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rAge Day 1

South Africa’s foremost expo of all things gaming has kicked off for 2010. Some call it the gaming highlight of the year. Others name it the Best Expo Evar. Some even refer to it as Nerdvana. We call it rAge.

This year’s event has all the butt-kicking, boss-fragging, monkey-punching fun that the gaming public have come to crave and demand – incredible prizes, tournaments, informative demonstrations and vast quantities of delicious gaming excellence. Once more there is a monster PC to be won courtesy of NAG, a seriously spectacular system worth R60 000, housed in the imposing Thermaltake Level 10 case. In addition there is a unique custom modded Lian-Li chassis up for grabs – this a true work of art crafted by the incredibly skilled hands Ettiene “DaeJaVoo” Venter.

The dedicated and faithful began queuing in the early hours of the morning and lines for both main expo and LAN event wound around a significant portion of the Dome’s circumference. At the stroke of oh-ten-hundred hours a Zergling rush of countless eager gamers stormed the front desks, leaving the Terran defenders stunned. Fortunately, the invaders were more interested in the what lay beyond than razing buildings…

Gamers will be thrilled to see the cornucopia of fresh and tasty games on display, including highly anticipated titles like Dead Rising 2, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Dead Space 2, F1 2010, DJ Hero 2 and numerous others. For console junkies, The Kinect for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move are out in force and both are shaping up to be incredible products. On the PC side of things there are several great multi-screen 3D gaming setups of every shape and size as well as some truly droolsome Alienware gear. We’ll report back about hands-on experiences with all of these great developments over the course of the weekend.

This year’s LAN is another great success, boasting well over 2000 attendees, complete with steely glares and twitching mouse fingers. And to top it all off there will be an attempt at the Guinness World Record for longest continuous LAN! May caffeine be with you, stalwart gamers…

We’ll also check out live mixed martial arts cage fighting for that sought-after realistic violence (in eye-popping 3D, no glasses required!), chat with the various computer skills training people and have a look at the work of some highly talented local artists and designers.

So if you just can’t make it to rAge this year (eg. you’re trapped in your basement with a chainsaw-wielding maniac hunting for you, or running from your life from a pack of ravenous zombies) keep an eye on the NAG website for updates of awesomeness.

Posted by Richard Jenks Oct 02, 2010

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An introduction to role-playing games, part 1

Storyteller: You push against the worn stone door set in the hillside, and it grinds slowly open on ancient hinges. A gust of damp, cold air moans through the gap, heavy with the scent of ages.

Dwarf warrior: I draw my sword and peer inside. What do I see? Can I hear anything?

Storyteller: Not much, the bright sunlight outside prevents you from seeing for more than a couple of meters into the darkness. All you see are old and cracked flagstones covered with a layer of dust. The rest is lost in gloom. You hear nothing but the sigh of the wind.

Human priest: Okay, I light my lantern and carefully step inside.

Dwarf: I strap my shield on and follow him, mace held at the ready.

Elf archer: I load my crossbow and enter behind them.

If you're a 13 year-old boy, chances are that this is what your human wizard will look like. Aren't RPGs great?

Human wizard: Great, I suppose I’ll just bring up the rear then. That way, if something decides to attack us from behind at least you guys will be warned by my screams of agony. Hmph.

Dwarf: Yeah, but you aren’t likely to get a crossbow bolt in the back thanks to a trigger happy elf.

Elf: Hey, that only happened the one time! You’re so short I can normally shoot over you.

Dwarf: You’re going to be short after I hack your legs off, you tree-hugging-

Human: Settle down, people! Save it for the countless monsters that are no doubt waiting inside to eat our faces. Besides, the Elf is going to need her legs to help us carry all the loot we’re going to find.

Storyteller: Ahem. Can we get back to the adventure please? You slowly move inside the shadowy chamber. It takes your eyes a few moments to adjust to the darkness, but after a while you begin to be able to make out the room by the light of your lamp. It is a large, circular area with walls and floor of worked stone. In the centre you see a long-dry fountain, and there are numerous alcoves set into the walls. You also see several piles of decayed wood around the edges. There is a single closed door leading out of the room, directly across from you. The moist, chill air smells of the dust your feet have disturbed.

Dwarf: This would have been the main entrance hall where visitors were greeted. It was also the first line of defense in case of attack, hence just the one door leading deeper inside. I go over to the fountain and check it out.

Elf: I’m going to have a look at the alcoves and wood piles.

Priest: I head to the other door and examine it.

Wizard: I stand as far away from the walls as possible, and I don’t touch anything.

Elf: Wuss.

Dwarf: Pansy hand-waving sorcerer wannabe.

Priest: Heh. Fine, leave the work to those of us with actual muscle tone.

Storyteller: Dwarf, you examine the fountain. It is carved in the form of a human woman holding an urn. It hasn’t flowed for a very long time, and is covered with dust. You see the glint of metal in the basin at its base.

Dwarf: I look closer.

One of the core rule books used to play the popular fantasy RPG Dungeons and Dragons.

Storyteller: You see several coins beneath the dust, no doubt cast there by long-dead visitors to this place when it was still active.

Dwarf: Score! See, guys, we’re already in the money! I told you this place had unclaimed treasure.

Wizard: Typical dwarf. A few little shinies and he’s acting like it’s Free Ale Day. I didn’t sign up for a measly handful of coins. Can we just move along already? If I’m going to die here at least let it be for the sake of some real loot.

Elf: Yeesh, why are all wizards such drama queens? Anyway, what do I see?

Storyteller: The piles of wood appear to be collapsed, rotten benches, probably for the use of waiting visitors back in the day. You also see some decayed fabric, the remains of tapestries that decorated the walls. This whole room must have been a lot more magnificent when it was still in use.

Elf: What about the alcoves?

Storyteller: Each one contains a statue, or in many cases the shattered remains of a statue. Time has not been kind to this place.

Dwarf: Ooh! Are they valuable? Lots of people like this kind of antique crap.

Storyteller: Maybe, but most of them are too damaged. Elf, your keen elven eyes notice that the mostly-intact statue closest to you has an unusual seam at the base of its upraised arm.

Elf: Hmm. Maybe it’s a secret lever or something. I pull on the arm.

Storyteller: Okay. You grasp it and pull, and it begins to slowly-

Wizard: What? Wait, you fool! Who knows what that does?! Maybe it’s the ‘Flood the entrance hall with adventurer-dissolving acid’ lever or ‘Unleash the hideous brutal bloodthirsty undead guards’ lever!

Storyteller: Elf, the Wizard’s warning comes too late, and the lever clunks into place as you lower it. You hear a deep rumbling emanate from the wall next to you. The floor vibrates, and a section of stone slowly grinds outwards – a previously-invisible secret door.

Priest: Great! We all know what secret doors hide! Treasure!

Elf: Phat lewt!

Dwarf: Shinies!

Wizard: Yeah, and the horrors that guard said treasure. We are all going to die.

Some readers will be very familiar with what’s happening here. Those of you who have never tried a tabletop role-playing game (RPG) may be wondering What the heck is going on? Who are these people? What’s with this storyteller person telling them what they see and do? Are all wizards that whiny? Okay, maybe not that last part. But these are all valid questions.

A typical RPG gathering as seen at ICON, the local gaming, comics, figures and lifestyle fair. We're not sure what exactly the Game Master is doing, but he sure looks relaxed. Image delicately borrowed from www.rpg.co.za.

Basically, this is how a typical RPG adventure might begin. So what exactly is an RPG? Imagine the best movie you’ve ever seen or your favourite book, be it sci-fi, crime, fantasy, whatever – but instead of simply sitting back and enjoying things as the story unfolds, you are an integral part of the plot. Have you ever thought a movie character should do something differently? In an RPG you control one of the primary characters, make decisions and undertake tasks that affect the story every single step of the way. In some ways this is very similar to a video game, but instead of fixed options and linear stories there are countless choices to be made, and each action opens up a whole new range of possibilities. These in turn contribute to an ever-increasing level of detail and enjoyment. Add a few friends playing different characters in the same story, and you have the recipe for a ridiculously large amount of fun.

Over the coming months we’ll look at the basic mechanisms of RPGs – how they work, what is required, where to start. We will also check out some famous examples as well as new arrivals on the scene. You’ll find out what a d20 is (and why it’s both your best friend and your worst enemy), why storytellers are not to be trusted, and how clean up pizza grease. Stay tuned!

Posted by Richard Jenks Sep 29, 2010

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Review: Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3

Developer: 8ing
Publisher: Tomy
Platforms: Wii
Website: www.tomy-usa.com

Over the years there have been numerous games that expand on the popular Naruto anime series, some good and some terrible. Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 (CNR3) is the most recent of these and brings a competent fighter to the Wii. CNR3 features a host of characters from the show (including the more annoying ones) as well as many familiar locations.

The game supports input with the Wiimote, Wiimote plus Nunchuk, Classic Controller and GameCube controller. The first two options feel incomplete and awkward, and take a lot of getting used to. When using the Wiimote-chuk you have wiggle the Wiimote to perform a weak attack – this will have you shaking like an electrocution victim and just doesn’t work. The more traditional controllers allow for more fluid coordination, which makes life much easier.

Once you’ve come to grips with the controls, CNR3 presents a satisfying combat experience – characters are responsive and there is plenty of variety on offer. While the overall approach is not as complex as most fighting games on other consoles, CNR3 still provides a comprehensive battle system without requiring you to mash buttons like a hyperactive 9 year old. Each character has strong and weak attacks, a throw and a specific jutsu technique. As you’d expect, incorporating these with direction commands permits additional moves such as kunai, paper bombs and spectacular combo attacks. The one benefit of the Wiimote-chuck is the addition of hand signs which are entered with gestures and give various in-fight bonuses (but don’t make up for its suckiness). Many manoeuvres are powered by chakra which accumulates over time or by beating the snot out of your foe, and skilful use of this is a core component of the game.

You’ll be kept on your toes in every battle – timing and precision for both attacks and evasion, as well as opponent anticipation are crucial for you to prevail. If you stick to the same combos you’ll quickly end up eating dirt and whining about it in Japanese. Each of the 40 characters has a very distinctive style which requires you to adapt (but not excessively so) which keeps things interesting.

Doing pretty much anything earns money which can be spent unlocking a whole bunch of content such as characters, arenas and game modes. There is plenty to add to an already-enjoyable experience.

Story mode, while humorous, is a letdown, lacking the depth to appeal to Naruto fans and confusing to non-fans. Although it does put you in control of a variety of characters it is unbalanced and frustrating – for every overly-easy smackdown there is an unreasonably difficult fight. But this a minor problem, as few people will buy this game for the single-player experience.

Multiplayer is tons of fun, with up to 4 players supported in an array of game types. 1 vs 1, 2 vs 2, tag team and more means that there is a lot on offer for you and whatever friends you can round up. Things can get pretty hectic, compromising the nuances of the combat system, but this does not detract from the enjoyment of beating several kinds of cel-shaded crap out of your friends.

naruto-bottom-line

Posted by Richard Jenks Jul 06, 2010

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Super retro roundup: The X-COM series

In 1999, mankind faces an unprecedented threat of an extraterrestrial nature: violent human abduction by UFOs and hideous experimentation are increasing rapidly, creating mass hysteria amongst the world’s populace. All attempts by individual countries to resist the aliens have failed dismally; they were helpless in the face of vastly superior technology. For mankind to have a hope of survival, the world’s governments covertly created a global defence force to combat the alien menace — the Extraterrestrial Combat Unit: X-COM.

UFO Defense is a game of great depth and complexity. Not only must you defend the planet against UFO incursions, you must capture alien technology, strengthen your position and ultimately take the fight to the foe. The enemy is cunning and insidious — while you battle them on the ground and in the air they will attempt to infiltrate Earth’s governments and launch terror attacks in key cities. These activities can undermine your political standing with the various countries, compromising your funding if not dealt with effectively.

Gameplay in UFO Defense takes place across two modes. The first is Geoscape, a strategic overview of Earth where you launch fighters to intercept UFOs, build and upgrade bases, and allocate research of new technology. This research is a driving force that gives you a military advantage as well as providing insight into alien biology, culture and motivation. The second mode is Battlescape — isometric turn-based combat where you control a squad (up to 10 agents) on the ground as you investigate downed enemy craft for new technology and alien corpses. As the aliens become more aggressive you will also have to defend your bases from assault — failure means the base is lost, along with the substantial associated resources. Missions can be downright creepy, especially when you’re waiting for the aliens to complete their turn, not knowing where they are and what they’re up to. The turn-based approach of Battlescape missions is slow-paced but deliberate, with intense tactical considerations at all times. Movement, morale, fatigue and ammunition have to all be taken into account. It is all too easy for your team to be wiped out due to a lack of caution. While this can be a little frustrating at times it is ultimately very satisfying.

Between the careful balancing-act of funding acquisition/allocation and very difficult tactical encounters, you will need to exercise skill and care to save the human race from extinction.

Bottom line: UFO Defense is a remarkably challenging but truly rewarding game. Classic excellence. 89/100

Forty years after defeating the extraterrestrials in the First Alien War, mankind faces a new threat to its existence. This menace comes not from the stars but from the depths of our seas — a dormant malevolence has been awakened and has been biding its time since the conclusion of UFO Defense. X-COM is hastily reactivated and placed in charge of an underwater base, once again the last hope of humanity.

Practically speaking, Terror from the Deep is the same game as UFO Defense. The engine and game mechanics are essentially unchanged, with a new setting and foes and a fresh set of graphics. Instead of combating aliens on terra firma you can also fight them in the depths. The Geoscape interface is the same, but you now concern yourself with the oceans as well — you send submarines to destroy USOs (unidentified submersible objects), but the rest of the gameplay is identical. Battlescape combat primarily takes place in the muddy depths, your agents equipped with pressure suits and spear guns, but there is the occasional surface mission to defend a city or ocean liner from merciless aliens. Missions are also more complex, with some of them spanning multiple maps. This makes tactical resource and casualty management even more crucial.

Terror from the Deep is a great deal more difficult than UFO Defense and brutally so. The aliens are ruthless and powerful, and from the outset you will have to fight very hard to prevail. Seeing it through to the end is a struggle, but very much worth the effort.

Bottom line: The game might be a copy-paste but the differences are sufficient, and the gameplay is brilliant, which makes it a great experience in its own right. 86/100

Posted by Richard Jenks Mar 04, 2010

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Retro review: Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain

Developer: Silicon Knights
Publisher: Crystal Dynamics
Year: 1997
Genre: Action Adventure
Availability: Abandonware | PSN

Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain is the first in the well-known Legacy of Kain Saga, initially released on the PlayStation in 1996 and ported to the PC in 1997. It has recently been abandoned on PC. If you’re active on the Playstation Network, it can be found there too.

Blood Omen tells the tale of a murdered nobleman who strikes a deal with the necromancer Mortanius, allowing him to walk the living world as a vampire and take vengeance on those who slew him. It quickly becomes apparent that all is not as it seems – the Nine Pillars of Nosgoth have been corrupted and Kain becomes caught up in sweeping events that will force him to save the realm that he cares nothing for. Kain himself is a superb character – sardonic, violent and full of hate for the world. At times he is even poetic in his cynicism.

"Oh please, help me kind sir!"

Gameplay is top-down hack ‘n’ slash, executed in a satisfying fashion. Blood Omen‘s console roots are apparent in control — only the keyboard is used, with the mouse reserved for menu navigation. Much of the time you will be brutalising your enemies with Kain’s sword accompanied by his derisive laughter, but there are items and spells that permit ranged assaults. Kain has to be cautious in battle — do enough damage, and your foe will be left reeling, allowing you to exsanguinate him as he collapses with a cry of agony. But do too much and he will die outright, robbing you of a health-replenishing meal. Attacks must also be timed lest they be interrupted. You don’t just have to worry about enemies — there are many environmental hazards and traps as well: the purity of running water and rain will cause damage to his corrupt body, and spikes pierce undead flesh just as well as that of the living.

You are not limited to the vampiric shape as you explore Nosgoth. Kain can take several additional forms as the situation demands. The bat allows him to quickly travel between far reaches of the realm, the wolf can leap up ledges and over obstacles while disembowelling foes with powerful claws, a mist which permits him to elude foes, and a nobleman which hides his undead nature when needed.

The game simply oozes ominous character, with excellent atmosphere and many nuances adding to the experience. Every so often you will find a sobbing peasant chained up, begging to be set free, only to have Kain feast upon their lifeblood with enthusiastic slurping noises – this kind of detail makes for a diverse gameplay experience. The story is truly epic and becomes deeper and darker as you play — vengeance, betrayal and redemption make for a compelling tale whilst never feeling contrived. While there are several adult themes threaded throughout the game, at no point do they feel gratuitous.

Graphics are not bad at all once you become accustomed to the low res, and even feature environmental lighting – quite an achievement for its day. Voice acting is top-notch, and you’ll take delight in Kain’s many bitter monologues throughout the game. In many retro titles, music is a weakness, but not so in Blood Omen. On a technical note, running the game on a modern OS poses some problems, but there are solutions out there.

Posted by Richard Jenks Jan 27, 2010

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Review: Tales of Monkey Island Ep. 5

Developer: Telltale Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
Platforms: PC
Website: www.telltalegames.com

After many months of item-hunting, pox-spreading and monkey-bothering, the brilliant Tales of Monkey Island series finally comes to a close with Episode 5, Rise of the Pirate God (ROTPG). Be warned, if you haven’t played the previous episodes the following will contain spoilers. So do yourself a large favour — go play them and then come back.

Subsequent to the dramatic conclusion of Episode 4, Guybrush Threepwood finds himself betrayed and murdered by the previously-friendly LeChuck. After his death our now-ghostly hero awakens in the Pirate Afterlife. This spooky realm contains all a dead pirate could wish for – endless Sword Mastery, Thievery and Treasure Hunting-ery (all the Xs you can dig!). However, the rezombified monstrous maggot mating ground LeChuck is running amok in the living world, slaughtering and pillaging with abandon. Worse yet, Elaine is LeChuck’s prisoner and doomed to become his demon bride unless Guybrush can find a way back to the land of the not-so-dead and give his nemesis a swift kick in the buoys.

In his efforts to defeat LeChuck once and for all, Threepwood will travel between realms numerous times in both ethereal and zombie forms, with the benefits and limitations of each form determining what he can or cannot do. The new areas in ROTPG are a little empty compared to earlier episodes, but happily, the design and layout more than makes up for this, and is full of the usual Monkey Island charm. The Afterlife is suitably sepulchral, complete with gloomy mood lighting, while the living world is aflame with LeChuck’s destructive activities. Several acquaintances from other episodes make an appearance, as well as some all-new faces (thankfully with new models too, the bony baritone Boatman is brilliant). Characterisation is very good indeed — all the main players are convincing with oodles of personality and greater emotion than earlier episodes.

The laughs aren’t as abundant in this chapter (although there is some great genre-denigration), and overall the story is a little thin. Puzzles are generally simple throughout with the exception of the final confrontation which is tricky bordering on maddening. One of the highlights is a brief return to insult sword fighting from the original game with the added bonus of being a 3-way duel between Guybrush, LeFlay and a headless swordsman. There is a lot of going back-and-forth which can become tiresome (despite cruising around in a creepy heavy metal album cover longboat), and is a departure from the well-structured challenges in previous chapters.

Despite having many good points, ROTPG does not quite provide the epic climax to the series that it should have. The quality is good, but just not up to the standard of the other episodes. It still makes for a great time though, especially when seen as part of an excellent whole. We won’t take “please stop stabbing me!” for an answer — go out and get the series. At $35 for all 5 episodes (around R260 at time of writing), it’s sheer plunder. As a whole, Tales of Monkey Island is a ridiculous amount of fun.

Posted by Richard Jenks Jan 22, 2010

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Review: Tales of Monkey Island Ep. 4

Developer: Telltale Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
Platforms: PC
Website: www.telltalegames.com

[Due to the reviewer coming down with a terrible case of scurvy, our review of Tales of Monkey Island Episode 4 slipped through the cracks and ended up here. We know, Episode 5 is already available; we've currently got our dirty hands on it and will have a review up this week, but in the meanwhile, here's the belated review of Episode 4 -Ed.]

Tales Monkey Island Episode 3 drew to a close with our hero betrayed and captured by Morgan LeFlay; the Marquis De Singe eager to have him in his perfumed clutches once more. But upon their return to Flotsam Island, a mob of peeved pirates accost Guybrush and put him on trial for a number of crimes. Mr Threepwood stands accused of felonious feline frightening, consonant abuse, thigh crime, and nefarious collectible counterfeiting – all thanks to his actions in earlier episodes.

In Episode 4, The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood, it is up to the Mighty Pirate-At-Law to defend himself and clear his name of all charges, reclaim La Esponja not-so-Grande, and finally cure his plunder bunny Elaine and the other afflicted pirates of the Pox of LeChuck. Should he fail, he faces death by keel hauling, hanging, boiling, scaphism (eww), corset, hanging, mauling, and 8-sided dice (painful, but at least it ain’t 4-sided dice). After completing his stint in the obtuse pirate legal system, Guybrush must foil the machinations of The Marquis, who has heinous plans for the pox-infected Elaine.

Episode 4 continues the high level of quality we have come to expect from the series, with the same excellent writing, animation and voice acting. The addition of some new and well thought-out characters adds to the already great list of intriguing personalities, and Guybrush’s interactions with them are as amusing as ever. As usual there are several references to earlier episodes, and combined with the continuing story this provides great cohesion across the series. The majority of the puzzles are challenging yet logical, but there are a few “What the heck?” moments – but what adventure game would be complete without a little obtuse head scratching? Fortunately, the in-game hint system is usually enough to point you in right direction.

You can tell by the hat: this man knows what he's talking about.

Another favourite character from earlier Monkey Island games makes a return – Stan the used ship salesman, complete with his original psychedelic jacket and rapid arm wavery [Is that the technical term? -Ed]. He has given up the pre-owned vessel business in favour of the legal and souvenir trade, and represents the pirate prosecution against Guybrush while purveying tacky (but useful) memorabilia.

While it is a little irksome to be back on Flotsam Island with many of the same locations and faces, there are some truly memorable moments in this episode – an outstanding cutlass fight between Morgan and the pox-enraged Elaine complete with witty banter, Guybrush’s hilarious cross-examination of himself on the witness stand, and his attempt to taste Fugu Jolokia (the world’s hottest chilli) are just some of them.

Posted by Richard Jenks Dec 21, 2009

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Retro review: The Settlers 2

Developer: BlueByte Software
Publisher: BlueByte Sofware
Year: 1996
Genre: RTS
Availability: For sale

The Settlers series is a grandaddy that brought aspects of gameplay which still feature in titles to this day, and part 2 (TS2) is arguably the best of the series.

The primary game mode follows a group of Romans who find themselves marooned on an island, and they must establish settlements and explore before discovering a way home. Gameplay is pretty straightforward, revolving around the gathering of wood, stone, food, and various ores, plus the manufacture of goods. Raw and refined resources are the primary focus of TS2, and good management is paramount – especially considering that many types are strictly limited. You can grow and harvest all the trees you please, but when you run out of iron – that’s it. It can be particularly frustrating if you exhaust some vital ore well into a level and are forced to start over.

Buildings of varying sizes and functions can be constructed according to the availability of space. Every structure must be linked to the road system, which allows helpful serfs to fetch and carry goods. Here things can get interesting – each road has flags, with one serf between each flag. More flags, more serfs, and the faster goods get transported – a dense city will have hundreds of peons scurrying around like ants. However, each flag occupies precious construction space, so a balance must be struck. The route and number of roads combined with flags determine efficiency, so layout becomes critical when space is limited.

While TS2 has a strong military element and most levels require the defeat of enemy forces, the implementation is rather simplistic. Soldiers are the only unit type (but can be trained), and combat consists of simply choosing units, then selecting a target and letting the combat play out. Building military structures expands your control zone and permits you to launch attacks into opposing territory.

TS2 can be tricky at times due to the lack of any useful resource requirement indicators. Nowhere are you told what is needed to build or run a particular building, and only by trial and error can you figure things out. You might find yourself scratching your head over a half-constructed building, and only by scrutinizing the various detailed information screens would you discover that workers lack the necessary tools. While modern games allow us to take information exposition for granted, it does provide a barrier to entry for TS2.

The overall pace of gameplay is rather slow. It can take ages for industries to get up and running smoothly – and even longer for their fruits to become available. You will probably spend a lot of time waiting for things to happen, anywhere up to 3 hours per level.

Graphics are simple and colourful, and can go all the way up to 1024 x 768 (which was, like, HUGE in 1996!) with a lot of detail, considering the game’s age. You’ll see sheep and rabbits gambolling about, foxes hunting, and idle serfs reading the newspaper. On a par with many retro titles, music in TS2 is annoying right off the bat and is best left switched off. Decent-quality sounds accompany many occurrences in the game, providing the expected atmosphere. Occasionally, the timing of construction, forge, wood cutting, and other noises will create a cadence not unlike a pseudo-industrial remix, which is good for a chuckle.

Posted by Richard Jenks Nov 30, 2009

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Review: Torchlight

Developer: Runic Games
Publisher: Perfect World Entertainment
Platforms: PC
Website: www.torchlightgame.com

Torchlight takes place in a fantasy world where magic is fuelled by an enigmatic ore called Ember. A mining town has sprung up over a particularly rich vein of this valuable material, but something is amiss – the mines have broken through into a multi-level complex of ancient origin, complete with hordes of monstrous inhabitants. As an adventurer, high in bravery but low in common sense, it is up to you to descend into said complex and stop the flow of nasties.

The development team includes the co-creators of Diablo, and it shows. While this game is a shameless clone, it does it with such aplomb and skill that it doesn’t matter. Players can choose from 3 characters – the Destroyer (melee specialist), Vanquisher (ranged attacks and traps) or the Alchemist (spells and summoning). While not that many to select, each of these has a large assortment of skills to allocate as you progress, allowing you to customize your gameplay style further.

You’ll have a pet to accompany you in your delves. Your fuzzy pal has its own health and mana, and will assist you in battle by attacking foes or casting spells. It can also carry a large amount of equipment, and you can send the overburdened critter back to town to sell stuff on your behalf. From time to time you’ll find a fishing hole; most fish can be fed to your pet to temporarily transform it into a monster with special attacks and abilities, but you might find other rare fish that benefit your character instead.

One of the best things about Torchlight is the fantastic loot. There is a huge variety of equipment to be found – mundane, magical, rare, unique, and set items all make an appearance (some are faintly ridiculous, like the Dismantling Epic Molten Scourge of the Colossus). Weapons and armour have wonderful aesthetics, and each has a distinct style for each character type.

In addition to the miners and their families, the town of Torchlight features the usual assortment of vendors and quest-givers. The various traders are always happy to buy up the endless piles of blood-stained loot you accumulate, and other services are offered such as transmutation and enchantment. You’ll also find your stash here, as well as a shared stash which allows you to pass items between your various characters. This is great for when your muscle-bound fighter with the dexterity of a fallen tree finds an awesome unique bow – just drop it in the chest and your archer will be able to use it.

Whilst they aren’t going to detonate anybody’s eyeballs, the graphics are polished and attractive – the varied environments are gorgeous with a lot of attention to detail, and there are plenty of little touches (like slithering snakes and skull lanterns). Overall style is colourful and somewhat cartoony, but it still manages to create an epic feel. The game’s music was composed by Matt Uelmen of Diablo I & II fame. There is some influence from those titles, but in a good way – the score is truly atmospheric.

The primary drawback to Torchlight is the lack of multiplayer support – if you could splatter monsters with friends this game would be nigh perfect in the fun stakes. There is an MMO version in the works; hopefully that need will be fulfilled soon enough.

Yes, Torchlight is made to a formula. But it doesn’t just nail that formula – it rivets, welds, and superglues the darn thing so well you just can’t help but enjoy yourself. The story is a little thin but gameplay is rock-solid and addictive. For a measly $20 you get the download version (around 500MB), or you can wait ’til early next year for the boxed version.

Posted by Richard Jenks Nov 16, 2009

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Review: Tales of Monkey Island Ep. 3

After saving Spinner Cay from pirate attack in the previous episode of Tales of Monkey Island, the buckswashling Guybrush and his crew were rudely interrupted by the gargantuan gullet of a monstrous manatee. Episode 3: Lair of the Leviathan (LotL), picks up right here as our hero is about to be devoured. This plot continuity makes a nice change from other episodic games, and really gets the player hankering for more.

Guybrush, Winslow, and Morgan LeFlay find themselves trapped in the throat of the giant manatee – and they are not alone. Besides the occasional crawly throat grub, Guybrush discovers the conquistadorial Coronado De Cava (an old flame of the Voodoo Lady) who like him has been searching for La Esponja Grande. He has been marooned in the manatee for many years, and with his help you must find a way to guide the giant critter to the sacred manatee mating grounds, the resting place of the sacred sponge.

LotL is somewhat linear when compared to previous open-exploration episodes, and there is a very limited number of locations. The majority of the game is spent within the manatee, but fortunately you’ll be having way too much fun to care.

Puzzles continue to improve, with LotL having the best in the series so far. There is a lot of variety and originality here which makes a pleasant change from the usual adventure game find-this-item or talk-to-that-person malarkey. At one point you will take part in a matrimonial quiz, requiring you to have paid attention earlier in the game. Failure will result in Guybrush being slowly digested by the manatee… tasty! My favourite has to be the Pirate Face-Off – much akin to Insult Swordfighting in earlier Monkey Island games, you and your opponent pull faces at one another until one is defeated. Building up your repertoire is a challenging task and will have you scouring the manatee’s guts for inspiration. And let’s not forget the opportunity to play manatee matchmaker! There are plenty of great puzzles to entertain you, and with one or two exceptions they are inherently logical – but actually solving them requires a fair bit of brain juice.

Voice acting and animation are still excellent – if anything, Guybrush’s lines and character have improved as the series matured. There are some recycled character models, but these are well disguised and do not become tiresome. That aside the characters are remarkably well-rounded in this episode, a step forward from the generic pirates earlier in the series. You’ll encounter a surfer dude with a drinking habit, a bongo-playing nerd, a crazy-eyed pugilist (the Democratically United Brotherhood of the Manatee Interior)… and one of the greatest characters ever, Murray the Talking Skull. First seen in The Curse of Monkey Island, Murray has some of the best dialogue and voicing you’re ever likely to hear, and he makes for some truly entertaining end credits. The game is almost worth playing just for him.

Overall LotL is the strongest of the series. Those new to it may feel a little lost, but that won’t prevent them from enjoying this game – but if you haven’t already played the rest of the series, now is the time to do so.

Posted by Richard Jenks Oct 12, 2009

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