Rock, Paper, Shotgun

Moderately-entertaining free multiplayer-only browser-based Diablo ‘em up Drakensang Online is going to expand before Christmas. Bigpoint have told us that “The NORLANDE expansion update is bringing several new quests, more than a dozen new levels, numerous monsters and champions, new bosses, and new character items and equipment to the game.” More importantly, there’s now some additional class variety with Rangers. These chaps are “agile archers, but also pack a punch.” According to the info “The Rangers will be accompanied by a whole new skill system that makes skills easier and better to use”. This is, apparently, part of increasing the currently limited skill sets for all characters, and making the game’s customisation have a bit more depth. So that’s good!

The men of Bigpoint send word that their Diablo-like MMO based on the Drakensang games (ish) has entered the open phase of its beta activities. I had a moderate amount of fun with it when I played in the closed beta – you can read my account here – and reports are that it’s developed a fair bit since then. You can sign up for it here. There’s also a lovely trailer to tie up this post with a bow, below.
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For the past couple of days I’ve been filling idle moments by dabbling in the Drakensang Online beta. Let me just state, for those of you who have been attracted to this article by the Drakensang name in the header, that this has little to do with the original Germanically twee-ruggedness of the Drakensang RPGs. It captures a little of their art-style, perhaps, but this is a very light Diablo-like MMO with seriously low specs. It’s a beast whacker, a loot gatherer, a quest-runner, an inventory… inventorer? You know the sort of thing. That’s not to say it’s a bad game, especially for free, which it will be. It’s also rather clever with its browser-based tech, with one of the best web-players I’ve seen outside of Unity. Some more thoughts (and a trailer) on all this below.

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The chaps over at Bigpoint send word that their latest online RPG, the rather beautiful-looking Drakensang Online (based on the German single-player RPG series’ “Anderworld” setting – is that right? Not The Dark Eye stuff, anyway…) is now taking beta applications. Go and hit the “Play Now For Free” button on their site to bring up the registration form. Word is that you’ll hear back any time from today if your application is successful. For firm evidence of the game’s pretties, go and take a look at the trailer, which I’ve embedded below. It’s got a splendid Diablo-y look to it, so I hope the game lives up to these initial glances. We’ll have some more on it soon!
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This is interesting. Bigpoint send word that the moderately popular German RPG Drakensang will be reappearing as free-to-play online RPG. Apparently it’s going to feature top end 3D graphics in a browser, too. Bigpoint tell us that “The in-house developed Nebula engine – which was used in the development of the PC versions of Drakensang – makes it possible to play the game in a browser without players needing to install any software onto their computer.” The site isn’t fully up yet, just this German-language email registration page.

I’ve posted the brief teaser trailer below, and it’s got a bit of in-game footage in there. Not looking bad at all, although it’s set more at a Diablo sort of angle than the last Drakensang game. Go take a look.
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