Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Flagship Studios
System: PC
Minimum requirements: 1.8 GHz processor; 1 GB RAM; 128 MB RAM with Pixel Shader 2.0 support; 6 GB free hard drive space; DirectX 9.0c; and Windows XP with SP2
Genre: Online Action RPG
Release date: Available now
Review by: Andrew Clark

It has been happening for centuries, right under our noses, laced throughout history but paid no mind by the masses of the world. As throngs of unholy demons stream through fiery gates, all life on the surface is obliterated. Blocks of businesses and homes decay with a simple touch and a once great metropolis is transformed into nothing more than an encampment for Satan’s minions as they cast their blight over civilization. Hell has bored its way through the crust, and left the top layer of Earth scorched with blackness. Meet the new hell; it’s your job to clean it up.

The Knights of the Templar knew the score, they were fully aware of this phenomenon dating back to the crusades, but a jealous ruler squelched their operation, sending the knights into hiding, and subsequently allowing the forces of Hell to regroup for another attack. This time, however, we were not prepared. Three decades into the new millennium they struck again on the unaware populace, centering the bulk of their attacks directly on the city of London, England. What was once a bustling center of commerce and industry has since become a “hellformed” habitat for the minions of the underworld.

Another Masonic organization found itself more prepared, though. The Freemasons forecasted this eventuality, and sneakily constructed the London underground as a demon proof base of operations. Yes, the tubes of transit which shuffled the countless to work day in and day out serves now as a haven for those who survived. It is from the safety of this subterranean safe zone that you must push back against the forces of evil and return order to a world literally flipped upside down.

Hellgate: London stabs the “grind” button in single player and MMO flavors, the latter of which acts much like Guild Wars in which you can party up in station terminals (HGL’s equivalent of a city) to venture into the fire with friends. Each terminal allows the player to take a break, buy new equipment and weapons, store loot, and make modifications to better suit their daily demon thrashing needs. It is also from these locations that missions pertaining to both the story and other tasks are obtained. Simply nab a quest then shuttle off to one of HGLs randomly generated zones to meet your goal.