Immortal Empire
Score: 88% ESRB: Not Rated Publisher: Tactic Studios Developer: Tactic Studios Media: Internet Browser/1 Players: 1 Genre: Turn-Based Strategy/ RPG
Graphics & Sound: I normally don't go for browser-based games. In fact, I try to avoid them as much as I can. It's not that I have anything against them, but they typically can't hold my attention for more than a few seconds. But, when it comes to browser-based games, Immortal Empire is a horse of a different color. Initially, Immortal Empire doesn't offer much in the way of visuals. Truthfully, everything about the game looks like it would be more at home in the 1990's than the "modern era" of gaming, but in the end, that's what I liked about it. I'm as big of a fan of ultra high-end visuals as the next guy, but Immortal Empire offers a visual simplicity that just works for the style of play. Characters and enemies have a special sort of stylistic personality that is sort of a lost art this generation. It won't impress your friends, but at the same time, I've had more people ask what I was playing than any other game, so there's something that's grabbing people's attention. Sound is, in a matter of speaking, optional. When you first begin, you're treated to a few grunts, weapon sounds and the occasional cheesy one-liner from your character. A quick trip to the Options menu brings up the option to flip on music. After a quick download, you're treated to a fitting, though somewhat forgettable soundtrack. Not that it's particularly bad, I just found myself opting for something from iTunes while playing.
Gameplay: Immortal Empire is a tricky game. The initial impression and what it really is are two entirely different things. Look at it once, and you'll think it's a Diablo-styled RPG. Play it once, and you'll understand it's actually a strategy RPG that just so happens to look like Diablo. Make that a turn-based version of Diablo. When you first start Immortal Empire, you're able to create one immortal to act as your primary character throughout your adventure. As you level, you can add new party members (up to 5). The game offers a healthy number of classes to choose from, including Paladins, Mages, Priests and even a few off the beaten path classes like Valkyrie and Treant. The catch is you're limited in how many classes you can choose from based on how much you're willing to pay. Immortal Empire is a free-to-play game, though you're limited in how many classes you can choose from. If you're willing to pay $10 (and really, you should), you're given access to the full lineup of classes as well as a few other goodies. Gameplay is incredibly straightforward. An NPC offers a quest. You jump to a portal, kill a few enemies and jump back to the NPC for a reward. It's simple, but effective and, when combined with the combat mechanics, a lot of fun. That is, if you're into strategy RPGs. Immortal Empire has the potential to grab the interest of non-SRPG players, but the initial impression and follow-through might turn off players expecting a faster-paced, action-oriented game. It's certainly faster than most games in the genre, but as you add party members, traveling around maps can drag. Maps are usually small, but walking five characters through the map one-by-one can become tedious. Multiplayer options are also available, though I really didn't get much of a chance to check out the PvP and co-op optons. Call it bad timing or a current lack of players. As I continue to play, I expect more opportunities to crop up, so look for an update in the near future.
Difficulty: Turn-based tedium aside (and really, it isn't that bad), Immortal Empire offers a nice, gradual pacing. Your first few missions are easy, but eventually ramp up as you add new party members and earn better gear. I never felt overwhelmed and the times I did die were usually a result of strategic negligence on my part, not an issue with the game. You're even eased into party management, which is fantastic. The biggest obstacle was getting used to managing my party. Moving multiple members around the map requires some forethought, especially since you're dealing with Fog of War. It's easy to create choke points by moving party members into positions that block off entry and exit routes. It's really more about figuring out how much you want to move and getting the most out of your limited action time.
Game Mechanics: Nearly all... okay, all of Immortal Empire's mechanics are based around a yellow timer bar. Each action -- whether you're casing a spell, moving or attacking - depletes a bit of your action timer. Performing actions is as easy as a right mouse button click, but there's much more to it. You have to consider how your opponents will move and if there's a chance to perform tactics like taking a few swings then running away, forcing enemies to deplete their action points just to get close enough to attack. As you add party members, your pool of available tactics will also grow. Immortal Empire is a simple game, but there's a surprising amount of depth once you start to dig down into the core gameplay. Again, gameplay is turn-based, but still reasonably fast. You can only go through so many actions per turn and enemies move really fast. At times, it also feels like a Roguelike. In fact, I thought it was during my first few minutes of gameplay. Even with a full party, I was typically able to get through whole maps in under ten minutes, which is really good for an SRPG. Immortal Empire is somewhat slow, but worth it. I can honestly say I've had a lot of fun playing and intend to keep playing long after this review is posted. It's an odd thing to say, but considering the number of options I get a month for multiplayer games, it's a big deal, especially given my tendency to ignore browser-based games. Immortal Empire isn't going to appeal to everyone, but it's free so there's no harm in giving it a try. All Immortal Empire really needs is time and a player-base, so look for a follow-up in the near future.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Minimum System Requirements: Pentium II with 450 Mhz; 128mb RAM; 1024x768 screen resolution; Java version 1.5; Internet Connection   Test System: Windows 7; 1.5 GHz Dual-Core processor; 2 Gig RAM; 120 GB HDD; GeForce 8600 GT; Broadband Internet
Related Links: Immortal Empire Site - Play For Free
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