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Project Copernicus World Fly-Through

May 18, 2012 by

In the wake of yesterday’s post I am very excited to see a Project Copernicus world fly-through video just released today (30 minutes ago)!  I’ve read statements in the news today that Project Copernicus has a June 2013 release date, but I haven’t seen or heard anything official.  Whatever the case may be, I’m going to take this as a sign of good news.

My thoughts on the video are simple: I love the world so much.  I wrote yesterday how Reckoning is a good game, but it’s the world of Amalur that has made me a devoted fan.  This video definitely reenforces my feelings.  The diversity of environments, the color, and the details of Reckoning appear to be present in Project Copernicus.

I would love to hear from someone at 38 Studios about how much of the world in Copernicus will be familiar to Reckoning players.  Will we go to some of same places at all or should we expect Project Copernicus to be set in a completely different region?  I think this ties in to the questions I have about how much of the world was done prior to 38 Studios acquiring Big Huge Games.

Definitely check out the video, and let’s all hope this means we have a lot more to look forward to from 38 Studios!

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Reckoning Impressions Part 2

February 9, 2012 by

Killing rats is fun when they're this cool looking!

I want to update you guys with more of my Reckoning Impressions.  I’ve logged over 10 hours with the game which is far fewer than I would like, but I’ve been cramming for a midterm.   My pure mage is coming along awesome.  I have some very powerful spells now like my upgraded lightning, a passive chain lightning component, some fire executions, a summoned skeleton, a heal, and soon some ice shards.

Reckoning’s combat is still winning me over.  Combat is very action-packed, but don’t get the impression that it’s all crazy swinging and spazzy.  Combat feels very thought out.  If mobs get close, I’ll staff attack them with three attacks to cause an ice push-back.  When they’re at range, I’ll continue attacking with my chakrams.  If the mobs gang up on me, I have my fire and lightning to bring down larger numbers.

Dodging and blocking are thoughtful as well.  I’m learning to intelligently dodge attacks to give me better positioning for attacks.  Blocking at the right moment parries, giving me the chance to either roll away or strike them with my staff.

Reckoning mode makes fights much easier. Try to save it for when you need it most.

The stories in Reckoning have received mediocre reviews from some sites.  I’d challenge those sites by pointing to their reviews of Skyrim, which was not docked for side-quest mediocrity when the quests read nearly identical.  In my opinion, both games have good quests.  I just finished a quest line in Reckoning where I tried to figure out who was behind attacks on a village.  The story started out simple but culminated with a great boss fight and a great reward.

I don’t want to compare Reckoning to Skyrim all the time, since they’re quite different, but Skyrim is a newer RPG that many are still playing or contemplating playing over Reckoning.  Reckoning feels more ‘pick up and play’ than Skyrim.  One reason I haven’t progressed as far as I would like in Skyrim is that I get discouraged when I realize to get anything done in-game I have to sit for several hours.  I can hop on Reckoning for an hour and get things done.

Yes, Reckoning is more linear than Skyrim.  The world has a slight funneling feel.  I would argue, though, that the world of Reckoning is very large and given how much of the map I’ve explored vs. how much more I have to go, I’d say it feels as big as Skyrim.

More to come.

[If you're looking to buy Reckoning, Amazon has the PC download version 15% off.]

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Initial Reckoning Impressions

February 7, 2012 by

I am head over heels for Reckoning!   I enjoyed the demo, which you can read all about, but I have to let people know that the retail version feels even better.  The controls are more responsive, the framerate is higher, and many sounds have been improved.

I’m playing the PC version via STEAM with an Xbox 360 controller.  I have no issues to report with performance.

Keen the Dokkalfar Mage

I made a Dokkalfar that I am playing as a pure Mage.  What I already love about my character is how awesome his combat feels.  I’m a Mage, but I’m busting out all these staff spins with fire attacks and throwing my chakrams around like Xena (eeeee lalalalala!).  Combat is so fluid!  Not only can I do all those attacks, I can chain them into combos that flow seamlessly together.

My magic abilities are very strong.  I’ve specialized into max lightning stuff with points into reducing mana costs and upgrading arcane weapon attacks.  I feel unstoppable!

Chakrams! Eeeee alalalalalal

Monsters in Reckoning look great.  I haven’t come across a single dull looking mob.  Even the bears have a look about them.  The brownies might be my favorite so far.

I’ve worked my way through several mini dungeons, plenty of forest, many quests, found epic items, and stumbled upon some amazing sights.  Amalur is beautiful.  The combat feels slick, but I think the world is what really has me in a trance.  I like to walk around zooming into the view that lets me look around.  I look up, down, zoom in on textures, and simply admire my surroundings.  At least 30 minutes have been spent just drooling at a beautiful world.

Another great thing about Reckoning is replayability.  I’m avoiding evil choices and trying to play how I envision a Dokkalfar mage would play.  I’m already certain I can go back and play a second time and enjoy the game from a different perspective.   There are also a lot of side quests that I have essentially followed to the point of completely ignoring the main story line.  I might be able to ignore some of the side quests and focus on them during a second play-through.  I’ll have to investigate that more.

 

I only have a few complaints with the game so far.

  • Why can’t I be one of those awesome Gnomes?!
  • Can’t jump
  • Sometimes camera angles are wonky

I hate bringing everything back to MMORPG’s, but Reckoning -is- acting as an introduction to a property that will become a MMORPG in the future (Copernicus).  My friends might be sick of me saying “Why can’t MMORPG’s play like this?!” on Ventrilo.  The sad reality is, RPGs are eclipsing MMOs for me.  MMOs just aren’t giving me the levels of “WOAH! AWESOME! FUN!” that I can find in RPGs.  38 Studios may be the ones to save MMOs for me if they can deliver a MMO on par with Reckoning.

Reckoning is a winner; that’s a conclusion I can draw with only five hours played.  Like I tweeted within the first hour of play, Reckoning is the most fun I’ve had gaming in months.

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On the eve of Reckoning, Boo goes for the eyes

February 6, 2012 by

I think it’s time for a catch-you-all-up blog post.  I’ve been bouncing around the past few days playing a little of this and that, and also researching games and awaiting a few on the horizon.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Reckoning launches for me in just two hours!  I pre-ordered via Steam and Graev will get his copy delivered to the house in the morning because of Amazon’s free release-date shipping.  He decided to get the Xbox 360 version, and I went with the PC version.  I’m going to use a Xbox 360 controller, though.  I really didn’t like the PC controls at all, but the controller felt natural.

I think I’ll be going with a Mage and may branch out to Mage-Fighter if the pure magic doesn’t do it for me.  I’m currently debating normal mode vs. hard… that might be a last minute decision.  I’m completely beside myself with anticipation.  Lots of us on Ventrilo plan to talk while we play, and even the guys who don’t usually play RPG’s are excited to play after they tried the demo.

"Stand and deliver, that my hamster might have a better look at you."

Baldur’s Gate II

Back in December we both picked up BG2 from GoG.com.  We installed the game along with some mods that improve the functionality (but keep the game true to ‘vanilla’) and finally managed to get the multiplayer working.  We’ll be playing through one of the greatest RPG’s ever made together for the first time.

We both have nightmares of getting the game to work on our old PCs.  It proved to be difficult again as we realized you have to run the game in window mode and sometimes use Gameranger to establish a connection to each other.  It works, though, and we’re ready to begin our epic adventure.  Graev went with a Ranger and I went the Mage route.   We got into the game, troubleshooted our issues, and have everything set and running beautifully. I can’t wait to get explore.

Go for the eyes Boo, GO FOR THE EYES!! RrraaaAAGHGHH!!!

Guild Wars 2

My excitement for Guild Wars 2 is growing as my friends begin to hype videos.  I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea of “no end-game” in Guild Wars 2.  GW2 is sitting on the fence between themepark and pseudo-sandbox (my made up term for games like EverQuest and Dark Age of Camelot).  It wants to be both, and it can be if done correctly.  I’m anxious to see how these public quests truly impact the world.  Regardless of the PvE or progression content, I’m very curious to learn anything I can about the PvP.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

I’m sad to say that most of my friends have cancelled their accounts.  I want to keep playing, see the content, and make the game last.  It’s just not happening for me.  One of my friends, Evalissa, is a major alt-aholic, but she’s expressed her disinterest in making alts.  I feel the same way.  I have no desire to make a character and see the game again.

SWTOR was a fun leveling experience, albeit one with moments of dull sprinkled throughout.  If I had to deliver a final verdict right here, right now, it would be that SWTOR is a 3 monther.  I expected it.  I planned for it.  I was very clear upfront with myself and all of you that I was going into SWTOR to play it like a Bioware RPG.  Mission accomplished.

I’ll keep playing as long as enough of my guild members log in to do content together.  Do I dislike playing? Nah, I’m just not motivated.  At most, SWTOR is a bridge allowing my to cross the void until GW2.

 

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