Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: Neocore Games
System requirements: Windows XP/SP2/Vista/Windows 7; AMD64 3500+ or Pentium IV 3.2 GHz; 1 GB RAM (XP) or 1.5 GB RAM (Vista); 7 GB hard disk space; Nvidia 6600 (256MB) / ATI Radeon X70 (256MB) video card; DirectX 9 compliant sound card; DirectX 9.0c or higher
Genre: Strategy
ESRB rating: Teen
Release date: October 8, 2010

It is time once again to grab your virtual sword and rush off to war, this time in Neocore’s Lionheart: Kings’ Crusade. Set amidst the epic struggle between Richard and Saladin, players are presented with a strategy game that focuses on tactical battles with some strategic RPG elements, including upgradable units and special heroes. Not quite an RTS, and not quite a Total War clone, Lionheart attempts to give players a strategic gaming experience during the Third Crusade, without tying them down to the historical outcome of the conflict.

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My colleague Michael Smith wrote an excellent review for the recent move of LOTRO to free-to-play. And he provided an excellent summary of new mechanics and technical features in the game. However, I can tell that he did not have time to play through the substantial end-game content that was provided with the most recent update. This is understandable. The level cap is currently at 65, and just leveling to 65 does not even remotely qualify someone for running endgame content, as class traits, virtues, and legendary traits are all a part of end-game preparation. The grinding for some of these deeds can be time consuming, so it would be asking too much to expect him to have magically leveled all the way up, ground the appropriate deeds, and run the end-game content several times over all in a matter of a few weeks. Instead, I figured I would chime in on how the new content impacts high end characters since I am at the level cap and familiar with the content. And since I am not writing an actual review, I can focus on more specific issues, rather than summarize the entire game experience with a few, well chosen words.

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Publisher: Wargaming.net
Developer: Wargaming.net
System Requirements: Not yet listed
Genre: Action MMO
ESRB rating: Not yet rated
Release date: TBA

There is a feeling of power associated with tanks. Driving over obstacles, blowing targets up with large caliber high explosive shells, and being impervious to small arms fire are some of the perks associated with these great armored beasts of land battles. Hoping to capitalize on these gaming inclinations, Wargaming.net has already begun closed beta-testing of World of Tanks, an MMO dedicated to the tactical employment of armor in World War II battles.

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Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: Paradox Interactive
System requirements: Windows XP/Vista/Win 7, Pentium IV 2.4 GHz or AMD 3500+ or better CPU, 2GB RAM, 2 GB hard-drive space, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 or ATI Radeon X1900 or better graphics card, Direct X-compatible sound card, DirectX 9, Internet connection for multiplayer
Genre: RTS
ESRB rating: Teen
Release date: Available now

It has been almost seven years since Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun was released, and I have to agree with Avault’s Jim Richmond in his description of its enormous depth and complexity. Victoria, a strategy game of imperialism, politics and economics in the 19th century, was the kind of game that could overwhelm even the most hardcore gamers, and yet its minutia was part of its appeal. It was a game that made sure every single person in the game world, from farmers in Manchuria to factory workers in London, had an economic impact. It rewarded smart, patient players instead of mindless violence and button-mashing. It even provoked online discussions that demanded a minimal understanding of economics to follow what some players were saying. It’s no surprise, then, that some of the staff at Paradox Interactive were reluctant to make a sequel. So reluctant, in fact, that Paradox CEO Frederick Wester promised to shave his head if the sequel turns a profit (high pre-order sales have since triggered Wester’s promised trip to the barbershop). But the real question facing strategy gamers is whether Victoria II can live up to its promise of complicated, nuanced gameplay, while at the same time being a game that you can learn to play without dual PhDs in 19th-century political science and economics. The short answer is that Victoria II achieves these goals and gives strategy gamers a game that can keep them occupied for hours on end, with a few reservations as to how some mechanics currently work. The long answer is about as complicated as the game itself.

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Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: Paradox Interactive
System requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista; Intel Pentium IV 2.4 GHz or AMD 3500+ (quad core) CPU; 2 GB RAM; 2 GB hard-drive space; NVIDIA GeForce 8800 or ATI Radeon X1900 graphics card; DirectX-compatible sound card; DirectX 9
Genre: Strategy
Release date: Available now

Several months ago, I reviewed Hearts of Iron III and found it to be a worthy WWII game in spite of a few flaws. Capitalizing on the continued financial success of the franchise, Paradox Interactive has released Hearts of Iron 3: Semper Fi, an expansion to what is already a complicated and in-depth war game. Rather than just layer on random features or correct obvious errors, Paradox has kept the game true to its complex roots, while selecting a few important additions that fundamentally alter vital aspects of the gameplay.

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Publisher: Rose Portal Games
Developer: Rose Portal Games
System requirements: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista, 700 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, DirectX 6.0, 160 MB hard-drive space
Genre: Adventure
Release date: Available now

When Whisper of a Rose: Gold came across my virtual desk, I was not especially thrilled. The protagonist, Melrose, is described by RosePortal Games as “The…heroine of the story. Her everyday life is sad: no one understands her. One day she decides to make a drastic change, and she ends up in the realm of dreams and fantasy.” It sounded like an immature fantasy offering, with twinkly godmothers, fairies, and a bubbly, cute heroine, but I begrudgingly installed the game and set to work. Imagine my surprise upon finding a girl who’s struggling with abusive parents, a dream world that has become a nightmarish reflection of her terrible life, and gameplay with both puzzles and plenty of combat. Whisper of a Rose: Gold is a CRPG that covers its depth of story with a fairy-tale façade.

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Publisher: Longbow Games
Developer: Longbow Games
System requirements: Windows XP/Vista/Win 7, 2.4 GHz Pentium or AMD equivalent CPU, 1 GB RAM (2 GB Vista/Win 7), 256 MB DirectX 9.0c-compatible graphics card with Shader Model 2.0 support, DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card, 1 GB hard-drive space
Genre: RTS
Release date: Available now

Alexander the Great is perhaps the most famous Greek ruler and military leader of all time. Referenced in countless stories, and even appearing in one lousy Oliver Stone film, Alexander is almost the last word in warfare in the West when it comes to conquest. However, Alex didn’t wake up one day and decide to unify Greece, then go conquer the world. His empire-building career was built on the foundations laid by his father, Phillip. And so it’s interesting that independent developer Longbow Games has created what they describe as a “real-time strategy wargame following the rise of Philip of Macedon.” Trading the world-spanning glory of Alexander for the Greek-unifying success of Phillip, the game challenges you to attain the same title Phillip earned: Hegemon of all Greece.

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Publisher: Doctor Entertainment
Developer: Doctor Entertainment
System Requirements: Windows XP SP3/Vista/Win 7, 1.7 GHz CPU, 1 GB RAM, DirectX 9.0c-compatible graphics card with Shader Model 3 support, DirectX 9.0c, 500 MB hard-drive space
Genre: Puzzle
Release date: Available now

If you have ever wondered what would happen if you gave a 3D puzzle game a set of gravitational laws that were warped to suit the whims of its developers, then Puzzle Dimension might just be the game for you. This puzzler advertises itself as a “Brain exercise in 3D,” and they are not kidding.

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Manufacturer: Hauppauge
PC System Requirements: Windows XP SP 2/Vista/Win 7 (Windows Media Player not supported), 2.0 GHz dual-core CPU or better, 256 MB graphics card or better, CD-ROM drive for installing the HD PVR software, an available USB 2.0 port
MSRP: $199.00

They say there’s nothing good on TV, but I know a lot of people who have that one favorite show that they just can’t miss. And then there are console gamers who, much like their PC cousins, feel the need to post their gameplay videos on YouTube. While these two scenarios seem very different, one piece of hardware strives to do them both right, and do them in high definition: the Hauppauge HD-PVR.

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Publisher: NinjaBee
Developer: NinjaBee
System requirements: Windows XP/Vista/Win 7, 800 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM, 32MB graphics card supporting OpenGL 2.0 or later
Genre: Simulation
Release date: Available now

I’ve been playing a lot of games lately that are all about empire building and conquest, so when A Kingdom for Keflings came across my virtual desk, I decided now would be a good time to take things down a notch and relax with this XBLA-to-PC port. Kingdom is a no-conflict, city-building game. Your goal in each playthrough is to build a city for the keflings, using their labor and resources (as well as your avatar’s immense strength) to construct the buildings they need.

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Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: 1C
System requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista; 2 GHz dual-core CPU; 1 GB RAM; 512 MB graphics card with Pixel Shader 2.0 or better; DirectX-compatible sound card; 4 GB hard-drive space
Genre: Strategy
Release date: Available now

Released in September 2009, Majesty 2 brought the gameplay of the original Majesty back for another generation of gamers. Labeled as a fantasy kingdom sim, Majesty 2 lived up to its moniker by having the player send heroes out on quests to kill monsters while building an economy the heroes can use to buy new gear and training. Its indirect RTS gameplay was counted a success by some, though some found it repetitive and overly difficult.

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Warning: Those unfamiliar with LOTRO and its past year of updates will think I am speaking like one of the Sand People from Star Wars. This blog post assumes familiarity with the game, not unlike my fellow reviewer’s blog posts about Lost.

Sometimes gamers are their own worst enemies. When it comes to MMOs, some people quickly master the most recent content and demand more because they are bored. I’ve talked at some length before about LOTRO‘s use of narrative to give the game something beyond XP and loot grinds, but today I thought I would share how much I love the flexibility of the game’s mechanics.

Instances like Sammath Gul have great rewards. The Symbol of Celebrimbor alone makes the run worthwhile, but items like the Glass Flask and Ril-Mir round out the loot. Instances like SG are also difficult; while not impossible, players really need to be smart about their class’s abilities. And for new players, following instructions is a must. (It can take about 5 minutes to brief a new player on everything they need to know.)

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Publisher: Sega
Developer: Creative Assembly
System Requirements: Windows XP/Vista/Win 7, 2.3 GHz CPU with SSE2, 256 MB DirectX 9.0c-compatible graphics card with Shader Model 2B support, 1 GB RAM (2 GB for Vista/Win 7), 21 GB hard-drive space, Direct X 9.0c
Genre: RTS
Release date: Available now

The Total War franchise has garnered high sales for the past decade. Starting with Shogun: Total War, Creative Assembly has crafted strategy games with wide appeal, even in the face of buggy initial releases. Picking up in the time period where Empire: Total War left off, Napoleon: Total War takes you into the 19th century, with Europe waging war with Napoleonic France. Looking to give you a taste of both the strategy and tactics of such brilliant leaders as Wellington, Napoleon, Murat, and even my favorite, French marshal Michel Ney, Creative Assembly has taken their formula and applied it to a period renowned for the emerging dominance of firepower on the battlefield.

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Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: Taleworlds
System requirements: Windows 2000/ME/XP/Vista/Windows 7, 2.1Ghz or higher CPU, 1 GB RAM, 900 MB hard-drive space, 128 MB graphics card, DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card, DirectX 9.0c
Genre: RPG
Release date: Available now

In February 2009, I had the pleasure of reviewing Mount and Blade. Despite some flaws, I found it to be a solid game with a wonderful combat system. Mount and Blade achieved some financial success, so in response to demands for a multiplayer version, developer Taleworlds has released Mount and Blade: Warband. Boasting better graphics, a multiplayer mode, and some improvements to the innovative cavalry combat system, the developers seem to be aiming to build upon their initial success without losing the elements that made the original entertaining.

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Publisher: Blitz Arcade
Developer: Binary Tweed
System Requirements: Windows XP SP2 or above, 2 GHz CPU, 1 GB RAM, DirectX 9.0c-compatible graphics card with Shader Model 2.0 support, DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card, 500 MB hard-drive space
Genre: Platformer
Release date: Available now

I don’t own an Xbox 360, so I’m not really cognizant of the independent game content available from the XNA community. In fact, I had to look up XNA and its relation to the Xbox before writing this review. The reason is that Clover: A Curious Tale is an independent game ported from the Xbox to the PC. It got some buzz last year for being one of the better XNA offerings. Reworking the original game with more content, Binary Tweed is hoping that PC gamers will find something worth an investment of time and money in Clover.

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