Nox

Note: Nox is free for a limited period of time. After that, the game remains in your library, but if you do not download it now it won't be available later on. The hack & slash genre has evolved a lot in the last few years, especially thanks to new technology that allows developers to include more realism and much better graphics. Hence, we now have games like Dark Souls III and similar productions, which look and feel a lot smoother than the old classics. However, the action-RPG genre is on the right track as well.

Nox is an old classic released by EA Games for free on their Origin platform, and it should appeal to a variety of gamer categories, regardless of age. On the other hand, the younger gamers may not appreciate its intricacies, nor realize the fact that back in the day this was the norm. Hence, the game is a typical ARPG with a bit of humor added for taste, and it looks and plays a lot like Diablo II.

In essence, the story does not take itself very seriously, which is a good thing in this case. As such, you play the role of a man by the name of Jack Mower, who one day finds himself sucked into a fantasy world through his television. Here he must find a way out and maybe make a difference as a mighty hero, which is what you’ll be trying to do anyway.

There are only three character classes you can opt for, but they all have different storylines and very different gameplay styles. As such, you can pick the warrior, the wizard and the conjurer, depending on what you prefer or which story path you wish to follow. Everything else about the game is fairly straightforward as well, including the combat and the movement, which is done using the mouse.

There’s obviously a lot of repetitive grinding every now and again, but dialog is an important piece of the experience too. Most of the writing is quite funny and light, but there are some serious pieces every now and again. In the same regard, the graphics are obviously very old and dated, but as long as you enjoy the isometric camera and old-school textures, Nox should be a welcomed sight.

Even if Nox is a bit too rough for today’s market, it might hold a sentimental value for many gamers, especially those who supported the trend at the turn of the century. You can get it from free for a short period of time.