Where Nerds Byte

PC Game: Torchlight

2009-10-30T16:50:00.009+08:00

PC Gamers have a new button-mashing-click-fest game! And it's a good one at that. Runic Games' very own 'Torchlight'.

Pros:

Learning Curve is low. If you've played Blizzard's Diablo series, then you don't have to unlearn anything at all. In fact, almost everything is the same... except it is executed with style. Identify Scrolls, Waypoints, Town Portals, item sets, skilltree system, etc.

Pet assist! Your pet (a tough looking dog, or cat) fights along side you. Heck, it even has it's own inventory, limited item slots for accessories, and its own spell slots. Yes, it can learn practically anything. This little 'arf arf' could send a fireball at enemies. It can also pick up items on your behalf, take frontline, or 'defend' mode... and even sell items for you! This one feature I like. Along the way, you will also see 'fishing pools' to .... well ... err.... you know.. fish. Apparently, fish is better than gatorade in this game since it can grant your pet various power ups, or transformations, albeit for a limited time.

Enchant! Before throwing your gear away you might want to consider just enchanting it. Its not that expensive, and it saves you the hassle of grinding for equips.

Music is topnotch. Diablo series music guru Matt Uelman composed the scores used in this game. Nuff said.

Cons:

Obviously, a game like this is bound to have CONS. But surprisingly, its not a lot of things that I have a gripe with.

Single Player. Yeah... bummer, right? But I believe they have an MMO project already in the works for this.

Enchant System. While its a pro... its also a CON since it can be abused. While there is also a very slim chance of failing (and if you're really unlucky, have all attributes disenchanted!)... it is not enough to balance out it's ridiculous success ratio. Me thinks this will be remedied in future patches.

LARGE MAPS! Even with the aid of a minimap, it still is a freaking large walk... specially true in the goblin area, and dwarven undercities.

rPG. Yes, the R in RPG, takes a backseat in this game. No, wait... it's actually non-existent. Don't expect multiple response options, or plot depth. It's as subtle as a cat's intentions towards your goldfish.

3 Characters. Much like Diablo I, you have an option of playing 3 characters, Destroyer aka. Warrior, Vanquisher aka. Rogue, and the Alchemist aka. Wizard/Summoner/Druid. All classes share a couple of skills, some get it earlier than most. Among the common skills are Crit rate increase, armor mastery, and 'adventurer' skills. There are a couple builds possible for each, but don't expect to be dazzled by it. Though the builds are good, it doesn't have a lot of variety.

Final Judgment: Excellent game. Worth playing... for a week or so. But don't expect to play it for 50+ hours.

Here's a teaser of the Vanquisher class (the one I'm currently handling now).

Cheers! And have fun playing!

Mood: Bring it!
Listening to: 'Canon' Rock, by Funtwo.

Yet Another Edition of DND.

2008-02-11T21:37:00.000+08:00

Old news really. But somehow I've got nowhere else to write about it but here.

I have just reviewed the 'preview' book for 4e: Races and Classes, and after spending a good hour reading its 90 pages, I couldn't help but be in awe.

In awe for the daunting work Wizards of the Coast must have put into making it... in awe, because yet again, I have to relearn the game which taught me to dream, and create.

Well, it's been a decade since 3rd Edition first hit the printers, now another one looms on the horizon. It will be this June, that geekdom will then again receive its new RPG.

Naysayers, and it's faithful have gone on a fullscale debate whether the game will rock... or suck. Who's to say really, no one will ever be able to determine the outcome of the product until it is right in our hands.

If I must take sides about this, I must say that I have been playing this game long enough to admit, that WotC's acquisition of TSR's rights over DND was the best thing that happened to the game. Whether we like it or not, the reason why TSR didn't fare so well is because it didn't know how to market the game!

I remember many years ago, before PC Rpg made its debut... I remember playing DND. And it was so hard to teach new people the game. Hard enough to remain in obscurity.

With 4e just around the corner, WotC has let go of a promise:

The game will still use the d20 System.
There will be an SRD.
Faster gameplay.
Each level will have equally meaningful options. No more dead levels.
Simplified game system. Yes, you're still rolling a d20, but the rules behind it will be much more simpler.
The rules will be simpler, and DM'ng preptime will be decreased.
Classes will now have equal opportunity at options. Combat for fighters in 3e, were not much different than any other encounter. "Power Attack, Whirlwind Attack, or Spring Attack".
'Feats' will retain its usefulness throughout the levels of your character.

What I like about 4e's premise is the goal of cutting down prep time for the DM. God knows the Dm could use some 'free' time for other things... oh, I don't know... Real Life, maybe?

As of now, WotC is still showing previews on their webpage. To the non-geeks, the website is here.

And to close this off, I took the liberty to add in WotC's 4e Teaser.

And yes, he's a French Geek. And NO, I don't want his babies.

Enjoy.

Another Blog...

2008-02-11T20:54:00.000+08:00

What the hey... I figured I already tried writing, I might as well get into the IT thing where every nerd would eventually find himself doing...

Blogging..

I do have a sorry-excuse-of-a-blog already but somehow I found the space somewhat stiffling. A bit too compact... the space on that service made me a bit claustrophobic.

Nerds: an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits

I don't know about the 'inept' part, but I think I have the other things down to an art. Ha!

It will be my aim, to torture you, my readers with a somewhat regular stream of half-baked opinions about the world, biased interpretations of world events (whoever THINKS they are unbiased are only fooling themselves), and lots of geekiness on the side.