RPG | GAMERamble

Handheld Reviews

PoPoLoCrois

There is a lot on offer here and this is the first time that the series hits western shores, but unless you are a hardcore fan of Japanese role playing games you can safely give this one a miss. The visuals are dated, the gameplay very generic and the amount of random encounters coupled with the loading times makes this game a chore to play at times.

Gameplay: Dated and bogged down by long load times and plenty of random encounters.

Graphics: Definitely very retro.

Sound: Very average

PC Game Reviews

Enclave

It might be a typical console port, but Enclave has enough action to keep players hooked. Don’t play this one for the puzzles as you will be disappointed, but if you want some nice hacking and slashing you can’t go wrong.

Gameplay: A typical console port but still fun.

Graphics: Very good for their time.

Sound: Epic music score and decent voice acting

PC Game Reviews

Dragon Age: Origins

While many claims have been made that this is the spiritual successor to Baldurs Gate, I think Dragon Age has enough to it to stand on its own. Its, got some flaws but overall it is a superb game that should be played by all RPG fans.

Gameplay: Bioware always comes through with compelling role playing games and this one is no exception.

Graphics: Clearly held back somewhat by the consoles, but still good.

Sound: Great voice acting and stirring music

PC Game Reviews

An Assassin in Orlandes

Tin Man Games have done a great job porting over classic gamebook adventures, but this is their first attempt at bringing something brand new to the table. With its fantasy setting and interesting storyline, An Assassin In Orlandes definitely feels like it could have originated from the same era as gamebooks like The Forrest of Doom. However, it is a very enjoyable and gripping tale in its own right. The heavy reliance on dice throws and luck might annoy some players, but thanks to the “Casual” mode, this is an adventure that can be enjoyed by anyone.

Gameplay: The story is quite good, but prepare yourself for plenty of dice rolls to test your luck.
Graphics: Faithful to the look of the old gamebooks, but we would have liked to see more illustrations.

Sound: The audio remains fairly mellow and unobtrusive throughout your adventure

PC Game Reviews

Starship Traveller

Starship Traveller offers a nice departure from the usual swords and sorcery settings that the gamebooks are known for. It is a science fiction tale that borrows heavily from Star Trek, but packs a lot of humor as well. Completing the story requires a lot of luck or trial and error, which might annoy some players. However, it remains entertaining and engaging throughout, even if the replay value is not as great as we would have liked. Still, you can’t really go wrong with its low asking price and it is worth it for the nostalgia factor alone.

Gameplay: Lots of reading along with the occasional choices and dice rolls.

Graphics: A couple of nice full color drawings add some flavor to the text.

Sound: Not many sound effects, but the music capture the mood nicely

PC Game Reviews

Stonekeep

It was a very long wait for gamers back when Stonekeep was first announced until it was released, but it was also worth it. The game is fun to play, although some role playing purists might bemoan the lack of character customization. Stonekeep features a long quest, with plenty of great characters, but is hampered somewhat by slightly tedious combat and endless corridors that look the same. If you don’t mind the slow pace and the fact that the visuals are definitely showing their age, then you will have a lot of fun with Stonekeep.

Gameplay: A fun dungeon crawler with a better than average storyline.

Graphics: Obviously dated now, but back in its time the enemies and special effects were brilliant.

Sound: The voice acting is surprisingly good and the music is nice and atmospheric

PC Game Reviews

Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness

The Ultima series provided the world with some truly groundbreaking games over the years and it is great to see the humble roots of such an excellent series. This EGA version has been given a new visual coat of paint compared to the monochromatic original, but still looks archaic compared to modern titles. However, the gameplay, although simplistic, can still entertain if you are able to look past the limitations. Whether you want to play it for nostalgic reasons or simply see what all the fuss was about, Ultima 1 should definitely be owned by all retro fans and RPG aficionados.

Gameplay: Truly great for its time, but obviously it is very simplistic by modern standards.

Graphics: Once again good for its time, but time hasn’t been too kind.

Sound: Nothing more than noise

PC Game Reviews

Princess Maker 2 Refine

It has been quite a long wait, but Princess Maker 2 Refine is finally available to western audiences. There is no denying that it is a very niche title and still has a couple of rough edges to smooth out, but it is still a very addictive title with plenty of replay value. Prepare to lose at least a couple of hours when you get hooked on this game.

Gameplay: Very stat heavy, but once you get the hang of how things work it becomes extremely addictive.

Graphics: The visuals have been spruced up, but still look a little dated compared to more modern titles.

Sound: Nice tunes and full Japanese voice overs

Kickstarter Watch

Vigilantes By Timeslip Softworks

After releasing Deadstone, one of the most enjoyable top down shooters of 2014, Timeslip Softworks is back with a Kickstarter for their latest title, Vigilantes. This time they have turned their attention to the turn-based strategy genre and have set their sights quite high. Vigilantes is influenced by genre classics from the 90s, such as Jagged Alliance, X-Com and Fallout, but breaks out of the mold with a unique theme and setting

News

Winter Wolves Releases New Dating Sim RPG Hybrid Queen of Thieves

Longtime fans of indie developers, Winter Wolves, might remember a little game called “Queen of Thieves” that was announced way back in 2011. The good news is that the game is now finally available on desktop platforms, with a Steam and mobile release also around the corner. It is a dating sim/RPG hybrid, with an optional “visual novel” mode for those who are not fans of role playing elements