A game that I played all this week is Dungeon Defenders. An indie title that combines both hack and slash and tower defence elements.
The concept first of all is somewhat unique. Not many developers have attempted this combination, and I have to say: It works!
There are four classes you can choose from Apprentice, Huntress, Squire and Monk. Each of these has their own set of skills, weapon type and even traps, each character has its own play style. You can play all of them solo, despite their chosen role or you can slot directly into that role when playing co-op.
There are several maps each completely different from the last and once you have completed each map you unlock challenges, which are much harder than the original maps.
The art style is very cool, very cartoony and somewhat childish. The characters are all children and are very "chibi" versions of the adult forms. This lends a nice bit of silliness to an otherwise "serious" game. Nothing quite as silly as watching a young knight with no pants on kill a wyvern...
There isn't a huge amount I can say about the game. I find it highly entertaining and for only €15 I think it is definitely worth it.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Muzaks! Michael Hoenig
While it might not be a band/group, Michael Hoenig is one of my favourite composers. I originally got to know him due to his work on the soundtrack of the Baldur's Gate series. Something that I still am in awe of today nearly 14 years after I first played the game...
Hoenig has also worked on a huge list of movies such as "Dracula3000" and "After Alice" as well as on a short lived tv series called "Dark Skies". He has his own recording studio and as such was brought on to compose on many films and tv series due to the ease and lack of expense associated with hiring him.
The pieces he composes are full of life and really suit the environment they are created for. Whether the track is supposed to be slow and dark, giving the impression of foreboding, or whether it is full of fun and light, making you think of mischievous children.
Overall he always creates tracks that suit the theme and I have always enjoyed them.
Hoenig has also worked on a huge list of movies such as "Dracula3000" and "After Alice" as well as on a short lived tv series called "Dark Skies". He has his own recording studio and as such was brought on to compose on many films and tv series due to the ease and lack of expense associated with hiring him.
The pieces he composes are full of life and really suit the environment they are created for. Whether the track is supposed to be slow and dark, giving the impression of foreboding, or whether it is full of fun and light, making you think of mischievous children.
Overall he always creates tracks that suit the theme and I have always enjoyed them.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Muzaks! Disturbed
Disturbed, one of my favourite bands, is a Hard Rock group from Chicago. They formed in 1996 when vocalist, David Draiman, joined previously the band was known as Brawl but after recording a demo the vocalist left the group.
Disturbed are a fairly issue-oriented band in that a lot of tracks on their albums focus on sensitive or political issues. The album "Believe" has a lot about the religious differences the band have, four members with four different religions, and how their religions do not affect how they see the world.
A consistent part of Disturbed's music is Draiman's guttural howls and bestial roars, alongside his deep melodic vocals the contrasting roars add a unique yet distinct sound to the tracks.
Down with the Sickness is probably the most well known track from Disturbed and one of the first songs I heard from them. It features a guttural howl that repeats throughout the track and is really a key piece of how the song is structured.
Land of Confusion is a cover of the 1986 version by Genesis. The video has a full figure depiction of "The Guy", Disturbed's mascot, leading a revolution against soldiers of an oppressive regime, to finally lead the way to the Real Power and to topple the corrupt government. It should be noted that this was recorded around the time of President George Bush's reign and was a piece of commentary on his political policies.
Disturbed are a fairly issue-oriented band in that a lot of tracks on their albums focus on sensitive or political issues. The album "Believe" has a lot about the religious differences the band have, four members with four different religions, and how their religions do not affect how they see the world.
A consistent part of Disturbed's music is Draiman's guttural howls and bestial roars, alongside his deep melodic vocals the contrasting roars add a unique yet distinct sound to the tracks.
Down with the Sickness is probably the most well known track from Disturbed and one of the first songs I heard from them. It features a guttural howl that repeats throughout the track and is really a key piece of how the song is structured.
Land of Confusion is a cover of the 1986 version by Genesis. The video has a full figure depiction of "The Guy", Disturbed's mascot, leading a revolution against soldiers of an oppressive regime, to finally lead the way to the Real Power and to topple the corrupt government. It should be noted that this was recorded around the time of President George Bush's reign and was a piece of commentary on his political policies.
Comix: Goblins
Goblins is a Dungeons & Dragons based fantasy webcomic taken from the perspective of the "Monsters".
The story follows a group of goblins, who have been separated from their tribe due to adventurers, and have decided to start levelling up as players rather than NPCs. It is sometimes rather tongue-in-cheek with its humour and sometimes breaks The Fourth Wall but usually the comedy and story stays within the universe itself.
As with most comics from time to time filler pages are required and even these tend to be character lore pages or back stories, which really helps provide huge depth to the universe in question.
The artist Tarol Hunt (Thunt) has been a DM of D&D games for several years and has a very in-depth knowledge of the rules and how best to break or bend them, that it is easy enough for him to construct a story, much as he would as a DM.
If you have an interest in D&D or the universe then you should check out this quirky comic that takes a look at things a little bit differently.
The story follows a group of goblins, who have been separated from their tribe due to adventurers, and have decided to start levelling up as players rather than NPCs. It is sometimes rather tongue-in-cheek with its humour and sometimes breaks The Fourth Wall but usually the comedy and story stays within the universe itself.
As with most comics from time to time filler pages are required and even these tend to be character lore pages or back stories, which really helps provide huge depth to the universe in question.
The artist Tarol Hunt (Thunt) has been a DM of D&D games for several years and has a very in-depth knowledge of the rules and how best to break or bend them, that it is easy enough for him to construct a story, much as he would as a DM.
If you have an interest in D&D or the universe then you should check out this quirky comic that takes a look at things a little bit differently.
Comix: Cyanide & Happiness
For those of us with a slightly more gloomy outlook on life there is a fantastically twisted comic by the name of Cyanide & Happiness (C&H). One word of warning: If you are easily offended this comic will tell you to go fuck yourself...
C&H takes a rather twisted view of situations, in an attempt to make everyone see the brighter side of life. It takes the most bizarre, topical and sometimes horrific instances of life and makes it into a really strangely funny strip. It does not feature any sort of continuity or story but rather goes for the individual comic, sometimes with recurring characters.
Each comic is usually crude humour or a play on words and often does not have the ending that you would expect, frequently going for the cheap laugh factor rather than the sophisticated audience. They are in no way worried about offending anyone (Unless it is harmful to their health of course) and a lot of their comics are rather offensive in one way or another.
A special feature they hold once in a while is "Depressing Comic Week", specifically designed to make the most depression comics they can, yet still make them somewhat funny.
If you are looking for some simple, strange comedy to get you through a long work-day, this is most likely the comic for you.
C&H takes a rather twisted view of situations, in an attempt to make everyone see the brighter side of life. It takes the most bizarre, topical and sometimes horrific instances of life and makes it into a really strangely funny strip. It does not feature any sort of continuity or story but rather goes for the individual comic, sometimes with recurring characters.
Each comic is usually crude humour or a play on words and often does not have the ending that you would expect, frequently going for the cheap laugh factor rather than the sophisticated audience. They are in no way worried about offending anyone (Unless it is harmful to their health of course) and a lot of their comics are rather offensive in one way or another.
A special feature they hold once in a while is "Depressing Comic Week", specifically designed to make the most depression comics they can, yet still make them somewhat funny.
If you are looking for some simple, strange comedy to get you through a long work-day, this is most likely the comic for you.
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