Gods: Lands of Infinity Review

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Gods: Lands of Infinity

Review by KristopheJuly 2006

The team of Cypron Studios is honored to present to you the magical “Gods: Lands of Infinity”, an original and unique mixture of 3D RPG and trade strategy. While following an epic story of unearthly affairs, you can discover the world of Antasion and experience great adventures by completing side quests; helping ordinary people with their troubles; or by interposing yourself into the leading quests for each race or kingdom. This variable concept of the game is complimented with a turn-based battle system, which allows you to fully experience the possibilities of your characters. —Game Manual, page 2

And with that, Stefan Pavelka and the Slovak Republic–based team of Cypron Studios open the reader to the wondrous and enchanted world of Gods: Lands of Infinity in an experience that could well result in the game becoming a sleeper hit in the PC RPG genre for 2006. For a first-time effort, Cypron Studios appears to have just that—the game has a very unique and interesting storyline, one of the finest musical gaming soundtracks, and very fresh graphics and in-game innovations throughout that (no doubt) will surprise and delight both the casual and hard-core gamer alike. That’s not to say this game doesn’t have its faults—it does! So without further ado, let us delve into what makes (and what breaks) this game.

You play throughout the game as the main character, a young heroine named Vivien. Vivien is the avatar of the God of Fire, Arswaargh.  From time to time you will add various and sundry party members to your team. While you will have full control of all party members (at least while they are in your team), essentially you will play as Vivien from start to game’s end.

The game starts out with an introduction to the events that led to Arswaargh sending Vivien to the unknown world of Antasion from her own homeworld of Bellarion, which has been in a constant state of war for centuries. Her mission is to seek out a “counter weapon” to the awesome power wielded by the God of Darkness, Mortagorn, against all of the other gods. Unfortunately, Vivien’s divine essence is shattered during her trip and scattered about, where it is absorbed by the gods of Antasion. Thus, Vivien begins the game as a fragile novice mortal in an unknown world trying to accomplish a most godly task. No problem, right?

Essentially, Vivien begins the game as a fighter, though along the way she can become skilled in alchemy, business (as a trader of goods) and, toward the game’s end, magic. Other than being able to brew potions for mana regeneration or for healing, I didn’t find much use in becoming an overly skilled alchemist—and that was because I wasn’t able to progress very far at leveling up my alchemy skill due to the fact I was unable to find some of the ingredients I needed to advance, and I was able to find only one merchant anywhere who dealt in alchemy goods (and who didn’t have half of what I wanted).

Magic looks interesting enough—unfortunately, by the time Vivien is able to learn it and able to level up proficiently enough, it is too close to game’s end (and too expensive at that point) to bother with (though Vivien does start out with a rudimentary knowledge of both fighting skills and magic). Business (or trading, if you prefer) is a strategy you will learn quickly if you hope to survive in Antasion. This is because, while combat is both frequent and a basic requirement (as in any RPG) for gaining experience, your opponents rarely drop any decent loot or any significant amount of gold. And while buying cheap and selling dearly sounds easy, in the world of Antasion, you really do have to plan your strategy well in order to make a decent profit.

And the constant running around just to try to build up a profit trading goods was one of my gripes about this game. I don’t mind devising a good economic strategy, but it sure would have helped if I didn’t have to spend so much game time involved in financial endeavors—and that’s where defeating tough opponents (and there are some tough ones throughout the game) who aren’t so miserly with their dropping of loot would have really helped out. As it is, about the only way Vivien can accomplish equipping herself with decent weapons and armor, in addition to paying the day-to-day expenses of food and drink and potions to restore health and mana, etc., is to purchase such things from the other merchants in game, which requires money—and that makes it almost mandatory that you engage in shrewd trading.

Travel is fairly easy—you just find a signpost in the area of the game map you are in, click on it, then select your destination on the game map. Combat is all turn-based, very reminiscent of the fighting system used in Lord of the Rings: The Third Age (for those of you who might have played that game). As with everything else, strategy takes precedence throughout this game, and it helps to save, and save often. Need I say more?

One of this game’s strongest points is the outstanding music that Pavel Krychtalek brings into the game—it is beautiful, masterfully composed and conducted, and most definitely sets the mood for whatever you are currently doing in game. Game graphics are another surprise in that they are most definitely of a high quality that is rare for a brand-new game developer. Another of this game’s strong points is the incredible storyline—it is not only believable, but stays faithful throughout the game (though the game’s ending just literally screams “sequel”). Plot twists and surprises abound throughout, so, until you’ve played the game through once, you are in a constant state of “what next”?

Tough but very miserly opponents, coupled with having to spend so much time in “FedEx” mode just to make a profit from trade, are my only real complaints with this game. I did mention that Cypron Studios is a Slovakian developer, and it can be obvious in some of the game’s scripting. This is less apparent in the game’s dialogue, but it is noticeable (not that it detracts from this game at all—or at least not for me). I may have missed a minor gripe or two beyond this—it is rather hard for me to constantly look for problems when I’m having fun. And I did have fun playing Gods: Lands of Infinity—no question about that at all. The End

The Verdict

The Lowdown

Developer: Cypron Studios Publisher: Total Gaming Release Date: July 5, 2006

Available for: Windows

Four Fat Chicks Links

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Screenshots

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System Requirements

750 MHz processor (2 GHz recommended) 256 MB RAM (512 MB recommended) ATI Radeon 8500+ or Nvidia GeForce 4+ (pixel shader compatible) (ATI Radeon 9200+ or Nvidia GeForce 6+ video card recommended) CD/DVD-ROM drive DirectX compatible soundcard Windows 98/ME/2000/XP DirectX 9.c

Where to Find It

Total Gaming

Links provided for informational purposes only.  FFC makes no warranty with regard to any transaction entered into by any party(ies).

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14 Responses to Fear Factor

  • Fear Factor | Tap-Repeatedly.com | Reality Topics Blog

    […] nobody@flickr.com (graftedno1) wrote a very interesting post today.   Here’s a quick excerpt:My greatest fear is to be trapped alone in a confined space with a blind human, in total darkness. They have a heightened sense of smell and hearing, and. […]

  • Matt "Steerpike" Sakey

    Lewis, you made me think of the scariest moments I’ve experienced in gaming, and we’re very similar people.

    Bioshock had two moments – the dentist and the flooded room filled with mannequins.

    Thief had Return to the Cathedral, which was terrifying to me. Thief 3 had Shalebridge Cradle, which is so scary it ought to be fined.

    System Shock 2 kept me on the edge of my seat, but it was more lonely panic than true fear.

    Korsakovia was so scary that I uninstalled it.

    And STALKER. Oh, god, the haunted labs in STALKER. The latter two games don’t have scares like that. Few games do.

    It’s especially rare for a game to have more than mere “moments” – for a game to be scary from beginning to end, that’s a triumph.

    Wonderful article. As if Gregg’s review wasn’t enough to convince me that Penumbra is not something I have the courage to play!

  • DPenn

    I’m with you Lewis … I’m a bit of a puss. I just have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of dread as entertainment.

    Still, I’m drawn to dark stories when they have something interesting to say, whether it’s a game like Thief or a film like, say, Gaspar Noe’s Irreversible. So I’ll push through, sometimes peering through my fingers.

    The trouble with games, though, is that if you look through your fingers, you’re probably just going to have to play through the scenario again. :~)

  • Mike "Scout" Gust

    I wanted to play this game. I downloaded the demo but the controls were just too wonky for me to get my head around. I liked the atmospheric vibe a lot. I think I’m a bit desensitized from an overdose of horror movies in my youth so I don’t so much get the dread thing from these games as a nice creepy vibration. If only the controls were better…

  • Lewis B

    @ Mike, what’s wrong with the controls bud? As someone who despises poor control schemes, Penumbra’s is just like any other FPS, except to examine things you right click on them.  To use things you left click.  I’m not sure that can be considered difficult 🙂

  • Gregg B

    @Steerpike: Yeah my greatest shit-scared moments were with those games too. A few spoilers below people, so beware.

    Bioshock – Haha, I remember the dentist. I didn’t really find the game that scary overall but the bit where you go into the wine cellar and notice a mannequin facing the wall and after upgrading your weapon it’s stood directly behind you motionless and quiet just for a moment before attacking you. I shat a brick. I also missed that bit originally until Lew told me about it.

    System Shock 2 – same as you really, more unremitting tension all the way through rather than specific terrifying moments. Oh actually, theres a bit where you call a lift and it breaks then you realise a service droid is coming to fix it… I do remember having sleep issues after my first encounter with the cyborg ninjas though.

    Thief: The Dark Project – The Sword and Return to the Cathedral and Down in the Bonehoard and well, loads of them. The Sword made me break out into goosebumps though because there was a bit where you could hear this creepy giggling which seemed like it was following me about then it suddenly changed to this horrible throaty noise. What made matters worse was that the EAX (bless you Creative) made my foot steps sound like somebody else was there with me. That level was incredible, a bit too incredible as it seems I missed great chunks of it because I was so eager to leave.

    Thief II: The Metal Age – Trail of Blood where you end up in that opening with those damn tree beasts. God the first time I saw one of those hurtling towards me I actually died shortly afterward. Do you remember that Mechanist child walking around on one of the levels? That was a little creepy.

    Then there’s Penumbra: Overture – quite a few bits but I’m not mentioning them here.

    Oh and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. – The brain scorcher lab just because it was so damn quiet. My imagination seriously got the better of me there. Those stuffed animals and heads I’d seen in various buildings led me to believe that those creatures were lurking somewhere in the Zone, specifically that lab.

    @Mike: My control setup was perfect after some tweaking (as well as the simple weapon swing fix). If you ever fancy giving it another go, give me a shout and I’ll let you know my setup.

  • Lewis B

    I’m not sure why guys, but one of my starting paragraphs had gone missing, even though I copied it straight from the original source, and It was fine earlier. 

    Incase you missed it due to some technical issue you might want to re-read just after “Well no she wouldn’t in truth, but in Penumbra: Overture you don’t want to move anyway.” at the very start for those who’ve already read the article. Apologies 🙂

  • Mike "Scout" Gust

    Lewis, it was the weapon swing. It had this terrible, unresponsive feel to it, like trying to hit through molasses. I couldn’t stand using it. I tried the .ini fix as mentioned in the review but it didn’t seem to help. Of course this was the demo…but that shouldn’t have made any difference. I might try the second game instead as I guess they did away with the weapons thing.

    I’m see your first paragraph just fine. It’s the dialogue, right?

  • jdeuel

    I like the argument that weapons can remove fear, but even loaded to the teeth with ammo in AVP’99 the Marine missions were frightful because the enemy was anywhere at any time.

    As for Penumbra Overture, if the controls are anything like the original Penumbra they need to hack in some Wii-Remote 3d controls. I did not like using my mouse for 3d movements.

  • Gregg B

    @Mike: I’ve read that many people avoided conflict altogether in Overture which incidentally is something forced upon you in Black Plague. As somebody who has been renovating a house over the last 6 months with no DIY experience I can safely say that swinging a hammer is significantly easier in real life than it is in Overture without the fix. The fix balanced that for me.

    I’d highly recommend completing the first Penumbra because it’s one big build up to Black Plague which spoils the ending to Overture in the intro. And it’s a great ending too. Just so you know!

  • Lewis B

    @ Steerpike, those moments you mention are all my worst too!!  Do you remember the Robot labs in SS2? Absolutely terrifying, waiting for robots to burst out on you! 🙁 oh and have you ever player Condemned?

    @ Mike, The use of weapons in Penumbra is different to say HL2, where the player is physically holding the weapon, as in Penumbra it floats slightly infront of you.  However, if you change the control method to normal weapon swing, it’s no different!  Speak to Greggi and he’ll tell you what to do 🙂

    @ jdeuel, AVP the original and its sequal were scary however what type of fear do you think it is? I don’t think it’s anything more than sheer tension.  Having a Smart Gun makes you feel incredibly powerful.  I can honestly say in Penumbra the fear is sheer unrivalled terror, where you actually have to force yourself to play on.  It genuinly is that scary! 🙂

  • Jason Dobry

    It’s so true, an arsenal of weapons and ammo rapidly deflates any sense of horror or uneasiness in any game for reasons you already mentioned. Sakey, I thought Bioshock was more “lonely panic,” while I was pretty much always terrified in System Shock 2. I really, really, REALLY did not want to enter The Many’s nursery, and my weapons were so unreliable and ammo so scarce that I never felt safe.

    Silent Hill was terrifying for the same reasons. Ammo was rare and I frequently had to rely on my pipe for self-defense.  Even when I had ammo, the game mechanics prevented my character from being anything other than marginal with any firearm.

    Fear had one moment for me: I was climbing up a ladder, and as I reached the upper platform, my guy briefly looked down as he climbed off. As my perspective looked up again, that Ring-esque little girl was RIGHT THERE, reaching for me. I screamed and she was gone.

    What else…the original Aliens vs. Predator sent me into a locker room and I could only hear the facehuggers scurrying about somewhere within. I had to go in there. I advanced about three steps before the damn thing screamed and filled up my screen with its repulsive underside as it implanted me with its spawn. My roommate made fun of me for weeks for screaming like a girl child.

    Korsakovia–meh.  I was too annoyed and frustrated by the box rearrangement/jumping puzzles to be scared. I uninstalled it after an hour of play, I think. Maybe the scary parts were later, but I doubt it.

    As for Penumbra, I did play through about half of it before other games distracted me. I remember unease and creepiness, but no sweaty fear. I think I’m to blame here, or, more precisely, my daughter, who was still an infant at the time and generally allowed me only to play during the day for 45 minutes at a time. I was denied total immersion and the fear effect suffered. Maybe I should give it another go after I finish Call of Pripyat since she sleeps through the night now. With any luck, Penumbra will keep me from doing the same.

  • Gregg B

    I played the demo of F.E.A.R. but that ladder scare is the only bit I remember. Christ, that made me jump. I’m not too good with cat scares.

    Also I felt exactly the same about Korsakovia. It was creepy at first but then it began to irritate me far too much and it just soured the experience. I stopped playing as a result. Not to mention, when I realised I could bash those smoke-things with my crowbar they didn’t bother me nearly as much.

  • Online Up

    Great article. I look forward to reading more in the future.

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