Hero's Journey (video game)

Infobox VG
title = Hero's Journey


developer = Simutronics
publisher =
designer = Simutronics
engine = HeroEngine
released = No release date [ [http://www.play.net/hj/info/faq/home.asp#general Hero's Journey Official FAQ] ]
genre = MMORPG
modes = Multiplayer
ratings =
platforms = Microsoft Windows
media = CD, DVD, Download
requirements =
input = Keyboard and Mouse

"Hero's Journey" is a fantasy MMORPG by Simutronics, with no projected release date (as of early 2008). The most distinctive feature of "Hero's Journey" is its quest system (called the "Journey System"). [ [http://hj.warcry.com/ HJ Overview on Warcry] ] The Journey System is a system that adapts quests and gameplay based on the player's decisions, potentially leading to such things as the evolution of a specific creature as a player's nemesis, as well as reappearing characters and themes. Other notable features include deep character customization and mandatory multi-classing (having two character classes) from the beginning. Like many of Simutronics's other fantasy games, Hero's Journey is set in the world of "Elanthia".

Hero's Journey utilizes the HeroEngine, an MMO engine which is also developed by Simutronics.

History

Hero's Journey has been in development since the late 1990s (The Mud-Dev-L list's MUD timeline lists the date when development was publicly announced as 1999). Its release date has been pushed back several times since then. [ [http://rpgvaultarchive.ign.com/archive/19991017.shtml Vault Network News: Week of October 17, 1999 ] ]

The Official web site was updated with some new screen shots in early April 2008. This was the first update to the site in six months.

Gameplay

In Hero's Journey, players can choose from 8 races and 9 classes. When choosing a class, the player must also select a secondary class. The secondary class must be different from the primary class. This gives the player 72 different class combinations to choose from.

Races

* Humans consist of the Old Blood and the green-skinned and sturdy Tog.
* Ilvari include the nature-loving Earthfolk and the mysterious, magic-casting Mistfolk.
* Stoneborn consist of the Burian and Qwi, similar to Dwarves and Gnomes found in other fantasy settings, respectively.
* Suwari are an anthropomorphic cat race, similar to the Khajiit from "Morrowind" and the nephilim from the "Exile" series of games. The city-dwelling Domesticate and the untamed Feral comprise the Suwari. It has been announced that the race won't be released until a later expansion pack.

Classes

* Warriors are the toe-to-toe fighters of Hero's Journey.
* Rangers specialize in ranged combat and use pets as support.
* Necromancers rely on the powers of the dead.
* Gearknights are similar to warriors, but are geared more toward defense and have a few ranged abilities.
* Healers have the ability to channel their health into others and create areas where health regeneration is faster.
* Clerics are holy fighters similar to healers, but have a few more offensive abilities and a mass-resurrection spell. Clerics may have considerably less powerful healing abilities compared to a Healer.
* Rogues are stealthy thieves who will strike fast and hard before retreating.
* Bards are able to manipulate and confuse their enemies.
* Wizards deal magical damage from afar. They may also add certain elemental effects to their spells.

Awards

During pre-release demonstrations, the game has won the following awards:

* 2005 E-3, "Best of Show" - mmorpg.com [http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm?loadFeature=108&bhcp=1]
* 2006 E-3
** "Most Original" - gameamp.com [http://herosjourney.gameamp.com/news/viewNews/2441.php]
** "Biggest Surprise" - Stratics "Golden Cogs" awards [http://www.stratics.com/content/portals/e3/content/goldencogs/2006/golden_cogs_2006.php]
** "Best Development Tool" (for the Hero's Journey game engine, "Hero Engine") - Stratics
** "Best MMORPG" - Honorable Mention - just-rpg.com [http://www.just-rpg.com/default.asp?pid=1952]
** "Best of Show" - Honorable Mention - mmorpg.com [http://www.mmorpg.com/showFeature.cfm?loadFeature=660&page=8/&bhcp=1]

References

External links

* [http://www.play.net/hj Official Hero's Journey site]
* [http://www.heroshall.com Hero's Hall]
* [http://hj.stratics.com Hero's Journey Stratics]
* [http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/setView/overview/gameID/174 MMORPG.com] - Hero's Journey summary sheet