HeroesGo - Review

ESTGames, the publisher and developers behind the classic hack n’ slash MMORPG “Cabal Online” has recently brought over a not-so-new MORPG to the F2P market. The name of this MORPG was recently known as “Howling Sword” in South Korea. With bright visuals, anime inspired characters and an arcade style approach, Howling Sword provided a more authentic hack n’ slash experience. Unfortunately, Howling Sword was not very well received in South Korea, and was then taken offline within a few short years.
After some re-structuring, ESTGames decided to give Howling Sword another shot for US and EU territories, but with a new name: HeroesGo. However, with so many MORPGs already offering similar gameplay, visuals and features, does HeroesGo deserve a second chance?

Phantasy Star Online 2 - Character Creator

SEGA just released the character creator for their upcoming PSO2. I haven't jumped into creating any characters yet, but one interesting feature of the character creator is that it also doubles as a benchmark program. The benchmark shows off two environments, one each playable races, and a slew of enemies piling up on screen. The engine really isn't pushing any boundaries. A lot of textures look plain and low-res in manly places. The music that plays during the benchmark sounds terrific, so many sure you turn up your speakers.

For those that want to try out the character creator:

Official link: http://download.pso2.jp/PSO2_CC.zip
Mirror: http://www.4gamer.net/games/120/G012075/20120330045/link.html?http://file.4gamer.net/demo/PSO2_Chara_Create_Trial_V1_00.zip

Links and client are all in Japanese, so you may have to seek some guidance on how to install and use it properly.

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)Will post shots of my created characters later on.) 

Play Log - TERA (NA) - 2/12 (cont.)

Check it: Here's the second half of my TERA online play log for 2/12/2012 is here! My time spent here was really winding down, as I only had a couple more hours to try out the game. Things were starting to get dull after the fairy quest in Fey Forest and the Vortex Shard quest in Scarwood, but things quickly turned around later when reached the Valley of Titans. You'll find out in a little bit, but first: here's a few shots I took in the Scarwood area. I sort of forgot what the quest here was about... Something about purifying the area or something, but whatever...

Play Log - TERA (NA) - 2/12

So another day was spent on TERA during the 1st closed beta. I headed for the outskirts of Velika to get my first mount, but not before completing a generic fetch quest! Didn't take too long for me to complete it, though.

Play Log - TERA (NA) - 2/11

Well the first weekend closed beta test for TERA is over. I managed to get my Popori Slayer to LV20 during the weekend; two levels shy of the level cap (22). On Saturday, my character was only around LV10 and I was still stuck on the Tainted Gorge of the beginner island.

I was just about ready to get off the island, though. I just had to complete a few kill quests and finish the tutorial dungeon.

I totally hated wearing this outfit... It made my character look so fat (well... extra fat.) I'm usually one that prefers style or stats, but I didn't want anything to get in my way, so I made an exception...

TERA (NA) - "Dress Rehearsal" Impressions

En Masse decided to host a little "Dress Rehearsal " for TERA before this weekend. It started at 5 PM PST (8 PM EST) and lasted for three hours. With my client all ready to go: I jumped in and played from start to finish. I created a Popori Slayer and leveled my way up to eight.

To be brief: My whole experience from start to finish was a complete, definite "meh". Again, these are just my impressions and not a final opinion since the game is still being "worked on."

Continent of the Ninth Seal - Interview

It’s been a long time coming, but the waiting is almost over. C9, a new fast action MMO will be launching for the global market very soon, along with a closed beta test that will be happening next month. While few online games can currently boast of a system even comparable to the impressive action oriented combat system C9 offers, it still has a lot to prove to players that it’s been well worth the wait. Eager and excited, I asked the guys at Webzen a few questions…

OnRPG: Hello there! Before we begin, would you care to introduce yourself for the readers?

Denis Kim and Chung Gil Yu: Hello, it is an honor to introduce our C9-Global team to the readers of OnRPG. Hope you enjoy our interview. Let me introduce myself and the producer of C9. My name is Dennis Kim, I am the Product Manager in C9-Global service, and Chung Gil Yu is the producer of Cloud9Studio. Our team consists of several different parts which are marketing, localizing, operating and service team, etc. 50 on-site and outside members are supporting the launch of C9-Global.

Dragon Saga - Review

Dragon Saga (also known as Dragonica) was one of the first original action MMOs to ever hit English speaking territories. Just recently, things got tuned up with an expansion called New Origins, featuring new story quests, a new race and many other goodies. While this title may have turned heads by in the day, many other action MMOs are now out and about in this ever increasing MMO market, so it’s time to take a closer look and see if there’s enough here to make gamers want to turn their heads back.

Rusty Hearts - CB Impressions

Perfect World Entertainment is laying some new cards on the table with their newest title: Rusty Hearts. Developed by Windysoft and Stairway games, Rusty Hearts combines full-3D arcade beat ‘em up action, while mixing things up with a solid anime and manga art style.

As slick and sexy as this one looks, since arcade action MMOs are becoming more common, it’s becoming more increasingly difficult for any new ones to stand out, but it sure looks like Rusty Hearts is geared up with enough reflectors and flashy effects to make it stand out from a million miles away.

CrimeCraft - Review

Guns, Drugs, Sex, Violence and Explosions! All of this and more can be found in the wonderfully grim and dreary world of CrimeCraft!

Back in 2009, CrimeCraft was released by Vogster Entertainment as a subscription based MMO third person shooter that received meager reception. Since then, the game has been updated, tweaked and reworked into a F2P MMO shooter; all while receiving its first major expansion called “The Bleedout”, which features a handful of new content. But with all this and more, does this one finally have enough street cred?

Dragon Nest - Closed Beta Impressions

It’s time for some more arcade style goodness with Nexon’s latest action MMO title: Dragon Nest. Developed by Eyedentity Games (awesome name, by the way…), Dragon Nest takes arcade and console style gameplay and mixed with old fashion MMORPG features.

With two successful MMO hack n’ slash titles already under Nexon’s belt (Vindictus and Dungeon Fighter Online), Dragon Nest attempts to set itself apart by mixing fast action with an exciting story, all brought together in a bright and colorful world for gamers of all ages to enjoy.

I managed to get into the recent closed beta test, so I’m here to give you all a little taste of my experience!

Play Log - Dragon Nest (CB) - 6/17

I know I'm a little late with this, but I was a bit busy, so here it is anyway.
Note: I want to keep this brief because my arms are hurting like hell since I just worked out for the first time in AGES!

On June 17th, the GMs for Dragon Nest held a few mini-events during closed beta. One event held was a party event where GMs will randomly join your group to help you out with dungeon runs. Very simple and plain, so I didn't feel like joining in, but I did want to check out the other event they had was a small dance party at Caderock Pass. It was set to begin around 3:40 PM, but no GM showed up around that time. Players were getting a little anxious in wondering if a GM would show up or not, so players decided to start the little dance party anyway.

A GM finally showed up 45 minutes late and then asked everyone to dance by the bridge. GM only dance for 10 minutes before leaving, and everyone was crowding the GM like crazy, so I couldn't get a decent shot or anything. Worst dance party ever, I'd say.

Play Log - Dragon Nest (CB) - 6/15

So after a two hour download and a few launching errors, I got to try out Nexon's Dragon Nest. It's an action MMO made by another one of Nexon's exclusive IPs (Eyedentity Games.) I remember hearing about this game about half a decade ago, and though I haven't been tracking this too much, it feels good to finally give this game a try.

Play Log - GetAmped 2 - 05/19

Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... Finally... FINALLY...

I GOT IT.

.

MF-FREAKING-AR2

Whew... I've been trying to get this damn accessory ever since the mega draw opened up, and now I finally got it. I think I'm pretty much done with the Mega Draw now. Not sure if I want to go after the other accessories in there, and I probably shouldn't knowing how derpy the rates are. I don't even want to think of the money I've dumped into the Mega Draw just to (primarily) get MF-AR2, but it was worth it since I got a whole bunch of new toys to play with.

Eh...

Ok, maybe I DO want to think about how much I've spent on the Mega Draw. I think it was somewhere around $300 bucks, but hey I consider that pocket change since most of that money was from article writing at OnRPG and from spamming offers on Game Coins. (Speaking of which: I REALLY need to get started on a few before the month is over.)

Divine Souls - Review

(Well I've been waiting for awhile to see if the review I did on Divine Souls would be up on OnRPG, but it sure doesn't seem like it so I'm just gonna post it here, because I really want to tell everyone how horribly bland this game is.)

Divine Souls is a free-to-play Action MMO developed by Game Prix and published by Outspark. The game has been promoted all over the web with such taglines as “Your game console will be jealous”, but after my time spent playing, I’d say your game console has nothing to worry about. Divine Souls manages to create a console-like experience, but also brings a generic and shallow experience as a game that belongs in a bargain bin at your local Best Buy.

Play Log - GetAmped 2 - 05/05

It's been awhile since I did one of these, so I figured I'll do another before I go to sleep.

I spent most of my day playing team matches. I had to trick people into playing on stages that weren't Train, Waterfall or Avyon Canyon by setting the current stage to one of those and then switch the stage to something else at the last minute, which pissed some people off. After those matches, everyone almost always left, so I had to trick people again..

Although, I was able to get a couple of good matches going at the club stage. I had Xiaoyu's theme from Tekken Tag Tournament playing, which makes battling on this stage awesome:

Elsword - Closed Beta Impressions

A new game publisher named Kill3r Combo is breaking into North America and starting off strong with a much anticipated title named Elsword. For those that don't already know, Elsword is the spiritual sequel of Grand Chase. Elsword promises to feature fast and easy arcade action, off-the-wall anime and manga visuals, RPG elements and all that good stuff we come to expect from free-to-play titles.

Spiral Knights - Preview

Three Rings Design, the developers behind the popular Puzzle Pirates game, is joining forces with SEGA to bring out a brand new online adventure that mixes old school dungeon crawling with today's MMO style gaming. Their newest title is called Spiral Knights and it looks to be a wicked mix between such classics as The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles and with just a splish-splash of Bomberman. The game has been in an ongoing preview event for the past couple of months and will be going live pretty soon, so I decided to form this little preview for everyone that wasn't fortune enough to snag up an invite.

Spiral Knights - Officially annouced & embargo removed!

Well it's about time! Three Rings Design just teamed up with SEGA as their publisher recently to prepare to launch their upcoming browser game, Spiral Knights. For those that don't know by now: It's pretty much a crazy cross between Legend of Zelda: The Four Swords, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles and Bomberman.

I've been at this game for quite some time when they hosted some preview event tests last year. I wanted to do some streams and Let's Play sessions, but their NDA kinda stopped me there. Luckily, they've dropped the embargo on their NDA so we can talk about the game as much as we want, so expect a couple of videos  and stream sessions from me in the future!

For more on Spiral Knights, check out the newly re-designed homepage: http://www.spiralknights.com/

Spiral Knights goes live on April 4, 2011.

(Oh and about the invites: Turns out that no more invites can be given out at this point, so I guess you're all gonna have to wait for April 4th to get here... Sorry!)

Fists of Fu - Review

Outspark is looking to satisfy gamers with not one, but two action MMOs. Fists of Fu is a free-to-play action MMO set in anime version of oriental China. With beat 'em up style action, Fists of Fu attempts to create an experience simple enough for anyone to get into, but perhaps this experience may come up as a little too simple.