Alpha Beta Gamer

Final Fantasy VII: Re-Imagined is a fantastic fan made project that re-imagines Square’s classic RPG as a classic Streets of Rage-style side scrolling beat-em-up, complete with Materia, XP and summoning.

The current build features one full level, local co-op play, two playable characters (Cloud and Tifa) and one fire support character (Barret). You can also summon your Guardian Forces, charging them up by beating up enemies, then unleashing them for maximum devastation. In the Final Fantasy VII: Re-Imagined Prototype, Cloud summons Ifrit and Tifa summons Shiva, but in the full game players will be able to acquire and equip new Guardian Forces as in the original.

The Materia system is also remarkably similar to FFVII, with players able to utilise Fire, Ice and Lighting Materia to unleash special effects at the end of a four hit combo. And of course, as it’s based on an RPG, in the full game Materia, Summon Gems, Fire Support and character move sets will all be upgradable through XP accumulation.

It’s still very early in development, but Final Fantasy VII: Re-Imagined is already a thoroughly impressive RPG beat-em-up experience, full of fan service, exciting combat and real depth to the gameplay. Not just a great Final Fantasy VII homage, but a great game in general.

Play the Final Fantasy VII: Re-Imagined Prototype, Free (Win & Browser)

WildStar is making a transition from a subscription model to free-to-play, and has just launched into a closed beta phase.

Carbine Studios charismatic MMO was vell received upon release with its vibrant universe packed with content, and has garnered a substantial fan base. New features of the upcoming free-to-play Beta include a new character creation system, a loyalty program, a new instance that helps bring players into the world story quicker and daily player login rewards.

It’s a in impressive MMO full of character, vibrant visuals and varied gameplay, and now that it’s free there’s no reason not to play it!

Sign Up For The WildStar Beta

Post Replica is an intriguing new D&D style roleplaying game that uses a mobile app (or internet connected computer) to connect players all around the world, sharing and affecting what happens on tables across countries.

As in D&D, Post Replica is played with players sitting around the table, rolling dice, with one of them acting as a dungeon master. What happens around the table doesn’t just affect your game though, it affects the greater global game, impacting what happens on tables around the world. As well as this global connectedness, the app also procedurally generates rumors, letters for individual characters and adventure hooks - all of which tie into the greater story.

The story also sounds interesting, set in a future when androids have become self aware and attempting to live amongst humanity. But tensions are high and battles ensue due to a handful of murderous androids with corrupt programming.

With it’s promise of linking players globally and locally, Post Replica is an impressive evolution of the D&D formula. An ambitious roleplaying game that looks set to offer gameplay on a global scale.

Sign Up For the Beta (Win, Mac, Linux, iOS & Android)

Skyforge is a spectacular looking massively multiplayer sci-fi fantasy RPG currently in development by Obsidian (The Stick of Truth, KOTOR2, Fallout: New Vegas) and Allods team (Allods Online).

Set in a set in a world of gods and heroes, Skyforge tasks players with protecting their planet from dangerous monsters and space invasions. Along the way you’ll gain followers and progress from an immortal warrior to a mighty elder god, helping to shape the fate of your world.

It’s an impressive game, with fast and flowing combat inspired by console action-combat games, complete with spectacular battles, powerful combos and brutal finishing attacks. It’s also possible to swap character classes on-the-fly, allowing you to experiment with different play-styles and accommodate for different in game challenges.

Now in Open Beta, Skyforge really is doing a lot of things right - a beautiful massively multiplayer world, plenty of variety and engaging combat. And really, who wouldn’t want to play as an ass-kicking elder god?

Join In The Skyforge Open Beta!

Luckless Seven is an innovative story-driven isometric RPG that features tactical blackjack-esque card games instead of combat, and a unique narrative about a talented card player looking to become the best in the country.

You control Mark, a keen card player who gives up his dead-end job to travel from city to city, winning local qualifier battles to allow himself entry into the prestigious national tournament. There’s far more to Luckless Seven than that though, with story driven side quests, multiple narratives, collectable cards and a huge 3D world to explore.

The card game in Luckless seven is like a more tactical version of Blackjack. Inspired by Pazaak in KOTOR, the main objective in Ekosi is to beat your opponent by getting as close to 20 as possible without going over. In each hand you can ‘Hit’ as many times as you like, then use one of your four additional cards to fine tune your end score. These additional cards can add or take away a set number from your total, but you only get a few of them, so you have to be strategic with their usage.

It’s still early in development, but Luckless Seven is shaping up to be a refreshing take on the RPG genre. The world design is excellent and a lot of thought has obviously gone into it’s tactical card game - it’s easy to learn, fun to play, and a perfect substitute for traditional RPG combat. A Full House.

Check Out the Kickstarter & Play the Alpha Build, Free

Project Genom is a great new massively multiplayer third person shooter/RPG in which you explore, fight and survive on beautiful, but dangerous alien worlds.

It features a satisfying skill based dynamic non-targeting combat system, and tons of loot to customize your character with all manner of cool suit parts and weaponry. You can even pilot vehicles and huge combat mechs or summon various creatures to help smash your foe. If that’s a bit to hands off for you, then you can specialize in close quarters melee combat, using manipulators to enhance your physical strength and deal devastating damage.

As you explore the huge planets and as search for knowledge that could save or destroy humanity, Project Genom’s storyline will be fully affected by the decisions you make, with even minor decisions having far reaching consequences. You’ll even be able to collect resources and build a spaceship - allowing you to discover new planets and new technologies.

It’s a great looking and ambitious game, that looks set to offer a lot of the features Destiny failed to deliver. Skill based combat in a real massively multiplayer environment, with plenty of customization and a rich universe where decisions have real consequences.

Sign Up For The Beta

Devilian - a great looking new persistent world action MMORPG from Trion Worlds (creators of ArcheAge, Trove & Defiance), in which you play a half-devil fighting to save the world from a fallen god.

There are four classes, each with their own unique devil form that can be unleashed upon on foes. Combat is fast and action-filled, with multiple PvE and PvP modes - from 20 v 20 to 3 v 3. There’s a wide range of features to keep you busy in Devilian too, such as crafting, quests, trading, mounts, pets and guilds.

It’s a good looking game, with fun combat and a great premise - who wouldn’t want to play ahalf-devil and take on a fallen god? Spread your wings and unleash your dark side!

Sign Up For The Beta

One Piece is a great looking MMORPG based on the popular Anime series of the same name, that see’s you recruiting other members and battling enemies in fast paced tower defense-esque battles.

Graphically One Piece really impresses, capturing the style of the Manga series perfectly with great animation and artwork. You choose between three different character types, then set out to do battle across the One Piece universe, with plenty of well known characters and locations for fans of the series.

Battles are a blend of traditional action RPG combat and tower defense, with you attempting to kill enemies before they reach your base. Obviously things get tougher later on, but at least in the early stages of the game the auto-quest function (which you can turn off), does all the hard work for you, travelling between quests, and even fighting your battles if you let it. As you progress, you’ll level up, gain new abilities and unlock new companions for your troupe.

Hardcore MMO fans may not find much to excite them here, as a lot of the mechanics are a little generic, but if you’re in the market for an Anime based MMO, you could do a lot worse than One Piece, with great artwork, a novel twist on the combat and plenty of fan service for followers of the series.

Join In The One Piece Open Beta

Defragmented is a cool cyberpunk action-RPG that blends fast, fluid and super tough top-down gunplay inspired by Hotline Miami with looting and RPG elements inspired by Borderlands and Diablo.

The sense of style in Defragmented impresses as soon as you boot it up, as you’re hit with it’s crisp cyberpunk visuals and superb pulsing electronic soundtrack. You play a lone gunman, in a cyberpunk story about cloning, corruption and hacking. What this entails is a lot of satisfyingly challenging, fast paced run-and-gun combat, in which you’ll die a lot, but always stand a better chance the next time thanks to generous loot drops and levelling.

Stealth isn’t always the best tactic in the current build as a lot of the enemies have a near-superhuman field of view, but once you’ve collected some more powerful weaponry and levelled up a bit, full frontal assaults are a satisfyingly viable option. We can’t wait to see more of Defragmented as it’s electric atmosphere, looting, levelling and brutal run and gun gameplay really do impress. Super stylish top-down shooting.

Check Out The Kickstarter & The Free Pre-Alpha Demo (Win, Mac & Linux)

Blade & Soul is an extremely popular Korean MMORPG, finally coming to the West, set in a world where martial arts are the norm, and you use your powers to rid the world of those who ruined your life and others.

It’s a fast paced action-based martial arts MMORPG, with strategic, combo based combat and special ’Windwalking’ abilities, allowing you to glide through air, run across water and sprint up walls. Set in a fantastical Ancient Eastern world, with a story of revenge and vengeance that follows traditional wuxia literature, it’s a great looking game with engaging combat and fun gameplay. Sharpen your blade and sign up for the Beta!

Sign Up for the Beta

Posts tagged RPG