Chronicles of Elyria (PC) is undoubtedly one of the most interesting MMORPGs currently in development. It is as ambitious as Star Citizen and aims to offer a kind of simulation, creating a second life alongside the real one. But there are also doubts.
Chronicles of Elyria is one of those games that can be well advertised with individual ideas and concepts:
Such news and individual ideas have circulated around Chronicles of Elyria in recent months and years. We at Mein MMO have been reporting on the game since September 2015. However, Chronicles of Elyria is still not graspable for many.
Chronicles of Elyria aims to herald a renaissance of role-playing
At its core, it is an MMORPG simulation: the goal is to build a realistic, functioning fantasy world. To throw players into it and allow them to interact with the world and everything in it.
In a video “What is Chronicles of Elyria?” the team at Soulbound Studios described its mission: The team aims to spark a renaissance of role-playing. To create a game where players can embody a role. This is the mission they have set for themselves.
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Elyria, like Star Citizen, is a crowdfunding title, relying on the trust of its most loyal fans and backers who accompany and finance the MMORPG in its early phases. Their feedback is to be used in the development process. Chronicles of Elyria is intended to be created in close collaboration with the fans.
Chronicles of Elyria – Pre-Alpha, in the middle of the dream phase
This is supposed to change in 2018 and 2019 – by a planned release at the end of 2019, gradually more players are expected to join.
However, the release is still a long way off, but the community is already active. There is an active German fan site for Chronicles of Elyria. And as seen in the video, the landed nobility is already playing “Game of Thrones”, recruiting followers and distributing the yet undeveloped world.
In the vision of fans and developers, Chronicles of Elyria is certainly on its way to becoming a huge, ambitious, and groundbreaking project. Just like Star Citizen. But unlike Star Citizen, the funding is lacking.
Doubts about whether Chronicles of Elyria can achieve all this
While Star Citizen has over 170 million US dollars and hundreds of employees, Chronicles of Elyria is operating on a smaller scale.
Jeremy Walsh, known as Caspian, the game’s leader, sold land for his planned dream house to get Chronicles of Elyria off the ground. Through Kickstarter and crowdfunding, approximately 3.4 million US dollars have been raised to date. That’s a lot, but not enough to accomplish what they aim for.
Who is going to pay for this?
Apparently, Chronicles of Elyria has been trying to find a publisher or investor in recent months. However, they hesitate to invest in a sandbox game or want concessions that cannot be made in Chronicles of Elyria: keywords being loot boxes and microtransactions.
The debate significantly dampened the mood at Elyria in December 2017. In a live chat exclusively for backers, the leader expressed his frustration about the search for a publisher. This was supposed to stay internal. However, it then went into the forum and to the public.
The debate then raised doubts about whether Chronicles of Elyria can be the game that is expected if apparently the funds are lacking.
The leader then intervened and stated: “Guys, this is harmful to our business. We are a crowdfunded game, we need to make a good impression and not scare anyone away.”
Numerous parallels to Star Citizen
The parallels to Star Citizen are indeed extensive in Chronicles of Elyria:
Amazing high ambitions
fantastic concepts and ideas
interconnected and sophisticated concepts
an enthusiastic community
and skepticism about whether it can really be implemented as planned
What will happen in 2018 with Chronicles of Elyria? When will beta and release start?
2018 is set to be a crucial year for Chronicles of Elyria.
The next patch of World of Warcraft could go live soon. Patch 7.3.5 may arrive sooner than expected.
The current raid in World of Warcraft, Antorus, the Burning Throne, is not yet fully available in LFR, but the next patch is already making progress. Patch 7.3.5 has been on the PTR for a few weeks. Data miners suspect that the update will be released in the coming weeks.
The reason for this assumption is two mounts that can be acquired during the micro-holiday “Call of the Scarab”. The ruby and sapphire mounts are temporary mounts that will only be available during the event and will disappear afterwards.
Call of the Scarab takes place from January 21 to January 23, which is why data miners and fans suspect that the patch must be released before then.
Although Patch 7.3.5 is only a “minor interim patch” for World of Warcraft: Legion, it holds some significant changes. Possible dates would be Wednesday, January 10 or January 17 – so in one or two weeks.
Patch 7.3.5 brings a revision of the leveling phase
The most important change is the overhaul of the leveling phase. All areas in World of Warcraft will now scale with the player’s level up to a certain point. This allows players to experience stories from Westfall and Duskwood even at level 58, although those areas were originally designed for levels 10-30.
The system was previously active on the Broken Isles and is now being expanded to the entire game world at the request of the players.
Patch 7.3.5 will be the last patch for World of Warcraft: Legion. The next update, Patch 8.0, will already be the pre-patch for Battle for Azeroth, the next expansion. However, there is currently no release date for Battle for Azeroth, but the closed beta should start in the coming weeks.
Will everything get better in 2018 in Destiny 2? Here are our 5 biggest wishes for the new year!
2017 was a turbulent year for Destiny. With the Age of Triumph, many players saw their Guardian journey in Destiny 1 come to a quiet end. In the fall, it resumed: Destiny 2 was released, sending Guardians on new adventures and sparking massive discussions in the following weeks and months.
Beforehand, players were tantalized with visually stunning trailers and grand promises about Destiny 2, leading to immense expectations for the sequel.
But after the launch, disillusionment set in quickly: Once the story campaign is mastered, Destiny 2 shows glaring flaws in the endgame. Content is lacking, incentives to play the MMO shooter are missing, and motivating endgame mechanics are absent. Destiny 2 was torn apart on social media, and the press pounced on it with devastating headlines.
By the end of the year, Bungie promised improvements. They wanted to be more transparent, respond to Guardian feedback, and enhance the endgame. In 2018, significant changes are to be expected. Soon, Bungie intends to reveal their plans for 2018. Community Manager DeeJ tweeted on January 1 that there is much to discuss in 2018.
But what actually needs to change for everything to get better in 2018? Many Guardians would answer this question: “Fix the endgame!” But what does this mean concretely? Here are our 5 biggest wishes for how Destiny 2 should change in 2018.
Strike-specific loot for Destiny 2
“Strike-specific loot” is a wish that has often been mentioned on social media and still is. In Destiny 1, it was indispensable: Each strike had an individual loot pool, containing items that could only be obtained through that strike. If you wanted a perfectly rolled Imago Loop, you would repeatedly play the “Immortal Spirit” strike (or the Echo Chamber).
So each strike felt special—an activity that dropped unique loot and not just a set number of Vanguard tokens. Many Guardians want that feeling back.
The strikes in Destiny 2 are excellently designed. They are large, expansive, and offer various end boss mechanics. The only thing missing is incentives to play the strikes. Compared to other activities, the reward per time is relatively low—especially since the reward mostly comes in the form of tokens. Although the “Heroic Strikes” milestone has increased the value of the strikes, it is still far from sufficient.
Strikes need specific loot
Heroic Strikes need fun and challenging modifiers
The Nightfall Strikes could also be enhanced with their own loot
In general, the loot from other activities could also be more unique and exciting. Raid and strike items should have their own perks that make them special and allow for a new gaming experience. Guardians don’t want to play with the same weapons with merely different skins.
The best MMO of 2017 was chosen by you. We will announce the winners and reveal which games made it!
The gaming year 2017 had plenty of highlights for MMO players. In addition to some new releases, older titles were also maintained by their developers, leading to a lot of content. At the end of last year, we asked you, which MMO / online game you consider the best of 2017. Over three thousand participants took part in this poll.
A total of 32 MMOs were available for selection – and you made the choice! We now present the three winners, who will be crowned the “MMO / Online Game of the Year 2017”.
Rank 1: World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft with its current expansion Legion was chosen by you as the MMO of the year 2017. It thus receives the Mein-MMO Award for “best MMO / online game”. 15% of all voters gave their support to the MMORPG veteran from Blizzard.
The Mein-MMO Award for “best MMO / Online Game” goes to World of Warcraft!
There are many reasons why World of Warcraft was able to captivate so many players in 2017. The latest expansion “Legion” had already been released at the end of 2016, but for many, it was still fresh. The developers at Blizzard succeeded for the first time in nearly a decade in keeping a promise: regular patches. Every 2-3 months, there was a larger patch that brought new dungeons, raids, areas and quest lines. Even the smaller updates contained something for all players: pet battles, micro-holidays, or new animations for the classes.
Meaningful changes to existing systems, such as world quests or weekly progressing campaigns (Suramar, Argus) occupied players for many months and ensured that there was always something new to discover in Azeroth.
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A worthy first place in the vote for MMO of the Year 2017.
Rank 2: Destiny 2
Fans had to wait a long time for Destiny 2, but 2017 finally brought the long-awaited title. After the game first released on PS4 and Xbox One, PC players had to wait a while until they could finally chase after the best weapons again. Once again, the Guardians were needed – and they answered the call for help and voted enthusiastically for Bungie’s MMO shooter. About 12% of the votes give Destiny 2 the 2nd place in our vote for MMO of the Year 2017! If the content had lasted longer, it could have been even better.
Rank 3: The Elder Scrolls Online
The Elder Scrolls Online was also able to stabilize further in 2017. The year started well because in TESO players can now acquire their own homes and truly indulge in housing. Otherwise, the developers rely on giving existing fans exactly what they want: fun in the “Elder Scrolls” universe. This was especially successful with the Morrowind expansion, which also hit big last year.
The plan apparently worked: With 10% of the votes, The Elder Scrolls Online lands in 3rd place in our vote for MMO of the Year 2017.
Ranks 4-10
Although the following games did not make it to the podium, voting was still enthusiastic. Here are ranks 4-10!
Rank 4: Guild Wars 2 (8%)
Rank 5: Final Fantasy XIV (8%)
Rank 6: Warframe (7%)
Rank 7: Black Desert (6%)
Rank 8: PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (6%)
Rank 9: The Division (5%)
Rank 10: Overwatch (4%)
Did your favorite win the vote? Who did you give your vote to? Do you share the community’s view regarding World of Warcraft, Destiny 2, and The Elder Scrolls Online?
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The MMORPG Bless Online is one of the few new PC MMORPGs that will definitely appear in the West in 2018. The release is announced. But will the game also be good? There are enough warning signs.
Fans of classic MMORPGs have been waiting for the Korean AAA MMORPG Bless Online for years. While newer Korean MMORPGs like Black Desert tend to lean towards the sandbox direction, Bless is a traditional theme park MMORPG like WoW, which has so far been denied success in Korea and Russia.
That is supposed to change in 2018 with a global Steam release.
Bless Online looks like a modern WoW…
Bless was announced in 2011, developed with high production value and great visuals. It runs on the Unreal Engine 3. Bless has great graphics, superb sound, and incredibly cool trailers. Star composer Hans Zimmer has contributed the soundtrack – he usually provides soundtracks for Hollywood blockbusters.
The gameplay concept is oriented towards World of Warcraft – there are two realms at war with each other. The setting is a world that resembles the European Middle Ages.
A World of Warcraft with modern graphics and a slight Asian touch. This potentially appeals to a lot of people. They will be curious and eager about Bless when they see trailers and concept art.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKJMIWi3F78
… but hasn’t been able to captivate many players in the last 3 years
However, when the game was actually playable in 2015, there was criticism from the beginning regarding gameplay and performance. Against competitors like ArcheAge or especially Black Desert, Bless didn’t stand a chance and went under. This phase dragged on for two to three years: 2015, 2016, 2017 – none of these were good years for Bless.
The game was already playable in Korea and Russia but hardly captivated any fans.
By 2017 it looked very bleak. The European release fell through, and for a few days it appeared as if the game was dead for good, but Neowiz stood by Bless despite all the problems and decided to continue investing.
Neowiz then recalled and revised Bless. They wanted to get rid of the major weaknesses. Neowiz now plans to release Bless in a “Rebuilt” version globally on Steam in 2018. This will also bring Bless to the West.
The new version is expected to convince in the West in 2018
However, there are still many question marks surrounding the title. YouTuber Nocht has been dealing with Bless for a while and summarizes the questions and concerns about the game.
The most important changes in the new Bless
For instance, the gameplay and combat are not as dynamic as in Guild Wars 2, Black Desert, or ArcheAge, but are more oriented towards World of Warcraft – during the overhaul, only the static skills were toned down and the more dynamic ones emphasized
the skill system is now significantly more complex – you can upgrade abilities and slot the appropriate skills onto the hotbar
the inventory is much tidier than before, inspired by Black Desert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqQbhYX5skQ
The big question marks surrounding the release of Bless
For Nocht, the big question is whether Bless will launch with all classes – other versions started without Mystic and Ranger, two popular classes that bring a lot of variety
There are also still questions regarding the cash shop, as newer versions have a mechanic to upgrade pets – this could fall into the “Pay2Progress” category and cause issues
It is also questionable whether Neowiz can adequately promote the game here in the West to raise awareness among a large player base for Bless and to keep them
As for localization, German as a language is confirmed, but it is assumed that the audio will only be available in English
Nocht expects that the Early Access date for Bless will be around March 2018 – with a later release in the year
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The question ultimately with Bless is: Can the game establish itself here in the West or will it quickly fade and only appeal to fans? 2018 will bring answers to all these questions. Either way.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In 2017, Skyforge was released on Steam, and a PS4 and an Xbox One version also saw the light of day. The Revenant class was introduced, and you got to experience adventures on the moon.
Since the past year was so good for the developers, they are now putting even more effort into 2018.
Simultaneous Updates and an Improved Interface
It is planned that updates will be released simultaneously on all platforms (PC, PS4, and Xbox One) in the future. Supporting three versions of the game, all with different states, poses some challenges for the developers. Therefore, developing a system that enables all versions to reach the same state and receive updates simultaneously is one of the priorities.
Players can also expect a revision of the interface. While it works well currently when playing with a mouse and keyboard, some improvements are needed with controllers. The developers want to tackle this this year so that players can enjoy Skyforge properly on all platforms. Especially newcomers should benefit from this and find their way into the MMORPG even more easily.
PvP will be revised
Many players of the MMO are wishing for improvements in the PvP area. And they are expected to receive them in 2018. The team has already developed some interesting ideas that will enrich the PvP experience. The developers will talk about what those are at a later point. The developers of Skyforge have planned much more for this year. Details and dates for the updates will be shared by the team over the coming weeks and months.
On Steam, 12 games stand out that generated particularly high revenue in 2017. Among them are the online games Warframe, ARK, and PUBG. Some titles may surprise you!
The year 2017 is behind us, and many developers and publishers are taking the time to release some statistics about their games. The Steam platform by Valve is also presenting a small selection of games that generated the most profit in 2017.
Please keep in mind that the list is not strictly sorted from “1st to 12th place,” as neither Steam nor the developers provide such precise information. Nevertheless, the data offers a good overview of which games performed well in 2017.
Steam games with the highest revenue in 2017
The following 12 games generated the highest gross revenue (on Steam) in 2017:
The Witcher III Wild Hunt
DOTA 2
Rocket League
Warframe
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Rainbow Six Siege
Grand Theft Auto V
Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds
ARK: Survival Evolved
Divinity II: Original Sin
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands
H1Z1
The list once again shows that Free2Play titles (like Warframe or DOTA 2) generate significant profits even if the base game is free. The skillful monetization through microtransactions ensures that these games are also successful.
It is also particularly noteworthy that The Witcher III Wild Hunt is included as well. The game originally came out in 2015. The fact that it still counts among the top sellers of the year in 2017 showcases once again what a masterpiece the developers at CD Projekt RED created.
But there are also fresh cards for the other 7 classes – thanks to 10 free card packs, even skeptical players can first get an impression.
Additionally, the update brought the new format system, which you may already know from Magic or Hearthstone. Only the last 5 card sets can be used in the ranked mode quintuple, but older cards can still be used in the “Unlimited” mode.
Shadowverse: Free2Play or Pay2Win?
The big question with free-to-play titles is of course: What does the in-game shop look like? Is the game pay-to-win? Can you still have fun and be successful as a “free” player?
The short answer: Yes, as a free player, you can have fun.
A pack contains 8 cards!
The longer answer: It depends. Those who always want to have the “best” deck will have to resort to buying numerous card packs or invest a lot of time in the game. However, Shadowverse immediately comes up with many free packs at the beginning. At the start of a new expansion, each player is offered 10 free packs of the latest expansions – without any time limit. So those who start with the game now can open about 70 card packs, which already provides many cards.
Shadowverse rewards the player at almost every corner. There are always rupies (“gold”), tickets for free card packs, arena accesses, or crafting materials to create desired cards directly. However, players already obtain a solid base of basic cards through the story campaigns.
At least after a few days of playtime, Shadowverse seems to have a very solid and fair offer in the shop.
Especially the ability to buy a solid starter deck for a few euros is something you miss in other games (*cough* Hearthstone).
Critique Points – Minor Flaws that Can Be Tolerated
Despite all the praise, Shadowverse is not a perfect game, although the points of criticism can all be categorized as “minor”.
The menus are partly confusing. Maybe I just handled it clumsily, but if I first have to search on Google for how and where I can pick up my “free card packs”, then that does not speak well for the menu navigation.
Shadowverse with German Texts and English Voiceover
Another point of criticism is the translation in the story mode with English voiceover. Occasionally, it does not match the German texts at all.
This is because the German texts were directly translated from Japanese, while changes were made for the English voiceover adaptation. Therefore, the characters occasionally say things that look completely different in the written text.
Shadowverse Review: Who Needs This? I Need This!
Cortyn says: Honestly, I had little desire for Shadowverse at first. My first (very superficial) impression was: “A Hearthstone with anime characters – who needs that?” But after about 3 hours in the game, I was clear: I need this.
Shadowverse not only impresses with its great anime style but also manages (at least currently) to banish Hearthstone far, far from my consciousness. Meaningful mechanics like development, which add additional tactical elements to the match, and the fair reward system make Shadowverse a top-notch virtual card game.
If you are tired of Hearthstone and prefer to spend your time with waifus, you should definitely check out Shadowverse.
Are you looking for a reasonable card game, but Hearthstone is not your thing? Then Shadowverse (PC, iOS, Android) might be worth a look. In our Shadowverse review, we reveal to you why the game rocks, whether it is available in German, and how you can start the download.
There are now many digital card games, but really successful ones are few. One of those successful titles is Shadowverse. It combines the proven gameplay principle of collectible card games with anime aesthetics and has thus chosen the “manga freaks” as its target audience – or simply all who want to play a well-thought-out card game.
Since Hearthstone by Blizzard is currently the market leader in the field of digital card games, we cannot avoid some comparisons. However, this nicely shows what Shadowverse does better than Blizzard’s title.
Proven Gameplay Principle with Meaningful Additions
The gameplay principle of digital collectible card games should now be familiar. In Shadowverse, the turns of the players are also separated. In other words: Player A completes his turn first, then it’s Player B’s turn. Intervening in between is not possible. Some players might miss this, but it guarantees a smooth course of the game.
The special feature of Shadowverse is the ability to develop minions (or “servants”) from the 5th turn. This makes the characters stronger (normally +2/+2), can attack opposing minions in the same turn, or benefit from other effects. This turns every card into a double threat. Should one leave the weak 1/2 minion on the battlefield? He is no threat, but if he is developed, he could eliminate my 7/3 minion from the field…
Each player only has a limited number of developments available, which makes tactical planning essential.
Arena Mode – Like in Hearthstone, but Less Frustrating
There is also an arena mode in Shadowverse. For an entry fee, which can be paid either in in-game currency, “ticket rewards”, or real money, you can buy in. Three of the eight classes are available for selection in each run. Then, 2×2 cards are offered each time, a total of 15 times – so you build an arena deck from a total of 30 cards.
In the arena, you always choose from two pairs of cards.
With the fresh deck, you then play 5 matches against other players – no more, no less. After 5 matches, however, it is always over and the deck is destroyed. Depending on how many victories were obtained with the deck, there are different rewards. This ranges from card packs to in-game currency, so that you can also earn the next arena round again.
This is surprisingly fun! Because with each deck, you are guaranteed to complete 5 games, a loss is also not as frustrating as it can be in Hearthstone’s arena.
The Story Behind the Characters
What stands out about Shadoverse is that each of the now 8 classes has its own campaign. The story is told in the style of a visual novel and is completely voiced – either in the original Japanese or in English.
Anime fans may roll their eyes at the clichéd archetypes of the characters from time to time, but the campaigns are entertaining, free to play, and can even be completed with the standard decks that do not require additional cards, although this can become quite tricky in the later missions.
In addition, the campaigns serve a clear purpose: You fall in love with the characters and thus also with the game. The images of the respective hero are therefore much more than just the “skin” of a character, but one can identify much better with them. It is simply much more fun to play the little crazy necromancer Luna when you know her backstory!
New Update: ChronoGenesis Brings 8th Character Class
Just a few days ago (on December 28, 2017), Shadowverse received a major update that even brought a new class.
The hero Yuwan, with his Machinae set, relies on a new mechanic called “Resonance”. Resonance triggers additional effects on cards and is only active when the player of Yuwan has an even number of cards in his deck. Through various effects that mix new cards into the deck, one can activate or deactivate resonance at will.
Since Yuwan is a new hero, he also receives particularly many cards in this set to catch up with the already existing characters.
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But there are also fresh cards for the other 7 classes – thanks to 10 free card packs, even skeptical players can first get an impression.
Additionally, the update brought the new format system, which you may already know from Magic or Hearthstone. Only the last 5 card sets can be used in the ranked mode quintuple, but older cards can still be used in the “Unlimited” mode.
Shadowverse: Free2Play or Pay2Win?
The big question with free-to-play titles is of course: What does the in-game shop look like? Is the game pay-to-win? Can you still have fun and be successful as a “free” player?
The short answer: Yes, as a free player, you can have fun.
A pack contains 8 cards!
The longer answer: It depends. Those who always want to have the “best” deck will have to resort to buying numerous card packs or invest a lot of time in the game. However, Shadowverse immediately comes up with many free packs at the beginning. At the start of a new expansion, each player is offered 10 free packs of the latest expansions – without any time limit. So those who start with the game now can open about 70 card packs, which already provides many cards.
Shadowverse rewards the player at almost every corner. There are always rupies (“gold”), tickets for free card packs, arena accesses, or crafting materials to create desired cards directly. However, players already obtain a solid base of basic cards through the story campaigns.
At least after a few days of playtime, Shadowverse seems to have a very solid and fair offer in the shop.
Especially the ability to buy a solid starter deck for a few euros is something you miss in other games (*cough* Hearthstone).
Critique Points – Minor Flaws that Can Be Tolerated
Despite all the praise, Shadowverse is not a perfect game, although the points of criticism can all be categorized as “minor”.
The menus are partly confusing. Maybe I just handled it clumsily, but if I first have to search on Google for how and where I can pick up my “free card packs”, then that does not speak well for the menu navigation.
Shadowverse with German Texts and English Voiceover
Another point of criticism is the translation in the story mode with English voiceover. Occasionally, it does not match the German texts at all.
This is because the German texts were directly translated from Japanese, while changes were made for the English voiceover adaptation. Therefore, the characters occasionally say things that look completely different in the written text.
Shadowverse Review: Who Needs This? I Need This!
Cortyn says: Honestly, I had little desire for Shadowverse at first. My first (very superficial) impression was: “A Hearthstone with anime characters – who needs that?” But after about 3 hours in the game, I was clear: I need this.
Shadowverse not only impresses with its great anime style but also manages (at least currently) to banish Hearthstone far, far from my consciousness. Meaningful mechanics like development, which add additional tactical elements to the match, and the fair reward system make Shadowverse a top-notch virtual card game.
If you are tired of Hearthstone and prefer to spend your time with waifus, you should definitely check out Shadowverse.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The perhaps more exciting news is that, there should be a new “Chapter” in 2018, which means an expansion that brings 30-50 hours of fun. The chapter is likely to include a new large area, similar to Morrowind in 2017. Fans can also hope for a new class and maybe a new feature.
Spell Weaving – The feature that could change The Elder Scrolls Online
In Morrowind, the battlefields were the new feature in 2017. After years, they found their way into the game. Another enduring topic in The Elder Scrolls Online is “Spell Weaving.”
It was once conceived as an idea that players could relatively freely assemble their abilities and spells.
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This feature was first introduced by Zenimax in the summer of 2014 as a “long-term idea.” That was during the great upheaval in The Elder Scrolls Online, when everything was questioned after a rocky PC launch. The first draft back then, three and a half years ago, sounded adventurous and interesting, like a mix of crafting, treasure hunting, and morphing.
Gradually, Zenimax indicated that: Spell Weaving would take a while longer. It is not high on our priority list.
The pros and cons of spell weaving are clear: It has a lot of potential and gives players freedom. But it could become difficult from a balance perspective.
Spell crafting is an important part of the Elder Scrolls series, and many fans would love to see it. Perhaps 2017 is the time when ESO is ripe for the feature. Depending on how it is implemented, it could give ESO more of the freedom that fans love about the franchise.
Spell weaving is definitely the feature that most fans want for the 2018 expansion.
New Area?
When you listen among the fans, there are two favorites for the new area where the expansion should take place:
The swamp landscape Murkmire – home to the lizard-like Argonians. Nagas are expected there as enemies.
The second major wish is the Summerset Isles. The homeland of the Altmer, the High Elves.
Both are areas known from the Elder Scrolls series, and there are hints that ESO could expand there.
Will a new class come to The Elder Scrolls Online in 2018?
Morrowind brought a kind of druid class to The Elder Scrolls Online with the Warden, which wasn’t expected. Similarly, the outlook for 2018 is: No new class is really expected.
There seems to be no clear favorite or wish among the players for a new class. The ideas vary. Some want a kind of “dark sorcerer” in the direction of necromancer, others would like the classic monk or an illusion mage.
One can be curious about what awaits us in The Elder Scrolls Online 2018. Around spring, we should learn more about which features the expansion will hold for ESO 2018. That’s how it all started in 2017 with information about Morrowind.
A player of League of Legends (LoL) has set a new record for account level. He is now level 300. He achieved this in a highly effective and yet boring way.
For years, the maximum level in League of Legends was set at 30. That changed at the end of 2017, when Riot Games lifted the level cap and allowed leveling up. The inspiration here was indirectly the reward structure of Overwatch.
A nolifer in LoL in action
A player named “Nolife Raphael” has already pushed himself to level 300 in the last few weeks. The current second-ranked player globally is at level 244, and the third-ranked player is hanging around at 191.
“Nolife” is a term used for someone who only plays video games, does nothing else, has no job or social life, and channels all their energy into the game. “Nolife Raphael” seems to be living up to his self-chosen name.
He has reached level 300 in the probably most boring yet effective way imaginable:
He does not play on the standard 5v5 map of League of Legends, but on the small 3v3 map.
And he does not play against humans in PvP, but against bots in coop matches. So, the PvE/training mode of League of Legends, if you will.
To that, he reportedly uses two purchasable EXP boosters from the cash shop.
He describes his strategy: You play against “medium bots”, one stays on the top lane, while two others push the bot lane, for example with Tristana and Jinx. That gives about 300-330 XP.
Nolife Raphael averages just over 8 minutes to take down the opposing bots and secure a win. He seems to prefer the champion “Jinx”. That way, he plays about 30-40 matches in a row until he mixes in two or three normal LoL games for variety.
Reddit users have calculated that one needs about 791,152 experience points to level up from level 30 to 300. This corresponds to 2509 matches against bots and nearly 334 hours, excluding queue time and loading screens.
Riot wrote to him: We need a bit more time to get the rewards into the game that are due to you
Nolife Raphael leveled up so quickly that a Riot employee wrote him an email to inform him that there are no rewards in the game yet for the new level he is about to reach. They will be added later.
When asked why someone would put themselves through so many bot matches, Nolife Raphael said: At first it was boring, but over time it felt good not to have so many toxic players in the game.
A similarly intense grind was experienced by a player in Black Desert:
The new year is here and promises new, exciting MMOs and cool updates for existing online games. Here we have 5 games that will sweeten your start into the new year.
The year 2018 lies ahead of you and lures with fun online games. Here you will find a selection of 5 MMOs that we particularly recommend in January 2018. We have compiled a colorful mix of action MMOs and MMORPGs for you. Enjoy!
PUBG – It’s finally here, also for the Xbox One!
The immensely popular battle royale shooter PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) has finally officially released! The basic gameplay hasn’t changed yet. Still, 100 players parachute over an 8×8 kilometer map. There they search for weapons and gear to slaughter each other. Depending on the game mode, the last survivor or the 2-player or 4-player team that remains wins.
New maps, weapons, climbing, and Xbox release
Of course, there were a whole bunch of innovations at the launch of PUBG 1.0. Along with the obligatory bug fixes, a few features have been added that players have long wished for:
A new map called Miramar. Here you play in a desert region reminiscent of Mexico. There are more mountains and rugged terrain. Additionally, you can find special new weapons.
You can now also climb over low obstacles and vault over fences and railings. This makes the game more dynamic, allowing you to advance or take cover more effectively.
Additionally, the long-awaited early access of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds on Xbox One began. Finally, console gamers can play a battle royale game besides Fortnite.
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The lead designer of the raids from Destiny 2 talks about a terrible boss fight he just designed and how boss fights in an MMORPG like The Elder Scrolls Online differ from a shooter like Destiny 2.
In the early raids of Destiny like The Vault of Glass and Crota’s End, former journalist and WoW junkie Luke Smith was the lead raid designer. He was promoted after his good work and is now the game director. The current raid lead of Destiny 2 is Joe Blackburn.
The current raid lead of Destiny 2 comes from The Elder Scrolls Online
Before his job at Bungie, Blackburn was a designer for Zenimax and worked on The Elder Scrolls Online. His job at ESO was to design the biggest and most important PvE encounters – for both groups and solo players. He has been with Bungie since February 2015 and works on the shooter.
In a series of tweets shortly before Christmas, Blackburn explains how he had to rethink to design bosses for shooters. It becomes clear how the boss design of Destiny must differ from that of The Elder Scrolls Online to make the bosses enjoyable.
He says: The most important thing is the perspective. In MMOs, players can see everything. In shooters, they only see what is in front of them. Players need to be able to see the enemies to win. So it is crucial where players are positioned and where their enemies appear.
Blackburn had the idea for a boss fight in Destiny: In the middle of the room was the boss, and servitors spawn in the four corners of the room. They would run toward the boss. When they reached the boss, bad things would happen. Players would have to position themselves to keep an eye on the corners to spot and stop the servitors immediately.
The problem: Now there was a fight where players were constantly staring into the corner, losing sight of the boss and getting shot in the back by him.
This way, the guardians couldn’t see anything of the boss and his cool attacks because their attention was elsewhere.
Positioning and field of vision are everything in a shooter
The solution was to: Change the shape of the room and the positioning of the guardians. The boss room should no longer be a square with four corners, but a rectangle. Players on one side, enemies on the other. The servitors were arranged behind the boss.
This way, players always had the boss in their field of view and the servitors.
Now, whenever I was asking players to look at some dumb object to shoot, there was a good chance the boss was in frame. And as long as I spawned my combatants on the boss’s side of the room, both the boss attacks and my objects should be in their periphery. pic.twitter.com/blyRKAicZA
For Blackburn, this was an important lesson on how boss fights work in a shooter and that it is always important to consider what the players can really see. Today, Blackburn is convinced that the environment in a boss fight is incredibly important.
Fans may have suspected: The story is apparently about the boss fight against Vosik in the Destiny 1 raid “Wrath of the Machine.”
Apparently, Blackburn knows his craft: The raid part of Curse of Osiris is considered a highlight of Destiny 2 so far:
With Seed, the developer studio Klang Games is working on an online game that aims to offer a novel gameplay concept. Seed represents a mix of Civilization and MMORPG.
Seed takes place about 1,000 years after the Earth has been destroyed. Humanity wants to settle on a new planet and build civilizations there. And you belong to these settlers.
Not a Standard MMORPG
Seed plays differently than what you would expect from “traditional” MMORPGs. For one, you do not take on the role of a hero, but of ten. You assign actions to these ten characters. As a side effect, this is also intended to minimize grinding in the game:
One character collects resources,
another is resting,
the third is exploring a new area,
the fourth is selling goods,
the fifth is building a new structure,
the sixth is farming, and so on.
Since each player embodies ten heroes, the game world is supposed to be populated by a large number of characters.
When you start Seed for the first time, you have the choice of either joining an existing player group or trying to build your own civilization from scratch. The first option is particularly suitable for beginners, as it allows them to join a group immediately and receive tasks.
However, it is necessary to deal with the rules and laws of this group. If you want to found your own civilization, you essentially start from scratch and have to work everything out for yourself. This means you collect resources to build structures and must try to convince other players to join you.
The Sims in MMORPG
It is also important to keep an eye on the mood of your characters. Here comes a “Sims” aspect into play. If a character is constantly on the ground and cannot lie comfortably in a bed, their mood drops and they become less effective. This can even lead to alcoholism and result in laws being broken. This, in turn, can have serious consequences. If one of your characters ends up in prison, you might have to manage with one less character for a longer period. If your heroes are satisfied, they also act more effectively.
By the way, your characters will carry out their tasks even when you are not in the game. Therefore, you should always make sure that everyone is satisfied before you log out. Those who are satisfied rarely do something foolish. If something extraordinary happens, you will receive a notification, for example, via email, so you can intervene quickly.
Players Run the Economy
The developers are currently considering an interesting payment model for Seed. You pay a certain amount for each life of your character and can purchase implants. Implants and perks grant your character specific bonuses. However, these items should also be tradable on the player-driven market. This is intended to create a self-contained economy. Supply and demand will determine it. This brings a bit of the feeling of an EVE Online.
There will be battles in the game, but they are not yet implemented. The team is still working on how health points will work. The combat system will be built on that. However, combat is not the only way your character can meet their end; there are also deadly diseases in the game.
The MMORPG features a unique graphic style with few textures and low polygons.
Very Ambitious Goals
Seed is a very ambitious game. You are actively involved with a group of ten characters in founding, expanding, and developing civilizations. Your characters also act independently, and you must ensure they are satisfied. Eventually, the entire planet is expected to be dotted with civilizations managed by players, including an economic system. Seed is planned to be released in late 2018, according to current plans.
A new Fortnite version caused great trouble on December 27. In addition to missing inventories, some players also had VBuck purchases not completed. Now, Epic has responded with a statement.
Some players were quite surprised on December 27, when after installing a new Fortnite build the entire inventory was missing (currencies and blueprints are excluded). Some players also had the problem that VBuck purchases were charged, but the currency was not credited.
On top of that, there was also a problem with the Storm Shield Storage. Epic has now addressed the players in a statement – and promised compensation!
“We messed up” – Epic apologizes
The issue was caused by a faulty update. For a few players, the inventory was inaccessible, and the game overwritten old saves with the missing inventory.
Epic could not roll back the update, as this would have led to millions of players losing their progress in the meantime.
Epic admits in the statement, “to have messed up.” Such errors are the worst that can happen in a loot-based game.
Epic compensates all affected players
Even though Epic was not able to restore the missing items immediately, every affected player will receive a large number of items, based on the hours played. By December 30, every player should have their missing stuff back.
The non-processed VBuck purchases have also been handled. Epic has even given out more VBucks than were purchased.
Solutions are expected to be presented soon for players affected by the Storm Shield issues.
The Internet is full of so-called “Ships” (From English “relationship”): These are beloved pairings of fictional characters celebrated with fan arts, fan fictions, and more. No fandom is safe – not even that of Overwatch. Google has now released the most popular Ships based on search queries.
Fans love their Ships! Especially when the pairings do not exist in the canon of the fandom. It is a release for the wishes of fans, who often hope for same-sex couples.
The Top 5 Ships – according to Google
Via Twitter, Google has now created a small animated graphic that visualizes the search queries for the Top 5 “Ships” over the past 12 months. One pairing remains dominant.
One factor is certainly that McCree and Hanzo have different characters: while one is a rough, charming cowboy, the other appears noble and principled.
Furthermore, both look good – both individually and together – and thus embody an ideal. Not least, the stories surrounding the two – especially during the brawl “Junkenstein’s Revenge” – must have provided plenty of nourishment.
The imagination knows no bounds, and it is wonderful when fans can express themselves creatively and dream.
Did you expect these top pairings, or would you have seen another in the upper ranks?
Ships also dominate on Tumblr regarding overwatch:
Some Destiny 2 players are upset about the cash shop. For others, it is not the problem. But what would Destiny 2 look like with the cash shop as it was intended in Destiny 1?
The accusation is: Many items linked to the cash shop actually belong directly in the game. They could be distributed differently, giving Guardians more to do, providing them with additional objectives in Destiny 2. Currently, the items are unnecessarily locked away.
Others do not see the problem and say: Destiny 2 has much bigger concerns. The cash shop does not bother anyone.
For many, the problem is not tangible. They say: “I buy nothing in the cash shop, I don’t care. I do not understand the constant criticism of Eververse at all.”
But what would it mean if Bungie really toned down the cash shop to the extent that fans wish.
What if …?
What if Bungie took such a radical step – like Electronic Arts did with Star Wars Battlefront 2?
The website Forbes has discussed how a Destiny 2 with a trimmed-down cash shop would look, in an article that is currently being discussed in the community. In the article, they scaled back the Destiny 2 cash shop to the dimensions of Destiny 1, back to the day Bungie introduced Eververse into the game.
It shows: There is a whole lot of items free that could then be redistributed.
Destiny 2 with the cash shop from Destiny 1
This is what happens in this alternative version of the story with the various items:
Ships like the exotic “Saint 14’s Gray Pigeon” should not end up in Eververse, but be the reward for quests such as the one for Saint 14. Some ships should be given to quests by Bungie, while others could be allocated by Amanda Holiday.
Sparrows could be added to the regular loot pool – others maybe linked to the SRL if the Racing League returns. Exotic Sparrows could be tied to quests or side quests.
Ghost shells – these should be tied to the planets for which they grant a bonus. Guardians should find them in chests or the Lost Sectors of a planet.
Armor sets: These would also be removed from the cash shop. One of the 2 cash shop sets would be awarded gradually for completed strikes, adventures, and public events. The other serves as a reward for Crucible matches. The “The Dawning” armor set could be directly linked to activities of the event – allowing players to complete Snowball Strikes or Witch’s Brew matches.
Weapons and armor ornaments: These could be tied to the exotic items they belong to. Kill 200 Cabal with headshots using weapon X and you receive the corresponding ornament for that weapon. This way, each exotic item would have its own Exotic Quest.
Shaders – should return to the Destiny 1 state and be usable indefinitely. Ordinary shaders could be distributed in the game via chests or Rahool, while the legendary items would have lower drop rates.
Teleport effects: Simply apply to Amanda. The special effects could be triggered by exotic ships.
Mods – These would need a fundamental overhaul – but they are not the problem – they are already available from sources other than just the cash shop.
Emotes – These would remain in the cash shop with Tess Everis. Just like it was in Destiny 1. This can easily be sold for “only” silver.
What do you think, would this Destiny 2 be closer to a game that you would wish for than the current one?
Military MMOs such as World of Tanks, War Thunder, or Foxhole impress with detailed replicas of historical war machines and tactical gameplay. But which MMO featuring aircraft, ships, tanks, and soldiers is best suited for you?
Fans of tanks, aircraft, warships, and soldiers have it tough. Several high-quality military MMOs are competing for the favor of virtual commanders:
Should I, as a tank fan, prefer War Thunder or World of Tanks?
Are the arcade air battles in World of Warplanes worth my time?
And is it worth starting Foxhole?
We have compiled a list of 7 military MMOs and explain whether they fit you or not.
War Thunder – How realistic should it be?
War Thunder (PC, PS4) by Gaijin Entertainment is a military MMO that should appeal to many players. Because here you get wild aerial battles with historical aircraft, fierce ground battles with tanks, and soon also naval battles with fast patrol boats and destroyers. There are even combined battles where aircraft are involved in ground and sea engagements.
War Thunder also offers three levels of realism:
In arcade mode you can shoot to your heart’s content.
In realistic mode, enemies are not marked, and g-forces affect your aircraft.
In simulation mode, you might struggle to take off without much practice or to keep your tank on the road for long.
A highlight of War Thunder is the dynamic damage system. You and your opponents do not have fixed hit points. Rather, you must specifically target components such as wings, engines, ammunition storage, crew, or fuel tanks for destruction. So it may happen that you can endure for a while, but with just one lucky hit, you might go down immediately.
Love detailed vehicles from World War eras and the Cold War
Want to try realistic game modes
War Thunder is less suitable for you if you:
Prefer fights that are strictly divided by weapon types. In War Thunder, aircraft can always appear.
Prefer a fixed, predictable hit point system
World of Tanks – Tactical battles with tanks
World of Tanks (PC, Xbox, PS4) by Wargaming is the leader among tank MMOs and has millions of players worldwide. The game principle is simple: Two teams of various types of tanks face off against each other, shooting each other to bits in a mix of tactical lurking and swift advances or capturing mission objectives.
Each tank is accurately modeled and corresponds to historical prototypes or is based on twisted ideas and prototypes. Each tank has specific characteristics and hit points. The damage model is thus static.
There are no combined battles with other weapon types, such as aircraft or infantry. However, you get plenty of tank action!
World of Tanks is perfect for you if you:
Are totally into tanks from the world wars and shortly thereafter. WoT has hundreds of them!
Prefer a mix of tactics and action that is easy to learn but hard to master
World of Tanks is less suitable for you if you:
Want combined battles with aircraft, ships, or soldiers
Don’t like the static damage system and would prefer more realism.
Armored Warfare – Tank battles with modern warfare and PvE
Armored Warfare (PC, PS4) by My.com is a tank MMO that heavily borrows from the gameplay of World of Tanks. However, you will only drive modern vehicles here. If you want to drive current battle tanks like the M1A2, Leopard II, Challenger II, or even the brand-new Russian T-14 Armata, Armored Warfare is the right choice.
You also get modern weapon systems like smoothbore cannons and guided missiles. If you prefer to compete only against other players, you can play Armored Warfare in coop missions with teammates against the AI and grind through the game.
Armored Warfare is perfect for you if you:
Want to utilize modern tanks and their weapon systems
Enjoy playing PvE rounds with your friends
Armored Warfare is less suitable for you if you:
Want combined battles with aircraft, ships, or soldiers
Don’t want the static damage system and would prefer more realism.
World of Warships – Epic naval battles!
World of Warships (PC) is like World of Tanks by Wargaming and brings the successful gameplay of World of Tanks to the high seas. Instead of tanks, it’s about large warships from the world war eras. You will navigate destroyers, cruisers, heavy battleships, and even aircraft carriers across the oceans and shoot at each other with guns and torpedoes.
Since ships rarely stand still, the battles are more dynamic. However, the ships can endure much more damage and thus can afford prolonged exchanges of fire. World of Warships therefore offers fun for fans of tactics as well as action.
World of Warships is perfect for you if you:
Appreciate dynamic battles with large ships
Enjoy the easy-to-learn World of Tanks gameplay with ships
World of Warships is less suitable for you if you:
Want combined battles with aircraft, ships, or soldiers
Don’t like the static damage system and would prefer more realism.
Foxhole (PC) places you as a simple soldier in a fictional, persistent game world. A war is raging that is inspired by World War II. You decide which side you want to be on and participate in massive battles with hundreds of players. However, you are just a small soldier in a huge army.
You control your fighter from an overhead perspective and can move freely in the game world. To win, you must act as a team, provide weapons and vehicles via the supply system, and participate in large joint operations.
Foxhole is perfect for you if you:
Are all about teamwork
Have always wanted to be part of a large military operation
Foxhole is less suitable for you if you:
Want to be something special and not just an interchangeable soldier in a mass army
Are not interested in logistics and supply
World of Warplanes – Arcade air battles
Wargaming’s third “World-of” game World of Warplanes (PC) lets you pilot aircraft in wild air battles. Unlike War Thunder, it focuses on arcade action without much realism. You fly around with aircraft from the world war eras and shoot down enemies. If you get shot down, you can respawn after a while.
To win, you must bomb enemy positions and then capture them by flying over. In this way, you can unlock bonuses in battle.
World of Warplanes is perfect for you if you:
Enjoy straightforward arcade action with aircraft
Like playing the easy-to-learn World of Tanks gameplay with aircraft
World of Warplanes is less suitable for you if you:
Don’t want to play just with aircraft but prefer combined battles.
Would rather have realistic aerial combat without respawns and a static damage model
Naval Action – Sail ship ahoy!
Military confrontations on the high seas occurred long before the world wars. The 18th century was full of wild battles between sailing ships that bombarded each other with broadside from their gun decks and engaged in fierce boarding maneuvers.
In Naval Action, you control such majestic sailing ships. The developers place great emphasis on realism. Since sailing ships have no engines, you must pay attention to the wind. Additionally, the weight of your cargo matters, and different types of cannonballs are differently effective.
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Additionally, there is a complex economic aspect. You build a trading guild and trade across the oceans, conquering areas for optimal markets. Similar to historical trading organizations like the East India Company from Britain. Naval Action is currently available for PC as an Early Access game on Steam.
Naval Action is perfect for you if you:
Want to engage in realistic battles with sailing ships
Also enjoy some kind of economic simulation in the 18th century
Naval Action is less suitable for you if you:
Prefer modern ships and weapons
Want only arcade action with ships and have no desire for realism and trade.
Which monsters from Generation 3 hatch from the 2km, 5km, and 10km eggs in Pokémon GO? In this overview, you will find out.
In December, Niantic brought many monsters from the Hoenn region to Pokémon GO. Trainers now have a greater selection of Pokémon that they can catch in the wild or receive as rewards from eggs.
But which Pokémon hatch from which egg type?
Gen 3 Egg List
In the first days after the release of Generation 3, trainers have been actively on the move. The community is curious about which monsters are hidden in the eggs now and is therefore hatching many eggs.
PokéStops in Pokémon GO often give trainers eggs. These are categorized into 2km, 5km, and 10km. If you cover this distance with an egg in the incubator, a monster from the first, second, or third generation will hatch. We already have an egg list for the Pokémon from the first and second generation:
Now it is being investigated which monsters from Generation 3 are in the various egg categories.
First results are already being collected by the communities of TheSilphRoad and PokémonGOHub. Keep in mind that the list may change in the future due to further reports from trainers. Last update: 31.12.2017
The graphic for the overview and the title image of the article was created by our reader Dorothea. Thank you!
Which Gen 3 Pokémon hatch from 2km eggs?
Electrike
Carvanha
Numel
Castform
Wailmer
Wingull
Zigzagoon
Which Gen 3 Pokémon hatch from 5km eggs?
Azurill
Eneco
Flemmi
Treecko
Mudkip
Swablu
Shroomish
Surskit
Cacnea
Lotad
Makuhita
Shroomish
Snorunt
Shuppet
Spoink
Zangoose
Which Gen 3 Pokémon hatch from 10km eggs?
Bagon
Swablu
Trapinch
Sableye
Currently, further research is still being conducted on which other Pokémon are hidden in the eggs. We will regularly update this list and keep it current for you.
Why not slash through hordes of monsters as Serious Sam or Duke Nukem? Wild Buster: Heroes of Titan makes this partially possible. We took a close look at the Steam reviews and put the MMO-ARPG to the test in a preview.
We have examined the new sci-fi MMOARPG Wild Buster: Heroes of Titan for you. What do the Steam reviews say? What does the game have to offer? Additionally, there is a preview report from Benedict that highlights the pros and cons of the fast-paced action game.
What is Wild Buster: Heroes of Titan?
Since December 14, 2017, Wild Buster: Heroes of Titan has been in Early Access on Steam. The base version of the game costs €22.99.
In Wild Buster, MMO elements meet a fast-paced hack’n’slash combat system.
First, choose which side you want to fight on: Guardians or Abandon. After that, you have twelve unique classes (six per faction) to choose from, with which you are supposed to save the planet “Titan” from the aggressive cyborg race, the Broken.
Players experience the game from an isometric perspective, or a tilted bird’s-eye view. You can expect lots of dungeons where hordes of monsters are waiting to be defeated by your attacks.
A German localization for Wild Buster is expected to follow soon. The Early Access will last about four to six months and will bring regular updates.
The release version of Wild Buster is expected to offer even more heroes as well as additional dungeon types, better graphics, guild halls, fully voiced story scenes, WASD and controller support, cooking and fishing, housing, and much more in the game.
Mostly Positive Feedback on Steam
The Early Access of Wild Buster is already well received on Steam.
Many players positively highlight the action-packed combat system. Skills respond quickly and provide a lot of fun during the challenging boss fights: Here, your dodging skills are also required. If you don’t dodge the powerful attack of the overpowered enemy, you’ll take the full brunt to the face and lose a lot of HP.
Furthermore, the easily understandable quest system receives praise, guiding you clearly to the next task instead of having you wander around the world.
However, criticism points include linear levels with few visual details. Others criticize that the skills do not differ strongly enough and feel similar. Wild Buster could still improve on this front.
Many testers point out the Early Access state of Wild Buster in their criticisms: The game is in Early Access, and this is evident in many situations. So don’t expect a miracle game when buying Wild Buster. There are still many smaller updates needed, which testers believe should focus on fine-tuning.
Overall, the ratings on Steam are positive. 77% of the 53 reviews give a thumbs up.
In summary: The game has a solid foundation and works well. However, it still needs some polishing to make it smoother, for example. Players also complain about the lack of difficulty: Levels are too easy to get through.
The First Impressions of Wild Buster: Heroes of Titan
What our author Benedict thinks of this sci-fi MMO with a touch of “Diablo” is shown in his preview:
I was initially skeptical of Wild Buster: Heroes of Titan: An isometric ARPG with a dystopian sci-fi setting. The story told by the intro sounds unexciting. Humans colonize a planet, alien cyborgs warm them up, humans flee and fight back.
It became interesting once the actual game began. There are two factions: Guardians and Abandon, which from the start prepares for a PvP aspect that I had not encountered in the genre before.
I briefly compared the factions, listened to the stories, and explored possible paths, before I joined Abandon and started an Undertaker. Big scythes, melee combat, and magic—right up my alley!
Note that this is the beginning of the game. I have not yet had access to raid dungeons for up to 15 players or PvP tournaments.
The Good Sides of Wild Buster
Diverse Class Selection
The biggest plus point from my perspective is the variety that Wild Buster offers. Each of the factions currently has six classes to choose from, which offer diverse play styles and different skill sets. There are no equivalents in the other faction, making each class unique.
Fun Gameplay
What I noticed right away in the tutorial is: The game is fun. Like every ARPG I’ve played so far, Wild Buster also grabs my desire to game. It is easy to learn and offers what I expect from games of this genre: Looting and leveling. And of course, tons of enemies that I can introduce to their maker.
The controls are intuitive and the gameplay is fluid. Even with a weak computer and high ping, I got at least 30 FPS with many enemies. I rarely experienced lag. Overall, it isn’t hard at the beginning to get the upper hand on the enemies.
Accessible and Enjoyably Challenging Boss Fights
As far as I have progressed in my hours of gameplay, the game flow is also quite clear. I usually know where I need to go and what to expect there. If I have difficulties, a yellow marker shows me the way. Foolproof.
However, the game is pleasantly challenging at certain points. The regular boss fights are already quite tough, and if I don’t constantly dodge or use potions, I quickly meet my end. Group play is certainly even more exciting!
The Bad Sides
Serious Sam and Duke Nukem are Just Skins
During my adventures, I also noticed some weaknesses in Wild Buster. In character selection, I desperately searched for Serious Sam and Duke Nukem, which according to the game description I should be able to collect and level as “unique heroes.”
At first, I thought: Perhaps they are not available for the Abandon. A quick check confirmed to me: The Guardians do not have these classes either. After a brief search, I found my prestige objects for the Founders, Deluxe, and Collector’s Edition rather hidden in my mailbox.
Among these prestige objects were: Duke Nukem and Serious Sam – as costumes for the Titan Trooper and Wild Commando. Both are classes of the Guardians, thus not available for the faction I chose.
A pretty big disappointment that grew even larger when I realized that other than appearances, nothing changes about the character. Currently, skills and equipment match standard classes. According to the FAQ, some implementation changes are expected by the release.
Linear Levels and Little Variety in Quests
These maps are linear. There is exactly one way with no alternatives (not even dead ends) and no exploration options. I fight my way through enemies to the final boss. That’s it.
The quests are almost identical for each map – or dungeon. Kill 50 enemies, kill the miniboss, kill the final boss. Occasionally I get to rescue prisoners (for whatever reason a assimilating cyborg race takes prisoners…). Everything else is always the same.
The Story and Game Progression
I am greeted as “Noob” and am supposed to take on the “tasks of a Noob”. No problem, after all, I am one. But this obviously includes saving outposts and battling overpowering forces alone. As much effort as the developers put into the classes, they have skimped on the story.
As soon as I enter a new area, I am supposed to finish three maps that remind me of simple dungeon runs. No matter where I go, I’m supposed to help some outpost not to perish. After the second map of the second area, I stopped reading the quest texts. They are simply not interesting.
I would have liked to make things more interesting by increasing the difficulty requirement. But that doesn’t work either. I play on the difficulty level “Training”, which means “The enemies die even if you are AFK.”
I only receive higher difficulty levels after completing the game at the preceding difficulty level. This was the case in Diablo before, but Blizzard realized that this is not a good idea. Why copy bad models?
Conclusion in Wild Buster Preview: There’s Still Something Missing
Wild Buster: Heroes of Titan is fun, but the long-term motivation leaves a lot to be desired. At the moment, Wild Buster is in Early Access, but it needs more than just fine-tuning to reach the next level to succeed as a full-price title. However, the developer promises to deliver plenty of content before the release. We will keep an eye on that.
The current state is playable and passes the time, but if you approach it with the expectation of receiving a finished game, you will find more entertainment elsewhere for your money, I think. In particular, the promise of video game heroes that currently do not exist is questionable.
For fans of quirky characters, wild ideas, and an ARPG with influences from Shadowrun and Borderlands, Wild Buster is worth considering. However, I would still advise waiting a bit. Unless you want to support the development of the game, which is still in Early Access. Wild Buster has potential that is currently still untapped.
Have you tried Wild Buster yet? What is your impression of the MMO-ARPG?
Join our Destiny quiz for the year 2017! Do you remember what happened in Destiny 1 and Destiny 2 this year?
2017 was an eventful year for Destiny. In the first half of the year, many players’ Guardian journey in Destiny 1 came to a calm end. In the fall, new adventures began in Destiny 2. And in between were months of announcements, teaser trailers, and testing phases for the sequel.
Now the year 2017 is coming to an end. 2018 is just around the corner. It’s time to reflect on the events of the past months!
This time our “Destiny Year in Review” will take place as a quiz – so you have something to do before the New Year’s celebrations begin. Do you remember what happened in 2017?
Diligent Mein-MMO readers, who are already the biggest Destiny specialists, should be able to answer most questions without any problems. Have fun with it:
Help, how does this quiz work?
You start the quiz by clicking “Start Quiz” in the top window. A total of 20 questions are waiting for you, with each question having four answer options. Choose an answer. You will then receive immediate feedback on whether you are correct. If you are wrong, the correct answer will be highlighted in green. Additionally, you will see what percentage of readers chose which answers.
The quiz is not sorted by difficulty, so easy and hard questions are mixed together. There are also tough nuts included that lie far outside of everyday Destiny knowledge.
Whether you use Google to answer the questions is ultimately up to you. You will only skew your own results – and cheat yourself.
Feel free to let us know in the comments how many questions you were able to answer correctly after the quiz!
Happy New Year, Guardians!
If you struggled with this quiz or have recently become a Guardian newbie, then you can find the basics of Destiny 1 and Destiny 2 here:
