level design Archives

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

The First Berserker: Khazan

The First Berserker: Khazan is a hardcore action RPG that has received critical acclaim for its intense combat and immersive gameplay. It achieved a perfect score of 100 from screenrant.com, which praised its exceptional gaming experience despite some desires for more weapon types and an open-world environment. Noisypixel.net rated it 90, highlighting thrilling boss fights and diverse level design, while acknowledging weaknesses in narrative depth. Gamingtrend.com and pcmag.com both scored it 80, commending the combat systems and anime aesthetics but noting storytelling and level design shortcomings. Rockpapershotgun.com offered a more critical perspective, describing the plot and level design as uninspiring but recognizing the satisfying combat and challenging boss encounters.

AppWizard

March 31, 2025

At one point, Avowed would have taught us to use magic with an explosive Elder Scrolls reference: ‘How about we just have a guy on the road that blows himself up’

Berto Ritger, the regional director of Obsidian, discussed the early development of Avowed, noting that the initial starting point on the docks of Dawnshore was too linear and did not effectively immerse players in the world or its combat mechanics. The tutorialization of gameplay elements was not engaging enough. A humorous reference to the Elder Scrolls character Tarhiel, who fails at using the spell "Icarian Flight," was considered for the game, serving as an introduction to the nature of magic. However, playtesting revealed that both the original opening sequence and the chaotic nature of the pyromancer's spell could lead to players missing essential tutorials. This highlighted the need for a more structured beginning in open-world game design.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

Painkiller is back, and maybe they’ll finally get it right this time

A new installment in the Painkiller series, developed by Anshar Studios and published by 3D Realms, was announced during the Future Games Show Spring Showcase. The original Painkiller, released in 2004 by People Can Fly, is recognized as a classic first-person shooter known for its level design, weaponry, and heavy metal soundtracks. The new game will feature four distinct characters with unique abilities, a collectible system with Tarot cards, and reimagined enemies, while retaining classic weapons like the Painkiller. The game is set to launch in the fall and is currently available for wishlisting on Steam.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

You know the drill: Avowed’s default waypoint and UI settings are way too handholdy, so you should change them ASAP

Avowed allows players to customize their gameplay experience through an extensive settings and accessibility menu. Key modifications made include switching the quest tracker mode to "Show on Update," turning off objective markers, and disabling interaction icons. These changes enhanced immersion by reducing intrusive prompts and allowing for more organic exploration. The game includes a compass for active quest objectives, which can also be disabled for a more challenging experience. The UI and navigation options in Avowed blend old-school challenge with modern convenience, catering to different player preferences.

BetaBeacon

February 19, 2025

15 best free Android games with no in app purchases

- AI Factory Limited offers a variety of simple free Android games with no in-app purchases - Alto's Odyssey and Alto's Adventure are free mobile games with in-app purchases that are purely cosmetic - Antiyoy is a turn-based strategy game with simple graphics and rules, featuring multiplayer and no ads or in-app purchases - Crossy Road is a popular free game with in-app purchases that are purely cosmetic - Papers, Please is a simulation game with no in-app purchases available for .99 - Doom and Destiny Advanced is a free JRPG with ads and some limitations, but contains the entire base game - OpenTTD is an open-source version of Transport Tycoon with no in-app purchases - Pathos is a retro roguelike adventure game with no in-app purchases - Pocket City is a city-building simulation game available for .99 with a premium version - Resonance of the Ocean is a short game with no complexity and no in-app purchases - Stardew Valley is a must-play RPG available for .99 without ads or microtransactions - The Spike is a volleyball game sim with optional in-app purchases - Vampire Survivors is a survival RPG with minimal gameplay and optional in-app purchases - Into the Breach is a challenging puzzle/roguelike game available on Netflix Games with no ads or in-app purchases - Vodobanka is a puzzle game where you command a SWAT team with no microtransactions, but a purchase is required after the demo version

BetaBeacon

February 3, 2025

Top 10 mobile games like Dark Souls

Animus - Stand Alone is an RPG and action game being developed by TENBIRDS. The game is set in a dark and spooky world where the player's goal is to escape dangerous locations by defeating groups of enemies and bosses. The game features highly detailed 3D models, monsters, and cool effects. The character in the game has the ability to heal, block hits, move sharply, and combine two types of attacks.

BetaBeacon

December 27, 2024

Top 25 best tower defence games for Android phones and tablets

Kingdom Rush is a tower defense game available on iOS and Android, considered the pinnacle of the genre with tight unit balance, intuitive controls, inventive level design, and a comic book aesthetic.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

Best FPS 2024: STRAFTAT

STRAFTAT is a first-person shooter game that features frenetic 1v1 battles, reminiscent of classic arcade-style duels. The gameplay is hypercompetitive, with a mantra of "two players enter, one player leaves," and includes a variety of whimsical level designs, such as navigating mazes or sliding down icy slopes. The game incorporates satisfying weapon mechanics and a quirky art style, creating a unique atmosphere that balances absurdity with skillful gameplay. It offers over 70 diverse maps, fostering a social environment akin to a modern LAN party. The game's slapstick humor and chaotic moments enhance the experience, although the competitive nature may pose a challenge for new players. STRAFTAT emphasizes immediate fun over traditional progression systems, appealing to both nostalgic fans and new players in the FPS genre.

AppWizard

December 13, 2024

Elden Ring: Nightreign hands-on: 6 hours with FromSoftware’s wild new co-op roguelike action RPG remix

FromSoftware's new title, Elden Ring: Nightreign, is set to be announced at The Game Awards and follows the success of Elden Ring, which sold over 25 million copies. The game resembles a modded version of its predecessor, acknowledging the modding community. Director Junya Ishizaki states that Nightreign aims to provide a complete gaming experience at launch without adopting a live service model, allowing players to unlock everything without ongoing content updates. Nightreign will not include player-versus-player elements, focusing instead on cooperative gameplay. Players will engage in runs that yield relics to enhance attributes, and the game introduces preset "heroes" with unique abilities, replacing character creation. Each character has two unique skills that influence gameplay, and the game features mechanics reminiscent of roguelikes and hero shooters. The map is designed as a dynamic dungeon with procedural elements, allowing players to select bosses and strategize. However, concerns exist regarding the map's longevity and potential repetitive traversal. Ishizaki suggests that large-scale environmental changes and meta progression could enhance the game's depth, while the current build may feel underdeveloped in some areas.

AppWizard

December 12, 2024

Can’t wait for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2? Sink your teeth into the prequel mod instead

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has faced numerous delays and resets, raising concerns about its potential launch state. The original Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines remains popular due to unofficial patches from modder Wesp5. The modding community is actively involved in projects like VTMB Prelude, which explores events leading to the original game. In Prelude II, players take on the role of a human vampire hunter from the Society of Leopold. The first episode featured new levels, dialogue, and boss fights, while the trailer for Prelude II highlights impressive environmental design using Valve's Source Engine. Prelude is developed by modders EntenSchreck, Hareishan, and Wesp5, who contributed to the Unofficial Patch. Prelude II is in Early Access and aims for refinement before the final episode, while anticipation for Bloodlines 2 remains high.