisfy the urge to kill things.
Elements play an important role in combat. Weapons, armor, spells, and shields all are strong in one or more elemental atritbute. Enemies can be strong or weak in elements as well. Finding out what element is needed to maximize damage given or minimize damage received is accomplished by looking at the foe's in-match status screen. Weapons and other equipment can be quickly swapped during battle to allow for the best setup possible with items on hand. Pets from the pet shop can be switched in battle as well to enhance elemental damage.
Combat is a single screen, limited animation, turn-based encounter. Any game controlled companions of the player will randomly attack or not in the same turn as the player themselves. This includes any pets or quest related characters along for the ride.
Rating: 6/10 Despite the simple visuals and limited animations AQ is very enjoyable. The quests allow for a wide variety of gameplay options. The limited weapons allowed to free players is a slight hinderance but not enough to limit play of the game.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Far Wilds
Game: The Far Wilds
Publisher: Code Collective
Download or web based: Either. Can be played on web only, but has better graphics and sounds if downloaded.
What you get if you pay: Gold can be purchased and used to buy packs of cards or individual cards themselves.
Review: Far Wilds is a turn based strategy game in which the player tries to defeat their opponent on the battlefield. The ultimate goal is to defeat opponents and become powerful enough to be a major in the “kingdom” of The Far Wilds.
Victory in each battle can be obtained by gaining 20 “Glory.” Glory is gained by controlling more “flux wells” than the opponent. Constructing bases and other buildings near flux wells places them in the player's control, as long as the opponent doesn't also have a building in range. If both combatants have buildings close to a flux well then neither controls it.
Controlling flux wells also produces the energy required to call forth the army of characters held in the player's hand. Spells that enhance or weaken characters on the field are also available. The exact nature of the spells varies from race to race in the Far Wilds universe.
Three default army decks can be used upon starting with temporary bonus cards won from victories over computer opponents. These can be used in tournaments. Victory in tournaments earns gold which can be used to purchase other cards and packs. This is an alternative option to purchasing the gold directly.
Rating: 7/10 While the graphics aren't all that wonderful playing the game web-based, the downloaded version's 3D look is fantastic. Being able to play against computer opponents with varying difficulties allows for a newer player to get a feel for the game and develop a few strategies. With varying opponent decks and terrains the variety of game play is almost endless. Sealed deck tournaments and matches are also available that put new and experienced players on equal footing with unseen cards to build their decks from.
Publisher: Code Collective
Download or web based: Either. Can be played on web only, but has better graphics and sounds if downloaded.
What you get if you pay: Gold can be purchased and used to buy packs of cards or individual cards themselves.
Review: Far Wilds is a turn based strategy game in which the player tries to defeat their opponent on the battlefield. The ultimate goal is to defeat opponents and become powerful enough to be a major in the “kingdom” of The Far Wilds.
Victory in each battle can be obtained by gaining 20 “Glory.” Glory is gained by controlling more “flux wells” than the opponent. Constructing bases and other buildings near flux wells places them in the player's control, as long as the opponent doesn't also have a building in range. If both combatants have buildings close to a flux well then neither controls it.
Controlling flux wells also produces the energy required to call forth the army of characters held in the player's hand. Spells that enhance or weaken characters on the field are also available. The exact nature of the spells varies from race to race in the Far Wilds universe.
Three default army decks can be used upon starting with temporary bonus cards won from victories over computer opponents. These can be used in tournaments. Victory in tournaments earns gold which can be used to purchase other cards and packs. This is an alternative option to purchasing the gold directly.
Rating: 7/10 While the graphics aren't all that wonderful playing the game web-based, the downloaded version's 3D look is fantastic. Being able to play against computer opponents with varying difficulties allows for a newer player to get a feel for the game and develop a few strategies. With varying opponent decks and terrains the variety of game play is almost endless. Sealed deck tournaments and matches are also available that put new and experienced players on equal footing with unseen cards to build their decks from.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Free Realms
Game: Free Realms
Publisher: Sony Online Entertainment
Download or web based: Web-based, but requires an installer to be downloaded.
What you get if you pay: Packs of cards for the trading card min-game.
Review: Free Realms is a fantasy game with a storyline that ties together many types of mini-games and areas of play. Various “jobs” are avaliable and can be changed between on the fly.
Rating: 3/10 Gorgeous graphics. However this leads to rough gameplay and can cause problems with the patience levels of those in the target age range. Requiring frequent load times for mini-games and to update the view when traveling leads to much waiting instead of playing. This game would be greatly improved by making it a medium sized download game instead of the constant loading of small packets again and again.
Publisher: Sony Online Entertainment
Download or web based: Web-based, but requires an installer to be downloaded.
What you get if you pay: Packs of cards for the trading card min-game.
Review: Free Realms is a fantasy game with a storyline that ties together many types of mini-games and areas of play. Various “jobs” are avaliable and can be changed between on the fly.
Rating: 3/10 Gorgeous graphics. However this leads to rough gameplay and can cause problems with the patience levels of those in the target age range. Requiring frequent load times for mini-games and to update the view when traveling leads to much waiting instead of playing. This game would be greatly improved by making it a medium sized download game instead of the constant loading of small packets again and again.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Astro Empires
Game: Astro Empires
Publisher: AstroEmpires.com
Download or web based: Web
What you get if you pay: Ads removed from game pages, limits raised on build and research queues and limits removed for number of bases and advanced buildings.
Review: Galactic exploration and exploitation are the basic goals of Astro Empires. Building essential buildings and shipyards allows for fleets of space crafts and planetary defenses. All is accomplished in a largely text-based fashion.
Rating: 2/10 There is little to do and even less to see early in the game while buildings are raised and early research is accomplished. After that fleets can be launched to other planets and more waiting can be done.
Publisher: AstroEmpires.com
Download or web based: Web
What you get if you pay: Ads removed from game pages, limits raised on build and research queues and limits removed for number of bases and advanced buildings.
Review: Galactic exploration and exploitation are the basic goals of Astro Empires. Building essential buildings and shipyards allows for fleets of space crafts and planetary defenses. All is accomplished in a largely text-based fashion.
Rating: 2/10 There is little to do and even less to see early in the game while buildings are raised and early research is accomplished. After that fleets can be launched to other planets and more waiting can be done.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Evony
Game: Evony
Publisher: Evony
Download or web based: Web
What you get if you pay: Game Coins can be purchased and used to buy a large variety of items to speed construction, increase gold or resource production, and boost hired heroes.
Review: Evony is a real-time Civilization style game. A military force must be developed after much research and building construction. Units vary from basic workers that are good for little more than carrying supplies to ballistas that hurl things at enemy defenses. The strength and availability of individual units depends on what buildings are present and what technologies have been discovered. Defenses can bee built from the city wall as it is upgraded. Simple traps, wooden barricades, and piles of stones to roll over attackers can all be used.
Resources like food, iron, stone, and lumber are collected from spaces outside the city walls yet still a part of the town itself. The number of possible collection points is dependent on the upgrade level of the town hall.
Additional cities can be built on empty “Flats” or conquering already established cities of enemies. If a player only has one city it cannot be conquered however. Plundering of someone's single city is possible though.
Community is very important as alliance members can be called upon for support when low on resources or under attack by a large enemy force.
For the first week new players are under “Beginner's Protection” which allows them time to get established without being attacked and their hard earned resources plundered.
Rating: 4/10 As the game progresses it takes more and more time to build and upgrade town constructions. This makes it less of a game and more like something that gets checked once or twice a day. I'm not an English major, but some of the text could use a much better translator.
Publisher: Evony
Download or web based: Web
What you get if you pay: Game Coins can be purchased and used to buy a large variety of items to speed construction, increase gold or resource production, and boost hired heroes.
Review: Evony is a real-time Civilization style game. A military force must be developed after much research and building construction. Units vary from basic workers that are good for little more than carrying supplies to ballistas that hurl things at enemy defenses. The strength and availability of individual units depends on what buildings are present and what technologies have been discovered. Defenses can bee built from the city wall as it is upgraded. Simple traps, wooden barricades, and piles of stones to roll over attackers can all be used.
Resources like food, iron, stone, and lumber are collected from spaces outside the city walls yet still a part of the town itself. The number of possible collection points is dependent on the upgrade level of the town hall.
Additional cities can be built on empty “Flats” or conquering already established cities of enemies. If a player only has one city it cannot be conquered however. Plundering of someone's single city is possible though.
Community is very important as alliance members can be called upon for support when low on resources or under attack by a large enemy force.
For the first week new players are under “Beginner's Protection” which allows them time to get established without being attacked and their hard earned resources plundered.
Rating: 4/10 As the game progresses it takes more and more time to build and upgrade town constructions. This makes it less of a game and more like something that gets checked once or twice a day. I'm not an English major, but some of the text could use a much better translator.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Urban Rivals
Game: Urban Rivals
Publisher: Acute Mobile
Download or web based: Web-Based
What you get if you pay: You can purchase credits used to buy card packs.
Review: Urban Rivals is your basic digital trading card game. Like other TCG's players utilize character based cards to attack and defend themselves from single opponents. Unlike other TCG's the characters in this game gain experience in “battle” and can increase in level, increasing their attacks and abilities.
Battle is accomplished by challenging another player or accepting a challenge. Four cards from a deck are chosen at random. First a card is selected from the four. Then one selects the number of “pillz” to use on the character featured on the card. The “pillz” boost the characters attack power by multiplying the base strength by the number of “pillz” used. The number of “pillz” used is hidden from the opponent is hidden until they have selected their card and “pillz.” The two cards then attack each other, the victor doing damage to the loser's owner. The match is over after four rounds or if one player receives a total of 12 damage.
Urban Rivals has entertaining graphics when the cards engage and the “evolution” system for the cards is unique and encourages play to see what the characters will look like and how their abilities will grow.
Rating: 7/10 Fun to watch and play, but playing for hours on end can get a little tedious.
Publisher: Acute Mobile
Download or web based: Web-Based
What you get if you pay: You can purchase credits used to buy card packs.
Review: Urban Rivals is your basic digital trading card game. Like other TCG's players utilize character based cards to attack and defend themselves from single opponents. Unlike other TCG's the characters in this game gain experience in “battle” and can increase in level, increasing their attacks and abilities.
Battle is accomplished by challenging another player or accepting a challenge. Four cards from a deck are chosen at random. First a card is selected from the four. Then one selects the number of “pillz” to use on the character featured on the card. The “pillz” boost the characters attack power by multiplying the base strength by the number of “pillz” used. The number of “pillz” used is hidden from the opponent is hidden until they have selected their card and “pillz.” The two cards then attack each other, the victor doing damage to the loser's owner. The match is over after four rounds or if one player receives a total of 12 damage.
Urban Rivals has entertaining graphics when the cards engage and the “evolution” system for the cards is unique and encourages play to see what the characters will look like and how their abilities will grow.
Rating: 7/10 Fun to watch and play, but playing for hours on end can get a little tedious.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
zOmg
Game: zOmg
Publisher: Gaia Online
Download or web based: Web-based
What you get if you pay: A handful of attack and defense upgrades as well as tons of avatar costume options.
Review: zOmg is not as generic as the name might imply. It is part of the ever expanding Gaia Online community. This allows for interaction beyond game play. The basic story is an attack on the towns of Gaia by various inanimate objects come to life. Garden Gnomes, plastic flamingos, coin purses, toy dolls, and cloves of garlic are just some of the enemies available to attack.
A player's avatar is their Gaia avatar equipped with rings on each finger (none on thumbs). Combat is simply targeting a foe and selecting an equipped ring to attack with. Fighting can be done alone or by “Recrewting” others into a party.
There is no experience gain so no specific character leveling. Attack and defense are upgraded by collecting Charge Orbs and attaching them to rings in inventory.
Rating: 7/10 Tons of options for game play with an entire community for fun when not in the mood to play
Publisher: Gaia Online
Download or web based: Web-based
What you get if you pay: A handful of attack and defense upgrades as well as tons of avatar costume options.
Review: zOmg is not as generic as the name might imply. It is part of the ever expanding Gaia Online community. This allows for interaction beyond game play. The basic story is an attack on the towns of Gaia by various inanimate objects come to life. Garden Gnomes, plastic flamingos, coin purses, toy dolls, and cloves of garlic are just some of the enemies available to attack.
A player's avatar is their Gaia avatar equipped with rings on each finger (none on thumbs). Combat is simply targeting a foe and selecting an equipped ring to attack with. Fighting can be done alone or by “Recrewting” others into a party.
There is no experience gain so no specific character leveling. Attack and defense are upgraded by collecting Charge Orbs and attaching them to rings in inventory.
Rating: 7/10 Tons of options for game play with an entire community for fun when not in the mood to play
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Secret Society Wars
Game: Secret Society Wars beta
Publisher: Secret Society Wars website
Download or web based: Web-based
What you get if you pay: Donations net you E-Peen that can be redeemed for unique items with various effects.
Review: The basic storyline if the game is a war between various “secret” societies in the far future. Completing various missions allows you to rise in the ranks of your own society. Items picked up after battle can be consumed or mixed to make other items. Mixing a bottle of rum, a can of coke, and a swizzle stick nets a rum and coke that can be drank at any time.
Drinking, sex, and other adult pleasures seem to be the main attraction of this game. However this is one game that can't be judged by its homepage. Enemies are largely hand drawn images or small pictures that aren't much better than the crude doodles. Battles are text based with little action. While attack options are interesting (attack, converse, sex0r, retreat), the results fall far short of anything worth the load time of the next page.
The major downside is the result of a group gaining supremacy and “winning” the war. Everyone is reset to zero. All items lost, all recipes forgotten, all equipment costume sets erased. Having spent a few weeks progressing through the storyline before the first reset I didn't find it worth my time to do it over again.
Rating: 2/10 Barely playable for users of any age.
Publisher: Secret Society Wars website
Download or web based: Web-based
What you get if you pay: Donations net you E-Peen that can be redeemed for unique items with various effects.
Review: The basic storyline if the game is a war between various “secret” societies in the far future. Completing various missions allows you to rise in the ranks of your own society. Items picked up after battle can be consumed or mixed to make other items. Mixing a bottle of rum, a can of coke, and a swizzle stick nets a rum and coke that can be drank at any time.
Drinking, sex, and other adult pleasures seem to be the main attraction of this game. However this is one game that can't be judged by its homepage. Enemies are largely hand drawn images or small pictures that aren't much better than the crude doodles. Battles are text based with little action. While attack options are interesting (attack, converse, sex0r, retreat), the results fall far short of anything worth the load time of the next page.
The major downside is the result of a group gaining supremacy and “winning” the war. Everyone is reset to zero. All items lost, all recipes forgotten, all equipment costume sets erased. Having spent a few weeks progressing through the storyline before the first reset I didn't find it worth my time to do it over again.
Rating: 2/10 Barely playable for users of any age.
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