 |
| Mounted archery is useful for whittling down hordes of opponents. |
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Warband Mods: Floris
Floris is the largest mod I've seen for Mount & Blade yet. It's a whopping 1.1 GB, and upon starting it up you will immediately notice changes everywhere you look. In essence, Floris is a patch that brings countless gameplay changes, fixes, and tweaks to Warband. Beware, once you get into this mod it's unlikely you will ever play the native Warband again. It's a massive improvement to the original.
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Rome 2 looks amazing
Total War has always been a brilliant franchise. It combines the strategy elements of conquering provinces and continents with commanding your armies RTS style on the battlefield. Deceptively easy to get started, the Total War games are intricate and unbelievably challenging on higher difficulties. Less than 2% of players have beaten Shogun 2 on legendary.
Now I'm always one to get overly excited about new games that look promising. But Rome II looks phenomenal. The graphics are even better than Shogun, which is still one of the most intensive games out today. It looks like they are going fix all the crippling bugs that made Shogun 2 frustrating. I especially hope they sort out the multiplayer. Matchmaking online was buggy and it was horrendously difficult to even get into a game.
The Co-op campaign had better make a comeback, because conquering the world with a friend brings endless entertainment. I have a simple process to value the quality of a game and tell if I got my moneys worth. I consider one hour of fun worth $1-2. I have racked up an astonishing 311 hours online on Shogun 2, so I definitely got more than I paid out of it. If I get half as much time out of Rome 2, I am happy to pay the ridiculous price it's going to cost.
Sadly, it looks like Creative Assembly are going to pump out DLC packs to earn more money like they did with Shogun 2. It's a little shameful, but they don't cost too much.
Now I'm always one to get overly excited about new games that look promising. But Rome II looks phenomenal. The graphics are even better than Shogun, which is still one of the most intensive games out today. It looks like they are going fix all the crippling bugs that made Shogun 2 frustrating. I especially hope they sort out the multiplayer. Matchmaking online was buggy and it was horrendously difficult to even get into a game.
The Co-op campaign had better make a comeback, because conquering the world with a friend brings endless entertainment. I have a simple process to value the quality of a game and tell if I got my moneys worth. I consider one hour of fun worth $1-2. I have racked up an astonishing 311 hours online on Shogun 2, so I definitely got more than I paid out of it. If I get half as much time out of Rome 2, I am happy to pay the ridiculous price it's going to cost.
Sadly, it looks like Creative Assembly are going to pump out DLC packs to earn more money like they did with Shogun 2. It's a little shameful, but they don't cost too much.
Monday, 24 June 2013
Final Fantasy XII
In recent years the respect and prestige the Final Fantasy franchise earned from providing a stellar storytelling experience, backed up by graphics beyond the confines of the other console games, has slowly deteriorated. This is due to the awfully poor Final Fantasy X-2 and the online rendition of the series which has only gained a small cult following (sorry ya losers the FF MMO sucks).
Most of the people I know just gave up on hoping the next game would break Square Enix out of their rut and bring Final Fantasy back up to speed with current games. Some people even fooled themselves into believing every game after X-2 was still amazing, ignoring the stink of mediocrity that currently plagues the series that used to set trends for the market.
Genre: JRPG
Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: 16th March, 2006
Platforms: PS2, PS4
Score: 6/10
Similar Titles: Grandia, Dragon Quest, Star Ocean
Worth playing: If you are a fan of Final Fantasy or are running out of alternative RPGs to play.
Most of the people I know just gave up on hoping the next game would break Square Enix out of their rut and bring Final Fantasy back up to speed with current games. Some people even fooled themselves into believing every game after X-2 was still amazing, ignoring the stink of mediocrity that currently plagues the series that used to set trends for the market.
 |
| The tutorial turns out to be a massacre. Poor Reks. |
Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: 16th March, 2006
Platforms: PS2, PS4
Score: 6/10
Similar Titles: Grandia, Dragon Quest, Star Ocean
Worth playing: If you are a fan of Final Fantasy or are running out of alternative RPGs to play.
Warband Mods: Prophecy of Pendor
This is my favorite mod pack for Mount & Blade. Prophecy of Pendor is notoriously known as the most challenging overhaul for Warband. I doubt I'll ever meet anyone with the patience to complete it on hard, it's just too difficult and frustrating. Pendor has a new map, equipment, units, and lore. It's essentially another game using the same engine. Even on the lowest setting, it's a really hard to get a good campaign started.
Pendor is mostly trial and error for the first dozen hours. There are new factions and units to deal with and most of them will annihilate you, even if you outnumber them 10 to 1. I've had an army of 100 men get massacred by 10 knights before. This may sound frustrating, but when you can barely kill anything on the map it gives you something to aim for. When you finally get a bunch of companions and higher level equipment it's incredibly satisfying to beat them.
Prophecy of Pendor has such a huge experience curve, that you can put in a solid 50 hours into your campaign and some of the hardest enemies will still be untouchable. Unique armies spawn on the map with up to 1000 troops, roaming and destroying anything stupid enough to get in their way. It's common to see an army of 800 Seers or Jatu with hundreds of prisoners. Which is cool because if you defeat them you can pick and recruit any soldier you want.
When you get to the stage of fighting factions and conquering castles, you will quickly find a few new surprises. Most prominent of which is being able to recruit Pendor troops and create Knighthood chapters. Once you are rolling with some highly trained knights and as much cavalry as you can get your hands on, get Warband Battle Sizer. Battles with over a thousand soldiers are unbelievably epic.
The army commands in Pendor are essentially the same as native Warband. However, it's far more important to maneuver your ranks strategically. Enemy forces can have some dangerous units that you have to counter effectively. For example, if you come up against the rare Noldor bowmen, you have to wipe them out immediately or their arrows will drop a soldier every second. It's still possible to abuse the mechanics to win, taking a large hill or massing cavalry is still overpowered. However, not all opponents will fall to superior mechanics.
Pretty much everything from the original Warband campaign is gone. I honestly would of preferred Pendor to be the original game, I believe it's far more rewarding and addictive. There are a few aesthetic changes to make the game less frustrating to navigate, and each area of the map is scary and unique in its own way. It's not as big as Floris or story based like Light and Darkness; but Pendor has bigger and more diverse battles with a challenging learning curve.
Prophecy of Pendor is a great alternative for those of you looking for something new in Warband. It's difficult, even on the easiest settings. Beginning a new campaign is a struggle. You'll have to save a lot and use trial and error to break past the first few levels. Some of you might not find it worth the time, but it's a very rewarding experience.
 |
| Cavalry. Lots of Cavalry. |
Pendor is mostly trial and error for the first dozen hours. There are new factions and units to deal with and most of them will annihilate you, even if you outnumber them 10 to 1. I've had an army of 100 men get massacred by 10 knights before. This may sound frustrating, but when you can barely kill anything on the map it gives you something to aim for. When you finally get a bunch of companions and higher level equipment it's incredibly satisfying to beat them.
Prophecy of Pendor has such a huge experience curve, that you can put in a solid 50 hours into your campaign and some of the hardest enemies will still be untouchable. Unique armies spawn on the map with up to 1000 troops, roaming and destroying anything stupid enough to get in their way. It's common to see an army of 800 Seers or Jatu with hundreds of prisoners. Which is cool because if you defeat them you can pick and recruit any soldier you want.
 |
| This rampaging Jatu army wasn't easy to take out. |
When you get to the stage of fighting factions and conquering castles, you will quickly find a few new surprises. Most prominent of which is being able to recruit Pendor troops and create Knighthood chapters. Once you are rolling with some highly trained knights and as much cavalry as you can get your hands on, get Warband Battle Sizer. Battles with over a thousand soldiers are unbelievably epic.
The army commands in Pendor are essentially the same as native Warband. However, it's far more important to maneuver your ranks strategically. Enemy forces can have some dangerous units that you have to counter effectively. For example, if you come up against the rare Noldor bowmen, you have to wipe them out immediately or their arrows will drop a soldier every second. It's still possible to abuse the mechanics to win, taking a large hill or massing cavalry is still overpowered. However, not all opponents will fall to superior mechanics.
 |
| I don't quite know why I have the Punisher logo, but I'm okay with it. |
Pretty much everything from the original Warband campaign is gone. I honestly would of preferred Pendor to be the original game, I believe it's far more rewarding and addictive. There are a few aesthetic changes to make the game less frustrating to navigate, and each area of the map is scary and unique in its own way. It's not as big as Floris or story based like Light and Darkness; but Pendor has bigger and more diverse battles with a challenging learning curve.
Prophecy of Pendor is a great alternative for those of you looking for something new in Warband. It's difficult, even on the easiest settings. Beginning a new campaign is a struggle. You'll have to save a lot and use trial and error to break past the first few levels. Some of you might not find it worth the time, but it's a very rewarding experience.
Saturday, 22 June 2013
Single Player RPG recommendations- Action
This list was quite difficult to come up with. I've played many action RPG franchises over the years, but barely any of them were noteworthy enough to place on this list. If you're looking for an RPG that focuses on action filled combat instead of the slow-paced affair that defines the role-playing genre, take a look at these recommendations. Bear in mind that these games are in the order that I prefer them, but not necessarily the best.
Single Player Action RPGs
1. The Elder Scrolls
Between Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim; It would be a travesty to not put the Elder Scrolls franchise in this list. With a vast open world and first person combat, these games are a perfect blend of RPG and action. Use a sword, bow, or magic to take down your enemies in spectacular fashion. If you haven't played any of these games yet, be sure to get Skyrim or Oblivion at your earliest convenience. The RPG elements are extremely involving and the action is entertaining and addictive. If you get a copy on the PC there are countless mods to expand the games too.
2. The Witcher
I've always been a fan of the Witcher games. They are far from perfect, but one of the most rewarding series to play if you can get into it. I haven't found an RPG with more satisfying combat yet. Geralt is an awesome main character, and he wields a sword like a champion. You have several magical spells at your disposal, all with different uses. The story starts off slow but fills with tension the further you go. It's not all good, you have to deal with some inventory management issues and other problems. However, if you're looking for a game with brutal third-person action and a rich world with lots of lore to dive into, look no further.
3. Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus Ex focuses more on shooting and stealth than RPG aspects, but it's a great blend of genre nonetheless. This title has a great story with some epic moments, and almost every problem has more than one solution. You can approach each goal in many different ways, and you can upgrade the main character to open up different routes and techniques. It even has multiple endings. I really like the customization on Human Revolution, it's possible to build yourself like a terminator or a sneaky ninja. The hacking mini-games are also pretty awesome. It's also worth giving the first two Deus Ex titles a try if you can handle the old graphics.
4. Fallout 3 and New Vegas
Although I haven't completed either of these two titles yet I've played enough of them to know they are iconic games that probably deserve a place higher on the list. Although Fallout is an FPS you don't have to aim your gun once if you don't want to. Using the VATs system the game allows you to target specific body points and shoot at them automatically. The game has a solid RPG base to it, with dozens of perks and plot choices to make. Whether you're blasting at the giant scorpions or that guy in a bar who gave you a dirty look, Fallout is a post-apocalyptic wasteland that will bring you many hours of fun.
5. Borderlands 2
I'm adding this game in the final place with a fair amount of skepticism. Borderlands 2 is meant to be enjoyed on co-op with a friend or two. However, unlike the first game it's actually reasonably fun if you play it alone. The plot is a key part of the game, it's intriguing and the villain is quite good. Aside from that, Borderlands 2 is essentially a first-person shooter with some simple RPG mechanics. There's no way you will have as much fun playing it alone when compared with playing it with your mates, but it's still a pretty good game with loads of content to sift through.
Single Player Action RPGs
1. The Elder Scrolls
 |
| When this guy jumped me I gave him a stern telling off. Then I sheathed my sword. In his head. |
Between Morrowind, Oblivion and Skyrim; It would be a travesty to not put the Elder Scrolls franchise in this list. With a vast open world and first person combat, these games are a perfect blend of RPG and action. Use a sword, bow, or magic to take down your enemies in spectacular fashion. If you haven't played any of these games yet, be sure to get Skyrim or Oblivion at your earliest convenience. The RPG elements are extremely involving and the action is entertaining and addictive. If you get a copy on the PC there are countless mods to expand the games too.
2. The Witcher
 |
| The Witcher 2 is much better than the first game, but if you want to know the entire plot you'll have to start at the beginning. |
I've always been a fan of the Witcher games. They are far from perfect, but one of the most rewarding series to play if you can get into it. I haven't found an RPG with more satisfying combat yet. Geralt is an awesome main character, and he wields a sword like a champion. You have several magical spells at your disposal, all with different uses. The story starts off slow but fills with tension the further you go. It's not all good, you have to deal with some inventory management issues and other problems. However, if you're looking for a game with brutal third-person action and a rich world with lots of lore to dive into, look no further.
3. Deus Ex: Human Revolution
 |
| Deus Ex is widely known for giving you lots of choices. |
Deus Ex focuses more on shooting and stealth than RPG aspects, but it's a great blend of genre nonetheless. This title has a great story with some epic moments, and almost every problem has more than one solution. You can approach each goal in many different ways, and you can upgrade the main character to open up different routes and techniques. It even has multiple endings. I really like the customization on Human Revolution, it's possible to build yourself like a terminator or a sneaky ninja. The hacking mini-games are also pretty awesome. It's also worth giving the first two Deus Ex titles a try if you can handle the old graphics.
4. Fallout 3 and New Vegas
 |
| The landscape really brings a convincing post apocalypse story to Fallout. |
Although I haven't completed either of these two titles yet I've played enough of them to know they are iconic games that probably deserve a place higher on the list. Although Fallout is an FPS you don't have to aim your gun once if you don't want to. Using the VATs system the game allows you to target specific body points and shoot at them automatically. The game has a solid RPG base to it, with dozens of perks and plot choices to make. Whether you're blasting at the giant scorpions or that guy in a bar who gave you a dirty look, Fallout is a post-apocalyptic wasteland that will bring you many hours of fun.
5. Borderlands 2
 |
| I thought Borderlands 2 would be more of the same, and I was right. But it's got flair and a good story this time. |
I'm adding this game in the final place with a fair amount of skepticism. Borderlands 2 is meant to be enjoyed on co-op with a friend or two. However, unlike the first game it's actually reasonably fun if you play it alone. The plot is a key part of the game, it's intriguing and the villain is quite good. Aside from that, Borderlands 2 is essentially a first-person shooter with some simple RPG mechanics. There's no way you will have as much fun playing it alone when compared with playing it with your mates, but it's still a pretty good game with loads of content to sift through.
Friday, 21 June 2013
Why don't more people know about Mount and Blade?
Mount and Blade: Warband is the kingdom building sandbox experience of a lifetime. I can put this franchise in the 'god-tier' category with confidence. Which is why it's genuinely surprising that it doesn't have more of an audience. In Mount&Blade you can grow from a peasant to a commander, and eventually even a king. What's more, it's got fantastic combat that pits you on the battlefield alongside your troops, allowing you to command your ranks while in the center of the fray. You can tell you're playing something truly amazing when a game has irritating bugs, a distinct lack of polish, and awfully optimized graphics; but you can't bring yourself to stop playing it.
There are currently 3 Mount & Blade titles on the market, with the 4th in development. Each game runs on the same engine, with the only changes being various adjustments to improve the quality of play. If you haven't heard of this franchise yet, either do a little digging or just buy Warband. The original Mount and Blade is a little outdated, and the newest edition Fire and Sword has a few unsightly design changes that make it less fun. Warband is the one to buy.
Although the original campaign can easily soak up a good 30+ hours of your time and still leave you with stuff to conquer and finish, what makes Mount and Blade a timeless game of outstanding quality is the gigantic modding community. The base game is a mod enthusiasts paradise. There are so many complete overhaul packs that you're essentially buying a dozen games in one. I've racked up over 200 hours on Warband so far, and I only spent a couple of hours playing it without mods.
If you're looking for one of those games that you will never regret buying, look into Mount and Blade: Warband. More specifically, do some research into the mods you can get for it. It's essentially free DLC. Take a look at Prophecy of Pendor and Floris, both are gameplay overhauls that introduce around a gigabyte of awesome changes. If you're interested in multiplayer, you can also try out CRPG. My point is, if you want it; there's a mod for it on Warband. The goal of this article is to raise awareness of an under appreciated franchise. If you haven't heard of Mount & Blade, then take a look and try it out. It's cheap!
 |
| You start out alone in the world. Eventually you can wield an army of hundreds. |
There are currently 3 Mount & Blade titles on the market, with the 4th in development. Each game runs on the same engine, with the only changes being various adjustments to improve the quality of play. If you haven't heard of this franchise yet, either do a little digging or just buy Warband. The original Mount and Blade is a little outdated, and the newest edition Fire and Sword has a few unsightly design changes that make it less fun. Warband is the one to buy.
Although the original campaign can easily soak up a good 30+ hours of your time and still leave you with stuff to conquer and finish, what makes Mount and Blade a timeless game of outstanding quality is the gigantic modding community. The base game is a mod enthusiasts paradise. There are so many complete overhaul packs that you're essentially buying a dozen games in one. I've racked up over 200 hours on Warband so far, and I only spent a couple of hours playing it without mods.
 |
| The world map is gigantic, and you can conquer all of it. |
If you're looking for one of those games that you will never regret buying, look into Mount and Blade: Warband. More specifically, do some research into the mods you can get for it. It's essentially free DLC. Take a look at Prophecy of Pendor and Floris, both are gameplay overhauls that introduce around a gigabyte of awesome changes. If you're interested in multiplayer, you can also try out CRPG. My point is, if you want it; there's a mod for it on Warband. The goal of this article is to raise awareness of an under appreciated franchise. If you haven't heard of Mount & Blade, then take a look and try it out. It's cheap!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)