Coming to PC and Playstation 4 Kingdom Under Fire II is easily one of my most anticipated games as it returns to its roots combining massive scale Real-time Strategy and Stylish Hack N’ Slash combat, reminiscent of the critically acclaimed Kingdom Under FIre: The Crusaders. Kingdom Under Fire is one of my favorite franchises and with its long tumultuous development, it’s been a battle in of itself to get the game out there. After playing the Beta a while back, I can say that whenever Kingdom Under Fire II is released it will automatically be a lock for one of my Game of the Year Candidates. With that said I thought I’d share with you why I am excited for this video game combo’ed with some quick refreshers for the uninformed. Unlike previous entries, Kingdom Under Fire II is an MMORPG allowing for thousands of players to battle (with and against) each other under guilds in both PVP and PVE, taking the game’s formula and opening it up to be much bigger than the previous games online modes in terms of content and scope. For you Kingdom Under Fire vets, I can assure you that all the staples of Kingdom Under Fire combat and gameplay return. The game features three classes: The Gunslinger (who wields a sword and guns), The Spellsword (who uses a modified ice staff/sword) and The Berserker (who wields a giant/greatsword), two more classes will be announced soon. While I am not generally a graphics enthusiast Kingdom Under Fire II is serious eye candy in terms of both art design and technical showcase with thousands of detailed character models and monsters dominating the battlefield. The level of detail is stunning and character creation is equally deep. As a Kingdom Under Fire veteran, you can bet that I am looking forward to the new campaign. For a refresher, Kingdom Under Fire II canonically takes place 150 years after the events of The Crusaders and Circle of Doom with the three factions being The Human Alliance, The Dark Legion and the new Encablossians led by the returning series favorite Regnier. The Encablossians look to destroy the Age of Light and reassert the cycle of Light and Dark Ages; the only person with the power to match Regnier is Kendal who also escaped from the Dark Dimension in Circle of Doom. The game introduces new characters such as Glen, the half human/elven son of Gerald and Ellen; Isabella, the new leader of Kaedes and returning characters such as Regnier, Kendal (who is a Playstation 4 exclusive character) and also Morene, the new Queen of Vellond. At this time I am not sure whether or not they will address Isabella and Lucretia as far as what happened with Kaedes. As far as Kingdom Under Fire II is concerned, my excitement of the title hasn’t faltered and even with its development woes I have confidence in Blueside to deliver an excellent sequel worthy of its predecessors. Kingdom Under Fire II related links: http://www.kufii.com/ http://kuf2.mmog.asia/en/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_Under_Fire_II http://steparu.com/reviews/mmorpg/1496- https://www.youtube.com/user/KingdomUnderFireII?feature=mhee With the elimination of jobs, underemployment, discrimination, overwork, micromanagement, etc. With the right mindset, elbow grease and discipline freelancing can be a very rewarding path. Here are 3 reasons why. Freedom and Flexibility: Perhaps the biggest selling point is the opportunities to set your hours, be your own boss and control your own destiny. If offers you the ultimate work-life balance since you can balance it how you like without the worry of repercussions that come with corporate jobs. No worrying about emergencies or unexpected events as you are given free time to immediately address these concerns. This is especially huge if you love to travel because you have the opportunity to work from anywhere. Do Something You Love: While not true in every instance (let’s be realistic here) there are a wealth of freelance opportunities and some form of paid work is bound to click with you and your desired lifestyle. Perhaps you’ve been looking to pick up some new skills and put them to work, freelancing gives you the opportunity to do just that. If you know where to look and how to market, the opportunities will come. Unlimited Earning Potential: The beautiful thing about freelancing is that there is no financial ceiling and with enough work you could find yourself making a good living off it with the benefits of my previously mentioned points. As good paying regular jobs become more and more scare, freelancing offers the potential to bypass the fluff and expand your revenue net in less time versus a regular job, in freelance clients will still pay top dollar for top talent. Freelancing certainly isn’t for everyone and it takes a vast amount of self discipline, hustle, patience and perseverance to become successful but for those who want to live on their own terms, freelance offers the gateway to freedom. Some jobs are never fun and we all have mouths to feed but that’s no good if your health is waning and you’re on the edge of insanity. Taking everything into account here are three legitimate reasons you should consider looking for something else. You’re Miserable. At the top of the list should be your personal health. Stress often goes hand in hand with jobs, but too much stress can seriously damage your health both physically and mentally. It can hurt your productivity, damage relationships and in some cases lead to depression and in worse case, work related suicide. If it gets to the point where the pain is too much to handle for any reason, walk away and if others get upset at you they’ll get over it. No job is worth your life, period. The Pay Doesn’t Cut It. Underemployment is at an all time high, wages have stagnated while the cost of living continues to increase. Some jobs these days often put you on erratic scheduling which locks you out of getting a second job. This means if your current job isn’t paying the bills and leaving a little extra on the side then either negotiate or walk. Before you do make sure to scout around for the best offer but don’t be afraid to take a month or two off (no longer than three ideally) if you have the funds to recharge your batteries and treat yourself. No Sense of Fulfillment. Motivation plays a huge role in job satisfaction, employee morale and production rate. If you feel like you’re twiddling your thumbs and going nowhere, make the effort to switch to something more in-tuned to your tastes, your personal goals and ultimately your happiness. Plan out your method and whether it is short term or long term to reach your destination, you yourself have to put in work to get where you want to be. Life is tough, but the most important thing to remember is that work doesn’t own you and shouldn’t be a barrier to your personal growth and happiness. When things get tough, sometimes it best to step away from it all to regain peace and perspective. |
Frank Sheppard
NOTE: all opinions/views represented here are my own and do not reflect on any third party that I am affiliated with. Archives
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