Reviews by Foxy

When looking at the gaming industry at a glance, there are a few franchises that make up the bulk of top-tier classics. Names like Mario, Zelda, Kirby and Metroid come to mind from Nintendo, and games like Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter and Sly Cooper follow suit on PlayStation 2. Aside from the big league licenses, however, there seem to be a never-ending stream of under-card characters as well. Licenses like Tak, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, Spyro and Kao are just a small list of original properties that aren't quite high enough on the list to play with the big boys, but still attempt to deliver a fresh take on licensed gaming.

Kao the Kangaroo Round 2 takes a ton of classic gameplay methods, mixes them into its own design and attempts to deliver an entertaining package at a budget price. Though it serves up a huge variety of platforming gameplay, the budget feel of the overall product won't end with just the price tag, as Kao the Kangaroo Round 2 lacks the refined control and polish of better attempts in its class.

The premise for Kao the Kangaroo Round 2 is amazingly simple. Kao's friends are being captured by the evil hunter Barnaba, so with the aid of his allies Parrot and Firefly, Kao must explore multiple worlds in an attempt to set his friends free. The story is basic, focusing mainly on Kao's progress as he collects 3,000 coins to bribe the doorman of Barnaba's fortress and eventually take the evil hunter down. It's a bit odd, but like all platformers the story takes second seat to the action. Players will control Kao, traveling from level to level in a semi-open-ended world. Each area has multiple collectable items which will be needed to gain access to later levels, as well as power-up Kao with added abilities. The entire game has a very simple core design that we've seen countless times, as players will collect crystals which unlock new doors to varying worlds. The more crystals you find, the farther you progress.

Even though the 3D platformer genre may be done to death over the years, we've still got a soft spot in our collection for countless hop and pop games. They may be a dime a dozen, but every once in a while a game like Daxter for PSP or Pac-Man World 2 comes around and manages to impress us all over again. In fact, the design of Kao the Kangaroo is actually quite ambitious, as players will travel through a ton of different worlds, upgrading their character's skills, and traverse through a ton of different gameplay styles. In just a matter of minutes we were doing basic platforming, sliding down slippery slopes, dashing away from a ravenous bear in Crash Bandicoot style levels, and herding badgers into their caves in mini-game fashion. Gameplay is varied and, while hardly fresh, sometimes fun.


Variety isn't everything, however, as Kao lacks the polish that is needed to really be recommended as a solid platformer, even at the $19.99 price point. There are a ton of odd gameplay elements, such as poor collision detection on the environments and enemies, somewhat cheap enemy attacks and an overall unbalanced damage system. Since Kao is a children's game the designers opted to give the player infinite lives, but some of the areas are far too hard for the younger audience in the core design. When navigating some rapids in one level, for example, half of our life bar was depleted for hitting the embankment once, which is extremely harsh. There are also numerous areas that require perfectly timed double-jumps or amazingly fast reflexes to take out enemies which seem overly difficult for the game's target audience. Boss battles can be a bit complex as well, and the overall feeling of the game is just far too rushed. The result is an ambitious budget title that lacks the necessary polish and balance of a top-tier product.

Aside from an overall lack of finality, Kao the Kangaroo Round 2 is also hurt by the simple fact that we've already seen every style of gameplay it showcases. The design offers a ton of different scenarios but they're all the same rehashed mechanics found in countless other games. The entire production screams "generic budget title" in nearly every way. Players can jump, double-jump and butt-stomp just like any other game with no serious gameplay overhaul. Levels include a water area, forest area, spooky dark area and ice area, littered with environment-specific enemies and tasks which resemble nearly every other platformer before it. We understand that there's only so much you can do with a budget license, but the combination of generic play areas mixed with the same stagnant gameplay makes Kao the Kangaroo Round 2 a title that will easily get lost on store shelves, rather than standing out as a must-have 3D platformer.

In fact, the overall generic feeling Kao provides seems to encompass every part of its production. Character designs are extremely bland, inspired from multiple franchises over the years with very little artistic flair added from the norm. The level design is hit and miss, offering entertaining concepts one minute teamed with overused gameplay the next. The audio production is generic and lackluster, using audio tracks and sound effects that scream budget production. The visual experience is quite average as well, as models and textures have a dated look for its respective systems. Anyone looking to experience widescreen, progressive scan or Dolby Pro Logic II will be let down as well, as Kao delivers only a straightforward adventure without all the bells and whistles of others in its genre.

Closing Comments
Kao the Kangaroo 2 combines the same generic gameplay we’ve seen time and time again and delivers it at a budget price during the tail-end of this generation of consoles. While the design was obviously geared towards kids, Kao still lacks the necessary polish to be recommended, even at its price, and the overall difficulty may prove it to be a bit too harsh for its audience. The characters and environments are amazingly generic as well and the graphical and audio production is simply average. It may ask a significantly smaller price than many of the other games on the shelves, but players interested in an addictively entertaining platformer would be better suited to pick up something like Super Mario Sunshine or Jak and Daxter, as they deliver some of the strongest pure 3D platforming this generation.

Pingwinek Kelvin jest grą zręcznościową w której gracz wciela się w postać tytułowego bohatera, który jako mieszkaniec mroźnej i lodowej krainy poczuwa się do obowiązku powstrzymania pana Grzałki przed zniszczeniem domu dla wielu zimnolubnych zwierząt. Cała gra składa się z pięciu etapów, podczas których gracz musi wykazać się nie tylko umiejętnościami zręcznościowymi, ale również sprytem i logicznym myśleniem ze względu na dużą ilość zagadek i łamigłówek. Podczas rozgrywki bohater może tez natrafić na nieprzyjacielsko nastawione postaci. Pingwinek Kelvin oferuje jednoosobowy tryb rozgrywki w kolorowym świecie gry z trójwymiarową oprawą graficzną.

Essence Child is a great brainteaser from Living Energy Productions, a small group of amateur designers. In addition to offering devious non-timed levels that recall the best of Chip's Challenge, the game comes with a nicely designed level editor and even a plot that unfolds as you play. Like all great puzzle games, Essence Child is very easy to learn, but hard to complete. Your goal is to complete each isometric level by moving three balls of different colors (red, blue, and green) into their corresponding holes. Naturally, getting there is more difficult than it sounds: you need to deal with dozens of obstacles that range from simple (colored 'portals' that only allow balls of the same color to pass, and locked walls that require keys to open), to complicated (sliding paths). Although most levels in the game are quire easy, all of them are well-designed and interesting enough for 10-15 minutes of your time per level. The graphics are crisp and attractive, the music and sound effects pleasing to hear, and the game even has different graphical 'themes' for different worlds that you will come across in your journey. Essence Child is one of the most polished freeware puzzlers I have ever come across, and although the relatively easy difficulty level may turn away expert gamers, puzzle fans who consider themselves beginners or are looking for a casual game will find much to like in this charming underdog. Recommended!

Jade Dynasty is the third MMORPG to be published by Perfect World International. Like their previous titles, Jade Dynasty has an oriental setting. Much of the game’s environments and monsters are borrowed from Chinese mythology, which help it stand out from the crowd of fantasy games. New players in Jade Dynasty do not select a class right away, instead they start the game as initiates and must wait until level 15 to chose between five factions. All five factions have a different set of skills and a unique play style. The five factions (classes) in Jade Dynasty are:

Jadeon - The premier ranged damage dealer in Jade Dynasty. Jadeons have powerful AoE (area of effect) spells that make them effective levelers. High cast times and low defense make them vulnerable at close range.

Skysong - The only class that is capable of healing and buff other players. Skysongs have low defense and limited offensive capabilities early on but make powerful allies in late game PvE and PvP.

Vim - The primary tank class. Vims have high defense and deal powerful blows to single targets. They lack ranged attacks and become less effective during the later levels.

Lupin - The rogue faction of Jade Dynasty. Lupins deal heavy melee damage but suffer from low defense. Their high critical rate makes them dangerous assassins but they are less useful in group fights. Ideal class for beginners.

Modo - Modos are the main offensive spell casters. Their physical appearance and spell arsenal which includes curses, DoTs, and nukes mark them as formidable Warlocks. The Modo faction is the most difficult to play, especially since they are rather weak during the early levels.

Balo - The faction of brute strength. The Balo prefer axes and many of their skills focus on their physical power. They make excellent front line warriors and can stun, paralyze, silence, and weaken their enemies.

Arden - Elegant being that combine the best aspects of mankind and the animal kingdom. The Arden are masters of the bow and their affinity with nature allows them to summon beasts and plants for assistance.

Ether Saga Online is cartoony game with an oriental theme and music. There are three races to chose from (the Ren, Shenzu, and Yaoh), but each share the same six classes. Each race starts with a unique pet, which aids the player in combat, but starting at level 15 players are free to catch any creature they choose and raise it as a pet. The abilitiy to distribute earned points among different elements rather than stats adds another a layer of originality to Ether Saga Online. Overall, the game looks and plays like many other games in the genre. The presentation and graphics are sharper than previous games since Ether Saga is a recent game, developed by the same team behind Perfect World. The six classes are:

Rogue - Relies on stealth and cunning. Equipped with dual-poison tipped daggers, rogues make deadly opponents.

Dragoon - The main melee class who uses lances and serves the role of a tank in groups.

Conjurer - The primary offensive caster class that possesses the most powerful spells in the game. Conjurers use amulets to channel their power. They wear light armor.

Ranger - Equipped with bow and arrow, the Ranger fights from a distance and is capable of disabling opponents with snares, traps, and other abilities.

Shaman - A hybrid class equipped with a powerful hammer and with the ability to cast healing and buffing spells. Shamans can serve as secondary tanks or supportive healers.

Mystic - The supportive class in Ether Saga. Mystics use staves and wear light armor but can cast heals and powerful buffs on their allies.

Endless Online isn’t for everyone. But those looking for a classic RPG experience may want to give this free to play MMORPG a shot. Like Dark Ages and Nexus: The Kingdom of the Winds, it uses primitive graphics and controls. But unlike those games, it is entirely free to play. There’s no subscription, no cash shop, and no premium features to purchase. The lack of a meaningful tutorial, and no sense of direction make Endless Online a difficult game to get into.

Iris Online is a free-to-play MMORPZG developed by Eyasoft, the same studio behind Luna Online. Like Luna, Iris boasts a cute, anime-inspired visual style. But don’t let the graphics fool you, Iris Online is a full-feature MMORPG with a unique gypsy theme. Tarot cards effect much of the world, including the twenty-two instanced dungeons, each of which have a different theme based off one of the cards. Players can collect monster cards off almost any enemy in the game and use them to transform into those monsters. PvP battle zones pit up to fifteen players near the same level against each other. Players progress by gaining experience and skill points. The game has a variety of races and classes to choose from.

Human - Easily adaptable race that possess great strength and excels at technology.

Fighter - Fighters rely on brute strength and large weapons to deal heavy damage at melee range.

Mage - Arcane spellcasters who fight from a distance. They can buff allies, but are fragile in combat.

Hybrid - Half-human, half-animal. Hybrids have high strength and stamina, though their knowledge of magic is limited.

Warrior - Equipped with heavy armor, warriors are always at the forefront of battle where they can defend their allies.

Rogue - Shrewd combatants that rely on speed and cunning. Rogues exploit vulnerabilities in their opponents.

Elf - Elves are the oldest race in Arcana. They have unmatched knowledge and an affinity for nature

Ranger - Trackers and outdoorsmen. Rangers are masters of stealthy movement and the gun. They can also use daggers.

Shaman - Masters of fire, air, earth, and water magic. Shamans can summon elementals to aid them.

Luna Online is another Korean MMORPG that has recently made its way to the American market. With cute, bright graphics, Luna Online encourages socializing with a built-in match making system that pairs boys and girls based on their likes and dislikes. The main draw for most players though will be the game’s elaborate profession tree, which has a total of fifty-two classes that branch out from three base jobs players select during character creation. Players are free to design hybrid characters. For example, a Mage who picks Priest at level twenty can still become a Warlock at seventy-five, and retain all skills trained as a priest. Another interesting feature offered in Luna Online is player-owned Farms. Farms can only be purchased and operated by Families (Luna’s term for guilds). The classes are:
FighterLevel 20 Level 40 Level 75 Stage 5 Stage 6
Guard Infantryman Phalanx Paladin Lordn
Warrior Swordman Knight Panzer DeathKnight (H)
Mercenary (H) Gladiator (H) Crusader (H) ArchTemplar (E)
RuneKnight (E) Destroyer (H)
SwordMaster (E)
Magnus (E)

RogueLevel 20 Level 40 Level 75 Stage 5 Stage 6
Voyager Archer Ranger Sniper SoulEye
Ruffian Thief (H) TreasureHunter Entrapper BloodStalker (H)
Scout (E) Assassin (H) BladeTaker (H) ArchBreezer (E)
RuneWalker (E) TemplarMaster (E)

MageLevel 20 Level 40 Level 75 Stage 5 Stage 6
Cleric Priest Bishop Cardinal Saint
Wizard Sorcerer Warlock Soul Arbiter Dark Archon (H)
Monk (H) Inquirer (H) Grandmaster ArchCelebrant (E)
ElementalMaster (E) Necromancer (H)


Note: (H) means that class is only available to Humans while (E) means it is only available to Elves. Stage 5 and 6 classes are not yet available in the Global version of Luna Online.

Eudemons Online is an interesting 2.5D Fantasy MMORPG by TQ Digital. Like TQ Digital’s other games, Eudemons has a fast leveling system. The game’s most interesting feature is the game’s pet system. Players can hatch, raise, and train their own “Eudemons”. Players can take 12 Eudemons along with them and summon up to 3 Eudemons to aid them in battle. Over 100 distinctive Eudemons are ready to assist you in your epic adventure! The game’s three playable classes are:

Warrior – Warriors have the strongest melee damage in the game along with superior defensive capabilities, but they lack ranged skills.


Mage – Mages are capable of dealing massive amounts of damage using their area of effect skills. They have perhaps the highest damage in the game, but have relatively low hit points and defensive capabilities compared to other classes.

Paladin – Paladins are a hybrid of the Warrior and Mage class. They have powerful melee attack and strong magic capabilities.

Vampire – Vampires are the most mysterious class. This class is a great combination of strong melee combat and magical support, with potential for both PvP and team play.

Conquer Online is certainly TQ Digital’s most popular game, as the game has well over 60 servers, and some of the servers are so full that players can’t even log into them at times. The game originally debuted in China back in 2003 and currently has more than 10 million registered players world-wide. Visually speaking, Conquer Online looks a lot like TQ Digital’s other games (Zero Online, Eudemons Online, The Warlords, and Crazy Tao). Even though the graphics aren’t top notch, practically any PC can run the game smoothly. In terms of class variety, Conquer Online has a lot more to offer than other games by the same publisher, as other games from TQ Digital usually have two or three playable classes, Conquer Online has six, and they are:

Ninja- Ninjas are the fastest and hardest hitting class in Conquer Online. They can deal massive amounts of damage in a short amount of time, but they have the least hit points and defense of any class.
Archer - Archers are swift characters that can attack enemies from a distance using their bows. They have powerful attacks but are vulnerable in melee range. Their skills allow them to hit multiple targets as well, which make them very capable at dealing damage.
Trojan- Trojans are all out melee damage dealers. They can deal massive amounts of damage with their dual weapons, but they have low defense compared to warriors.
Warrior - Warriors are similar to Trojan’s but are more balanced in terms of attack power and defense. They are very capable of both dealing and absorbing damage.
Taoist- Taoists are the primary spell casters in Conquer Online. They can be built to be either supportive ‘Water Taoists’ or offensive ‘Fire Taoists’. They generally have low hit points and melee combat, but more than make up for that with their powerful magic.
Monk - Monks are a mix between warriors and Taoists as they can hold their own in front line battles as well as support their party members with some spiritual magic (Buffs/ Supportive magic)