(no subject)
It's time for the lovely little event I know you've all been waiting for.
Eric's MMO Report (Insert larger, more impressive text)!
Yes. I know you've all been waiting for a comprehensive report about the MMO's you can find out there. Don't take anything from me.. you'll have to see it for yourself, mostly. I just give you the run-down. Here we go!
Test #1: Gunbound
Homepage: www.gunbound.net
Very addicting. You play as one of several mobiles on a certain team. The main objective? Kill the other team. Anyone who's ever played Worms will enjoy playing this game. However, all too often, games will lag you so much that (if you have a decent connection), you'll find yourself suddenly two to four, or one to three. It's rediculous. I've found myself in this situation several times, and if you're any decent at the game, it only takes two people to swiftly kill one. And if you're a sore loser like me, this doesn't help score the game any points. Apparently they upgraded the servers, so they won't lag as badly now.. but, hey, I haven't had the opportunity to go and play it yet.
The Final Word: If SoftNyx would upgrade their servers more often (I know they get donations alot, there're too many hardcore players), and the game was a bit more stable (sometimes when they patch, alot of things go out of whack, mobiles get even more cheaper and have more of an edge over others, etc.). Usually these are fixed relatively quickly, but even so.. they shouldn't be happening in the first place. Plus, the text is relatively hard to read unless you're used to watching newbies type.
Final Verdict: 8/10
Test #2: Leopold
Homepage: http://catluck.com/leopold
From the screenshots i've seen of this game, it looks like a pretty decent, though severely degraded version of games i've seen and played before. Even if they have alot more options than your average game, that's no real excuse. The real clencher here is that there's no-one on the servers. I've sat there for several hours waiting for someone to come in (several hours of my life I want back, might I add) so I could give this game a test run. All I have to go on are screenshots on their website.
Final Comments: The game might be good if there were people to play against (even if I could just play against the AI, man!). If there's an option to play against any type of AI opponant, I have yet to see it. Download this game only if you've got friends willing to spend time in their lives better left spent on something more productive.
Final Verdict: 3/10
Test #3: Endless Online
Here's another game that looks incredibly interesting, but falls short. Endless Online is another lame excuse to draw people in who like such games as Furcadia, but giving them more customizing options. For example, in the first half of the game, two screens into walking, I ran across more clothes options than if you walked into Britney Spears' wardrobe. Apparently, however, all the same thing, and they didn't effect much other than get my character out of his underwear, and a bit of decency. I saw only two people the entire time I was playing.
Final Comments: This game is definetely not worth your time. I tried to make an account on the place that was advertising it so I could leave comments and warn other people willing to waste their precious time on this pathetic excuse of a game. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten the confirmation e-mail. But speaking of accounts, making one on Endless Online takes forever. I'm not sure if it was my connection, but it was going full speed when I started the account creating. If you're going to make an account, go make yourself a couple sandwiches; you'll have enough time to make them, eat them, and take a walk around your neighborhood. When you come back, you'll be ready to delve yourself into a game that has 'anime graphics'. As far as i've seen, the only anime graphics (supposedly the game's ploy to draw people) are on loading screens and the like.
Final Verdict: 2/10
Test #4: Little Fighter 2
Homepage: Not Sure
Little Fighter 2 is a decent fighting game taking winning game mechanics from such games as Double Dragon and Final Fight, and giving you, the player, more options in which to beat your opponant with. These include baseball bats, bottles, crates, boulders, baseballs, etc.. Even with all these options, the game tends to fall a little short. It's an amazing concept, one that should be upgraded if someone decides to take up the project. It's got alot of single-player modes that'll keep you busy through lunch hour (for those of us stuck in the office), but only for that amount of time. As for the characters in the game, it's your usual fare; you've got a samurai, a knight, coupla guys with swords, an archer, and a street fighter named Woody. You can't go wrong with a game that has a character named Woody. Bonus points for Little Fighter.
Final Comments: Eitherways, this game will interest you (no matter who you are) for about five minutes with decent graphics for its genre, and interesting gameplay. But by the time you realize how to use your characters special techniques (the ones that use MP), it will have lost its novelty. I haven't been able to bribe anyone to play this game over multiplayer. It connects through IP.
Final Verdict: 7/10
Test #5: Xodia
Homepage: www.nobispro.com
This is one of your typical text-mud varients. Why I put this here is simply because it's actually a decent game. While it's still in pre-alpha stage (and when I say pre-alpha, I MEAN pre-alpha), it's open for player testing. It's got no real set storyline (well, one that I can make out), but that doesn't prevent the game from being more interesting. They're working on putting in new things as the days go by, but since they're working on other projects as well, it's not likely to get upgraded too quickly. Even so, this game looks promising, and impressive for pre-alpha. The map isn't too big, but the fighting system is in, and it's not buggy. It has a pretty steep learning curve, but if you've ever played muds before, you'll be right at home here, and won't have too much trouble learning what to do. As for the learning curve, I doubt there's any chance of them finding a way to change that, but you never know. The mud is created with Visual Basic. I think.
Final Comments: As the months roll by, this mud can only go up. The decisions that the makers now will either make or break the game, and the server is relatively decent. It has a hiccup now and then, but that's generally from bugs that they don't know about though.
Final Verdict: 7/10
Test #6: Ragnarok Online
The first thing that stands out about this game is that it's pay-to-play. However, it allows a twelve day trial (oooh, wow, a whole twelve days!) to assess the game and decide if it's for you or not. Within two trials, you can experiment with each of the classes (and if you're really quick, the advanced classes), and have no need to pay to play. With the proper FAQ's, you can beat the system and learn how your class works ahead of time, so there's no putzing around trying to make some shit hybrid character, only to find out that your character sucks and can't make it any further. Yup. It's one of those games, alright.
Final Comment: This game has incredible graphics, but it's one of those annoying 2D in a 3D world games. Think Paper Mario, except Paper Mario was much better. Give this game the benefit of the doubt, but if you have 56K, don't even bother. I have 56K. It made the download (600+ megs) take days (yes, folks, i'm very patient). If you have DSL/Cable, by all means, play Ragnarok Online. Just don't pay to play. There're other games that charge just as much as they do a month that're much better. Like Final Fantasy XI.
Final Verdict: 8/10
Test #7: Survival Project
Homepage: www.survival-project.com
Another Korean-made game, Survival Project is an action/adventure game that blends in the use of cards to make your character more powerful. By his or her self, your characters suck. Plain and simple. As you experience more and more of the game, gain 'Codes' (the game's currency), and start buying weapons, armors, and magic, it becomes more easier to kill the other player. However, unless you get really decent at the PvP stuff, you're much better off playing the Quests, in which you cooperate to kill the skeletons. Which, might I add, become next to impossible to play by yourself by Quest 3.
Final Comments: This game is a decent enough game, but not one that you should have 56K on. If you've got dial-up, then you should just stick to playing Quests. If you have Cable, it's highly recommended you play in PvP matches. That's where the money/elements are. Otherwise, just don't even play the game at all. It's got horrible (though not nearly as bad as Gunbound's) english.. but what do you expect from people too lazy to pick up an English book and correct their mistakes?
Final Verdict: 6/10
Tune in next time, when I explore the many uses of compact discs. If you come early, you'll hear my minor symposium about Half-Life 2. Groovy.
Eric's MMO Report (Insert larger, more impressive text)!
Yes. I know you've all been waiting for a comprehensive report about the MMO's you can find out there. Don't take anything from me.. you'll have to see it for yourself, mostly. I just give you the run-down. Here we go!
Test #1: Gunbound
Homepage: www.gunbound.net
Very addicting. You play as one of several mobiles on a certain team. The main objective? Kill the other team. Anyone who's ever played Worms will enjoy playing this game. However, all too often, games will lag you so much that (if you have a decent connection), you'll find yourself suddenly two to four, or one to three. It's rediculous. I've found myself in this situation several times, and if you're any decent at the game, it only takes two people to swiftly kill one. And if you're a sore loser like me, this doesn't help score the game any points. Apparently they upgraded the servers, so they won't lag as badly now.. but, hey, I haven't had the opportunity to go and play it yet.
The Final Word: If SoftNyx would upgrade their servers more often (I know they get donations alot, there're too many hardcore players), and the game was a bit more stable (sometimes when they patch, alot of things go out of whack, mobiles get even more cheaper and have more of an edge over others, etc.). Usually these are fixed relatively quickly, but even so.. they shouldn't be happening in the first place. Plus, the text is relatively hard to read unless you're used to watching newbies type.
Final Verdict: 8/10
Test #2: Leopold
Homepage: http://catluck.com/leopold
From the screenshots i've seen of this game, it looks like a pretty decent, though severely degraded version of games i've seen and played before. Even if they have alot more options than your average game, that's no real excuse. The real clencher here is that there's no-one on the servers. I've sat there for several hours waiting for someone to come in (several hours of my life I want back, might I add) so I could give this game a test run. All I have to go on are screenshots on their website.
Final Comments: The game might be good if there were people to play against (even if I could just play against the AI, man!). If there's an option to play against any type of AI opponant, I have yet to see it. Download this game only if you've got friends willing to spend time in their lives better left spent on something more productive.
Final Verdict: 3/10
Test #3: Endless Online
Here's another game that looks incredibly interesting, but falls short. Endless Online is another lame excuse to draw people in who like such games as Furcadia, but giving them more customizing options. For example, in the first half of the game, two screens into walking, I ran across more clothes options than if you walked into Britney Spears' wardrobe. Apparently, however, all the same thing, and they didn't effect much other than get my character out of his underwear, and a bit of decency. I saw only two people the entire time I was playing.
Final Comments: This game is definetely not worth your time. I tried to make an account on the place that was advertising it so I could leave comments and warn other people willing to waste their precious time on this pathetic excuse of a game. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten the confirmation e-mail. But speaking of accounts, making one on Endless Online takes forever. I'm not sure if it was my connection, but it was going full speed when I started the account creating. If you're going to make an account, go make yourself a couple sandwiches; you'll have enough time to make them, eat them, and take a walk around your neighborhood. When you come back, you'll be ready to delve yourself into a game that has 'anime graphics'. As far as i've seen, the only anime graphics (supposedly the game's ploy to draw people) are on loading screens and the like.
Final Verdict: 2/10
Test #4: Little Fighter 2
Homepage: Not Sure
Little Fighter 2 is a decent fighting game taking winning game mechanics from such games as Double Dragon and Final Fight, and giving you, the player, more options in which to beat your opponant with. These include baseball bats, bottles, crates, boulders, baseballs, etc.. Even with all these options, the game tends to fall a little short. It's an amazing concept, one that should be upgraded if someone decides to take up the project. It's got alot of single-player modes that'll keep you busy through lunch hour (for those of us stuck in the office), but only for that amount of time. As for the characters in the game, it's your usual fare; you've got a samurai, a knight, coupla guys with swords, an archer, and a street fighter named Woody. You can't go wrong with a game that has a character named Woody. Bonus points for Little Fighter.
Final Comments: Eitherways, this game will interest you (no matter who you are) for about five minutes with decent graphics for its genre, and interesting gameplay. But by the time you realize how to use your characters special techniques (the ones that use MP), it will have lost its novelty. I haven't been able to bribe anyone to play this game over multiplayer. It connects through IP.
Final Verdict: 7/10
Test #5: Xodia
Homepage: www.nobispro.com
This is one of your typical text-mud varients. Why I put this here is simply because it's actually a decent game. While it's still in pre-alpha stage (and when I say pre-alpha, I MEAN pre-alpha), it's open for player testing. It's got no real set storyline (well, one that I can make out), but that doesn't prevent the game from being more interesting. They're working on putting in new things as the days go by, but since they're working on other projects as well, it's not likely to get upgraded too quickly. Even so, this game looks promising, and impressive for pre-alpha. The map isn't too big, but the fighting system is in, and it's not buggy. It has a pretty steep learning curve, but if you've ever played muds before, you'll be right at home here, and won't have too much trouble learning what to do. As for the learning curve, I doubt there's any chance of them finding a way to change that, but you never know. The mud is created with Visual Basic. I think.
Final Comments: As the months roll by, this mud can only go up. The decisions that the makers now will either make or break the game, and the server is relatively decent. It has a hiccup now and then, but that's generally from bugs that they don't know about though.
Final Verdict: 7/10
Test #6: Ragnarok Online
The first thing that stands out about this game is that it's pay-to-play. However, it allows a twelve day trial (oooh, wow, a whole twelve days!) to assess the game and decide if it's for you or not. Within two trials, you can experiment with each of the classes (and if you're really quick, the advanced classes), and have no need to pay to play. With the proper FAQ's, you can beat the system and learn how your class works ahead of time, so there's no putzing around trying to make some shit hybrid character, only to find out that your character sucks and can't make it any further. Yup. It's one of those games, alright.
Final Comment: This game has incredible graphics, but it's one of those annoying 2D in a 3D world games. Think Paper Mario, except Paper Mario was much better. Give this game the benefit of the doubt, but if you have 56K, don't even bother. I have 56K. It made the download (600+ megs) take days (yes, folks, i'm very patient). If you have DSL/Cable, by all means, play Ragnarok Online. Just don't pay to play. There're other games that charge just as much as they do a month that're much better. Like Final Fantasy XI.
Final Verdict: 8/10
Test #7: Survival Project
Homepage: www.survival-project.com
Another Korean-made game, Survival Project is an action/adventure game that blends in the use of cards to make your character more powerful. By his or her self, your characters suck. Plain and simple. As you experience more and more of the game, gain 'Codes' (the game's currency), and start buying weapons, armors, and magic, it becomes more easier to kill the other player. However, unless you get really decent at the PvP stuff, you're much better off playing the Quests, in which you cooperate to kill the skeletons. Which, might I add, become next to impossible to play by yourself by Quest 3.
Final Comments: This game is a decent enough game, but not one that you should have 56K on. If you've got dial-up, then you should just stick to playing Quests. If you have Cable, it's highly recommended you play in PvP matches. That's where the money/elements are. Otherwise, just don't even play the game at all. It's got horrible (though not nearly as bad as Gunbound's) english.. but what do you expect from people too lazy to pick up an English book and correct their mistakes?
Final Verdict: 6/10
Tune in next time, when I explore the many uses of compact discs. If you come early, you'll hear my minor symposium about Half-Life 2. Groovy.