Crimson Alliance - GR Review
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Crimson Alliance is the latest hack-'n'-slash game to hit the Xbox Live Arcade. This time, though, they're trying something different; not exactly with the gameplay—as the game is pretty much what you've come to expect in a console dungeon crawler, with a lot of enemies to kill and loot to crave for—but with microtransactions.
The thing that you should pay attention to first when playing Crimson Alliance is what class you want your character to be, if you want to pay less for the game. To put it simply, the first payment option is to pick a class and stick to it. There's the option to just buy all the classes at once and pay a bit more, but in my experience with the game, this 'select-a-class' model works fine. For this 800 Microsoft Points deal, Crimson Alliance is a fairly good deal.
You get to pick from three classes that range from the uber tank called the Mercenary to the sneaky and resourceful Assassin and the amnesiac Wizard. Each brings a different set of skills that important to note if you decide to take it online. Key skills that unlock hidden bonuses on levels are exclusive to each class; for instance, cracked walls can only be opened by the mercenary, locks by the rogue, and so forth. Thus, no playthrough of a level is truly complete without playing multiplayer.
The multiplayer model in Crimson Alliance is well-realized, giving you the option to jump in and out of online sessions at will, at any point in the adventure, with up to three players. This is the type of game where you'll want to play with friends, since levels get difficult as you approach the end of the relatively short campaign.
The levels themselves are straightforward. If you're looking to blow through the game, you won't get lost often. Checkpoints are aplenty, so if you die and can't manage to revive yourself, it's not much of a penalty. There are many secret areas to look out for if you're the explorer type. Most are found in obvious locations, off the beaten path. There is, however, an annoying aspect to the stages in the form of gates that simply lock you out of previous areas once you cross them, forcing you to do all your exploration as you make your way to the exit.
Enemies come in a variety of forms, though they aren't challenging most of the time. You start out beating on goblins which don't really require much technique to be defeated, but as you approach the later stages, you'll run into stronger or better-equipped foes that require a little more finesse. Or more button mashing. Mostly more button mashing. The enemies in this game feel like damage sponges, buffers that are only there to get in your way. Unlike in Torchlight, I never felt like I was a powerhouse once I really upgraded my character. I was only more efficient in making my way to the exit faster.
The aforementioned loot is also forgettable. Crimson Alliance is stingy when it comes to giving you items and instead gives you gold, which can then be amassed and used to purchase stronger weapons. That would be fine if the item progression worked at a slower pace, letting you pick better weapons more frequently, but that's not what this game does. There's a noticeable item evolution ramp up midway through the adventure, where weapons and armor become really expensive, forcing you to go back through levels and grind for gold. In lieu of a level up system, the stat progression is solely dependent on gear progression and grinding over and over again.
Like similar dungeon-crawling games like Diablo, you're given the option to turn the difficulty up to insane levels, but even on the normal setting, Crimson Alliance becomes extremely hard all of a sudden towards the end if you're playing by yourself. As you might expect, this means having to trek back, grind gold, and upgrade equipment, paying outrageously high prices thanks to the uneven item progression in shops.
Crimson Alliance isn't a bad game, but with so many stronger dungeon crawlers around, it's tough to recommend it wholeheartedly. Its distribution model might work for you if you're tight for the virtual money or don't care about the other character classes. There is a fair bit of content to hack your way through, if you don't mind the repetitive and unfriendly-ness that this game hits you with if you decide to undertake your spelunking alone.
BloodRayne: Colors PSN Crimson betrayal today
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BloodRayne: Betrayal Paints PSN Crimson Today REMEMBER ME FORGOT PASSWORD? NEWS CONSOLESREVIEWSPREVIEWSVIDEOSFEATURESCHEATSCOMMUNITY GAMES FAQS GOODIES RELEASE DATES MAILBAG PODCASTS FORUMSPlayStation 3
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Other... GameRevolution » News » GAMING NEWS BloodRayne: Betrayal Paints PSN Crimson Today Posted on Tuesday, September 6 @ 08:19:17 Eastern by Anthony_Severino
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Last we saw Rayne, the blood red-haired dhampir, was on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox - she's yet to spill any blood on this console generation. That all changes today, as BloodRayne: Betrayal is now available on the PlayStation Network.
In BloodRayne: Betrayal, Rayne will use her Superhuman speed and strength to take on evil vampire scum, menacing puzzles and more, throughout 15 levels of classic hack-n-slash gameplay. BloodRayne: Betrayal also adopts an all-new, stunning motion comic style of art, making Rayne as beautiful as she is deadly.
Download BloodRayne: Betrayal today as the third title of PSN PLAY for only $14.99. If you've already picked up Street Fighter III: Third Strike and The Baconing, then purchase BloodRayne: Betrayal today and Renegade Ops on September 13th, you'll receive PAYDAY: The Heist absolutely free.
For more information, please visit: http://us.playstation.com/psn/psn-play/
Tags: PSN, PSN Play, Sony, ps3
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Call of duty and Crimson Alliance share DNA
After clearing a level in 2-player co-op - and a challenge card with six waves of the increasing number of enemies with three players, I felt like I got done multiplayer game with a certain other rapid-fire. The developer noted that each card took us only about 6 minutes. I noticed that it seemed like the shortness and speed in a Call of Duty - multiplayer-game. There is a reason for it.
Developer certain affinity 's work has on a number of multiplayer maps for the largest multiplayer protect made on the market. Their handiwork contains Halo: reach, call of duty: black ops, and the upcoming Halo: combat developed anniversary. This is quite the pedigree! Crimson Alliance online Mutliplayer is an action-ROLLENSPIEL with a focus on action, and the same brevity and speed in these Juggernauts cooperative hacking and slots is in the game.
Pay attention to Game-Revolutionfullscreen preview Crimson Alliance and our report as we near in the XBLA version of the game.
Crimson Alliance - preview
Yes, certain affinity developed a different magic-casting, villain-bashing action game on Xbox Live Arcade. If you money on any title in the Summer of Arcade - line-put up have, you will Crimson Alliance for free download. Still, even if you do not reach these requirements, you should the variable entry to next week XBLA release.
For class, you can the wizard, the murderer and the mercenaries. While the mercenaries sticks melee attacks and the killer mixes ranged and melee attacks, the wizard delves exclusively in long range combat. Play with a developer, the former and PlayStation lifestyleI took Cameron Teague on the Ninja on the wizard.
Three attacks are the X, Y and B buttons assigned, while avoiding the A-key of damage cannot be. Players can find also picking up, which can use them with the right bumper. These are usually from powering up weapons such as a one-use to throw battle axe or a car Tower, which literally fills enemies with arrows.
The wizard was with a directional freezing spell, a range of Flash magic damage and a large fireball attack. I found myself enemies of tons of set my friends on ice, as co-op a lot of damage with their melee attacks deeds. This kind of tactics were in the challenge show, which we tried next a must.
That's how I learned that certain affinity had their hands on some multiplayer maps for the irreversible addictive online-protect, the the Xbox Live to dominate charts. Over 6 to 7 minutes took us to the campaign and the challenge cards. This is connected the sweet spot to players on their multiplayer modes to use games, like Call of Duty . Skip, play a round or two and then you move with your life. Of course, it helps that Crimson Alliance was hectic, frenetic fun.
Crimson Alliance made his debut in the Xbox Live Arcade is to make next week on the 7 September 2011. The complete game is $15 or 1200 Microsoft Points run just $10 (800 Microsoft points), or if you only as a character to play.
