Free Game of the Week 5 - Brawlhalla!

March 18, 2016

Beat it up like a rampage in this week's game, Brawlhalla. With no official release date yet Brawlhalla is currently in open beta but is definitely a game to keep your eye out for. Developed by Blue Mammoth Games, Brawlhalla draws its inspiration from the popular Nintendo game, Super Smash Bros. Brawlhalla is a multiplayer 2D platformer fighting game, using cartoon-style graphics.

How Do I Play?

Players select from a list of 21 characters called “legends”. Once selected, players select from 11 different maps or “realms.” After that players are launched into the game and begin to slug it out. Unlike most fighting games, in Brawlhalla you do not have a set amount of life points. The way you play is simple: the more damage you take the easier it is to be knocked off and smacked around. Players have the option of either using their fists or grabbing one of two unique weapons for each legend.

Game Modes

Brawlhalla currently has five game modes to choose from including, Time Battle, Stock Battle, Brawlball, Bombketball and Snowbrawl.

1. Time battle: Players have unlimited lives, and try and get as many kills as possible in a certain amount of time

2. Stock battle: Similar to time battle, but instead players have only a certain amount of lives to use

3. Brawlball: Like football except you you’re encouraged to fight each other and use weapons

4. Bombsketball: Like basketball, players use bouncy bombs to try and score above the opposing team's basket.

5. Snowbrawl: Players receive an unlimited amount of snowballs, and try to hit each other to score points. The player with the most points at the end of an amount of time wins.

Unlike most other games, in Brawlhalla you can play with up to four players at once on one computer!

Rankings

Along with the standard modes, Brawlhalla also offers a ranked mode, where players choose between a one-on-one game or a two-on-two game. The ranking is based on an amount of points that you receive for winning a match. Rankings span from the bottom which is called “Tin” all the way up to the top which is called “Diamond.”

Store and More!

Unfortunately players only have access to 6 of the 21 legends for free, however Brawlhalla does have an in-game store called the “Mallhalla”. At the “Mallhalla” players have access to two types of in-game currency: gold and “mammoth coins”. Gold is used for purchasing legends, whereas mammoth coins are used for alternate costumes as well as alternate weapon skins.

Overall

Whether you grind your way to the top of the leaderboards, or you just want to beat down your buddies; Brawlhalla has something for everyone. So definitely check it out, and be sure to check in daily for bonus log-in gold, as well as weekly for a new legend rotation.

Written by A Play On Nerds contributor, Ben Tuchenhagen, based out of Austin, Texas.

Free Game of the Week 4 - League of Legends

March 12, 2016

If you play computer games, you’ve probably heard of League of Legends. With over 67 MILLION players ACTIVELY playing each month, without a doubt, League of Legends is leading the way not only in its genre, but in computer games as a whole. Originally released by Riot games in fall of 2009, it quickly went on to become one of the most popular games ever. With tens of thousands of views on the Twitch live game streaming service, and an annual world championship with prize pools of over 2 MILLION dollars, League of Legends is no joke.

So what is League of Legends?

Similarly to Dota 2 (a previously feature game here on Free Game of the Week), League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena, in which two teams of champions battle against one another in order to destroy the enemy base, or “nexus.” In League, you acquire gold to buy items in order to help you with your objectives. Gold can be obtained in three ways

1. Passively (you receive 20 gold every 10 seconds)

2. By killing minions (creatures throughout the game map)

3. By assisting in or killing an enemy champion (another player)

While most games last about 20-40 minutes, it’s not uncommon for games to go on longer than an hour. Your champion also starts off fairly weak, but as the game progress you quickly become a powerful force. But be attentive, because just as you grow stronger, so do the enemy champions!

What types of champions are there?

From robots to mermaids, demons to mummies, League has a champ for everyone. With 129 champions to choose from, each champion is broken down into a type of character

1. Tanks: Strong upfront in your face kind of characters with lots of health

2. Assassins: Quick, agile characters that offer a lot of quick damage

3. Mage: Spell casters; characters that use lots of spells

4. Marksmen: Usually rely on basic attacks and dealing damage from afar

Not only are the champions broken down into types, but they are also broken down further into roles. While some roles can be switched around generally there's only five. These roles define how your champion will contribute to the team as a whole

1. Top lane (protect the top lane of the map from approaching minions and champions)

2. Mid (protect the mid lane of the map from approaching minions and champions)

3. Jungle (patrol the jungles near your base from approaching champions and kill the minions scattered throughout)

4. Carry (obtains the most champion kills on the team, beefing up this character the most on the team)

5. Support (assist champions on your team throughout the map with heals and buffs or with kill assists)

What Makes League of Legends Distinctive?

League has a few special things which sets it far apart from its competition. The first being the runes and masteries. Runes and masteries are very minor permanent buffs that transfer between matches. While the buffs are small, it does add up, and can easily be the deciding factor in games, so choose carefully! Another distinctive feature League offers is multiple maps. Not only can you play a 5v5, but also you can play 3v3 and even 1v1, each with its own unique map.

The Paying Aspect

While League does offer some amazing content, unfortunately not all of it is free. For the most part, the money you spend is purely for cosmetic purposes, however there are a few exceptions. Riot has two forms of in game currency. One is IP (influence points) the second is RP (riot points). IP is gained by playing matches and can be used to buy champions and runes. RP however can only be purchased with actual money. So even though you can obtain runes and champions through playing and obtaining IP for free, paying for RP can speed up the process and give you an advantage. Although, League does cycle through 10 free champions to play each week, so you can eventually get a chance to test out new champions without having to purchase them with IP or RP.

Overall

Whether you play by yourself or with friends, League of Legends is highly fun; highly competitive, and highly addicting. Also be sure to check out the professional e-sports scene for some really great gameplay as well as fun and excitement. So check out this week's free game, “League of Legends!”

Written by A Play On Nerds contributor, Ben Tuchenhagen, based out of Austin, Texas.

Free Game of the Week 3 - Snow

March 3, 2016

Have you ever wanted to go skiing but couldn’t afford it? Well now that’s “snow” problem in this week's free game, Snow. With a closed beta released by Poppermost Productions back in March, and an open beta released just a few weeks ago, Snow is currently leading and innovating the way in winter sports gaming. Snow is an open world winter sports game running on the ever beautiful Crytek engine.

So what is Snow?

Poppermost Productions via NewSchoolers.com

On the surface the game is fairly straightforward. You ride around on skis, go over jumps, and even grind a few rails. But the real beauty of the game is how open and expansive it is. Before you storm the slopes you first must choose which mountain to tear up. After you select the mountain you now have the many options on where to drop off at, as well as which side of the mountain to start on. Once you chose all this the game will start, and you will be free to do whatever you’d like in this captivating winter wonderland.

Can I customize my character?

Poppermost Productions via SnowTheGame.com

Yes you can! Almost all the gear on the character is customizable. While these customizations may cost in-game money; it’s not hard to acquire it. The in-game credits can be acquired one of two ways: By competing and completing events and challenges in the game, or by simply paying actual money. While currently you’re limited to only different skis, Poppermost Productions claims that in the near future users will have additional option of choosing from skis, snowboards and even snowmobiles.

What makes Snow unique? Why is Snow so good?

Aside from the breathtaking scenery, and the vast size, Snow has many key features that make it truly stand above the rest. The physics of the game are by far superb, and the controls handle so well that you are immersed in the game, and feel as if you’re the one in the game. The other phenomenal (and my personal favorite) feature is the ability to rewind time. Say for example you messed up a trick or jump; with the rewind feature you can go back and redo it as if it never happened! Another great feature is that it’s both a single and multiplayer game, so you can explore, race, and challenge your friends.

Overall

Whether you choose to stay on course, or form your own adventure, the sheer beauty of Snow will have you coming back again and again. So be sure to grab your friends and a jacket and get ready to hit the slopes in this week's game Snow, in beta on Steam!

Written by A Play On Nerds contributor, Ben Tuchenhagen, based out of Austin, Texas.