Nox

Nox, Westwood's action/RPG, is a frag-fest of the first order. Check out the review to find out what makes this game rate a 4.5 Fun Factor, then read the ProTip Guide to see if you can survive the action.

Do you have bats in your hair? Is a 12-foot Golem trying to bash your head in? If so, you're probably in the land of Nox. The top-down action/RPG from Westwood is a smashing good time, filled with addictive gameplay, a well-written story line, and really scores in replay value with three playable characters and massive multiplay support.

Nox is in trouble. Hecubah, the last descendant of the vanquished Necromancers is set on bringing back her old ancestors. Jack, a trailer park mechanic from Florida, is transported to Nox and he's the only one who can stop Hecubah. You're the trailer-park trash who must decide to follow the path of a warrior, a wizard, or a conjurer as you begin your quest to defeat Hecubah.

From those pesky bats to winged demons to screeching female Ogres, you'll hack n' slash or spellcast your way to the evil queen. At your disposal is a host of magical weapons, spells, and cool abilities like summoning creatures and laying down traps - throw three spells (like Stun, Slow, and Meteor) into a trap and when your foe stumbles in, the effects kick in - wickedly effective.

There's definitely more emphasis on the "action" part in this action/RPG. At times, the pace of the game can get really frantic - especially with four giant scorpions and a fireball-hurling mage at your tail. Multiplay action is even more so and reminiscent of a top-down Quake frag-fest as you scramble to find weapons.

The mouse and keyboard combination works well and spells are easily accessed with five keys and the mouse scroll wheel, though it is difficult to change weapons during battle. Brilliant colors in the surroundings and spectacular spell-effects highlight the graphics, and draw the attention away from the cartoonish characters. An appropriately medieval tune plays while you scream along with Jack when he gets nailed by the bad guys.

With the ability to replay as the other two types of character and a multiplay mode that supports up to 31 players on Westwood's servers, Nox rates an "excellent" in replay value. Oh, and it's a really slick single-player game too - pick this one up for hours of fun.

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