This week’s free game: “Nox”
Are you a gamer? Do you like free things? Of course you do!
We here at the Tech Deck are just like you: poor gamers looking for cheap entertainment. And nothing's cheaper than cost-free gaming. Each week, we'll bring you a title (or two or three) you can legally play at home without plopping down a single dollar. If you see games you think we should be featuring on the blog, email us at dang@spokesman.com or kiph@spokesman.com.
Bumbling Earthlings have been transported to magical worlds over and over again in popular culture. Arthur Dent is sent rocketing through the cosmos in "A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." Peter Quill becomes self-proclaimed hero Star Lord in "Guardians of the Galaxy." Martin Lawrence plays a feudal warrior in "Black Knight."
Sean William Scott lends his pipes to Jack Mower, a young man transported to a mystical realm by a mantlepiece in the opening moments of Westwood Studios' 2000 action RPG "Nox." You can battle the evil Hecubah herself by downloading the game below, part of Electronic Arts' "On the House" promotion!
To download the game, you'll need to register with an EA account and download the Origin client onto your computer. It's not aesthetically pleasing, but if you've been following this blog you should have already downloaded Command and Conquer: Red Alert 2, Syndicate and SimCity to this point, three great EA classics. Nox is another great entry in the "On the House" promotion. For questions on downloading, check out EA's help page.
Nox was widely praised on its release, granting the player three distinct play types and endings based on the class chosen for Jack. It released five months before Diablo II, and drew comparisons right away. Lead designer Michael Booth said his intention was to create a "Gauntlet" for a new generation.
Booth left Westwood Studios when it was acquired by Electronic Arts, and went on to help co-found Turtle Rock Studios in 2002. The developer worked for Valve on ports of Half-Life for home consoles. Booth stayed with the company during the development of its breakthrough original hit, Left 4 Dead, but departed the company soon after.
What's your favorite bumbling video game hero? Did you play Nox when it was originally released? Let us know in the comments below, and check back next week for another free game.
