The Chosen - Now Available

[Dhruin]

For those looking for a hack'n'slash fix, Rebelmind's The Chosen: Well of Souls is now available:
The Chosen: Well of Souls Ships to Stores and Online Outlets
Take on Legions of Infernal Beasts in Rebelmind and Meridian4’s Action Role-Playing Game
MONTREAL, Quebec, Canada – October 1, 2007 – Dungeon crawlers, grab your weapons and get ready for battle! Meridian4 announced today that Rebelmind’s PC action-RPG, The Chosen: Well of Souls, has shipped to stores across North America, and is available now at various digital-distribution outlets. The Chosen: Well of Souls carries a suggested retail price of $19.99.
Choose your hero and journey forth in the ultimate action role-playing quest that pits you against an army of demons and devils like no other. Hellbent and determined to take over the world, the powerful sorcerer Marcus Dominus Ingens has recruited the souls of ancient alchemists to aid in his destruction. Get ready for an unparalleled action role-playing experience that combines gruesome, action-packed battles with a deep, involving storyline set at the turn of the 19th century. For many years the Mystery Guards Fraternities have trained hunters to fight Evil. Hard-bitten, well trained in magic and alchemy, they traverse the world fighting against the powers of darkness. Now, the mightiest have returned to face Marcus’s army of infernal beasts. The life of God’s Envoy and the world order are at stake. Who will be The Chosen?
“The Chosen: Well of Souls is a value-packed game that should appeal to action-RPG fans everywhere,” said Steve Milburn, Director at Meridian4. “Rebelmind has delivered an addictive experience that will have you using swords, axes, pistols and even machine guns to take out the onrushing hordes of werewolves, vampires and demons well into the night.”
Draw your sword against evil to save your people’s souls and the future of your world!
Features of The Chosen: Well of Souls include:
* 3 original playable characters, each with their own distinct skills and abilities
* Over 200 different types of armour, weapons and magic items
* Over 12 blood-curdling quests with hordes of werewolves, zombies, vampires and demons
* Modify skills and allocate experience to develop your hero
* Seizing demons during battle allows you to use them to fight for you
* Improve weapons strength and effectiveness through ancient magic
* Call upon mystical creatures to help battle the forces of evil
For more information about The Chosen: Well of Souls, visit http://www.meridian4.com/games/TheChosen.
Since the digital distribution outlets aren't specified, I'll link to the excellent TotalGaming.net (http://totalgaming.stardock.com/games/?id=csn) for anyone interested.More information. (http://www.rpgwatch.com/show/newsbit?newsbit=6600)

[curiously undead]

i downloaded it an hour or two ago and have been playing it since. it is awesome wicked, and at aprrox. 13 dollars you can't go wrong. i didn't really have high hopes for it at all either. but so far it slays two worlds, blood magic, and silverfall demos that i've played within the last year. the graphics are very detailed and atmospheric. the music is superb. the voice acting...well lets not talk about that;) but the gameplay oh man this is exactly what i want from a action/hack&slash rpg. i'm playing the hunter which means bows and guns, because we all know its more fun to kill zombies, werewolfs etc with things that go boom. the skill system is similar to diablo, titan quest, dungeon siege but maybe not as detailed. the item crafting is unique and a wonderful innovation. items can get worn and broken but instead of tossing them or selling them for pennies you can use regular items in the crafting system. want to make your gun last longer (more durable) combine it with an old shield and slap down a fee (which by the way can be reducing by tossing in either a healing or mana potion) and you have a longer lasting boomstick. sometimes there's a trade of as in adding a sword to another sword increases the damage but also lowers its durabilty.

its a solo player but after the first level you get two summons (can use one at any time) that are a hulking golem and a flying pee shooter. whats nice is they can be summoned or sent away at any time and if they ever die you can revive them with a special scroll that costs a decent amount. but for the few minutes i've played with the golem its awesome at smaking around werewolves that pop from hiding in bushes. there's no spawning in the game and each level actually has a finite amount of enemies that when all are gone you get an extra stat point. what's also nice about the summons is they too level up with use so i imagine sticking to one has its benifits which would only seem to come in to play with the mage class as that would be your hybrid class.

get this game, or at least play the demo if it ever is released!

update:
there seems to be a free trial on the website
http://www.meridian4.com/games/TheChosen/index.html

[Santos]

I have never been able to get their "free trials" to work. Anyone?

[curiously undead]

i believe the download program accessesyour internet connection so perhaps your firewall is blocking it.

[magerette]

I'm playing it too and also finding it a better game than I expected. Having a lot of fun with it so far. Reminds me of Bela Lugosi's Dracula, lost in the Carpathians and surrounded by the Undead.

Good times. :)

[Galaad]

Oh and I'd like to mention... (I suppose that is also what curiously undead meant as well) If you buy it from totalgaming.net its only 13$ (2 tokens) instead of 19.95$. All you have to do is buy a pack of 10 tokens and then order the game with them instead of paying 19.95$ directly. I didnt even realise that Meridian4 was from Montreal area heh until just now. I'll deffinately give it a try and encourage the local companies :P.

[Santos]

Good thought, but I turned my firewall off to try it (I know, bad me). But I'm glad that you're having fun, sounds like a good distraction.

[JDR13]

Downloading it now, you got me curious about it.

Also, what is this "Blood Magic" game you mention? Is that the same as Dawn of Magic (http://pc.gamezone.com/gamesell/p21971.htm)?

[Dhruin]

Yep. The Bloody Magic aka Blood Magic aka Dawn of Magic.

[JDR13]

Ok, just got done playing about 20-30 minutes each of Blood Magic and The Chosen demos.

Blood Magic was pretty much crap imo, just another top-down\isometric action-rpg with annoying camera angles. Why are devs still making games with mouse only movement controls?

The Chosen seemed to be a bit better, but I don't share Curiously undead's enthusiasm over it. Yet another point & click action game. If you could move the camera to 3rd person and allow keys to control movement it becomes a lot better imho. Not bad for a low budget title, but it doesn't hold up against Two Worlds, and I'm not really that big on Two Worlds either.

[Dhruin]

Hmm, I don't share your presumption that overhead cameras are inherently bad. It depends on the game but often I prefer a tactical overhead view. NWN2 is a good example - I'm not at all interested in the character view or whatever it's called.

[Icefire]

I purchased this game also and while it is fun, I think the fact that all the skills are the same except only one or two that are different for each character will kill replayability, at least for me. There should have been far more different skills for each character. The atmosphere is great, but the voice acting is truly awful.
All in all though, about what I expected for the price.

[JDR13]

Hmm, I don't share your presumption that overhead cameras are inherently bad. It depends on the game but often I prefer a tactical overhead view. NWN2 is a good example - I'm not at all interested in the character view or whatever it's called.

I think you misunderstood. I have nothing against overhead\isometric view in general, some of my favorite games use it, ie: Baldurs Gate, Icewind Dale, etc.

I just don't really like it in action-rpgs combined with a mouse-only control system.

[cutterjohn]

Is it really better than the absolutely awful spacehack?

[EDIT]
The $13 is an illusion as you have to fork over $70 to totalgaming.net to hold hostage for tokens, and they really don't have $70 of worthy games IMO, so, IMO, the REAL price is $20 which is still fair IF it's really a MUCH better game than spacehack was.

[elkston]

Could someone answer this simple question?

Are you able to save/load anywhere or is it a checkpoint system?

[curiously undead]

yes you can save or load anywhere. not only that after the first level you can transport back to your base at anytime which means you don't have to worry about running out of room in your inventory.

[magerette]

@JDR--did you notice you can control the camera with WASD or the mouse? The point and click action actually has a little more function than some games of this type--you can use the terrain and being maneuverable really helps--but then I don't like using WASD for movement. :) The camera view is pretty typical for action rpgs, same as Diablo, Titan Quest, etc and there was none of that annoying 'can't see what's coming next' as in Silverfall--if there's an ambush, it's on purpose-- so it wasn't a problem for me.

Icefire has a good point about the skill system though. It's very limited.

It's a very linear game, but I think well done in a lot of choices--no constant respawning grind, not too much loot. not too much red-sauce swilling, not too easy, not too hard. It's not the game of the century, for sure, but it's fun for what it is.

[Lucky Day]

Based on Curedead's praise I'm downloading the Free Trial now. But just as I did so AVG jumped up with an alert I've never seen before. A file tries to download to the temp directory and it says its adware: Win32:Adware-gen.

I'm not sure if the file is actually downloading. Downloads just says its starting. Can anyone tell what this file is? Is it legit malware or is this a false positive?

I know a number of people here have AVG for an antivirus as well. Did no one else get the same problem?

[Galaad]

cutterjohn

Well I guess in such a case wether they have games worth playing or not is a matter of opinion. Space Rangers II, Galactic Civilizations (I, II and Dark Avatar), Gods LoI, Disciples II, Port Royale etc... And there's also some less known and even indies rpg such as Aveyond.

Personally I havent had any problem finding games worth my money there, really depends which games are your cup of tea. Im a bit biased though I guess, I was quite vocal in some places against some DRM schemes such as starforce and what not and back then when I learned of tgnet/stardock not using any I guess I was sold to them then :P.

G.

(Note for those who havent tried space rangers 2 I suggest you do :P really liked that one.... Oh and yeah the Voice Acting in The Chosen is truly horrible, the rest seems fun enough so far.)

[elkston]

yes you can save or load anywhere. not only that after the first level you can transport back to your base at anytime which means you don't have to worry about running out of room in your inventory.

Ahh.. good. One point in the plus column for me, then. :)
Thanks for the info.

[txa1265]

Hmmm ... I never got too far in my early preview copy, not far enough to write a preview. It seemed reasonably decent but not overwhelmingly great - but that was *early* ... I'll have to check it out now.

[curiously undead]

i'm looking forward to getting back to it this evening. i'm on the 3rd level and the swamp is beautiful. the areas are seemless and you really feel like you are in whatever your locale you are not like a little diorama like many iso games, and one of my biggest problems with the nwn's. i can't image playing the game as a pure melee character though as the game seems far more geared toward range combat than most action rpgs. the day and night cycles are quite immersive as well as the weather effects. its not just certain level based either but changes by some pattern i'm not yet aware of as there is no in game time 'moniter'. the shrubery that rustles as you or others go through it is a nice touch too...and it makes for good hiding for the lupines who are much stronger at night.

[Lucky Day]

I just posted a potential malware with the free trial and no one is concerned?

[Galaad]

Hrms, from my experience AVG isnt bad but its one of the most prone to false positives that I've seen...So Im guessing people assumed it was that or simply missed your message.

Although whatever the case may be, its worth looking into it,.if its truly some malware/adware whatever although it wouldnt be the first company to do that it would be more than enough for me to boycott them :P. Nobody likes that type of business practice.. But then again it might just be a false positive as well..I suppose I'll poke around and see if I can find more about this.

[txa1265]

I just posted a potential malware with the free trial and no one is concerned?

When I hear of AVG conflicting with a game I think ... yawn, yet again ... heck, I have helped people on the Dungeon Lords boards with that for quite a while ...

[ToddMcF2002]

The voiceovers.... worst I've ever heard I'm afraid.

[curiously undead]

good thing there's not to many of them. but in their defense this game was made by 7 or 8 people. at least their grammar is good, possibly even better than mine;)

[txa1265]

The voiceovers.... worst I've ever heard I'm afraid.

I'm always hesitant to say 'worst ever' ... but they aren't good ;)

[magerette]

Yeah, worst ever is hard to beat, but these are forgettable at best--but as curiously says, after the first section you don't hear much voicing--maybe once an hour or so, which is a blessing.

[Lucky Day]

When I hear of AVG conflicting with a game I think ... yawn, yet again ... heck, I have helped people on the Dungeon Lords boards with that for quite a while ...

Thanks, this is the first it ever happened to me with AVG. I'm not seeing any other site report a problem, but then, it just came out and its not too popular a game (yet?).

But if false positives are a problem with AVG is it like crying wolf then? What happens if a real problem occurs?

And as for finding problems with Dungeon Lord's, is it giving the message "bad game detected. do you wish to keep installing?"

[Gallifrey]

Downloaded the trial and gave it a go. Nice looking game, the town at the start is extremely atmospheric, and I quite like the setting. The sound and music works nicely as well. The mouse-only controls are irritating, as is the fixed angle camera. The zoom doesn't help much at all seeing as the angle of view cannot be altered. I kept wanting to swing the camera down and look at things in an over-the-shoulder third person perspective.
The angle in essence isn't that bad, but seeing as I was playing the Hunter character, I really wanted to see what was coming sooner than the fixed angle allows for, and with the graphics being so nice I wanted to be in closer, which I think would've made it a lot more immersive and engaging, even though it's just an action hack and slasher.
But the controls did kill it for me, the repeated clicking on a target to shoot it just annoyed the heck out of me, I hate that style of combat control as I just end up running my character all over the place which is silly.

And the voice acting is grim indeed. The NPCs aren't too terrible, those ones are passable (this still isn't as bad as the Seal Of Evil voice acting!). But the narrator deserves particular mention - he actually sounds like a parody, and makes me think of this guy (http://www.lynnguppy.com/simon.gif).

[magerette]

Gallifrey, that IS the guy, I'm sure. :P He gets more cryptic and in love with himself as you go along--again, fortunately, he isn't around too much.
BTW, have you messed around with the camera options? I'm using mousescroll at the screen edges and it's not too bad. Holding down shift while you shoot will keep your char stationery. I'm playing the mage, so I had the same issues til I changed the camera. You can also use the mousewheel to rotate instead of zoom, if you want. It is awkward sometimes though no matter what you do..still I'm having fun with it. It's getting a bit harder in the second act.

[curiously undead]

gallifrey the camera angle isn't fixed. try using the wasd. it actually has the most free camera i can think of. also the mouse scrool is used for zooming in and out. it takes a bit to get use to and every time i load it up i have to remember the logistics of it all but i love being able to see the action from any angle and with the ease of the spacebar as pause its rather fun. haven't had a chance to play since wed but hopefully this weekend i can have a good go at it. i'm not sure how much the trial lets you play, but

and speaking of crying wolf. every time i hear those words i think of this jam by the amazing lisa germano.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IxgZlYQFng

[txa1265]

But if false positives are a problem with AVG is it like crying wolf then? What happens if a real problem occurs?
I dunno ... I use Norton and never have an issue but always seem to hear about AVG borking games.

[curiously undead]

hey gallifrey is that the guy from kids in the hall?

also i'm a dumkov. mousewheel does the same as a and d it spins the camera on a horizontal plane. its q and e that do the zooming. also the x key is handy if you get in a pinch and get cluttered as it quickly zooms out to the default iso angle but keeps it at whatever bearing you were facing. and yes the shift key is highly useful as well. so have all those keys easily accesible with the left hand makes things quite nice, and being as you can pull up the skills, inventory, and spells with the mouse you can keep your right hand entirely on the mouse forever. personaly i've found a mid zoom level with an oblique iso view (about 30 degrees) to be the most balanced as you can see nearly all that is in front of you but still see what's going around you as well.

[Gallifrey]

Yep, that's Kevin McDonald as Simon from Kids In The Hall!

I was wondering what you were talking about regarding the any angle view.. All I can get is zoom levels and rotation, but the angle of view (top-ish down) doesn't change. That view is fine for party control games but for one character, it just annoys me.
Maybe I'll give it another go, but the trial is only for one hour, so I don't know if that's one hour time played or one hour from point of activation regardless of actual time played. If it's the latter I won't be able to give it another go. I'll check.

[DArtagnan]

Tried the demo, and it was awful.

Average graphics with subpar animations, beyond horrible voice acting, obviously weak skill trees with very few paths and very few exciting skills. To me, the core of any hack and slash game like this is the diversity and depth of the characters, as well as the overall feel of the game. Both were tremendously underwhelming aspects of the demo, so I don't think this is for me.

[Gallifrey]

Ok, gave it another go and liked it better. I didn't realise that the camera was that adjustable, so the better angles definitely help a lot.

I just finished up the zombie killing, and I have to say, that once I got a gun it was a lot more entertaining to be running around blasting zombies in a run-down foggy village at night with a shotgun!

[Elwro]

I wrote a short preview of the game a year ago, if anyone's interested: http://www.rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=266546

I had high hopes for Frater / The Chosen, but unfortunately the full version turned out to be a bit too repetitive.

[Lucky Day]

I dunno ... I use Norton and never have an issue but always seem to hear about AVG borking games.

I stopped using Norton's ever since it ate my hard drive. See the Free Programs thread in the tech forums if it ever does to you and you need to get it back.

Also, Norton's and McAfees being so popular get into legal issues with companies that are semi-legit and they plug their holes. You'll sometimes find mal-ware being ignored with an explanation on their website concerning it. Usually its over "pc-anywhere/vnc" type applications that take advantage of a security hole in Windows. Fortunately, MS tends to fill it shortly after its made known.

Yep, that's Kevin McDonald as Simon from Kids In The Hall!

That guy is hilarious. He did a number of cartoon voices in Canada too. He's one of the few comedians that didn't get old on that show.

I might check it out just to hear his voice. :D

[magerette]

@D'Artagnan--I feel your pain--believe me. I wouldn't call the game awful, exactly, but the two things you mention--skills and character customization--are definitely the weak points.

@Elwro; That's a very fair preview. They've changed the names on things a bit in the English localization, not always in a good way, but the features you've talked about are still mostly the same.

I'll have more to say in a Watch write-up when I've finished the game, but atm my lips are sealed. :)

@Lucky Day--i don't think it's the actual voice of this Kevin guy, just his personality apparently. :)

[Elwro]

Thanks for the info... you'd think they had 12 months for some radical overhaul of the bad elements of the game, too bad they seem to have lost the opportunity.