Trails in the Sky is a genre of game I myself am very familiar with. Japanese RPGs (JRPGs), despite losing their popularity over the past few years, are still very unique and important in the gaming world.

To start with, you should keep in mind that Trails in the Sky is actually several years old. Despite being released over here in 2011, the game was actually first brought out in Japan in the year 2004 as a PC title. It was then ported to the PSP and the developer did a very good job doing so as many PC to console ports can feel very rough and unpolished. Trails in the Sky, however, plays without a hitch.

The game has now been translated (very well I’d say) and made available to the very dedicated following of JRPG fans throughout the globe.

Your main character is an upbeat ditzy girl named Estelle Bright and this in itself is a rather non-conventional element for not only a JRPG but for video games in general. Female lead characters are still the minority so it not only brings a more refreshing perspective but it helps appeal to female players.

At the beginning of the game, Estelle joins an organisation known as the Bracers. This guild is sort of a cross between mercenaries, community support officers and politicians though fighting monsters tends to be the inevitable outcome no matter how mundane your task is. You receive quests from the guild, some being side quests to earn extra cash and others being more important, story-progressing missions. This structure, particularly the smaller side quests, does make Trails in the Sky ideal as a portable game. Don’t get me wrong, it is still very deep but side missions allow to continue playing even when you have limited time.

Of course, the JRPG fans out there will want to know how the battle systems plays. The system is turn based and it gives you as much time as you need to decide your next move. You can execute a standard attack (obviously), use an Art (effectively magic spells learned though upgrade items called Quartz’) or a Craft (special skills for individual characters gained from their equipment). More interestingly, this system has adopted a movement system that means your characters and enemies can shift positions around the field (represented by a grid) and this brings in a new element of strategy. It is similar to Final Fantasy Tactics though less ‘rigid’ with its grid. If you are new to these games you may find it a tad complicated (though the tutorials explain things very well).

As I already mentioned, characters learn new Arts through equipping Quartz to their ‘Orbment’. These will grant numerous effects as well as allowing to cast certain spells (which vary depending on the Quartz element). Orbments have a limited number of slots for Quartz which must be unlocked. Certain slots for individual characters only allow for specific elements (Estelle being an exception here). Crafts on the other hand are learned through your equipment. These systems give you full control of how you wish your characters to develop though, again, this could be complex to an individual not familiar with these games.

I would rather avoid the topic of the story as I don’t feel it would be right to spoil it for you but I will say this; If you have never played a JRPG before then you will need to be patient during the tutorial stages as the game doesn’t really feed you much. With these games you sometimes need patience and I assure you it will be rewarded. JRPGs have a habit of leading you into thinking ‘oh yeah, I get this, I know exactly what will happen’ and then suddenly you are left disoriented as your pre-conceptions are shattered.

One complaint I’m already imagining is ‘why is there so much text? I don’t like reading’! Well, you will have to get used to it, because the scriptwriters for Trails in the Sky were sure to make pretty much every bit of interaction in the game feel fleshed out. This isn’t a game where you feel you are only hearing the highlights of a conversation. Every boring, seemingly irrelevant detail is present and I personally feel that is does really benefit character development. Instead of ‘Non Player Characters’ (NPCs) simply delivering one piece of information over and over, your characters will respond and the dialogue could actually end in you learning something very important. Consequently, you shouldn’t rapidly press Square to skip text boxes (I know you people!).

I wouldn’t say the game looks that aged. You still see plenty of JRPGs even today adopting more stylised, anime-esque visuals and because of this Trails in the Sky won’t strike you as ‘old’ in any way. I merely got the impression that the graphics were ‘as they were meant to be’. Trails in the Sky’s world is rendered in full 3D (with rotating 2D sprites for non-static objects). I personally feel it gives the game a very unique look. At first you would think the game was merely ‘pseudo 3D’ but then you will find that the L & R buttons moved the camera around my character giving me a whole new way of exploring the world. You can see behind buildings, trees and various obstacles which help you find your objective. Most JRPG with a a fixed camera would have every building and object orientated in one direction so the player can see them easily whereas the moving camera in Trails of the Sky allowed the developer to design the game world in a more realistic way. I praise such details.

The music may not be the greatest of all JRPGs but it is still very pleasant and shouldn’t irritate you easily.

Overall, Trails in the Sky is a game I would definitely recommend to JRPG fans out there. It feels very polished and the story will keep you occupied for quite a while. For people new to this style of fantasy role playing games, it isn’t the first game I’d recommend but it would by no means be the last. 8/10

Whether you’re a video-game developer, academic, a lowly critic or just a plain old enthusiast, gamers love to debate the legitimacy of video-games, in relation to art. In Dan Pinchbeck and Robert Briscoe’s “Dear Esther”, those looking to argue the artistic merits of their favourite past time, now have a game which has the potential to propel their argument further, more than any other game before it and here’s why…

“Dear Esther” is something else, but is it a video-game? Yes. But is it a First Person Shooter? No. Its tale unfolds from the first person perspective, but this is no mere FPS. Its perspective works for and against it, because navigating the Hebridean island is governed exactly as you’d imagine, but gone are many of the familiar tropes and ‘controls’ associated with the perspective, which is so preoccupied with space marines and soldiers. There’s no action button, no jump, no cross-hairs and there are certainly no guns. None. Zippo. Nothing! You’re not concerned with conserving ammo because you have nothing to fire with and, come to think of it, nothing to fire at, apart from derelict buildings. The compulsion to ‘play’ “Dear Esther” is derived from the game’s central mystery, through the narrator’s monologues and your exploration of the island.

The abandoning of so many FPS tropes make the game so much more powerful because it isn’t reliant upon gimmicks, (such as plasmids), it doesn’t need them, not when Briscoe has crafted such a sumptuous and captivating wasteland. “Dear Esther” defies both expectation and convention. It is a game which invites you to explore, to discover and it places an emphasis upon the gamer, to look upon the island. Your only tools are your legs which carry you around, a torch which switches on automatically and a zoom button, which encourages you to investigate the debris which litters the mysterious island, searching for clues.

“Dear Esther” is comprised of four levels, although they are not really ‘levels’, they are distinct areas of the island, they are interwoven chapters. Chapters’ feels and sounds like a more accurate term for “Dear Esther’s” ’levels’, which include; ‘The Lighthouse’, ‘The Buoy’, ‘The Caves’ and finally, “The Beacon”. Once the game has been completed, you are free to select and play whichever chapter you want, however the game is at its most rewarding when played as a whole, as intended.

The sound design in “Dear Esther” perfectly complements the amazing visuals which Briscoe has accomplished, through his expert manipulation of Valve’s source engine. Jessica Curry’s non-diegetic soundtrack is as haunting as the barren landscape. The diegetic sounds are all windy-gales, sea breezes, footsteps, the occasional heartbeat and even whispers. On several occasions you’ll suspect you can hear the whispers of children, a radio crackling or even an aeroplane overhead. But Curry’s crowning achievement is providing a soundtrack which is as powerful as Briscoe’s visuals. “Dear Esther’s” greatest strength is the island itself and the player’s belief in that island and central to this crowning achievement are both the audio and visual expertise, demonstrated masterfully by Curry and Briscoe.

As you explore the island, death lingers in the air, there is nothing alive here. The buildings are derelict, windows smashed and uninhabitable. Boats and ships of various sizes lie strewn across the island’s beaches, their cargo spilled. Yet despite the barren landscape there is an undeniable beauty, in particular ‘The Cave’ chapter, with its watery reflections, stalagmites, and even evidence of water erosion. The final chapter also highlights Briscoe’s achievements with an enchanting moonlit ascent to ‘The Beacon’ and whilst his hard work may have been buried in the awkward, ‘Mirror’s Edge’, it is his work which is the backbone of “Dear Esther’s” success. If you have any doubts as to Robert Briscoe’s contribution to this remake of Dan Pinchbeck’s mod, then just revisit the original game, which is still available to download – the difference is astounding.

“Dear Esther” is a linear game in a time when most magazines, journals and academics tell us that linearity is holding the industry back. But “Dear Esther” proves the prowess of an authored text, it excels because of its linearity, not in spite of it. The player may well be traversing from A-B but that caveat is beautifully hidden, but not behind corridors, this is a linear experience in a very ’open’ world.

“Dear Esther” is one of the most enjoyable authored texts in the history of videogames. “Dear Esther” is more than just a videogame, it is an ‘experience’ and one with few rivals. As with any good book or film, “Dear Esther” will linger long after it has been completed, but not because of the questions it answers, its power lies in its interpretation and experience, which will vary from gamer to gamer. Thanks to the efforts of Briscoe, Curry and Pinchbeck the argument for videogames as art, has just become, much more convincing. [10]

Interview by Simon Roger Key

After working on EA’s flawed but hugely enjoyable AAA title, ‘Mirror’s Edge’, at DICE, what interested you about working on an independent game?

When I started out, after completing work on ‘Mirror’s Edge’, I wasn’t really looking to get heavily involved in something. I was merely looking for something to do, whilst I took a breather from the industry. But after working on DE for more than a year, it had grown far beyond what I had originally conceived the project to be. The turning point for DE was really when Dan and I went to Valve, to see if we could get a license to use the source engine commercially and launch DE as an indie game. However, we only really began discussing that idea – of taking it to digital distribution – because of the positive feedback we received from the online community. For the first year of production, working on DE was quite relaxed; we didn’t have deadlines so I was predominantly working to my own standards and schedule, which proved to be a very welcome, change of pace. But creatively, there is nothing like being in control of your own work, being more than just a small cog, in a big corporate machine and that’s what DE represents, artistic freedom, which in part, was afforded to us by the good people at the Indie Fund.

What was it about “Dear Esther” that attracted you to the project?

Originally, I stumbled upon DE whilst looking for inspiration during my year off. But what intrigued me about the game was its use of narrative and character, it was trying something different and it engaged me without really trying, even evoking emotion, which is unusual in today’s market, which is more concerned with adrenalin and ‘fist-pumping’ action. DE presented an opportunity to take what was a rather plain looking game and give it the love and attention that it deserved, so that its visuals matched the power of the games narrative and soundtrack. And selfishly, it was a game where I didn’t need to worry about weapons or characters, the environment is the game’s most natural protagonist. But ultimately, my decision to invest my time in DE, was motivated by my desire to work on a game, which was purely artistically driven. The issue of the game’s viability as a commercial entity was almost an afterthought.

Genre & categorization is a big part of marketing a product, whether it’s a videogame, film or book. Does “Dear Esther” defy classification & if so what are the implications of marketing something, so significantly ‘alternative’?

DE can be categorized quite easily and in fact we had to do just that for classification on Steam. But I think it’s most natural genre is as a First Person Adventure/Role Playing game. I don’t think DE defies classification, we’re not trying to make a new genre, we’re just attempting something new, in a genre which has become so heavily associated with space marines, soldiers and mindless shooting.

As far as marketing DE goes, we’re not claiming to be redefining the FP genre, we’re just presenting an alternative to the standard FP game. Some people will want to play it, others won’t. The problem is, when you think of FP games, your [typical] first thought will be of a gun and war. The perspective has become so interwoven with war, that it has become difficult for people to see beyond that convention. The fact that DE, doesn’t feature guns or puzzles, is in fact our own unique selling point, hopefully people will be encouraged to play the title because of the ‘alternative’ experience. Just don’t play it expecting cross hairs, explosions or an option to take-off and detonate a nuke from orbit.

“Dear Esther” looks fantastic! How long did it take to create each level and to arrive at this highly polished version?

I started pre-production on DE in 2008, whilst I was still working at DICE, so it’s taken about four years in total. Each level [on average] has taken six months to complete, but there was a big gap between going from alpha stage to getting the license from Valve and then porting DE to the ‘Portal 2′ engine - Valve’s newest engine. Porting DE took far longer than originally expected. I thought it wouldn’t take much more than a month, but it ended up taking a year!

The level design in “Dear Esther” is exceptional, but is there a particular level that you are especially proud of?

Technically, the last level because it features a vast open environment, where almost everything is visible. The source engine was [technically] designed, for small outdoor areas and indoor environments only. To pull-off that final ascent, up DE’s ’Beacon’, involved several tricks and a great deal of time was spent hacking the engine, but the end result was worth the effort. From an artistic standpoint, ‘The Caves’, because it’s a small, enclosed environment and it gave me the opportunity to be as creative as I wanted, allowing me to pay attention to the smallest details.

Some gamers might debate whether “Dear Esther” is actually a ‘game’. What would you say to those people and what is the purpose of this clearly experimental and divisive title?

This is something both Dan and I get a lot, “is it a game?” We never set out to do anything other, than make a game, we’ve never had any intention to encourage this debate, there’s no doubt in our minds that DE, is a game – it’s just different. It was/is a creative venture, but one which differs from the typical FP game. We have no interest in debating whether it is a game, that’s just something which sprang from the community and the debate about whether videogames can be considered art. With DE our sole purpose was to create something different, which was new and creative.

But do you think “Dear Esther” contributes to the debate for videogames as art?

I think the games as art debate, is silly to be honest, it’s subjective. To some people Tracey Emin is an artist, to others she simply presented her bed to the world – used condoms and all. The problem is that the industry is still in its infancy, it’s still maturing and trying to find its feet. The legitimisation of videogames is largely [I believe], grounded in a desire for gamers to see their favourite pastime recognised by ‘others’ as legitimate. To the same extent that reading a book or watching film is seen as a legitimate way to spend ones time. The playing of videogames is still largely vilified and seen as a waste of time. However I feel about the debate, concerning videogames as art, doesn’t matter, because if DE – or any other game – contributes to videogames being taken more seriously, then that can only be considered a good thing for the industry [at large].

How does it feel to be nominated for four awards at this year’s “Independent Game Festival”?

Amazing! I didn’t even expect to be nominated, especially considering who we’re up against. I would have been ecstatic to receive just one nomination. I was humbled and totally shocked. It’s safe to say I’m very, very excited at the moment.

What’s next for Robert Briscoe?

There’s a lot of stuff I would like to do but it’s all dependent upon the success of DE. I would love to start up my own studio and keep working independently. It’s my dream to do an adaptation of the Russian, science-fiction novel, ‘Roadside Picnic’. The novel was a big influence upon ‘Stalker’, but my interpretation would be ‘Stalker’ without guns. So perhaps DE is the start of a new genre, or a new sub-genre, of games without guns, where atmosphere, narrative and creativity are king. Who knows?

I have no interest, whatsoever, in working on war simulator 4000 or any other generic, First Person Shooter but I’m not averse to doing a ‘normal’ game, for example I would love to do make an old-school, side-scrolling beat-em-up, like ‘Double Dragon’ - if I had the opportunity. I don’t want to pigeon-hole myself creatively, but certainly at the moment working independently feels right, although with that said, if Gabe Newell is looking for a 3D artist for ‘Half Life 3′, then my door is always open.

And finally, what are the games in 2012 that Robert Briscoe is looking forward to?

I’m really looking forward to the new ‘Metro’ game, which is made up of developers from the original ‘Stalker’ and the other game is ‘Far Cry 3′, which looks far more reminiscent of ‘Far Cry’, but without the horrible mutants.

“Dear Esther” is launched on Tuesday 14th of February on Steam and will cost £6.99/€7.99/$9.99. Both Robert Briscoe and Dan Pinchbeck will be appearing at the Independent Game Festival and giving their own presentations at GDC. “Dear Esther” has been nominated for the following awards: Excellence in Visual Art; Excellence in Audio; Nuovo Award; & the Seumas McNally Grand Prize. The winners will be announced on March 7th 2012. Please check back for my review of “Dear Esther”, which goes live at 12:01 (UK time), on Wednesday the 8th of February.

Developer: Slak Games

Platform: PC

Price: £1.99

To start with, I have played many 2D platformers over the years and to be brutally honest, there are deeper and more fulfilling experiences to be found in free flash games scattered around the net. However, if 2D plat-forming is a particular favourite of yours then you will find Mechanic Infantry is a worthwhile time waster.

The game is one of those ‘pick-up-and-play’ titles, the controls are very simple; right key to move right, left key to move left and the up to jump (twice for a double jump and press at correct moment to jump off walls). Because of this, Mechanic Infantry would be very accessible to the casual player.

There are no power-ups or upgrades to be found, you must therefore learn the game’s physics (that are well programmed I will say) and memorise when to jump/double jump/wall jump. You must guide your character through fairly straightforward levels, collect your trapped friends and make your way to the exit; on the way you must dodge numerous obstacles as well as avoid a menacing patrol robot who will chase you throughout the level meaning no dawdling.

This game contains five worlds with 10 levels in each, these however do feel they lack variety and things become quite repetitive after world 1.

The game plays smoothly for the most part however during the transitions from world to world I am met with a blank screen, cut-scenes are meant to appear here and I know I am not the only one who is experiencing this issue.

Other technical issues I found were with controls, double jump stopped working with the keyboard for a while and game controller configurations are strange. With a USB Xbox 360 controller for example, the left stick controlled movement (with no option for d-pad control) and the A button was for jumping, that certainly made sense however the B button would quit the game and take me straight back to the main menu. It is also impossible to navigate menus with the analogue stick as it is super-sensitive. The options for altering these setting are not clear. In conclusion, this game still needs some polish to be a bit more player-friendly.

Nothing within Mechanic Infantry’s game-play is particularly innovative and unless you are keen on quick, throw-away 2D platformers, it’s difficult to recommend.

Do consider this however, its price. Mechanic Infantry sells for around £1.99 meaning it may just be worth taking a chance on. Many argue as to whether or not price should affect a review score but I believe it should, if this were a commercial boxed game priced around £40 then you have to be suffering brain damage to honestly feel you got your money’s worth. This game however is only a penny under the big multi-coloured bi-metal coin (£2 if you don’t know what that means).

A simple yet challenging 2D platformer that may be worthwhile when you consider its low price; if however you are not a platforming fan then Mechanic Infantry won’t do anything to change your mind. 5/10

You can download the game here.

Developer: Alawar Games

Platform: PC

Price: $9.95 when bought online (free trial available)

The recent craze of farm based games has seen a variety of different Farmville/Farm Frenzy style offspring but none is more unique than the latest game from Alawar Games; Vampires vs Zombies.

Set in a cartoon future where an evil African dictator plots to take over the world with his army of Zombies, the world has only one hope left – Vampires! Vampires are the most evil creatures in the world and will not have this mantle stolen by the Zombies. So in a bid to restore their fearsome reputation and rid the world of danger of the Zombies, you take control of the Head Vampire and plot, plan, create and battle to defeat your Zombie enemies.

You are guided round 75 different levels, each with different challenges and the hints are more than helpful in teaching you the game in full. Using machines created in your Vampire laboratory you have to plant and grow pumpkins, mine stone and fight zombies in a bid to create different zombie repelling weapons that will help to rid the world of the living corpses.

Each level involves combining different materials gained on the level to create the weapons, with bonuses given for completing the level in a gold or silver time limit. If you do not meet the time limit it does not matter, the game will continue to run as long as you need it to, you just don’t win any bonuses for time.

The planting and manufacturing levels are separated by the odd battle level where you are taken to the front lines of the Vampire/Zombie war by your Army Commander. You then get to use the weapons you have created to catapult at the Zombie, thereby killing them. This is a nice addition as it breaks the game up. Just as you begin to get bored of the usual levels you are given a change of pace to renew your enthusiasm.

When I saw the farming aspect of the game I did worry that it was going to be too similar to many other games on the market. I am happy to report that I have been proved wrong! The game is very challenging and less one-dimensional than most games in this genre as you create and build your weapons and try to earn as much money as you can. The different challenges on each level keep the game fresh and you really have to think about what you are doing as it can be quite fast paced.

You only have a limited amount of time to pick up each material found or weapon made before it disappears and you continually have to battle the zombies to ensure that they do not kill your vampires. When this all happens at once, the game really comes alive as you have to multi-task to complete the level.

If I had to give a downside it would be the time limits for the bonus points. Only once have I managed to complete the level in time to gain a bonus, and that was the first level! I wonder if anyone has managed to complete a level in time to receive a bonus or perhaps I am just bad at the game!

But this would be a very harsh point to mark the game down on. It is well thought out, tricky and testing in places with a fantastic back story, made more interesting by the cut screen dialogue with other Vampires in between levels.

Verdict: 9/10 – It is certainly the best farm-style game I have played in a long time. It provides a challenge and is easy to pick up (if a little difficult to master). The gothic style is quite amusing and the fast paced style keeps you on your toes and pulls you back for more. A great little game well worth playing!

Nuclear Dawn is a new first-person shooter from Interwave however this one comes with a twist, in that it isn’t just an FPS, it is also a real-time strategy game and these two dimensions play out at the same time giving this game a unique feel.

Most players will be fighting through Nuclear Dawn’s FPS side, you have several  classes to choose from that include the standard soldiers, snipers, mechanics and medics; each of these tasks the player with a different method of aiding their team, you can focus on killing other players, destroying and dismantling enemy turrets or healing allies. There is a wide selection of load-outs for each class and the basic FPS mechanics all play smoothly with no issue, it doesn’t do anything revolutionary but Nuclear Dawn certainly offers a solid FPS experience.

However Nuclear Dawn is not a game that encourages ‘lone wolf’ style gameplay, tactics are vital and players need to follow the orders of the Commander, which brings me to Nuclear Dawns other side.

The Commander role is assigned to one player on each team, as soon as you are a Commander you will start out on the map as normal, you then make your way to your base and enter the RTS mode. As commander you will have a detailed bird’s eye view of the map. Now if you are a keen RTS player, this will be quite a different experience from what you are used to. Your troops are no longer just A.I. who follow your orders without question, your troops are real players fighting it out on the map and you must issue them with commands and strategies and you are also responsible for building more turrets, resource points, spawn gates and advancing your faction’s equipment to give you the edge. I really would suggest a headset if you want to be a Commander (though every player would benefit from one) as oral communication is both faster and less distracting for players’ eyes.

RTS mode can however be quite overwhelming at first, you must always be taking action as there is little time to stop and think, and this game is after all a multiplayer only experience. It is this point that brings me to Nuclear Dawns’ shortcomings.

This game is targeted at intermediate players (at minimum), the only tutorials are in the form of videos and though it is true that a single player mode wouldn’t exactly work as your troop would be A.I. (that would need more of your attention), I still feel that new players would benefit from some form of interactive tutorial, at least to ensure they’re used to all the controls and mechanics.

Another factor in the game’s difficulty is in your player’s health, it can be a common occurrence that your game can be over within a second, you would not have seen it coming nor would you get the chance to fight back and this is before the Commander unlocks more advanced equipment. I’m sure there are plenty of shooter veterans that are used to this ‘live fast, die fast’ style of gameplay but it won’t be for everyone.

In terms of visuals, this is a game based on the Source engine, you won’t be getting a mind-blowing experience but credit where credit is due, the levels are very detailed and the developer made a conscious effort to avoid having the maps be copy/paste jobs (though in my personal opinion the post-apocalyptic backdrop is a tad clichéd for this type of game). Some have complained though that certain maps are unbalanced and can favour one faction over another, this is another area where the game lacks polish.

So whilst Nuclear Dawns FPS section plays pretty much like most other shooters, the RTS mode does offer something really different for this reason, Nuclear Dawn is a success in blending two genres together though the game could still use some refinement and perhaps attempt to be more welcoming to new players.

If you are a keen RTS fan but not a keen FPS player, Nuclear Dawn may not be for you as play time with the Commander mode can be limited. If first-person shooters are more your focus then Nuclear Dawn will offer you a unique teamwork based experience, one in which your leader actually does have real tactical power. If though you are fan of both genres then you won’t want to miss playing Nuclear Dawn. It would be great if more genres could be blended as nicely as this is. 8/10

[Show as slideshow]

Blizzard is a company with revered reputation and a number of famous titles under their belt. A decade later, I review the eagerly anticipated Starcraft II; so prepare to sit back in complete awe and nostalgia.

The staple title and holy grail of Blizzard Entertainment is returning with promises of all its former glory that hopes to captivate new and veteran gamers alike. Starcraft II continues from its predecessors; Starcraft and Starcraft Broodwar as it follows the story of Jim Raynor and the many companions and enemies he makes along the way.

The story is rather well established and complicated, so here’s a small video explaining the backlog and lore so far…

(Courtesy of IGN and IGN Entertainment YouTube profile)

First impressions

Its expected that Wings of Liberty is the exciting new, breath of fresh air the RTS genre has been waiting for right? Well…sort of. Upon playing a few skirmishes it’s evident that actually, not much has changed since previous titles, albeit a wealth of new abilities and a handful of units, but without changing the foundations. Starcraft II is still a standard RTS whereby you train workers, gather resources, build structures and build units to eliminate your enemy.

Although this is not by any means a bad thing, the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ is a mantra they have stuck to. You still play as Terran, Zerg and Protoss with the exception of a few new units and abilities and like its original titles, gameplay is as amazing as ever and everything new from sound and graphics only bolster what is a solid, enjoyable and captivating RTS.

Whether you are returning to the series or haven’t even touched Starcraft, there is defiantly something for everyone. New-comers need not be frightened by the prospect that others have 10 years of experience on-top of them, Blizzard have taken the initiative to help newbies with a casual introduction to gameplay as well as a number of other in-game elements. The campaign has 4 difficulty settings as well as a number of achievements to partake in throughout missions. For newbies the starting missions are like fun introductions, they explain how to utilize your units and buildings to optimum efficiency as well as gently showing you how to upgrade and research. After you’ve got to grips with the missions and want to delve into the multi-player world, there are a number of ‘challenges’ that Blizzard have constructed which introduce you specifically to multi-player aspects of the game. This I must say, is a most welcome element that will erase the fears of new players and help improve a greater online community.

Single-player presented in Starcraft is something short of divine, it’s an immerse and deeply captivating blend of tactics, sub-quests, exciting dialogue and cut scenes that further establish the plot and your surroundings as you make your way through each mission. A nice touch to the campaign is the fact that it is split into different paths. Ultimately you will reach the final battles on Char, but how you get there and what aid you enlist is completely up to you. This diversity keeps the campaign fresh and differs vastly from the typical RTS genre which sets you down a one way track. My first choice presents me with a difficult ultimatum: Save the local colonists and scientists, or defy the Protoss and face their wrath? Being an online Protoss player myself  and a hater of nerdy and needy scientists. I choose the latter and utterly decimate the infected humans and take no heed to the warning of my chief scientist Ariel who ends up locking herself away, sobbing at my decision and disregard of her feelings.

Campaign analysis

Another and perhaps controversial announcement from Blizzard is that the game is split into three separate parts, meaning in Wings of Liberty you will only (for the most part) get to play as the Terran and will have to wait for further expansions to come out in order to see the story progress. This in no way means there is lack of content however. The campaign is supplemented with an innovative ‘free-reign’ feature, whereby you can use the time in-between missions to talk to crew members and allies, use your credits to purchase new units or upgrades as well as find out some more back-story about certain items and relics that you discover along the way. The campaign is extremely personal and involving. Often the characters you talk to offer interesting dialogue as this hints towards future missions or even history within Starcraft. Talking to characters also furthers your reputation and personal development with them, meaning the story arcs which force you to choose the sides of certain characters, are a lot more meaningful. Not usually seen in the RTS genre the personal touches and focus on character development as much as the combat itself, is outstandingly refreshing.

Delving into more detail; the campaign offers an abundance of customization. Completing missions in the game will offer rewards and credits. These credits can be used to purchase a various amount of upgrades and weapons in-between missions. But upgrades and weapons aren’t all that is offered, you can hire mercenaries after completing specific missions that will be available to you throughout the game via drop-pods at a one-off price.  These Mercs are a great addition to the campaign as they offer varying abilities and statistics which separate them from normal units (they can also be handy for getting you out of a tight spot). Research is another factor which furthers customization and is another exciting feature that Blizzard have added. The research tree is split into two paths, Protoss and Zerg, both offering a wide selection of upgrades, new units and new powers. For example, delve into the Protoss research tree and you can choose to have your refinery automatically pump vespene without the need of SCV’s or you can double the efficiency of your command centre by having the ability to build two SCV’s at once. But once you choose one ability, the one parallel to it will lock-out meaning you have a permanent upgrade that can’t be changed, so pick wisely!

The campaign checklist so far:

• Different mission and goal paths.
• Upgradeable units, including abilities.
• Two research trees to add to building and unit customization.
• Vast amount of varying maps.
• A story driven by exciting lore.

All this sounds great, but Blizzard – the RTS genre in fact – have come under scrutiny and accused of recycling old and worn gameplay themes. Typical and familiar missions such as: Defend a section, Attack and Hold, Rescue and Relocate. But Starcraft has taken these RTS conventions and turned them on their head to breathe a new life of innovation into standardised missions. An example of said missions see’s you capturing objectives as you relocate across a map to escape an impenetrable wall of fire in the last hours of a sun exploding or controlling a single unit as you stealth around territory whilst your AI Allies distract the enemy, waiting for you to plant a nuke and run for your life.

Playability

Everything in Starcraft is meticulously presented and developed. When you complete the third mission your intervals are situated aboard the Hyperion battle cruiser. In the social hub; Cantina, you can see very meaningful and particular touches. For example there is an old style jukebox which offers a nice ambience of rock fused with country and western whilst you watch Raynor and his crew enjoy a couple of drinks which adds to the ever evolving surroundings. During the regular in-between mission intervals, you can also watch the T.V to witness broadcasts from the Dominion with news presenter Donny and anchor Kate. Again another nice touch as this furthers the story along and helps establish exactly what is going on in the world, couple this with the humour of the rambling and shambling news presenter added with Raynor’s cynical backlash comments, makes for a very entertaining and casual break from warfare. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s an arcade machine you can play retro games on as well as emblems and trophies you pick up from your various missions which trigger certain characters to reminisce and re-call their old ‘war-stories’. In addition Blizzard have even put a few ‘easter eggs’ in the game as well, be sure to check out for them! I’ll give you a reference as a starting point, notice the hologram female dancer? It’s the night elf dance from Blizzards World of Warcraft.

Online

After an exhausting but very rewarding campaign, it’s time to throw yourself into the massive online multi-player community. The  shadow of elitism is something that new-comers fear, but need not worry in Starcraft II, because there is a very involving and descriptive set of ‘challenges’ you can test your skills on. These tests consist of controlling a small number of units against what seems to be an over-whelming amount of enemy units. The tests will…well test you on your ability to co-ordinate and learn the different aspects of the game; what type of weaponry is useful against a particular type of armour? How can you use units special abilities to their full potential? Everything is explained very simply in order to introduce players to the extensive and tactical multi-player matches and to get rid of any preliminary fears one may have.

Blizzard have made online play even less daunting by introducing their ‘pooling’ and new rank system. When you first log-on you have the choice of entering the practice league, where matches are catered to newbies and match statistics won’t count towards your final profile score. This is a great addition as you can freelance and use any tactics you want in preparation for the big games ahead. It’s similar to driving lessons in preparation for your driving test; it doesn’t matter if you make mistakes at first, you learn from them in order to pass the greater test at a later stage.

Graphics

The great thing about Blizzard is that, unlike a lot of other companies and producers, they make games that are extremely versatile technology wise. You can play Starcraft on a relatively low spec computer to a super high spec, whichever you have you can still enjoy the game. This goes in Blizzards favour, they have an enormous community and following because of how diverse their games are. The above video is a comparison of graphic settings, as you can see it’s a massive leap but they still both run smoothly.

If you are lucky enough to own a mammoth computer and can crank up the graphics, you will be greatly rewarded. The cinematic’s and FMV’s are breath-taking, the attention to detail and the animation of the characters is something rarely seen in games and is an outstanding accomplishment by Blizzard. That said however the only let down is the rather static movement and characteristics of individual units. Whilst the explosions and weapon effects are beautiful, the unit models themselves are sparse of attention to detail we expect. Don’t get me wrong, they look nice, but in respect to Blizzard I don’t believe they pushed themselves, I reckon a bit more love would have given it just that extra little something, raising it from great to near perfect.

Sound

As expected, Blizzard have injected humour into every crease of Starcraft, from the character expressions to (the very familiar) units corny one-liners. In addition, Starcraft II has a marvelous array of diagetic that will please and excite your ear-drums. If they could have orgasms, they would. Play as Protoss for example and listen to low sci-fi hum’s and purring of machinery from the Sentries or Void rays as they hover and glide over terrain with seemless ease. Hear a gargling squelch as if a giant shoe has stepped on a particularly gooey bug when a Zerg unit is killed. Or perhaps the horrifying fizz as a Roach’s’ acid sprays out onto the battlefield, something remnant of a well-shaken fizzy drinks bottle being opened.

Disgusting and beautiful sound effects aside, voice acting is as fresh as ever. Each unit has a real sense of authority, power and capability with booming and captivating speeches. Repeated clicking also offers a reward to players in the style of recalled movie or television quotes from each unit in its own special way. The Protoss Mothership for example will relay quotes that sound akin to a residing mother telling her children off.

In short, sound effects are excellent.

Summary

Blizzard have stuck to their guns and kept a lot of conventions from Starcraft II’s predecessor, which in reality is a very clever choice. Whilst a lot of content remains the same, nothing too innovative (apart from the graphics) is evident although I feel nothing too radical has needed to change, this is still an immensely and absolutely enjoyable game. Blizzard’s added some unit abilities that’s worth  mentioning as well as adding a new range of units, the cinematic inserts and free lancing in-between missions also compliments a brilliantly crafted campaign.

New players can be easily integrated into the Multiplayer community by Starcrafts cleverly designed ladder and ranking systems. But this isn’t to be feared by the Veterans or Pros as each league is separate from the other, meaning players of similar skill will stay in similar leagues until one proves his/herself.

To top the beautiful, delicious icing with a cherry are the elements of the game which make it a masterpiece. The graphics and sound are superb, voice-acting is crisp, unit dialogue is humourous, textures and environments are dazzling and the cinematics are genius. Nuff’ said, you will be in awe.

Overall Presentation – 10

Detail is everything in Starcraft II and Blizzard have ploughed all their attention to this game, there is no question of a doubt. From the small easter eggs throughout the game, to the small references and inter-textuallity that players of all genres will recognize. Beautifully presented, Blizzard has defiantly put its heart into this.

Sound – 9.0

Sound is rich and fulfilling. The only criticism is the sometimes cheesy and corny dialogue through-out the campaign. More emotion in some places and this would be perfect.

Gameplay – 9.5

An amazing tribute to the craftsmanship of Blizzard. Gameplay is smooth and sleek. However there are two missions where (depending on your path) you will repeat the same objective twice in different scenarios which is a tad stagnant.

Graphics – 9

Cartoony and animated is how Starcraft II is meant to be presented much like its brothers World of Warcraft and Diablo and does so perfectly. Each unit and building implodes, explodes, bleeds and crashes differently and in a style that pays homage to each race; in short, beautiful.

Overall Score: 9.2

]]> http://electronicfarmyard.com/games-and-movies/game_reviews/pc-game-review-starcraft-ii/feed/ 1 http://electronicfarmyard.com/games-and-movies/gamebite/halloween-special-xiii-lost-identity-new-images/ http://electronicfarmyard.com/games-and-movies/gamebite/halloween-special-xiii-lost-identity-new-images/#comments Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:01:18 +0000 News http://electronicfarmyard.com/?p=7996

Just in time for Halloween, Anuman have released some new screenshots for their new title; XIII Lost Identity which is due out on iOS, Mac and PC at a yet to be confirmed date.

You can learn more about Anuman and thier iOS titles by visiting the official website: http://www.anuman.fr

Check out the screenshots below…

Right, from the get go, let’s get one thing straight: ORCS. MUST. DIE!!!

And that is exactly what you spend the game doing. Laying traps, planning death and the best way to prevent the Orcs from reaching their objective.

Orcs Must Die! is essentially a turret defence game with the awesome twist of being able to actually control a character on the ground within the situation. Whilst traps will certainly do the majority of the killing, you’ll be thick in the action with a crossbow and a sword. The crossbow can be upgraded and has an excellent zoom and a real win is that headshots count! That’s right folks, so make sure you’re aiming for the head, as the lesser powered orcs can be killed with one swift arrow right between the eyes.

Your other weapon is one for the close combat. Unfortunately this really is a last resort. As when you press attack it’s a standard 2 swing combo and that’s pretty much it. The sword is certainly powerful on the smaller Orcs but on the bigger ones you’ll lose. This is definitely a game of planning and long-range combat…unless you have the wind belt, (I’ll let you think on that).

Your main weapon against the vast Orc horde are traps. At the start of each level you are given free time to set-up as many traps, (depending on your resource…more on that later), as you can in whatever way you feel will do the most damage to the army that’s banging on your door!

So, now you have the general idea of the game, I’ll give you a run down.

You are a Mage’s apprentice. You and your Master have been charged with keeping the Orc horde in their realm and from getting to the human world. By all accounts your Master thinks you’re pretty useless and that you wont amount to anything…oh ye of little faith.

Turns out that in a battle with the Orcs, your master ends up slipping on some blood and cracking his noggin on some stairs, leaving you solely in charge of the defence of the human realm!

The first level is a fairly basic layout to get you in the mindset to kill Orcs and more importantly acquaint yourself with the setting of traps and some rather ingenious strategic planning!

The Orcs wont come through the door until you hit the go button, (back button on Xbox 360), so you’re pretty much left to your own devices to start with. Like most turret defence games, you start with a certain amount of resource which enables you to buy traps. Once this runs out the resources are replenished by, yup, killing Orcs!

Traps are easy to set, select the trap you want with the LB/RB buttons and a ghost image of where it will appear will be shown on the screen. It’ll be coloured green if you can place it there and red if you can’t. Simples. Once a trap has been set off it’ll reset after a small cool-down period. Some traps have a longer cooling off period and at time of writing the only trap that doesn’t reset is the explosive barrel, (which isn’t red, I know!!), for obvious reasons….it explodes people!

OK, on to the good stuff; in your massive bag of traps you will find some wonderfully designed Orc slaying paraphernalia!

Floor Spikes – does as it says on the tin, as an Orc walks over it spikes come out of the floor. This isn’t an instant kill but does slow down those hit with it, and if you lay an entire walkway of them, well….its a messy business. Floor spikes can also be upgraded to have a small poison on the tips slowing Orcs that have been caught by it.

Arrow Wall – This is my favourite. If you’re clever enough or look at the layout of the walls in which you’re entrenched, you can easily set up an incredible crossfire that’ll lay waste to all but the most powerful of Orcs. You can also lay these traps opposite each other for maximum Indiana Jones style effect and damage. This can be upgraded for a greater trigger range, (note; you can also stand in front of these without receiving any damage..not sure if this is true for the other traps).

Elven Archers – yup you can enlist some Elvish friend to lend a hand with your defence duties. Once placed they hold their ground firing arrow after arrow. They aren’t much cop once the Orcs get close so either have 3-4 of them at the end of a loooong hallway supplemented by traps of ‘put `em up high out-of-the-way’. If an archer is killed he’ll be down until the next wave.

Wall Blades – another Indiana Jones style trap. Orc walks past, blades swing out from wall, Orc chopped to comical pieces. Frankly, a brilliant trap…long reset period and short-range though.

There are several other traps, but I’m not going to go into them, these are the ones you’ll likely use the most and frankly I don’t want to ruin the surprise of the other traps. Honestly, when you complete a wave, all you really want to know is what trap have you unlocked next???

Graphically the game has been lovingly rendered and I honestly can’t fault it. With the sheer number of things going on at once I often waited for the game to freeze, hiccup or at least get some serious slow-down. But nothing, it runs beautifully and is as smooth as butter dipped in Jesus.

I played this game for a good 2-3 hours and not once got frustrated. The difficulty curve on normal is ideal and before you know it you’ll be walking the path that the Orcs will be coming down and planning your traps from then on. That said it’s certainly not an easy game. Later on there will be multiple doors for the Orcs to come through, teleportation doors for you to get to different sections of the map and man do the maps get bigger!!!

In addition to Orcs, there are other weird and wonderfully created beasties for you to slay. There are flying fire-breathing babies, (….don’t ask), individual Mage hunting type guys that bypass everyone else to solely find you and that’s all I have encountered…..so far. I know there are going to be more as the sheer design of this game is so in-depth and well thought out that I’m going to be worrying the entire way that if something new comes into the mix will my traps be enough to stop it getting to me and the ‘Human Realm’!

I confess I often don’t play indie games as I find they are either rushed, poorly made or just not my thing, but ORCS MUST DIE! is graphically gorgeous, well thought out, and is a sheer joy to play. More importantly I think it has longevity; it’s a fun game and that’s what people want and, if it isn’t, well there’s a nightmare mode for you to sink your teeth into once completed on normal.

For me, once I have completed Orcs Must Die! I’d definitely play it again. Maybe not straight away and maybe not for a few months, but it’s certainly a game I would invest in a memory stick for so that if I need to delete it from hard drive, I can safe in the knowledge that this simple yet elegant game is still safely in my possession.

[Show as slideshow]

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry – Frank Zappa

I never thought ruling my own little tropical island could be so difficult… how wrong I was. The life of an El Presidente is one full of stress and aggro. It’s a life of greed, corruption, back handers, back room politics and the occasional assassination. It’s life spent trying to please  various different factions and stopping revolts occurring which could ultimately lead to my reign of power ending at the end of a Russian imported AK47. It’s a life I am definitely not cut out for. That said I had incredible fun trying my hand at it.

I had not expected so much complexity from the game. Tropico 4 is in equal parts, part building SIM and part political balancing act SIM. Luckily for me, El Presidente has a few little tricks up his sleeve to help along the way.

When starting out in Tropico 4, one of the first things you will need to do is pick from some pre-generated avatars or design your own one. The pre-generated ones were a little dull for my liking so my avatar resembled a cross between a pirate, 1940’s Gangster and an Army General. My plan was to make my El Presidente look so incredibly badass no one would want to fuck with him.  Once I had settled on just how I wanted him to look I had to pick 3 traits from a wide selection. These traits can have either positive or negative effects. For example the ‘Ugly’ trait lowers the overall respect general Tropicans have towards their El Presidente. These traits all start of at level 1 and level up upon successfully completing campaign missions. The effects the traits have also level up, so if my ‘Ugly’ trait eventually reached level 5, the top level, then the Tropican population would pretty much despise El Presidente.

The revolution has no time for elections. There is no more democratic government in Latin America than the revolutionary government – Fidel Castro.  

The game starts with 4 pretty straight forward tutorials which set you up with the basics allowing you to enter the full campaign part  of the game at least knowing what is expected from you… oh wait, no it doesn’t. Gradually the campaign mode starts introducing more and more features of game, but sometimes at quite a fast pace which can leave you feeling a little disorientated.

As El Presidente your day job revolves around providing adequate healthcare, housing, food and entertainment for your island population. They will also need jobs, and you will need to create a sizeable industry to cater to all this. Industry can be basic, like farming for fruit or corn, or it can be as grand as weapons manufacturing and ultimately shipping the weapons out to terrorists. Alternatively you could try your hand at turning your island into a tourist hot spot with grand hotels, marinas, cocktail bars, spa’s and blimp rides. Whatever route you decide to take, be warned, none of them are the ‘easy option’.

But it doesn’t end there; every citizen on Tropico belongs to a certain faction, of which there are 8 in total. Each of these factions needs to be kept happy or they will begin to protest against you before ultimately joining the islands rebels and starting a full on revolt against  your reign of power. The 8 different factions you will need to keep happy are Capitalists, Communists, Intellectuals, Religious, Militarists, Environmentalists, Nationalists and Loyalists. By raising your standing with the Capitalist faction you will obviously lower your standing with the Communists on the island, and this is where you have to start playing a balancing act of keeping everyone happy. If a factions standing with you decrease below a certain level it sparks a ‘Faction Disaster’ which can have very detrimental results. For example if you really annoy the Capitalists on the island you will trigger the ‘corruption’ disaster which means all goods you export are worth 20% less, something you don’t want to run into if you rely on export to fund your reign of terror… I mean glory.

Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat – John Lehman.

Keeping in mind that every faction has certain expectations of their El Presidente, it is worth remembering that every little decision made will be scrutinized by the citizens of your little island paradise. For instance, assassinating rebels with your Secret Police Force might seem like a great bit of fun at first, but eventually people are going to start asking questions. Another one is the ‘Food for the People’ edict that doubles the amount of food for your citizens. The Communists love it and praise you for your good gesture; the Capitalists however won’t take kindly to it. I guess the Capitalists just want everyone to starve?

One of the most useful tools available in Tropico 4 is the ‘Almanac’, a handy guide book that houses all the information any budding El Presidente could need. It will tell you exactly what every faction and citizen expect of you, you can check on foreign relations, your imports and exports and tourism rating. Take a tip from me, check this as often as you can to avoid any nasty surprises creeping up on you.

So with all of that taken care of you can now sit back, put your feet up and enjoy the delights of being El Presidente. But wait, who’s that approaching your office, oh it’s another darn diplomat from Russia asking you for more financial aid to fund their revolution, and here comes the American diplomat right behind him asking you to agree to signing a nuclear weapons testing agreement, and behind them come representatives from Europe, the Middle East and China. It’s going to be a long day.

OK so we have managed to deal with the foreign politics, we have sufficiently fed our citizens, provided them with adequate housing and entertainment, and our advisor claims today we made great profits by exporting cigars and furniture to Europe. It is definitely time to relax? Wrong. There is a hurricane on route to Tropico as we speak and its projected path is right through your industrial district. Things are about to get costly.

In democracy it’s your vote that counts; in feudalism it’s your count that votes – Mogens Jallberg.

The soundtrack in Tropico 4 is actually, to my surprise, pretty enjoyable. It’s an exciting mix of instrumental and up-tempo Latin beats that actually had me tapping my foot along to the rhythm whilst ordering the assassination of a number of troublesome rebels. The only disappointing thing about the music is there just isn’t enough of it when you take into consideration the many hours of game play you are going to be clocking up. The voice acting in Tropico 4 isn’t bad, but it’s not great by any stretch of the imagination. Penultimo began to grate on my nerves and at times I wished to mute his annoying, fingers down a blackboard, voice.

The thing about Tropico 4 is it heavily resembles number 3. Many of the buildings are exactly the same and the game uses the same controls and design concepts. However this new title polishes the game up nicely and makes it more accessible to a wider audience whilst introducing new gameplay aspects and challenges. The graphics are nothing special, but they suffice and do a good job at the end of the day.

When the dust has settled after the latest rebel uprising, the last boat of tourists have left the island, and everything has been said and done, Tropico 4 is actually an extremely enjoyable game. The few minor drawbacks like voice acting and the occasional repetitiveness of certain missions can be overlooked quite easily when one feels a sense of achievement for successfully running a nation. 8/10

[Show as slideshow]

Game: A Game of Thrones: Genesis
Developer: Cyanide Studios
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platform: PC
Genre: Fantasy RTS
Price: £14.99 – £24.99 or £29.99 via Steam

A Game of Thrones: Genesis (or GoT:G as it will be referred to here) is an RTS game for the PC, based on the books by author George RR Martin. However most people will recognise the name due to the HBO series (aired on Sky Atlantic here in the UK) of the same name, which proved to be a massive hit earlier this year. You know the one; it starred Sean Bean as the righteous Eddard Stark and the head turner Emilia Clark as Daenerys Targaryen… who could forget her performance? But moving on…

GoT:G is primarily split into two game modes; skirmish mode and single player campaign mode. The skirmish mode is called House vs. House and makes for some great multiplayer action when played online. Sadly when playing against AI, it just seems a little dull, but more on that later. The single player campaign for me, albeit fun, seemed to play through like a tutorial, permanently holding your hand throughout each level, start to finish. At times I was reminded of Age of Empires 2; Age of Kings… and not in a good way.

Skirmish mode allows players to use and take advantage of all the games mechanics and functions from the offset with no delay. It is by far the best mode in the game, even if not the main mode presented to us. The games play out in real time reminding you of an old fashioned board game, moving your pieces around the board strategically to claim and control nearby towns, castles, gold mines and other points of interest/importance.

To lay claim to these locations, you need to send out envoys to win over the local populace or castle Lords, thus building up your alliances. However, the other players (or AI) are going to be doing exactly the same. This is where the game adds some great detail. To strengthen your alliance with a local and ensure it is not broken and continues to generate trade income for you, you can marry off a noble lady from your own court to the town leadership. You can send guards to protect the towns, mines and castles, but you also have a whole wealth of  underhanded tactics available at your disposal.

Spies are  great assets and come in handy when keeping an eye on towns that may have  formed a secret alliance with your enemy whilst pretending to be your friend; the swine’s! Send your spy off to monitor the town and he will soon report back on the townships true intentions. Spies can also be sent out to form secret agreements/alliances with towns currently in league with the enemy. Assassins are great for killing enemy envoys, noble ladies and other people of importance. Rogues are greeeat fun. Send them into an enemy town and they will proceed to start a riot and cause unrest amongst the town residents. Watch as the town’s loyalty towards your enemy falls and then send in your own guardsmen and envoy to clean up the mess and strike a new bargain. Perfect. Failing all of that you could just hire some mercenaries and send them out to disrupt trade routes, attack villagers and slaughter enemy envoys.

OK, I admit I have made it all sound rather simple but there is quite a bit more depth to the game than that. The basic premise is that you need to hold on to allied territories whilst expanding into your enemy’s land all the time thwarting their incursions and subterfuge. When you are ready, train an army and take the battle to them. It all seems rather complex when you start the game, but the complexity becomes one of the games main selling points as it adds a variety of ways you can play the game. You can play as dirty as you like sending assassins round poisoning all your enemies and ambushing envoys, or you can play as an honourable lord of your house who up holds agreements, cements relations ship through marriage and pure military might.  Of course, the more skilful amongst you could of course appear to be playing as the honourable type whilst sending spies and assassins round doing your bidding. Just don’t get caught…

To win a skirmish game you don’t burn your enemy to the ground, it’s all based instead on Prestige. Prestige points are measured against various factors like the number of allies a player had, how much gold she/he has, how many enemy units they have killed etc, etc. To boost prestige, you can also complete in-game ‘challenges’ like slaying an opposing spy within a certain time limit. These challenges pop up throughout skirmish games quite frequently so keep an eye on the top right hand side of the screen.

Diplomatic efforts continue until one player reaches 100 points of prestige or too much violent action brings an end to the uneasy peace and ushers in the war phase. Once here, all secret agreements are laid bare (affecting the prestige of any duped lords), the majority of diplomatic actions cease and armies can be raised. These are dependent upon grain, farmed by peasants, and are your only option for taking towns during this phase. Play then continues until someone reaches that 100 point goal.

The problem with the single player campaign mode, apart from feeling like an extended tutorial, is that it doesn’t involve (very often) the characters we have come to know and love from the books and/or TV series. You tend to control characters that are rulers from generations prior to the first book and who just aren’t easy to become attached too. The single player campaign has, in my opinion, failed to really engage us as players. I wanted to feel like I was manning The Wall with Night’s Watch but instead I was doing what I did throughout skirmish mode; continuously send out envoys and spies. The campaign mode unfortunately feels like a trimmed down, restricted and linear version of skirmish mode.

Another annoying trait of the campaign missions are the ridiculous objectives. I’ve seen it mentioned elsewhere and I have to agree with them (other reviews). There is a mission where you are set the task of raising 1,000 gold to eventually hire some mercenary crossbowmen, so off I went on my way, doing what I needed to do to raise such a large amount of capital. Eventually I reached the 1,000 gold mark and got all excited. I was just about to hire a huge amount of crossbowmen and head into battle… but no; the narrator had a different plan in store for me. He decides to tell me that those crossbowmen that cost me 2 hours of work and 1,000 gold didn’t turn up… but fear not, we still won the battle. Excuse me? What battle? Why wasn’t I involved in this battle… it was my army afterall taking part. It’s missions and unexplainable side quests like this that make the game seem like one long tutorial that doesn’t quite trust you to play the game on your own.

The mechanics from the House vs. House mode (in other words, the interesting stuff) start out fairly restricted in single player campaign mode. You’ll get the odd objective that might involve killing an envoy or assassinating a noble lady but in general you’ll be moving your mercenaries and/or army from point to point like a low-budget RTS.

GoT:G scores a 6/10 from me. The reasons for this, I am sure are quite apparent. The single player campaign mode was a great let down. They had so much to draw on from the Game of Thrones licence and it feels like all the developers did was design a generic RTS game and when the licence was agreed, change the names of people and locations to fit the story. The House vs. House (skirmish) mode is a saving grace for GoT:G, but only if you plan on playing the game online against other human players. If the price is lowered and players start picking up the game and a decent online community springs from it, you could find yourself involved in some pretty epic power struggles in House vs. House.

[Show as slideshow]

1. If you have the patience, train them up and take them online. If at first they aren’t interested, say that it’ll be good for you both to bond or do something together. (Note; The Electronic Farmyard is not responsible if your partner becomes better than you and makes your Gamerscore/Trophy/achievement’s look lame in comparison).
2. Buy a bigger flat screen TV! Why? So that the other half won’t mind being banished to the other room, leaving you in peace to play online! In fact why not add a hot water bottle/beer fridge to sweeten the deal!
3. Do something nice for them early in the day (at least a few hours prior to your gaming session) whether that’s clean up, cook dinner, flowers etc… In return they’ll hopefully suggest you relax and take time out or if you’re feeling confident you can throw in a “mind if I play Call of Duty for a while”. Just make sure that you have left it a few hours for the niceties to sink in.
4. Suggest a Guys/Girls night out. They deserve it for working so hard recently…don’t they? This will clear the house, enabling you to make good use of the TV!
5. Say that you have a new head of department/supervisor/manager and that they are an avid fan of Call of Duty. Surely playing Call of Duty on the same server as them will lead to excellent promotion opportunities…..wont it?
6. Excitedly explain to them that you have entered a competition to win the holiday of a lifetime and all you need to do is get the most kills over the next 365 days in order to win. They’ll want you to play as much as possible. Warning; this may back fire and cause considerable expense, wear and tear to your thumbs and no other plans for the next 365 days! (However if you tell your friends to use the same excuse you’ll no doubt have a great year)
7. Switch to night work…..the day is yours. Just ensure there is at least a nominal pay increase to avoid raising suspicion!
8. Purchase them a football/baseball/ice hockey season ticket or a weekly pamper session for their next birthday (looks less conspicuous this way) thus enabling you to have guaranteed time with Call of Duty.
9. Counselling, employ an actor to pose as a councillor. The actor is to make the judgement that you are indeed addicted and that it’s in your best interest to continue playing Call of Duty but to slowly be weaned off of it over the course of a year…or until the next one comes out.
10. Say that your physical/medical is due and you want to make sure you ‘ace’ the reflex section.
11. Suggest an EPIC game of hide and seek where the loser has to (insert their worst chore here)…this will make sure they take the game VERY seriously.
12. You have discovered their ex partners username and are taking revenge on them in your partners name by killing them at every possible turn….and they say romance is dead.
13. Play whilst getting it on with each other. There are a multitude of positions that would enable you to play and…well, enjoy each other’s company. *This will only work if pitched as your “ultimate fantasy that no previous partner would fulfil”. There is no way they can say no!! Cunning!! (Doggy and reverse cowgirl will work for either sex quite nicely)
14. Become a millionaire, no one leaves a millionaire. Sure they’ll cheat on you, spend your millions and leave you paying for everything….but hey, you got that Call of Duty time you wanted so badly.
15. Take up a foreign language course and tell your partner that the tutor advised online gaming to be a great forum to practice your new-found skills.
16. Explain that you read in a well published circular that by playing games as a member of the US/UK/Interpol military you’re showing support for the Troops!

*I would like to thank my other half for walking in halfway through this article and coming up with some of the suggestions….if only she had suggested number 13.

Review written by Jeremy Marks

Bastion is a unique downloadable game from developer Supergiant Games. It is available on the XBLA Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft Points, and its also available on Steam for £11.49.

Game: Bastion
Developer: Supergiant Games
Publisher: Warner Bros.
Platform: Xbox360 and PC
Price: 1200 MS Points or £11.49 via Steam.

Story

The way the story is told in this game is amazing. Everyone of your actions that you do in-game will be narrated by a narrator, who is also a character featured in the game. His voice is perfect for the job, and he really gives the story telling some depth. The Narrator is not just set down to speak during scripted moments, he will also comment on your performance aswell. You start the game in awaking from sleep as a character who referred to as “The Kid”. As soon as he wakes up, he notices that something is very wrong, and heads to the Bastion as it’s always been the plan to head there if in danger. The actual story itself is about this event called “The Calamity” which has taken out the entire civilisation, and the only way to reverse this is to help complete this island called the Bastion. In order to bring the Bastion to full power you must gather cores. You go to different places in the in-game universe on the hunt for these cores.

Gameplay

This game is an Action-RPG. It has elements of an action game with the hack and slash type gameplay, and elements of an RPG with the experience points and the upgrading and levelling up system. This was great as I am a fan of both genres so this mixed really well for me. You can assign yourself with two weapons and one secret special move. At least one of these weapons will usually have a ranged attack to take care of enemies at a distance. An example of this is the sword in the game can be thrown when the attack button is held down. You upgrade your weapons with a combination of spending the in-game currency and hidden items found throughout the levels. There are 10 upgrades for each weapon, but you may only choose five, so it’s a matter of personal preference. The first secret special you gain access to is the Windmill. This basically has your character grab his weapon and spin for a certain amount of time, tearing down anything that you come in contact with. Another example is equipment type specials such as the trip mine and the hand grenade.

The Bastion is the main hub of the world, and you use The Skyway to go to different worlds. In The Skyway is also a challenge for each weapon. In each of these challenges there are three rewards up for grabs. The best prize is a new secret special and the other two prices are items which will help you upgrade your weapons. The game also has a system similar to the skulls in the Halo series, where you can choose a certain handicap to be stuck with throughout a level in exchange for a higher amount of in-game currency. You can select as many or as little of these handicaps as you want, the more you have activated, the bigger the payload. In-game challenges are always a way to earn currency. There is a unique task for each weapon, and some of the challenges have nothing to do with weapons at all.

Visuals

The art style in this game is gorgeous. All the enviroments have a high-res hand drawn art style that is a real treat on the eye. The colours a vibrant and never get boring to look at. Each of the different worlds you visit have a distinct look, no two worlds will look the same.

Sound

The soundtrack in Bastion is a masterpiece. It fits the feel of the game so well, and is definitely some of the best music I’ve heard in any game. Developers should take note! The sound effects are also great, nice satisfying pounding sound when your hammer makes contact with an enemies, the sword-like weapon has a sharp and quick sound. Everything sounds exactly like it should.

Conclusion

Overall I would highly recommend this game, I never got bored while playing it as it always brings in new gameplay ideas. I also found that the story was so interesting that I always wanted to know what happens next. There is also a New Game+ mode unlocked after you complete the game, where you can go through the game while keeping your XP, levels and weapons. How’s that for reply value?

[Show as slideshow]

We have teamed up with Gala Networks Europe to bring you an awesome little giveaway for Dragonica, the free-to-play hugely popular side-scrolling massively multiplayer online role-playing game or, as it’s more commonly known, an MMORPG. Think World or Warcraft without the expensive monthly fees plus added characters that look a lot more friendly and cute.

So what exactly is Dragonica about? Dragonica takes place on the continents of El Grego and Angrakka, which had experienced a golden age where humans and dragons were able to live together in peace. However, these times were not destined to last, and the dragons and humans eventually went to war in what was known as the Dragon Age. Eventually, the dragons were banished to the ancient realm of Aether.

The leader of the dragons, the Dark Dragon Elga would continue to mount attacks on the land, but was pushed back when five heroes of legend were able to defeat Elga and trap him in a dark prison known as the Shadow Cabinet, essentially shutting him out the lands of El Grego forever. However, not even the Shadow Cabinet could hold Elga forever — a thousand years after being trapped, Elga has found a way to release his darkness into the world, sending minions to attack the lands in preparation for his arrival. It is up to the players to take up arms and push back these dark forces!

New Expansion: New Origin

A new expansion has just launched for Dragonica so now is the best time to get involved! There is a new race to choose; the Drakan, which is unlocked when you reach level 20. And a new city named Kareuza, a beautiful Drakan town to accompany the new race. It also introduces for the first time player mounts available from level 23 with additional mounts available at levels 40 and 60.

This expansion also sees the launch of a brand new dungeon system, in which players are able to enter dungeons and tackle their opponents with a group called a fellowship, of up to 8 people, unlike the standard parties which only allowed groups of 4. However, it wouldn’t be an expansion without new challenges awaiting the heroes – and the Akia Cave Dungeon (Level 45+) and Black Claw Nest (Level 75+) will see that all newly acquired armour, weapons and mounts are put to good use.

You can learn a lot more about Dragonica by visiting the official website here and a selection of screenshots are included below!

So to help new and existing players alike we have 10 Starter and 10 Advanced packs to give away. These packs are designed to provide players with premium items to help them along and get started in the game.  Details are as follows:

Starter Pack – worth 10 Euros.

Advanced Pack – worth 8 Euros.

To enter and be in with a chance of winning one of these 20 item packs just reply below with a post letting us know what class you are currently playing or will be creating in the near future and why. If you are a new player and want to know more about classes please read here.

Only one entry person and the competition will close on Sunday 2^nd October. Winners will be announced on our Facebook page so make sure you ‘Like’ us. You can either use the Facebook box on the right hand side of this page (scroll up) or visit http://www.facebook.com/TheElectronicFarmyard.

Good luck!

[Show as slideshow]

ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions

Futuremark Games Studio, responsible for the hit title Shattered Horizon, are today inviting PC gamers and fans of tower defense style games to sign up now for the Unstoppable Gorg closed beta test due to begin in the next couple of weeks. Unstoppable Gorg is a thrilling space defense game inspired by vintage sci-fi films from the 1940s and 50s. The game builds on the core tower defense mechanics that fans love while breaking the genre’s conventions with a unique orbital layout and the unmatched ability to move towers by rotating orbits.

Interested in getting in on the action?

The beta is open to all PC gamers with a minimum requirement of Windows XP and DirectX 9 hardware. To apply for the beta either sign up on Futuremark’s forums: http://bit.ly/GorgBeta Or ‘like’ Unstoppable Gorg on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/unstoppablegorg.

Let us know if you get in on the Beta as we would love to hear your thoughts! Below are some newly released screenshots and a trailer for you to enjoy!