Rao Dao Zao

Rao Dao Zao · Sunday at 10:50 AM

I have played Two Worlds once before, but for some reason I did not blog about it back then. Playing it now I just can't understand why -- like all the best eurojank, Two Worlds is wobbly but makes some utterly fascinating choices. It is time to write this historic wrong.

Blog 1026: Two Worlds

Two Worlds Two Furious.

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Rao Dao Zao · Jul 12, 2026

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace's Battle Droids and their cute little STAP hoverbikes? No? How about their Lego versions? Wait, come ba--

Blog 1025: STAP Doing That

Lego of my stuff!

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Rao Dao Zao · Jul 5, 2026

I've spent my entire game dev career thus far going "pathfinding is difficult to implement, but it's a solved problem -- there are libraries for that". To be fair, this strategy that has worked for almost a decade, but as is tradition, the time has come for it to fall apart.

Blog 1024: Hey Now, You’re An A*

I ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed.

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Rao Dao Zao · Jun 28, 2026

A place where nobody dared to go, the love that we came to know -- they called it Xanadu Next. And now, open your eyes and see, what we have made is real -- we are in Xanadu Next.

Blog 1023: Xanadu Next

In Xanadu Next did Nihon Falcom a pleasure dome erect.

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Rao Dao Zao · Jun 21, 2026

It's X-COM, but not as we know it. Why bother with tense turn-based tactical battles where everybody dies when you can jet around at super speeds and spray bullets in all directions as the Enforcer battle-bot?

Blog 1022: X-COM: Enforcer

Take THIS to your leader!

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Rao Dao Zao · Jun 14, 2026

Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc may play a little fast and loose with history, but can you really argue when she gets to tear through hundreds of troops with sick combo attacks?

Blog 1021: Wars and Warriors: Joan of Arc

If Joan of Arc / Had a heart / Would she give it / As a third-person action-RPG/RTS hybrid.

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Rao Dao Zao · Jun 7, 2026

How many times should one remodel a huge chunk of map until it feels right? As many times as it takes, duh.

Blog 1020: Un/natural Forces

Rip it up and start again.

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Rao Dao Zao · May 31, 2026

I never played XCOM: Chimera Squad at the time because it didn't exactly get the rave reviews its predecessors garnered, but with no sign of XCOM 3 on the horizon I'm getting desperate. Will a bit of breach and clear keep me going?

Blog 1019: XCOM: Chimera Squad

XCOPS.

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Rao Dao Zao · May 24, 2026

There's always that worry when a sequel changes engine -- and developer -- that something essential might be lost along the way. Luckily, despite all the technlogical flourishes it brings to the table, Deadly Shadows still feels like proper Thief.

Blog 1018: Thief III

Thief: Dynamic Shadows.

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Rao Dao Zao · May 17, 2026

That's right, it's demo season again and once more I have been caught with Exon in a right mess. Can I put it back together enough in time for Edinburgh College Games eXpo in Codebase from 5.30pm to 8pm on Tuesday the 26th of May 2026? Guess you'll have to come along and find out. Entry is free!

Blog 1017: Say Hello, Wave Survive

Standing at the door of the game dev expo, crying in the rain / My game had a kind of so-so level and I’m gonna make sure it never happens again.

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More details about ECGx can be found here, if any of you can get your asses to Edinburgh: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/edinburghcollegegames/2176634

Rao Dao Zao · May 10, 2026

It is only natural that playing through XCOM leaves one with a desire for more XCOM. Luckily there exists a way to sate that desire: XCOM 2.

Blog 1016: XCOM 2

2X2COM

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Rao Dao Zao · May 4, 2026

One of my greatest filmic regrets is not going to see 2016 medieval action-fantasy The Great Wall at the cinema. Every time I watch it that pain grows stronger, because it's basically my perfect film.

Blog 1015: The Great Wall

The Great Film.

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A]mun · May 1, 2026

When This Wreckage 2? :wsmile:

(someone said jokingly)

MasterHaosis · Apr 30, 2026

Rao
Dao
Zao
:cgrin:

Rao Dao Zao · Apr 25, 2026

It turns out that when I played Thief II: The Metal Age as a teenager, the mission that caused me to give up was only two from the end -- so I had actually seen pretty much all of the game. Now I'm an adult, can I finally see it all the way through?

Blog 1014: Thief II

Unlike my school friends, I never had a rebellious metal age — I went straight to 80s synthpop.

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Rao Dao Zao · Apr 18, 2026

Another day, another bit of the level editor. While I've had a robust solution for doing natural terrains in Exon for ages now, I've struggled to integrate man-man mega-structures into the mix. Time to do something about that.

Blog 1013: Marching Squares

Mate, it’s April.

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Rao Dao Zao · Apr 11, 2026

Who doesn't love a bit of XCOM? This time I finally graduated from Easy to Normal difficulty and... Well, I did win, but it made me think. (Always dangerous.)

Blog 1012: XCOM

“XCOM” to the tune of “Sex Bomb” by Tom Jones.

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Rao Dao Zao · Apr 4, 2026

It is perhaps remiss of me to not have played one of the foundational texts of the immersive sim genre when I'm such a fan of Deus Ex, but here I am, late to the party as always: it's finally time for Thief.

Blog 1011: Thief

But what if you could sneak past the monsters?

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Rao Dao Zao · Mar 28, 2026

How hard is it to keep an open world populated with just the right number of wandering monsters? You already know the answer: quite hard, actually. Like everything. Sigh.

Blog 1010: Repopulation

Oh, it’s not perilous; the old creature spawning system would have made it perilous, but now the creature spawning system will not make it perilous.

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Rao Dao Zao · Mar 21, 2026

It is a truth universally held that the expansion pack does it better, and Star Wars: Empire At War: Forces of Corruption is no exception -- it takes the base game and slams it into hyperspace.

Blog 1009: Forces of Corruption

(Long John Baldry as Dr. Robotnik Voice) Forces of Corrrruption!

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Rao Dao Zao · Mar 14, 2026

Yes, Star Wars: Empire At War is still worth the price of entry for the automatic space battle movie camera system alone. Just ignore that bit where the Death Star successfully nukes Yavin 4.

Blog 1008: Empire At War

Stars for the star wa–! Oh, wait, wrong franchise.

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Rao Dao Zao · Mar 7, 2026

Venetica might actually be my favourite 7/10 eurojank game of all time -- scouring corruption from fantasy Venice is as fun as it is a refreshingly off-beat premise for a third-person action-RPG.

Blog 1007: Venetica

Venetica? Yeah, I know ‘ah pretty well.

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Rao Dao Zao · Feb 28, 2026

Sometimes a game doesn't survive a second play-through. According to the history books, I gave Divinity: Dragon Commander a glowing review when it launched, but today I struggle to see the appeal. I'm not getting old, you're getting old.

Blog 1006: Dragon Commander

Not a dragon supreme.

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Rao Dao Zao · Feb 21, 2026

Hard to believe, I know, but I just launched a video game. (No, not that one.)

Blog 1005: The World Needs Another Match-3 Game

Yeah but this one’s _mine_.

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Or skip the obligatory blog post (oblogatory?) and go straight to the game -- it's FREE and it plays straight in your browser! IsoMatch by Rao Dao Zao

Rao Dao Zao · Feb 14, 2026

I will apparently do a lot for a late-90s third-person fantasy game, namely waiting years for a suitably pristine retail copy to come on sale so I can snap it up. Finally, Drakan: Order of the Flame has winged its way to me.

Blog 1004: Drakan: Order of the Flame

Order of the Flame? It’d like the steak, please. Well done.

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Rao Dao Zao · Feb 8, 2026

You ever try to gently improve your level design tools and end up reimplementing Undo? No? Just me, then?

Blog 1003: A Deeper Can of Worms

And there’s nothin’ I can do, you’re so far, far away, you’re so far away.

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Rao Dao Zao · Feb 1, 2026

I definitely like the idea of stealth action games even if I'm rarely patient enough to pull them off. My time with Stolen was, alas, no different than usual. "Stick to the shadows," they said...

Blog 1002: Stolen

Stolen? No, I bought it… from a random guy on the internet…

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Rao Dao Zao · Jan 25, 2026

A new year is always a good time to reset the clock on a project that's been dragging for a while. It's time to put Shattered By Light back on schedule.

Blog 1001: Old Year’s Resolution

My new year’s resolution is the same as it ever was: 1440×1080, or 1024×768 if the game won’t take it.

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Rao Dao Zao · Jan 18, 2026

Sometimes in life you come across a game that just makes you want to gush. Today, Tribes: Vengeance is that game -- a triumph of a mid-00s FPS.

Blog 1000: Tribes: Vengeance

Why walk when you can slide?

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Rao Dao Zao · Jan 11, 2026

Legends of Aranna adds nothing to Dungeon Siege's core, but it does manage to rearrange the existing pieces into something markedly more compelling.

Blog 999: Legends of Aranna

I shouldn’t aranna way.

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Rao Dao Zao · Jan 5, 2026

Dungeon Siege is neither a satisfying action-RPG nor an engrossing tactical party RPG. In trying to straddle the line it has only managed to make the worst of both worlds... But god damn if it doesn't look good doing it.

Blog 998: Dungeon Siege

It’s okay, there actually is a dungeon that is under siege (right at the end).

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Rao Dao Zao · Dec 18, 2025

You didn't seriously think you'd get away without a UT2004 blog this year, did you? I've been playing for years and somehow only just discovered the hidden Onslaught ladder.

Blog 997: Onslaught

Vehicular manslaughter? I ‘ardly know ‘er!

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Rao Dao Zao · Dec 7, 2025

Looking back on the games I've played this year, it has been quite the eclectic mix. Critical darlings that I hate, critically maligned sequels that I love, plus the usual heap of weird old shit nobody else has heard of -- love 'em or hate 'em, though, they're all very pretty looking.

Blog 996: 2025 In Screenshots

So many screenshots, so little time.

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Rao Dao Zao · Nov 30, 2025

Since I've apparently been on an RTS kick recently, I decided to squeeze one more little one in before the festive season. Populous: The Beginning is an absolute classic that still shines despite its advanced years.

Blog 995: Populous: The Beginning

It’s an Ebenezer Goode game, where you can Move Any Mountain.

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Rao Dao Zao · Nov 23, 2025

Sometimes I overhear somebody mention an obscure old game and immediately set my sights on having it. Today's dive into the wilderness comes courtesy of Devastation, which is certainly an FPS from 2003.

Blog 994: Devastation

Flynn Haskell: revolutionary street fighter or functional programming language?

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Rao Dao Zao · Nov 16, 2025

I don't often play RTS skirmish matches, but when I do, it's... always Age of Empires II. But even AoE2 skirmishes don't quite hit the spot. Could they be better?

Blog 993: A Longer Short Battle

Skirmisher? I ‘ardly know ‘er!

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Rao Dao Zao · Nov 9, 2025

Why make one game when you can make two? KnightShift is primarly an RTS/RPG hybrid, but it also comes with a dedicated action-RPG mode...

Blog 992: KnightShift (RPG Mode)

It’s a game of two halves!

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Rao Dao Zao · Nov 2, 2025

If the prospect of a fantasy RPG/RTS isn't enough to get me through the door, then a punny title will definitely seal the deal.

Blog 991: KnightShift

Boogie Knights. Knight Fever. A Knight’s Tale. Wait–

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Rao Dao Zao · Oct 26, 2025

Did I mention it's probably time to rebuild another system? This time it's Terragne under the knife (again). Don't worry, it's not a full rebuild, just... major surgery.

Blog 990: The Path of the Level Editor

Modding support is definitely scope creep, you got me this time.

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Rao Dao Zao · Oct 19, 2025

Did somebody say "RTS with customisable laser-sword-wielding giant mechs"? Hellooooo there Metal Fatigue!

Blog 989: Metal Fatigue

METAAAALLLLLLLLLLL! \m/

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Rao Dao Zao · Oct 11, 2025

Winter of the Wolf offers a slightly disappointing new campaign after all the delights of Battle Realms, but at least it's the obligatory snowy expansion pack.

Blog 988: Winter of the Wolf

The night I left the city… I dreamt of a wolf.

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Rao Dao Zao · Oct 3, 2025

Battle Realms is an RTS packed with more than enough cute flourishes to embarrass any of its early-00s contemporaries.

Blog 987: Battle Realms

Battle Realms is another one of those games that GOG gave away for free at some point, years and years ago, and despite thinking “that looks kinda cool” for most of that time, I’v…

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Rao Dao Zao · Sep 17, 2025

Sometimes what you need is an obscure early-00s FPS with expansive, often beautiful levels... Just a shame the shooting's not up to much. That'll be why Chaser is obscure, then.

Blog 986: Chaser

“If You Can Hold A Gun You’re Not Dead” (yes, this is the tagline)

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Rao Dao Zao · Sep 7, 2025

Initially I was surprised by Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir's swerve into free-form world map wandering, then I realised that I loved its skill-driven discoveries and bite-sized dungeons.

Blog 985: Storm of Zehir

The obligatory jungle expansion pack.

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Rao Dao Zao · Aug 31, 2025

Mask of the Betrayer continues the story of Neverwinter Nights 2... sort of. In as much as some more stuff happens to the same person for (mostly) unrelated reasons. Luckily high-level D&D is always good fu-- oh. Oh dear.

Blog 984: Mask of the Betrayer

Y.M.O. – Behind the Mask (of the Betrayer)

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Rao Dao Zao · Aug 24, 2025

Now that exhibition season is over I've returned to working on Exon's art, which inevitably means I need to play with the Milkshape file importer again. I swear, I'll never be happy.

Blog 983: Extra Model Data

How long do we think it’ll be until I do the obligatory regretpost rescinding everything I say here?

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Rao Dao Zao · Aug 15, 2025

It turns out that the more open-ended a scenario is, the harder it is to get the pacing right. Who could have predicted this?

Blog 982: Shattered By Pacing

“We’ve reached the point of no progress reports,” he said, before immediately coming out with another progress report.

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Rao Dao Zao · Aug 3, 2025

Despite thinking that Neverwinter Nights was a honking pile of shit, I decided it was time to play the sequel. It does have a better reputation, but then again, so have many other sequels I didn't like... I... I may have a problem.

Blog 981: Neverwinter Nights 2

Alwayssummer Days.

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Rao Dao Zao · Jul 27, 2025

Picture the scene: you're in a fight and you desperately need some repairs, but all your repair kits are stuck in your inventory and you can't grab them. Well, what if they weren't hidden away...?

Blog 980: Quick Slots

Hammer Z to consume 18 cheese wheels.

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Rao Dao Zao · Jul 21, 2025

Dawn of War II's second expansion pack decided to half-heartedly become an RTS again and I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Blog 979: Retribution

In the grim darkness of the far future, there are only missed opportunities.

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