March 23, 2012

Preview: Confrontation

Posted by: Cybermario @ 9:15 pm Share in Facebook

We’ve had the chance to play a preview build Confrontation Developed by Cyanide Studio. This is a a new tactical strategy RPG title set in a fantasy world known as Aarklash, in which four factions are trying to gain control. The story develops around this rivalry and how new and abominable beings created by the combination of magic and science.
You start as a Griffin squad and your mission is to discover and infiltrate one of the Scorpion Biolabs, not an easy feat as the gloomy and dismal laboratory is full of dangerous bioenginered monsters.


Confrontation



The preview build consists of two missions, the first to assemble your squad, that is scatered in this inhospitable and dangerous land.
The second mission inside one of the laboratories, to find more about the new threat in the war. I can’t say this preview was short at all, after a couple of hours i finished both missions so the full game ensures a good time of enjoyment and gameplay.
As usual in this kind of game you have the classic tank, healer, dps, etc. At first it’s easy to decide the roles as you can play with only 4 members (your first squad from the very first mission) but according to the codex and the classes available it seems we will be able to add more soldiers to our merry squad.


Confrontation



Weaponry, seems to be default and i’m not much a fan of that, although you can select the way your character evolves with different branches that will accomodate your style of play, now that’s something i like!
Confrontation doesn’t seem to offer anything new to the genre but by no means looks like a bad title, classes look pretty balanced to me, then again this is a preview build and until i try the full game I can’t say the rest of the classes are or not balanced, we will see.
Something i liked is a character editor in which you can customize the colors of the members in your squad, although it may not seem significant i love games that let us do customizations to our characters. That is a plus for me and this editor it’s a toy with which will amuse me a lot in this game.
This seems to be a title to keep in mind if you love the RTS genre, specially in the spirit of Diablo or fantasy games of the sort.


Confrontation



Excellent cutscenes narrate the storyline, art and sound in these are very good, if you know me you know i love good stories and narrative, definitely can’t wait to see more of the game and you can be sure we will have a follow up review pretty soon!




~Mario



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December 12, 2011

FFXI Ultimate Collection Abyssea Edition Review

Posted by: Cybermario @ 6:42 am Share in Facebook

Months ago Square Enix released a new Final Fantasy XI compilation for the PC via digital distribution (Steam), named “Final Fantasy XI Ultimate Collection Abyssea Edition”. What’s most notorious is a lack of a Xbox 360 release, but expected, as there is an “Ultimate Collection” available for the console lacking only the Abyssea battle scenarios and may not be worth a new hard media release at least not now.


Final Fantasy XI



Story
Will not focus on the storyline of the game, many of you already know it, taking into mind all the expansions there are, it wont be easy. But a small summary… Why not.
A terrible Crystal War in which the Shadowlord was defeated. 20 years have passed, once again evil is threatening the peace and the Shadow Lord menace arises again, now a new generation of adventurers, the chosen by the crystals (you) must save Vana’diel!


Final Fantasy XI



Gameplay
Final Fantasy XI Online is an MMORPG, a veteran in the field, been around for 9 years and still holding strong, with a good player base. The world of Vana’diel consists of 4 nations, Bastok, Windurst, San’doria and Jeuno. This last one which serves as a central hub for the other 3 nations, controling traffic, commerce, politics and more.
Although it’s an MMORPG, the feeling of the previous Final Fantasy titles remains, letting you be the protagonist and not just another hired sword. Story is extremely rich specially when we sum the expansions and add-ons there are tons of epic adventures, including the huge amount of side quests the game has to offer.


Crafts are available too; cooking, alchemy, woodworking, bonecraft, clothcraft, fishing, goldsmithing, leathercraft, smithing and recently synergy. Hobbies like logging, mining, gardening, digging and you can even hatch and raise your own chocobo, just like my trustworthy “Pendragon Blade”, the most amazing Red chocobo the world has known!


There is a total of 20 classes, 6 being available by default when you create your character, including Warrior, Monk, White Mage, Black Mage, Red Mage and Theif. 14 more that are unlockable by completing quests, such as: Paladin, Dark Knight, Beastmaster, Ranger, Bard, Summoner, Samurai, Ninja, Dragoon, Blue Mage, Corsair, Puppetmaster, Dancer and Scholar.
If you played Final Fantasy III on the DS the way you change classes is very similar, one character can have all the classes, talking to a moogle on your Mog House changes your class as long as you have them unlocked.


Just like in the game each class needs to be leveled, meaning if you take Monk to 95 and you just unlocked Beastmaster it will be level 1, you can go back to Monk without losing level or stats.
When players get access to a Mog House, they can check their inbox for items or gil, sent by friends or the auction house, checking inventory, mog locker, mog safe, sack, changing job, and more.


Final Fantasy XI Online was designed for a console, and is best played by using a control pad, personally i love to play the game with a 360 control pad over a keyboard.
So, what’s in the “Final Fantasy XI Ultimate Collection Abyssea Edition”? let’s take a look:


- Final Fantasy XI
- 4 Expansions: The Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urhgan, Wings of the Goddess.
- 3 Add-on Scenarions: A Crystalline Prophecy: Ode of Life Bestowing, A Moogle Kupo d’Etat: Evil in Small Doses, A Shantotto Ascension: The Legend Torn, Her Empire Born.
- 3 Battle Addons: Vision of Abyssea, Scars of Abyssea and Heroes of Abyssea.


If that’s not enough for you, let me tell you even now that new content is being added, with the new battlefields known as “Voidwatch” with new maps and monsters, amazing loot and much more including new level caps for adventurers.


Final Fantasy XI



Graphics 7.5/10
As this was a title developed for the Playstation 2, graphics start to look dated, especially compared to current standards, still the game is highly enjoyable, models and scenery, looks creative and full of fantastic details, effects for the special techniques both monsters and players used looks fantastic, colorful and detailed.
Fantastic cutscenes accompany the rich storyline of this MMO, keeping the epic feeling of the Final Fantasy series.


Sound 9.5/10
Fabulous and tremendously well done soundtrack, just when you think a game can’t offer more, Final Fantasy XI Online proves you wrong, every new expansion comes with new and amazing new music composed by Nobuo Uematsu, Naoshi Mizuta and Kumi Tanioka.


Extras
This new compilation comes with an exclusive in-game item called Deistrier Beret and is only obtainable by buying this new compilation. People ask me if the in-game item is worth it, the answer is yes, most definitely.
Giving you refresh, auto reraise, fast walking among other benefits and letting you disguise as an adorable baby chocobo! All the stat benefits are available for players at lvl 30 and under, after you hit level 31 the only bonus left is the ability to disguise, which is dandy and a pretty bonus to mess around with friends.


Final Fantasy XI



Downsides
Sadly for achievement hunters, developers have not introduced new achievements with the new expansions added to the game, this is a real shame as it would encourage more Xbox 360 owners and players to play on the console.
That is not the only letdown if you own a 360, old and never resolved bugs are there, disconnecting players from Abyssea zones and specially Besieged, this problem is unexistant if you play on a PC.


PS2 limitations, as much as i love how developers dont want to leave PS2 owners out, i think it’s time, the game can grow much more, but the PS2 Limitations are affecting 360 and PC players and it shouldn’t be like this. If Final Fantasy XI Online wants to improve it needs to be done, cut PS2 support Square Enix.


Final Fantasy XI



Overall
Final Fantasy XI Online has a lot to offer and it’s hard to describe it all in a single review, if you are an old player looking to return or a newcomer to the game, the “Final Fantasy XI Ultimate Collection Abyssea Edition” is an excellent choice if you are a PC player.
Remember, the cool people play on the Shiva server, *thumbs up* and we are sexy too! The game is available for PC, Xbox 360 and well the PS2 *which would be hard to find, and a hassle to update). Hope to see you fighting for Vana’diel adventurer, and what else is there to say… LONG LIVE SHANTOTTO!!


Giving this compilation a 7.8 out of 10




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October 31, 2011

Review – PAYDAY: The Heist

Posted by: Cybermario @ 3:20 pm Share in Facebook

PAYDAY:The Heist developed by Overkill Software, comes to our consoles (or PC, whatever is your cup of tea) with an original concept that is certainly entertaining, this time we get to play as the bad guys, and oh boy… It is fun!
With a unique style that reminds us of a lot movies like Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs or Point Break. PAYDAY: The Heist offers very dynamic gameplay and action that is clearly influenced by Left 4 Dead (by no means this is bad at all), i like it.

payday: the heist

Gameplay
This is a cooperative FPS featuring 6 different heists with a good variety of objectives, from robbing a bank, hunt down a traitor in the streets while you face the cops or even taking money from a meth lab and more. As stated before the L4D influence is undeniable, but instead of brainless zombies you have to deal with waves of cops and swat teams.
This is more evident if you decide to play offline teaming with the AI to complete a heist, just like in L4D the AI can heal you if you are injured. This option is not bad although an AI cannot beat playing online with other players. Co-op is the strong point in a game like this and you should aim to play online. Advice to grab a mic as communication is important to assign tasks and complete a heist smoothly, specially in harder difficulty.


Four difficulty levels ranging from Easy to Overkill, here comes something interesting, some of the latter heists dont let you pick easy or normal, you have to choose hard or Overkill. This sure gives you a nice challenge and believe me… hard will give you a run for your money, and good luck picking overkill!
There are four characters to choose: Dallas, Wolf, Hoxton and Chains. As far i can tell there are no differences between the characters stats wise, except of course the masks they are wearing. Dallas mask being my favorite.


payday: the heist



With that said from the main menu you can check both, active and completed challenges and the upgrades you obtained throughout the game as your reputation level up.
As you obtain upgrades your choices before a heist increase considerably, so you can either pick to carry more cables to tie hostages, bags with extra ammo or meds, or obtaining boosts such as “thicker skin” to increase your health, accuracy and armor bonuses, etc.
There are three different categories of upgrades: Assault, Sharpshooting and Support. So you can build a character based in your very own game style, in the end the choice is yours.
The music score fits like a glove, with intense rhythm that keeps an atmosphere of tension in each heist.


payday: the heist



Downsides
The lobby not always has a good amount of games to join, around 5pm i tried for a bit and gave up.. ending playing offline with the AI, this changed the next morning and was able to select from a fair amount of games. So give or take seems you can’t always find a game to join.
Are there plans for cross platform in the future? Having this on both Playstation 3 and Steam, this is an option that should be included, it would benefit the community increasing your chances to find games to join.


payday: the heist



Overall
PAYDAY: The Heist offers tons of replayability and multiplayer feels just great, kudos and praises to Overkill Software, they did a game that really is a blast!
So really if you are a passionate gamer into FPS’s and like games in the style of Left 4 Dead or Team Fortresss you must give PAYDAY: The Heist a chance, im sure you will not regret it. Available for the Playstation Network and Steam for $19.99.


We give the game an 8.5 out of 10




~Mario



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October 25, 2011

Review: Orcs Must Die!

Posted by: Cybermario @ 12:48 pm Share in Facebook

Tower defense genre seems to be in a hype lately with Orcs Must Die! and Dungeon Defenders. That is all good, it’s a nice refreshment from the current trend in videogames.
This game is a fine example of how indie developers are the source of some of the most fun and entertaining titles in the most recent times, and with Orcs Must Die! The developers from Robot Entertainment truly deliver tons of fun to the players!


Story
A Grand Wizard is the guardian of the dimensional rifts, he has slayed thousands of orcs and dies by sliping on Kobolt blood, cracked his head open, dies and now his apprentice must defend the rifts from the hordes of Orcs. As the master dies he realizes the world is doomed.
Geez master… Thanks for the vote of confidence! So yes; you the apprentice, a War Mage, and one of the last members of the order to defend the fortress and the rifts, from the never ending attacks of the Orcs!


Orcs Must Die!

Prepare your defenses, the horde is coming!




Gameplay
Orcs Must Die is a tower defense game with a good mix of hack and slash, and it works like a charm! You can use a sword staff or a crossbow to fight. While the sword staff is powerful and offers a nice AoE damage, personally i think the crossbow is a much better choice, not as powerful as the sword staff, but keeps you away and safe from the orcs, plus you can get points by performing headshots.


Now lets go to the even more fun part shall we? The traps! So what have we got to play with?
Floor Traps: these tar like pits slow the enemies, allowing other traps to reset and kill more orcs, also good if you decide to melee with your sword staff!
Spike Traps: tons of spikes come out of the floor stabbing orcs in an instant. One of the first traps at your disposal and a powerful trap.
Spring Traps: these do not damage the orcs but send them flying away, use them wisely to make orcs fall into the pits of acid in the fortress.
Arrow Walls: these traps fire tons of arrows, sending orcs to oblivion! You place these on walls and using them properly can make the difference between defeat and victory. Used in conjunction with Floor Traps it’s a killer combo!
Barrel Bombs: placing these and later making them explode to kill a lot of enemies in a single explosion, not bad but i barely used them.
Barricades: self explanatory, they block the path and force enemies to move in a different direction. A good way to use them is in conjunction with the Spring Traps, so orcs are forced to walk right into it and then fall into the pits.
Guardian Archers: not a trap but you can summon archers to help you defend the fortress, they cannot move from the place you summoned them, look at these as if they were attack towers if you want. You need to keep them alive as they can’t defend from orcs if they get near them.
Other traps include Blade Traps, Steam Traps, Push Traps and more, but i will not spoil them all for you, that wouldn’t be fun, right?


Traps can also be upgraded, but upgrading traps does not work the same like in Defense Grid or Dungeon Defenders (that you can upgrade traps while you fight). After each level is completed you earn skulls, you can earn from one to five depending how good was your defense, and then use such skulls to buy upgrades for your traps.
You can also use magic like the Wind belt to send enemies flying away, cool to throw orcs into the pits, Flame Bracers and a Snow Amulet.


There is not a unique way to get a victory, the amount of traps let you use your creativity and imagination, to beat each level in very different and unique ways. Levels are creative, and as you advance the defense becomes more complicated, as you have to defend 2 different areas at the same time. It can be hectic and challenging! Getting a victory feels rewarding in the most challenging levels. Nightmare mode… well, just wait to see it!


Orcs Must Die!

Send these pesky monsters flying into the pits!




Downside
As much as i liked this orc killing fest, there was a major letdown and that is the lack of co-op or multiplayer. A game like this will benefit tremendously if you could play it with friends. I dont know, maybe an expansion or DLC specifically for co-op could be created?
The obvious comparison would be Dungeon Defenders, the awesome mayhem it is to play with friends or people online. It’s a missing element in Orcs Must Die! We can only hope Orcs Must Die! will have a simialr feature in the near future.
It is just me or some Orcs don’t die when they fall into the pits? Probably was a problem on my end or a bug, not sure really.
Probably a bit repetitive but hey, it is a tower defense game and that is common for the genre.


Orcs Must Die!

War Mage: oh crap... dont tell me, they are behind me right?




Extras
Oh hell yeah! There are two DLC packs for the game, the first one named The Artifacts of Power including new weapons and traps. Vampiric Gauntlets, The Alchemist’s Satchel and The Shock Zapper.


Overall
Orcs Must Die! Is a game any tower defense fan must have in their collection, definitely a must buy! A title that offers countless hours of pure gameplay awesomeness.
Available for the Xbox Live for 1200 Microsoft Points and Steam for $14.99. Not a bad price for a game like this. If you want to see more of the game check out this fantastic interactive video the developers uploaded to Youtube.


We give the game a 9 out of 10!




~Mario



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October 23, 2011

Review: Defense Grid – The Awakening

Posted by: Cybermario @ 4:37 pm Share in Facebook

Defense Grid: The Awakening was released for the Xbox Live Arcade on September 2 of 2009, it is also available for the PC and is slightly different from the Xbox LIVE Arcade version, giving us 4 bonus maps (Borderlands) and the score system is a bit different adding a bit of challenge over the PC version.


Story
The story takes place in a futuristic planet that was attacked by a mysterious alien race over 1000 years ago, as the title suggests you awaken the ancient AI to help you retake and defend old installations previously defeated by alien forces. The origin of the aliens is uncertain, but we know they will do anything to take away all your power cores. As you advance through the campaign the AI recovers more information and reveals more details about the story.


Defense Grid: The Awakening



Gameplay
The campaign includes 20 maps for The Awakening and 4 more for Borderlands, the game include over 60 unlockable challenge modes expanding the hours of gameplay.


This is one game you cant miss if you like tower defense games, the amount and variety of towers let you think and use more than one alignment or strategy for a single map making the game much more interesting and fun to play. You can also zoom right in on the action while your towers eliminate oncoming enemy units.


A few of the challenge modes are easy to complete (specially for those hunting achievements) and others will require you to have patience and an excellent strategy to obtain a gold medal (or simply to complete the challenge), which is good for people searching a game with good gameplay and challenge.


Some of the challenges you can find are: 10 towers limit, 10k and 20k resource challenge among many others, one of my favorites is Grinder, you have to survive 99 waves of aliens one after another, thrilling and excitement (and sometimes difficult) challenge the player to decide the best strategy and use of resources to survive until the very end.


Graphics are excellent for an Xbox LIVE Arcade title, detailed and colorful environments, detailed models and enriched graphics will not disappoint.
Sound is not bad, nothing you will miss when hordes of alien waves die and the the sound of the explosions is all you hear. Voice, sound and FX are great, a bit more of variety in the BGM would be appreciated.


Defense Grid: The Awakening



Downside
Unfortunately, not everything is good. There is no co-op or multiplayer mode, which could have made the game much more enjoyable. A tower defense game is just not complete without multiplayer and this could be Defense Grid: The Awakening biggest flaw, but none the less still a great title for Xbox LIVE Arcade.


There is not an option to choose difficulty, having the ability to pick easier or harder difficulty would have been desirable but the amount of challenges compensate the lack of this feature.


Defense Grid: The Awakening



Extras
4 new DLC expansions are available for a total of 8 new maps, each having a campaign mode, challenges and new achievements for the game, for a price of 80 MS Points is not a bad deal.


Overall
this may be one of the best titles you can find for the Xbox LIVE Arcade, specially if you like tower defense and strategy games, if not do yourself a favor and download the demo, it is addictive and fun to play with lots of strategy involved, who knows.. you may like it and say “please more!â€



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