Mage Knight: Apocalypse
Preview
If you're looking for a rich single -and- multiplayer experience, then this one might be one to look out for
by jdarksun
previewed on PC
Playing the Game
Selecting your initial character does not mean that the other characters will be unavailable for the duration of the game. While you start out alone, the other characters will join you on your quest as NPCs. It won't be possible to control your party members in the same way as you control your own character, but it will be possible to give commands and generally tell them how you want them to aid you.
The game scales itself based on your ability, offeringtougher and more skilled opponents at higher levels. The rewards grow bigger too so that the loot you will find on slain enemies will not just all be useless junk that you just want to get rid of in a hurry.
The items that you will find on your quests will either be usable by all characters, or be tailored to your specific character. You cannot manage your team members inventory so at least you will be able to use everything you find yourself. For items that are found during multiplayer games, Bandai Namco has implemented a system where you will only see items that are meant for you. This eliminates the need to argue over who should have what when the dust settles after a chaotic battle.
Multiplayer mayhem
That brings us to the multiplayer part of the game. Mage Knight: Apocalypse provides multiplayer for up to 5 players, in co-operative and competitive formats. While co-op gameplay is pretty much a staple for Action RPGs, it is still refreshing to see - I've been disappointed to see it disappear from many other genres.
Multiplayer promises to provide a unique challenge by requiring the players to think carefully about character development to be complimentary to the other player's characters. For example, if Janos Freeborn is adventuring with Tal Windstrider, they both shouldn't focus on melee combat. While multiplayer in itself tends to lengthen the lifespan of a game, the addition of a relatively complex set of potential character builds bears the potential to hold player interest beyond the first few months.
Namco Bandai makes some pretty impressive boasts about Mage Knight: Apocalypse, claiming "evolutionary character development", "thousands of items", and "unlimited customization". It has a lot to live up to, though filling those promises will go a long way to restoring the Mage Knight legacy and making a place for itself in the RPG marketplace.
