Guardians Of Graxia Gets Steamed Up

Although it launched on Steam last week to a rocky start, Petroglyph games released its latest content filled Map Pack, for the tiny price tag of $12. There has been some great content added and a few items that didn't make it in. So let's take a look at what we should be thankful for in this latest content release for Guardians of Graxia.

With Guardians of Graxia's Steam launch, players can pick up the original game along with the expansive map pack for under $12. This includes the %10 Steam discount. If you want to pick up the Map Pack as a standalone item it's only $3. Thinking about picking up the combo pack, I suggest you check out our review of the original Guardians of Graxia first. So let's get into the content. What does the Map Pack-1 get you? Well for starters you get ten additional maps with some outstanding and rich new environments, five new units, four new achievements and a partridge in a pear tree. Okay, I made that last one up.

Players will get five new unit cards added to your deck, a Mountain Giant, Two Dragons, a Tower of Shadow and a Great Hyvexx. Do you hear that? That's the sound of the inevitable defeat of your enemies. Also in this patch alongside the original twelve achievements released on the Steam version of GoG, achievement junkies can look forward to four new Steam achievements that make an already challenging game a maniacally challenging game.

Here's the list of new maps released with a brief description:

  1. A Damsel in Distress - The trinity of castles Luna, Lumiera and Shio are strongholds of the oldest sisterhoods to the order of Lightbringers. Each castle is lead by a princess who is the keeper of ancient secrets and tomes past down through the generations.
  2. Battle for Hornback - As the birthplace of all monsters it has long since seen many battles and power struggles, most notably among the Dragons and the Giants. Both claim dominion over the land for their own selfish glory and have amassed loyal factions to aid in their cause.
  3. Brotherhood of the Wild - The arrogance of man can no longer be tolerated. For far too long our kind has been subject to their misunderstanding, ignorance and greed. We are the powerful, the mighty the immortal.
  4. Defend the Northern City of Kall-Dera - The great northern city of Kall-Dera has long been held by the most tenacious of world leaders. Surrounded by natural barriers and rich in resources including concentrated deposits of mana the north has changed hands in leadership more than any city in all of Graxia.
  5. Destroy the Tower of Shadows - The Boneshadow have recently taken control of the Tower of Shadows, an ancient hall that was built by the undead creatures of Graxia.
  6. March to End Row - Enemy troops have besieged the people and are hording precious resources. Reclaim your beloved homeland from marauding invaders before all is lost.
  7. Master the Drysden Portals - Drysden was once a rich and fertile land that sustained a large population of Humans and Celethreal’s. Both groups took from the land equally, mining precious mana and reveled in the bounty the land offered.
  8. Sacrifice on the Isle of Soldera - Guardians Shadd and Oshnuk are locked in a fierce battle of wills on the Isle of Soldera. For almost a full cycle of the moon the fight has waged, with heavy losses on both sides.
  9. The Hidden City of Arkanstone - The mysterious city of Arkanstone has always been at the very epicenter of debate among those who seek of power. Abandoned for almost a century Arkanstone is surrounded by dense forests and only the brave have dared to venture there, most never to return.
  10. The Highroad to Castle Stofia - Castle Stofia is one of the oldest castle towns in all of Graxia. It was built by the noble family Stofia centuries ago and is regarded by most to be a forgotten relic.

One big upset I find with this new expansion was the lack of a Multiplayer option. I really feel that this is the one feature that will round out the game and give it that real across-the-board feel. It's also the one feature that everyone who has played this game has asked for. Now being on Steam this is going to be a must have. I can confirm that Petroglyph is diligently working on it but a release date is still up in the air.

Also the distribution of the Map Pack on Steam before releasing it on the original GamersGate website is a bit rough. Players that had purchased the original game on GamersGate are still waiting for the Map Pack to be available to them, while steam players are suffering a few game play issues. Petroglyph has assured players that the map pack IS coming to GamersGate but they are trying to hammer out the issues with the Steam release first.

A full expansion is slated for December this year, and we should hear some news about it after the turkey and stuffing have settled. Keep an eye here for all the latest GoG news as the holidays come crashing in.