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First impressions of Heroes of the Obelisk
Heroes of the Obelisk might look familiar, probably because its developers are the same folks who brought us Luna Online and Legend of Edda. I really enjoy its art style, one that puts us in control of Chibi-style, juvenile characters. The backgrounds are pretty, and there are some nice modern bells and whistles like distance blur and glow effects. As is normally the case with an Anime-based game that comes to us from the East, the game looks like a carbon copy of other titles, at least at first glance. The details make all of the difference, however, and there are a few things in this title that manage to just barely keep it out of "clone" territory. I do take issue with the fact that the developers refer to it as a hack-and-slash title, though. Heroes of the Obelisk is not what you think of when you think of action combat. Games like Vindictus, Neverwinter, and Dungeons and Dragons Online are action-based gaming. Heroes of the Obelisk is standard, class-based, hotbar-mashing combat.
We'd give nearly anything for this tiny Mass Effect to be real
The latest thing on our "List of Things That Don't Exist That Totally Should Exist" comes from Deviant Art user Pyroxene, whose 3D modeling skills have produced the adorable miniature Mass Effect scene seen above. It's like Jim Henson's Mass Effect Babies, or Poy Poy: Cerberus Edition, and we love it unconditionally. Pyroxene originally set out to create three characters, but apparently the fun of chibi-fying some of gaming's most beloved characters is a little hard to let go of. Hit the source link for a high-resolution shot of the scene, as well as close ups of the individual models, their wire frames and the impressively compact textures used.
MMObility: Two new MMOs, one tiny screen
You know what I love about discovering new mobile games? It's that moment when I realize they are actually pretty good and might give me some real MMO action on my smartphone. The biggest issue I have these days is separating the true MMOs from the social, multiplayer and singleplayer games that bombard the market. While I enjoy games from those genres, many of them arrive on my phone disguised as something else. Many of them even call themselves "MMOs" without having any real multiplayer interaction or persistence. So you can imagine how happy I am when I find real, persistent MMOs that are available for my HTC Inspire Android phone and iOS. Yes, there are more of them out there than you might think. Let's take a look at a couple of new ones that I have found.
First Impressions: Elsword Online
Last time we checked in on Elsword Online, we found a fun, little, over-the-top, side-scrolling, action-based MMO. (That's a mouthful.) It provided a good amount of challenge but was never too hard, and the freeze-frame finishing moves were... well, neat. I've just used a series of words that do not really describe to you how fun the game is, but like most fluffy arcade romps, it really just needs to be experienced. It was nice to go back and check in on the game after its official release, but I didn't find much difference. Sure, the cash shop is now open (will explain that later), and yes, there are actual players around now, but it's still basically a cute little tear-'em-up that will probably make millions. If you like this kind of game, you'll love Elsword Online. Click past the cut to read more.
Monato Esprit launches out of beta
Monato Esprit, a game that has been gracing our Betawatch column for some time now, has recently skipped completely over the open beta stage and jumped right out into the open world.For those not in the know with Monato Esprit's premise, the world is a fantasy dreamland corrupted by the powers of dark, evil nightmares. Players get to take on the role of an archon, a winged hero who is tasked with fighting against the evil of the nightmares to restore the dreamworld of Monato Esprit.The game's graphics fall into the "chibi" style of anime, taking on a very cute and simultaneously whimsical appearance. The game is free-to-play and will be supported with a cash shop powered by developer Reality Gap's new currency, MetaTIX. Seattle based Reality Gap will be extending their MetaTIX services beyond Monato Esprit, however this game marks the versatile currency's first use.Interested in jumping in? Sign up with a MetaTIX account first (a bit backwards, hence why we're telling you) and then go to Monato Esprit's website to download the client.
Hori summons an accessory set to complement Final Fantasy IV's release
Another major RPG release for the DS, another Hori accessory set. This latest bundle for Final Fantasy IV's 3D remake comes packed with a trio of items you can buy to showcase your fanboyism and poor money management skills -- a protective system case, an extendable stylus, and an attachable screen wipe bearing the image of a chibi Rydia, FFIV's green-haired summoner. Like the game, this kit won't be available in Japan until December 20th, but import shop Play Asia is already taking preorders, charging $17.90 plus shipping. Gather your party, stock up on potions, and travel past the post break for more images from this official accessory set.
A chibi trailer for Chibi Robo
This commercial for Chibi Robo: Park Patrol is really, really short. Fifteen seconds. It also shows no real game footage at all. But it's about Chibi Robo, which we really don't see or hear enough about. Also it's got some creepy flower things in it!It's mostly just great to see Nintendo putting some advertising yen into Chibi Robo. What are the odds that even fifteen scant seconds will be devoted to it on American television?
WoW Moviewatch: Big Head Mode
Come on... admit it. You'd play more if there really was an option to chibi-fy World of Warcraft, as shown in this video. I'm pretty sure I would -- at least for a while. It's bound to get old eventually. (Except for the Gnomes. They're even more ridiculous looking with heads larger than their bodies.)Previously on Moviewatch...
Fate goes big-head chibi
Some of our readers expressed great hope for Capcom's newly unveiled PSP fighting game, Fate. The game, which is based on a popular anime series (which is, in turn, based on a popular adults-only hentai series). The series has captured the attention of a wide audience, some who have been allured by the maturity of some of the characters.A new magazine scan reveals that the Fate game is going in a completely new direction. Characters will be portrayed in the chibi artstyle, meaning they'll feature very large heads and eyes. This form, meant to be appealing to children, shows how this once adults-only series has transformed into something completely different. Will fans of the series approve of this startling new art direction for the series?[Via PSP-Vault]
MASSIVE clearance at Best Buy starts today
If you're near a Best Buy store, gather up your $2 bills and get going, because they're in the midst of an epic videogame clearance, and you'll want to get there before the unscrupulous speculator types grab all the stuff to sacrifice to the ravenous eBay. You've got to be wily to get to the goods before the FatWalleters and the CAGs!There aren't any Wii games on clearance, but there are plenty of Wii-compatible Gamecube games. We've got a list of all the Gamecube software on sale after the break. Don't expect to find all of it-- most of it has been out of stock for months or years at most stores, and the price changed to clear out remaining copies. But we hope you do find what you're looking for in abundance. And we hope we can make it to Best Buy soon enough to luck into our own copy of Chibi Robo.[Thanks, ali emamdjomeh!]
Maple Story: 2D side-scrolling MMORPG is DS-bound
Who says DS can't handle an MMORPG? South Korean publisher Nexon has finally confirmed its bringing a version of Maple Story to Nintendo's handheld. Unlike standard sprawling MMOs, Maple Story is a side-scroller with chibi-style visuals and an emphasis on shopping. Peep this ridiculous teaser trailer.Maple Story will debut on DS this September. Nexon has yet announce plans to release the game outside of South Korea.[Via DS Fanboy]
Fall gaming: the avalanche to come
IGN whipped up a little feature where they check out the cream of the crop of DS titles emerging this Fall. In being the busiest time of year for eager gamers, taking on such a task is equal parts daunting and deadly. Well, maybe not so much deadly. Chalk that comment up to our paranoia that everything outside will kill you.Raging insanity aside, IGN has managed to provide a nice starting point to build your own list of must-have titles for the DS. They list games such as Mario Hoops: 3-on-3 and Elite Beat Agents, which gives them some very good titles, but what about Konductra and other smaller, lesser-known titles? Where's the Chibi Robo: Park Patrol?Clearly, the list has games that need to be included. What would your list look like?
