Really, I have to thanks Bob for this.
Sangoku Taisen is an arcade card game. Based off the novel/history Romance of the Three Kingdom/Three Kingdom Period. So you have all those Chinese heroes trying to pwn each other on the battlefield. The irony, they speak Japanese, I really need to hand it to SEGA for creating this expensive game. But weighing out the fun factor, its still quite worth the bucks.
The players for this game is totally different from the mainstream players. Maybe that is why it is easy for an ex-Magic: The Gathering player to play this game. Sangoku Taisen though is more practical is also less erratic than Magic, something most of the native players do not understand. In Sangoku Taisen, there is nothing to measure probability or even if it exists in the game. Once this has been eliminated from the equation, the game break down is pretty simple. Taking the basics of Magic creature vs creature with instant spells as support. Relate the spell mana usage with the game and diversify the values would result in a more versatile skill usage. Even within creature vs creature combat, there are also abilities that makes a difference. Like Spear troops are equivalent to having the "Firststrike" ability in Magic.
There is also working within the faction's pros and cons. Like Wei is better at counter spells, Shu is better at offensive spells while Wu is better at defensive spells. As compared to most people's misconception of viewing the factions based on troop types. In Sangoku Taisen, proper usage of skills, is equivalent of using decisive spells cards in Magic that changes to momentum of the game to your favor. Therefore it is important for one to work on the uniqueness of the faction they adopt, understand how each and every spell work and theoretical usage of the cards.
The argument against this idea is that actual gameplay will vary. True, but to what extent? People in military occupations knows this best. If actual war is something unpredictable, then what is military exercises and simulation? Things will not go according to plan, Murphy decides to play punk and many other factors comes into play. So, plans never work? Plans to not only work solely on Plan A. It also do not work only on both Plan A and B. It works from A-Z, if that is insufficient, from Z-A again. It is only people who do not constantly work on their plans will face the opponent unprepared. When things do not go as they expect, they will start panicking. Wondering what best to do next. Even when opportunity is before them.
Monday, November 16, 2009
LOTR Again!
I has been almost a month since I have last post something of interesting value. Or at least stumble across something of interest. That is other than the interesting books I am supposed to study. Or maybe writing practice for Japanese (I am now working on Katagana).
My current course has been keeping me rather busy of late. With my lectures closing onto the gap advantage I created before the course started. Back in October, I am at least one book ahead in all my modules. Today, I am neck to neck with class. There are some hiccups on the way, like the frantic search for Oedipus Rex which I have last posted on how I was pwned by Kinokuniya and the following week, to pwn me again with fresh books sitting on the shelves.
Recently, Approaches to Text module has moved onto movie critic and my lecturer just needs to reignite my flame for The Lords of the Rings (LOTR). We are supposed to compare scenes in the novel and the actual movie itself. The differences, the constraints and different point of views the camera can take. We are working on the example from LOTR since many people have watched that move. Thus, easy to relate to. In my opinion, Peter Jackson did a really good job on that movie.
Mock exams are approaching in early December. My current rate of writing my essays are starting to make me cranky. You could also relate my short temperance with the creature Golem when he had the ring. Kind of snap at anyone, everyone I come across. The last I tested myself writing, I could manage a single essay within a preplanned 1 hour (I finished with a headache). However, my actual exam is a 3 hour paper where I have to slog out 3 essays for that duration. So in other words, with my current working capacity, I am really in trouble.
My current course has been keeping me rather busy of late. With my lectures closing onto the gap advantage I created before the course started. Back in October, I am at least one book ahead in all my modules. Today, I am neck to neck with class. There are some hiccups on the way, like the frantic search for Oedipus Rex which I have last posted on how I was pwned by Kinokuniya and the following week, to pwn me again with fresh books sitting on the shelves.
Recently, Approaches to Text module has moved onto movie critic and my lecturer just needs to reignite my flame for The Lords of the Rings (LOTR). We are supposed to compare scenes in the novel and the actual movie itself. The differences, the constraints and different point of views the camera can take. We are working on the example from LOTR since many people have watched that move. Thus, easy to relate to. In my opinion, Peter Jackson did a really good job on that movie.
Mock exams are approaching in early December. My current rate of writing my essays are starting to make me cranky. You could also relate my short temperance with the creature Golem when he had the ring. Kind of snap at anyone, everyone I come across. The last I tested myself writing, I could manage a single essay within a preplanned 1 hour (I finished with a headache). However, my actual exam is a 3 hour paper where I have to slog out 3 essays for that duration. So in other words, with my current working capacity, I am really in trouble.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Review: Order of War
A long time since I last reviewed a game. A friend of mine decided to attempt to move me away from my addiction to COH with this new game, Order of War. Order of War is a WWII RTS game which featured the European theater of war so we have the Americans, Nazi and the Soviets.
Order of War is similar to Word in Conflict (WIC) in many ways. In fact, almost a total copy minus all the chic functions which made WIC an interesting game. The game engine for both games are similar visually and so are most of the basic controls. The only missing functions are the "Offensive" and "Defensive" special moves found in WIC. The cinematic mode is a must try in the game.
Gameplay for Order of War is once again almost similar to WIC. The only difference is the scale of the battle. Order of War is done on a "company" size scale. Instead of having a single tank, you control a squad of 5 tanks. The same goes for infantry, but the numbers are around the 20-30 range (could be more).
In Order of War, air power is not god-like, anti-aircraft units can shoot down those birds. Players cannot control aircraft but can request aircraft support like a special ability. The same goes for artillery support and paratroopers. There are some pretty niche functions in the game. Like calling in trucks to give your infantry a lift to the battle front instead of running there on foot.
There are many flaws with the gameplay. The main problem is fog of war. There is no fog of war in Order of War. Infantry can hid only in forest and no where else. To make the game worst, infantry in well fortified positions are easily defeated by armor. The most irritating of all situations is armor crushing infantry in trenches.
Order of War had an excellent engine and a proven theme to work on. But, with that many mistakes with its execution, this game is really ruined at stage one. It is a poor imitation of a proven game.
I disagree with the scores give at the gaming websites for I believe, they do not dare insult this game. But I will just shoot it down as one of the bad RTSes for 2009.
Score: 6.5/10
22/10/2009
Right so finally a friend decided to convince me to give this game another chance to redeem itself with another run through its multiplayer match with the AI.
16/11/2009
Almost a month has passed since I last tried to bring myself to play this game. However, it has come to naught and I have decided to move off to other more pressing issues.
Order of War is similar to Word in Conflict (WIC) in many ways. In fact, almost a total copy minus all the chic functions which made WIC an interesting game. The game engine for both games are similar visually and so are most of the basic controls. The only missing functions are the "Offensive" and "Defensive" special moves found in WIC. The cinematic mode is a must try in the game.
Gameplay for Order of War is once again almost similar to WIC. The only difference is the scale of the battle. Order of War is done on a "company" size scale. Instead of having a single tank, you control a squad of 5 tanks. The same goes for infantry, but the numbers are around the 20-30 range (could be more).
In Order of War, air power is not god-like, anti-aircraft units can shoot down those birds. Players cannot control aircraft but can request aircraft support like a special ability. The same goes for artillery support and paratroopers. There are some pretty niche functions in the game. Like calling in trucks to give your infantry a lift to the battle front instead of running there on foot.
There are many flaws with the gameplay. The main problem is fog of war. There is no fog of war in Order of War. Infantry can hid only in forest and no where else. To make the game worst, infantry in well fortified positions are easily defeated by armor. The most irritating of all situations is armor crushing infantry in trenches.
Order of War had an excellent engine and a proven theme to work on. But, with that many mistakes with its execution, this game is really ruined at stage one. It is a poor imitation of a proven game.
I disagree with the scores give at the gaming websites for I believe, they do not dare insult this game. But I will just shoot it down as one of the bad RTSes for 2009.
Score: 6.5/10
22/10/2009
Right so finally a friend decided to convince me to give this game another chance to redeem itself with another run through its multiplayer match with the AI.
16/11/2009
Almost a month has passed since I last tried to bring myself to play this game. However, it has come to naught and I have decided to move off to other more pressing issues.
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