Business Tycoon Online review

By, Erhan Altay

Business Tycoon Online is a browser based business sim developed and published by the Chinese company Dovo Game. The game entered closed beta testing on January 18, 2010 but was immediately available to the general public with no need for special keys or invitations. While BTO is a text based game, it makes good use of images to put together an attractive interface. But what makes the game most appealing is its unique theme and gameplay. While players will still have to deal with slow paced progression and spend plenty of time performing menial tasks, the whole business atmosphere is a refreshing take on an otherwise tired genre.

The Perks of Business Ownership

Business Tycoon Online makes it a breeze for new players to get started. Account registration only requires an email address and a password. Email verification is not required nor even asked for. Your new account will work with all future Devo Game releases as well though the only other one currently listed is Superstar Online. After logging in and launching the game, players will be asked to enter their desired username and chose from four available industries. Each industry has a different selection of stores and businesses grouped with it. Hotels and restaurants fall under the Catering Industry while the Entertainment industry covers clubs, arcades and casinos. Each industry also provides business owners with a special bonus, for example Sales Industry entrepreneurs have a +5% production and raw material supply rate increase. For more details on the four industries, please see the Overview tab. The final step before getting started with Business Tycoon Online is choosing from one of the ten lovely secretaries. Each is described by a different adjective such as ‘sweet’ or ‘dedicated’ and have a unique list of hobbies along with a short intro. Most of these ladies are provocatively dressed and seem to advertise their physical assets more than their business skills. Being the clever businessman I am, I went with the hot blond named Anne wearing a black mini skirt and a similarly revealing black top.

Raising Capital

Like with all new business ventures, the first step in BTO is raising capital. Fortunately, players have the backing of an angel investor named Michael who, for a small percentage of ownership in the business, provides players with a healthy cash sum of 50k TCN which serves as the primary currency in Business Tycoon Online. A premium currency called gold and ‘gratis gold’ are also part of the game and can often be used to purchase powerful items or more useful (and faster) upgrades. Besides cash, the angel investor also provides new players with quests. The first few quests ask new players to open their first store, hire an employee, stock their store with goods, and so on. These quests double as the game’s tutorial and are well worth doing. Not only do they explain the game’s basics, but also provide rewards upon completion. These rewards include TCN, gold, and even ability points which can be used to increase three stats: Strategy, Wisdom, and Leadership.
Welcome to Liberty City

BTO is based in Liberty City (not to be confused with the city from Grand Theft Auto 3) and almost all activities players perform will take place there. There are some foreign locations players can visit with their friends on tour but these vacations are quite expensive though they do grant experience and attribute points. Liberty City it self is broken down into six zones which include the Central Zone, Industrial Zone, Downtown Zone, Residential Zone, Commercial Zone, and Tourism Zone. Besides these areas which are displayed prominetly when the ‘City’ tab is selected, players can use the right sidebar to navigate to several other locations. The mayor’s building displays the currency mayor and tax rate, the car dealership has many vehicles for sale including bikes, motorcycles, private planes, and yes even cars. Vehicles reduce the recharge time and duration of routines, making your character more efficient. One of the more important locations in Liberty City for new players is the Welfare Center which provides daily packages for beginners. Additionally, players receive several items just for being logged in for 5 or 10 minutes which helps things progress much faster.

Week Days are Work Days
As with most browser games of this nature, Business Tycoon Online was developed to be played in short bursts throughout the day. Opening new stores, hiring additional employees, upgrading those stores and employees and keep your stores well stocked are all tasks that must be continuously repeated. How long each takes to complete and their cool down vary so its best to keep the game running on a separate tab. Besides managing the business end of things, players will have to perform routine tasks such as reading the newspaper or reaching out to the local media to increase their sales. There are four media outlets including TV, radio, newspapers, and internet though each has the same two options. Players can even assign tasks to their secretary such as serving coffee or fetching newspaper. Your secretary’s tasks generally increase the rewards associated with performing routine tasks.  The light brown background color and interface give the game a nice feel and there’s much more complexity in BTO than most strategy games that pop up. Fortunately, it is organized rather well and the game does a good job easing players into it. There are only two major problems with the game and the first is only cosmetic.

In Engrish Please

Since this is a Chinese game, it won’t come as much of a surprise to most veteran gamers that the English translations are a bit off. ‘Engrish’ may be only a minor annoyance to foreign players but native English speakers will find some of text confusing, or more likely, hilarious. The poor translations are twice as troublesome in Business Tycoon Online as other browser games because of the professional / business like atmosphere it tries to establish. The game seems to forget gender when it  comes to employees, females will have male names and be referred to as ‘he’ and word usage throughout is just plain jumbled. Players who have experience with browser MMOs won’t have much trouble bypassing most of the writing but Business Tycoon Online doesn’t make it easy for new comers. UnlikeEvony, there is a lot to handle in BTO so easier to understand text should definitely be a priority. Luckily, this is a problem that can easily be fixed with future updates, the other major problem is a bit more difficult to handle.

Wealth Has its Rewards

As a free to play game, Business Tycoon Online allows anyone, anywhere to jump right in and enjoy the game. Predictably, this is not an act of charity but a well rehearsed business model. New players start with VIP access already granted for a limited time but after several days of play will find themselves having to purchase a VIP card with gold to maintain the benefits they enjoyed. VIP access grants a 25% revenue bonus, allows players to start guilds, and mass purchase goods. Many other items such as powerful vehicles and special contracts (which allow the hiring of talented employees) are also priced in gold. While most required tasks such as training employees cost TCN, a premium option is generally available which is faster and more potent. Players start with a respectable sum of gold, about 1000, and are free to experiment with these premium goods and services but may become reliant on them. When the freebies stop, player will have to start dishing out real cash to stay competitive. Speaking of competitive, browser games are known for their open PvP elements and Business Tycoon Online is no exception. Rather than hiring soldiers to defend or raid as in Travian, players in BTO can launch pricing plans which lower their opponents revenue or hire guards to protect their own stores from similar attacks. Besides the odd grammar and slight balance issues with premium items, BTO is a great browser game well worth checking out for fans of the genre who have grown tired with the same old offering being continuously repackaged.

Final Verdict: Good
Business Tycoon Online is a breath of fresh air for the browser based sim genre. BTO allows players to run their own business and control many different facets of their trade. Whether its hiring and managing employees, opening new stores and factories, or trying to get a seat in the local government, Business Tycoon Online makes for a compelling browser gaming experience.

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Mythos Review

Mythos Review

By Ange Perdu

Mythos Europe is a 3D MMORPG where players step into the shoes of an ambitious adventurer in the mystical world of Uld. Prove your worthiness and create a name for your character by completing various quests. Destroy menacing supernatural forces. Kill zombies, skeletons, goblins, and gigantic reptiles. Explore complicated maze-like dungeons to find treasure chests and unravel the secrets of the legends. Fight other players in PvP battles or join a party to wage war together. Master unique skills and tap into the elements for additional power. Collect rare materials to craft your own weaponry. Become a hero for a land in despair.

Quest of a True Adventurer, the Gameplay

Most of the gameplay involves completing quests and exploring dungeons. There are plenty of quests to accomplish. Mythos Europe has a nice variety of tasks for adventurers to tackle. Missions can vary from delivering urgent messages to NPCs to killing monsters terrorizing townsfolk. Go to guards in another area and report recent attacks. Defeat beasts lurking in Shaman’s Cave. Search under rocks for magical dust powder. Find cooper material nearby and forge a hammer. Players usually end up battling roaming monsters in combat. Much like Dynasty Warriors Online there’s plenty of fast-paced action. The wildlife creatures and monsters are extremely hostile in Uld. Fight giant bears, tigers, snakes, flying eagles, lizards, spiders, and an assortment of critters gone mad. As players go further into the land they’ll face more difficult species like Rock Tongues and Boulder Giants. The hack n’ slash combat is intense. Users have to click repeatedly to initiate blows. Nothing gets passed these beasts. As soon as a hero is spotted they immediately attack. In a matter of seconds players are besieged by hordes of monsters. It can be annoying when you’re in the middle of receiving a quest at a NPC and a pack of angry wolves attack.

Skills & Dungeon Grinding

During combat heroes can execute various skills depending on their chosen class. Each class has three specialized skill trees that players can master through leveling up and distributing points. Master the Piercing Flurry, Minotaur Stomp, Blade Breaker, or Foe Reaper. As characters move down their trees they can master skills with higher levels of damage. There are some cool moves like the Razor Aura that causes enemies to bleed within an eight meter radius. In Mythos Europe adventurers also explore dozens of dungeons in the form of massive caves, mysterious cellars, and abandoned sanctuaries. Some quests require heroes to clear dungeons in certain locations. In these zones treasure chests containing important items or potions are held. There are various floors and hundreds of monsters waiting to strike. The grinding is relentless. Players have to slay Decrepit Ones, Skeleton Warriors, Imp Kings, and an assortment of bosses to clear the area. The large complicated maze-like formation of many of the dungeons makes the gameplay challenging.

Crafting Mayhem

Players acquire most of their equipment from monster drops, mission rewards, and crafting items. Adventurers often have to complete crafting missions which consist of breaking down items with a hammer into usable materials that can later be forged into a new item or as an upgrade for a weapon. Sometimes players have to search distant forests, plains, deserts, and caves for materials to help create potions or tools. The game features a nicely integrated Achievement system which rewards players automatically with a boost in a particular attribute. It’s a great way to enhance characters and keep busy in between missions. Achievements are divided into categories and different locales. Earn PvP, collections, hunting, or object destruction trophies. At any time during the game heroes can click on another player to initiate a PvP battle. Up to five players can form a party to fight together.

Lewyn the Bargain Hunter

There are NPC shops stationed throughout different villages. Players can buy or sell unwanted items. Every weapon and accessory requires a hero to be a certain class, level, or possess a specific attribute in order to wear. The selection in most of the shops is limited. Only a dozen or so items are available. Buy Forest Bows, Stale Hammers, Large Axes, Smithwrought Staff, Scimitar, Greywood Staff, Spiked Club, Scythe, Flourished mace, Halberd, Saber Sword, Springprod Crossbow, or a Boar sticker to bash foes. All of the armor and outfits look the same. Wear tattered breeches, Adventure’s Trousers, slippers, Sharpshooter’s Shoulder Armor, standard leather pants, helm, belts, Adept’s Circlet, Mage gloves, Smuggler’s Trench coat, Brigand’s Drape, or a Soldier’s Cape. Common tools such as enchanted rings, necklaces, and health potions can also be purchased.

In the official game shop users are able to buy a small selection of acceleration items and the infamous immediate revival. Unlike the NPC shops these gems require real cash in order to purchase. Players are automatically transported to the starting portal of the last village they entered before their unfortunate demise if they don’t possess a revival token. Heroes willing to spend money receive the luxury of merchant summoning stones to make any NPC shop magically appear regardless of their location and the option not to trek back through towns while monster killing.

Final Verdict: Good

Mythos Europe is a solid hack n’ slash MMO with a few unique twists. It plays similar to standard RPGs but mixes up the combat. The entire game is relatively fast paced. Beasts will sprint towards adventurers and attack in hordes. Players get to explore a massive virtual world filled with challenging dungeons and Ancient Warriors to battle. Accomplish countless quests. Master skills based on your character’s class. Face off in intense PvP matches or conquer with a party of friends. Despite the extra security procedures and limited NPC shops Mythos Europe has a lot to offer. If you enjoy games such as Diablo or Dynasty Warriors Online this hack n’ slash might be worth trying.

Eden Eternal review

By Ange Perdu

Eden Eternal is a 3D anime style fantasy MMORPG set on a war torn continent where players become mysterious beings with incredible magical powers. Heroes serve as Eternal Guardians fighting the evil consuming the once peaceful world. Complete challenging quests and explore while slowly discovering the true origin of the race that emerged from the blue crystals. Kill beasts lurking around local villages or battle other players in fierce duels. Conquer dungeons with friends. Slay hundreds of monsters and bosses. Players can use any weapon, spell, or combative move of their choice by unlocking all 15 distinct classes and swapping freely. Find a sweetheart or summon pets to assist in combat.

Becoming an Eternal Guardian, the Gameplay

Hero

es or Eternal Guardians begin their adventure in a local village near Limestone Mountain. Most of the gameplay involves completing quests and fighting monsters. Similar to other MMOs like Grand Fantasia the storyline is somewhat generic. Quests are given by NPCs scattered throughout the towns. The tasks vary from battling troublesome Mushroids to relying messages back and forth to commanding officers. Many of the missions consist of some form of combat. Collecting raw gemstones might require destroying intimidating Limestone Golems in the process. To accomplish a specific task a particular item may be required. A hammer must be used while fighting certain beasts to gather materials. Blowing a whistle will summon dangerous boss creatures to wage war with. The duties of an Eternal Guardian are endless. Kill hordes of Forest Imps, defeat Rainbow Angelly swarms, eliminate Eagle Gang Assassins, or sneak into a bandits’ secret camp to destroy their supplies. Some quests are repeatable and aid in leveling. XP, coins, rare items, and occasionally fame or an achievement title is earned by completing quests. Players maneuver through the zones of Eden using their mouse, WASD keys, or the convenient auto-run feature by clicking on go from the quest log. Combat is fast-paced and surprisingly fun. Once initiated heroes use a mixture of physical and magical moves to conquer their opponent. Perform the Lightning Web, Fire Bomb, Perforation, Tornado, or Combat Cyclone. Depending on character’s class and skill set there’s a variety of mesmerizing spells that can be executed.

Warriors to Warlocks

Eden Eternal features a very unique class system. All players start out as warrior or mage with one heroic trait of their choice. There are 15 different unlockable classes with their own set of cool animated skills. The two meters at the bottom of the screen monitor experience. The first one gauges character XP while the second records class experience which is primarily gained through combat. Since class experience accumulates much faster players usually benefit by changing their hero from warrior to thief and so on. As a hero levels up new classes are unlocked. At any time except during combat Eternal Guardians can switch their current class. The requirements vary depending on a character’s level and their previous or related class level reached. Although there are just a handful of skills per class players have the ability to alternate freely between them. In most games users are limited to the battle skills in their specific class. It only takes a quick click on the transform button to change a class. The process of leveling up each class’s skills individually is relatively easy but involves a lot of grinding. Killing monsters, repeating quests, and clearing dungeons are necessary for a diverse hero. Players will have to devote a significant amount of time into building up their character. This option makes the game rather addicting. Class talents allow gamers who prefer one particular class over another to master it. Knowledge points are rewarded each time a character gain’s a level in their class. These points are used towards specialized talents in the skill window. Continually improve talents to become the most powerful Bard or Shaman around.

Battle Dogs & Sweethearts

Eternal Guardians do not have to face evil alone. There is a pet companion option that permits heroes to add a Battle Dog in the form of an adorable Pug or massive Tiger. Pets can be trained to heal, attack, or perform tricks once a character reaches level 25. The Soulmate feature allows players to form a relationship and become sweethearts. Unlike other MMOs in this virtual world same-sex soul mates is legal. Players can be sweethearts with guys or girls regardless of their character’s gender. It’s also free to initiate dating status another cool aspect rarely seen. Couples receive lovers skills for the duration they’re together. These skills vary like the Soulmate Instant Heal and give players an advantage during battles or difficult dungeon quests. Lovers can send each other special gifts, messages, and accumulate achievement points. The guild customization feature is also very impressive. Guild members can join their resources to construct their own town in Eden Eternal. Each town can have up to five established crafting structures. Set up farms, mines, altars, alchemy labs, foundries, and a magic pool. Build a monument in the town square. The polished anime-style graphics is similar to Kitsu Saga. There are breathtakingly beautiful backdrops and waterfalls. Guilds are able to create their own hangout spot within the game. Players can set up shops in their Guild Town to sell items to non-members as well.

Travelling Merchants

Items and accessories can be purchased at Merchant Shops or in the Item Mall. The weapons selection is decent. Purchase the Special Broadsword, Equilibrium Staff, Red Copper Bow, Scout Light Shield, Shell-Splitter Axe, Silver Scout Dagger, Versatile Mace, Highland Bow, Knight’s Shield, and the coveted Spell Wand. Weapons sold at shops are usable by all classes. Buy Tiger Fighter Tunics, Water Spirit Robes, Thorn Flower Hats, Gleam Vestments, Defender Helmets, and Sprinter Brigandine. Most of the armor is dull giving Eternal Guardians the same appearance. There are no outfits or costumes that stand out. Players do have the option of using dyes to add color to their apparel. Dyes are available in sage, orange, dark grey, yellow, eggplant, coral, pale blue, and lavender. Mixing color palettes can be amusing for a second or two but it doesn’t make up for the lack of garbs in the Merchant Shops. In the Item Mall gamers willing to spend real money can purchase rare pets and hard to acquire trinkets. The Razorback, little Labrador, and Shorthair Cat are available as companions. Adventure threads, Kimono, Eden Spectacles, the Legacy Bow, boosts, and more powerful health tonics are on sale. There’s also a cool Holy Seraph’s Wings that gives heroes an angelic appearance in the mall.

Final Verdict: Great

Comparable to other X-Legend titles like Grand Fantasia and Kitsu Saga there’s a nice variety innovative features that adds to its appeal. Eden Eternal is a fun and addicting game. Instantly transform into another class. Become a Ranger, Illusionist, Knight, Martial Artist, and more. Wage war with an assortment of monsters, clear out dungeons, and duel other heroes. Complete challenging quests in a party, with pet companion, or your sweetheart. If you’re one of those players that have a hard time choosing a class than Eden Eternal is definitely worth checking out. From its unique class system to the impressive Guild Town feature this game has a lot to offer MMO fans.

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Prius Online review

Prius Online is a 3D fantasy anime themed MMORPG where players enter a tormented world cursed by a vengeful God. As a reliable warrior suffering from amnesia users must embark on a dangerous mission to reclaim their memory and reputation as a hero. A young girl called Anima joins the journey. Forming a strong bond with her and a giant named Gigas players create a powerful team. Complete challenging quests aiding the destruction of evil in the land and unlock the mystery behind recent unexplainable events. Battle other players in the Coliseum to earn respect or participate in guild championships. The game features an in-depth storyline reminiscent of today’s popular anime series with an integrated three character development system.

Journey of a Warrior, the Gameplay

Players start out as warrior with a slight case of amnesia. Various cinematic cut scenes starring a user’s character plays on cue while progressing through the storyline. Most of the gameplay involves completing quests. There are three core types consisting of mission, story, and Anima tasks. A hero may have to deliver a package to a Battalion Officer stationed at a Desert Post or investigate an area. Many of the objectives require Adventors to slay creatures. Eradicate Ghost Owls, conquer the Greysnake Shamans, and eliminate the gigantic Muscle Rabbits. Lifs the in-game currency, rare items, and experience are usually awarded for completing missions. Although there are hundreds of monsters to slay grinding provide only small amounts of XP. Questing which often involves fighting is crucial for leveling. Similar to Divine Souls there’s a lot of different skills that can be mastered. The sleek interface allows users to quickly invest points into skill trees. Perform the Black Tear, Blood Pull, Seeing Red, Carnage, Infectious Presence, Grizzly Retort, Aketer’s Hand, or Dark Unification. The animations for each move are impressive. Most of the combat is automated turn based. Players click on the combative or magical skill they wish to execute during a battle. The tiny mini- map displayed in the corner of the screen notifies players of potential threats, their current location, and mission destination. The never-ending mountainous areas, deserts, woodlands, and swamps make for an arduous expedition. Some quests require players to find hidden realms or NPCs surrounded by fierce beasts. The gameplay is very challenging. Players have to perfect their navigation, fighting skills, and a bit of strategy to advance.

The Mysterious Anima & Her Giant

At level 10 players will receive a quest that introduces Anima. Once completed the mysterious girl joins the adventure as a companion. She can level up and earn skill points as well. Players must bond with her emotionally through communication. The selected characteristics of your Anima determine her personality. Whether active or dependent it’s up to you. The constant chatter of Anima was a bit annoying especially during difficult quests. They serve as supportive characters similar to the pet Pran system in Aika Online. Skills like the Dazzle stuns targets for 3 seconds and the Expose reduces an enemy’s defense by 10%. Giga is the third character in the game. Gigas are giant beasts devoted to Anima. They can be summoned to assist in battle against challenging bosses. Giga is also controlled by players. When heroes reach level 54 they can enter the Coliseum for PvP combat. Although, throughout the world of Prius players are able to initiate a duel with another random player there is a penalty for PK if performed too often. There’s a bounty system that allows users to list annoying players for a hit. In the Coliseum 4 or more players can wage war. Guild battles can also take place with 10 to 40 warriors per team. Most of the PvP features are designed for veteran players. There’s also a cool emotion display feature that allows a player’s character to perform an action like flirting, smiling, clapping, crying, or blowing a kiss. It adds a Sims-like appeal to the game.

Crystal Cave to Swamp of Death

Traveling can be a nuisance in the game. Players usually have to trek across vast terrains in search of special realms or dungeon entrances. It can take forever to get from point A to B and back. Fortunately for heroes with enough lif or coins they can travel in a mechanical vehicle called the Celero. These units allow players automatic teleportation to certain locations. Once activated the device drives itself to your desired destination. The only thing a player has to do is relax and enjoy the scenery. This feature makes moving fast and comfortable. Celero Stations are scattered throughout different territories. When a player stumbles upon one they can simply click and pick their route via a map displaying various locations available. The process is not very expensive. Each trip is only 10 lifs. Riding the Celero is a fun option that definitely beats walking which is often a hassle. Many of the missions require players to find distant NPC or caves. It’s easy to get lost or killed while traveling. There are dozens of massive dungeons like the Crystal Cave, Vicious Mansion, Tomb of Hero, and treacherous Venom Ground. Prius also features an ingenious donation program. At the Donation Manager NPC a warrior can donate their lifs or coins to those in need. They are delivered to other Adventors in the continent with the donator’s name on it. All generous donators are given a reward for their good deed. Random players automatically receive the donation when they’ve reached an achievement in their journal. It’s an excellent feature for maintaining an even playing field in terms of items and weaponry.

In the Merchant Shops

Depending on hero’s class or level a variety of armor and accessories can be purchased using lifs in one of the merchant shops. The shop selection is relatively small. Many of the items are somewhat generic making it difficult to customize a character to stand out. Buy breast armor, pants, gauntlet, shirts, trousers, boots, belts, fans, shoulder straps, tights, and wrist protectors. Items are made out of snake skin, luxurious sheep skin, or leather. In the Accessory Boutique jade pendants, bronze necklaces, pearl studs, gold rings, and silver earrings that boost stats in battle are available. Special Coliseum items that possess the ability to increase attack and defense stats during battles are sold in shops too. Warriors can prepare for combat with Heroic grade clothing and armor. Invest in the Aus Raven’s Battle Knuckles, Dark Raven Suit, or Dual Sword. Weapons much like the rest of the items in Prius could be better. The lack of variety is disappointing. Each class has a set of standard weapons. Equip character’s with the Legionnaire’s Sword, Knight’s Rapier, Wind Raven’s Lute, Occultist’s Staff, Wanderer’s Dagger, Cheap
Traveler’s Bow, Gunslinger’s Pistol, or Veteran’s Rifle. There’s also an Auction House where players can sell unwanted items to others. Bid on Noble Tuner’s Clothes, Unusual juggernauts Pants, Ranger’s Ankle band, Torturer’s Bloodstone, various potions, and cooking ingredients.

Final Verdict: Great

The three character system, anime style graphics, and engrossing storyline give gamers on a one-of-a-kind adventure. In Prius Online players become a hero on a mission to save the world from evil. Enter a unique enchanted land filled with mysterious secrets and creatures. Tackle challenging quests accompanied by mysterious Anima and her giant Gigas. Explore various realms and dungeons. Battle other warriors in the Coliseum or duel rivals on your own turf. Players who enjoy games like Aika Online or Divine Souls will enjoy this polished fantasy themed MMORPG as well. This game is addictive and loads of fun.

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