ChronoTales - Beginner's Luck

ChronoTales is a new browser-based MMORPG.  I have never had much luck with browser games as far as holding my interest goes, and this one did not fail to do just the same.  Basically this game has you clicking hyperlink quest details to make the game play itself for you.  After watching your avatar play for you for about ten to fifteen minutes you are level ten or so.  After that I pretty much gave up hope.  I imagine that once you get to level 20 or so you actually have to do some things on your own.  I wouldn't hold my breath though... I played a different game of the same variety called Tamer Saga and got to level 25 by letting the game do all of the work for me.  Let's get down to the nitty gritty...

Pros -

1.  Effective streamlining for auto-quest travel.
2.  Graphics reminiscent of Camon Hero.
3.  Five different classes to choose from when creating a character.
4.  Several different ways to alter and enchant equipment.

Cons -

1.  Uninventive loot.  The drops are common enough and the stat boosts are exciting enough...  There is just something missing; a half-hearted effort.
2.  GUI reminiscent of a Japanese casino boardwalk.  Buy this, go do this, go do this.
3.  The social networking is deprived.  It's like watching a bunch of bots run around and play the game.

It's a game made for people who have no time to play games.  That being said, I give it a 6.5 out of ten.  As far as browser games go it's not so bad.  The content is not at all limited.  The systematics however are unappealing; maybe as a study in functions and statistics...

Path of Exile - The Tsunami Tree

This game is a lot of fun.  It's terrific really...  finally a developer has had the sense to maximize an aspect of gameplay.  Now, there are not unique or pluribus aspects of the game that make me say "oh yea...," but the tide of extremism in and of itself is wildly appealing.  Let's start with the basics -

1.  Good hack and slash action.
     The graphics and interface are solid enough to keep me at bay for hours at a time.

2.  The loot is good and well developed.
     Not too much, maybe slightly too little, and limited enough so that you don't hear - "Oh I got that too..."
     There is also a cool system of re-enchanting.

3.  Overall a mostly satisfying experience.
     There are two leagues - hardcore and default.  When you die in hardcore you are removed from that league and placed
     into the default league never to be hardcore with that character again.  You can start in the default league if you so choose.

4.  The cool part - The skill tree is two things; only passive abilities, or traits, and it is absolutely massive.
     One can almost guarantee a unique build for their character.  Their are six classes, each with a different initial skill tree.

All in all I would give this game an 8.3 out of ten.

I have only just begun playing (the open beta just started) and am thinking that this will be the first of two entries.  I do love that feeling of, "aw, what color is that?!" and hope that it does not go away.  Odds are, you should really give this one a try.

Bit Dungeon - A Bit Tempting

I was recently prompted by a Google+ user to play a free game called Bit Dungeon.  It's a whole lot of fun.  It is a simple dungeon crawler RPG where you have one life and no continues.  Each dungeon level has nine rooms and one boss room.  You travel from room to room clearing out baddies and collecting keys to subsequent rooms.  There are random drops of armors and weapons each modifying your character's image.  The music is somewhat enjoyable.

On the plus side -
-Slightly randomized dungeons
-Random loot drops
-Quick and easy gameplay

On the minus side -
-You cannot save your game (if you die, you have to start over)
-Level ups will only get you so far.  I hope you have a good strategy.
-Lack of explorations and unknowns

CS: Global Offensive - Gungame

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a terrific game.  It has been substantially redone since Counter-Strike: Source.  Here's another vid of a Gungame Match -

Ragnarok Online 2 - Emoticon Future

I, among many others, was very excited by the release of Open Beta Ragnarok Online 2.  I was also very disappointed.  The game does not really offer anything new or particularly interesting.  It feels like a game that I've played many times before. 

On the plus side -
  There is a card system.  Collect 'em all. 
  On level up one can upgrade base stats as well as skills.
  Frequent drops off of single monsters.

On the minus side -
  The controls are not so great; the camera is pushy and the graphics don't match the menu access.
  The loot is boring (Not much randomized...). Equipables especially.
  The skills are boring.
  The combat is bad.  I really would've played more.

All in all the game is O.K.  I would've liked to see more from such an anticipated sequel.

Here is a quick video I made -

Secrets and Minecraft 2

I'm patient but c'mon.  Where are all of the epic titles at?  Last I remember WoW came out and since then I've been waiting for someone to top it or at least to capture peoples' attentions again.  Vindictus came out and that was cool but all of these new games just feel so limited.  And ever since World of Warcraft every PC mmo and rpg just seem to follow and not lead. 

Of course there's minecraft but ever since people started modding it I have been praying for some cool loot/treasure system to come out in an update.  Minecraft 2?  That would be so cool.  There is a game Blockscape in development.  There is no meta-game yet though... hopefully some sort of rpg elements will go into the system.

My theory is that the next big game will have no level cap.  That would be awesome.  No?

C9 mmorpg - Can you dig it?

Today I have a brief review of the recently open beta'd mmorpg C9, or Continent of the Ninth.
This game is an attention grabber, but all in all I would say that there is no need to get excited.  The game takes multiple key elements from other games and tries to put them together into something grander.  Good for temporary fun?  Yes...  Good for "oh shit I love this game?"  No.

  The graphics are half-way done - it does not look like the game was made with love.  Graphics, in my opinion, help to define a game, not to make a bad game good.  Better maybe... but not good.  In C9 the graphics remind me of a dirty kobold.

  The game is fully instanced so there are only two places to go - go to town or go to fight goblins.  The town is fairly complicated and the instance selection shares the same dirty forestling appeal.  The quest system is, in conjunction with the in-town control, annoying.  The battle controls on the other hand are easy to use and fun.  Very much a 3d Double Dragon sort of thing.  If you like playing as a dirty kobold.  D-i-r-t-y K-o-b-o-l-d.

  The loot system has serious appeal however.  It is not particularly innovated but it has enough variation to make you click the next difficulty setting and go back for a better shot at the Goblin Chief's personal stash.  And as per most usually, the equipment that you find has a level requirement.  I hate that.  I'd like to see a game where the treasure is innovated and in wicked wild supply.  Hugh!

Here's a little video showcasing the game Continent of the Ninth -

If they had a vestibule with C9 next to one of Golden Axe, I would probably play Golden Axe.