Conventions
New York Comic Con has Video Game Demos Too, Ya Know
New York Comic Con might primarily focus on comics, movies, television, and anime, but it also has its fair share of video game panels. Sure, E3 might be the convention for video games, but not everyone can visit Los Angeles, let alone get tickets to it. Still, the New York Comic Con show floor usually has plenty of game demos for attendees to try, and I played my fair share of these demos this year. I wanted to try more, but there are only so many hours in the day, so I didn’t try half the games I wanted to try. Regardless, I enjoyed the few games I played and have compiled my thoughts into this article.
Monster Hunter World
I’m a big Monster Hunter fan and knew I had to try the demo when I saw the booth at Comic Con. During my turn, I teamed up with three other attendees and was blown away by the gameplay. The Monster Hunter franchise isn’t exactly known for its graphics, but I was amazed by the beauty and scope of the game level. More importantly, even though the monster I fought, the Barroth, was something I faced in Monster Hunter Tri, the fight in Monster Hunter World was a whole new experience, as the creature used none of the attacks or tells I memorized back in MH3. The fight felt a little easier than expected, though, but then I’m used to soloing Barroths instead of ganging up on them, and I’m pretty sure my team’s weapons and armor were stronger than normal. Plus, I didn’t get to try out the new slinger, mantle, or Scoutflies since the fight was over in about eight minutes. However, I’m sure had I tried again and went up against the Anjanath (the line became way too long after the first day), I would have been in for a much more difficult and strategic fight. I look forward to Monster Hunter World‘s release, which will be January 26th for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 owners and who knows when for PC gamers.
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT
The premise of Dissidia Final Fantasy NT almost sells itself: the main heroes and villains of the numbered Final Fantasy games (and a few spin-off games) team up and fight one another, but since the booth didn’t have the final build of the game, some characters were missing. Even though the controls looked simple enough on paper, I never got the hang of them, possibly because I chose Kefka during my playtime, a character who my research (done after New York Comic Con) tells me has a high learning curve. From my experience, the combat system is almost identical to past Dissidia games: each character has several “Bravery Attacks” that don’t deal damage to opponents but instead increase the power of an “HP Attack,” which is the only way to deal damage. At Comic Con, participants were only allowed to partake in 3v3 matches, which were quick and chaotic, and the first team to KO their its opponents three times won. However, the game wasn’t perfect; some participants ran into network errors, so Square Enix still has to iron out some bugs. But, the game comes out January 30th, so the company has plenty of time. I am seriously considering buying a PlayStation 4 just to play Dissidia Final Fantasy NT
Code Vein
FromSoftware’s latest game, Code Vein continues the developers’ proud tradition of making excruciatingly difficult games that feel rewarding. Some people have called this game “Anime Dark Souls,” and they’re not wrong, but they’re not right, either. Code Vein is as much Dark Souls as Bloodbourne is, which is to say it uses the same base combat mechanics but adds new features to set it apart from other Souls and Souls-like games. One example of Code Vein‘s features is called “Gifts,” which are spells that cover a wide variety of uses and are powered by points players receive by attacking enemies. The demo on the Comic Con show floor gave gamers 15 minutes to explore the game world and defeat a boss. Most participants opted to just head for the boss and tended to get trounced, but those who took their time and actually explored a bit and leveled up had a much easier fight, myself included. While I found Dark Souls II to be too slow for my taste, Code Vein was just the right combination of speed, challenge, and frustration for me. I might have to pick this game up when it comes out in 2018
Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition
I didn’t play this game nearly as long as I should have while at Comic Con, but what I did witness got me hyped. Final Fantasy XV looks absolutely gorgeous on PC, and while the controls took some getting used to, I eventually got the hang of them. Sadly, the demo only came with an Xbox One controller, so I don’t know how Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition controls with a mouse and keyboard. The only thing I didn’t like in the demo was that giant monster truck the characters drove; the original car just feels much more like a vehicle a prince would drive. Like Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition is still in development, and the show floor demo was subject to bugs, specifically crashing to desktop. Still, it’s Final Fantasy XV on a gaming PC, which I can’t complain about, and Square Enix has plenty of time to fix bugs and glitches.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
I have been looking forward to this game ever since I backed it on Kickstarter, and I have to say I’m glad I did. The Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night demo at Comic Con was still the same clock tower area from E3, but that’s not a complaint. I had plenty of rooms to explore, a number of enemies to fight, and multiple weapons and spell crystals to collect and test. The controls and combat felt fluid but weighty, and the spell system allowed for a lot of experimentation; each spell and weapon had its uses, and different players will gravitate towards different combinations. The game felt and played like classic Metroidvania-style Castlevania instead of a non-Castlevania Metroidvania game (it’s hard to tell the difference between the two, but you’ll know it when you see it), and I’m extremely pleased with what I experienced. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night might just be yet another Kickstarter success story.
Thanks to my busy schedule, I missed out on numerous other game demos at Comic Con, including Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, Lost Sphear, BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, and Middle-Earth: Shadow of War. Still, there’s always next year. Here’s hoping I can finally try out that Final Fantasy VII remake by then.
In exactly two weeks, an epic journey will start in the heart of Transylvania for all those who love comics, games, and movies. The Transylvania Comic Con starts on October 18 and invites all participants to enjoy a three-day event where they will get to unleash their imagination at the cosplay contest, meet their favorite actors at the photo ops and photographs sessions, or find out interesting things at the panels hosted by the event. Great fun is granted even for those who would just like to take a look at the ComicCon and do some shopping of really cool items or snap some pictures with famous props, such as the Iron Throne.
The Transylvania Comic Con will take place in the heart of Transylvania, at the BT Arena in Cluj-Napoca. The event starts on Friday, October 18 at 4 P.M and lasts until Sunday, October 20. The stage hosts’ roles will be filled by Maria Muller and Ken Huegel. Some of the celebrities invited to the event are ‘Vikings’ and ‘Hunger Games’ star Alexander Ludwig, Kevin McNally Pirate of the Caribbean, ‘Spartacus’, ‘Arrow’, and ‘Shanarra’ star Manu Bennet, Rick Cosnett, from ‘The Vampire Diaries’, ‘Stargate Atlantis’ star David Nykl, and Roger Ashton- Griffiths, who played Mace Tyrell in Game of Thrones. Cosplay enthusiasts will get to see Daisy Cosplay and Imriel Cosplay.
Transylvania Comic Con will also welcome three featured artists and a Cosplay Guest, who wasn’t announced yet. The schedule is not public yet, and the timetable is subject to change, however, on October 5 participants will get the first glimpse at the program, from where they will find out more about the guests of the event. What we already know is that Transylvania Comic Con will host cosplay competitions on Saturday and Sunday. The General Cosplay Competition hosted on Saturday targets solo cosplay enthusiasts only, while on Sunday groups will get the chance to show off their costumes. This is also the day of the qualifiers for the international cosplay competition Clara Cow Cosplay Cup.
Tickets for the Transylvania Comic Con are still available for purchase, except for the VIP 3 Days Tickets, which are all sold out. The rules for participants and the tickets can all be found on the event’s homepage, here. It will definitely be an epic event, so we hope to see you there!
The countdown has begun. There are less than three weeks until Transylvania ComicCon kicks off. The three-day event will take place in the heart of Transylvania, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, between 18 October and 20 October at the BT Arena. Those who will attend the event will get to meet some really cool guests and can participate in numerous activities, all of which are going to be amazingly fun. The schedule of the event won’t be available for another couple of days, however, the majority of guests are known.
Transylvania ComicCon will welcome some beloved actors, such as Alexander Ludwig, Kevin McNally, Manu Bennett, Rick Cosnett, David Nykl, and Roger Ashton- Griffiths. The event will be hosted by Maria Muller and Ken Huegel, and the YouTubers/ streamers of the Transylvania ComicCon will be Cluj-Napoca’s own Creative Monkeyz. It is not yet clear who the featured artists will be, but this should become known on October 5th, when the event’s schedule will become available on the website.
Besides having photo ops and autograph sessions with the aforementioned guests, participants will also be able to show off their imagination and skills at the cosplay contests. The solo General Cosplay Competition starts on October 19 from 13:00. The group competition starts on Sunday, also at 13:00. At the same time, the qualifiers for the international cosplay competition Clara Cow Cosplay Cup will start. Other activities participants can attend at the Transylvania ComicCon include panels, and props& booths. Naturally, there will be an artists’ alley, a gaming area, and a shopping area too.
The entry fee for the Transylvania ComicCon is really affordable. Those who want to have a photo op and get the autograph of Kevin McNally or Roger Ashton-Griffiths have to pay less than 15 Euros for the treat. The VIP three-day tickets cost less than 100 Euros, while one-day entry fees are as low as 10 Euros. These prices may be incredibly low but the level of fun will go incredibly high at the Transylvania ComicCon. Check out the event and all it has to offer here.
Let’s travel back to 2000s. Can you remember the time when MMORPG genre popped up out of nowhere? Early genre games such as Everquest, World of Warcraft or Guild Wars were considered to be the prophets of the new age of PC gaming. MMORPGs or Massively Multiplayer Role-Playing Games have been considered the most gratifying, rewarding, immersive, and time-soaking games out there. However, as time went by, only a handful of MMORPGs managed to secure their communities and stay a little while longer.
So today we’re talking some time (and internet space), introducing the very best games of the MMORPG genre. Some of these games are old and can brag about their long history while some of them are fairly fresh inviting fans of the genre to explore seemingly unending content. Most importantly – all of these games are alive and will grant you hundreds of hours of joy.
- The Elder Scrolls Online
We begin our list with the youngest of the bunch. ZeniMax Online Studios creation, The Elder Scrolls Online is set in the magical continent of Tamriel which will be familiar to the fans of TES franchise. The game’s storyline is indirectly related to other games of the franchise; however, the game is set way far back before the events of Oblivion, or Skyrim. Currently the game has two expansions: The Morrowind and the Summerset, however, the developers have promised a third expansion The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr which is coming out on June 4, 2019.
- Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy XIV is developed and published by Square Enix. First released back in 2013 the game quickly became a hit among many MMORPG genre fans across PC and PlayStation communities. It has tons of great content which is keep on coming even to this day. Recently Square Enix has announced yet another game expansion titled Shadowbringers which will bring a variety of new dungeons and include yet another playable race: the rabbit-like Viera, already known to the fans of Final Fantasy XII. The game will also increase its level cap from 70 to 80 and introduce a number of new zones to explore.
- Guild Wars 2
This ArenaNet MMORPG game certainly deserves a spotlight in our list. Guild Wars 2 is an attractive piece because of its ever-living world structure which captivates players with multiple quests, continuing storyline, and rewarding gameplay mechanics. The game is also considered among the best MMORPGs because of its freedom and versatility when it comes to personalization. You can literally create, augment, and specialize your character in such a way that it would be exceptionally unique to your preferred playstyle.
- RuneScape
RuneScape is the oldest game on our list, however, it carries the very same explorer’s spirit within. It’s safe to assume that if you’re interested in MMORPG genre you’ve tried this game already at a certain point in time. We can still remember the wood chopping, fire making, and fishing activities which required hours upon hours of discipline, and we also remember how much joy did that provide. And it still does if you’re patient enough. That’s why it secured a spot on our list!
- World of Warcraft
No MMORPG games list would be complete without the king of the genre. It has been over 14 years since Blizzard released World of Warcraft. The game was a phenomenal success and became one of the most iconic titles of all time. World of Warcraft is even included in the video game Hall of Fame and there are plenty of reasons why. Even today the game is huge and has millions of players logging in to play it every month. Throughout its history World of Warcraft has seen 7 major game expansions with tons of great content to explore. Furthermore, Blizzard is planning to release a Classic version of the game sometime this summer which means that the king of MMORPGs can be entering its second lifecycle. If you’ve never played – we do recommend you give it a try.
While some of these games can be played for free, some will require you to purchase certain expansions (or game time). On Eneba Marketplace you’ll find everything you need in order to start your new MMORPG adventure!
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