World of Warcraft has been a bit of a legend among MMOs. While not yet the longest-running game, it is certainly the game most people think of when they hear the term MMO. Mists of Pandaria is not going to bring back the multitudes of former players from six years ago — if someone simply dislikes the formula, Blizzard has elected not to change the core of the game to appeal to any new customers — at the risk of alienating the players it already has. WoW has declined in popularity in the past few years, down from 12 million players to 9, but 9 million players is still millions more than any other game has managed to achieve. READ MORE
Some considered the original Torchlight the “next” Diablo, with all of its similarities to the first game in that series. If so, many will still draw that same comparison between Torchlight II and Diablo II, as this comparison remains accurate. That isn’t to say Torchlight II doesn’t stand on its own, but knowing its fanbase, the game delivers just what people expect from it. READ MORE
MMOs are too large in scope to be covered by our traditional review process. So here’s what we’re doing instead: giving you a “first draft” with thoughts from the initial days of a world, then circling back in a few weeks with a fleshed-out look at the final game and high-level experience. Read our earlier impressions here.
Guild Wars 2 continues to deliver the same experience as you move into higher level zones. There aren’t really many new types of events happening, but the new zones remain interesting. One of the most interesting additions to the game, which I failed to mention last time, are jumping puzzles. These are platforming sections that involve finding your way through an area using tricky jumps or navigating a maze. At the end, there is usually an achievement and a loot chest. This is one of the more rewarding experiences I’ve had while exploring zones in an MMO, while also becoming one of the most aggravating. READ MORE
The Kirby series is a bit of an odd companion to the rest of Nintendo’s library of first-party titles, though it remains a welcome one. Kirby is known more for its colorful style and emphasizing atmosphere and charm over difficulty, with few exceptions. It has always been a series Nintendo has not been afraid to try new things with, and it always seems to work out in his favor. READ MORE
FTL represents the end result of one of the first really successful Kickstarter campaigns. Its author asked the public for $10,000, and ended up earning ten times that amount. Designed to be a roguelike in space, FTL delivers on this promise and more. Gone are the randomly generated hallways, though the sense of the unknown remains. Also gone is the knowledge that you can take time and explore, as the enemy moves when you do; you can’t stop and poke around every system, as the enemy will eventually overwhelm and destroy you. READ MORE
