What We Liked..
Very innovative
Unique and rewarding quest progression
Game of Thrones!
.. and what we didn't
The technical qualities
Still a pretty standard pay-to-play type of game
Setting: fantasy, historical
Graphics: plain text and images
PvP: all vs all guild or factions PvE PvP
Game of Thrones: Ascent is a new browser game developed and published by Disruptor Beam. The game chronicles your “ascent” to the throne of one of the eight royal houses of Westeros.
Ascent is a very story driven game, much like the original series. Unfortunately, where the game differs the most from the TV show is in the action. This isn't to say that fans of the show will not enjoy the game; fanboys and girls who feel the need to engage themselves in more GoT lore may find Ascent to be the perfect way to get their fix in between episodes.
Standard RPG fans may also take interest in the unconventional take on the combat system (if you could even call it that). The game also has the typical western RPG conversation based cutscenes, allowing you to align your character towards good, evil or somewhere in between.
Game of Thrones: Ascent has many attractions to many different types of gamers. Quintessential RPG gamers will appreciate a new take on the traditional combat system and more story driven gamers will love this game. Ascent even offers something for RTS gamers! There's plenty of resource gathering and “base-building” to be found in the game. And of course, GoT fans will find themselves right at home with the storyline.
Ascent is a game that reaches for the stars and all in all, it's a great use of the Game of Thrones license.
What We Liked..
Popular manga license
Lots of RPG trappings
satisfying progression
.. and what we didn't
Not much gameplay
allows you to buy power
poor English localization
Hunter X Hunter began its life as a modest manga that soon exploded in popularity. Its first anime series premiered in 1999 (and then another in 2011). The manga was also adapted into quite a few video games. Now it’s a free-to-play, browser-based MMORPG. Fans of the manga and anime will surely find a lot to like here, and if it’s their first MMORPG of this nature, it will feel fresh, but this is definitely not a fresh formula. Almost everything in Hunter X Hunter Online has been seen elsewhere. Fortunately, though, HXH Online (as it will henceforth be called) does it all well.
What We Liked..
Detailed tutorial eases the player into the game
Engaging gameplay
.. and what we didn't
Building placement cannot be modified.
Genre: managerial, strategy
Setting: historical
Graphics: plain text and images
PvP: all vs all guild or factions PvE PvP
Imperia Online is a free browser-based MMO belonging to the evergreen genre of city-building strategy games.
It will require you to establish a financially strong state with a good army.
Manpower can be deployed to fasten the collection of resources, and consequently improve the rate of your kingdom's progress.
The menus in the game become quite congested with the passage of time so a detailed tutorial is given right at the start to ease you into the game and give a better understanding of the in-game options.
The graphics of Imperia Online are well done despite its age (the game was first released in 2005), which is a sign of the good support given from the developers during all these years in terms of upgrades and improvements.
What We Liked..
Detailed voice-overs
Player interactions
Comprehensive base building
.. and what we didn't
Influent cash shop
Rigid combat system
Watch the trailer:
Genre: strategy, war, managerial
Setting: fantasy, historical, sea
Graphics: animated artworks
PvP: PvP
Pirates – Tides of Fortune is a complex and charming browser game released by Plarium Games. In this game you are a commander of your own haven (base of operations), where your goal is to expand, conquer and form brotherhoods with other players.
Tides of Fortune allows you to take several approaches on your gameplay; economical, defensive and offensive. The game leaves you enough room to learn how to fend for yourself during the first few levels, so you don’t have to worry about getting raided and pillaged by other players right off the bat.
What We Liked..
Multi-class system
Beautiful graphics
Story-driven
Vast character customization
.. and what we didn't
Progression cap
Overly animated
Average soundtrack
Imbalanced pvp
Watch the trailer:
When playing Skyforge, you can’t help but feel appreciative of what the creators were doing: the foundation for Skyforge itself is based around really unique concepts.
The multi-class system, the interesting storyline, the beautifully animated environment and vast character customization skills come together for quite the impact.
The flaws in this game (mostly regarding PvP balancing) are not big enough to overwhelm all the great aspects of this new MMORPG, which has a lot to offer both to players looking for something new and for those who are looking for a traditional RPG experience.
Skyforge trapped me in this elaborate world that continues to prove itself worth it.
What We Liked..
Good Graphics
New Progression Systems
Lots of Content
.. and what we didn't
Poor Voice Over
Repetitive
AFK mode makes most things very easy
Watch the trailer:
League of Angels 2 is a beautiful new follow-up to the highly popular League of Angels. It’s a highly traditional MMO with a glossy new paint job and a few new mechanics. Playing through the game's story kept me entertained, and combat is a spectacle to behold.
Though not particularly engaging, the combat animations and visual effects are of high quality. Progressing through the story is similar to many other Browser MMO’s. In fact that seems to be the game’s biggest fault. It’s so reminiscent of other games, especially its predecessor, the original League of Angels. This however doesn’t ruin the fun, the experience is still engaging because the mechanics of the game are solid and the game is well made.
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..
Ability to switch between classes at will
10 different classes that are fun to play
Story-driven MMORPG
Action based combat
Unobtrusive cash shop
.. and what we didn't
Typical grind at later levels
Unsubstantial PVE and PVP
Linear story pacing and delivery
Twin Saga is the latest high fantasy setting MMORPG to come out from Asia and offers a promising outlook for the genre by putting the power of choice in the hands of the player. rassembler du matériel ou forger. The game features 10 different classes that players can swap between freely at any time without cost or restriction. Player housing also takes a different approach – the Terracottage is a mobile house that can move like mounts, and is a place where guilds and friends can hang out, gather materials and even craft.
If you enjoyed games like Final Fantasy, Ragnarok and Kingdom Hearts, Twin Saga’s 3D art style and animations will definitely appeal to you as it hovers between anime and cartoon, but the graphics do look a little aged which is surprising.
Overall, Twin Saga is a fairly good MMORPG that contains rich lore and story that is complemented by a fast-paced action combat system that suits the art style. There’s plenty to do in PVE ranging from hidden quests, Astral Adventures and Dungeons, while the competitive players can try their hand at PVP in arenas or battlegrounds. Ultimately, Twin Saga should be credited for its fresh approach but doesn’t do enough to stand out from the MMORPG crowd.
What We Liked..
Intense FPS action
Small download size
.. and what we didn't
Mediocre graphics
Unbalanced cash shop
Similar to other titles
Piercing Blow is a free-to-play MMOFPS from Korea, where it’s been out for a while. It’s low on character customisation, but high on map variety, offering several modes across over 40 maps for you to explore and kill people on. The majority of the environments and scenarios are completely without novelty for any experienced player - all the old favourites are here.
While the game may not feel the need to add anything new to an already successful formula, it does offer fairly decent shooter gameplay. Maps are well designed, even if the Counterstrike-era graphics are mostly ugly, and with a small, undemanding file size, Piercing Blow runs smoothly.
A wealth of guns and weapon upgrades are available to those willing to pay real money for them, a factor that significantly unbalances the playing field. The only other way to unlock decent gear is by playing and winning daily tournaments. Basically, if you’re not already a skilled shooter or ready to pay for a better gun, you’re not going to make it here.
What We Liked..
Well-written and voiced quest dialogue
Polished graphics
Play in your browser
.. and what we didn't
Full screen mode necessary
Simplistic combat
Watch the trailer:
Genre: managerial, strategy
Setting: fantasy, historical
Graphics: animated artworks
PvP: all vs all guild or factions PvP
Stormfall: Age of War is a browser-based MMO strategy game by developer Plarium.
In the game you must create and upgrade your castle, while also building an army to pillage the castles of other players and defend yourself from their attacks.
While the combat mechanics of Stormfall are not particularly interesting, there is enough to do in this well-crafted game to make up for it.
Between the endless buildings, units and skills to construct and upgrade within your castle, and the different kinds of conquests to plan and execute outside it, the game can almost feel too busy for a beginner.
However, this also ensures that you won’t get bored of Stormfall too quickly – there’s almost always something new to learn.