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Sunday

TourStar: Live the Life of a Musician and Win Real Prizes on iOS

If you've ever wondered what it's like to live the life of a struggling musician working their way to fame and fortune, you can now virtually experience that life in TourStar on iOS. The new mobile game was created by Brandon Pankey of Music Players Group and Eddie Meehan of GroundCtrl, and offers a music career simulation experience that focuses on realistic struggles and decisions, as well as the perks of being a musician.
When launching their music career, players create an avatar and a set "sound" (like pop) for their music. Gamers have very little money, and have only their mother as their manager. How will they make it to the top? To start, players can take gigs at very small venues, including high school dances and birthday parties, earning a few fans and some extra spending money along the way.
While performing a gig may sound glamorous, players have to take their character's energy into account. For instance, spending energy on tuning up equipment may increase the quality of the performance, but it limits the band's ability to complete additional actions without waiting. These actions, like warming up or tuning equipment before a show, are accomplished via reflex-focused mini-games.
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Players also need to account for the daily expenses necessary to travel around to these gigs, and random occurrences which may see band members miss shows entirely.
Outside of performing, users can spend some time recording singles and albums to earn extra money. This brings in additional options, as players can decide whether to sign with a major record label (which takes some of the proceeds) or stay independent.
The more popular players become, the more crew members they can hire for their entourage. Players can fire their moms and hire full-time managers, agents and publicists, as well as new band members. Users can also purchase new touring vehicles for energy regeneration bonuses, but these vehicles cost money to maintain. Every action has an impact on the player's career going forward, and not all of these changes are necessarily positive.
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As gamers continue to play TourStar, they'll unlock the ability to win real-world prizes, including concert tickets, VIP meet-and-greet opportunities with popular artists, clothing and free downloads of ringtones and other content.
"TourStar is life in the music industry," said Brandon Pankey. "The game is a fun way to peek into the life of a performer as they try to make it to superstardom. And the fact that gamers get to actually win real prizes like tickets and passes to their favorite artists' shows is pretty cool too."
TourStar is available to download and play for free on iOS. However, once players hit Level 5 of their music career, they'll need to pay $0.99 to unlock the full game.

3D Methods Launches Cryptic Escape on Mobile

3D Methods Launches Cryptic Escape on Mobile

Mobile game developer 3D Methods has announced the launch of its latest app on mobile devices, and the fifth title in its "Cryptic" series, Cryptic Escape. The point-and-click style adventure game sees players taken to a medieval world, under the threat of an invading army. Players begin trapped in a cell, and must complete their quest to find the hidden chamber of Malvadius to stop the enemy from taking over the land.
Throughout the game, players tap to move around their environments, and tap again to zoom into particular areas (say, a peculiar stone on the wall, a fireplace or a window). Gamers will collect over 70 items as they play, and can tap to use these items to unlock doors, retrieve other key items or otherwise continue their journey.
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The game's map shows players a general layout of the castle, and gamers can retrace their steps to pick up missed items or interact with items that were previously inaccessible.
A hint system provides step-by-step (but vague) clues should players become lost, but if all else fails, a link to a video walkthrough is also available.
Cryptic Escape is available to download for $0.99 on iTunes, Google Play and the Amazon Appstore.

Trigger Happy Games Launches Entertainment Platform Tap to Play on iOS

Trigger Happy Games has announced the release of its entertainment platform Tap to Play on iOS devices. The app is a hub for social gamers, containing 10 individual games, a chat system, user profiles, stat tracking, leaderboards, activity feeds and more.
With Tap to Play, users can login with Facebook and challenge their friends to games, as well as random users. Gamers can also play solo for practice. The app provides profiles and stats for each user, along with an experience points system that sees gamers earning higher levels from their participation within the app.
Tap To Play (iOS) - 05Players start with free access to five of the ten games on the Tap to Play platform. These are all reflex-intensive games, focusing on basic tap or tilt controls. In Bird Down, for instance, gamers tap on the screen to keep a bird in the air, and tilt their device back and forth to avoid missiles. The longer they fly, the more points they earn.
Elsewhere, a game called Jungle Glide asks users to control a monkey on a vine by tapping and holding to send him down the screen, and letting go to let him swing back up to the top. Gamers can collect bananas for bonus points, and must avoid missiles, trees and other obstacles to stay alive.
Five additional games are available to purchase with coins, the game's free and premium currency. Users earn coins by playing games, earning achievements, and completing other tasks within the app, or can purchase them outright with real money. Tap to Play will be updated with additional mini-games going forward, giving users more opportunities to earn (and likely spend) those coins.
Tap to Play is available to download for free on iOS.

Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition Review


When it comes to Diablo, one should expect a sense of finality when an upgraded version features the word "Ultimate". After all, where do you go after defeating The Devil? Developer Blizzard's answer--in the Reaper of Souls expansion--was a villain that was the closest thing to Death. Unless the studio can come up with an expansion to vanquish a tax collector, it's safe to say that Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition is as final as it gets. Thanks to two years worth of PC version fixes, wise console-friendly UI adjustments, and a number of exclusive social features, this also happens to be the definitive version of Diablo III.
 
Diablo III's bleakness is so comprehensive, one can't help but admire Blizzard's dedication. If you're not engaging in conversation with downtrodden and pessimistic townsfolk, you're fending off a seemingly limitless stream of demons. It feels all the more poignant when you walk on floors fully covered in corpses in Reaper of Souls. Given that the apocalyptic tone and art direction is so pervasive and focused, it's remarkable that the darkness doesn't feel overbearing or monotonous.
The feeling of item ownership in Diablo III is an awfully fickle one, much thanks to the game's swift pacing. When new loot appears so often and in such great numbers, your ensemble of optimized gear can completely change over the course of 30 minutes of adventuring. Yet Blizzard has ensured there's no waste: outdated items can be salvaged by the blacksmith or sold to the merchant in order to play for the blacksmith's training. Memorable items can be stored and you can endear yourself to friends by mailing them useful gear. For Blizzard, giving items a life beyond the battle itself is an art form.
Mailing gear is just one of a suite of exclusive social features for this edition, and I have no reservations in proclaiming that Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition is a candidate for the most accessible multiplayer game of 2014. Cooperative sessions allow low-level players to join experienced friends and reap the benefits of fast level progression and early access to better items. If you don't mind playing the story out of sequence, co-op let's you play later chapters based on the host's progress, and let's you continue your solo progress from that point without even needing to play through the middle acts. It's an uncommon practice that would normally cheapen the experience, but this method of fast-tracking makes it easier for newcomers to appreciate the series' appeal. Diablo III is immensely replayable, with some credit due to the post-campaign Adventure Mode and the staggering selection of 10 difficulty levels. The risk factors in these difficulties are superb ly balanced; Normal is the path of least resistance, while each subsequent level above offers enticing and fitting rewards of experience and gold.

Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition is a reminder that you can never underestimate the effectiveness of a killstreak counter. While the PC version did provide a final death count after you pulled off consecutive kills in a short span of time, this update offers a rush akin to the hot-dog-eating contest at Coney Island. After 10 kills, a pop-up keeps a running count until the streak expires, and the more demons you kill, the greater your experience multiplier. When there are enough monsters to push you to 50, 75, or even 100 kills, you and your friends will transform from heroic explorers into bloodthirsty murderers. Diablo is many things to many players, and if you've come to the series because it gives you a rush similar to that of the Gauntlet franchise, Ultimate Evil Edition is bound to quench that thirst.
The killstreaks are part of a larger scheme of improvements meant to enhance momentum. Between the steady stream of demons and treasure goblins that lure you into unexplored areas, the building blocks of momentum have long since been laid down in the PC version. With the d-pad, you can now sort through new loot without having to open the menus, making it easier to drop gear more suited for your friends. For those sharing the screen on a single couch, loot has been earmarked for specific players and classes, creating one less reason to go into your menus. Beyond the killstreak onuses, there are other temporary atrribute improvements that result from destroying objects or killing specific enemies. Ultimate Evil Edition's message to you is, "Keep killing, you can color in the map and sort through your loot later." And it helps that there aren't any loading times during individual quests, and there is nary a frame rate issue, even when the screen is packed with scarab s, ghosts, and demons. Not even dropping from the heavens and killing 25 beasts simultaneously with a holy hammer slam will reveal any performance issues.

Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition is a reminder that you can never underestimate the effectiveness of a killstreak counter.
When you do take the time to color in a map, it never feels like a waste of time, even if you're not the obsessive compulsive type. More areas means more monsters, and more monsters means more loot. This is the basis for the top-down view of the standard action role-playing game; how Diablo III stands out is in its pacing and how it manages to stave off boredom. Maps are labyrinthine but are never yawn-inducingly large. You never stay in one experience level for long and the rewards for leveling up are worthwhile and practical enough that you become that much more motivated to reach the next level.
Beyond the menacing hooded reapers and new quest content that can stretch into dozens of hours, one of the key draws of Reaper of Souls is the blessed crusader class. Conveniently accessible at the start of Diablo III, this holy warrior is perhaps the most well-rounded class, and as such, is a user-friendly choice for newcomers. The crusader's abilities in melee and ranged attacks, along with the support of high defense, underscore the challenges and tradeoffs of the other classes. The demon hunter, for example, is proficient at ranged attacks and is a superb contributor to any party, yet this class proves difficult to use during a solo playthrough.

Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition feels like the happy conclusion of a two-year public beta, with the initial purchasers on PC bearing much of the grief with the auction house and the slow pace to reach level 60. Those who have held off up to this point will benefit the most, while those who got a head start on the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 versions will be able to transfer their saves to their new gen console of choice. It's just a shame that some newcomers won't appreciate what the early adopters went through to make the fantastic game it is today.

DeNA Launches Qube Kingdom on iOS, Android

DeNA Launches Qube Kingdom on iOS, Android

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DeNA has launched its newest game on iOS and Android devices: Qube Kingdom. The tower defense game sees players defending the Six Kingdoms of Qubria from invaders, by placing warriors with different skills and powers on the path in front of their enemies.
In each encounter, users can draw a the hero of another player or friend into the battle with them for additional strength. They have as much time as they need to prepare for the battle, placing archers, swordsmen, wizards, barbarians and others on the path, until they run out of resources to do so. Once users trigger the battle, combat takes place automatically, and users earn additional resources from fallen enemies. If everything is going smoothly, gamers can trigger 2x or 4x speed increases to make battles progress more quickly.
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If heroes fall in battle, they'll regenerate after a short time. This is important, as users are limited to the number of forces they can deploy in each stage. In addition, special power cubes are scattered nearby paths, which may cause an offensive attack or a defensive weakness when activated. These cubes are activated when multiple enemies are slain in their general location, and may give players access to special fire attacks, or they may open new paths for the enemies to quickly reach the end of the area, as examples.
Players can choose from three difficulty settings for each level, and an energy system limits the number of games one can play in a single session. Excess resources can increase a unit's strength or health stats while playing, and gamers can use their collected cubes (currency) to summon new heroes for their teams, or upgrade their existing units.
Qube Kingdom is available to download for free on iTunes and Google Play. It's currently featured as a Best New Game on iTunes.

Saturday

Glu Mobile Launches Tap Sports Baseball on Mobile

Glu Mobile Launches Tap Sports Baseball on Mobile


Glu Mobile has announced the launch of Tap Sports Baseball on iOS and Android devices. The game was built for both casual and hardcore baseball fans, and includes the names and numbers of real-world baseball superstars, thanks to a partnership with the Major League Baseball Players Association.
vpVenrot_Q0Br7YZEGdlbDj1tnx2kK6ROmhPYpcYrhkIn Tap Sports Baseball, players complete asynchronous multiplayer games with other real-world players. Controls are based on a single tap, which sees the batter swing at a pitch. Players can also use a bit of strategy, choosing to bunt at the next pitch, instead of swing as normal. Users can also tell their players to steal bases (or at least attempt to), when they think the timing is right. Like a real game of baseball, a player's turn continues until they eventually reach three outs.
Players earn free currency after each inning, and can spend that money on building their team. This includes drafting new players, each of which has his own stats, or upgrading specific aspects of the team's offensive and defensive capabilities. For offense, players can upgrade the team's ability to successfully steal bases or increase the number of base hits likely per inning, as examples. For defense, users can purchase upgrades that increase the team's ability to block players looking to steal bases, upgrades to reduce infield or outfield errors and more.
While players are welcome to challenge strangers to play, users can also connect to their Facebook accounts to invite real friends to a game. Users can also invite gamers with their email addresses or in-game nicknames.
Tap Sports Baseball is available to download for free on iTunes and Google Play.

Which Mobile MMO Is Right For You?

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MMOs are a time sink, sure, but being able to take them on the go as you're traveling or even on the commute to work is an enormous boon. But with the veritable cornucopia of titles available, how do you know which one to settle in with? With free-to-play games gone rampant and new releases every week, which one is the best for your tastes and play style? We've got a few tips below for you to go by when hitting the App Store or Google Play Store in the future. You'll be selecting games like a pro in no time, but don't take on too many at once.
1. Determine whether you're into soloing or playing with others (PvP).
Are you someone who enjoys questing alone or do you prefer raiding with a group of other players? Soloing is usually reserved for games that places less of a focus on competing or earning top spots on a leaderboard. And that's honestly the minority when it comes to the genre, given the fact that a good chunk of players are attracted to the games because of the fact that there's competition between those involved. If you're looking for an adventure you'd rather share with others, look for the terms "PvP" and "leaderboards." If you'd rather go it alone, you'll want to look for the key word "PvE" for the magic area where you'll be doing more solo tasks than anything else.
2. Choose the type of setting that appeals to you the most.
Usually, choosing the terrain and area that comes with an MMO is synonymous with the kind of action that'll be taking place in-game as well. So if you want to play a game with spacecrafts and battles in the stars, choose something leaning toward a sci-fi narrative or something similar. There are plenty of dark fantasy worlds as well, so you can safely assume dragons will be involved there somehow, especially when it comes to games like Order & Chaos Online. It may seem like a simple piece of advice, but this is always something important to consider, even if you think it's not too big of a deal. You won't want to sink hours and hours of your life into something that you don't enjoy even a bit.
3. Determine how much money you want to spend.
Some mobile MMOs require a subscription fee or tons upon tons of IAPs for you to make any headway. Just the same, there are titles that don't require as much money over the lifespan of the game. You can make the decision as to whether you'd rather pay more money up front for the app, pay a subscription fee per month to keep it up, or if you're going to want to pay here and there for buffs, additional character slots, or any of the multitude of reasons you may have to pay an additional fee. This is an important caveat, so make sure you know what you're getting into before committing!

Team Chaos Launches Space Colors on iOS

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Team Chaos has released its newest game on iOS devices: Space Colors. The game is described as an action adventure title with roguelike elements, as users begin from Level 1 each time they play, and have a new experience in every encounter. In Space Colors, users control a space ship and defeat enemy ships and other obstacles in a procedurally generated galaxy.
screen1136x1136In each level, players work to take over a single planet in the system. They begin at the first experience points level, with a fairly basic ship. They can travel in any direction in space, shooting at floating rocks or enemy space ships and turrets in order to earn experience points, better weapons and other (temporary) upgrades. Each encounter has an overall mission, but if the player's ship is destroyed, they're taken back to the map. The next time they enter that same "planet," the missions and layout of obstacles will likely change.
That is, during one version of the level, players may be required to destroy 10 asteroids floating in space. If they fail and try again, they may have to destroy a large enemy ship instead.
Players collect credits from fallen items in the world, and can spend these credits on permanent upgrades for their ship, including improved health and weapon stats.
"One thing I wanted to maintain in Space Colors is a degree of accessibility and streamlining. I don't think mobile games have to be accessible or streamlined, but I do think that design worked best for Space Colors," said Team Chaos creative director Trent Polack.
"I wanted a core game that was fun, and I didn't want to muck it up with inventory management, a combinatorial nightmare of upgrades, or complex mechanics because, at some point, you just start to run into the limitations of the touch interface. I wanted to keep the controls easy, simple, and powerful, and not require any crazy gestures or anything, and that desire motivated a lot of the simplicity of the game as a whole."
Space Colors is available to download for $0.99 on iOS.

Get Spooked By These Awesome Zombie Games For Android

Looking for something a little meatier to sink your teeth into? Happen to be an Android user? Are you growing tired of the living world? Sounds like you need a zombie game! We've got some of the best picks for you here up our bloody, tattered sleeves, so strap in for some of the best zombie fun you can have this side of being undead.
1. The Walking Dead: Season One
 
Telltale's heartrending and action-packed zombie-focused adventure game is an excellent companion to the comics and TV show, and Lee Everett's tale is one that you won't want to miss. Satisfying the urge for blood and a fantastic adventure narrative, the first season follows Lee and little survivor Clementine on an adventure you won't soon forget -- especially when you start nearing the end. Just don't blame us when you can't stop crying or go broke from all the tissues you suddenly find yourself having to buy.

2. Into the Dead
With several different ways to play, Into the Dead is one of the more unique titles on our list, especially given the fact that it's entirely monochromatic. You can tilt your device, use on-screen thumbsticks, or even mirrored thumbsticks as you force your way through hordes of zombies. It's okay to run, of course, as you'll be doing plenty of that as well. It's an enjoyable riff on the typical zombie game, with unlockable weapons and bonuses that you can earn as you progress, as well as special perks that allow you to make more headway with each additional time you play. It's a real riot. Literally.
Download Into the Dead for Android.
3. Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2 is an example of what can be done when the free to play genre isn't shoved down your throat. It's an exciting blend of first-person shooter goodness and touch controls that satisfy the need for a good, old-fashioned bullet to the head when it comes to annihilating zombies. It does feature IAPs, but you can definitely get your jollies ensuring every square inch of the play area is strewn with zombie entrails everywhere just the same if you're a good enough shot.
Download Dead Trigger 2 for Android.


Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies iPad Review

The venerable Phoenix Wright series made its debut as a Nintendo DS game, and while there have been several mobile ports of prior Capcom cames, the latest one, Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies, wasted no time in making its way to mobile devices. It is, by far, the best Phoenix Wright to hit the App Store, and if you've never played any of the rest of the games, you owe it to yourself to give this one a look, then head back and play all the rest.
 
The Good
From the very beginning of Dual Destinies, it's clear that this is a much different Phoenix Wright game -- and that's actually good for newbies who haven't played any of the prior titles. First, the full 3D graphics and character models look fantastic. Second, there's a brand new emotional guessing game that makes investigating cases and coming to a ruling a much more engaging affair.
The cases this time around are brutal, but worth putting time in for, especially investigating the actual crime scenes themselves, which works fantastically on the touch screen. In fact, unlike the previous Phoenix Wright iterations for mobile devices, Dual Destinies feels as though it was built for the iPad from the ground-up, with perfectly scaled visuals and massive aesthetic improvements from the other games. The music and voiceovers sound fantastic as well, and with everything so clean and perfect it really enhances an already excellent game that relies so heavily on musical and visual cues.
All of the individual elements combine to make this Phoenix Wright adventure one of the best ones to experience yet, especially if it's the first one you're undertaking on a mobile device or otherwise.
The Bad
There's no new or additional content unique to the mobile version of the game, and while the first episode is free, you'll have to purchase additional episodes. Episodes 2 - 5 are available to be bought separately or as a set, but it's a little strange that the game wasn't simply released as one full package.
The Verdict
Format release concerns aside, Dual Destinies is a smartly-crafted, fantastic-looking Phoenix Wright game that you'd do well to pick up, especially since the first episode is free. You'll want to blaze through the rest at a breakneck speed -- so don't blame us if you rack up a small App Store debt!
Download Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies for iPhone and iPad.
4.5/5

Friday

Backflip Studios Launches Spellfall on iOS

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PlunderNauts publisher Backflip Studios has announced the launch of Spellfall on iOS devices. The puzzle RPG takes players on a quest to defeat evil monsters and save the world from ruin, one match-three encounter at a time. In the game, players drag and drop symbols to create matches of three or more like-symbols on the board and attack their opponents. However, the game isn't confined to just swapping items that are next to one another.
In each battle, players can swap any two symbols, regardless of location or type, to create matches, even if the symbol they move doesn't trigger an instant match formation. That is, players can drag symbols around the board to create all match-five matches if they wish, but will spend their "moves" in doing so. After players run out of moves on a single turn, the enemy attacks.
As players complete levels, they'll earn coins and experience points. These coins can be used to purchase better weapons and gear, which can be filled with elemental runes. These runes unlock special attacks or spells while playing, triggered by matching elemental symbols on the board. For instance, a poison spell is charged by making matches with green leaf symbols, while a healing spell is cast after making multiple matches with blue water drops.
 
Matches of four-or-more like-symbols create power-ups, capable of clearing whole rows or columns of symbols from the board, which in turn, causes more damage to the opponent. Enemies themselves have elemental weaknesses, which players can capitalize on due to the freedom of symbol movement on the board.
Gamers can replay completed levels for additional rewards and practice, and they can spend coins on potions to increase their power in each battle. One may give them extra moves to complete before their turn ends, while another may add special spell tiles to the board. When used in a match, these spell tiles trigger large attacks on the enemy. A water match triggers a large wave, for instance, while matching lightning symbols creates a lightning storm over the enemy.
Spellfall is now available to download for free on iOS, and will launch on Google Play and the Amazon Appstore in the coming weeks.

American Civil War Review


Promising historical strategy, with mixed results
american-civil-war-android-thumbAmerican Civil War is a historical military strategy game about the eponymous conflict from DK Simulations, putting you in command of the Union's armies fighting to subdue the rebellious Confederacy. In a sea of mobile strategy games about the Second World War or fantasy settings, I was enthusiastic about the premise, and the game has some very strong elements, but ultimately American Civil War proves frustrating in more ways than one.
The game takes place on a map of the United States, with territories linked by lines showing where armies can move. You also have gunboats units along the Mississippi, which can quickly transport your armies up and down parts of the river you control and prevent enemy armies from crossing.Combat is resolved automatically and is very simple, based on a six-sided die roll plus added to modifiers based on each side's general's rating relative numbers, and the presence of fortifications, with one or both sides losing armies depending on the outcome. A six or better also forces the losing army to retreat—or, if it has no adjacent friendly territories to flee to, to surrender.
Each turn, you get five "builds" to create additional armies, new generals, river gunboats, or naval fleets. Meanwhile, the Confederacy gets four builds each turn by default, but unlike you, its number varies according to who controls strategically important territories s, along with the strength of the Union's naval blockade. If the Confederacy has no builds on its turn, the Union is victorious. On the other hand, if Confederate troops hold too much Union territory or 20 turns pass, you lose.
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I wanted to like this game more than I did. More historical strategy games for Android are always welcome, and this one takes its historical background more seriously than many. A Union victory is ultimately about destroying the Confederacy's ability to sustain its armies and overwhelming it with the North's superior numbers, the way the real war was won, rather than winning individual battles with brilliant generalship . It's a cool touch that makes the historical setting integrally tied to the gameplay, instead of just window dressing.
Combined with the time limit, it also forces you to maintain continuous operations across the entire country and think about how to coordinate them. You'll want a lot of armies in the Maryland/Virginia area to keep General Lee at bay and attack Richmond— but if you're not also deploying resources towards other objectives like the Mississippi River or Atlanta, you'll be desperately hurrying to catch up later. This sort of big-picture strategy is where American Civil War is strongest
Unfortunately, there are problems that hold the game back. Combat is very simple and very random, to an extent that often made me feel helpless— and the bigger and more important the battle, the less input you usually have, since large modifiers come into play mostly when a small force is being overwhelmed by a much larger one. That sort of crapshoot randomness is usually fine if it takes place on a relatively "micro" level where each individual roll of the dice is just one small part of the total outcome (a single attack in Risk, say), but that isn't the case in American Civil War.
You start with less than 10 units and gain at most five per turn on standard difficulty, spread across a map that take several turns to cross. Individual units do not suffer damage or casualties. After a battle they're either destroyed, or they're not. A side's ability to take effective action across an entire theater of the war and plans that took several turns and significant resources to come to fruition can be and frequently are shredded in one or two random rolls, and there is often little you can do to influence the outcome. It's very frustrating, and frequently left me feeling like my choices didn't really matter much.
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There's virtually no AI at all. Enemy armies act, or don't, based on a random six-sided die roll added to the modifier of the enemy general and armies select territories to move to or attack based on very basic rules explained in the Help section. The ability to force a retreating army to surrender when surrounded adds some interest, but the scale of the map on which armies move is large enough that most states have only one or two territories, and they seldom connect to more than three others— severely limiting any maneuvering for position.
The graphics are rudimentary, which is OK. What's not OK is that you can't zoom the map in or out, either through the game's user interface or with direct touch controls. You're asked to pick "Best,"High,"Medium," or "Low" resolution each time you start, and whatever map scale that gives you is what you're stuck with unless you restart. There's no audio at all— no music, no sound effects, not a solitary beep. Otherwise, the UI is fine, with all relevant information immediately visible. There's no tutorial, but the Help section lays out the game mechanics clearly and succinctly.
I can't recommend American Civil War. It's certainly not terrible, but my enjoyment of the promising large-scale strategic elements was ultimately too weighed down by the frustration and frequent helplessness of combat and the arbitrary, ultra-simple AI. There are good ideas here, enough to make me think that DK Simulations has a Civil War strategy game I'd eagerly encourage you to play in them, but unfortunately this isn't it.

Crazy Labs, Tactile Entertainment Release Airheads Jump on iOS

Crazy Labs has announced the launch of its newest game on iOS devices: Airheads Jump. Developed by Chasing Yello developer Tactile Entertainment, the vertical jumping game sees players collecting colorful living orbs, called Airheads, and sending them bouncing high into the sky to defeat tikis, rescue their friends, collect coins and escape the waiting jaws of an evil titan.
ScreenShot004In each level of Airheads Jump, players tilt their device back and forth to control their Airhead's movement in the air. Each stage is full of floating platforms, and while many are stationary, some disappear when touched, and others move across the screen. Gamers can tap on the screen to double-jump and cross greater distances in a single bounce, but the necessity to do so depends on the level's goal.
Some stages ask players to bounce a specific number of meters into the sky, while others focus on collecting large numbers of coins. A third level type sees players bouncing into tikis to defeat them, with said tikis being moving, living enemies that fly and leap all around the screen. The game contains over 100 levels at launch, including boss encounters that see gamers collecting keys and rescuing trapped Airheads from cages.
Each hero has a different special stat boost when active. For instance, the base Airhead, a beach ball, has a power jump bonus, while the military Airhead earns bonus points when defeating tikis. A princess Airhead earns bonus points when hitting special "bouncer" pads in the sky, a dragon earns extra points when collecting multiple groups of coins in a row, and so on. These boosts can be upgraded using coins. Outside of collecting them in stages, players can purchase large coin bundles with real money.
Regardless of their chosen Airhead, players have access to a number of power-ups before each game begins. Users can purchase a "path guide," which shows them the proper bouncing path to take into the sky for the least challenge, powers that freeze the clock during timed levels, magnets for collecting all nearby coins, and so on. If players want a power-up, but can't afford it, they can watch an ad to unlock one for free. Similarly, players can watch a video ad when they fail a level (by falling back down to earth) to earn a second chance.
Players earn up to three stars on each stage, depending on their final score. Gamers can replay stages to earn missed stars or extra coins, but will lose a life if they fail to complete a level's goals before falling off of the screen.
"This release marks a new era for Crazy Labs publishing, where alongside unique indie content we're publishing AAA titles from the world's most highly acclaimed game development studios," said Uri Golan, developer relations manager at Crazy Labs. "The team at Tactile did an amazing job taking this game genre to the next level with fluid animations, impeccable game design and fanatic attention to detail."
Airheads Jump is now available to download for free on iOS devices.

2K Releases WWE SuperCard on Mobile

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2K has today announced the launch of WWE SuperCard on iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices. The card collection and battle game sees users collecting more than 400 cards, representing current WWE Superstars and Divas, as well as WWE Legends and helper materials that give players an edge during battle.
Developed by 2K studio Cat Daddy Games, WWE SuperCard is very similar to another of the developer's games, MyNBA2K14, but instead of basketball, the focus here is on wrestling.
WWE SuperCardIn WWE SuperCard, players start with a selection of randomly assigned cards, each of which has a rarity level. Wrestler and Diva cards have their own unique stats (power, toughness, speed and charisma), while helper cards alter these attributes while playing. With over 400 cards, a single Superstar or Diva is found on multiple versions of cards, depending on their rarity. That is, players may have both a "common" and a "rare" version of WWE Superstar Chris Jericho in their deck at the same time, each with different stats.
These cards can be trained to increase their stats, by sacrificing cards of lesser athletes. In some cases, players may wind up with two of the exact same card, and can fuse these together to create a "Pro" version of the wrestler, with greater base stats and a higher overall training potential.
Gamers can choose to compete against others in short exhibition matches, or in King of the Ring tournaments. Exhibition matches are three rounds, and see the game choosing different key stats at random. The first round, for instance, may be a tag team match focusing on speed and charisma, while the second may be a Divas match focusing on power. Matches may focus on any of the four stats, in any combination, so users need the most well-rounded team possible to have the greatest chance of success.
In addition to individual stats, wrestler cards also contain "compatibility" factors. These are represented by diamonds at the bottom of each card. In tag team matches, complimentary diamonds trigger an increase in the team's stats during those matches, while conflicting diamonds mark an "incompatible" team, and cause the stats to decrease.
Before each match, players can assign helper cards to their Superstars and Divas to give them the upper hand, or instantly damage their opponent. Since the enemy's cards are unknown until the match begins, users can assign -7 Power, +10 Speed and other card boosts to their hand in the hopes that these might give them an edge against their unknown competitors. In addition, each card has a super move, which triggers at random and affects a stat during that match. Combat itself is automatic, once the cards have been assigned.
At the end of each three-round game, the victor gets two random card drops, while the loser receives one. While free-to-play, gamers can spend real money on additional card drops, including on those of the Epic or Legendary rarity levels.
As for the King of the Ring tournaments, players assign their cards to a lengthy battle session against other players. Cards lose stamina (that is, their stats decrease) after each encounter, but players can spend energy cards to boost them back to full fighting potential. Combat in these instances is handled automatically (without any input from the player), but players earn higher rankings and better rewards, depending on how much they manage their teams between rounds.
"WWE SuperCard represents a great opportunity to extend the WWE 2K brand by delivering unique and power-packed mobile entertainment experiences," said Chris Snyder, vice president of marketing at 2K. "Get ready to experience WWE card battles on your favorite mobile device – anywhere and at any time."
WWE SuperCard is available to download for free on iOS, Android and Amazon Kindle devices.

Pako iPhone Review

Ever wanted to simulate a car chase, but without the mess of actually worrying about your life or the safety of others? Us too. That's why Pako feels so decadently cruel and awesome at the same time. And while it's devilishly difficult at the beginning, once you get into the groove you'll quickly find yourself dodging the pigs like you were a born criminal.
 

The Good
Controlling your vehicle is simple and effortless, but it does take a while to master. You need to use the left and right sides of your device to steer, but you don't have to worry about braking or speeding up. That's all handled for you, and honestly part of what makes it so difficult to learn. Careen through five different levels, including a graveyard teeming with zombies, and even a square with tanks while using an actual rickshaw.
In order to keep the chase going, you can't hit anything at all. Even if you so much as clip a tree, you'll be forced to start over. But that's where the fun lies, in becoming more precise with each play. The police are always hot on your trail every second of the game, so not only do you have to worry about your surroundings, but the police as well. Every second you gain against the clock in subsequent playthroughs feels like a victory.
The Bad
Sometimes, the controls aren't truly conducive to your cause, and smaller corrections to your driving directions aren't exactly simple to make. Also, there could be more stages for variety, but perhaps that's something that could be added in via future updates. The difficulty may end up turning potential players away as well, as it does take some effort to become a competent player, despite the fact that the game does everything in its power to make you feel as though you shouldn't actually be having any trouble with it.
The Verdict
Pako is a unique and exciting car chase simulator that you'll pick up and play and forget to put down until you're proficient. Yes, it can be hard to get the hang of, and there simply isn't much to it, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a more addictive game out there right now -- of course, beyond the likes of Timberman.
Download Pako for iOS.
4/5

Thursday

Playdek Reveals New Online Play System for Mobile Gamers

playdek 650
At this year's Gen Con gaming convention in Indianapolis, we had a chance to go hands-on with Playdek's new mobile in-game technology, which the company hopes will "change the way board games are played in the digital space." The technology will add a complete social network to the company's games, including Summoner Wars and Ascension, among others.
Using this tech, players can create their own profiles, track their stats across Playdek's many titles, communicate with friends and strangers, compete in tournaments and more.
After creating an account, Playdek users can add their friends by usernames, and can chat with those users across games, and across platforms. That is, a Summoner Wars player on iOS could chat with an Ascension player on Android asynchronously. The platform will support group chat, in cases where many friends are all playing Playdek titles, as well as real-time chat with strangers during games.
For a competitive card game like Summoner Wars, the system will provide a hub for tournament tracking, as users can purchase tournament tokens (the price is still being determined) and enter single or double elimination tournaments for 4-32 players. It's possible these tournaments will grow to support even more users, depending on the reaction from players.
During tournaments, the network will show gamers stats about their competitors. In a card battle game, for instance, users may be able to see the particular decks a user prefers, and their win / loss / forfeit ratios with those decks.
Outside of tournaments, the social network offers multiple customization options to players. In addition to choosing an avatar and entering customizable mottos, players can set their status as offline when they don't want friends to notice them, can turn off device notifications (for when users play Playdek games on multiple devices), opt out of incoming friend requests and more. The profile screen will also show a user's overall win, loss and forfeit ratios within all Playdek games (where applicable).
Playdek's new social features are expected to launch in Summoner Wars no later than this fall. The system will then be integrated into Ascension, before moving into other titles.

Kickerinho Android Review

This year, the World Cup was held in Brazil. The United States had a good showing and morale was high during its run that ultimately fell short. That said, Kickerinho tries to jump on the soccer hype with a simple skills challenge.
 

The Good

In Kickerinho, you control a young boy named Kickerinho as he practices soccer dribbling. It's a one-touch tap game, where you press left or right on the screen depending on which side the ball travels. Kickerinho starts out by kicking the ball, but the timing of the kick effects what move he does next. If you kick the ball high, he might practice his headers or balance it on his back. The game is simple to play, but difficult to master because of all the different moves.
The goal is to get a high score, and you can save your performance and upload it to social media, an awesome feature to show off a good run.

The Bad

The sudden switch in moves inevitably screws up your timing and performance. You start off kicking the ball, and then out of nowhere you will start practicing headers or balancing the ball on your back. You can't control how hard you hit the ball, so the switch in moves is completely random. Sometimes you can hit the ball on the side it's on and it will just bounce off your leg or head, even though you struck it correctly.

The Verdict

Kickerinho is a good idea that was poorly executed. It looks nice graphically, but the gameplay fails to measure up. Leave it alone and go for one of the better tap-to-win games.
Download Kickerinho for iPhone, iPad and Android.
2.5/5

Play God With These Alternatives To Godus

pocketgod1
Peter Molyneux basically invented the "god game" with the advent of Populous, and returned to the scene with the recent Godus. But if you're looking for something similar to that adventure and need a breath of fresh air, there are plenty of similar simulation games where you can play god here and there. Just don't let it go to your head.
1. Pocket God
Pocket God is an oldie but a goodie, consistently updated with interesting additions and requiring a very low threshold for IAPs. There's hours of content from the very beginning as you take control of the God of a small island with a little tribe to take care of how you see fit. Each episode is comprised of a set of different objectives, and there's plenty to do when you factor in additional episodes that are available on a regular basis.
Download Pocket God for Android.
2. Tribes
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Much like Populous, Tribes finds you taking charge of a landscape to invite settlers so they can build their own structures and live off the land as you choose for them to. It doesn't channel the same sort of good looks as Godus or any of the other titles on our list, but it's a deep and strategic title that anyone who grew up on Populous will want to try out, especially if you prefer more hardcore offerings that do less hand-holding.
Download Tribes for iOS.
3. Artificial Life HD
artlife
In this strange game, you lord over bacteria, each with its own hard-coded set of instructions. It's your job to make sure these miniscule bits of life survive beyond a few minutes. You create your very own virtual bacterium in one specific game mode, and in another you can set your own parameters for how your in-game universe will operate, then take the reins. It's a lot different than Pocket God or even Godus, but its bizarre premise is where it shines. You'll be saying the same thing once you see it in action, and then recommending it to everyone you know!
Download Artifical Life HD for iPhone.

Ballpit Monster Launches Flick Knights on iOS

Ballpit Monster Launches Flick Knights on iOS

 


Mobile developer Ballpit Monster has announced the launch of its multiplayer turn-based strategy game Flick Knights on iOS devices. The game sees players taking to the field to destroy their opponent's base while protecting their own. Presented as a sport, teams are comprised of humans as well as animals, while the field is full of bounce pads and other obstacles which may help or hurt a player's chance for victory.
Flick Knights offers two gameplay modes: a live, synchronous version where each player makes their move before running out of time, and an asynchronous version, which allows users to take their time and come back to the game when they're ready to dive back in.
On their turn, players tap and "flick" their characters around the field. This includes simply moving a player to a new location (say, to a spot in front of their base to protect it), or to attack the opponent's units or base. Obstacles on the field may cause units to bounce off and head in the wrong direction, so the aim of the flick is important.
Combat occurs automatically upon contact, and eliminated players are sent to the penalty box for a few turns before returning to the field.
Each unit has their own stats (attack, defense and speed) and special attacks. For instance, one unit may be able to teleport across the field, while another can shoot a massive laser beam across the field, attacking enemies in its path.
"MOBA players don't have to worry about feeders or lag with Flick Knights," said Ballpit Monster chief creative officer Rodrigo Fernandez. "We want Flick Knights to be an exciting, colorful way for players to dive into the arena strategy genre and have some fun right away."
Flick Knights is available to download for free on iOS. The game is supported via in-app purchases, as users can purchase new knights for their team with premium currency. Users can also spend money on Boosters, which may increase the experience points, free or premium currency earned over a group of future matches.

Try Out These Kemco RPGs For A Satisfying Fix

Chances are, if you're a mobile RPG junkie and are routinely checking the App Store for new adventures to embark on, you've seem Kemco titles dotting both Android and iOS venues. With so many of them available for purchase seemingly every other week, how do you discern which is worth your hard-earned cash and which are better left unplayed? Try out these three for size, and see where you stand!
1. Symphony of Eternity
 
Widely considered one of Kemco's best efforts, Symphony of Eternity is one of the most traditional, staunchly by-the-books JRPG you'll ever see on a mobile device, but that's part of its charm. Though many of Kemco's ilk refuse to step into the modern era, Symphony of Eternity has to be one of the most recognizably formulaic role-playing games the developer has created, but it revels in its simplicity and offers an engaging story and battle system that work in tandem to weave a tale you'll want to come back to.
Unfortunately, the localization is poor, with dated graphics, so if you're looking for something with a more modern aesthetic you may want to pass it up. If core, paint-by-numbers Japanese RPG mechanics are your speed, this part of Kemco's stable will no doubt appeal to you.
Download Symphony of Eternity for Android.
2. Symphony of the Origin
Symphony of the Origin is actually a prequel to Symphony of Eternity, but you wouldn't know that from the look of things. It's absolutely gorgeous, with massively updated graphics from that of the game that comes after it, and it's easily the most modern-looking of the set. What's more, once you complete the game, you can go right back at it with a New Game+, where the difficulty is dialed up just a bit and your characters retains the stats earned from the previous playthrough. It's also balanced quite well and runs about 12-15 hours, so the price is certainly right.
Download Symphony of the Origin for Android.
3. Fantasy Chronicle
Fantasy Chronicle is another by-the-books tale of a boy who oversleeps, finds his village set on fire, and sets off to rescue the girl, saving the world in turn. This particular project is a collaboration between Hit-Point and Kemco, and is easily one of the most polished offerings the publisher has to offer. Akin to Dragon Quest in many ways, it features a specialized Guardian Beast system that asks players to assign a powerful beast to each character while providing offensive or defensive magic and attacks. Plucky characters, exciting battles, and a guild-based mission system ensure you'll have plenty to do for the long haul as well, making this easily one of the best choices from Kemco, especially for beginners to the genre.
Download Fantasy Chronicle for Android.

Tuesday

Risen 3: Titan Lords Review


Risen 3: Titan Lords, like its two predecessors, is not the kind of role-playing game typically considered to be a worthy one should you apply certain objective measures. Its cliched fantasy-pirate story trades in the usual tropes, featuring voodoo priestesses, busty bar wenches, and foul-mouthed seafarers seeking a swig of rum. Its exploitable combat takes the sting out of victory, keeping late-game combat from being much more than a minor time-waster. Each game system has an annoying flaw or three of some manner or another; lines of dialogue appear in nonsensical order, execution moves are accompanied by nauseating camera contortions, and you might suddenly have a new weapon equipped after a loading screen.
What Risen 3 has that will keep you pressing forward is a sense of grand adventure, directing you from one lush island to the next while you seek to unite your body with your missing soul after your death and resurrection. During your travels, you parley with ghosts, many of which have the sour attitude you might expect from a spirit forced into a partnership with a mere mortal. You morph into a colorful parrot and float to otherwise impassable ground, you train a monkey to steal gold and grog, and you choose which of several powerful factions to align with. These are the same islands you explored in Risen 2, but they have been refreshed and redesigned, making Risen 3 more than just "Risen 2.5," though the thematic gap between the second and third games in the series is not nearly as great as that between the first two.
A minimap? Hooray!
Once you complete the tutorial, you gain access to most of Risen 3's fictional Caribbean-inspired map, and move from one island to the next via your modest sloop, which is later replaced by a more ornate vessel with its own crew. Along the way, you meet a number of friends who may accompany you on your journey, including returning sword-wielding bombshell Patty, who is your sister in this scenario. Patty is not the most interesting of these companions, one of whom can fight at your side at any given time. The assortment of comrades includes a ghostly pirate and a voodoo practitioner who's handy with a shotgun and shockingly good at handling his liquor. My favorite companion, however, was Bones, a druid with a phlegmy voice and a comedic form of bloodlust. (His constant warcry--"I'm going to make a hat out of your skin!"--did wear thin, however, particularly when facing enemies that had no actual skin. That skeleton has no flesh, Bones!)
Bones, like the other companions, disappeared once or twice for no apparent reason, most often on the endgame island, where I sorely needed his assistance. (One of many bugs that make you wish Risen 3's nuts and bolts had been fully tightened.) And a shotgunner aside, most of your sidekicks are functionally the same, so don't expect them to exercise a wide diversity of skills. Luckily, you gain access to a variety of different powers of your own. It's easy to stick to the skills that enhance swordplay, given how vital close-quarters combat is during the early game. In time, however, you will be summoning hellhounds to your side and flinging ice shards at golems if you so choose.
The islands offer a good amount of scenic variety.
Deciding which customization paths to travel isn't as simple as selecting possibilities from a skill tree. As with previous Risen games, you must first spend glory (that is, skill points) in order to meet a proper numerical threshold, and then purchase related skills from a trainer. Furthermore, not every kind of trainer is available on every island, so it takes time and money to gain access to the most interesting skills, which can take a dozen or more hours. If you fancy a bit of necromancy or crystal magic, it takes time to make those powers part of your standard repertoire. Luckily, voodoo dolls and spell scrolls let you conjure the elements before you reach that point.
It's a solid leveling system that subverts the economy in interesting ways, forcing you into meaningful choices in the service of your chosen play style. By the end of the game, I had put aside fencing weapons and picked up a supernatural orb that spewed forth waves of magic, a fine weapon when standing toe to toe with a demonic soul eater and its shambling minions. Sadly, those decisions are diminished somewhat by the combat itself, which is far more fluid than it was in previous Risen games, but is too easy to exploit. When the gods of battle smile on you from above, there is a nonetheless a flow to battle missing from the previous games; no longer does a single sand devil mean likely death on the very first beach you comb, now that you can dodge and block--two options that were absent when Risen 2 was released (though later patched in.) It's the possibility of facing intriguing new creatures that keeps combat from losing its luster entirely; giant crabs and claw monkeys give way to glowering dark spirits, charging artiodactyls, and growling gorillas.
What Risen 3 has that will keep you pressing forward is a sense of grand adventure, directing you from one lush island to the next while you seek to unite your body with your missing soul after your death and resurrection.
The combat system's very mechanics undermine themselves, unfortunately. The dodge becomes your "get out of jail free" card: you can repeat the move ad nauseum, avoiding damage even if you're simply doing somersaults against a wall. Your proximity to your enemy has too little bearing on the outcome of battle. Aggressive pirates can cross an improbable distance with a single swing, yet avoid your blade's anger should they activate a dodge animation, even if the dodge doesn't successfully remove them from harm's obvious reach. It was hard not to roll my eyes during certain combat scenarios--scenarios in which I could slash away at a giant troll from a ledge above without suffering any ill consequences, scenarios in which I fearlessly tumbled around like a single sock in a rotating clothes dryer. In time, I won most battles easily, and the great supply of available provisions ensured I was always healthy. In Risen, combat was frustrating, but at least every encounter was an event; in Risen 3, combat is rarely more than a mild entertainment.
That isn't so say that I didn't delight in taking on the undead gangs that pour out of Risen 3's portals to the underworld. Risen 2's magical shenanigans have been greatly expanded, allowing for colorful displays of fire and ice. It's easy to be disappointed in Piranha Bytes' decision to retread the same ground, but never did I feel like I was playing Risen 2 all over again. The world is now beleaguered, suffering from the onslaught of dark forces, and not alive with civilian activity in the way Risen 2 was. I was immediately struck by how this world was no longer buzzing with love and labor.
In Risen 3, everybody wants something.
Later, however, I came to appreciate how fear had spread across the land, causing distrust among comrades and tearing apart towns that had once bustled with commerce. The solitary fortresses where the mages and demon hunters dwelled exuded a hushed mystery that seemed appropriate, given the seriousness with which both factions approached their business. Bones aside, few characters make an impression on their own, but almost every character speaks in a hearty and assertive tone. They have lived their lives and lived them hard--and there is still more hard living to be had.
Those robust characters serve a shrug-worthy save-the-world story whose primary purpose is to get you exploring lush jungles and mining crystals in winding caverns. It isn't the primary narrative but the little stories you encounter that make a noticeable mark, even when the vibrant dialogue is overshadowed by the nonsensical order some of the dialogue options appear in. (Why am I telling this pirate that I took care of the looming threat, when he was with me when I did it, and already handed me a reward?) I had a hard time caring about whatever political shenanigans the Inquisition was up to, but the adventurer convinced that ducks were staring at him as he slept? This was a story I needed to hear. Sure, I needed to worry about oncoming evils, but solving the mystery of a man's insanity was far more intriguing.

It's unfortunate that Risen 3 springs new irritations on you whenever it springs a new game system on you. Suddenly you're engaging in one of a few sea battles, which are fun new additions when they first appear, but still might have you wondering why the game doesn't provide you a cooldown bar for your side cannons, or why the final sea beast accosts you with attacks you're ponderous vessel can't usually avoid. You might open your inventory window during battle to guzzle down some painkilling liquor, only to return to battle and find that the game has inexplicably sheathed your weapon on your behalf. Then there are soul points, which relate to an unnecessary morality system that doesn't seem to abide by any comprehensible set of rules. Sometimes you can be a jerk and have no effect on your soul standing; other times, you lose a point for being simply indifferent to another character's long-winded story. I never gleaned what consequence the soul meter had, and other mechanics--the dream sequences, the ability to turn on a type of spirit vision--were similarly half-baked.
I'm guessing, however, that if you're interested in Risen 3, you already have a certain expectation of it--one based on the developer's history of making interesting, exhaustive, clumsy role-playing games that manage to invest you in spite of their awkwardness. It's a matter of vision. Risen 3: Titan Lords is not the studio's grandest gesture, but the tendrils of this fantasy saga still grab you. The glitches and irritations poke at your patience, but the promise of buried treasure on a distant beach still compels you. Risen 3 has the potential to sweep you away, provided all that driftwood doesn't keep you at shore.