I got a chance to see some up and coming games from NCSoft today. I was quite pleased to see that NCSoft seems to be slapping around the standard MMO market with each game and reinventing it.

Dungeon Runners

Dungeon Runners is a free to own and play game from NCSoft. That is right free and free. Other areas and items can be bought but the basic game is free. The game play is focused on battles vs multiple enemies so if you solo you still get the big mobs to play vs. All areas are instances but random so going into the forest will never give you the same look twice. The game also levels with you so enemies get tougher as you go. This is an action RPG so moving will save you from hits from your enemy.

The game is about playing not traveling so there is plenty of instance travel and the ability to leave mid combat to go back to the main staging area. The game also features no death plenty so you won’t waste time trying to gain new powers.

The game has looks good if not a bit cartoony. Not in a bad way but I guess its safe to say it leans more to the WoW look than Guild Wars.

EXteel

Another free/free game. This 3rd person shooter reminds me more of Shogo and Transformers more than anything. The basic style of the Japanese fighting robot complete with jetpack is the best way to describe it.

The combat is a bit arcade like with the word hit popping up from time to time but the action looks fast and should be varied enough for those wanting some good ol robot deathmatch.

Soccer Fury

Counter Strike Soccer eat your heart out. Only thing better than knifing your enemy is doing a back flip kick to his face. Full contact soccer the way real men with ninja attacking powers would play it. To add to the fun there is a bit of RPG to it as you can level up and gain more skills the more you play. Teams can be formed as well and played in tournaments vs other teams. Teams that do well can also unlock team powers.

The game itself looks beautiful. Almost like it was made on the Source engine. We watched a trailer at first. I figured it for your typical prerendered game trailer but after they started the game and flew the camera around the trailer in real time. It will be the best looking Soccer fighting game to come out in 2006 that is for sure.