A few months ago we’ve had reports of a Chinese Government commissioned game which was supposed to help kids fight corruption within the country. In a similar way the US Army released a game to raise interest for joining their ranks, with a target audience for recruits slightly below 18. All is fair in love and war? We can add faith to this principle because now we have churches steering youth their direction through Halo 3. Via a New York Times article we find out more about the latest trend in the US Protestant Church, as priests all over the country endorsed gaming within the sacred grounds.

In the past fifty years the establishment had to confront the growing problem of getting people into church, especially the morally lax and ever curious teens, to keep them on the right track of spiritual fulfillment. A particularly simple yet effective argumentation comes from Pastor Ken Kenerly. He says, “There aren’t as many kids outdoors as indoors. With gamers, how else can you get into their lives?” When traditional methods of getting people into church fail, you can resort to more inventive ones. It kind of reminds me of the huge arrangements that benefit gospel shows and how were they first received by the purists. Maybe this is the next level too.

Halo 3 is a commercial hit and will only grow bigger since we’re talking about $300 million in sales within two weeks since release. But here comes to play the moral debate of introducing pure blood entertainment into The Church and its spiritual activities. Halo 3 is set in a post apocalyptic world, it uses extreme virtual violence, features mature themes and was rated as such by the ESRB. On the issue of “Thou shall not kill,” the answer varies depending on which side you are taking. The priesthood tends to acknowledge the virtual dimension of the game and said we’re actually killing pixels, not human beings. On the other hand one must think about the basic Christian percept that thought is as powerful as any action. Even so, several clerics agreed to what can only be described as a new movement in the Protestant US Church: the effectiveness of Halo 3 is undeniable. It’s not about knowing your enemy as much as keeping children away from the greater evils of drugs, alcohol and premarital sex. You’ll be amazed to know that such Halo 3 nights at the local church proved to be the social attraction of the week in most cases, and ministers are actually talking about increasing the number of consoles and TV screens to match their new found audience. Team work binds teens together, boosting self esteem by providing a sense of accomplishment. Once the gaming session is over, everyone attends mass and prayer.

The stupid box, as some refer to the computer, is exceptionally easy to acquire by the middle class, effectively making it the foremost multimedia entertainment device. Since we’re not all techs, consoles come to a close second place. The big name gaming companies have taken great lengths into moving away from the computer scene and into the next generation console market. Four years ago having a game released on multiple platforms was a luxury, but nowadays every AAA title ships in PC, Xbox, PS3 and Wii format. It was only a matter of time since gaming would pour into the mainstream media like a tidal wave.

Puzzle Quest is an original game which combines three genres: puzzle, strategy and role-playing; and is to conquer all audiences on Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Xbox Live Arcade, Wii, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and Mac.



The game designed by Steve Fawkner has three developers - Infinite Interactive, 1st Playable Productions and Vicious Cycle Software, and D3 Publisher as the publisher.



The challenging storyline involves you in saving the land of Etheria from the evil Lord Bane, in three game modes: Single-player, Instant Action or Multiplayer.
You’ll have to engage in match-three style puzzle games and if you win you’ll be advanced, and if you lose you won’t suffer penalties, being awarded experience points instead.



The Continuous Reward System will give you powerful magic spells, weapons, armor and money to advance at every turn, each battle ranging from 3 to 10 minutes.
Start by choosing your own hero from two male and two female avatars in four character groups: Druid, Knight, Warrior and Wizard.
After customizing your hero, beginn to build your own empire.
Capture cities, build castles and gain a party of companions that will help you in battles.

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is announced ship to retail stores in PC version, on October 22.

The Doom videogame series is very well known in the gamer societies. The first thing I'd like to mention is that the game still has high system requirements even if it was launched some time ago: Windows XP/Vista, Intel 2 GHz or Athlon 2 GHZ processor (or better or newer), 1GB RAM, CD-DVD drive, 630MB (or more) of uncompressed free hard disk space (plus 400MB for Windows swap file), 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible 16-bit sound card and latest drivers, 3D hardware Accelerator Card Required - 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible Hardware Accelerated video card and the latest drivers. I consider that a game like Doom 3 is not worthwhile playing is you don't get to see all the cool details.

<-250x250 Square - left->The game story goes like this: in the main game (as the “resurrection” is just an add-on), the story is a re-make of the original Doom video game and it presents to the gamers a somewhat sleek looking version of the surroundings and the monsters. The main character comes into the spotlight as a very tough and trained marine soldier. The Union Aerospace Corporation with its interplanetary bases uses the support of marine soldiers to secure their facilities and to protect its scientific discoveries. The gamer (you) will take up the role of the marine, so things are going to very interesting as you will move through the levels and discover a massive demonic invasion in the base. Heavy and rapidly heating weapons of great damage will have to be used in order to discover the source of evil and you will have the impression that you are constantly watched. In the Resurrection of Evil you are about to find out that you still have an enemy to destroy.



Doom 3 Trailer

Set in time 2 years after the events from Doom3 (namely in 2147), in the add-on story the UAC Corporation discovers a distress signal from one of the Martian satellites and sends a team of marines to investigate. They find a Hellstone (a special device that looks like a heart and has bullet-speed abilities) and the forces of evil try to take it away from the player. Dr. Elizabeth McNeil is the one who helps out the marine through indications given in burst radio transmissions. She tells him also that the only way to destroy the Hellstone is to bring it back to Hell. Oh yes, this is where the SF-action kicks in and the player becomes involved in powering up various teleporting devices that take him closer and closer to the Delta Labs, where the teleporter to Hell is located. Once in hell, the marine will have to battle his way through the demon minions in order to reach Dr. Betruger (since I know German as well, this name makes me think of the word ‘betrug’ that means cheat, scam, opposite of trustworthy – so, it is fitting). It is his demonic voice you will hear throughout the game in some areas and he is the final boss that you will need to defeat.



Resurrection of Evil Intro

The levels (12 in number) are pretty much linear and the only thing that will change is the surroundings, and some types of enemies. There are however the bosses in some stages that might require a little bit of attention to the details – actually you will be presented with some options or clear hints about their weak spots and how to defeat them. Most of the times you will have to use your grabber gun in order to throw back at them some fireballs or laser balls. The most annoying enemies I encountered were the vulgars, a very creepy type of monster, with 2 fireballs instead of eyes and they have the nasty habit of coming in pairs or threesomes. They are dangerous alone mind you, let alone in a pack! I had to use the flashlight mod installed for the game – the problem was that there was no reason for me o make any screenshots without it because it was so dark that you could cut the darkness with a knife!

“Give the Caesar, what is Caesar’s!” – giving credits where they are well deserved – I have to admit – even if this wasn’t the first time I played the game there was at least one instance when an Imp (those ugly beasts with many eyes) almost surprised me and made my mouse shake: the atmosphere is quite scary, or at least it is supposed to be like that – it has been referred to as one of the scariest games ever, so it has to live up to its reputation. But then again, this is not a game you will play in broad daylight, on the road – in order to experience and enjoy the realistic effects from this game I would recommend you to play it with your lights turned off, “home-alone” (like in the movie with the same title), and if you do not own a very cool amplified powerful sound system, I trust you have at least some decent head-phones. Thrilling is guaranteed! Unlike other shooter games, this is not fast paced in all levels – there are areas that can be explored at a normal speed and you can enjoy the view of the wonderfully shaped 3D rendered objects.

I think you can get through the game easily as you can save as often as you wish and you can re-load the game and go on, even if because of some silly Imp or Vulgar, your marine got scratched to death at some corner – reload, rev-up and point the weapons at them – it is just a matter of time of how fast you can advance in the game.



Resurrection of Evil Video

The last boss-fight is a bit special though (is it ever just plain and simple in such games?) in the sense that the battle has two parts: in the first one you will have to use the grabber gun to redirect the fire-shots at Maledict (Dr. Betruger) a few times with the help of the artifact, and then use the plasma-gun repeatedly. The second part of the fight begins when the ugly beast bursts out of the volcano and sits on it – at this time a rain of fireballs is coming at you, but make sure you use your heaviest weapons as the Maledict stays in one spot and it just flies around very little. From the cutscene-video, we might gather that the ending was good and the marine returned home.



The Final Fight

The sound in game was absolutely fantastic – the gun-fire sounds are so realistic that your neighbors will think there is s SWAT team in your room! The music is not very much present, but I really liked the theme song from the game menu – it’s a “must have”.



Resurrection of Evil Trailer

Digitainment Mark: 9.5 out of 10 (it’s pretty good for a scary game)

Producer/Developer: ID Software, Nerve Software

Publisher: Activision

Official website: www.doom3.com

Buy: Doom 3: $19.74 and the Resurrection of Evil Expansion pack: $9.99

As I write this, Halo 3 is boiling hot, and it seems that Bungie's game will get again high ratings from everyone, but we shouldn't forget that Microsoft is the big boy in this game. While this partnership brought fame for Bungie and a lot of money to everyone, including the Redmond giant, it seems the game developer wants more. So, why would Bungie split ways with Microsoft?

According to various inside sources, Halo's producers don't want to live for the rest of their days making "Halos", because we all know that Microsoft, once it has a good product that sells on the market, keeps issuing new versions over and over again, sometimes ending up reinventing the wheel just to sale the same product under a different shape. Another reason is that Bungie wants to get back in the Mac world, as well as starting to create games for PlayStaton 3 and Wii.These being said, let's see what happened today...

Moving from rumor to reality, the Bungie-Microsoft rupture happened a few hours ago, when Microsoft Corp. announced that Bungie will become an independent company once again. While Bungie's Harold Ryan said that ""[We] greatly value our mutually prosperous relationship with our publisher, Microsoft Game Studios,and we look forward to continuing that affiliation through 'Halo' and beyond.", the fanchising director of the company, Brian Jarrard, speaking to Macworld, claimed the return to the Mac world is possible.

As you can figure out, Microsoft won't just give Bungie freedom without keeping rights to the Halo titles, but that's OK, as well as long they will be able to create games for other platforms from now on, too. Obviously, we won't see the results of today's event in a month or two, but we should keep our eyes on Bungie Studios from now on, because we may get some pleasant surprises, especially if we're using a PS or Wii for our gaming needs.

Bungie Software Products Corporation started back in 1991 as a game company with products aiming at the Mac OS only, and before joining Microsoft in 2000, produced notorious Mac games such as Oni, Myth or Marathon. What happened afterward, it's already history, because if you didn't play at least one of the 3 Halo games, you can't call yourself a serious gamer...

The Chosen: Well of Souls is a hack and slash single player role playing game set in a medieval fantasy world, developed by Rebelmind studios and released by Meridian 4 on October 1^st, 2007.

Story

The synopsis is quite simple. The Emerald tabled which was passed down through generation to generation, from the great god Hermes Trimegistos himself, has been stolen. This catastrophic event shows vile repercussions immediately as someone used the Tablet to open the Well of Souls, thus the hordes of Hell are unleashed upon the earth. Not only that, but the one who was first and foremost in charge of protecting this sacred oath, champion of the people and defender of the Alchemical secrets - the Chosen One is presumed captured and defeated. In these times of dire need, the Alchemists call for three heroes to take up the task of recovering the Emerald Tablet and set things right. You will face the evil sorcerer Marcus and his army of infernal beasts, in an attempt to preserve the life of God’s Envoy. Maybe you can save the world from doom and rise as The Chosen.

Concept

<-250x250 Square - left->This is where you come in, to guide the vengeful blade of Frater, Elena or Khan. Using spells come as a second nature to Frater, as he is a monk schooled in the arts of the Alchemists. His dedication added to the powers of faith, furthermore helping him fight the demonic threat as a master of fire, ice and ether. Elena is of a different breed, adept at hunting her enemies down from range. Being raised by Siberian hunters, her background as sole survivor in a werewolf attack only made her more determined. Khan is also a warrior at hart, but would rather use his hand to hand skills and big shiny swords when engaging the hell spawn. The Blade of Spring they called him, great wrath bringer and beacon of hope for the oppressed, wherever the pursuit of justice took him.

Your hero has five basic statistics to improve as the game progresses, strength, dexterity, knowledge, vitality and faith. Whenever you level up, five points can be distributed among these. Experience is gained by killing monsters and completing quests. Strength increases your melee damage and generally is needed as the main armor and weapon prerequisite. The higher strength is, the better the items you can wear and wield. On the other hand, dexterity benefits ranged attacks, in both terms of damage and proficiency with better weapons. Bows and guns are available, but the later require you manually reloading them. Knowledge is the primary stat for caster types as they govern the amount of mana you have. Better spells can be learned from books as Frater’s knowledge increases. No hero would be able to take on the challenge at the Well of Souls without vitality and the generous hit points it provides.

Faith is a very strange statistic which will improve as the game progresses. You can’t really do anything to increase faith and points will regenerate in time. This second mana pool is used to summon demons from their outer planes. These demons are immortal and incredibly powerful, yet they have no allegiance with either good or evil. At first only one demon can be summoned at a time, but characters powerful in faith will be able to call upon two or more, later in the game.

A very handy form of enchanting is can be used to augment your items through cauldrons. You can increase the defensive factor of armors, increase melee weapon damage (but decrease durability) and even lower the requirements for spell books. It can be done at any time though the cauldron interface and it will cost you an item and sizeable amounts of gold, which can then be lowered by throwing in rings or potions.

Gameplay

There is no character customization at first, as you choose one of the three avatars and start right in. You’re introduced to the chaos of this world by the words of your mentor: “Evil has come on flaming wings! I shall fall … I Callidus, Master Alchemist… Magus …” It seems someone has intentionally dispatched the Alchemists from their earthly burden into the next world, and soon there will be none able to tell the tale of the Emerald Tablet and the source of the demonic invasion. In the town of Kamieniec lies your first clue in solving your forefather’s untimely death so your adventure starts here.

Once you enter Kamieniec you’ll be accompanied by a henchman by the name of Fredrick Kalinow. He is supposed to help you navigate through the city and does a good job at doing so since he’s almost impossible to kill and will take care of the first couple of creature packs. I noticed right away that melee does a lot more damage compared to spells and ranged attacks. If you’re not heavy on hit points and wielding a heavy axe, then it will take some time for you to kill a special monster. Kiting monsters all around the city is your best option, especially since your running speed far surpasses theirs. The city layout is quite linear so getting lost is quite a feat. Still, I got bored of kiting zombies and decided to take advantage of my superior speed and run straight to the objective. While this didn’t get me killed, I need to consult the map when … surprise, the map isn’t working. I just see a black screen which I can zoom in and out of, but no actual image.

Developers put the game engine to good use with the often addition of cut scenes. Whenever you get close to a band of peasants fighting zombies or while approaching a wizened Alchemist, the camera will do a sweep over and the characters will engage in a short dialogue. I felt it added depth to the whole concept. Keep in mind that you can’t pass and of the in-game cut scenes and whenever you start the game, you’ll have to patiently watch them again.

As a hunter or monk you need to press shift to fire your projectiles while standing still, otherwise your left click will be interpreted as a movement action. While playing hack and slash games, success is often brought by killing as many opponents as possible in a short period of time. To this end, the warrior Khan seems the most proficient. Health and mane regenerate over time and it benefits Elena the most. She can just kite until full health and go again. I can’t really say the same for Frater, since he will always have mana issues. Health and mana potions are about as rare and eventually your mana pool won’t be enough. In addition, demons are known to have natural spell resistance or immunities, which make the spell caster life a chore. In the end, spell and skills will be complemented by powerful abilities learned through the skill trees each class has available. They are unique to the character and will eventually boost your capabilities to hero level. As a warrior you will deal excruciating strikes along with wielding twin weapons. The hunter gets better damage reduction from hits and learns poisons, just as the mage can summon ethereal creatures to his aid and blast enemies with area spells.

What I dislike about the system is that you have limited slots for equip able items. You can wield a weapon, put on a helmet, chest piece, shield, rings and that’s it. Rebelmind developers advertise over 200 types of armor, weapons and magic items, but it loses significance in the wake of such limitation.

Sound & Video

It struck me right from the beginning that voice acting is lacking in The Chosen: Well of Souls, as actors read the text with no special intonation and fail to sound fantasy-like. This flaw is often a sign of a low budget game and usually characteristic for games released by independent developers. If I were to make a supposition, I’d say voices were done in-house, by the developers themselves. Music is sample based thus the tune evolution is anything by natural. On the other hand, sounds make up for suitable ambience within the gloomy game world. You can hear rain drops while exploring the first town, along with crows making a mess of things and zombies dragging their feet through the mud.

Well of Souls features full 3D models of everything within the game world. I found the backgrounds to be heavy on detail; with functional eye candy whenever you throw a bigger fireball of your average zombie boss decides to resurrect its minions. Unfortunately the game engine is limited and can’t handle basic key movement. You do point and click wherever you wish to go, but that’s about it; no jumping or crossing over rivers, no strafing. I got confused when the usual movement keys would only change the camera angle, pretty much what the mouse wheel is already doing. Since the character is relatively small compared to the environment (like houses along the road), you’ll find yourself struggling for a better camera view more often than actually hitting enemies on the head with an axe. Poor implementation of movement is a serious drawback.

Conclusion

The Chosen: Well of Souls is one of those games that are beyond time, misplaced. The golden era or action adventure single player RPGs has been long dead, as developers shifted attention to RPG console titles and MMORPGs. This dying breed greatly appeals mainly to nostalgic and hardcore role players. Rebelmind tried to recreate the glory of old, but the outcome could have been better. Movement issues, poor voice-overs and a relatively simple implementation of the plot are the weak points, balanced out by decent 3D graphics and a good story. In the end, I think the choice should come from you - the reader, so be sure to grab the demo and tell us what you feel.