Hello everyone! How is your gaming coming along this year so far? Did you try already Luminous Arc, the Tactic JRPG of which I talked about in the last entry? If you haven’t, I strongly recommend you to do so, especially to those who are waiting for SQEX to deliver another entry of their classic albeit recently abandoned franchise Final Fantasy Tactics, for I´m sure this little great game won´t disappoint you. In this entry, just like I did before with the list of fangames based on the Final Fight (see here) and Mega Man (see here) franchises, I´m going to talk about some Beat Em up fangames created using the popular open source OpenBOR engine which are based on several sword & sorcery arcade classics from the 90s, and which will surely please the fans of this once fan favorite genre, for all of them deliver a more than decent piece of entertainment, especially when you think that they are games made by fans, and what is more important, completely FREE. In fact, their quality standards are so high that many of them could have perfectly been official sequels to the original tittles, so let´s see what these little gems of old school indie gaming have to offer.
Knights & Dragons Final Cut
The first game on the list is Knights & Dragons. Created by indie developer Pierwolf, a pretty popular developer in the OpenBOR scene due to the great quality of its creations, Knights & Dragons is a classic style 2D Beat Em Up that gathers in a single game elements from two of Capcom´s most popular arcade classics, such as King of the Dragons y Knights of the Round. The game includes 2 main game modes. The first mode will allow us to play with the characters from King of the Dragons plus some other extra characters, being able to choose between the fighter, the magician, the cleric, the dwarf, the elf, the thief and the paladin, each with their own stats and special attacks that we will be able to perform by imputing the same kind of commands we could find in VS fighting games such as Street Fighter 2 o The King of Fighters. Once we complete the first mode, we will unlock a second mode that will allow us to play new stages with the characters from Knights of the Round, the other classic of Capcom that was used to create this game, giving us thus the chance to play as Arthur, Lancelot and Perceval, plus the new character or Mordred, each of them also with their own stats and special attacks. On top of all this, the game offers yet another third mode which is your typical Boss Rush in which we will face all the bosses of the game choosing any character we want. As you can see, the game comes fully loaded with content. The game includes a local multiplayer option for up to 3 players, allowing us to recall good old quarter-eating times with some buddies. The graphics are exactly the same as those we could find in the original Capcom arcade games, taking us back in time directly to the golden era of arcade games. The game actually received a “revised version” that allowed us to choose between 2 different difficulty levels, on top of giving us the option to use all the characters right from the beginning. A true retro gaming jewel highly recommended for the fans of the genre.
VÍDEO GAMEPLAY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8NOObWd_Oo
Knights & Dragons The Endless Quest
It seems creating a great game was not good enough for Pierwolf, so this talented developer created a second part for this Knights & Dragons that expanded all the concepts we could see in the first one, including a level up system and a “open world design”. Yes, just like you read, far from being happy delivering a just straight forward sequel with another good cut-everything- that-moves Beat Em Up, Pierwolf decided to add a world map in which we will be able to see all the available missions just as we see in many Action RPG, each of them with their own level of difficulty, and which we will be able to face in any order we want. As we complete missions, we will unlock new ones, being able also to visit inns that will allow us to gather all kind of useful information or switch our characters. On top of this, the game also includes several game modes, thus offering a really long game, especially for a Beat Em Up, but fear not, as just like in any RPG, the game features check points with an autosave function and all. As you can see, Pierwolf takes his hobby really seriously, perhaps even more than some professional developers take their jobs. As for the selectable characters, the game includes an impressive assortment of them, for on top of all the characters from the previous game, the game includes also the new characters of the barbarian, the knight and the bard, summing up a wowing total of 17 characters available for us to use as we unlock them, all of them again with their very own stats and special attacks that adapt to all kind of game styles. Even some modern VS fighting games don´t feature some many characters. Of course, just like the previous game, Knights & Dragons The Endless Quest also includes a local multiplayer option, but this time around is for up to 4 players. Bottom line, another great game from Pierwolf, and another proof of how incredibly talented this indie developer is.
VÍDEO GAMEPLAY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfT7IB7Ep-E
Dungeons & Dragons Rise of the Warduke (first version)
Created by indie developer Lord_Skiff, Dungeons & Dragons Rise of the Warduke is similar to Pierwolf´s Knights & Dragons, just that this time around the game is a classic style 2D Beat Em Up based on 2 of the best Beat Em Ups ever developed by Capcom, or any other company. Indeed, we are talking about the pixel feast known as Dungeons & Dragons Tower of Doom, as it´s perhaps even better sequel Dungeons & Dragons Shadow Over Mystaria. The game will allow us to choose between 3 characters: the fighter, the paladin and the elf, all of them with their own stats and special techniques that, just like in Pierwolf´s game, we will be able to perform by imputing commands similar to those you can see in games such as Street Fighter 2. The game includes a 2 player option via local multiplayer. The graphics are exactly the same as those we could see in Capcom´s original classics, which frankly speaking, I think have aged pretty well, giving the game the looks that any fan of the original arcade games would love to see. In few words, a great classic flavor Beat Em Up that will surely please the fans of the genre.
DESCARGAR: http://dungeons-and-dragons-the-rise-of-warduke.uptodown.com/
Dungeons & Dragons Rise of the Warduke (second version)
And if the 3 previous games where awesome games, this is probably THE OpenBOR game, after all, just like the previous title, the games uses both Dungeon & Dragons arcade titles as a base, and for those who played Capcom´s classics you already know what that means. Pure pixilated awesomeness. Created by indie developers Lord_Skiff and Bloodbane with the help of Pierwolf, who just cannot seem to stay away from OpenBOR for that long, Dungeons & Dragons Rise of the Warduke is a new version of the first game crated by Lord_Skiff, although sincerely is more like a whole new game, since it expands all the concepts we saw in the first game. The main features of Dungeons & Dragons Rise of the Warduke are:
- 7 playable characters: the paladin, the wizard, the dwarf, the elf, the fighter, the cleric and the thief, plus 2 more extra characters that we will be able to unlock during the adventure, the knight and the bard, all of them with their own stats and special attacks.
- Open world structure with a mission system like an Action RPG. We will be able to use a world map to see all the available missions, allowing us to face them in any order we want, on top of villages where we will be able to gather information and switch our character. As we complete missions, we will unlock new ones.
- We will be able to buy and sell items in the shops, hire mercenaries and use creatures as rides.
- Dungeons full of traps and secret rooms. We will need to buy torches to be able to see in the darkness, or lock picks to open locked doors.
- Graphic style completely faithful to Capcom´s original classics.
Ladies and gentleman, Dungeons & Dragons Rise of the Warduke is the dream of every single fan of Capcom´s original masterpieces come true, a game that can easily look face to face to many other professional productions, in fact, it even surpasses many of them, till the point that Capcom could perfectly edit this game as the third official entry in the series. If you like classic Beat Em Up games, you must play this game, for together with Vanillaware´s GORGEOUS Dragon´s Crown, is probably one of the best 2D Beat Em Up games ever released since the golden era of arcades games, and if you think I´m exaggerating, then just try for yourselves. It´s hard to believe a fan game could reach this level of polish and depth. A true jewel that deserves you play it till you break every single bone in your hands. Good job, gentlemen. Good job.
VÍDEO GAMEPLAY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emaqTyPVS60
Golden Axe Legend
After the fangames based on Capcom´s Beat Em Up games, is the turn for another fangame based in yet another arcades classic, which is no more and no less than Sega´s Golden Axe. Using the 3 entries released for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis as a base, our good friend Pierwolf delivers yet another awesome 2D classic style Beat Em Up that pays tribute to Sega´s awesome classic. The game will allow us to play with all the characters that appeared in the trilogy released for Sega´s legendary 16-bit console, which include Ax Battler the barbarian, Tyris Flare the amazon and Gilius Thunderaxe the dwarf, which were the protagonists of the first adventure, plus Chronos Lait, Proud Cragger, Kain Grinder and Sarah Barn, all of them from the second and third entries, and all of them will have their own unique stats. Again, like in all of Pierwolf´s games, the characters will all have their own special techniques that we will be able to use by imputing commands like the ones we find in VS fighting games such as Street Fighter 2, on top of other features like the possibility of delivering counterattacks. Of course, just as we could see in the original game, each character will be able to perform their devastating magical attacks, on top of being able to ride all kind of creatures in order to complete the all-new stages of the game, as well as the possibility of up to 4 players local multiplayer matches. Last, but not least, we have the graphics of the game, which are completely faithful to Sega´s original classic, something that I´m sure the fans will surely appreciate. Just another awesome game that proves the insane talent that Pierwolf possesses when it comes to retro games, consolidating him as one of the most talented indie developers of the evergrowing OpenBOR community.
VÍDEO GAMEPLAY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwEviq9IuA4
DESCARGAR: http://golden-axe-legends.en.uptodown.com/
Golden Axe Genesis
Of course, we cannot talk about OpenBOR without talking about SEEP. This Italian dynamic duo is without a doubt one of the most active and talented team in the OpenBOR community. Just like in the previous game, the guys from SEEP bring us another awesome 2D classic style Beat Em Up game based on Sega´s sword & sorcery classic, and just like the previous game, it can really look face to face to any of the entries made by the company of videogame´s most famous blue hedgehog, in fact, the game is so complete and polished that could have easily been a official sequel of the original trilogy published by Sega. Golden Axe Genesis will allow us to choose among 13 characters from the franchise, including Ax Battler, Tyris Flare y Gilius Thunderhead, with 2 versions of each, plus Chronos Lait, Braoude Cragger, Kain Grinder, Sarah Barn, Alex, King and Death Adder himself, on top of another 4 characters that we will have to unlock, all of them with their own stats and special attacks. Just like in the original classic, each character will be able to perform powerful magic attacks and ride different types of creatures to complete the all-new stages included in the game, which will contain branching paths just like we could see in Golden Axe 3, and which together with the extensive character rooster help to make the game extremely replayable. Also, just like in Pierwolf´s game, the game includes a local multiplayer option for up to 4 characters, making the game ideal for some good old-school gaming sessions with the buddies. Graphically and soundwise, the game is completely faithful to Sega´s title, something that will surely please the fans of the original titles. Another awesome game of this incredibly talented Italian duo that every fan of Golden Axe and arcade games should play.
VÍDEO GAMEPLAY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvfcue0H858
Golden Axe Myth
This is perhaps the most special case in the list, after all, Sega itself was involved in it, although not for a good reason. Opposite to the previous games, in which the creators always used resources from Sega´s original titles as a base, Golden Axe Myth is a 2D classic style Beat Em Up created completely from scratch based on Sega´s popular brawling franchise. The game will allow us to choose between Ax Battler, Tyris Flare y Gilius Thunderaxe, the protagonist of the first adventure, plus a version of Death Adder himself before he “joined the dark side”, each with their own stats that we will be able to improve as we progress through the adventure just like an RPG, on top of having also special attacks. Just like in the previous games, the game includes all the typical features of the franchise, such as the possibility to use powerful magic attacks, ride all kind of creatures and stages with branching paths, which makes the game really replayable. Also, like in the previous games again, the game allows for local multiplayer matches of up to 4 players. As for the graphics, rather than using ripped sprites like the previous cases, Golden Axe Myth´s sprites were created especially for the game from scratch, and the result is pretty impressive, especially for a free game made by fans. The sprites and animations are really polished, showing the love that the team putted in the creation of the project, and the same could be same about its soundtrack, thus delivering one of the most impressive looking games ever made with the versatile OpenBOR engine. As I was saying at the beginning, unfortunately Sega decided to interfere and forced the team to take out the game from the net immediately as they did with the also awesome fanmade remake of Streets of Rage. To tell you the truth, I still don´t quite understand this kind of action, for even though it is true they were using their registered trademark without permission, the guys were not doing it for business purposes. In my humble opinion, I think Sega just didn´t want the community´s wrath fall upon them after seeing how a small team with barely any resources was able to pull off a superior game that the pile of steaming shit, yes, PILE OF STEAMING SHIT that they remake for PS2 was, with characters that moved around like some had stack the broom up their asses, and the no less shameful Golden Axe Beast Rider despite its millionaire budget, and though I respect Sega for the many good things they´ve done in the past, and they did quite a few, I think this time was unnecessarily and excessively authoritarian, destroying the hard work of a group of fans that just wanted to pay tribute to a game they love and that Sega has been insulting for years with their atrocities. They should feel shame of themselves to see how a simple group of fans was able to pull off a much more entertaining title than the PILE OF STEAMING SHIT, I repeat it again just in case it was not clear enough, PILE OF STEAMING SHIT without any kind of soul that they have been releasing in the recent years, at least Capcom, despite ignoring their most veteran fans, didn´t behave like a dictators threatening the fans that wanted to pay a tribute to their classic titles. Shame on you Sega, shame on you... How mighty we have fallen... First you turned Sonic into Mario´s bitch (although I never quite liked that series anyways), then you go and do this, and now you ask the fans to fund themselves the new Shenmue, which was probably the last interesting franchise you have left... They have just been digging their own grave...
VÍDEO GAMEPLAY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFjRb3rrb4
Anyway, that is about the best the OpenBOR community has to offer when it comes to sword & sorcery games. It´s really impressive to see how much the community of this popular engine has grown over the years, and the high quality standards that some developers are achieving if we keep in mind that we are talking about free games developed by fans. I guess this is just one more proof of the big impact many of these titles had on the gaming community back then, and also a proof that, no matter how many times companies try to deny it, there still a place for this kind of title now neglected genre that brought so many good moments for the players and companies alike in the past, just like Behemoth and Vanillaware has proven recently with their awesome Castle Crashers and Dragon´s Crown. Who knows, perhaps if the gamer community keeps insisting, one day we will see the big comeback of the genre just as it happened in the recent years with the VS genre. At least dreaming is free, right? Anyway, enjoy! And remember, IT´S FREE!!
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