Bounty Hounds Online is a sci-fi MMO game being developed by Taiwan-based XPEC Entertainment, which is reportedly  inspired by massive piracy of the original Bounty Hounds on PSP. (the developer also developed the most popular browser mmorpg Canaan Online)

The original game was a collaboration with Namco, sort of a Sci-Fi Monster Hunter-like title.

Bounty Hounds Online is more MMO than Monster Hunter, with its sci-fi themes and robotic pet.

In Bounty Hounds Online ( BHO), you will role play as a mercenary who is hired by a private ammo enterprise to explore the distant galaxy. You will then need to lead thousands of fellows through fire and water in order to earn handsome reward. In the game, players will suffer fierce shellfire in battlefield, fight against brand new mechanic species and finally unveil the conspiracy behind justice, and they can also capture various extraterrestrial creatures.

BHO inherits the fictional universe of Bounty Hounds. Players will reside in a fictional vast universe consisting of 39 zones filled with 3 different style celestial bodies and fight with your fellows side by side to combat various extraterrestrial creatures. Players can use the same simple manipulation with Bounty Bounds to experience real-time chop, shooting, stab and much more in the 3D space.

Developed by XPEC Entertainment, this manga-styled game delivers an lovely pet system, social network, free virtual world features and ever-questing system. In Canaan Online you will experience the latest Chinese flash technology, that is, presents a China’s leading flash technology level. The game has been released in China since 2008. Now it is open to global.

By signing up an account, you will  enter a vast, diversified and virtual world based on the internet connection only, you can choose four classes to embark on your journey

Warrior

Warriors are close combat fighters who like to be in the thick of battle.
Encased in heavy armour they are protected from the strongest physical blows. They are good at dealing damage while protecting their team and have a strong resistance to physical damage but low defence against magic power. They should not be underestimated, as they are resilient and nearly always found on the front-line.
Perseverance – When your HP is lower than 35%, increase your physical attack by 50%.
Protection – Increase your physical defence and spell resistance by 150%.

Mage,

Mages are highly intelligent with a natural affinity for controlling the elements.
A crackling ice storm or a raging wall of fire on the battlefield is a sure sign a Mage is nearby.
They have low health and physical defence but make up for it with their ability to inflict huge damage.
Because of their fragile nature, it’s important that the party protects them.
Ignition – 30% chance to do 120 fire damage every 3sec for 30sec with fire damage spells.
Polymeric Ice Shield – Ice shield, decrease physical damage received by 60% for 40sec.

Ranger

Trained to be lethally accurate with a bow, Rangers like to pick off their targets from a distance while the enemy is distracted. They have the highest dexterity which increases their damage as well as avoidance.
They are agile and deadly, attacking with fearsome speed and accuracy.
They have medium defence and high damage.
Flame Arrow – Burning arrow, attack power 230, decrease target’s spell resists by 200p for 20sec.
Intensified Arrow Rain – Arrow rain, attack power 520, decrease enemy’s damage by 30% and crit by 150p for 20sec.

Priest

Priests are blessed with the ability to control light and darkness.
While they are widely known for their powerful heals and buffs, they also have command of dark magic which can make them fierce adversaries.
They are good fighting alone or supporting a team with their buffs and heals. In this way, they are a valued member of any party, taking time to selflessly protect and support their friends while doing damage to their foes.
Self Regeneration – Recover 1500HP, as well as recovering 70HP every 4sec for 55sec.
Dark Shadow – Dark damage, attack power 140, 70% chance to cause 25p of dark damage every 3sec for 25sec.

The game is published by Gala Europe, so if you are from China, or Asian countries, you cannot have access to the game directly. Catering for online games and casual MMORPG players, Canaan Online features dozens of rare pets which can be captured and then trained, before being traded. It also features a well developed chat and crafting system, allowing players to make new friends, join guilds, and run their own item shops trading items and their pets with other players. For convenience, it also gives players the choice of automatic combat mode as well as the ability to take full control of the action.

-About XPEC Entertainment-

Established in 2000, XPEC Entertainment is the leading interactive entertainment software developer and publisher in Greater China. With great passion and solid development skills, XPEC delivers more than 14 titles in the worldwide market in the past 9 years Latest titles include, “Kung Fu Panda”(PS2/ Wii, 2008), “Hardy Boys- the Hidden Theft”(Wii/ PC 2009) Located in Taipei, Shanghai, Beijing and Suzhou with more than 500 employees, XPEC builds up a skilled and experienced team with solid achievements. In the mean time, XPEC has dedicated eight years in research and development for web MMORPG and is amongst the few studios in the world to have spent so much effort for web MMORPG development. XPEC is the pioneer and leader in the field for developing client-free game.

Check preview of Canaan Online in 2009

Check review of Canaan Online

Before I register an account of gPotato.eu’ Canaan Online, I have read some of press release about this game, and what is more, I have played some time In Chinese version in 2009.  With curiosity and passion, I began to play the English version Canaan Online, also known as  China’s 2009 most popular webgame.
At the first glimpse, I saw the lovely Japan-styled characters.  Actually, I am a fan of Japanese comics, so the graphics stuck me deeply— Maps, Monsters, Beasts, and the magic skills.

Being a player with much experience on playing various MMORPG titles, I haven’t seen such game playable in my FireFox browser.  Basically, the game has exceeded my expectation and did shock me a bit.  I couldn’t believe a game that is based on web Flash can achieve no less than typical 2D, or 2.5D  MMORPG.  I was really amazed by its presentation and stunning graphics.  This title is simply amazing.

Super Low Game Configuration

Unlike a typical MMORPG, which may require you to have high-configured computer or specific graphic card, or processor to run, “Canaan Online ” simply needs the basic internet connection and a web browser that supports JAVA and integrated with FLASH.  So, this doesn’t limit when or where you can enjoy this title.  Now, that’s definitely a plus for me!

Cute & Magical Fighting Pet

One of the key feature that left me with deep impression is the pet system in the game.  I, personally, is fanatic about a big pet system  and have seen quite similar pet features on other MMORPGs.  However, the pets in “Canaan Online” still gives me great impression.

My character is a female warrior, having a most common pet—little Elf.  The Elf is very cute, like your typical “Lolita” look.  As I encountered group of monster in the game, my Elf automatically assisted me in the battle.  This actually makes me level up playing,  more exciting and gives me the variety of tactics that I can use.  Certainly, it even gives me time to chat with my party members.  Sweet!  What a nice feature for me when I get lazy.

Based on the developer’s description, pet, is a core element of “Canaan Online”.  Each player can take maximum of 3 pets in a battle.  One will fight along with you side by side, the other two pets will fight next to you as support with black/white magic.  You can also breed and upgrade your pets to increase their abilities and skills.  Pets can even level up higher than the player’s character.  With this game design, player will not get bored with simple level up grinding, and adds different tactics on the battle.

Flashy & “In” gear  and AVATAR

Besides pet system, another attraction for “Canaan” is the AVATAR feature.  For player who likes to customize their characters a lot, I think you will find this game addicting and spend much time on it.  Since the game supports 3D model rendered to 2D, so it gives you a more realistic feeling.

Regardless of  your class warriors, rangers, wizard, or other professions, you will find great fun in customizing your characters with various equipments.  In addition, all equipments and weapons can be forged and upgraded.  So, that’s definitely a plus for you AVATAR fan out there!

A Fight System that’s even for Couch Potatoes!

With all these feature said, let’s talk about game play a bit.  Personally, I am a bit lazy person.  I usually don’t find a game with great complexity of control friendly, and I don’t have a great deal of time to learn it.  Luckily, “Canaan” saves that trouble for me.  Many features only require one simple click or simple control and input.  So, while I am having a battle with the monsters on my quest, I can still chat with my friends easily in the game.  That’s a great feature for a lazy and greedy player like me.  I can level up and socializing in “Canaan” at the same time.

Besides the game play control, the game also showed me stunning visual effects.  We also shouldn’t leave the splendid game special effect behind: whether it’s the burning fire ball, flowing ice arrow or raving Whirlwind will all blow your mind away. Certainly, it still can’t be compared to 3D games, but being a 2D game, this one is really awesome!

Conclusion

Overall, based on its visual graphics, I consider this FLASH online game “Canaan” as pretty top notch under the browser game category.  It offers what most of people seek in a MMORPG, whether it’s battle, pet breeding, grouping, quest, community, avatar, and equipment customizing.  But, there are still some minor tweaks that need to improve, and hopefully, XPEC can improve these things during open/closed Beta with testers’ feedback.  In conclusion, this is still a recommended title that people should try.  I think you will enjoy this alternative Flash online web game.

About Canaan Online

Explore the adventurous world together with your friends! You will encounter mythical beasts and there are numerous quests to have …

Canaan is a massively multiplayer online game that you can just play in the browser, without downloading a client. To the browser game in a manga style to be able to start, you just need a current Flash Player.

What is at stake in the game? Canaan is one of several worlds, who created the gods. Although it is just the land of Canaan for 100 years, there have already been many wars. Four famous heroes have been called to their aid, therefore, to finally bring peace to the country: the Ranger Kalika, Heineger the magician, the shaman and finally Emil Valhalla, the warriors. Their task was to find the divine beasts, with which they were ordained to open the gate – a gate that leads into a legend, a peaceful world.

In its mission, however, is something wrong. The king of Canaan, died and the heroes were attacked. It is not clear whether they all survived. Although it was later quietly in the land of Canaan, but the church still put together a new expedition, which will finally open the gate ordained. Among the many young adventurers who venture on this mission, can now include you.

There are so many exciting quests and danger, of course, on you. But you’ll also meet friends with whom you jointly tackle the challenge. Together, perhaps it creates actually lead the people of Canaan for ever in a peaceful world. Among other things, it is important to track down the ancient “The Book of ideals”, which has the power to open the gate to paradise.