Software:Champions: Return to Arms

From HandWiki
Champions: Return to Arms
Developer(s)Snowblind Studios
Publisher(s)Sony Online Entertainment
Designer(s)Paul Knutzen
Composer(s)Inon Zur
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • NA: February 7, 2005
  • EU: March 18, 2005
Genre(s)Action role-playing, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Champions: Return to Arms is an action role-playing game set in the EverQuest universe. It is the sequel to Champions of Norrath and was developed by Snowblind Studios.

Plot

The story picks up after Innoruuk, the Prince of Hate has been defeated, his essence shattered into the Shards of Hatred and were strewn across the Planes of Power. Within the game story, players have the choice of serving either the forces of Good by destroying the shards to rid the world of Innoruuk, or the legions of Evil gathering the shards to resurrect the fallen god. The paths of Good and Evil travel to the same locations, with variations in mission objectives.

Gameplay

Champions: Return to Arms features multiple character classes, such as wizard, cleric, ranger, and warrior. The game also features an online mode where a player can join up to three other players from around the world. Gameplay consists of killing monsters and completing quests to earn experience, in a traditional hack-and-slash style. When the character attains enough experience, he or she gains a level.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic77/100[1]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge6/10[2]
EGM6.83/10[3]
Game Informer8/10[4]
GameProStarStarStarStarHalf star[5]
GameRevolutionC+[6]
GameSpot7.8/10[7]
GameSpyStarStarStarHalf star[8]
GameZone8/10[9]
IGN7.6/10[10]
OPM (US)StarStarStarStarHalf star[11]
Detroit Free PressStarStar[12]
The TimesStarStarStarStar[13]

The game received "favorable" reviews, though not as much as Champions of Norrath, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[1]

The Times' reviewer gave the game four stars out of five and said that despite his character was killed several times by its opponents, it did not stop him to play more.[13] Maxim gave it a score of eight out of ten, praising the solo campaign, combat system, rich selection of weapons and equipment, two new characters (the fighting furry Vah Shir and the lizardman Iksar), and multiplayer mode.[1] In contrast, Detroit Free Press gave it two stars out of four, criticizing the plot as "paper-thin", the gameplay as "basic" and that the game offers nothing new compared to other similar titles.[12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Champions: Return to Arms for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/champions-return-to-arms/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
  2. ↑ Edge staff (April 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms". Edge (148): 105. 
  3. ↑ EGM staff (March 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms". Electronic Gaming Monthly (189): 123. 
  4. ↑ "Champions: Return to Arms". Game Informer (143): 124. March 2005. 
  5. ↑ Vicious Sid (March 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro: 90. Archived from the original on March 5, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050305040055/http://gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/42583.shtml. Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
  6. ↑ Silverman, Ben (February 11, 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms Review". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/champions-return-to-arms. Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
  7. ↑ Davis, Ryan (February 8, 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/champions-return-to-arms-review/1900-6118207/. Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
  8. ↑ Nutt, Christian (February 3, 2005). "GameSpy: Champions: Return to Arms". GameSpy. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/champions-of-norrath-realms-of-everquest-ii/585072p1.html. Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
  9. ↑ Sandoval, Angelina (February 13, 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 28, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081228083216/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23982.htm. Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
  10. ↑ Lewis, Ed (February 4, 2005). "Champions: Return to Arms". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/02/05/champions-return-to-arms. Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
  11. ↑ "Champions: Return to Arms". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 98. March 2005. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "RECENT VIDEO GAME RELEASES". Detroit Free Press. February 20, 2005. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/doc/436542657.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+20%2C+2005&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press&edition=&startpage=&desc=RECENT+VIDEO+GAME+RELEASES. Retrieved February 1, 2016. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Champions: Return to Arms". The Times. April 9, 2005. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/technology/article1861657.ece. Retrieved February 1, 2015. 
  • Short description: Video game database
MobyGames
Logo since March 2014
Screenshot
Frontpage as of April 2012
Type of site
Gaming
Available inEnglish
OwnerAtari SA
Websitemobygames.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedJanuary 30, 1999; 26 years ago (1999-01-30)
Current statusOnline

MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes nearly 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] The site is supported by banner ads and a small number of people paying to become patrons.[2] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It is currently owned by Atari SA.

Content

The database began with games for IBM PC compatibles. After two years, consoles such as the PlayStation, were added. Older console systems were added later. Support for arcade video games was added in January 2014 and mainframe computer games in June 2017.[3]

Edits and submissions go through a leisurely verification process by volunteer "approvers". The approval process can range from immediate (minutes) to gradual (days or months).[4] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copyediting.[5]

Registered users can rate and review any video game. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own subforum.

History

Logo used until March 11, 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999 by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, then joined by David Berk 18 months later, three friends since high school.[6] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience.

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[7] This was announced to the community post factum and a few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.

On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San-Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[8] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel.[9]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[10] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[11][12]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ "MobyGames Stats". https://www.mobygames.com/moby_stats. 
  2. ↑ "MobyGames Patrons". http://www.mobygames.com/info/patrons. 
  3. ↑ "New(ish!) on MobyGames – the Mainframe platform.". Blue Flame Labs. 18 June 2017. http://www.mobygames.com/forums/dga,2/dgb,3/dgm,237200/. 
  4. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  5. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/32856/Report_MobyGames_Acquired_By_GameFly_Media.php. 
  8. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  9. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/207882/Game_dev_database_MobyGames_getting_some_TLC_under_new_owner.php. 
  10. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  11. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site’s Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  12. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 





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