The world is in peril once again…
Isn’t it always? Just when you’ve gone and save the world from blood thirsty monsters and zealous religious bigots, here comes another threat.
This time the world is held by the throat as the new villian, Shiro Tagashi rises from the underworld as an Envoy to regain his mortality. Its up to the deciple of one legendary Master Togo to bring the help of the Tyrians and squash the threat. Little did they know that his power was too great as he turned the sea to Jade and the forests to a petrified wasteland not only 200 years prior to his return.
I won’t tell the entire story as that would ruin the fun of it all. I will admit that this story doesn’t feel as epic as the first game but its just as interesting. Though the game is focused on the ancient battle of the Luxons and Kurzicks. Hence the name “Factions”. This battle also plays a key part of the end game content.
Essentially the system floats around creating Alliances with other Guilds. These guilds would help the side of their choice to take over the continent. As the landscape of the scrimmage line moves, so does the advantages of the losing side. The losing side gains more and more of an advantage every time it loses which could turn the tide of the battles in favor of the loser.
The art team goes all out!
The graphics in the game this time around shifts away from the desolate openness of its predecessor in favor of a more lifelike experience. The Asian inspired landscapes and architecture really makes the game come to life.
Now mind you that the game is no graphics juggernaut like Oblivion, but the game’s graphics engine pulls off some amazing lighting and effects like no one’s business.
In the city area, things really blossom with buildings and roads that twist and turn. Multiple levels overlap and plenty of Canthan residents walking up and down the walkways. A clear separation of poor and wealthy residents stand out as moving into these areas, the archetecture changes from raggedy old shack to full scale asian high rises.
Things gets worse instead of better the farther you go out. As now you must traverse the sewers for even more fun with enemies and hostile guilds.
Moving towards the edge of the city leads up an entire new landscape. This area is essentially a transitional point between the Kurzick and Luxon landscape.
All too familiar Gameplay
Now fans of the game may flame me for saying this but the gameplay from the previous game largely remains the same. The fighting system is a little more tweaked thanks to some updates that came forward days before release. But it leaves a little more to be desired. Some spell graphics are amazing and some are a complete let down for something that was named so well.
Great for First timers
The game is GREAT for first timers since this game actually gives you a nice balance of quick gameplay and nice visuals to absorb. The quests and Alliance system combined with the traditional PvP flair will keep you well occupied until the next installment this Christmas.
Though for those of us who experienced the first installment, Factions becomes almost like a stop gap until the developers decide to put out a worthwhile sequel that matches the caliber of the original.
So, I hear that there’s a new Mario game in town. This time he’s in 3D and doing it like the old days. Being a person who grew up with a NES, I bought this game post haste. And so far, I haven’t been disappointed. The only quip about this adventure however, is that its so short. I’m used to burning through tons of levels, Mario style. So it presented little challenge to save the princess. But it was a nice blast from the past and it naturally has tons of re playability even though there are mini games(did I just say that?). The game I can play through time and time again without getting bored, but the mini games gets on my nerves sometimes so I’ll just leave it at that.
