ChaserZ - RaiderZ Review

   RaiderZ is an action-RPG created developed by MAIET Entertainment and hosted by Perfect World Entertainment Inc. You take control of one of four classes (a fifth on its way), and go out into the world, slashing and bashing as you complete stupid quests for stupid people inbetween trying to save the land from evil.

Chocobo!

   It's a pretty fun game that avoids a lot of the problems I see in other MMORPGs. Good graphics, good gameplay, but let's look at the specifics...

Special Request - Earthbound vs. Earthbound Zero

   A friend of a friend requested that I do a review over the popular turn-based RPG, Earthbound, and it's predecessor Earthbound Zero. In Japan, there were three Earthbound games, but we only got one of them. Over there, the series is called "Mother", and we got Mother 2. However, Mother 1 did have an English version in existence, it was just never released in the US for some reason.

   I assume it was a prototype of some sort but never received the greenlight for a US release, though you can still find the ROM on the internet today. Let's check it. Which is the better game? Earthbound for the SNES, or Earthbound Zero for the NES? Let's pretend we don't already know the answer, take out our special kneecapping bats, and charge in.

Battle Veiled Pay4Fee - Battlefield Play4Free Review

   Battlefield Play4Free is an MMOFPS developed by EA Digital Illusions CE and Easy Studios, and published by EA. The game is apparently a modified version of Battlefield 2 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and makes me glad I never played Battlefield before Battlefield 3. However, I've heard BF2 and Bad Company 2 were actually pretty good. This just isn't a good representation of them. I personally really hate EA for various reasons, and this game isn't changing my mind.

   It is almost a standard Battlefield experience, with all of the annoyances that come with it, but butchered. Once you're done getting wow'd by all of the vehicles and jet fighters, you start to see the game for what it really is. Crap. As usual, however, let's first discuss what the game doesn't do badly...

Fifth Thought - Everyone Who Isn't As Good As You Are...

   Here is something I hear way too often:

   Noob: "Whoa, dude, you're awesome. Can you give me some tips?"
   A. Dude: "Nah, man, I suck. I'm nothing compared to *insert best player on given game here*."

   I think we need to get off the mindset that if you aren't the best at something, then you're not good at it. This is something that easily leads to arrogant fools who, by extension, think that anyone who isn't as good as they are is bad. To be honest, I used to think like this myself. I used to think that I wasn't all that good, and therefore anyone who does worse than me is just a terrible player.

Troll Everything - Offensive Combat Review

   Offensive Combat is a browser-based first-person shooter developed by U4iA Games. You have probably heard of this game if you have seen any of it's eye-catching advertisements. It has a very unique style in that it bases itself around being offensive, or displeasing.

As if that wasn't evident.

   This is actually very well executed by the developers. They haven't sacrificed any features or visuals just to get that point across, and this is also one of very few games that hasn't suffered from being playable in a browser. Personally, I tend to shy away from browser-based MMOs because they tend to suck, thinking that they can attract players through browser functionality alone instead of gameplay. Offensive Combat, on the other hand, seems to have taken everything into account to make their game as fun as possible. How did they do this? Well, let's see...

Hell Fate - Hellgate Global Review

   Note: I never got around to the PvP aspect of Hellgate, so it will not be discussed in this review. Also, the class I mostly played for the purpose of review was Marksman, though I also played Guardian a bit.

   Hellgate Global is an MMORPG created by Flagship Studios and hosted by Hanbitsoft. For those unfamiliar with the name, Hellgate Global is really just Hellgate: London turned into a free-to-play title. This is great news for us free gamers, because Hellgate is actually a great game.

   As soon as you start the game, you're treated to a nicely animated intro movie that gets the ball rolling on the story. Hell has been taking over various worlds, swarming them with demons and covering them with endless darkness. Regardless, they will not take Earth. Because Earth is badass. Humans have been pushed underground, and it is up to you to cut a swath through the countless demons that roam the Earth and close the gates of Hell. It is a fairly interesting story, and the gameplay does not disappoint. Of course, it's not without it's problems, so let's get into the meat of the review.

Gotham's Ditzy Roster - Gotham City Impostors Review

   Gotham City Impostors is a Batman-themed first-person shooter created by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It has recently gone free-to-play, and is now available on Steam. The premise of the game revolves around a bunch of losers and delinquents, dressed similarly to Batman and Joker respectively, who fight each other while Batman is away. We can also assume from the nicely animated introduction video that the instant Batman comes back all of these impostors go scrambling, scared and crying, back to their homes and hangouts.

   These aren't the most likable characters you've ever seen, but it fits the theme of the game. You are playing as the insane criminals of Gotham City, where even the Batman impostors are toting guns around with no remorse. Without further ado, let's get into the meat of the game...

Combat Sniper - Combat Arms Review

   Combat Arms is a military-style online first-person shooter created by Doobic Studios, published and hosted by Nexon, and also available on Steam.

 
   As the game has been around for quite a long time, it features a large selection of features. There are at least 100 different weapons to choose from, most of which can we further modified with custom parts, and around 10 different game modes including the classics such as Capture the Flag and Elimination (Team Deathmatch). However, while it is definitely better than it was when it was starting out, it is still a terrible game.

Turret Fun - Bullet Run Review

   Bullet Run is a First-Person Shooter (FPS) created by Acony and published by Sony Online Entertainment, also available on Steam. The game revolves around a deadly future bloodsport of the same name, where clones kill each other for fame and glory. Just fame and glory, not prizes.

   To set itself apart from other shooters on the market, the game features eight skills (4 tiers, 2 in each tier, 1 from each tier usable at once), to give you an edge in battle, lots of available weapons and lots of available clothing customization options. Despite all this, the game sucks, but first let's discuss the couple things this game does right.

Elbow Inbound - Ghost Recon Online Review

   Ghost Recon Online is a tactical third-person shooter created by Ubisoft and currently in it's Open Beta Test. The game revolves around using cover and working with teammates to efficiently defeat the opposition in 2-round matches.

   The game currently offers just 2 game modes and only 4 maps, however the maps are extremely well designed and reasonably sized. Every player has access to 3 different classes, each with their own weapons, stats, and special abilities. Not to mention the graphics are superb for a free game, and the controls are smooth and feel natural. While I'm sure many people are already downloading the game at this point, and they should be, let's jump into what makes this game tick.

Quick Remorse - Brick Force Review

   Note: I'm not a builder. Since I always post screenshots I obtained myself, I'll be showing what I saw or helped build myself. These aren't good examples of the potential of the building system but these are (the videos linked are not mine, nor are any of the maps presented in this review).

   Brick Force is a hybrid sandbox/first-person shooter game created by Infernum and EXE Games. It combines the ability to build cool stuff with the ability to shoot people in the face. Bright and colorful, it's a pretty casual game and playable both as a standalone client or in a browser using the Unity game engine.

   The game has two base modes, "Build" and "Play". They're pretty self-explanatory, but in "Build" you can create maps and in "Play" you shoot people. In "Play", there are five game modes available for play (Team Deathmatch, Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Defusion, and Build and Destroy), so this is actually both a fully fleshed out shooter and builder. Unlike the exterior, however, the game isn't all sunshine and roses.

Fourth Thought - What is the Future of MMOs?

   I recently discovered a series of videos called Extra Credits. The second video in the first season, titled "The Future of MMOs", caught my eye and prompted a watch. While quite out-of-date, the video made a lot of good points about the state of MMORPGs in particular, and why most of them aren't that good. I have absolutely no problems with anything that was said in the video, and I'm not here to summarize it.

Continent of Strife - Continent of the Ninth Seal Review

   Continent of the Ninth Seal, or C9, is an action RPG created and hosted by Webzen, a Korean company, and just recently seeing it's full release. The game features nice graphics, amazing action gameplay, and many different styles of play to fit almost any player. There are four different classes at present (Hunter, Fighter, Shaman, and Witchblade), each with three subclasses (2 for Witchblade) that define your fighting style. Not only that, but the game comes with a little social network thing that latches onto the side of your screen to let you post your actions to Twitter and Facebook.

Currently: Looking at cool visuals!

   The game even has in-game video recording software. At this point, some may wonder "is there anything this game doesn't have?!" Well, we'll get to that in a bit. First...

Realm of the Rad Facade - Realm of the Mad God Review

   Realm of the Mad God (link goes directly to game), is a browser game created by Wild Shadow Studios and recently acquired by Kabam, also available on Steam. The game is described as a "massively cooperative bullet hell shooter", and that's a very accurate description.

   As you can see, this game has a lot separating it from the average MMO, not to mention the average browser MMO. You play as one of 13 different classes, and jump into the game dodging enemy bullets while spamming your own. Don't be afraid though. If you saw "bullet hell" and immediately thought of games such as Ikaruga, Touhou, or maybe even Gradius, you should know that Realm of the Mad God is actually very forgiving. To an extent.

Pollen Birth - Fallen Earth Review

Note: This review is based more on the beginning portion of the game rather than the entirety of the game. Keep this in mind.

  Fallen Earth is post-apocalyptic MMORPG developed by Reloaded Productions and available both through the link and on Steam. You play the role of a clone in our bleak future (the clone thing is an excuse to let the player die as many times as they want without staying dead). Your goal is to do whatever anyone tells you to do, because this is an MMORPG. Taking quests and completing them for rewards is most of the game. When you aren't doing quests, you're farming something. Pretty run-of-the-mill. However, this game does have a couple things that separates it from other games on the market other than it's similarity to Fallout 3, so let's smoothly segue over to the right and wrong...

Spiritual Tails - Spirit Tales Review

   Spirit Tales is an anime-style MMORPG published and hosted by KoramGame. It makes a point to be very cute and colorful and, as advertised, it succeeds at both.

Cute right?

   Personally, I found Spirit Tales to be significantly more fun than most MMORPGs, as it lacks their slow speed and a bit of their repetition. It wasn't particular fun to play this game, but at the same time, it wasn't a chore. To get into specifics, let's check the right and wrong...

Boribash - Toribash Review

   Toribash is a turn-based martial arts simulator created by Hampus Söderström and Nabi Studios. Though not for everyone, the game is one of the most unique and violent games on the internet. At its core it's a fighting game, except you're using ragdolls manually controlling every individual joint to make them fight. Aside from the basic kicking and punching, you can also grab and tear your opponent limb from limb. Literally. Of course, you can't just jump in and start painting the field with blood from the very start, and that's where we get into the right and wrong...

Super Monkey Knight Comrade - Super Monday Night Combat Review

   Super Monday Night Combat (SMNC) is both a third-person shooter and real-time strategy game created by Uber Entertainment (often shortened to Uberent), available through Steam. You take control of one of an assortment of "Pros" to participate in the famous bloodsport of the future, which airs every Monday Night, hence the title. As there is only one gameplay mode at present (Crossfire), the object of the game is to blow through the enemy's Pros, bots, and other hazards, to take down their "Money Ball" and win the match. This game is actually quite a treat to play, and one of few games where I get the feeling the developers had fun creating it. Of course, I must say why this game is so cool, so let's get into what this game does right and wrong...

Poor Sync - War Inc. Battlezone Review

   War Inc. is a third-person/first-person shooter created by Online Warmongers. Originally, this game was just third-person, but they recently added first-person. The game also features three game modes, with multiple maps each (Deathmatch, Conquest, and Sabotage). Not much else to say, really. It's modern military shooter in every sense of the word. You take an assault rifle, you rush out, you get killed, resolve to camp, and then start killing people en masse. It even has the obligatory shade of brown present in most games of this type.

Look at that brown. It's glorious.

   That said, let's jump into the right n' wrong...

Wrath of Zeroes - Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes Review

   Wrath of Heroes is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game. You take control of a hero in a team of heroes, and you take on other heroes is a big battle arena. It's pretty straight forward. The characters of this game, among other things, are based off of Age of Reckoning, another Warhammer Online game based off the Warhammer Fantasy world. The game works with three teams instead of the usual two, with six players on each team. The game also features three modes: Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, and Point Capture. It is currently in Open Beta, so many features aren't implemented yet. So my review will be based off of what the game is like now...

Eons... - Aion Review

WARNING: I really don't like playing traditional MMORPGs, plus getting to a reasonable level for review on an MMORPG takes a very long time. In other words, this review won't really be over the full game nor will it be that good. I am totally open to anyone that can help me with reviewing traditional MMORPGs.

   Aion is a traditional fantasy MMORPG created by NCsoft that somewhat-recently became free-to-play. The game has a high emphasis on PvP combat with factions. You must join either the angel-ish "Elyos" or the demon-ish "Asmodians", when you first start the game, and you can not create a character of the opposite faction you join. PvP isn't really available from the start, though, and it's more of an end-game thing. You're also given the ability to fly but, since this isn't FlyFF, flying doesn't really serve much purpose besides being a little faster and looking cool, and you can't stay in the air indefinitely. Mostly just running around and killing almost-defenseless animals. Let's look at the right and wrong...

Lack Prophecy - Black Prophecy Review

   Black Prophecy is a space combat MMORPG by Reakktor Media, and published by Gamigo. You fly around freely in space and shoot things on a a three-dimensional plane. The game is very well made, and the Prologue (which will take you hours to complete) is nicely decorated with many cutscenes and interesting characters in a somewhat unique world. Not only that, but you are given the option to skip most all of the dialogue and cutscenes if you don't want to look at them. Honestly, there isn't much to complain about here. Let's jump into the right and wrong...

The Fight for Vindication! Or something. - Vindictus Review

   Vindictus is a multiplayer action RPG developed by devCAT and hosted by Nexon. Known as Mabinogi Heroes in Korea (since it's supposed to be a prequel to Mabinogi, an MMORPG), this game revolves around hacking and slashing through various monsters and bosses to save the world. I personally didn't get much into it, but if the awesome intro sequences are any indication, it is quite an interesting tale. I'm more of a fighter, though, so I play games for the fighting. Luckily, Vindictus delivers. Here's the right n' wrong...

Third Thought - Do Any of These Online Games Require Skill?

   Definitely. Tribes is one of the best examples, but even games like Blacklight require keeping your crosshair on the enemy and doing your best to get the drop on them instead of the other way around. Right down to MMORPGs, where skill is mostly involved in making sure your skill and stat builds are optimal. Strategy games require planning and being able to see what the enemy is going to do next...

Ski Game With Rocket Launchers - Tribes: Ascend Review

   Tribes: Ascend is a fast-paced first-person shooter created and hosted by Hi-Rez Studios. The game has three modes (Team Deathmatch, CTF, and Arena). The object of the game's main mode, Capture the Flag, is to... capture the flag, by any means necessary. This includes vehicles, rocket launchers, shotguns, more rocket launchers, grenade launchers, assault rifles, and a bunch more variations on rocket launchers.

   The game is very explosion heavy, and with a hate for hitscan weapons combined with a love of high speed, the game can be brutal on newer players. Aiming can be difficult, more so when all projectiles have to travel slowly to their destination. Nevertheless, actually getting a kill during these conditions can give you a great sense of accomplishment.

   Now for the right and wrong of the game, besides what was stated in the above paragraph. Tribes is a pretty old series, and I would imagine has many fans. Regardless, this game has problems. First...

NeonNight - Blacklight Retribution Review

   Blacklight Retribution is an MMOFPS created by Zombie Studios, and hosted by Perfect World. It's a futuristic shooter, complete with neon lights and mech suits. If you're cool with staring at multiple shades of black for a majority of the time you're playing, then this is the game for you. There's some also some orange in there, don't worry.

   I had been waiting on Blacklight Retribution to come out for a long time. Frankly, I'm a little disappointed...

Second Thought - Are Free to Play Games Truly Free?

   I hear this kind of thing a lot. If there's even a single thing you have to pay for, people don't count the game as being entirely free. However, there are categories to this. Two of them. Since these games do have to make money somehow, it falls on exactly how they're doing it...

League of Pheasants - League of Legends Review

   League of Legends (shortened to LoL...), is an RTS (real-time strategy) game developed and hosted by Riot Games. It is often referred to as a "DotA clone", "DotA" standing for "Defense of the Ancients", but there are multiple games that use this same format of gameplay. You control one champion and have to fight the enemy champions with your teammates to overtake whatever. In LoL, the main objective is to demolish the towers and champions standing in your way, and then destroy the enemy nexus, thereby resulting in victory...

First Thought - Are MMORPGs Worth Playing?

Short Answer: No, they are not...

Team Torturous 2 - Team Fortress 2 Review

   Team Fortress 2 is a class-based MMOFPS created by Valve and hosted on Steam. It features multiple different modes of play, which is enhanced by it's community, which can create new modes by modifying their servers. For each mode, you have access to 9 different classes, and each class has a large selection of weapons they can use. The graphics on the game are also very smooth and nice, despite the cartoony, yet bloody, nature of the game...

MapleSorry - Maplestory Review

   Maplestory is the quintessential Free-to-Play MMORPG. It is a Korean game, with its American version being hosted by Nexon. If you don't already know what Maplestory is, it's a 2D sidescrolling platformer MMORPG. The fact that it isn't 3D both increases and decreases its appeal. It sets the game apart from most of the rest, but at the same time, you can't boast about how amazing the game's graphics are. It doesn't have any, and the number of frames on any given sprite is pretty low. As for it being a sidescrolling platformer, that gives the game a bit of oldschool charm, and takes out one of the thing I hate most about MMORPGs: Clicking on a monster and having my character do all the work for me. In Maplestory, you manually walk, jump, fly, etc. to the next monster and then beat the crap out of it en masse...