Drakensang Online - Free to Play Browser MMORPG

When I was in-line at Otaku Expo for the entrance ticket, a guy was giving out flyers for this supposed new game (I guess it's new here) called Drakensang, which I first read as "Dragon's Crown". They had a few PCs setup for people to try the game out and for the most part I saw that the PCs were always occupied. Drakensang Online is a free to play browser based MMORPG on friendster that plays like a lot of MMORPGs back in the early 2000's. It's an isometric view RPG with a medival fantasy setting where you run around and kill monsters. I can't really complain about the game since it's free to play and it runs on java so no need to install the game though if your internet is a subpar, it might take a while before things load. Played a good solid hour of it which you can check out in the video below.

Will I be playing more of this though? Probably not.

Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls expansion announced at Gamescom

Blizzard revealed today at Gamescom Diablo 3's expansion called Reaper of Souls. The expansion will feature a new act, a new class called The Crusader, changes on how loot works, and an endgame option called "loot runs". The big baddie for Reaper of Souls is non other than the angel of death himself, Malthael. The opening cinematic for the expansion was also released, check it out below.

The new class the Crusader is the Paladin equivalent for Diablo 3. It's a holy class, but nothing like the Paladin. They describe the Crusader as war machine made human. They also mentioned an overhaul of the loot system in the expansion, calling it loot 2.0. It's said to feature "smart loot" which gives you a bigger chance to pick up items tailored for your class. They will also be reducing the number of loot usually dropped in the game, to reduced all the useless items you find on the ground. I'm assuming their talking about the white gear.

A new artisan will also be included in Reaper of Souls, the Mystic. She allows players to re-roll your item's stats, giving you a chance of getting a better version of the item.

Crusader gameplay

They also announced an endgame feature called "Loot Runs", which pins players in a fully randomized dungeon with random monsters. Same goal though, you do this to get better loot the fastest way possible. The Paragon system will also be changed -- There will be no level cap. Thanks to the new act, the level cap of all characters will be increased from 60 to 70.

Love the changes? I'm pretty intrigued myself, but sadly there's no release date given at this time. This is Blizzard's chance to repair any damage done by the Auction House feature. They can deny it all they want, but the auction house shifted what we thought of this action RPG. Hopefully Reaper of Souls can change all of that for the better.

[Source: Joystiq]

XCOM: Enemy Within announced! Planned for a November 12 release

2K has revealed the major expansion for XCOM: Enemy Unknown. It's called XCOM: Enemy Within and will be released on November 12, 2013 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.  The expansion will include 47 new maps, new weapons, new aliens to face, and new abilities. Excited? Makes me want to fire up my 360 copy now.

The expansion pretty much does what expansions are meant to do - expand on the original game.

To customize your soldier a bit deeper, you will be able to research gene mods to alter your soldiers capabilities. They will also include MECs, which are mechanical exoskeletons with weapons like grenade launchers and flamethrowers that your soldiers can pilot. The Aliens also get new units. Mechtoids, which is pretty much a sectoid piloting an exoskeleton, has been announced so far. Oh, and did I mention 47 new maps to play in? My biggest grip of the game is finally gone with this expansion.

Also included in the expansion is a new alien resource called MELD, challenge maps, additional content for multiplayer, and new soldier accents to really make it an international resistance against the invasion. No more all american voice cast.

You hardly get games that get actual releases "expansions" nowadays. XCOM: Enemy Unknown was an amazing strategy game that did justice to the original game. You can get my full thoughts on the game here.  Joystiq reports that the expansion will cost $30 for PC, while the expansion will be released as a standalone product (It will include all DLC plus the original game) for consoles at $40 .

[Source: Destructoid]

Ubisoft announces Tom Clancy's The Division for PC

Well here's some exciting news that got me all hyped. Remember that new game from Ubisoft The Division? It impressed a lot of people when it was revealed in this year's E3, but PC gamers were disappointed when they announced it was only a PS4 and Xbox One title. The community hoped it would come to PC as well. Today, Ubisoft responded to that by announcing that Tom Clancy's Division is coming to PC as well.

GameInformer reported this news with a statement coming from Ubisoft :

Good news for PC gamers: We heard you, and we are happy to share that Tom Clancy's The Division also will be available for the PC, in addition to the Xbox One from Microsoft and the PlayStation 4 from Sony.

E3 2013 Gameplay demo

This is the game I was most excited for when this year's E3 barrage of announcements ended. Online open-world RPG shooter? argh! My kind of game. I had pretty much the same level of goosebumps when Watch Dogs was first revealed last year, and knowing now that this game is coming to the PC, I'm definitely going for that version of the game. A new trailer was also released, check it out below. If Ubisoft can continue releasing impressive new titles every year, I can forgive them for sucking the life out of Assasin's Creed franchise with it's yearly release.

Gamescom 2013 companion gaming trailer

Tom Clancy's The Division is planned for a 2014 release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Latest Splinter Cell Blacklist trailer tells us everything we need to know about the game

The latest trailer for Splinter Cell Blacklist gives us the 101 on what to expect from Sam Fisher's latest mission. It's 7-minutes long, and if you know nothing about Blacklist, this will get you up to speed and ready for when it comes out this August. Check it out below.

As expected from Ubisoft, Blacklist will be providing a complete package. The "Spies vs Mercs" mode makes a return but is still questionable. Sneaking around with a friend in co-op though is definitely the mode I'm looking forward to. Conviction had a great coop, but wasn't enough to make it a good game overall, making me wary of getting this on day one. Blacklist comes out on August 22 and I have this strong feeling this game won't get the best reception.

Splinter Cell Blacklist will be available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and PC.