Laxius Power is one of the best fanmade RPGs I have ever seen. Although the plot is quite cliche, the game more than makes up for this with sheer size: not counting numerous side quests and secret locations, Laxius Power will easily take you more than 50 hours to complete.
Coded with ASCII's RPG Maker application, Laxius Power is a console-style RPG, which means you get to control a party of anime-style characters and explore a Final Fantasy-style world. The game lets you control multiple characters, and even allows you to change the difficulty level - a nice touch that more RPGs should have. One of the best things about the game is that you have considerable freedom of movement: there are always many locations you can explore at any given time - giving the game a strong non-linear feel.

Before you download the game, be warned: unlike most "cute" anime RPGs, this one has a number of "mature" elements that could offend you. There is offensive language and precarious sexual situations depicted, although nothing as blatant as the mildest of Japanese adult Hentai games. Also to the designer's credit, the sexual overtones never become the main focus of the game (it is normally quite obvious if a game designer is using sex as a 'cheap' gimmick to attract more players). The writing is awkward and stilted in some areas, probably a result of the game being translated from French, or coded by a non-native English speaker. That's nothing to detract from the fun, though. Overall, I find Laxius Power to be one of the best freeware RPGs today. If you enjoy console-style RPGs, check out this excellent underdog that will occupy you for dozens of hours. If offensive material put you off, though, your best bet is to look for a more 'traditional' console RPG. Two thumbs up for this underdog.

DROD 3D is a hilarious, intelligent, addictive dungeon game that features Beethro, the colorful hero and shrewd swordsman who makes a living by fighting his way down the 25 levels to destroy the monsters that have invaded the underground. With him, the game is easy to learn and you become rapidly an expert in subterranean monster destruction. Deeper you got down the caves and cleverer get the monsters. Beethro and you have to strain muscles and brain to defeat mother cockroaches, serpents, evil eyes, goblins, wraithwings and other monsters, solve astute enigmas and find your way out of this territory of terror and glory. The capacity of monsters in wrong doing once get boosted when Brains enter the game. Finally its the kings own son, who forges alliances with the monster and became the master of the underground empire of evil. This game and all protagonists have been redesigned in full 3D to make the atmosphere more dramatic, but basically you will find the same thrill and entertainment that in the original masterpiece of Erik Hermansen, the genial creator of DROD. Erik is the guy who wanted to write games that his little sister likes to play and really did it. Who could do merrier and better?