Phoenix Gamer

Phoenix Gamer Review: Dungeon Fighter Online

2013-05-08T17:31:00.000-07:00

When someone mentions an MMORPG (multi-player online role playing game) what usually comes to mind? Probably something like World of Warcraft, Guild Wars or some other Fantasy or Sci-Fi themed game set in an extensive 3-D world where you can level up your characters and play beside friends and allies in an online community. Many of these games can be purchased, and most require a payed monthly or yearly subscription to play online. Not Dungeon Fighter online. Dungeon Fighter online is game by Nexon (Maple story, pop tag) that was released a couple years ago and is free for download from their website, with no subscription fees ever. You never have to pay to play but there are optional items for purchase if you choose to do so. Once you've downloaded the game and logged on, it's time for a new type of adventure.

The first thing that you'll notice about Dungeon Fighter Online is that it's set in a 2-D rather than 3-D gaming environment and plays out more like a side scrolling beat 'em type of game rather than your typical RPG. The battles are real-time rather than turn based which means you can get right into the hack and slash action, killing monsters using a combination of weapon and magic based attacks. Also instead of having an extensive world, there is a limited area where you can explore and gather quests from in-game characters, interact with other players, and find entrances to dungeons. Like your typical RPG you can choose which character class you'd like to play as. The current options for new characters are Slayer, Priest, Mage, Gunner, Female Gunner, and Fighter. Female slayer and thief characters have also been announced but have yet to be released. The character that you choose depends on your preference and style of play.

The dungeons, of course, are where most the gameplay action takes place. Once you enter a dungeon there's only 2 ways to get out. One is beating the boss character for that area, and the other being selecting exit dungeon from your game menu. If you opt for the second selection, however, your health and magic points will be completely depleted as soon as you exit the stage. To recover you'll have to spend in-game gold, which isn't an issue if you stick to dungeons that your character is strong enough to get through. To clear each room in the dungeon you'll need to destroy every enemy in the area before the game lets you move forward. Most of the enemies drop items such as weapons, armor, and potions which you can either use for your own character or sell in the market. The in-game characters will buy your items for a low price. The better option for selling items is using the unique auction system. For an MMORPG, Dungeon Fighter Online's in-game economy is more impressive than most. It's impossible to use “bots” to farm gold and weapons due to the security that in place. Not only do you have to login before playing, there's also this password mini game called “goblin pad” that you have to pass before you can sell or drop any of the items in the game. Also, if the game thinks that you may be cheating, it will provide a captcha which you must solve to continue playing. With these security precautions, the game market has stayed steady with fair prices, and equally fair redemption for items sold.

Another unique feature this game has is a token system. If by some chance your character is defeated in a dungeon they can be revived by using a token. Each player is given 3 tokens a day which they can use to revive their character and there's no penalty for running out other than you can't play anymore that day. You can purchase additional tokens using real money if you really want to keep playing that bad. Regardless, if you ever lose in a dungeon, you'll never lose experience points, something more MMOs should really consider. If you run out of tokens there's another option. You can play in PVP (player vs player) mode. Here, you can fight against other players in one-on-one battles, team battles, and brawls.

Over all, Dungeon Fighter Online is probably one of the most unique MMORPGs that's free to play today. It's fast paced gameplay and sense of instant gratification from button mashing and simple combos, makes this game perfect for both the hardcore and casual gamers alike. If you haven't played it yet, it's definitely worth checking out. Besides, what do you have to lose? It's free to play!

Controllers and Canvas 2.0 at Bookmans

2013-04-16T16:40:00.000-07:00

Join local gamers and artists this May for Bookman's controllers and canvas!

New Gaming Convention - ZapCon

2013-02-21T19:51:00.002-08:00

Zap Con is Arizona's newest video game convention!

For the weekend of April 4-6 the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel will be transformed into an arcade gamer's paradise that will include more than a hundred arcade and pinball machines.

In addition to playing some of your favorite classic games, from Burger Time to Street Fighter, you'll also be able to pick up some sweet gaming swag from the various vendors and check out video game art from local artists. Have some games of your own that you'd like to lend to the event? You can do that! Be sure to check out their website for contact info, registration and more!

Artcade Show

2013-01-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

Check out sweet custom arcade art at February's First Friday Art Walk

Parazol studios is putting on a show that's sure to please any classic gamer or fan of the arts. Their show is going to include custom arcade cabinets painted by local and national artist, all set to free play, live DJs and a Street Fighter 2 tournament.

The event starts at 5pm and goes until Midnight.

Parazol studios is located at 630 E. Pierce St. Phoenix AZ 85004

For more information, be sure to check out their facebook event page.

Phoenix Gamer Reviw: Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed

2013-01-16T17:50:00.000-08:00

When Sega releases a mascot-fueled game like Sega Superstar Tennis, you can’t help making comparisons with the Nintendo-developed counterpart. However, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is not the poor man's Mario Kart. The track design is fun; it has a solid roster of characters, and a bunch of multi-player modes that makes this undoubtedly one of the finest games in its class.

Much in the same way as its predecessor, the new Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed reprises a number of colorful characters from some of the different beloved franchises. Popular characters such as Sonic and Knuckles will no doubt be familiar to most Sega fans. They’re joined by some guest characters such as Wreck-It Ralph and real-life kart racing driver Danica Patrick, who fit in nicely with the other members of the cast. Each of the racers has their own unique racer and stats, so you can experiment with different racing styles.

It’s easy to jump right into Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed – the racing core of the gameplay is fast and pure fun. The driving controls are tight, so you can drift round the corners and weave through the enemy with ease. If you hit a wall, it’s probably your own fault, and the longer you drift the more boosts you earn.

You pick up weapons and items on the track and, as the game’s title suggests, your racer transforms during the race into a number of different vehicles: boat, car, flying vehicle – it all depends on the terrain of the track. Each track transformation section handles differently, with water racing sections feeling more like a wild Wave Race rather than a kart racer. And the flying sections also feel different, since you’re able to move freely up or down as well as left and right, so it’s somewhat harder to hit enemies with your weapons.

This is all complemented wonderfully by dynamic tracks that transform as you race. Consequently it doesn’t feel like going round and round on the same old track, as the track keeps changing from land, to water, to air-based. This makes it harder to learn the track by heart and definitely makes it far more interesting. The levels are all based on the different historical games from Sega, which includes a Nights level which captures the look and the feel of the Sega game that inspired it all.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is definitely not only a joy to play but also pure quality to look at. It’s a great gaming experience that surely deserves a place up there with the best of the best in kart racers.

Author Bio: Author is an avid gamer and a great fan of online racing, tom and jerry games and other online cartoon games.

New Game Store in Phoenix

2013-01-08T13:27:00.000-08:00

Bring the arcade home!

Phoenix's newest spot to get games for your home is Outlaw Game Rooms. They're located in Glendale and offer a variety of arcade cabinets and pinball machines that you can test before purchasing and taking home to your game room. They also host tournaments and gaming events.

Have you checked them out yet? Want to submit a review? Send us a message at admin@phoenixgamer.com

Phoenix Gamer News - January

2013-01-01T19:27:00.002-08:00

There are some awesome things happening in Phoenix in regards to the gaming scene.

First there's this awesome article showcasing some of the arcades that we missed.

Then there's this Arcade Cabinet Art show going on at First Friday downtown.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, Maricopa Con, the valley's only other gaming convention has started a Kickstarter project to fund the convention. Please support the local gaming community by clicking and donating here.

Phoenix Gamer Review - Zelda Phantom Hourglass

2012-11-10T14:22:00.000-08:00

Released back in 2007, Zelda the Phantom Hourglass is easily one of the better titles belonging to the DS library. It's a pleasure to play and stays very true to the series.

The first thing you'll notice about this game that sets it apart from others is the fact that it's absolutely necessary to use the stylus to play. This might be a turn off for anyone who favors traditional controls. In fact, I actually know someone who refused to play this game at all because of this. Compared to other touch screen games, the controls here are actually pretty tight. It's impressive. Moving and attacking are flawless with the exception of the rolling evasion which you to run and roll by drawing a straight line followed by a small circle. I found that it only works about half the time. You don't really need it though as the difficulty is such that you'll find yourself challenged but never frustrated.

One issue you might have a problem with is the inability to equip more than one weapon at a time. There are more than enough buttons free on the DS given the control scheme, so it really shouldn't have been a problem. Or maybe there was a shortage of disk space, which also wouldn't have been an issue if it wasn't for all of the cut scenes. The cut scenes are all beautifully animated but but most are completely unnecessary and completely unskippable. Every time you open a new door in a dungeon the game has to stop and show you a cut scene. It feels like filler when compared to the rest of the game's content.

Speaking of filler, when you're moving from island to island you must travel via boat. It's cute and it impressively shows off what the DS is capable of, but it gets redundant after the first couple of times when all you want to just get along with the game. Marking your map with notes and clues using the stylus is helpful, especially when solving various puzzles. Like I said earlier, the game can be challenging, but it's just that right amount of challenging that makes you feel good once you've completed a puzzle or task. They don't take too long, and there are enough puzzles in each dungeon to keep you entertained for quite a while.

In addition to it's solid gameplay, Zelda The Phantom Hourglass has a fun feel to it. I laughed the first time I figured out I could take the pots out of people's homes and I'd still be holding them when I was outside of the buildings. Little things like this give this game a certain sense of being mischievously whimsical. The game never takes itself too seriously and knows that it's there to show you a good time.

Zelda The Phantom Hourglass gets a 7.5 out of 10

Review submitted by Mel

Devastation Launch Parties

2012-10-23T13:12:00.001-07:00

While there's no Devastation this year, the crew is still putting on awesome local gaming events that you should totally check out!

Assassins Creed 3 Launch Event

When: Monday October 29th - 10:00pm
Where: Microsoft Store - Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall
7014 East Camelback Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Halo 4 Epic Midnight Launch When: Monday November 5th - 10:00pm
Where: Microsoft Store - Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall
7014 East Camelback Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Both events are free to attend. There will also be food, raffles, and handouts to the first 200 attendees. See you there!

Extra Life 2012

2012-10-06T13:31:00.003-07:00

Phoenix Gamer's Mel is participating in this year's Extra Life video game marathon for charity to benefit Phoenix Children's Hospital.

This will be Mel's second year going for an entire 24 hours of non-stop gameplay to raise money for the charity.

Please show your support by visiting her Extra Life Donations Page and making a donation.

Message from Devastation's founder

2012-10-03T15:49:00.000-07:00

Most of you are already aware that Devastation 2012 is not happening this year. Today Robb, Devastation's founder uploaded the following video explaining why. We hope that Devastation comes back strong for 2013!

Phoenix Best of Gaming

2012-09-26T19:25:00.003-07:00

Today the Phoenix New Times released it's annual list of the best of everything in the city. So how did our Phoenix Gamers and local geek hangouts fare? Here's a list of the best of the best that Phoenix has to offer.

Best Comic book shop
Best Girl Gamer
Best Masters of the science of gaming
Best Geekfest
Best Place to see Tech Geeks in action
Best Place to hang out with Role-play Game Geeks
Best Geek Hangout
Best used book store

No Devastation this year

2012-09-20T19:17:00.002-07:00

After only a few years running, Devastation calls it quits.

Looks like it's confirmed. Phoenix Arizona's only video game convention, Devastation, will not be happening this year. You can read the full article about it here.

"I don't want to live here anymore" --Mel

Arizona's Newest Gaming Spot

2012-09-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

Desert Sky Games

Located in Gilbert, Desert Sky Games is Arizona's newest gaming spot. Whether you're in to video games, table top games, or card games, this place has got it all. Check out their online calender for upcoming events and tournaments. They also purchase and sell cards, so if you've got a collection that's getting a little too big they seem more than happy to help. Their online store seems to be a work in progress, but looks like it should have a decent selection once it's up.

Phoenix Gamer Review - Super Monkey Ball Touch and Roll

2012-07-25T21:09:00.001-07:00

It's Super Monkey Ball on the Nintendo DS!

Better late than never, here's our review of the Nintendo DS title Super Monkey Ball Touch and Roll. Fans of Sega, no doubt, have dabbled in the Monkey Ball series in one way or another since it's debut in arcades back in 2000. Since then Monkey Ball has been on many platforms including the Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox, and mobile devices. But how does the series fare on the DS? Let's take a look.

When you first start the game, you can choose to play as one of four different monkeys; Aiai, Meemee, Gongon, and Baby. However, there's not much of a difference between the characters as far as gameplay is concerned. There are 2 modes, the main game, and party games. There are a variety of party games to choose from, but for the sake of simplicity we'll focus on the main mode. There is a multitude of worlds (12) to unlock and play through, each containing a few levels. Much like the original Monkey Ball, the objective is to roll your monkey around a course and reach the goal while collecting bananas. As easy as it sounds, you'll notice that it's a bit more difficult on the DS in comparison to other ports. First of all, you have to use the stylus to both gain momentum and steer your monkey ball. The controls take some getting used to, but after a while you'll realize that there's no getting around how awkward the whole experience feels. You'll constantly roll off edges and fail to stop in time or turn a way you're not supposed to because of the sensitivity of the controls. Sometimes you might even wonder if you have any control over it at all. Luckily extra lives are easily accessible through the collection of bananas and various bonus levels. Regardless, it doesn't make up for the broken controls. The only redeeming factor in the mess is the fact that each of the levels is beautifully rendered and the soundtrack stays true to the franchise. It's cute and has some charm, but again, it's not enough to make up for the terrible gameplay and wonky controls.

Super Monkey Ball Touch and Go for the Nintendo DS gets a 4/10.

Review submitted by Mel.

Video Games and Live Music this Saturday

2012-07-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

Super Rad Video Game Party!!!

2012-07-05T11:14:00.001-07:00

Come join Phoenix Gamer and local video game artists for an awesome super-rad video game party at Mumble's Place in Scottsdale. Click the flyer for more information!

New NiGHTS into Dreams coming to Xbla

2012-07-05T09:16:00.001-07:00

Sega just released this trailer for their new NiGHTS game, check it out!

Conflag 2012 video

2012-07-02T10:50:00.000-07:00

Did you miss Conflagration this year? It's okay, our buddies over at Geeksociated Press have got you covered. Check out their sweet vid below!

Rumor has it

2012-06-26T20:17:00.000-07:00

Is a video game bar in Phoenix closer than we might think?

Maybe not a full on video game bar per se, but a certain bar in Scottsdale Arizona is rumored to be organizing video game nights where patrons will be able to come in and enjoy playing some of their favorite games while sipping on game themed drinks, and even participating in tournaments. How exciting! We will have more information as we get it!

Conflagration Gaming Con Masquerade

2012-06-15T23:16:00.000-07:00

Bring your game costumes to Conflagration 2012!

Enter the first annual Conflagration Masquerade! Bring your costumes and join the show for your chance to win fabulous prizes, including a pixel trophy presented by Pixel Art Paradise. The grand prize winner will also receive a cosplay spotlight article on Phoenix Gamer! Good luck!

New Gaming Convention in valley!

2012-06-15T18:13:00.000-07:00

Conflagration is the valley's newest gaming convention!

When: June 22-24th

Where: Tempe Palms (5th and Mill)

What: Gaming, gaming, gaming! Consoles gaming, table gaming, card games, and so much more! Panels, costume contest, parties, what more could you ask for in a convention!?

For more information about Conflagration 2012 click here.

E3 2012 Nintedo Highlights

2012-06-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Nintendo started out with a short video of Miyamoto and some Pikmin and was followed by the announcement for Pikmin 3 on the Wii U. Pikmin 3 will include new rock type pikmin and the ability to use multiple leaders to solve puzzles. It was also contain several modes including a challenge mode.

They then went on to say that the Wii U will be able to support 2 Wii U game pads. Miiverse will allow your avatar to converse with other avatars via the Wii U dash and share information with others. Not unlike the Xbox dash, only your avatars are animated.

A whole slew of new Mario Games are coming including New Super Mario Bros U that will feature a boost mode that allows you to customize levels, New Super Mario Bros 2 on the 3DS, New Paper Mario Sticker Star that allows you to take stickers off of the surroundings and use them as power-ups, and Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon for the 3DS which will contain multiple mansions and new ghosts. Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon is out this Holiday Season.

Scribblenauts Unlimited is to be released for both the Wii U and the 3DS and will allow players to create new items and share them with their friends. There will will also be more of an emphasis on exploration, and a story mode explaining Maxwell's background story.

Other titles coming to the Wii U include Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Tank Tank Tank, Ninja Gaiden 3 Razors Edge, Batman Arkham City Armored Edition, ZombiU, Just Dance 4 in which you can use the wii u game pad to choose dance moves for other players, Sing, a karaoke type game, and Lego City, a crime fighting adventure.

For the 3DS we were introduced to Castlevania Lords of Shadow Mirror of Fate, a new Epic Micky Game, and Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance.

We hope that you have enjoyed our coverage of E3! Be sure to check back to Phoenix Gamer often for game articles and entertainment.

E3 2012 Sony Highlights

2012-06-04T20:58:00.002-07:00

Sony started their conference by introducing a new game by the makers of Heavy Rain called Beyond. The story stars a character named Jody, voiced by actress Ellen Page, who is in contact with the dead (or a spirit or something, they weren't too particular on the details). It appears to be an emotional ride driven by dramatic character development that takes place over a 15 year time. Another one of those games that will be a must-play to get the full experience.

Next up they introduced Playstation All Stars Battle Royale. A free for all fighting game that looked like watered down super smash bros but with characters from playstation franchises. So far the lineup includes Kratos, Parappa the rapper, Sweet tooth, Fat Princess, Sly Cooper, Big Daddy, and Nathan Drake. Playstation All Stars Battle Royal will be out this 2012 holiday season.

There was some mention of new DLC for little big planet that will be compatible with the Vita. They are calling it cross-controller compatibility. There was also a brief mention of this little gem coming to playstation network, The Unfinished Swan. It's a really neat concept where you must paint your surroundings to navigate. Check out the trailer here;

Playstation plus will be offering more free games including Infamous 2 and little big planet 2 along side ps1 classics for the Vita like Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy 7. After the games were named it was announced that everyone in the audience at the conference got an entire free year of Playstation plus service (how cool is that?!).

Call of Duty Black Ops declassified is being released this holiday season for the Vita along side it's console counterpart.

Speaking of handheld counterparts to console titles, Assassins Creed 3 Liberation was announced for the Vita. It will star the very first female assassin of the series and you will be able to transfer items and exclusives between vita and console ports of Assassins Creed 3. Both games are to be released on October 30th 2012 and Assassins Creed 3 Liberation will be part of the Crystal White Vita bundle along with a 4 gig memory card as a special box set. More gameplay footage was also shown for Assassins Creed 3. Battle on the high seas as you face off against other ships and challenging and sporadic weather changes. AC3 will also be part of a bundle of its own at launch, packaged with new PS3s and with PS3 exclusive downloadable content.

Far Cry 3 will have a 4 player co-op mode. A demo was shown during the presentation and it was also said that there will be a co-op specific campaign. Far Cry 3 will also contain a map editor so you can create your own levels.

Bioshock Infinite, Little Big Planet Kart, and Epic Mickey 2 will all be Playstation Move compatible.

One of the more interesting things shown during Sony's presentation was the Wonderbook. It's a new peripheral that utilizes augmented reality technology, putting you right in the game. It will mostly be used for edutainment titles aimed towards the younger crowd. Right now the only 2 games that we know of are Moonbot's Digg Nightcrawler, a game about a detective worm, and PS' collaboration with JK Rowling, Book of Spells, a game that places you in a wizard academy where you must use the PS Move as your magic wand in a series of mini games and stories.

Playstation announced their partnership with HTC, to create Playstation certified phones and Playstation Suite has had a name change and from here forward will be referred to as simply Playstation Mobile.

The highlight of the show was by far the demo for God of War Ascension. Kratos is back in this over the top brutal hack and slash. It's faster, smoother, and a lot more gruesome than we could have ever imagined. The fights look cinematic and fluid, leaving us wanting more. Highlights from the demo include smashing, bashing, stabbing a mid boss and slicing open their head to reveal their brains and then jumping into battle with a giant kraken. God of War Ascension is due out March 12th 2013.

Sony ended their presentation by showing us the demo for a game called The Last of Us. More violence ensued as the 2 main characters fought some baddies in a dilapidated building. The battle mechanics were especially brutal, feeling like you were right there in the fight. No cartoony bloodshed here, they somehow made it look real. Blood physics, man. They've come a long way. Not much else is known about this game as of yet.

We hope that you have enjoyed our coverage of E3 so far. Be sure to come back tomorrow for our coverage of Nintendo's press conference!

E3 2012 Ubisoft Highlights

2012-06-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

Ubisoft started their conference with a live performance by Flo Rida to promote their game Just Dance 4. Not nearly as impressive as Dance Central's Usher performance, a good effort.

There was a new trailer for Far Cry 3 as well as some gameplay footage. It started slow at first but quickly gained momentum as the player found themselves facing off against guns and tigers. Yes, you fight tigers. It then ended with a drug induced dream sequence. A bit artsy, but still rough in all the right parts, Far Cry 3 may just turn out to be worth checking out after all with its lush tropical environments and multiple islands to explore.

For Wii U and the Kinect, a CG trailer of Marvel's Avengers Battle For Earth was shown and featured the likes of Wolverine and Spiderman. Unfortunately to the dismay of fangirls everywhere, there was no Loki in sight. Sorry ladies.

Some impressive gameplay from the upcoming Rayman Legends was shown and was some of the first legit gameplay we've seen on the WiiU yet. The level they played towards the end was especially entertaining as it combined an action platformer with rhythm elements. Very smooth gameplay, it looks like it will be fun.

A zombie game rated M will be released for Nintendo's Wii U console. ZombiU had a trailer that was CG only, with no gameplay. Let's hope we don't have another Dead Island situation on our hands. There's no exact release date for when ZomiU will be hitting store shelves.

Ubisoft wowed the crowd with multiple trailers and lengthy gameplay from Assassins Creed 3. The game takes place during the American Revolution and features fantastic explorable landscapes varying in location and seasons. The snow textures looked especially nice. The gameplay looks smooth and solid. This will definitely be a game you'll want to pick up when it's released in October of this year.

Shoot Mania is an online FPS that was shown. It didn't look too spectacular.

Ubisoft saved the best for last when they revealed a new game, Watch Dogs. You roam around a gritty city while hacking into people's personal information. Not entirely sure what the story is as of yet, but there was some shooting, and a beautifully detailed atmosphere. Let's keep an eye on this one!

Up next is Sony's Conference coverage. Stay tuned!