MOBA X Smartphones? Why not! - Vainglory Reader's Review

WARNING: This particular review is about a game that is based on a genre known as the "multiplayer online battle arena". For those who have serious addiction cases, be forewarned on playing these kinds of games, as they are literally addictive to the point of neglect. Do NOT attempt to play these games if you know you have these kinds of problems. No wonder these games are EXTREMELY controversial... :/

That being said... LET'S BEGIN! :)

Whenever you hear the term "Multiplayer Online Battle Arena". what is the first thing that comes to your mind? League of Legends? DotA? Heroes of Newerth? Well, in my case, yes. I am a hypocrite if I told you I don't know about them.

However, there is one thing in common for those mentioned games; they are all PC exclusives, which means those who don't have a PC (or people who can only afford low-end computers) will not be able to enjoy these games. Trust me, I tried.

So where do people cling on to next? Of course, the mobile space! There are many "DotA clones" that was released on mobile devices and that is worth saying. There is a problem though; the games were either too unbalanced, too cumbersome, or too cheap to the point where they are being labelled as just plain rip-offs of already existing MOBA games. While some of them are good, most of them are just shameless to the point of disgust...

Fortunately, those guys at Super Evil Megacorp (what a stupid name for a game developer to be honest) have managed to create a MOBA game for smartphones that is neither too similar nor too unbalanced for both casual and professional players alike.

Welcome to the Halcyon Fold! THIS IS VAINGLORY!!!

Title: Vainglory
Date released: November 16, 2014 (iOS Version) and July 2, 2015 (Android Version)
Company: Super Evil Megacorp (silly, I know)
Genre: Multiplayer online battle arena
Platform: Mobile
ESRB Rating: None (but Teen if otherwise)



Brief Background: Super Evil Megacorp, the people behind Vainglory, was a video game developer consisted of different programming "veterans" coming from different companies such as Blizzard Entertainment (known for Warcraft III and the popular mod made by IceFrog, the latter being hired by Valve to make Dota 2) and Riot Games (people responsible for League of Legends). The game started development back in 2012 when the company was just being formed. In 2014, a development demo was released to demonstrate the graphics used in the game.

What do you do here?
You play as a unique hero that fights as your avatar in the Halcyon Fold. From there, you need to protect your Vain crystals while, at the same time, use your tactical know-hows to destroy the enemy Vain crystal of the opposing team. Basically, that's it.

What makes the game interesting?
The first thing you will notice in this game is, unlike most popular MOBA games, the game only consists of three players on each side of the playing field; defending the Vain crystals. While the formula is similar to that of other MOBAs, the fights are really easy to look out for, since that there are only a few units fighting meaning that there is no chance that clashes will get cluttered by attacks and spells.

As of the time of this writing, there are thirty heroes to pick and choose to fight for you in the Halcyon Fold. There's a catch though, the heroes must be bought in order for them to be used permanently. Otherwise, you have to stick to the free-heroes on rotation. Keep in mind that the roster of free-heroes changes every week. This is pretty interesting since that you can be able to try different heroes right away and and giving you less of a hassle of picking on their skill sets.

Despite of the small roster of heroes, each of them have unique abilities, known as Perks that works differently for each hero, and a set of attacks that add depths of play as you unravel each hero's potential. Also, it doesn't have a traditional level up system. While your profile do level up, your heroes don't. They only level up during battles and the level resets after the battle ends. In short, skill is the name of the game and not an MMO of sorts where equipment and stats are deciding factors. Additionally, leveling up your account means that it can give you some awesome goodies like currencies and other stuff.

There are two game modes; Standard PVP and Battle Royale. Standard is your typical Vainglory game; defend the Vain Crystal, power up, defeat enemies, and destroy the opposing team's Vain Crystal. Battle Royale on the other hand is kinda similar to League's All Random All Mid that takes place in the Howling Abyss. Both of these game modes can only be played at the Halcyon Fold; the jungle being inaccessible when playing Battle Royale.

There are two ways to get heroes; through in-game currency (known as Glory) and premium currency (known as ICE). While Glory can only be received in-game, ICE on the other hand can be obtained primarily through real money. Fortunately, there are random ICE giveaways as well as you can receive a plenty of them early on in the game, meaning you don't need to pay that much for as long as you are persistent.

Just like in other MOBAs, you can only purchase equipment in the base. There are 4 categories; Weapon, Crystal, Defense, and Utility. Each of these types grant a variety of bonuses and perks, allowing you to make games easier for you, or better yet, lead your team towards victory! Also, you can properly experiment with each of these categories; allowing you to create different build combinations that suits your play style. Combine it with proper team coordination, as well as learning the basics of how to use your hero, and you will definitely win fights!

Ever getting trouble in getting good allies that can help you win battles? This game has a nice way of doing just this. Introducing the Karma System; a matchmaker that allows the server to match you with players that is either equal or above your skill level. While it doesn't properly explain what it is, at least this can give you some peace of mind. Take note that you can gain Karma by receiving "thumbs ups" after a match and you lose some by receiving "thumbs downs".

The most interesting thing about this game is that the developers of this game have actually managed to create a MOBA game that is specifically optimized for the mobile. Also, with almost any modern smartphone at your disposal, the game runs extremely well most of the time while providing an excellent time. Just be sure to take breaks every once in a while though as this game can easily get you hooked!

What are the flaws I found in this game?
First of all, the game itself has a very steep learning curve, which means that the game will punish you for being terrible at it. This is very unwelcoming for a lot of new players as the game has to ensure that you already have prior knowledge of other MOBAs to fully shine.

Also, the lack of alternative stages can be pretty bothersome. I understand that the developers may not want to further strain low-end devices, but come on, a little variety to the stages can be really fun.

The Karma system, as mentioned, is not entirely fleshed out. The system is very ambiguous and there is a chance that it can be abused just for the heck of it. I have seen on how the Tribunal works in League of Legends took a step further where you can find certain statistics throughout a certain match, including the conversations made. Additionally, you don't even know when you will get low Karma so that you can do good the next time around.

Another complaint is the game connectivity. There are certain circumstances that pings will go extremely high to the point of frustration; even with a fast internet connection. Heck, even mobile data users have to meet odds and ends first before playing properly.

While the game itself is not entirely pay-to-win, the game encourages you to pay as you will be forced to make diverse strategies as the meta continues to grow; which means that buying characters is MANDATORY! While you can buy them via in-game cash, collecting them is a hassle.

So what makes Vainglory stand out from other MOBAs?
Well... there really is nothing to write home about this game, other than the unique 3v3 layout and map. Meh, nothing just nothing. Everything else, from the combat to the heroes, is all the same.

Do you recommend this game?
Absolutely not! Despite the extremely addictive nature and pretty nice game play, I would not recommend it for casual players and for those who have addictive tendencies. Sure it doesn't have any noticeable side-effects, but things could get worse at any given time...

On the other hand, if you are a die-hard fan of MOBAs and you can't afford to simply miss a match, then feel free to download the game. It packs a lot of things going for.

Overall Rating: 8.1/10
A MOBA at the palm of your hand, Vainglory has a distinct feel that really screams performance! It is not really a game that anyone can enjoy right away, but if you are up for the challenge in testing your strategic prowess and patience, then you might want to grab this game.

Just don't be too absorbed in this game. Trust me, it's mind-numbing at best, soul-crushing at worst.

--END OF REVIEW--

TO EVERYONE WHO ARE ENJOYING THE NEW YEAR, I WISH THAT YOU HAVE A NICE AND A PROSPEROUS YEAR AHEAD!!! :D

Sport some dice and get ready to DUEL! - Yu-Gi-Oh! Dungeon Dice Monsters Reader's Review

Before I stopped playing Yu-Gi-Oh!, I have played the heck of this awesome game. While it is very controversial at some point in time, the game itself is a smashing success. From the rules to the card sets, everything about this game is just solid and has a very high replay value; especially with a ton of card types and starter decks of different variants being released throughout the years.

While the franchise is very well known for its card games, the franchise also ventured through tabletop territory. One of them is D.D.M. or Dungeon Dice Monsters.

The game itself, in my opinion, is a nice alternative of the card game format. However, the game itself is extremely complicated; especially for beginners. Me, on the other hand, has somehow managed to embrace the game after careful planning and learning the game's tedious rule set.

Unfortunately, I did not actually played the physical version of the game but rather the GBA version, which is actually nice since it is not a messy way to play it. Not to mention that the game itself is pretty much obscure to a lot of people and die-hard fans of Duel Monsters are the only ones who can fully appreciate the game, if not understand it's rules.

Enough with the introductions and its time for the Reader's Review of Yu-Gi-Oh! Dungeon Dice Monsters!

Title: Yu-Gi-Oh! Dungeon Dice Monsters
Date Released: February 12, 2003
Company: Konami
Genre: Card/Board Battler
Platform: Game Boy Advance
ESRB Rating: E



Brief Background: This game was actually based on a short arc regarding Duke Devlin (Ryuji Otogi in the Japanese version) introducing a new game called Dungeon Dice Monsters, a heavily modified version of Duel Monsters that uses dice to summon monsters and perform actions. Prior to the beginning of the Duelist Kingdom arc, Maximillion Pegasus made a deal with Duke for the game to be released worldwide. After an impressive victory against the creator of Dungeon Dice Monsters, Pegasus became pleased with the game itself and promised for such an exposure. Unfortunately, Pegasus was defeated by Yugi Muto and Duke blames the latter for DDM's failure to go global and tells Yugi that he will defeat a cheater such as himself. Joey Wheeler challenged Duke, only to be humiliated by the latter in the last minute by defeating the former in a single turn. After seeing his friend being mocked by forcing Joey to wear a dog costume, Yugi, under the guise of his dark counterpart Yami, challenged Duke against the latter's very own game. Despite having a bad start due to the lack of understanding to the rules of the game, Yami proved his superior gaming smarts, quickly learned the rules, and turned the tables in his favor; ultimately defeating Duke in the end.

A physical version of the game was released in 2002 and published by Mattel. Unfortunately, the game itself was a failure and certain monsters in the board game were incorporated to the card games instead, such as Strike Ninja.

What do you do here?
There's no plot in this game, but rather you participate in a number of tournaments. All of which packs a decent challenge provided that you are unfamiliar to the game. It gets difficult as you proceed so be sure to get your best dice as early as possible... if you can manage to nab them that is.

What makes this game interesting?
It is basically a different way to play Duel Monsters. You roll dice, summon monsters, attack, defend; everything about the card game is still here except the aforementioned dice rolling. Every dice have these unique symbols called "Crests" which you can use to perform numerous actions such as moving, attacking, and defending.

The game is really straightforward and nothing really to keep your head scratching once you get the hang of its mechanics.

What are the flaws that I found in this game?
While there are a ton of tournament types and opponents to deal against, there really isn't anything to do much but throw die, summon, attack, defend, use special items if necessary, rinse and repeat.

Also, since that the card game s more popular than this Duel Monster "variant", I don't see the point on delving on this game much... unless if you are an avid collector of Yu-Gi-Oh! games for the GBA.

While I had some enjoyment back then, it gradually loses momentum as it wears on.

Do you think this game will age really well? 
No. Just like the physical board game, it won't be.

Do you recommend this game?
Well, if you are a fan of the Duel Monsters series, then please, knock yourself out.  However, if you are new to the Yu-Gi-Oh! series, I suggest that you stick to the card games instead and don't go into this game expecting to be a great experience. It is not.

Overall Rating: 5.2/10
Despite the enjoyment I had with this game, it then eventually died out after beating Yami for like, 90 times! Dungeon Dice Monsters is overall mediocre and not really deserve the Yu-Gi-Oh! license. However, being a very obscure title, this is worth collecting... if you are an avid Yu-Gi-Oh! fan that is.

--END OF REVIEW--