What We Liked..
Excellent battle system
Realistic and detailed graphics
.. and what we didn't
Bland and repetitive quests
It takes a good setup in order to run the game at its maximum
Watch the trailer:
A big budget MMORPG, TERA originally required a subscription fee but it has recently become free-to-play. This title was released in Korea in 2011 and then later in 2013 for a Western audience. TERA was published in the US and Europe by En Masse Entertainment and Frogster, respectively.
The game has one big advantage: its combat system which was extensively highlighted during the game's marketing campaign. TERA's combat system is far from what people are used to seeing in other titles. At times the action will remind you more of a third person action game with its much more direct and visceral presentation.
Despite all this, the repetitive quests will quickly remind you that this games is an MMORPG, but fortunately the very sophisticated graphics along with the combat system make up for the repetitiveness of the quests.
More or less free-to-play, there isn't much from stopping you to at least try the game's new adaptations, except maybe its long download times.
What We Liked..
It's Star Wars
Morality and conversation system
The customizable personal history of your character
.. and what we didn't
A lot of restrictions on the free-to-play option
Another World of Warcraft clone
Star Wars: The Old Republic is a recently released free to play MMORPG developed by Bioware and published by EA and LucasArts.
On one hand, its RPG aspects are excellent but on the other, its MMO qualities aren't so good. The game's creators definitely opted for the pay-to-win model with this one. The cash shop is graciously supplied and gives too large of an advantage compared to the in game stores.
Off the bat, the game had tons of potential for enjoyment. Its Star Wars licensed storyline and the opportunity to make your own customizable Jedi doppelganger had Star Wars fans hooked since their announcement.
Taking all that into account as well as its excellent graphical presentation this game is a worthy detour for any Star Wars fan looking to immerse themselves in an online community of Star Wars fandom.
What We Liked..
Well-defined character classes
interesting set of items
.. and what we didn't
Huge performance gap between higher and lower levels
PvE combat not challenging
Watch the trailer:
Echo of Soul is a fantasy/ role-playing game which has been released by Aeria on Microsoft Windows. The game revolves around players' characters called 'Soulkeepers' whose main mission is to overcome evil and ensure peace. Players can collect the Souls of the enemies they overpower and then refine them to use for getting upgrades.
The map of the world in Echo of Soul, although relatively small, is pretty well-defined and features a number of battles raging all around it. The players can compete against each other and face Artificial Intelligence as well over a range of interesting game modes.
What We Liked..
Challenging missions
Incredible graphics
Traps are fun to use.
.. and what we didn't
Buying your way through the game can make it too easy.
Orcs Must Die! Unchained is one of the latest Tower Defense Games in which your aim is to repel a hoard of orcs trying to breach your defenses and reach the innermost area of your base.
A number of paths are accessible to your orc enemies which they can use to point their offense in an effective way.
On the contrary, you have mines and other repelling items to stop them and, in turn, try to breach their base.
Orcs Must Die! Unchained allows you to team up with your friends or go solo with a number of tactics available for either option.
Just like other similar games, a number of classes are available for character selection with each class having a unique set of abilities.
In-game purchases can also be made to upgrade your characters and pose an even more serious threat to your opponents.
What We Liked..
Variety of dragons
action-based combat
.. and what we didn't
dated graphics
repetitive quests
grindy
What We Liked..
Countless customization options
Comprehensive tutorial
PVP tournaments
.. and what we didn't
Level-restricted courses
Technical issues
Unresponsive support
Watch the trailer:
Winning Putt is a golf simulator set in a realistic environment, published by Bandai Namco and developed on CryEngine. Among other features, it allows players to customize their characters' appearance and gear, and offers three classes to choose from: Power, Accuracy, and Balance.
Players level up and earn gold by completing challenges that allow them to purchase new items. The game's shop offers new golf balls and bags, along with sets of clubs to optimize the gameplay. Factors such as the wind's direction, the slope of the course, the characters' mentality and stamina, and the club equipped define the players' success in each session.
Consumable items, such as edibles and GPS mini-maps, are stored in the golf bag and can be used to revitalize energy or have a better view of the terrain, respectively.
What We Liked..
The Marvel Universe
Free to play and balanced cash shop
Constantly updated
.. and what we didn't
Characters and costumes are expensive
Marvel Heroes has a strong foundation with Brian Michael Bendis (author of Marvel comics) and David Brevik (designer of Diablo) on the development team. Although the game didn’t get off to a great start in open beta , Gazillion has since listened to players and done a much needed overhaul. And the effort was worth it - this is a very entertaining game and if Gazillion continues to be as responsive as they’ve been so far, it’s only going to get better.
The gameplay is fun and the story will appeal to many people, drawing as it does from the rich and complex Marvel universe. Add to this a well-balanced cash shop and this title is a must for Action RPG fans and Marvel fans!
What We Liked..
Varied and interesting PvP play
Lots of classes to choose from
Reborn feature boosts replay value
.. and what we didn't
Uninspiring graphics
Very similar to other TQ Online titles
Overpowered cash shop
Conquer Online sets itself apart early from its MMORPG brethren (including its own incredibly similar titles) by offering a large range of character classes to play, though other than choosing the gender there isn't much other customisation available. Still, whether you pick the graceful Water Taoist or the burly Warrior, TQ Online will set you up with a unique set of specialties and characteristics. And, thanks to the Reborn feature, which allows you to pick a new class with better attributes once you hit level 120, you'll get plenty of opportunity to explore all of them.
PvP is where the game really excels, offering a load of modes, challenges and activities for you to battle together or against your fellow players. Most notable is the violent PK Mode, where you can gain experience and gold by slaughtering any player in sight, while also earning yourself a reputation that might see you hunted down by bounty hunters.
Conquer Online's graphics are a let down, blocky, outdated, and made worse by an often cluttered user interface. Another sore point is the cash shop, which allows paying players to get a huge advantage with otherwise unattainable rare items and bonuses. However, a large community of non-paying players helps even this out, and makes the game an overall positive experience for lovers of PvP combat.
What We Liked..
The DC universe
A familiy economic model
Interesting maps
.. and what we didn't
Unoriginal gameplay
Buggy client
Released in 2014, Infinite Crisis is a new MOBA based on the DC Universe. The game represents a plot moment in the DC storyline that dealt with parallel universes, allowing developers Turbine a lot of creative reach, and giving the game its title.
Virtually every recognizable superhero makes an appearance here including plenty of variations, some of which are pretty… original. While the game has a couple of flaws, as a new title they will likely be fixed as updates are released. The same probably can’t be said for the rather unpolished graphics, which are weak and bland.
Despite this, Infinite Crisis is a decent game. It’s still early days yet, and improvements are likely to come thick and fast. It may not be set to conquer the MOBA universe, but it certainly qualifies for the competition.
What We Liked..
New take on the genre
Easier to pick up than traditional MOBAs
System to disable abusive players
Excellent graphics
.. and what we didn't
Less challenging for seasoned players
Strife is a new MOBA by S2 Games, the maker of Heroes of Newerth. Despite its name, Strife has been trumpeted as the answer to the MOBA genre’s highly competitive - even toxic – community, and playing the game it’s easy to see why. S2 have worked hard to create a softer, more accessible game without compromising on the key elements that make MOBAs so enjoyable.
From changing the farming system so that gold is shared among team members when one makes a successful kill, to the introduction of a rating system that rewards good behavior and bans multiple offenders from in-game chat, Strife is all about encouraging team play and a friendlier online environment. Gamers who love a serious challenge might prefer to stick to the high-stakes play in other MOBAs, but Strife is perfect for new and casual gamers.
It may be easier, but that doesn’t mean it’s without challenge. Strife does try to change things up. There is a giant ape who can be freed by one side to wreak havoc on the other, super useful pet companions to train and customise and a crafting system that rewards loyal players. Far from just being a novice version of a regular MOBA, Strife is a serious step in a more positive direction for the genre, and a great opening point to any gamer who’s hung back from MOBAs so far.