MMO News |
- Yulgang 2 Early Preview
- Steam Greenlight On Chopping Block for Valve
- Pirates: Tides of Fortune
- Naruto Saga Gets Formation Face Lift
- Camelot Unchained Previews Silverhand Race
- Divinity: Original Sin Now in Early Access
- Divinity: Original Sin Steam Early Access Trailer
- The Repopulation Hits Fourth Stretch Goal
- Loadout is locked & loaded for January 31st
- CrossFire Announces E-Sports Initiative
| Posted: 17 Jan 2014 02:10 PM PST By Jordan Hall (ApocaRUFF)
Yulgang 2 is a free-to-play MMORPG being brought to us by Cubizone. The game is set in an Eastern-fantasy realm, where walking on air and spell-flinging mages are common. Using a mixture of point-and-click and mouse-aim combat, the game promises a fast-paced and epic combat experience. Several methods of PVP are offered, including PVP-enabled maps and battle arenas. All that combined with the interesting Eastern Fantasy setting should make for some great gameplay.
Making Your Character When I originally looked at the game, it kind of reminded me of a more themepark Age of Wushu. After I actually got into the game to play, I’ve got to admit my initial reaction was almost spot on. The game seems to be very linear, has your typical gathering/crafting skills, and focuses on quest-based progression. With its hybrid combat system, “air-walking” features, and different storyline, the generic quest grind isn’t so mind-numbing. However, after leveling for a few hours, I found myself wanting to get into the PVP so that I could get some variety.
You aren’t given much choice in character creation. You’re given an alright amount of options when it comes to actually designing your character, but only have four choices for classes. These are your typical fantasy classes: warrior, mage, healer, and archer. I’m not going to sugar coat it, I was a bit disappointed with this small selection of generic classes. Like I almost always do, I chose the offensive caster (mage) and set off into the world of Yulgang 2.
In the Game Once I was finally into the game, I was met with a story-driven tutorial that actually seemed quite interesting at first. However, before the end, I found myself skipping the cutscenes whenever I could. The controls of the game were a bit difficult to get used to at first, but after about ten minutes of play I was jumping around like a pro. If you plan to play, expect to spend the first half-hour learning about the game via quests that have you running from one NPC to another. Can’t say I found this the best way to get interested in the game, but the interesting art style and fun movement abilities kept me hooked until I could really get into the action.
Combat was actually really fun. Playing as a mage, I had access to both a basic ranged and a basic melee attack, using the left and right mouse buttons. What I found interesting was the combo system; each time you attack you are shown your options for other attacks to continue the combo for interesting effects. On top of the combos, you also have active abilities, buffs, and passives. Pretty standard stuff, but the thing that sets it apart from other MMOs is the movement abilities.
Questing, like I mentioned, was pretty generic and boring. Most of the quests are kill quest, with some gathering. Perhaps later on in the gameplay things will get more interest, but keep in mind that this is an EARLY look into the game and not a review. After my first play session, I found myself dreading logging back in due to the questing, but the promise of PVP helped. I tried to get into some of the story behind the quests, but I couldn’t really.
I didn’t get a chance to try much of the PVP, just a few duels. They were pretty fun, and it wasn’t just standing around and spamming your 1-9 keys, I found myself running around (even on the air) and dodging a lot during my fights. Later on there’s supposed to be battlefields and PVP-enabled maps which should make things a lot more interesting. I mostly play games for their PVP, so it’s always something I pay special attention to. What I have experienced so far, in terms of PVP, hasn’t disappointed me.
Crafting Crafting and gathering are introduced in such a way that you come to believe that they’ll be pretty important to the game. Right off the bat, you’re taught how to do all the major crafting and gathering professions and given some tools to get you started. Personally, I didn’t find the crafting too interesting as it’s your usual "collect X of Y to make Z recipe from a list" which I find pretty boring. The gathering was a bit more interesting, but even that is just your generic system where random nodes of resources spawn around the maps and then you run up to them for gathering. Basically it’s the same system from World of Warcraft.
The Community The version of the game I played was based in SEA (South-East Asia). I was pretty surprised that the game was translated into perfect English and I honestly didn’t notice any lag. From what I’ve read on forums, most US and Europe-based players also say they didn’t notice much, if any, lag. Once you’re in the game, however, you’ll find that a majority of the players aren’t speaking English. Don’t get me wrong, there is a big English speaking portion of the community as well.
The World While I didn’t find the quests and story-lines very interesting, the world itself is spectacular. I’m a huge fan of both fantasy and Eastern setting in MMOs. The graphics were alright, but definitely not the best I’ve seen. However, when everything is thrown together and you aren’t analyzing things individually, the game looked beautiful. The special effects from your abilities and air-walking were also superb. Can’t say I have any negative feelings towards the graphics in this game.
The architecture and enemy designs were also interesting. Perhaps they’re not unique, but I certainly wasn’t familiar with a lot of the things I fought in the game. The maps did feel a bit cramped, at least in the first few areas, but I did like their over-all design. What made the cramped design of the first few maps the least desirable was that due to the open-beta rush I found it difficult to find things to actually kill for my quest. Perhaps it would be such a problem later on in the game.
Current State: Good My speculations on Yulgang 2 have almost been spot on. It’s a fun themepark MMO in an Eastern-fantasy setting, so you get what you think you’ll get. Fantasy classes, Eastern lore, and questing. What set the experience apart from other games for me, even other ‘action MMOs’, was the air-walking and other movement abilities. It just added a whole new layer to the combat that I’ve only seen in one other game – Age of Wushu. Overall, I would definitely suggest you give the game a try if it seems interesting to you as I wasn’t disappointed. Just don’t go into the game with high expectations thinking it’ll be the game to end all games, and you should have a great time. |
| Steam Greenlight On Chopping Block for Valve Posted: 17 Jan 2014 02:03 PM PST During Steam Dev Days this week, Gabe Newell announced that Valve is planning to make Steam’s Greenlight feature “go away.” For those unfamiliar with the feature, Steam Greenlight allows developers to place their games up for community vote on Steam. Those who get vetted by community votes are then able to place their game or product on Steam when it is ready for release. It is most popularly used by independent developers. There’s no word yet as to what Valve intends to “evolve” Greenlight into, as they have admitted its usefulness but have laid no plans or options for its replacement. |
| Posted: 17 Jan 2014 12:43 PM PST Plunder the high seas as a pirate, building a haven and a fleet in this browser-based MMO.  Publisher: Kabam Pros: +Limited information available. Cons: -Limited information available.
Overview Pirates: Tides of Fortune OverviewPirates: Tides of Fortune is a browser-based nautical adventure for all who love the high seas! Build your pirate haven and fleet with over 30 different ships, mercenaries, and more. Set sail with a massive story, going alone or with friends as you battle rival pirates and expand your pirate empire. Pirates: Tides of Fortune Screenshots      Pirates: Tides of Fortune Featured VideoComing Soon… Full Review Pirates: Tides of Fortune ReviewComing Soon… Screenshots Pirates: Tides of Fortune ScreenshotsComing Soon… Videos Pirates: Tides of Fortune VideosComing Soon… System Requirements Pirates: Tides of Fortune System RequirementsComing Soon… |
| Naruto Saga Gets Formation Face Lift Posted: 17 Jan 2014 11:56 AM PST Available now on the Games.la portal, Naruto Saga brings a fresh set of gameplay experiences into the world of the fabled Naruto anime series. The new Formation Interface provides ninjas with a variety of tactical options before, during, and after battle – all wrapped up in a clean, intuitive layout. Ninja types are grouped into categories to streamline selection, and active members are highlighted for quick reference in the heat of battle. Using the Partners Position Array, players can switch their characters position with ease at any moment, and it’s even possible to enhance partner skills with a few simple clicks; lending a dynamic tactical edge to Naruto Saga’s intense team combat. Ninjas can also recruit new partners within the new Formation Interface, which they should do regularly to keep their team fresh and enemies on their toes. With careful team selection and formation set ups, players can guarantee that every characters ability is used to its most devastating potential. For more information and to try out Naruto Saga online, visit http://saga.games.la/ |
| Camelot Unchained Previews Silverhand Race Posted: 17 Jan 2014 11:35 AM PST Today City State Entertainment ended the full month long backstory behind the Silverhand race’s origins for Sandbox realm warfare MMORPG, Camelot Unchained. Harking from the Tuatha De Danaan (TDD), these silver armed monstrosities are adept specialists at extracting resources and fighting up close and person, though interestingly enough are not the best at actually utilizing those resources to craft items. The total list of boons and banes are currently as follows: Possible Examples of Racial Boons/Abilities Hand of Steel – This Silverhand has committed to using his hand as a melee weapon. As such, he gains %+ in all his attacks and is less likely to fumble. I am a Silverhand but not like my father - when you look at your arm, you are reminded of Nuada's corrupted arm and remember not to fall into the darker side of your emotions. As such, you get a %+ buff to mental attacks resistance / resist rolls. My hand is a shield – This Silverhand has committed to using his hand primarily as a defensive boost. As such, defense rating is boosted by %+ and he always has a % chance of blocking any targeted weapon attack. Mining is easy! – This Silverhand has committed to using this hand mostly for mining. As such he gets a %+ boost in all mining related activities. Vengeance is mine! – Upon entering The Depths™ the player has a buff placed on him that adds %+ to all attacks and mental attack resistance rolls. Possible Examples of Racial Banes Pride will be your undoing – As your skill level increases with each of your abilities, you have a % chance of having a long-term debuff placed on you that lowers all your defenses. Lightning rod – Electrical based attacks have a %+ chance to hit me as well as a %+ in damage. Fumble, fumblaya, fumblerooski – Maybe being a crafter isn't the best idea for me. The player loses % in all crafting rolls. I see Depths people – Upon entering The Depths the player has a % debuff placed on him that negatively affects all of his attacks and mental attack resistance rolls. Do it for the children – This Silverhand remembers the sacrifice of John and Nimue and as such, any attacks against Arthurian females and male Dvergr (if you can tell them apart!) are at a %-. Just kidding about physical differences between the males and females.
The full background story can be found on the CU official website. |
| Divinity: Original Sin Now in Early Access Posted: 17 Jan 2014 11:16 AM PST Larian Studios has announced today that Divinity: Original Sin is now available through Steam Early Access. The game is now available here for $39.99 (includes early access and the final release version), or for a $59.99 co-op pack that includes two copies plus a double pack of Divine Divinity and Beyond Divinity. The developer also issued a reminder and warning that the Early Access version grants only access to the first 15 hours of the game, and that the game is still missing features and may be rough to play as it is still in development. Players seeking a polished experience have been recommended to wait until the game’s final release. |
| Divinity: Original Sin Steam Early Access Trailer Posted: 17 Jan 2014 11:03 AM PST
The makers of Divinity: Dragon Commander, Larian Studios, bring us their most ambitious multiplayer RPG to date. Write your own story in single player or co-op mode as you tactically outwit and outmaneuver your opponents in what equates to the modern day version of Arcanum. |
| The Repopulation Hits Fourth Stretch Goal Posted: 17 Jan 2014 10:32 AM PST Above & Beyond has announced today that they’ve now reached the fourth stretch goal for their second Kickstarter campaign for The Repopulation, which means the introduction of the Calprates Mount, appearing soon in the current alpha build. More chapters have also been added to the Evening Star short story. The Repopulation is now looking ahead to the next two stretch goals: Cooperative Structure Placement, which will allow players to see each other’s objects as they are being moved or placed (instead of only after); and a closed beta backer bonus that will grant an additional set of invites for the third round of closed beta testing. |
| Loadout is locked & loaded for January 31st Posted: 17 Jan 2014 09:53 AM PST Edge of Reality, developers of the upcoming Free-to-Play shooter Loadout, today announced that the game will officially be available on Friday, January 31, 2014. The development team has spent the last three years fine tuning the mechanics and embracing the maniacal and addictive nature of Loadout's gameplay, ensuring their debut title will be ready for its highly-anticipated launch. "After spending the last two decades contributing to the development of some amazing franchises, like Mass Effect, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, The Sims, and Dragon Age, Loadout is our studio's first original IP, and we couldn't be more excited to open it up to the masses," said Rob Cohen, CEO of Edge of Reality. "We started this as a passion project, working on it when we could, and trying to create something original and truly player friendly. What we've got now is a game that's a blast to play, quick and easy to get into, and empowers players with insane amounts of customization." In fact, Loadout's weapon-crafting system runs so deep that there are over 44 billion possible creations to assemble, enabling players to transform weapon behavior in extreme ways, thereby defining their own class and play style. Combining weapon-crafting with acrobatic movement and over-the-top comedic violence, Loadout is packed with personality and style that deliver a fresh and satisfying alternative to the vast array of modern combat shooters. Loadout is currently in beta via Early Access on Steam. Loadout will officially be released for the PC on January 31, 2014. For more Loadout mayhem, visit www.loadout.com |
| CrossFire Announces E-Sports Initiative Posted: 17 Jan 2014 09:51 AM PST After a successful 2013, SG North (Formally G4Box), publisher of the hit free online FPS Cross Fire, have welcomed the New Year by announcing a partnership with competitive gaming organizers E-Sports Genesis. The partnership promises to bring forth tournaments with cash prizes to the CrossFire North America/UK community in 2014, starting with "The ESG Winter Series". Alongside this announcement was the reveal of the qualifier finals to the official world-wide CrossFire competition, CFS, which had a huge cash prize of $180,000 USD last year. The qualifier will be hosted by ESG and will be broadcasted through their Twitch TV channel at 8 PM EST on January 18th. Signups for The ESG Winter Series started on January 6th and will last until January 19th. The tournament will begin on January 20th and features a grand prize of $500 cash. "Competition in CrossFire has always been a focus, partnering with E-Sports Genesis gives us amazing new options to expand the community and it is an important first step for us", said Christian Brellisford, Associate Producer of CrossFire at SG North. Participation is open to all CrossFire players. Although the cash prize is only available to North American users, E-Sports Genesis assures players that "there are cash prize tournaments for all regions in the works for future tournaments". Additional prizes include over 150,000 ZP for use in game. Players can sign up for The ESG Winter Series on The E-Sports Genesis website. There users will find additional tournament information, including rules, restrictions and scheduled match times. |
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