MMO News |
- Chaos Reborn Early Preview
- Cliffs of War
- Final Fantasy XIV: Eternal Bond Trailer
- Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Patch 2.45 Brings Marriage & More
- Clash of Mafias
- Ubisoft Announces Heroes of Might & Magic III HD Edition
- Go!Go!Go!:Racer Ignites onto iOS and Android Devices
- Final Fantasy XI December Version Update Continues Adoulin Lore
- Celtic Heroes “Destiny” Engine Debuts on iOS
- Civ: BE Launches First Post-Launch Patch
| Posted: 09 Dec 2014 04:30 PM PST By Jordan Hall (ApocaRUFF)
Chaos Reborn is an attempt to re-imagine and bring back to life the cult classic 80′s game known as Chaos. The game is being brought to us by the creator of the original X-COM, Julian Gollop. Just as with its predecessor, Chaos Reborn will be a turn-based strategy and tactics game in which wizards are pitted against each other in an arena, using spells and summoned creatures to do battle. You’ll have over eighty spells at your disposal, including twenty-four mythical creatures to summon. The end goal is to not just offer a multiplayer battle game, but to also offer a massive RPG component. I never had the chance to play the original Chaos, but I am ecstatic to get a chance to play Chaos Reborn.
The Basics Before I get too far into the article, I want to make it clear that the version of Chaos Reborn I’ve gotten to play is a very early iteration. What I’ve experienced so far may not resemble the end product at all. Which is understandable considering a majority of the planned features are not yet available, but I get into that more in the "The Future" section. Now that I’ve said that, let's get into the basics of the game as it currently is.
The game is a mixture of a board game and a card game. When you play, you have a deck of spell cards that can be played. Each turn you’re allowed to play a single card. These spell cards have a range of abilities, but some of the most interesting are the summon cards. Summons allow you to do what the name suggests – summon mythical creatures to fight on your behalf. These creatures can range from dwarves, to elephants, to unicorns. Some can fly, some can snare, others can be turned into a mount for your Wizard to ride. Each has unique stats and abilities, which makes things quite interesting. There’s just something awesome about summoning a sword, a shield, and a unicorn mount for your Wizard to ride into battle. The utility that creatures can offer adds a lot to the strategy of the game. Casting seemed a bit odd at first. Depending on the usefulness of a card, it’ll have a percentage chance to result in a successful cast. You can also cast just an illusion of a monster for a 100% chance, however it won't be able to actually do anything to your enemies except to act as a bluff. So a basic goblin would have a 90% chance success, while something like a Spider would have a 60% chance. You can use mana to increase this chance, which is gained by sacrificing cards. So if you have a powerful card, you may want to sacrifice a handful of weaker cards to turn its very low summoning chance into something reasonable. Strategy plays a big role in the game. For now, you’re given a fairly limited number of cards for your deck. As I said, you can only play a single card each turn and each card has a percentage chance for the card summoning to work, with the only way to increase that being the sacrifice of other cards. Creatures have special abilities and stats that dictate stuff like how far a creature can move each turn. There are a lot of variables to take in and make use of, which leads to a very rich strategy experience.
Arenas Arenas are where the battles take place. At least for now, they’re not that big – big enough to allow for placement to be important, but small enough to encourage frequent conflict. Terrain can play an important part in the battles – which is nice – and there are certain things on the map to help spice things up. Not the mention that the graphics are simply beautiful. They may not have the highest poly count, but they have a fluid and stylized artistic style to them that is reminiscent of games like World of Warcraft or League of Legends. Further down the line, we will be introduced to Realms. These will be procedurally generated or even designed by our fellow players. As it’s not in the game yet, all I can do is read what the developer has planned and speculate. But I have high hopes for how fun exploring the realms will be, battling Wizards and building my spell deck. I’m also looking forward to seeing much more of the graphic style the game has, as I’ve found myself enjoying what’s already present in the pre-Early Access version quite a lot. Each card has an alignment – Chaos or Law. At the top of your screen there is a bar that represents the "Balance," that goes back and forth depending on certain actions that the players do (such as casting spells). Depending on what the Balance currently is, and the alignment of the cards you are trying to cast, you may get a bonus for your casting. For example, if the Balance is at 4% Chaos, rather than just a 90% chance to successfully summon a Goblin (which is a Chaos creature) there will instead be a 94% chance. It’s an interesting mechanic that helps encourage smart plays.
Battle I actually explained a number of the current rules for battle in "The Basics," Keep in mind things may change in the coming weeks or months, so don’t treat this as the be-all-end-all concerning battling. As I’ve said already, strategy is key and tactics are an important factor. The game actually reminds me of a very animated and advanced form of Chess. They’re obviously quite different, but the same kind of thinking can be applied when playing Chaos Reborn. Each player gets a turn where he is allowed to summon one card, sacrifice as many cards as he likes, and make use of his creatures. The end goal of the match is to defeat all other wizards. Currently, there can be up to four players, either in a "free for all" or 2v2 style. You can also do simple 1v1s as well. I’m not quite sure how things will pan out when it comes to the single-player RPG, as it’s not yet in the game. When attacking a creature, fighting is fairly straight forward. Either the creature dies, or it survives. There are no hitpoints to deal with, and (once again) the chance to defeat a creature is a percentage based on the attacker's attack points and the defender's defense points. You can gain bonuses or penalties depending on the terrain, and there are a lot of special cases when it comes to the creatures. For example, an eagle can fly and therefore can get over terrain obstacles. The special abilities of the various types of creatures are something I enjoy a great deal. Although there will be a wide-variety of spells available (up to eighty), I’ve found the creatures to be both the center and the most interesting aspect of the match. Like I said earlier, certain creatures are eligible to be mounts for your wizard. There are also other special circumstances – such as the bonus an eagle gets for attacking from higher terrain or how spiders get a chance to web an enemy when they attack, so even if it doesn’t get killed it will be snared. However, a majority of the spell cards aren’t creature summons. Early on, you seem to have a very limited deck. The driving force of progression in Chaos Reborn seems to be acquiring new cards. The end goal is to have at least eighty spell cards, only twenty-four of which will be creature summons. Examples of the spells include creating a magical sword for your wizard to increase its attack or the ability to disillusion the fake illusion summons I talked about earlier. Of course there’s the normal attack spells and I imagine a diverse set of other spells, as well.
The Future A lot of what will make Chaos Reborn a great game (and I can already tell it will be) is not yet in the game. Sure, the battling is already a blast – especially when you’re playing with friends over Skype or Teamspeak. But things like the equipment system, the single-player (And Co-Op) RPG elements, guilds, etc… will do a lot to boost an already fun experience. I’m not quite sure how the RPG part of the game will pan out, but the developers wish list seems to be quite a long read. My personal favorite highlight from that list though is the upcoming equipment system, set to implement yet another level of tactical decisions and unit variety. As the game was made using Unity, it’s going to be quite a bit easier for it to be ported to other platforms. Browser-based, Windows, Mac, and Linux are planned for release. There are also plans to make it available on iOS and Android, too, although the Kickstarter suggests that this may appear much later. I’m looking forward to being able to play a mobile version of the game, though, as the gameplay seems ideal for gaming on the go against a close friend.
Conclusion Chaos Reborn definitely has a lot of potential. It has a well-respected and talented developer backing it. Combine everything a lover of strategy could want in a cult classic 80s aura and you've got Chaos Reborn. Badass throwback music included. With its experienced developer and the successful kickstarter (which went $30,000 over its goal), I have no problem believing that all the promises will be delivered. I would definitely suggest that you check out Chaos Reborn, now that it's available on Steam Early Access. Even if you don’t play the game right away, it’s worth keeping tabs on. |
| Posted: 09 Dec 2014 04:01 PM PST Cliffs of War is a side-scrolling, fortress-building game in which players construct elaborate citadels and defend them from roving hordes of enemies. The game features PVP play, solo content, and a mythological setting.  Publisher: Puzzle Lab Pros: +Person fortress, +PVP elements, +Design your own monsters Cons: -Low playerbase, -Low graphics
Overview Cliffs of War OverviewIn Cliffs of War, you spend time building up the perfect fortress to defend against monster attacks. Choose from guardian minions and turrets, specialized rooms and traps, and more. The core of the game’s fun centers around watching your many foes break against the mighty ramparts of your personal fortress. You can also create, collect, and evolve various amulets to grow your abilities. Unlock new techniques and refine existing ones with the use of these amulets, which you can craft or find throughout gameplay. There are multiple types of amulet, each one corresponding to various kinds of abilities or statistics. Cliffs of War Screenshots    Cliffs of War Featured Video Full Review Cliffs of War ReviewComing Soon… Screenshots Cliffs of War ScreenshotsComing Soon… Videos Cliffs of War VideosCliffs of War Trailer System Requirements Cliffs of War System RequirementsComing Soon… |
| Final Fantasy XIV: Eternal Bond Trailer Posted: 09 Dec 2014 03:30 PM PST Love and eternal promises now arrive in Final Fantasy XIV.
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| Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Patch 2.45 Brings Marriage & More Posted: 09 Dec 2014 03:25 PM PST Square Enix, Inc. announced today the release of Patch 2.45 for FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn®. The new patch introduces the Ceremony of Eternal Bonding – a special rite of passage for two individuals wishing to pledge each other a lifetime of devotion, which features a stunning ceremony, gorgeous outfits for hosts and guests, special gifts, and more. Further, the patch continues the long-running Zodiac weapon quest series, and marks the first time that the upgraded weapons will take on a new appearance, introducing iconic FINAL FANTASY weapons such as the Excalibur. The update also ushers in adjustments for the dragoon and ninja jobs, a new feature that allows seasoned veterans to assist their fellow adventurers in the Final Coil of Bahamut, new items, and much more. The full Patch 2.45 notes can be found at: |
| Posted: 09 Dec 2014 03:11 PM PST Clash of Mafias is a mobile strategy game by IGG (I Got Games). Play as a Mafia clan lord and become the Godfather of a virtual city. Do you have what it takes to survive and thrive in this dog eat dog world? Brief description of game name (1-2 sentences).  Publisher: I Got Games Pros: +Solid visuals
Overview Clash of Mafias OverviewFeatures: Territory Expansion:: Expand your Base and fight to gain more Turf! T Brains and Brawn:: Use traps and techs to win battles! With the right strategy, you can crush your enemies without lifting a finger. Show no mercy: Unleash powerful skills on the battlefield, create your own tactics, and find the strategy that suits you best! Hi-Def Graphics: Intricately designed cities and streets will have you feeling like you're right in the middle of a gangster flick! Clash of Mafias Screenshots    Clash of Mafias Featured VideoComing Soon… Full Review Clash of Mafias ReviewComing Soon… Screenshots Clash of Mafias ScreenshotsComing Soon… Videos Clash of Mafias VideosComing Soon… System Requirements Clash of Mafias System RequirementsRequires Android |
| Ubisoft Announces Heroes of Might & Magic III HD Edition Posted: 09 Dec 2014 02:03 PM PST Today, Ubisoft announced Heroes® of Might & Magic® III – HD Edition, a return to the most popular turn-based strategy game of the franchise. Developed by DotEmu, the HD update brings the players' experience to new heights. Heroes® of Might & Magic® III – HD Edition will be available digitally on Windows® PC and for the first time on tablet (iOS and Android) in January 29th, 2015. Fans of the series will get to relive an enhanced Heroes III adventure thanks to the authentic upgrades made on graphics which can now be appreciated in wide screen. This new HD edition still remains faithful to the roots of the original game by offering seven exciting campaign scenarios, 48 skirmish maps, a local multiplayer mode and a map editor (only available on PC). A new online multiplayer Steam lobby will also be deployed for players to share their enthusiasm and experiences with the rest of the Heroes III community. "Community is at the core of the Might & Magic series, and we wanted to thank their everlasting support by bringing back the epic tale of Queen Catherine Ironfist", said Erwan le Breton, Might & Magic creative director. "We wanted to keep the heart of what made Heroes III one of the most renowned titles of the series while providing an enhanced visual experience and offering the possibility to also play the game on tablets". Fifteen years later, Heroes® of Might & Magic® III – HD Edition is more appealing and eye-catching than ever before. Players will discover a new HD experience on their quest to re-conquer the Kingdom of Erathia and forge the destinies of mighty and magical heroes. For more information about Might & Magic Heroes III – HD Edition, please visit: http://mmh3-hd.com/ |
| Go!Go!Go!:Racer Ignites onto iOS and Android Devices Posted: 09 Dec 2014 01:32 PM PST Ready, Set… Go! Go! Go! Netmarble US, Inc., the newly formed North American gaming branch of the number one mobile game publisher in South Korea, Netmarble Games Corp. ("Netmarble”), today announced that GO!GO!GO!:RACER has launched in North America for iOS and Android devices. The company’s brand new endless racer game thrusts players into a high-speed chase to out-run rivals and make it to the next checkpoint with its arcade-styled gameplay fueled with humorous over-the-top combos, presented in nostalgic, vibrant cell-shaded visuals. Known overseas as Korea’s top-grossing mobile game * Race Cha-cha-cha (" 다함께 차차차 "), GO!GO!GO!:RACER hits the road today, updated with new and even more enhanced features for its debut in Western territories. "We're extremely excited to finally bring GO!GO!GO!:RACER to North American players today," said Seungwon Lee, Executive Vice President of Global at Netmarble Games Corp. "We’ve fine-tuned our endless racer and added new features to guarantee the high-octane entertainment never stops, turning every driver into a daring racer!” In GO!GO!GO!:RACER, players can unlock over 60 cars, collect and show off to friends and rivals alike. Each car is sleekly rendered in glorious cell-shaded detail that harkens back to classic racing themed arcade games. Drivers can launch power-ups and upgrade cars for speed or mileage, all while honing their racing skills. Every competitor left in the dust thrusts racers’ cars even faster as they jump, draft and collide to chain combos, scoring more power-ups—the game features a combo system that maximizes speed at the expense of control. GO!GO!GO!:RACER is all about doing whatever it takes to boost your chance of making it to the next checkpoint. GO!GO!GO!:RACER is now free-to-download on the App Store and Google Play. |
| Final Fantasy XI December Version Update Continues Adoulin Lore Posted: 09 Dec 2014 01:00 PM PST Square Enix, Inc. announced today that at 1:00 p.m. (Pacific) the December version update for FINAL FANTASY® XI will go live. Key features include:
Detailed information on the December version update can be found at: http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/. |
| Celtic Heroes “Destiny” Engine Debuts on iOS Posted: 09 Dec 2014 12:37 PM PST One Thumb Mobile, creator of the mobile 3D MMO Celtic Heroes, will celebrate the holidays with not one but two gifts. To end the year on a high note, the long-awaited debut of the studio's advanced Destiny Engine on iOS (powered by Unity) is finally here — making Celtic Heroes the best looking mobile MMO in the marketplace. Celtic Heroes players will also enjoy a massive end-of-year event with the free Yule update. Destiny, the new iOS/Android cross-platform engine, is a quantum leap in mobile MMO graphics setting a new benchmark for the genre. The new engine includes dynamic lighting, improved shadows, and hundreds of new animations—a complete graphics overhaul. While providing a new starting area and enhanced tutorial, the update also significantly improves the user experience by allowing players to use character generated by the game itself or create their own with thousands of possibilities. "We're incredibly excited to release our ground-breaking Destiny Engine onto iOS devices. Destiny is pushing the boundaries of 3D graphics on mobile, and it unlocks huge potential for new features such as mounted combat and crafting," says Paul Simon, Executive Producer at One Thumb Mobile. "We have been heavily investing in our team—which has nearly tripled in size since the Destiny project began—and we look forward to continued growth and success with regular major game updates and expansions after the Destiny Engine launch."
Yes – Jack Frost has come to the lands of Dal Riata to help fight the minions of the dark god of storms and lightning, Taranis. Players will do battle with Monoliths of the Maelstrom to gain impressive cold-dealing Frostiron weapons, rings or bracelets designed to enhance each class. A visit to Kennis of the Snow or Serena of the Ice in Farcrag will allow players to embark on fun seasonal quests. The Yule event will be automatically added to Celtic Heroes through an upcoming update. |
| Civ: BE Launches First Post-Launch Patch Posted: 09 Dec 2014 12:33 PM PST A month has passed since Civilization: Beyond Earth hit official launch from Firaxis and 2kGames, and much ire arrived from the community about the state of said launch. Now in a surprisingly quick turn-around, the developers have pushed a fall patch live to address many of the most glaring issues with the latest iteration of this iconic 4x franchise. The forerunner of the patch focus seems to be stemming the power of trade routes, an extended feature from Civ 5: Brave New World that turned into a bit of a Frankenstein, dominating gameplay in Beyond Earth to the point that most other decisions were frivolous roleplaying elements in comparison. With reduced rates of return, lessened quest rewards, and the inability to flat out purchase each city’s trade depot with energy, these megalith building structures now stand far more on par with their brethren. For that more bothered by their constant assignment maintenance rather than balance, a new UI implementation has been included to streamline that process as well. Espionage received a light touch to prevent abusing loopholes in the “establishing network” mission that allowed for cheap and risk-free espionage building. Health also was hit with a much needed steroid to become a relevant factor in empire planning, with much harsher penalties for deep negatives and much more valuable boons for those that push health into the far green side. Various other minor tweaks to affinity pacing, unit strengths, unit type balancing, and even some leader changes were included in the patch. It’s quite a read so head over to the official post and see them all for yourself! We’ll hope to see you back on Steam to test out and keep providing the feedback that will build Beyond Earth into a great addition to the franchise over the next few years of development. |
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