Ys: The Oath in Felghana Review

Ys: The Oath in Felghana (Steam)
Developed By: Nihon Falcom
Published and localized by: XSEED
Date of release: March 19, 2012
Price: $14.99

In the year 1992 there was a very expensive game system known as the NEC TurboDuo. Retailing at an unheard of for the time $299, NEC attempted to balance the price/value ratio by including a pack-in game. That game was Falcom's Ys Books I & II, and it was the beginning of an RPG revolution. The Ys games were amazing 16-bit top-down RPGs with gameplay similar to the roguelikes of yore, but with many vast improvements on the genre. Known for lush anime-style cutscenes, fast paced action, and heavy-metal driven boss battles, Ys I and II blazed their own trail, and paved the way for an amazing 6 sequels.




Despite the incredible success brought on by the formula of Books I & II, Falcom decided to switch things up with the next title in the series, resulting in Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. Though the controversial transition to sidescrolling action had a divisive effect on the fanbase, it still proved to be a sensational hit regardless. However, in 2005 Falcom remade Ys III in the hallmark top-down style of the series, giving it a brand new 3D engine with new cinematics and an amped up soundtrack arrangement, releasing the final product under the name Ys: The Oath in Felghana. It ended up being even more wildly successful than all of the previous titles released, with many fans considering it to be the magnum opus of the series. Now 7 years later, XSEED has brought this marvelous masterpiece to Steam!




Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a very easy game to jump into storywise, even if you have not played any of the previous games in the series. It has its own epic tale to tell, and knowledge of previous events is not required. A fair warning though: if you have never played a Ys game before, start on Easy or Very Easy. I'm not trying to scare you away, but Oath is without a doubt one of the most challenging games to hit the market in recent times. If you choose normal, prepare to die a LOT during the massive boss encounters. That is not to say that the game is cheap or unbalanced, as often tempering your equipment or simply gaining another level will even the playing field. The reward lies in the challenge, and you WILL feel a great sense of accomplishment each time you finally triumph over your foe.




One way to describe the gameplay in Oath would be to imagine an amped-up Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Add blazing speed and the ability to jump into the mix, and toss with a heavy dash of well-executed platforming, and you have a hearty recipe for gaming success. Don't just go rushing in headfirst hacking away at your foes with reckless abandon however, the combat in Oath requires a fair bit of strategy. You will have at your disposal three elemental rings, and the powers they bestow upon you are necessary to dispatch your foes with efficiency. Always be on the lookout in hard to reach areas, as you can always find hidden chests containing upgrades and new equipment, as well as the Raval ore needed to temper your gear at the smithy in town.




Back to the topic of combat. The boss encounters in Oath are epic in scale, and they take a fair bit of thinking to overcome. Simply flailing away with reckless abandon is sure to get you killed. Don't be afraid of failure however, if you die in a boss fight you will be given the option to retry as many times as you wish (though beware, dying 10 times to the same boss and the game will mock you with an "achievement"). The key to success is to study the bosses patterns, and use the proper attack for the job. If all else fails you can grind a level or two, or temper your gear as I pointed out before.




It truly is a grand day for the Steam Community and Ys fans alike now that one of the finest games in the series has hit the platform, and with promises of Ys: Origin on the horizon. Oath will definitely fulfill the wishes of anyone who desires a solid JRPG experience on their PC. With an epic storyline, badass bosses, masterful music, gorgeous graphics, and all around gratuitous gameplay, Ys: The Oath in Felghana does NOT disappoint. With unlockables such as higher difficulties, time attack, and boss rush modes, players will be entertained long after the main story has wrapped up. What are you waiting for? Go get your Ys fix now!

Painkiller: Recurring Evil Review

Painkiller: Recurring Evil
Developed by: Eggtooth Team/Med-Art
Published by: Nordic Games
Date of Release: Feb 29, 2012
Price: $9.99

Ahhhh Painkiller. Such an amazingly oldschool retro arena-style run-and-gun shooter series. Each entry provides players with a blasting metal-style soundtrack, gratuitously awesome guns, and a plethora of undead freaks to splatter with them. The latest iteration of this series, Recurring Evil, stays true to it's roots and offers the same awesomeness, with 5 new levels to paint red with your foe's blood.




In Recurring Evil players have access to the usual potent arsenal consisting of the classic weapons of the Painkiller trade, which should be more than sufficient to blow away the armies of hell. The 5 new levels are quite varied, from a cathedral, to a highway, to an ancient temple. In all you can expect to get around 8 hours out of the game.




As a long time fan of the series, I was quite impressed with Recurring Evil. Though it is a lot of the same compared to older entries, this IS Painkiller we are talking about here, it just doesn't get old. The only thing I didn't like in Recurring Evil were the long load times, but that's just a small flaw in an otherwise polished gem. If you are a fan of the series, you definitely need Painkiller: Recurring Evil.

Wizorb Review

Wizorb (Steam PC)
Developed and Published by: Tribute Games
Date of Release: March 14, 2012
Price: $2.99

Back in the good old days of arcade gaming there was one interesting game that stood out from the crowd, with its colorful graphics, addictive gameplay, and unique control style provided by a modest spinning knob. This blockbuster (pun intended) was known as Arkanoid. Now in the year 2012 we have a game that takes a similar approach to the genre gameplay wise, but throws everything else out the window and reinvents itself as something amazing.




Wizorb is an epic fantasy adventure seemingly haling from the golden years of gaming, however with a major twist. Rather than charge you with the task of smiting your foes through the normal means of combat, say through turn based or action gameplay, Wizorb first checks if you have the balls to take on the challenge. Cyrus, the wizardly main character, transforms himself into a mystical orb and proceeds to use his staff as a paddle to knock him into his foes. Aside from your enemies, you can also break bricks, chests, barrels, and other items strewn through the playfield, with plenty of powerups to collect as a reward.




There are also various spells at your disposal which you should master if you wish to win the day. You can for instance launch fireballs, or use a gust of wind to change the direction of your orb. With these interesting additions, and wonderful pixel art by Paul Robertson, Wizorb is truely a classic experience which can be enjoyed by veterans and newcomers to the genre alike. A $2.99 asking price also sweetens the deal, considering you get 5 worlds, 60 levels, plenty of items to buy with your gold, and EPIC boss fights. Wizorb is a must buy.