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Fall under the spell of Spellfall
Spellfall (free with in-app purchases) is a puzzle game with RPG elements where you try to match three or more tiles to damage enemies. Players have a certain number of turns to defeat enemies. If they fail to do so, the enemies take their turn to attack. When you run out of health, the battle ends and you're awarded with coins and points. Of course, if you win you get more. Spellfall is compatible with iPhone 4S and up, iPad 3rd generation and up, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPod touch 4th generation and up. Spellfall requires iOS 5.0 or later. Spellfall is a puzzle game with gameplay reminiscent of Puzzle & Dragons, but with more RPG elements such as an item inventory system and spells instead of monsters. Players can use coins to purchase armor, weapons and spells. For example, if you purchase and equip the heal spell equipped, you need to match water tiles to power it up and use it to heal yourself. This spell was very helpful in a lot of the battles. You can equip multiple spells which means you will have to switch out which one is active in order for it to use it. Some spells can be used offensively and others are used defensively like the poison spell. The power of these spells felt appropriate for each level. The heal spell was the most helpful in a lot of cases but there were times where more offensive abilities would be best. After defeating enemies, items are unlocked in the store which you can purchase with virtual coins. After making a "purchase," you must equip that item to use it. Parts of the inventory's user interface are hard to understand because they are not very intuitive. The blue cross button on the right side of the screen is confusing as it is used to show you what items you have equipped, but we can also see this on the inventory page itself. The small box at the bottom of the screen is also a little confusing as its shape suggests you can spin the words to cycle through them, but instead it is a tap function. It can be difficult to progress in Spellfall when you are badly injured through battles with enemies. As your health is very low, you are even more susceptible to every enemies' attacks. It takes a lot of decisive actions and knowledge of each enemies weakness to progress further when injured. There is an option to use coins to heal yourself but this usually wasn't something I had a lot of when playing. You can also wait a certain amount of time to be healed, but these were very long waits of 30 minutes; it didn't seem like a fair amount of time to wait. Another option is to pay real money for coins to exchange for health and keep playing. I found it hard to keep going without a lot of health but this challenge was entertaining and kept me playing in hopes of getting further. This method is not recommended for those who don't have a lot of patience or don't like doing the same battles over and over again. Spellfall is a puzzle game that challenges players to take advantage of each enemies' weakness and utilize spells in order to be victorious in the demanding battles of this tile matching game. Spellfall is available on the App Store for free and is recommended for people who are looking for more challenges in their puzzle games.
Jessica Buchanan08.18.2014
Puzzlfy is great fun for all
Puzzlfy is an iPad only jigsaw puzzle game where you can make your own puzzles either from photos or video. There are a few options to make puzzles out of video and photos provided by the game but the real fun is taking your own photos and making puzzles out of them. Puzzlfy works on iPads running iOS 7.0 or later. Players can choose to either make a puzzle out of the stock videos or images or use their personal photos and videos. This is a great feature that shows the customization options available. Stickers are also available to be used on each puzzle which adds another layer of fun and keeps puzzles from getting boring as there are numerous different combinations for each image and video. When you use your own photos, the replay value becomes virtually endless. There are four different difficulty levels to choose from in Puzzlfy: super easy, easy, medium, and hard. This is great for broadening the age groups that can play this game. Super easy and easy are very similar modes with the only difference being that in super easy mode pieces still snap into place even if you don't get the piece exactly in the right location. Another way of changing the difficulty is by toggling the puzzle silhouettes and puzzle piece outlines on or off. This brings new challenges to the typical jigsaw puzzle especially when you don't have outlines to follow. The difference in difficulty between medium and hard was rather abrupt when compared to the difficulty increase between easy and medium. Hard mode has a lot more pieces and at times it is difficult to see the puzzle outlines to know where to put pieces. However, the puzzles are still enjoyable at every level. At the time of reviewing, there is a section that says "more videos coming soon." Currently, there are only two videos provided by the Puzzlfy, so more videos are a welcome addition. Another feature that is a little bit lacking in amount are the stickers; currently there are only four categories to choose from and the "more stickers!" button at the top does not do anything at the moment. The stickers could also use the ability to resize them as they would meld better with the pictures in the background if you could scale them and maybe even rotate them. This gives more personality to each puzzle but even without this addition, Puzzlfy is still a very fun game. Puzzlfy is definitely geared toward children with its playground music and occasional "hello" sound effect. The bright yellow buttons and purple background similarly echo this kid friendly vibe. However, adults can still have fun with Puzzlfy especially when you take into account all of the different puzzles you can make from your own photos. It is great for people who want a creative use for the photos they have taken besides just posting to their walls. Puzzlfy is available for free on the App Store. Whether you are a parent wanting a fun game to entertain your child or an adult just wanting a whimsical puzzle game to unwind with, you will still enjoy Puzzlfy.
Jessica Buchanan08.16.2014
QUBE sequel squaring up for PS4 with Project Morpheus support
Toxic Games is building a sequel to its late 2011 physics-based puzzle game QUBE. Dubbed QUBE², the sequel is in development for PS4, the studio announced via PlayStation Blog. The first-person follow-up will include refined mechanics and new puzzles along with a "tightly-woven narrative" that expands the series' universe. The "definitive version" of the first game, QUBE: Director's Cut, arrived on Steam in May. The upgraded version added a new story to the game, a sore spot for our review of the original edition. QUBE: Director's Cut is still planned for PS4, PS3, Wii U and Xbox One. It's unclear what platforms QUBE² will target other than PS4, but it will be powered by Unreal Engine 4 and support Sony's Project Morpheus virtual reality headset. [Image: Toxic Games]
Mike Suszek08.14.2014
Line Up Tiles is simple fun
Line Up Tiles is a fun yet simple puzzle game where you try to match lines of tiles in three different modes. Reminiscent of how a Rubik's Cube moves, each line of tiles moves in one direction either horizontally or vertically. When you match at least three tiles of the same color, those tiles disappear and new tiles are added to the top of the board. The more tiles you match, the more points you get. Line Up Tiles is compatible with iOS devices running iOS 6.0 or later and is free. Three modes take the stage in Line Up Tiles: timed, moves, and endless. In the timed mode, players have 60 seconds to match as many lines of tiles as possible. It's fun to go up against the clock for a new high score. The moves mode gives the player just 30 moves to make as many matches as possible. It's more laid back as it isn't timed. Plus, you can focus more on making big combinations for lots of points. Finally, endless mode starts with 60 seconds on the clock. You can earn more time by making matches. I found this to be the most exciting way to play. The only downsides of Line Up Tiles is that there is an ad that stays at the bottom of the screen permanently. It's mildly distracting, but doesn't affect gameplay. The slide tiles control sometimes causes problems because your finger moves over the tile you are trying to line up and overshoot the tile's location. The art style is very clean and resembles a basic color chart with bright colors and clean separation between the tiles. There is no music, which is a little weird. The sound effects in the game are a nice addition and fills in the atmosphere of the game with game show style sounds. There is also Game Center integration so you can compete against friends to try and get the highest score possible. Line Up Tiles is a very simple and clean puzzle game that offers players challenges in three different modes. There is even the option to challenge friends to beat their high score. This game is great for spending a few minutes of downtime during lunch or a break. Line Up Tiles is available on the App Store for free and I would recommend it for people who need something fun to play in short bursts.
Jessica Buchanan08.14.2014
Sticking to the rules in Rules!
Rules! for iOS is a very fun but challenging game about following and remembering rules in a sequence in order to clear a tiled board. A variable time limit adds excitement and ups the challenge. The game is compatible with all iOS devices running iOS 7.1 or later and costs US$1.99. The game works by presenting the player with the first rule which is to tap numbers in descending order. That's simple enough, but then a new rule is added: tap only green tiles. So clear the board of all green tiles (rule two) and then tap the rest of the tiles in descending order (rule one). From there, a third rule is added. Get it? Rules! Is a game that challenges your mind by testing your ability to remember the order of rules and recall that information quickly. You must also decipher which of the tiles matches the particular rule you are working on. There is the option to add color indicators, which may help some players distinguish tiles easier. However, I often times found the indicators were more confusing than helpful. After several levels a new element is introduced: the birds, which signify playing the rules in reverse order. For instance, you start the game off by tapping tiles in descending order but after the birds are introduced, you tap tiles in ascending order. This switched up the gameplay and helped refresh the game. The tiles are also placed in the level in a random order so even though you will always be doing the same rules in order the tiles will differ in each level. This really keeps you on your toes and keeps the game from being stale. Bonuses are awarded if you follow each rule perfectly with no mistakes in the level or if you're speedy. When you complete a level, the immense feeling of accomplishment pushes to player to keep trying to achieve an even higher level and score. The music is pleasant but a bit repetitive. Sound effects add depth, however, the clicking sound when you tap a tile seemed a little out of place. The art style has a clean minimalistic feel with a few cartoonish characters. Rules! is very entertaining and the art style adds personality to the basic simple mechanics. The gameplay is also what make Rules! so addictive because the player will want to challenge themselves to beat their previous score and advance toward the next rule. Mindlessly tapping will not get you through this game, you have to be constantly thinking about what you are doing. The time limit helps reinforce this behavior. Rules! is a really well done puzzle game that challenges the player while still being fun and exciting. It is US$1.99 on the App Store and worth the download.
Jessica Buchanan08.12.2014
SpinIn is a rock solid sliding puzzle game
SpinIn is a challenging sliding puzzle game on iOS. The goal is to move stone tile pieces to create a pathway for a gem piece to fall through an opening. It features puzzles that usually contain three or less pieces. The difficulty level of each puzzle varies. Some puzzles are easy to solve. Others will leave you scratching your head trying to figure out the right sequence to get the gem through the opening. It is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch running at least iOS 5.0. SpinIn is really easy to get into with its simplified controls. There is also an option to use tilt controls for those who like more movement in their puzzle games. At the end of each completed level, you are shown how many steps it took to solve the puzzle and how much time you spent in the level. There is also an indication of what the minimum number of steps to complete the level. This is a great addition to the game as it encourages players to solve the puzzles faster and more efficiently without being domineering about it. The replay button is nice to for reliving a challenging puzzle that you mastered. You can even share a picture of the level you completed with friends on Facebook, which can add some competitiveness. The sound effects were good and enhanced the atmosphere of the game. The sound of the stone being moved and hitting the sides of the wooden container is a nice touch, which made the sliding feel more real. The user interface in SpinIn has small text on a stone background, making it hard to read. However, the game itself is very clean and the backgrounds have a nice aesthetic. After you complete the first twenty-four puzzles, you are given an option to either buy the next puzzle pack or unlock stages over time release. This common mechanic in a lot of mobile games does not work very well for this type of game. In a puzzle game like SpinIn, I'd rather be actively playing new levels without having to come back at a later time. Having to stop and wait to play another puzzle takes away from the experience and disrupts the flow of the game. Because of this, players might find themselves tempted to close SpinIt and go play something else. I wouldn't blame them for doing that, but I would return to this game because it is easy to pick back up and offers a nice challenge. You can challenge yourself with SpinIn, free on the App Store.
Jessica Buchanan08.11.2014
Bicolor proves simple doesn't mean boring
Two colors and a single shape -- apparently that's all it takes to create a fantastic iOS puzzle game. That's all Bicolor really is, but I absolutely can't stop playing it. It's the kind of game you'll beat your head on the wall over, simply because you'll wish you had thought of the game yourself. Each level in Bicolor presents you with a rectangular play area populated by square spaces of a lighter color that stand out in contrast from the darker hue of the background. Your job is to cover all the spaces so that they are the same color as the background, and you do this by swiping your finger over them -- but there's a catch. You can only color a certain number of spaces, and only certain spaces can be used as starting points, and on top of that, there are also lighter colored spaces that need to be expanded either before you being canceling the out, or as you play out each level. If this sounds unreasonably confusing, I promise you it's much more easy to grasp when you go hands-on with the game, and the simple mechanics become second nature in no time. What never becomes easy, however, is wrapping your head around each level, as the seemingly endless number of color, number, and layout combinations means you'll never see a similar level twice. The App Store reviews for Bicolor call it "brilliant" and "addictive," and I couldn't agree more. It's the perfect relaxation game. The puzzles demand your entire attention, so with every fiber of your brain tossing around possible solutions, the problems of the day tend to fade away. It's just fantastic. There are 240 levels, which is more than enough to keep you busy for weeks, and since Bicolor is priced at just US$0.99, that's a bargain you really can't pass up.
Mike Wehner07.22.2014
Bricks puts a new spin on the old block-busting genre
Putting a new spin on an established game mechanic isn't easy, and when you're talking about a game idea as simple as bouncing a ball off of a block, innovation is even more difficult. But against all odds, the new iOS game Bricks manages to pull it off, thanks to simple motion controls, a gorgeous aesthetic, and a relaxing vibe. Unlike most block-busting games, Bricks doesn't simply stack of a bunch of destructible blocks in front of you. Instead, the objects you need to hit are arranged in a huge ring around your ball, and tilting your phone causes the ring to spin. This means that even a handful of blocks can give you problems, especially if your sphere is zipping around at a particularly high rate of speed. Thankfully, you have a bit of control over how quickly your ball moves, as each level starts with you physically flinging the ball around the play area. If you send it on its way gently, you'll have an easier go of things, but if you're looking for a challenge you can zip it extremely fast. As the levels fly by you'll be introduced to a bunch of items and features that will change the way you approach each level. From portals, layered blocks, shields, and temporarily indestructible objects, your skills will definitely be put to the test. Each level is procedurally generated, meaning you'll never go through the same collection of levels twice. This leads to endless replayability, as your selection of levels is essentially infinite. That's a pretty crazy value for the game's US$0.99 price tag. The game's musical score is also a treat, with relaxing tunes that won't stress you out, even if the gameplay itself does just that. It helps make the game a nice kick-back-and-chill experience, rather than a game you'll want to play in short bursts. The only drawback is that thanks to the game's motion controls, it plays better if your phone is laying on a flat surface, which isn't always ideal for your posture. Regardless of that, Bricks is a definite must-buy for App Store veterans and newbies alike. You'll learn it instantly but spend many hours trying to outdo yourself.
Mike Wehner06.25.2014
The Swapper pushed to August 5 on PlayStation platforms
Sci-fi puzzler The Swapper will now reach PlayStation platforms August 5 in North America and August 6 in Europe, Curve Digital announced this week. The developer handling the PlayStation versions now has "extra time to polish the Vita and PS3 versions of the game, which have required extra optimization," it noted in a press release. Originally developed by Facepalm Games, The Swapper was initially expected to arrive on PS4, PS3 and Vita in May, then was delayed to late June. The game focuses on a gadget that allows players to create clones of themselves, swapping between each one in the exotic environment built from clay. Facepalm's original PC game arrived on Steam in May 2013, earning the developer a spot on our December list of 20 studios players should get to know. [Image: Curve Digital]
Mike Suszek06.19.2014
Guild Wars 2 starts Season 2 of the Living World on July 1st
It's happening, all right. Season 2 is coming to Guild Wars 2 starting July 1st, meaning that we've got a month of what will no doubt be teasers, hints, and taunts. That image above is a teaser. If you stare deeply enough, you may be able to uncover its mysteries. For within its depths lie... well... who knows? No, seriously, we don't know either. It could be anything. Speculation has already begun, but that first image is all we have to go on for certain right now, and that means... what? Take a gander at a larger version of the image just past the break and start your speculation engines. Or just wait a month if that's your speed.
Eliot Lefebvre05.28.2014
QUBE: Director's Cut spins a new story on Steam, 15% off
QUBE: Director's Cut is now available on Steam, and is 15 percent off ($8.49) until Wednesday, May 28. The Director's Cut edition features a new story and additional puzzles, and is described by developer Toxic Games as QUBE's "definitive version." It also adds a ten-level time trial mode and Oculus Rift support. The original version of QUBE first arrived on PC in December 2011, and our review of it noted that game wasn't strong on narrative, but acted more as a "delightful on-screen Rubik's Cube." The first-person puzzler draws many comparisons to Valve's Portal, and has players moving blocks to solve puzzles with increasing difficulty. QUBE: Director's Cut will launch on PS3, Wii U and Xbox One "throughout 2014." [Image: Toxic Games]
Mike Suszek05.21.2014
Google's new Chrome experiment lets you remix the Rubik's Cube
Sure, you could spend a while trying to solve the Rubik's Cube in Google's new Doodle, but that may get a little dry. Google was clearly prepared for that eventuality, though: it has just launched the Cube Lab, a Chrome experiment that lets you build your own internet-based puzzle. So long as you're good with modern web code, you can produce a unique Rubik's Cube with its own artwork, effects and even logic. The 808 Cube is all about music-making, for instance. Even if you're not a programmer, it's worth checking out the ready-made Lab examples to have some fun. We just wish we'd had this when we were kids -- it would have kept us playing with Rubik's Cubes long after the original got buried in the closet.
Jon Fingas05.19.2014
Symmetrain challenges your one-handed reflexes
iPhone games that you can play with one hand are a dying breed. It seems like flashy graphics and complicated controls are all the rage these days, and playing a game with just one thumb is a rare treat. Symmetrain is just that kind of treat. You know those old "spot the difference" puzzles, where you have to compare two drawings and figure out what changes from one to the next? That's essentially what Symmetrain is, though instead of comparing two static images, you need to spot the differences between the scenery on one side of your train and the other. Everything needs to be symmetrical -- hence the name, of course -- so if you see a spot where a tree should be, you need to tap that spot to score points. Alternatively, if you see an object that is not duplicated on the other side of the tracks, you can tap that object instead of the blank space. Either way, the points are the same. You are penalized for missing things, which isn't much of an issue early on. After a while your train begins to pick up speed, and that's when things become a bit more difficult. With less time to compare the objects speeding past, both spotting and tapping the differences becomes much more difficult. It can get a bit frustrating when you can see your mistakes coming but can't react quick enough to avoid them, but the rewarding feeling you get for clearing a section perfectly is worth the occasional feelings of rage. There are several trains to unlock, and each one performs differently and travels through a specific area, so there's plenty of content here to keep you busy. The simple controls are easy to learn and there's really no learning curve here, so you can jump right in without worrying about being uncomfortable. The hand-drawn art is visually pleasing and the soundtrack is both relaxing and memorable. There's nothing particularly flashy about the presentation, but the important thing is that it's fun, and Symmetrain nails that aspect without issue. For US$0.99, it's a great one-handed game that is perfect for all ages.
Mike Wehner05.15.2014
The Bridge crosses over to Mac, Linux next week
The Bridge, an M.C. Escher-like logic puzzler from developers Ty Taylor and Mario Castaneda, will expand its reach on Steam to Mac and Linux next week. The IGF Student Showcase winner will be available on Mac and Linux on May 16 and will be compatible with SteamOS and Steam Machines as well. The Bridge is a 2D puzzle game where players manipulate gravity to "redefine the ceiling as the floor," all while exploring 48 levels with layouts that seem architecturally impossible. It first arrived on Steam for PC in February 2013 before finding a second home on XBLA in November. The game is SteamPlay-enabled, so those that already own a copy of it on PC get it for free on Mac and Linux. [Image: Ty Taylor]
Mike Suszek05.12.2014
Rescue a civilization of adorable citizens in the dreamy world of Kiwanuka
The best word I can find to describe Kiwanuka is "abstract." This physics-based puzzle game is more demanding than many in the genre thanks to the all-or-nothing puzzle solutions and total abandonment of a hint system that has become commonplace in the App Store. From the cutesy characters to the strange music, you wouldn't think the various design decisions would work together, but they somehow do. Kiwanuka means "God of Lightning," so it's fitting that a giant beam of electricity is your primary tool in the strange game world. With your powerful staff you must guide your followers safely from the start of each level to the goal at the end, at which point a new character appears that unlocks the next stage. You control your group by moving the lightning bolt around the screen. Drag the beam off of the edge of a cliff and your followers will join you in jumping off the end. Drag it straight upwards and your followers will form a giant tower which can be toppled to the side to create bridges from one platform to the next. The mechanics are all very simple, but the puzzles themselves are definitely not. As you can imagine, the early levels are extremely basic but quickly ramp up in both length and complexity. Adding to the difficulty, large glowing sections of each level will instantly end your game if they are touched. It soon becomes a game of precision and tiny, deliberate movements are needed to prevent an untimely game over screen. The game looks amazing with its flat textures and bright colors, and the fluid movement of your dozens of companions as they move about the screen is charming and eye-catching. A relaxing audio score fits the mood of the desolate environments while providing a bit of added tension to the already stressful puzzles. Once you learn the tricks -- which, admittedly, can take a good deal of time on its own -- you'll likely speed through the game's 30 levels rather rapidly. There's no real scoring system or additional objectives, since each level has one solution and one goal, but what's here is a blast to play. At US$1.99, it's a fantastic buy that will keep you smiling for at least a little while. I really hope some more levels are on the way, as there's essentially an infinite number of puzzles one could come up with for a title such as this, but we'll have to wait and see.
Mike Wehner05.12.2014
The coolest jigsaw puzzle ever
Putting together a massive puzzle using multiple iPads looks like it would be a ton of fun... now what bank will let me take a loan out for it? [Photo credit: Nate Bolt]
Mike Wehner05.10.2014
Bridge Constructor Medieval doesn't fix what isn't broken
"Don't fix what isn't broken" is good advice for iOS app developers. If you have a formula that works, stick with it and ride the success train as long as you can. That's what Headup Games has done with the Bridge Constructor series. With their original Bridge Constructor title already a huge hit on the App Store, they didn't change much with the release of Bridge Constructor Medieval. That's a very good thing. As with the the first game, Bridge Constructor Medieval tasks you with constructing bridges of various sizes and types in order to allow people to traverse large gaps in the road. To do this, you are given various construction materials such as wood planks, log support beams, stone pillars, and so on. Using the touchscreen to plot out your structure, you must provide adequate support for the ultimate test. When you think you've built a brilliant bridge it will be put through its paces. Unlike in the first game where cars and trucks were your main threat, the medieval theme sees foot soldiers and horse-drawn carriages making their way across the gap. If your bridge is bogus, it will collapse and you'll have to try again. While the main mechanics of the game remain the same, Bridge Constructor Medieval adds a bit of a story element. To get you started, the story begins with a rogue army rampaging through your kingdom and destroying the bridges along the way -- this, of course, is where you come in. As you progress, a few more story tidbits are thrown your way, but they're more like icing on an already fantastic cake than a proper narrative. Like its predecessor, Bridge Constructor Medieval is a ton of fun and an extremely unique take on touchscreen puzzlers. It's relaxing in its no-nonsense approach to building and testing your structures, and the feeling of triumph it offers makes it worth the hours you'll put into brainstorming and plotting out the various bridges along the way. At US$1.99, it joins the original Bridge Constructor as one of the best puzzle games on the App Store.
Mike Wehner05.08.2014
I was having a lot of fun with this iOS game, and then it rained
Every time I think I've seen the last, best new puzzle game idea, another game comes out of nowhere to blindside me. You wouldn't think a concept as simple as catching drops of rain in buckets could translate into a gripping puzzle experience, but you'd be wrong. '... and then it rained' is just such a game, and it's both relaxing and brutally punishing at the same time. You are in charge of seven different color buckets, and your only task is to make sure the various colorful drops make it into the corresponding receptacle. To do this, you drag the buckets around the screen so they line up correctly. That's it -- that's the entire game. At first, the drops come slow and evenly spaced. It's a cakewalk, and the first couple of levels are very easy. Things start ramping up pretty quickly, though, and before you know it you're bumping incorrect buckets into the path of the wrong drops, managing two buckets at once, and lining up your entire seven-bucket row for a full seven drops at one time. Each time you successfully catch a drop your bucket gains points and will eventually get larger and larger. This not only gives you a larger score at the end, but can also be burdensome as there is less space between where the drops originate and where you eventually catch them. All the while, a pleasant storm soundtrack plays in the background. Like one of those relaxing nature sounds tapes, it is extremely soothing and does a good job of calming frustration. But the drippy-drop sounds can only do so much, and once you find yourself staring at a "Game Over" screen there's a good chance you'll have some rage built up. It's all very Zen-minded, and thankfully there is a "Relaxing" mode where you can manage a slow trickle of drops while letting the days stress melt away. Of course, sadists can also jump into the challenge mode and be met with an extremely difficult experience right from the start. For US$1.99, it's an easy recommendation for anyone who loves bit-sized puzzle experiences or wants a game to help them unwind during breaks at work or over a nice up of coffee.
Mike Wehner05.07.2014
MouseCraft to gobble up PSN cheese on July 8
You've heard the phrase "a game of cat-and-mouse" before, right? Well, we're not sure what developer Crunching Koalas heard, but their version involves death traps and shapes falling from the sky, Tetris-style. It's called MouseCraft, and it's coming to the PSN July 8. [Image: Crunching Koalas]
S. Prell05.03.2014
The Daily Grind: Would you play a pacifist character if it were compelling?
I don't know what got my mind on this train of thought the other day, but I got a little incensed that MMO developers constantly equate "hero" with "mass murder of hundreds of sentients," not to mention the fact that as a character, I'm more or less pushed into being a weapon. Yes, I can kill to protect and save, but the killing wears on the virtual soul after a while. My mind then turned to the prospect of being a pacifist in these combat-oriented worlds. Sure, there are always people who go far out of their way to figure out paths to leveling without killing, but what if the game made fighting optional rather than mandatory? I'm not talking about just sitting in a hovel crafting but solving quests through deduction, puzzle-solving, diplomacy, and sheer moxie. How cool would it be to be a mage whose spellbook was full of utility spells instead of fireballs and could use those to help NPCs? Would you play a pacifist character if the game made it compelling enough? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Justin Olivetti05.03.2014