Review: Dungeon Defenders

Most gamers will attest that an entertaining story is one of the most important things to be found within a video game. The way characters interact and change throughout a game can be, well, moving. However, there are some games that simply don’t need to do too much on this front due to addicting gameplay. Trendy Entertainment’s Dungeon Defenders is a great example of how core mechanics can more than make up for the lack of an epic tale.

Dungeon Defenders is a downloadable title (available on XBLA, PSN, and PC) that is one part tower defense and another part RPG. The player is put into the role of one of four classes that most gamers should be familiar with: Apprentice, Huntress, Monk, or Squire. Each class has their own specific abilities that allow them to contribute to the overall task of eliminating all of the monsters that invade the screen. For example, my Apprentice named Akamu is able to cast powerful spells to hit enemies from afar, where my friend’s Squire named Sabyr is able to construct giant barriers to protect us.

The cartoony look and amazing effects in Dungeon Defenders create an entrancing world.

As you conquer each round the number of baddies grows, and the sheer amount of them can become overwhelming. Level designs start out pretty basic, but continue to become more complex as you journey on. Communication is absolutely key when playing Dungeon Defenders; think of it as the Portal 2 of tower defense games. Players must talk during the build phase to protect the almighty Eternia Crystal, as well as when their barriers become damaged. Mana gained from killing opposing forces is used to build and upgrade more barriers.

Even though the task of every level is ultimately the same, Dungeon Defenders still managed to hold my interest throughout my play-through. The way players must work together to take down a horde of enemies is entirely satisfying. Knowing that the success, and demise, of your team depends on how well you work together makes each round exciting. There is also the surprise factor of finding loot that is spread throughout the levels. You’ll find yourself constantly upgrading your equipment and weapons in the middle of rounds.

Your character stats and loot can be found within a series of intuitive menus.

While Dungeon Defenders is an overall great experience, that’s not to say that it is without its flaws. One of my biggest complaints of most RPG titles is that the loot you acquire doesn’t actually change the look of your character. Sure, the weapons do change, and the effects of them are pretty amazing most of time, but the fact remains that other gear doesn’t. The spells that my Apprentice casts are incredible looking, and I just wish that the other gear applied to my character did too. I understand it’s a daunting task for the developers, but I’d gladly do with a smaller pool of gear if it changed my look. That would add to the great sense of player customization that is already seen in the game. Imagine running into players online who are donned in a full purple outfit because it is the rarest of items. You would be pretty impressed!

One smaller complaint is that I feel like the Squire class is a bit overpowered. In an online match, our high level Squire set barriers at most of the major pathways, so there wasn’t much else for the rest of the group to do. He insisted that we sit back untouched by the enemies, which isn’t the most exciting strategy. I feel like the classes could rely on one another more equally.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Dungeon Defenders packs so much content that is hard to believe it is a downloadable game. The blend of tower defense and RPG elements make for an amazing cooperative experience. An intuitive interface and sexy presentation will help draw in even non-fans of the genre(s). The design is unique enough to set itself apart from other games set in similar worlds. Traditional RPG elements like loot hunting and leveling up will keep players coming back for more… and more. All of the above combine to make Dungeon Defenders a great game that will reward you for venturing through the castle walls for hours to come.

RATING: 9.0/10

Amazing!

Dungeon Defenders is available now on Xbox Live Arcade for 1200 Microsoft Points, and PlayStation Network and PC for $15. You can try the demo, purchase, and queue up your downloads here!

Dev Diary: The War of the Worlds

Other Ocean Interactive and Paramount Digital Entertainment today released a new developer diary to celebrate the upcoming launch of their latest XBLA/PSN/PC game. The new downloadable title, The War of the Worlds, will be available on Xbox Live Arcade on October 26th. Release dates for PSN and PC services are forthcoming. More information about the game can be found below the video.

The War of the Worlds Details

• Developed in conjunction with Paramount Digital Entertainment, The War of the Worlds is a dark and breathtaking new vision inspired by the classic H.G. Wells novel, retold as a single player, 2D action-adventure and narrated by the acclaimed and distinguished actor Sir Patrick Stewart. Set in London, the gameplay narrative parallels the timeline and events from the 1953 movie adaptation, but introduces a new story arc, characters, locations, and sub-plots. With gameplay paying homage to classic cinematic platformers such as Flashback, Out of This World and Prince of Persia, the game follows the exploits of an unknown everyman struggling to escape the Martian invasion of London and rescue his family. Forced to think through insurmountable odds, players will outsmart an army of alien tripods, spiders and drones as they make their way through a landscape of total devastation.

• The War of the Worlds will be available on XBLA October 26th for 800 MS Points ($10.00). For more information about The War of the Worlds, please visit www.waroftheworldsgame.com or visit the game’s official Xbox page at http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/The-War-of-the-Worlds/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258410b64.

BloodRayne: Betrayal Review

BloodRayne: Betrayal stars Rayne, a half Human half Vampire hybrid known as a Dhampir. In this installment she’s been recruited by the Brimstone Society to investigate why vampires have been gathering en masse. What lies in wait is 15 chapters of challenging fights, aggravating jumping puzzles, and surprisingly little explanation as to what happens with the story.

The first thing that is noticeable about the game is the graphical style. It’s far-flung from the other games set in the BloodRayne series and is much more akin to it’s fellow side-scroller Shank, though with a more Gothic tone. It’s very nice to look at and, despite the fact that the backgrounds are repeated ad nauseam, they are very detailed and add to the gameplay experience and the overall tone of the game.

When it comes to the story there isn’t much to go over. The Brimstone Society recruits you to hunt some vampires. That’s about it. There are only two characters introduced in the game, though one returns from a previous BloodRayne game despite being dead with no explanation as to how he is alive here and now, and the other is shown to us throughout the game like we are supposed to know him but I’ve never seen him before, nor has Rayne. A few ridiculous bosses and some expected story twists later and you are at the end credits. The story is easily the weakest part of the game. There isn’t even a good point in the series to insert this game in, meaning this game is most likely non-canon.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the soundtrack is easily the best part of this game in my opinion. From the splash screen that you see when you go to load up the game, all the way to the end credits, there is some fantastic music going on. Throw in the fact that when you enter a secret code you even unlock an 8-bit soundtrack which also sounds fantastic and you’ve got yourself a great musical experience. I give a big hand to the game’s composer Jake Kaufman. Fantastic work Jake! Fingers crossed that the soundtrack is available for download soon because it really is that good.

Finally, we come to the gameplay. Word around is that this game is hard, but that’s not exactly true. This game is challenging. There is a difference between the two and this difference becomes evident as you actually play the game. When you first load it up you might start tearing your hair out as enemies literally decapitate you and chuck your body all over the screen. Once you make use of the dash button(L2), and trust me you will use this button more than you can imagine, you should adapt to the game’s playstyle and quickly turn the tables on your adversaries.

Final Thoughts

When I first started the game I didn’t like it, aside from the music, but as I played more I warmed up to the game. Sadly it can’t keep my interest as to really want to go back and get the highest rank on every stage, which is very difficult I might add. Overall a $15 price tag feels a tad too heavy for this game and $10 feels much more appropriate. People have said this is much like Castlevania. To that I say go spend $10 on Castlevania Symphony of the Night and pocket the remaining $5 and you’ll have a better experience.

Final Score: 6.5/10

SkyDrift Receives Official Launch Date

Digital Reality today announced that their upcoming flight racing game, SkyDrift, will launch for both Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network on September 7th, 2011 for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). SkyDrift puts players in the cockpit of one of eight planes (with over 30 skins), as they battle for first place in this insane arcade racer. More information about the game can be found below.

Details About SkyDrift

“SkyDrift is more than your typical arcade style racing game,” says Péter Nyester, SkyDrift Producer, Digital Reality. “Our team worked hard to deliver realistic, cutting edge graphics that are visually stunning, which really transform the overall feel of the gameplay. Skydrift combines all the best elements of arcade-heavy games with stimulating graphics and smooth game play – creating the ultimate racing experience.”

Dominate against the deadliest opponents in the most spectacular exotic locations from all around the world. Choosing from 33 racing events on several reversible, living tracks, players will compete against opponents in single player or multiplayer challenges with up to eight players- the possibilities are limited only by your own imagination! Become the master of the sky with challenging achievements, collectable rewards, and tons of tactical power-ups that range from offensive and defensive in nature and can be stacked with other power-ups. The goal is simple: if you can’t overtake them, shoot them down!

For more information about SkyDrift, please visit the official website at http://skydriftgame.com and YouTube page and then follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Rock Beats Everything!

Developer/Publisher ATLUS and ACE Team today announced that their latest downloadable title, Rock of Ages, will be available for the Xbox Live Arcade platform on August 31st, while a PlayStation Network and PC date are forthcoming. A new trailer for the game has been released, which reminds us all that rock beats everything, while also paying homage to many classic gaming moments! ATLUS and ACE Team describe Rock of Ages as a “balls-to-the-walls game of tower offense featuring fast-paced strategy, high art, and gigantic boulders.” It looks like a very interesting concept, and I’m loving the destruction aspects showed off in the trailer.

Fresh screenshots of Rock of Ages can be found on our official Flickr page. For more information on the game, please visit www.atlus.com/rockofages.

Dead Block Receives DLC

Candygun Games today announced that their Xbox Live Arcade title Dead Block has received its first set of downloadable content (DLC). Dead Block puts players in the shoes of one of four individuals, as they try to eliminate and survive against waves of zombies. The first piece of DLC features four new locales to explore, including: a Motel, a Turkish Bath, an Office building, and a Slaughterhouse. All four new levels are available in both single player and four player offline co-op. The Dead Block DLC is available now on Xbox Live Arcade for 240 Microsoft Points.

Dead Block is available now on Xbox Live Arcade (800 Microsoft Points) and PlayStation Network ($10). You can read our review of the game right here. More screenshots of the new DLC can be found on our official Flickr page.

For more information, please visit the Dead Block website at www.deadblock.com, follow the characters on Twitter, subscribe to the YouTube channel and ‘Like’ the game on Facebook.

Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon Release Date

345 Games has announced that their latest downloadable venture, Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon, will be available on the PlayStation Network on August 30th, and Xbox Live Arcade on August 31st. The title, based on the popular animated series that airs on Comedy Central, will retail for 800 Microsoft Points ($10 on PSN). More information about the game can be found below in the official press release.

• The time has come to pound the pavement and save the earth from impending doom!  345 Games, the video gaming arm of COMEDY CENTRAL and Spike TV, announced today that its upcoming shooter “Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon” will be launching for PlayStation®Network on August 30 and for Xbox LIVE®Arcade August 31 for a retail price of $9.99.   Published by COMEDY CENTRAL Games and developed by Backbone Entertainment, this hilarious game unites the humor and spirit of the popular animated comedy-horror series “Ugly Americans” with classic and addictive dual analog shooting gameplay.  The game features all of the voice actors from the show, a script penned by the show writers and original characters created by the show creator Devin Clark.“It won’t be too much longer until gamers everywhere can get their hands on the first COMEDY CENTRAL branded arcade game,” said Dan Yang, general manager, 345 Games.  “We’ve been working hard to infuse ‘Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon’ with a combination of addicting gameplay and the comedic sensibilities that has made the show such a success.  We feel that we’ve created an original and memorable game play experience.”With four-player top-down co-op gameplay that hearkens back to such classics as Gauntlet and Robotron, “Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon” features four playable characters, each with their own unique abilities, weapons and strengths.  Players must comb the streets of New York City and pacify raving demons, delinquent man birds and zombies by lactating fire or hurling wacky objects like flying demon skulls, fish, baseballs and wrenches.  Investigate case files from the Department of Integration and battle devastating and distinctive bosses at the end of each mission, each bringing you one step closer to finding out who is trying to bring about the end of days!“Ugly Americans” Airs On Thursdays At 10:30 P.M. On COMEDY CENTRAL.

  “Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon” will be available for $9.99 or 800 Microsoft Points.

  For more information about“Ugly Americans: Apocalypsegeddon”, please visit the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/uglyamericans

  Available in 99 million homes nationwide, COMEDY CENTRAL (www.comedycentral.com), the only all-comedy network, is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of Viacom Inc.’s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit Press Central, COMEDY CENTRAL’s press web site at www.comedycentral.com/press and follow us on Twitter @ComedyCentralPR for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

Review: Dead Block

In Candygun Games’ 1950’s inspired game Dead Block, you play as one of three characters: a construction worker Jack Foster, an overweight boy scout Mike Bacon, and a traffic warden Foxy Jones. Each character has a special set of traps and secondary attacks that you use as you move through a set of buildings that are being invaded by zombie hordes. Traps like Jones’ massive bomb are placed in windows and doorways while the other AI characters scavenge through items scattered throughout the level in order to find a speaker, amp, and guitar. Unfortunately, the set up for Dead Block sounds a lot better than how it actually turned out.

Jack values his brain

One of the main side objectives is searching through globes and cacti to locate items (like keys and coins) that can be used to advance you through each level. You’ll find yourself looking through books for bolts (to build more traps) and obliterating a bathtub with a wrench (to collect more wood for blockades). However, the core mechanics of the game become too repetitive, too fast, ultimately making you do the same thing in each of the ten single player levels. There is no way around it, this will be the most action your B button has ever gotten, as you’ll be spamming it to break up all kinds of furniture. To search through items in the environment, you’re required to alternatively pull the left and right triggers. My biggest complaint is that none of this feels very fun. There are so many objects in each room that your main goal of finding the equipment to rock out becomes tedious and boring.

That’s not to say that Dead Block is entirely a mess. I actually found myself digging the vibe set up by the introductions to each level and the basic idea of a more goofy (and strategic) zombie tower defense game. For example, if you don’t keep a close eye on the windows and doors around you, an overbearing number of zombies will be creeping up on you in no time. I was surprised by how smart the AI is, though having them traverse around on their own would have been more helpful. There is some change in the game play when you are given the task of killing X amount of zombies before activating a giant zombie killing machine. I found this deviation to be more enjoyable than the main game, as I felt that I could pretty much experiment and play the level however I wanted. The inclusion of different traps, weapons, and a multiplayer mode (local only, unfortunately) may keep some players coming back until they explore everything the game has to offer.

Foxy is one bad mamma jamma!

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Dead Block is a great example of an idea that sounds great on paper (or a story board), but fails to deliver when attempted to be fully realized. I feel as though the game could have greatly benefited if the campyness or zombie elements were better explored. More variation in the game play and better controls would have made the less interesting parts somewhat more bearable. The ending is abrupt and lacks any sort of climax to make the player feel rewarded for making it to the finish line. As it stands now, Dead Block suffers from a set of good ideas that drag along and are never fully brought together to make a core experience worth recommending for the asking price.

RATING: 4.0/10

Dead Block is available now on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). You can try the demo, purchase, and queue up your downloads here!