MOBA X Smartphones? Why not! - Vainglory Reader's Review

WARNING: This particular review is about a game that is based on a genre known as the "multiplayer online battle arena". For those who have serious addiction cases, be forewarned on playing these kinds of games, as they are literally addictive to the point of neglect. Do NOT attempt to play these games if you know you have these kinds of problems. No wonder these games are EXTREMELY controversial... :/

That being said... LET'S BEGIN! :)

Whenever you hear the term "Multiplayer Online Battle Arena". what is the first thing that comes to your mind? League of Legends? DotA? Heroes of Newerth? Well, in my case, yes. I am a hypocrite if I told you I don't know about them.

However, there is one thing in common for those mentioned games; they are all PC exclusives, which means those who don't have a PC (or people who can only afford low-end computers) will not be able to enjoy these games. Trust me, I tried.

So where do people cling on to next? Of course, the mobile space! There are many "DotA clones" that was released on mobile devices and that is worth saying. There is a problem though; the games were either too unbalanced, too cumbersome, or too cheap to the point where they are being labelled as just plain rip-offs of already existing MOBA games. While some of them are good, most of them are just shameless to the point of disgust...

Fortunately, those guys at Super Evil Megacorp (what a stupid name for a game developer to be honest) have managed to create a MOBA game for smartphones that is neither too similar nor too unbalanced for both casual and professional players alike.

Welcome to the Halcyon Fold! THIS IS VAINGLORY!!!

Title: Vainglory
Date released: November 16, 2014 (iOS Version) and July 2, 2015 (Android Version)
Company: Super Evil Megacorp (silly, I know)
Genre: Multiplayer online battle arena
Platform: Mobile
ESRB Rating: None (but Teen if otherwise)



Brief Background: Super Evil Megacorp, the people behind Vainglory, was a video game developer consisted of different programming "veterans" coming from different companies such as Blizzard Entertainment (known for Warcraft III and the popular mod made by IceFrog, the latter being hired by Valve to make Dota 2) and Riot Games (people responsible for League of Legends). The game started development back in 2012 when the company was just being formed. In 2014, a development demo was released to demonstrate the graphics used in the game.

What do you do here?
You play as a unique hero that fights as your avatar in the Halcyon Fold. From there, you need to protect your Vain crystals while, at the same time, use your tactical know-hows to destroy the enemy Vain crystal of the opposing team. Basically, that's it.

What makes the game interesting?
The first thing you will notice in this game is, unlike most popular MOBA games, the game only consists of three players on each side of the playing field; defending the Vain crystals. While the formula is similar to that of other MOBAs, the fights are really easy to look out for, since that there are only a few units fighting meaning that there is no chance that clashes will get cluttered by attacks and spells.

As of the time of this writing, there are thirty heroes to pick and choose to fight for you in the Halcyon Fold. There's a catch though, the heroes must be bought in order for them to be used permanently. Otherwise, you have to stick to the free-heroes on rotation. Keep in mind that the roster of free-heroes changes every week. This is pretty interesting since that you can be able to try different heroes right away and and giving you less of a hassle of picking on their skill sets.

Despite of the small roster of heroes, each of them have unique abilities, known as Perks that works differently for each hero, and a set of attacks that add depths of play as you unravel each hero's potential. Also, it doesn't have a traditional level up system. While your profile do level up, your heroes don't. They only level up during battles and the level resets after the battle ends. In short, skill is the name of the game and not an MMO of sorts where equipment and stats are deciding factors. Additionally, leveling up your account means that it can give you some awesome goodies like currencies and other stuff.

There are two game modes; Standard PVP and Battle Royale. Standard is your typical Vainglory game; defend the Vain Crystal, power up, defeat enemies, and destroy the opposing team's Vain Crystal. Battle Royale on the other hand is kinda similar to League's All Random All Mid that takes place in the Howling Abyss. Both of these game modes can only be played at the Halcyon Fold; the jungle being inaccessible when playing Battle Royale.

There are two ways to get heroes; through in-game currency (known as Glory) and premium currency (known as ICE). While Glory can only be received in-game, ICE on the other hand can be obtained primarily through real money. Fortunately, there are random ICE giveaways as well as you can receive a plenty of them early on in the game, meaning you don't need to pay that much for as long as you are persistent.

Just like in other MOBAs, you can only purchase equipment in the base. There are 4 categories; Weapon, Crystal, Defense, and Utility. Each of these types grant a variety of bonuses and perks, allowing you to make games easier for you, or better yet, lead your team towards victory! Also, you can properly experiment with each of these categories; allowing you to create different build combinations that suits your play style. Combine it with proper team coordination, as well as learning the basics of how to use your hero, and you will definitely win fights!

Ever getting trouble in getting good allies that can help you win battles? This game has a nice way of doing just this. Introducing the Karma System; a matchmaker that allows the server to match you with players that is either equal or above your skill level. While it doesn't properly explain what it is, at least this can give you some peace of mind. Take note that you can gain Karma by receiving "thumbs ups" after a match and you lose some by receiving "thumbs downs".

The most interesting thing about this game is that the developers of this game have actually managed to create a MOBA game that is specifically optimized for the mobile. Also, with almost any modern smartphone at your disposal, the game runs extremely well most of the time while providing an excellent time. Just be sure to take breaks every once in a while though as this game can easily get you hooked!

What are the flaws I found in this game?
First of all, the game itself has a very steep learning curve, which means that the game will punish you for being terrible at it. This is very unwelcoming for a lot of new players as the game has to ensure that you already have prior knowledge of other MOBAs to fully shine.

Also, the lack of alternative stages can be pretty bothersome. I understand that the developers may not want to further strain low-end devices, but come on, a little variety to the stages can be really fun.

The Karma system, as mentioned, is not entirely fleshed out. The system is very ambiguous and there is a chance that it can be abused just for the heck of it. I have seen on how the Tribunal works in League of Legends took a step further where you can find certain statistics throughout a certain match, including the conversations made. Additionally, you don't even know when you will get low Karma so that you can do good the next time around.

Another complaint is the game connectivity. There are certain circumstances that pings will go extremely high to the point of frustration; even with a fast internet connection. Heck, even mobile data users have to meet odds and ends first before playing properly.

While the game itself is not entirely pay-to-win, the game encourages you to pay as you will be forced to make diverse strategies as the meta continues to grow; which means that buying characters is MANDATORY! While you can buy them via in-game cash, collecting them is a hassle.

So what makes Vainglory stand out from other MOBAs?
Well... there really is nothing to write home about this game, other than the unique 3v3 layout and map. Meh, nothing just nothing. Everything else, from the combat to the heroes, is all the same.

Do you recommend this game?
Absolutely not! Despite the extremely addictive nature and pretty nice game play, I would not recommend it for casual players and for those who have addictive tendencies. Sure it doesn't have any noticeable side-effects, but things could get worse at any given time...

On the other hand, if you are a die-hard fan of MOBAs and you can't afford to simply miss a match, then feel free to download the game. It packs a lot of things going for.

Overall Rating: 8.1/10
A MOBA at the palm of your hand, Vainglory has a distinct feel that really screams performance! It is not really a game that anyone can enjoy right away, but if you are up for the challenge in testing your strategic prowess and patience, then you might want to grab this game.

Just don't be too absorbed in this game. Trust me, it's mind-numbing at best, soul-crushing at worst.

--END OF REVIEW--

TO EVERYONE WHO ARE ENJOYING THE NEW YEAR, I WISH THAT YOU HAVE A NICE AND A PROSPEROUS YEAR AHEAD!!! :D

Sport some dice and get ready to DUEL! - Yu-Gi-Oh! Dungeon Dice Monsters Reader's Review

Before I stopped playing Yu-Gi-Oh!, I have played the heck of this awesome game. While it is very controversial at some point in time, the game itself is a smashing success. From the rules to the card sets, everything about this game is just solid and has a very high replay value; especially with a ton of card types and starter decks of different variants being released throughout the years.

While the franchise is very well known for its card games, the franchise also ventured through tabletop territory. One of them is D.D.M. or Dungeon Dice Monsters.

The game itself, in my opinion, is a nice alternative of the card game format. However, the game itself is extremely complicated; especially for beginners. Me, on the other hand, has somehow managed to embrace the game after careful planning and learning the game's tedious rule set.

Unfortunately, I did not actually played the physical version of the game but rather the GBA version, which is actually nice since it is not a messy way to play it. Not to mention that the game itself is pretty much obscure to a lot of people and die-hard fans of Duel Monsters are the only ones who can fully appreciate the game, if not understand it's rules.

Enough with the introductions and its time for the Reader's Review of Yu-Gi-Oh! Dungeon Dice Monsters!

Title: Yu-Gi-Oh! Dungeon Dice Monsters
Date Released: February 12, 2003
Company: Konami
Genre: Card/Board Battler
Platform: Game Boy Advance
ESRB Rating: E



Brief Background: This game was actually based on a short arc regarding Duke Devlin (Ryuji Otogi in the Japanese version) introducing a new game called Dungeon Dice Monsters, a heavily modified version of Duel Monsters that uses dice to summon monsters and perform actions. Prior to the beginning of the Duelist Kingdom arc, Maximillion Pegasus made a deal with Duke for the game to be released worldwide. After an impressive victory against the creator of Dungeon Dice Monsters, Pegasus became pleased with the game itself and promised for such an exposure. Unfortunately, Pegasus was defeated by Yugi Muto and Duke blames the latter for DDM's failure to go global and tells Yugi that he will defeat a cheater such as himself. Joey Wheeler challenged Duke, only to be humiliated by the latter in the last minute by defeating the former in a single turn. After seeing his friend being mocked by forcing Joey to wear a dog costume, Yugi, under the guise of his dark counterpart Yami, challenged Duke against the latter's very own game. Despite having a bad start due to the lack of understanding to the rules of the game, Yami proved his superior gaming smarts, quickly learned the rules, and turned the tables in his favor; ultimately defeating Duke in the end.

A physical version of the game was released in 2002 and published by Mattel. Unfortunately, the game itself was a failure and certain monsters in the board game were incorporated to the card games instead, such as Strike Ninja.

What do you do here?
There's no plot in this game, but rather you participate in a number of tournaments. All of which packs a decent challenge provided that you are unfamiliar to the game. It gets difficult as you proceed so be sure to get your best dice as early as possible... if you can manage to nab them that is.

What makes this game interesting?
It is basically a different way to play Duel Monsters. You roll dice, summon monsters, attack, defend; everything about the card game is still here except the aforementioned dice rolling. Every dice have these unique symbols called "Crests" which you can use to perform numerous actions such as moving, attacking, and defending.

The game is really straightforward and nothing really to keep your head scratching once you get the hang of its mechanics.

What are the flaws that I found in this game?
While there are a ton of tournament types and opponents to deal against, there really isn't anything to do much but throw die, summon, attack, defend, use special items if necessary, rinse and repeat.

Also, since that the card game s more popular than this Duel Monster "variant", I don't see the point on delving on this game much... unless if you are an avid collector of Yu-Gi-Oh! games for the GBA.

While I had some enjoyment back then, it gradually loses momentum as it wears on.

Do you think this game will age really well? 
No. Just like the physical board game, it won't be.

Do you recommend this game?
Well, if you are a fan of the Duel Monsters series, then please, knock yourself out.  However, if you are new to the Yu-Gi-Oh! series, I suggest that you stick to the card games instead and don't go into this game expecting to be a great experience. It is not.

Overall Rating: 5.2/10
Despite the enjoyment I had with this game, it then eventually died out after beating Yami for like, 90 times! Dungeon Dice Monsters is overall mediocre and not really deserve the Yu-Gi-Oh! license. However, being a very obscure title, this is worth collecting... if you are an avid Yu-Gi-Oh! fan that is.

--END OF REVIEW--

Guardian Codex Multiplayer Tips!

Despite the glitches that is happening all around this game, Guardian Codex is an enjoyable game that tries to be great. No sarcasm intended. It's just that playable.

As what I've mentioned in my previous Reader's Review, multiplayer is the greatest draw of this game, which is the reason I come back for more of this, regardless of the story completion for the time being. 

That being said, in order for you to fully enjoy multiplayer, here are some of the tips that I consider when playing Guardian Codex Multiplayer!

Here we go!

1. Check the requirements - every site has a necessary level requirement needed to enter the dungeon. While having a low level doesn't restrict you from entering the multiplayer room, it does lower the overall team's damage output where you need it the most (especially during boss battles). Always make sure that you are at least 5 levels greater than the level required for that specific dungeon.

2. Team composition is key - before you head out and find a room, always check the element of your team so that you can properly be able to adjust should you find your team leader (since this is mostly you will be using when multiple players are involved) to be either adequate or inadequate against the enemies that you will come across. It is best that you go with a Guardian that either resist the boss' element or a high-leveled one.

3. Attacking is not always the "best" option - many people appreciates Quick Clears (meaning quickly clearing a site under a set number of turns) since that the team will be able to get more prizes upon doing so. However, if you think that your team is in danger of being disintegrated before getting to the actual boss fight itself, it is best that you slow down and ensure that your team is as healthy as possible. There are so many things that you can do rather than attacking; heal allies, bolster their offensive powers, cast regen to them. In short, KEEP THE TEAM ALIVE! It is better to fight a strong foe with a full party than a skewered one.

4. Invest Player Skills carefully - while it may not be that relevant at first, Player Skills can play a vital role not just in single player battles, but especially in multiplayer fights. Study each Player Skill and their effects to fully maximize your potential. Keep in mind that once you spent a Player Skill, you can no longer invest it back, so do not be trigger-happy in applying them.

5. Expect unsuspecting errors - self-explanatory.

6. Stay alive and kicking - this is where the Healer and Survivalist Player Skills come in handy. This is to ensure that your Guardian is healthy (or at least alive) all throughout the fight. Also, should your Guardian gets knocked out during a certain wave, the Survivalist skill will keep them going. The heal value isn't too much and there is only a low chance for the skill to activate, so don't rely on it too much. Besides, you don't want your Guardian to stay dead for the rest of the fight as this can destroy party morale.

7. Don't be a burden - should you encounter that you get inside a room filled with players whose Guardians are at least 20 levels higher than yours (or just relatively stronger than you in general), the least you can do is to leave the room right away or to provide support to other party members by increasing their stats. Having a low-leveled Guardian is already a burden itself.

8. Never bite off more than you can chew - this is similar to Tip No. 7, but this time when you are starting to lead the pack. Remember that a certain level quota is needed for you to have a fighting chance against the stronger foes. If you think that your level is low enough, just forget about that dungeon for now and level up some more.

9. The chat system is both a blessing... and a curse - the chat system is not a great way to communicate with your allies. In fact, it is cumbersome and just downright confusing. First off, you aren't allowed to type anything. This can make communications pretty awkward as people might misinterpret of what you are trying to say. Secondly, most of the set phrases that you can use are just worthless such as "Pleasure!" and "Wahoo!" but nevertheless, there are some good ones like "Heal please!" and "Go for a QC". Overall, just make a way to use the chat system effectively... and accurately.

10. Conserve MP when necessary - while you get 2 MP every turn, it is pretty important to know on when to consume MP (such as attacking multiple enemies and healing allies) and when not to (such as last hitting enemies with a Normal Attack). You don't want to fight a boss without enough MP. Otherwise, prepare for a difficult fight.

11. Choose the best trait for each situation - each trait can be unlocked through "Rebirth". To rebirth a unit, just simply fuse 2 or more of the same Guardians at once. Each trait has a specific effect such as starting the fight with full MP or increasing the chance of your Guardian landing a critical hit. Take advantage of whatever traits your Guardian has and hope for the best.

12. Unlock your Guardian's fullest potential - Level them up. Evolve them. Let them equip items. Apply stat-enhancing stones. Do whatever it takes to make them as strong as they can be for resources of strengthening them are EVERYWHERE!

13. Never be afraid to get units via Guardian Grab - Codex Credits can be used to a variety of reasons; increasing your inventory slots, restoring your stamina, among others. But the most important use of it is to get high-quality Guardians. Most top-tier Guardians can only be obtained via Guardian Grab. I suggest that you use it sparingly though as, just like other gacha-type games, getting the Guardians you want is solely based on luck. Nevertheless, it is somehow satisfying to get what you want.

And if all else fails...

14. Don't hesitate to ask for help - while the game is relatively new, there are some people who spent more time in this game than other games in general, so there is a very high chance that some people have already made enough progress throughout the game. So if you think that you are truly lost on what to do in multiplayer, just do one simple word; ASK.

Well anyways that's all that I can think of. If you have any more tips that you can share to fellow Guardian Codex players, then feel free to leave a comment or something.

Enjoy your stay in the Codex and have fun!

DISCLAIMER: Images used in this blog do not belong to me. They belong to their respectful owners.

A mobile RPG with a twist - Guardian Codex Reader's Review

Role-playing games being made for the mobile have a ton of variety incorporated to it; which is both have its pluses and minuses.

The good thing about these is that this can allow old players of the genre to find something new. However, the bad side here is that it figuratively destroys our perception on what RPG is about; especially with many innovations associated to it. Also, there is a chance that new players will be entirely confused to the concepts those games.

Thankfully, people at Square Enix hasn't totally forgotten about it, and they made a game that caters to those people who miss playing old-school RPGs that is very fun to play... if only if it properly works.

This is my Reader's Review of the unspectacular yet enjoyable game; Guardian Codex!

Title: Guardian Codex
Date Released: November 4, 2016
Company: Square Enix
Genre: RPG
Platform: Mobile
ESRB Rating: None (My guess it would be E10+ or Teen)



Brief Background: Guardian Codex is a spiritual successor of two previously released games; Deadman's Cross (part zombie shooter, part collectible card game) and Guardian Cross (an RPG/card battler hybrid) both of which were designed by Hiroyuki Ito, the progenitor of Final Fantasy's Active Time Battle system.

What do you do here?
It was the year 2030, and the world was divided between the malevolent Empire and the Resistance. Outmatched and outgunned by the Empire's forces, the Resistance have no other choice but to send their agents to a mystical realm known as the "Codex", which was essentially a virtual representation of the real world during the ancient times. From there, they must retrieve Guardians, legendary beings of strength and beauty, and transport it to the real world so that the Resistance can have equal ground against the Empire. You are an agent assigned to retrieve Titan, a legendary Guardian that possesses the strength of a thousand men. However, it is not going to be a cakewalk as you must thwart the hazards of the Codex, and help its denizens, as you walk along the path towards your ultimate mission; to retrieve the Guardians and oppose the Empire's tyranny.

What makes the game interesting?
Guardian Codex is typically an online RPG where you travel around the world and fight some Guardians, get their fragments, and create said Guardians. It is a pretty long game, especially if you want to complete your Guardian Guide or you just want to explore and play around.

The presentation and premise of the game is very reminiscent to the Shin Megami Tensei games, however, unlike SMT, this game has a rather light-hearted story and quite easy to pick up and play in contrast to the very mature story and unforgiving gameplay of the MegaTen games.

There are two kinds of quests: main quests (represented by red marks) and sub-quests (represented by blue marks); both of which are very engaging and their a ton of them so be sure to be on the look out for these quests and take them as soon as the opportunity arises. The game has been recently released so the content isn't that much to boast, but there will be updates.

There are many Guardians to choose from; each possessing one of six elements; Fire, Nature, Water, Light, Dark, and Machine. What is interesting here is that these elements have a separate elemental triangle that goes like Fire>Nature>Water>Fire and Light>Machine>Dark>Light; meaning that an element from a certain triangle can never be weak or strong against an element from a different element triangle. This adds some strategy and depth which is highly beneficial for your party, as certain event Guardians can be effectively dealt against when using a certain element.

Speaking of events, there are certain Guardians that only appear throughout a certain day which adds diversity to the already interesting concept. What's good here is that you can see a rotation schedule meaning that you can properly prepare your team depending on the Guardians that will appear during that particular date.

The main draw of Guardian Codex is the multiplayer. You can team up up to 4 people from all over the world to beat bosses using your lead Guardians. This is the most fun part of the game as you can show off your Guardians to other players and use it to help them in missions that they otherwise cannot finish alone. Take note that you can only be able to use this feature in final areas of dungeons and in event quests.

What are the flaws you find in this game?
Despite the many things that this game offers, the game itself is entirely unstable to the point of frustration. There a ton of these problems; game freeze, prizes in quests being less than intended, among others.

The most notable instability that this game suffers from is the multiplayer itself (such as lag, sudden halts, and getting kicked for no reason) which is extremely annoying for a lot of players.

The story mode itself is quite short and the battles can be very repetitive. People who got used to old-school RPGs will like this, otherwise it is just downright boring. I, for one hand, managed to appreciate the game due to its presentation. While the combat can be tedious, it is nevertheless interesting.

Can you consider this game a rip-off of Shin Megami Tensei? Or Pokemon?
Neither. Both games mentioned are two different games with defining mechanics that made them unique. Guardian Codex, while its game-play and theme can be relatively compared to the two games, also has unique features going for. The only notable differences here is that the two games work properly like ALL the time, while Guardian Codex don't... and it sucks.

Can you recommend this game?
If you can bear the unnecessary glitches and constant crashing that this game offers, then give it a go. Otherwise, wait for the servers to stabilize and play other games instead. The game offers a nice experience... if you can get it to work.

Overall Rating: 6.7/10
Guardian Codex is a a decent mobile game that offers too little yet makes up for being interesting. Unfortunately, it's greatness and potential is greatly hindered by technical problems that can never be avoided. While the people at SE are doing their best to normalize the servers while providing more content for players to enjoy, Guardian Codex remains to be as mediocre for as long as these hindrances are not fully addressed. Don't get me wrong, I really like the game, but it could have been a whole lot better. Oh well, let's wait for things to unfold. Who knows? It may even change my perception for this game.

--END OF REVIEW--

Brave Frontier 2.0 - Final Fantasy Brave Exvius Reader's Review

In my previous review of Final Fantasy Explorers, I mentioned that Final Fantasy has explored a lot of genres and experimented with different methods of game play. While people is familiar with the Final Fantasy franchise as a traditional JRPG, the developers decided to branch out from their roots by providing a diverse amount of player experience; from MMORPGs  to the recent one, the mobile space.

While there are many good Final Fantasy games on the mobile, some of them are mediocre and just downright shameless at best. Fortunately, this game is one of the few better mobile games that Square Enix has provided. Also, the gaming masters at Gumi have collaborated with this awesome company to provide a new gaming experience on your mobile.

Think Brave Frontier meets Final Fantasy! This is the Reader's Review of Final Fantasy Brave Exvius!

This game is great, just in case you are wondering,

Title: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
Date Released: October 22, 2015 (initial release), June 29, 2016 (international release)
Company: Square Enix, Gumi, A-Lim
Genre: Role playing
Platform: Mobile
ESRB Rating: None (but I guess it will be E10+)



Brief Background: The development of this game is actually the first collaborative effort between Square Enix and A-Lim, the latter being responsible for Brave Frontier which was also the main inspiration for the game's framework, It was first revealed at the same time as the Final Fantasy Portal App, among other similar titles. As usual, Yoshitaka Amano is in charge of the promotional art. The latter is known for making timeless artworks of most Final Fantasy-related media.

What do you do here?
The world of Lapis is in grave danger. The Crystals are being threatened to be destroyed one by one by a sinister group. Rain and Lasswell, royal knights of the Grandshelt Empire, encounters a young girl in a crystal and warns them about the impending doom that will happen to the world should all of the Crystals are destroyed. After a series of unfortunate events, Rain and Lasswell receive the ability to manifest the power of Visions, essences of heroes of old, to combat the forces of darkness that envelopes the land and to prevent the Crystals' destruction.

What makes the game interesting?
First of all, a good game is comprised with a very nice premise and Brave Exvius delivers it with much gusto; it offers a very deep story line about Rain and Lasswell travelling the world to stop a menacing evil from destroying the Crystals. Just like every other Final Fantasy game, the Crystals is the focal point on the story where Rain and the gang must stop the Sworn Six of Paladia from these artifacts being destroyed, not to mention the meticulous attention to detail as well as the use of nostalgic events from other Final Fantasy titles to integrate them to the main story. All in all, the plot itself offers a ton of fan-service to old-school FF fans while offering new fans something to be engaged on.

Second, the combat system. Since the creators of Brave Frontier are the same ones who created the game, there are some certain mechanics that you will be familiar of (especially if you have played the latter) but with certain tweaks and changes. Unlike in Brave Frontier, you can flick the character bar to perform certain actions, such as using special skills, consuming items, and defending from attacks. This is highly reminiscent to the command-based nature of previous Final Fantasy games which is very fascinating, especially if you are a fan of the old games or if you are not used to Brave Frontier's lack of command inputs during battles.

Additionally, the game has an extensive roster of characters; all of which have unique abilities that either make them stand out or just do badly overall. The roster itself is comprised of different characters from previous and current Final Fantasy games, with original characters added for good measure. Since the game is free-to-play, expect certain characters to be added frequently to the roster, which is another way for the game to attract both fans of the series and new players.

Lapis is the premium currency in this game which you can use to recruit units, replenish energy, increase item capacity, among other uses... and there a ton of ways for you to get them without even spending money! As of the time of this writing, Square Enix recently released the missions system for the Global version of the game (the Japanese version has previously received this system) where you gain Lapis if you met a certain condition during quests. Also, with the constant events being distributed, there will be chances that Lapis will be given out to players; giving you more opportunities to effectively use them without the need of hurting your wallets and credit card bills.

Speaking of unit recruitment, this game uses a Gashapon-like system. Which means that you spend Lapis to it and hoping that you get the unit you want. The units you'll get is entirely random, so don't expect too much on it. Also, there are certain summon banners that will be distributed based on the given event that is currently on-going. For example, back when the Final Fantasy IV event was up, there was a increased chance for Final Fantasy IV characters (like Cecil, Rydia, and Kain, along with new units like Edge and Rosa) to be recruited via Lapis summoning. This is actually very encouraging as you will have better chances on getting the units you really want while still making the odds a bit balanced to get other units not included in the banner. Such a nature of these games.

Espers return in this game and you can only receive them by defeating them in battle for the first time. To unlock their stage, you have first to meet certain prerequisites such as fulfilling a certain quest or talking to certain people in towns. From there,you will beat several other quests on that specific stage before fighting the Espers themselves. Upon their defeat, you can finally use them to summon in battle.

The Esper system was not just limited to summoning them and aid you in battle, but they can also help you by providing status increase to your units. Each Esper are specialized to increase specific parameters of your units such as HP and Attack. You can also feed them Magicites (which you frequently get in dungeons) to further increase those bonuses and to unlock the hidden potentials of your Espers even further.

In terms of exploration, unlike Brave Frontier, you can be able to traverse through several towns and cities which allows you to talk to people, buy items, or just simply gathering information. This is a nice reference to previous Final Fantasy titles where you can walk around towns and do the same things mentioned. This rule also applies to certain dungeons where you can roam around and battle foes while getting some sweet treasure. Watch out for secret passages along the way and who knows what you might end up with...?

Promotional events are being held every week or two; introducing new units and bonus dungeons where you can get rare items and other goodies throughout. These events are only up for a limited time so take advantage of those events if the need arises.

There is a certain system called the Trust Master Rewards. Certain characters have these bonuses which can allow you to gain rare equipment and spells once their Trust Rating reaches 100%. Like in most Final Fantasy titles, grinding takes a matter of patience which gives out a certain degree of satisfaction upon completing them. You can also increase the trust rating of that unit by fusing a certain unit as well as multiple copies of the same character. Keep in mind that story characters don't have TMRs.

What are the flaws that I found in this game?
Regarding the flaws I consider, I could say that grinding the Trust Master Reward is a very tedious one. Basically the most efficient way for you to get it is to raise 5 units of the same character and go to the very first dungeon, finish the dungeon, rinse and repeat until they reach a certain percentage. There are some players that use a certain software in order to get these faster, but I won't recommend it as it actually defeats the purpose of properly grinding through the game.

Second, the rates of getting the units you want is sometimes unforgiving to the point of frustration. There will be a high chance that you will receive units that you don't even want in the long run, which is also evident to its sister game, Brave Frontier. The latter do have some decent units, however,

As an online-only game, the game will sometimes undergo maintenance, which can either take about an average of 4-10 hours depending on the update (take note that it may take more than 10 hours due to unforeseen consequences). This is rather annoying since that you have to wait for the game to go back up again. However, these do have their advantages. Sometimes, Square provides compensation to players in the form of Energy, Lapis, among others.

If you were given a chance to make a cross-over with another media, what media do you like Brave Exvius to cross-over with and why?
I would say Phantom of the Kill because of the character designs and story that the latter provides. It also has a decent roster of characters such as Zero (not the Reploid) and Tyrfing whom they can become potentially powerful units if they are to be included in the game.

Do you recommend this game?
Yes! Definitely. If you are a fan of Brave Frontier but you find the game to be lacking of anything Final Fantasy, then you may enjoy this one!

Overall Rating: 7/10
Just like Brave Frontier, Final Fantasy Brave Exvius is only as good as the latter. While it is far more polished and balanced, Brave Exvius also suffers to the stigma that free-to-play games are having; they can be quite unfair and unstable at times. However, once you managed to get a hang of those issues, Brave Exvius can potentially provide you a nice experience. Square Enix knows how to make their fans satisfied with their games, and they will keep on improving. That's an assurance!

--END OF REVIEW--

Thoughts about the Nintendo Switch (aka the Nintendo NX): Short Impressions

A few days ago, Nintendo has made an announcement that the Nintendo Switch (previously codenamed the NX) will have a March 2017 release while also releasing a video regarding the game console's first few glances.

First of all, I would like to say that, as a Nintendo fanboy, I am very pleased to find out that Nintendo is starting to learn from their mistakes and it seems that they are applying what they have learned from the past couple of years in order to make a whole new gaming experience.

And second, the video made my jaw dropped out of my system to the point that I am stunned for a moment just to see what Nintendo has done throughout the years.

Thirdly, after watching a little biography of the late Satoru Iwata, this reignites my interest regarding console gaming; as I've never thought that he was also responsible for making Super Smash Bros. a reality. :D

Anyways, for those who are interested with the video, here's the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5uik5fgIaI

NOTE: The video link is not a property of mine, but a property of Nintendo.

So what was the overall gist of the video?
Basically,in my opinion, the main gist of this video is all about the portability and the accessibility of the console itself. First, it shows itself being played by people as a typical console, but the most interesting part of it is on how you turn the awesome console into a handheld powerhouse! You just simply slide off the controller buttons on the main control, slide it in to the console itself, and from there, the console then acts a handheld device akin to a tablet! Additionally, it also acts as a PC gaming device by using the Joy-Con (probably stands for Joystick Controller) as a wireless controller while the console itself acts as your monitor. It also has a very nice logo!



Talk about an innovative design! It boggles my mind just visualizing the console being in my hands.

Also, there are many people from different walks of life are seen playing the console with certain games including the upcoming Legend of Zelda; Breath of the Wild, a Super Mario game, an NBA 2K title, Splatoon, and to my surprise, an amazing port of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim!

The trailer is showing that the people are having fun with the new console and I must say that it makes me feel a bit jealous. Oh well, it looks like I have to wait for next year to find out if it is worth buying one.

Do you have any complaints about the Switch?
Well, if there is one thing I have observed in the device itself is that it feels a bit fragile, as if the entire console was made of a very strong plastic. Honestly though, I am hoping that it isn't the case since the console itself has promise, and an easily-breakable material that you use for their console is the last thing I want to hear from Nintendo.

Also, the concept of console-to-handheld gaming doesn't feel original. I mean the Sega Nomad (a gaming handheld that plays Sega Genesis and Mega Drive games) did it first, among other handhelds that provide such an experience. The good thing is that it doesn't feel as bulky up-close, unlike the aforementioned Nomad.

What do you want to expect from the Switch?
There are a lot of things that I am expecting for this wonderful console. However, as of the time of this writing, please keep in mind that these may or may not appear in the final product. So without further ado; here are some of the things that I will like for the Switch:

1. Backwards compatibility - Nintendo has a very wide history of providing a diverse gaming experience by allowing players to play their favorite games from previous generation of gaming devices (e.g. Nintendo DS allowing you to play GBA games). I am hoping that they allow players to play some, if not all, 3DS games or even older DS games. Although I doubt that would be the case, it is still too early to judge either.

2. Social media connectivity - while this particular has already been featured by other consoles, it doesn't prevent me to expect on such a feature. In fact, there is a certain button that can be found on the lower left portion of the main controller that somehow akin to a "Record" symbol. Hopefully, you can be able to properly edit these "videos" which is very essential for the gaming demographic today; focusing on "let's plays" and "tricks" on playing certain games. I am also hoping that the console can also connect to other social media with all the benefits intact that you can get from using them via PC and mobile.

3. Affordability - it is basically a no-brainer; many people wanted a gaming device that can deliver to their tastes while also ensuring that their wallets won't suffer a concussion or something. Competing consoles would basically cost about $300 (which is almost equivalent to about PHP 14,400) which is already cheap enough for those having sources of income. However, certain considerations must be maintained when determining the overall price of a certain device, such as specifications.

4. Durability - for someone with heavy hands as myself, I cannot help but wonder; is this gaming device built to last? From what I've seen in the teaser, as what I've also mentioned as a complaint of mine, the materials used for the device itself looks cheap and easy to break. While I like to have my trusty New 3DS anywhere with me, it tends to show some signs of wear and tear as time goes by such as the peeling of the coatings as well as malfunctioning buttons.

5. Software line-up - as seen in the video, potential titles like NBA 2K, Super Mario, as well as the shocker that is Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim have put me in the edge of my seat. I just cannot help but wonder; "what Nintendo is exactly doing in terms of its lineup of games?! Is Nintendo opening up to other game developers?! Oh wow! I cannot wait". Nevertheless, it is still early to actually judge on what games to come out for the Switch. We just cannot help but speculate.

Well that's all I can say about these things for now. Nevertheless, I am so excited for the system to launch. So what are your thoughts about the Nintendo Switch? Are you excited for it? What are the games are you looking forward for the Switch? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Until then, have a nice day! :)

Disclaimer: The picture I posted in this article is not my property, but it belongs to Nintendo.

Big dinosaurs, big adventure - Fossil Fighters Frontier Reader's Review

Nintendo has been known for their prolific titles like Pokemon, Mario, Metroid... Wait! I think I have already said this before.

Nevertheless, the fact that Nintendo always provides grand adventures never fails to impress me so. This game, however, provides something more than an adventure; it's more of an experience that I can never imagine would be possible. 

Anyways, here is a Reader's Review of Fossil Fighters Frontier. Playing with dinosaurs have never been this fun... I guess.

Title: Fossil Fighters Frontier
Date Released:  February 27, 2014 (initial release in Japan), March 20, 2015 in the US, May 29, 2015 in Europe and a day later in Australia
Company: Nintendo
Genre:Adventure, Racing, RPG
Platform: Nintendo 3DS family of consoles
ESRB Rating: E10+




Brief Background: The Fossil Fighters series was originally developed for the Nintendo DS family of consoles. The first game in the series was released in 2008 and it has become one of Nintendo's flagship titles... albeit less known. The game has received mixed reception in the West due to the fact that most game review websites (like IGN and Gamespot) cited the game as somehow similar to Pokemon, another popular Nintendo title.

What do you do here?
Fossil Fighters Frontier features a story where INTERFOL (International Fossil Police) is intercepting a criminal organization that was allegedly said to illegally manufacturing Vivosaurs that surpasses ordinary ones in terms of power and ferocity. You, the player, is assigned by INTERFOL as a Warden to intercept the criminals while also travelling across the globe in search of powerful Vivosaurs and to protect the Fossil Parks from the imminent danger these criminals are plotting.

What makes the game interesting?
Simply put, Fossil Fighters Frontier is about finding fossils, reviving them, and using them to battle other Vivosaurs. It is not as easy as you think it is, however. You have to find a piece of the fossil first before you revive a Vivosaur (these are Nintendo's fictional take to the dinosaurs), clean it up using the tools provided to you, and ensure that the fossil is in good condition. You are given a time limit to clean the fossil as well as a certain quality quota (indicated on the upper screen of the 3DS) that you need to meet in order for the cleaning process to be successful. The more careful you are in cleaning the fossil, the better the score you can receive. This feature is surprisingly great as this is one of the few ways to utilize the function of the 3DS' touch screen capabilities.

There are several places where you can gather fossils, known as Fossil Parks. However, the types of fossils you can get here differ from each region.

In the past installments, the head fossil of a specific Vivosaur is required to completely revive it. However, in this game, the revival process will proceed even without the head fossil, which is nice since that you can be able to amass your collection early on. Collecting them isn't easy though, but it is a rewarding experience if you manage to do so.

Speaking of collecting fossils, amassing different parts of the same species of Vivosaur can allow you to power it up further; increasing its combat parameters and granting access to other skills.

Another feature that was added in this installment are the Bone Buggies, vehicles that you use to explore Fossil Parks, which can be further customized to either improve the performance of your vehicle or make fossil cleaning easier. There are a lot of optional missions that you can do involving Bone Buggies, so always pick the best type of Buggy to match the needs of the mission.

A new addition to this installment is the Time Trials which is some sort of a racing-esque mini game where there is a fossil that you need to clean before the Vivosaur guarding said fossil devours it. The faster you defeat the Vivosaur, the better condition the fossil that you are going to clean... and much harder to take out.

The battle system in this game has been given a major overhaul; making it more strategic in a way. Battles are still 3-on-3, however, you can only use 1 of your Vivosaurs while the 2 other slots are occupied by Vivosaurs of NPCs (known as Paleo Pals) that you can encounter throughout the story.

The NPCs that you can ally with have specific Vivosaurs which covers a specific role for your party. Some of them deals a great amount of damage while others provide buffs to bolster your party. While they have their strengths, they also have weaknesses, so always make sure to strategically pick your allies wisely, as you can't be able to edit them out while traversing Fossil Parks.

An important addition for the battle system is the buff ammunition that your Bone Buggies can use, known as Support Shots, to either bolster your Vivosaurs' attack strength or mitigate incoming damage. There are also other forms of ammunition that you can use such as healing your HP; thus making battles pretty interesting if you ask me.

There are tournaments that you can participate which can allow you to receive certain rewards such as rare fossils and other goodies which can aid you in traversing Fossil Parks. You can also gain fossils daily at the Fossil Museum; which encourages players to play the game at a daily basis to find out which fossils they will receive. Please keep in mind that the fossil you can receive is randomized so don't rely on it too much.

The most interesting part of this game, for me, is Nibblesaurus; a unique Vivosaur that is only exclusive in the Story Mode which powers up as the story progresses. It is also extremely powerful.

In terms of difficulty, I can say that it progresses relatively well and it has that nice balance between easy-to-pick fights to just downright challenging. Pro Tip: be prepared for the final boss as that packs a SERIOUS punch.

What are the flaws that I found in this game?
The game itself is not that big and while there are many fossils to collect, it gets a bit repetitive. Also, cleaning them can be a bit annoying since that tapping the soil recklessly can damage the fossil and if enough damage is done to the fossil, the cleaning process will be considered to be a failure.

While the party system has a strategic depth to it, you also lose a lot of freedom in team selection. In the previous Fossil Fighter games, you are allowed to set up 3 Vivosaurs at a time, but it was then limited to 1 (the 2 other Vivosaurs are being controlled by the computer) which is a bummer for someone like me who likes to use my own set of Vivosaurs in combat.

Also, there are many NPCs whose Vivosaurs are useless early in the game. While they can get another Vivosaur after fulfilling a certain quest, it isn't really that fulfilling. Also, certain NPCs are a bit overpowered than the other, which can allow you to over-power your foes (especially in multiplayer).

Multiplayer in this game is almost non-existent and it can be unstable most of the time. With a small player-base, expect to have difficulty in finding foes online.

Certain attacks also affect a Vivosaur's facing; giving them either an advantage (i,e increased damage inflicted) or disadvantage (i.e increased damage taken) against enemies. I kind of find it to be annoying and unnecessary because Support Shots can easily help you in providing boosts either way. Also, a Tricera facing upwards doesn't make any sense at all.

Nibblesaurus is a powerful Vivosaur; TOO powerful in fact which makes battles boring at best. If it is pitted in Multiplayer against another Nibblesaurus, however... Nah screw it! It's STILL boring.

Do you consider Fossil Fighters a sleeper hit?
In terms of game-play and theme (fossil collecting and a game based on dinosaurs), then yes. However, there are also other monster-collecting games that are not Pokemon that catches my attention, although I haven't played most of them though (such as Yo-kai Watch and my favorite, Shin Megami Tensei IV),

Do you recommend this game?
If you are a fan of Pokemon clones (yes, it is a clone with pride), then this game is a no-brainer for you. Otherwise, just pick something else. Besides, the game, despite of its fun story and interesting concepts, is relatively short in my opinion.

Overall Rating: 6.9/10
It is quite disappointing but not totally awful, Fossil Fighters Frontier is a game that suffers from the conventions of pushing the title's limit in terms of game-play. The graphics are passable and the mechanics remains intact; but the overall experience seems lacking for long-time fans of the series and it is just down-right repetitive for the casual players. Nevertheless, it is still a nice pick for any Nintendo fan out there.

--END OF REVIEW--

Disclaimer: The picture used here is not my property, but it belongs to their proper owners.

Character ideas for Phantom of the Kill - Part 4

OK. So there have been another case of Killer Prince and Princess fever... and I was one of its unfortunate victims... NOT!

But seriously, Phantom of the Kill has just gotten better. Nevertheless, I must say that the content is still lacking... probably because there are not enough supply of Lazulis to satisfy us F2P players. This doesn't mean, however, that they don't deserve support. In fact, the game itself is becoming even more playable now with new chapters and events (I am still hoping for that Brave Frontier cross-over to happen once more... also Dempagumi Inc).

That being said, here's another edition of making another set of characters that may or may not appear in Phantom of the Kill.

Consider it a vision of sorts...

Again, here are the factors that I am going to use to formulate the character concept.
1. Potential background (based on gender) and Element (now added)
2. Weapon Type
3. Preferred Trait
4. How many stars does this unit evolve into?
5. Signature Skill
6. Leader Skill

Today's theme is Killer Princes. With a massive influx of Killer Princesses being released, I am quite impressed to see diversity that this game provides. However, the amount of Killer Princes in this game is quite low, which is why I decided to make ideas for Killer Princes that has yet to appear in the game. I am only focusing on ideas that has yet to appear in the Global Version, so my apologies if there are characters proposed in those post that have already been released in the Japanese version.

1. Areadbhar (M) 

Element: Dark

Potential Background: Areadbhar is a vicious warrior that takes no prisoners. He is scarred by a terrible fate that he can never escape from. His Killium comes from Areadbhar, meaning "Slaughterer" and one of Lugh's mythical weapons. When he was young, he was said to have gifted with a power to "destroy all life". He tries to prove otherwise by saving an entire village. However, instead of driving away the bandits that attacking the village, his power destroyed everything in sight; including the village he's supposed to protect. His mind snapped and realized that he cannot save anyone, and instead goes to the Ragnarok Institute to harness his new-found power to save everyone... by destroying them. Many Killer Princesses and Princes are quite afraid of him, as a result. However, he was said to be the only one whom Zero considered "his equal". Whether it is true or not, Areadbhar do not care that much.

Weapon Type: Spear

Preferred Trait: Force, Dexterity

Stars: A 4-star unit capable of evolving to a 5-star unit

Signature Skill: Eternal Bloodlust - May activate when attacking. Areadbhar deals a critical blow to an enemy, dealing 400% damage instead of the usual 300% damage.

Leader Skill: Chaos Incarnate - +5/+10/+15 Critical Chance to all allied Dark units in whole stage


2. Vajra (M)

Element: Fire

Potential Background: Sassy and full of charisma and style, Vajra never fails to lighten up the battlefield with bad one-liners that never gets old... or so he believes such. His Killium comes from Vajra, a sacred weapon used by Indra. He used to be a magician, creating grand illusions to impress people far and wide, which is where he gets his grandeur appearances every time he fights. However, he is more known by Killer Princes and Princesses as some sort of a "guy who watches too much comedy back in his childhood", which is why he was given the title "Mockingbird" much to their annoyance.

Weapon Type: Gun

Preferred Trait: Magic, Dexterity, Guard

Stars: An automatic 3-star unit capable of evolving to a 5-star unit

Signature Skill: Sleight of Laughter - May activate when attacked. When activated all, damage taken will be reduced to 1. Does not activate when it's HP is above 50%.

Leader Skill: Marksman's Oath - +6/+8/+10 Accuracy and Magic to all allied Gun units in whole stage


3.  Muramasa (M)

Element: Dark

Potential Background: A young warrior who wants to isolate himself from the crowd due to the power he hides from within. His Killium comes from Muramasa, a blade once owned by a man in the verge of madness. In order to achieve more power, he sacrificed his ability to speak, which is why he only conveys his thoughts through moans and grunts. Despite this, he is a gentle soul that only unleashes his bad side during battle. However, just like his Killium, he grows insane as his power continues to grow each day, which is why he tends to stay away full of people as his power may someday destroy them...

Weapon Type: Sword

Preferred Trait: Force, Guard

Stars: An automatic 5-star unit

Signature Skill: Edge of Madness - +35 Critical Chance when equipping a sword

Leader Skill: Trueblade's Wrath - +15 Attack to all Sword allies in whole stage (additional +4 if it is Dark Element)

Well, that's all for now. What are your thoughts on this? Let me know by sharing your insights here. It is truly appreciated.

Have a great day. :)

Character ideas for Phantom of the Kill - Part 3

I totally understand that the recent Brave Frontier cross-over was a successful one. Too bad I didn't managed to get the awesome Vargas there. (;w;) I do got his sword, though.

Oh well, it looks like I will do what I can not to miss out on their other collaborations. Anyways, I kind of find the Phantom of the Kill and Brave Frontier to be quite a let down for me, not because that I didn't get much from it (getting Selena is enough for me, I swear), but because it felt so short and lacking in some major characters.

That being said, if ever that Phantom of the Kill decides to make another collaboration with Brave Frontier, here are some of the characters from that game that I would like to expect to appear;

Again, here are the list of the things that needs to be considered when making these character ideas:
1. Potential Background (based on given gender)
2. Weapon Type
3. Preferred Trait
4. How many stars does this particular unit can evolve into?
5. Signature Skill
6. Leader Skill (now added)

1. Eze (M)


Potential Background: Reckless yet courageous, Eze is a knucklehead with a heart of gold. His Killium comes from Batootha, a sword that was said to be the embodiment of lightning itself. Hailing from the Atharva Republic, Eze always trains hard to become strong enough to handle things alone. Despite this, after seeing a young woman fighting monsters, Eze was amazed and found out that he has yet to improve a lot. That said, he train alongside different masters; hoping to unleash his true potential someday

Weapon Type: Sword

Preferred Trait: Force

Stars: 3-star unit that can evolve to a 5-star unit

Signature Skill: Supreme Bolt - May activate when attacking. Eze unleashes a bolt of  lightning using his sword; striking down the enemy. If Batootha is equipped, the targeted enemy cannot attack until the next player turn.

Leader Skill: Fulgur Halcyon - +10%/15%/20% additional HP for all allied Thunder units


2. Magress (M)


Potential Background: Cold and ruthless, Magress is the strongest knight to ever serve his liege. His Killium comes from Leomurg, a spear that was once a normal spear later bathed by the blood of countless deities. When he was away from home, he trained hard to become the strongest knight of Bariura. Tragedy struck, however, as he found that his parents were killed upon his return. Filled with rage, Magress killed the people whom he thought responsible for their deaths, and from there, his quest for vengeance begins...

Weapon Type: Spear

Preferred Trait: Guard, Vitality

Stars: An automatic 5-star unit

Signature Skill: Judecca - May activate when attacking. Magress unleashes the darkness within him, instantly reducing the opponents HP to 1. When Leomurg is equipped , the skill also prevents that unit to recover their HP, not even through items or staves from other allied units.

Leader Skill: Umbra Halcyon: All allied Dark units receives -12 reduced damage from enemies

3. Lance (M)


Potential Background: A young noble boy hailing from the Principality of Vriksha. Lance always do his best to level up every step of the way. Upon arrival in this desolated land, he receives Killium from Drevas, a cursed lance that possesses the power of nature. Lance seems a bit disappointed to see the world that he suddenly got transported to. He planted a seed as a symbol of hope for this world, however, he tells himself "I may not be able to see the world become normal again, but I am hoping for things to settle down someday".

Weapon Type: Spear

Preferred Trait: Guard, Vitality

Stars: An automatic 5-star unit, capable of evolving to a 6-star unit

Signature Skill: Starglow Escudo - May activate when attacked. Lance becomes an embodiment of nature, becoming immune to all forms of damage. When activated in the Coliseum, reduces damage taken by 25% instead. When Drevas is equipped, heals HP by 10 every time the skill activates.

Leader Skill: Terra Halcyon -  +7 to all parameters for all allied Fire, Thunder, Wind, and Ice units.

EX Leader Skill (take note that this not in the game yet, this is just an idea if a unit gets a 6-star Evolution): Nature's Descendant - All allied units that are not Light and Dark Units gains +12 to all parameters (additional +2 if these units are wielding Spears. The stat increase will stack). 


4. Ark (M)

Potential Background: As a disciple of Lucius, Ark is a formidable opponent to deal against. His Killium comes from both Belferius and Dimigriss, two sacred blades given to him by Lucius during his stay at Grand Gaia. His arrival in this world is a mystery, and many Killer Princes and Princesses are afraid to approach him due to his "malicious aura". Nevertheless, he doesn't care about that fact. For as long as he is fighting for something, or someone, he will do his best in the battlefield. He is having dreams of a certain girl praying for his safe return every night.

Weapon Type: Sword

Preferred Trait: Only released as Balanced

Stars: An automatic 4-star unit

Signature Skill: Abyssal Reave - May activate when attacking. Ark releases the full power of his blades, dealing 2 critical hits; regardless of his Crit chance. When the skill activates in the Coliseum, he deals two attacks with an additional fixed 30 damage instead. The fixed additional damage can't be mitigated.

Leader Skill: Eternal Request - All allied Dark units gains +10 Critical Chance


And that's about it. Here's hoping for another collaboration with Brave Frontier. So do you ever think of another Brave Frontier collaboration? Let us know your thoughts about this. Again, it is truly appreciated.

DISCLAIMER: The images used here are not mine. These images belong to their respective owners.

A clone that works well - Final Fantasy Explorers Reader's Review

Last January, when I was still waiting for Monster Hunter Generations, I stumbled upon games from my local game store and found this particular game of sorts.

Seeing this game kind of reminded me of the time when Monster Hunter decided to make a sudden switch to Nintendo, and the lack of hunting games that Sony users have been experiencing was becoming a worry-some feeling.

As years went by, people started moving on and decided to make a bold move for themselves; as they plan to create something that is similar to Monster Hunter... but not as the same as the Monster Hunter game itself.

While there are some titles that provides the same feeling that Monster Hunter provides, there's this one game that struck me fancy... and it was something made by Square Enix.

WHAAAAAAAT?! Will Square Enix even bother to make such a title? Yes! We know that Square Enix is a master when it comes in making grand adventures. Fortunately, for those who are yet to get familiar with Monster Hunter, while also being fans of the traditional JRPG genre, will surely get a load of this... if you find grinding to be enjoyable in the first place.

This is the Reader's Review of  Final Fantasy Explorers! For those who may have already read my Monster Hunter Reader Reviews, then this may not be a no-brainer for you as certain similarities in gameplay may be covered here.

Title: Final Fantasy Explorers
Date released: December 18, 2014 in Japan, January 26, 2016 in North America, and 3 days later after the North American release in Europe.
Company: Square Enix, Racjin
Genre: Action RPG, Open-world exploration
Platform: Nintendo 3DS family of handhelds
ESRB Rating: E10+


Brief Background: The development of this title was led by Atsushi Hashimoto, the one who was also in charge of the Nintendo DS remake of Final Fantasy Legend II, At the time of development, Hashimoto decided that title is to be a Final Fantasy game that is designed to be played by multiple people. That said, certain inclusions were made such as battles between the player and classic Final Fantasy Eidolons (summoned creatures that are mostly found in the main Final Fantasy titles) and the job system (where Hashimoto feels that it is heavily beneficial for multiplayer diversity). The overall idea of the game focuses on the titular Explorers to investigate the land while also cleansing the land from an evil unspoken.

What do you do here?
The story revolves around you, an Explorer, as you travel throughout the island of Amostra to investigate the Crystal reserves that was recently discovered there. However, Amostra won't be a cakewalk for our brave Explorers as monsters roam around the land and they will attack anyone that stands in their way.

Explorers will stay at the town of Libertas as their base of operations, from there they will meet friends from far and wide to assist you in exploring this beautiful yet dangerous land of adventure, treasure, and trouble.

What makes the game interesting?
As the title suggests, it is a Final Fantasy title through and through. The main difference here, however, is that it has been given a Monster Hunter makeover; meaning that there are gameplay mechanics that you will be familiar with, such as the quest system. The quest and progression system is what you expect; you get quests, accomplish them, succeed, reap the rewards, make gear, rinse and repeat.

What makes the quest system special is that you can be able to spice up the difficulty of each mission by setting up certain rules such as item restrictions and increased damage taken from monsters. While it doesn't make any impact to the actual game-play (other than making things harder), it is worth it to finish missions with self-imposed challenges and leaves a breath of accomplishment in your part.

The attention to detail are quite evident in this game; from the mobs that you fight to the big baddies that will do what it takes to stop you. Also, there will be a chance that the mobs you defeated will become a part of your team upon extracting their souls. Each of these monsters has their own set of skills, providing diversity to your explorations.

Another interesting feature in this game is that the areas you explore are interconnected with one another, which makes that feeling that the entire island IS a battleground, culling the number of monsters left and right. Also, like Monster Hunter Tri, you are given the chance to exit Libertas without accepting any quests where you can just roam around at your own leisure with no particular penalties, while fending off monsters that comes in your way.

The Job System is present in the game; adding means of customization to your humble Explorer. You start first as a Freelancer, however as you proceed to the game, there are more job options that you can unlock and utilize; from the defensive Knights to the magical powerhouse Sages. Each job has their own advantages and disadvantages which can allow you to strategically plan ahead on what job to use before going out.

Also, you can learn different spells and skills which allow you to easily traverse the perils of Amostra. Certain spells like Firaga and Holy can only be used by specific jobs well, however.

Unlike traditional Final Fantasy titles, you don't level up here, but instead you power up through the weapons and gear you equip to your Explorer; increasing their statistics and gaining abilities such as increased critical hit rate and resistance to elemental attacks; allowing you to adapt in any given situation. You can also upgrade these weapons and armors using items that you get from exploring the field, which adds more ability options and perks to said pieces of equipment.

Replayability is quite decent; since that you'll be spending most time grinding for gear... if you find this feature to be fascinating, at least.

Another great feature here is that you can rename your abilities. Nothing special, but it's very nice to have a name of skills that you like to use.

Mutations are abilities that you can use to improve the effects of your attacks. It has its plus and minuses, but nevertheless, it is a sure-fire way to make your spells as devastating as possible.

What are the flaws that you find unpleasant?
Like I said, the game itself is a Final Fantasy game with a Monster Hunter face-lift. The problem, however, is that die-hard Monster Hunter fans will find little to no amusement when it comes to this game. Everything in this game; the combat, the monsters, the mechanics, everything in this game may seems odd for these fans.

The story, just like in every Monster Hunter game, is bland and ridiculously absurd (but at least Monster Hunter compensates it with rewarding game-play that keeps on giving). Everything from the NPCs to the guides that you interact in the game, they are just not really that lively; which is a shame since many Final Fantasy titles focuses on great and immersive stories that will put you at the edge of your seat for hours on end.

The missions become repetitive and tedious as you progress and even while there are multiple mission modes to choose from, it doesn't feel... rewarding.

Another disappointing factor is the amount of bosses that you fight; it's not quite that memorable; probably because Final Fantasy tries to make the boss intros as minimal as possible so that players would get in to the action as possible. However, this can be debatable as Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate provided this same method. The only difference here is that Capcom made these cut-scenes with the Hunter in mind; they made simply beautiful mini sequences that dictates your first encounter with a certain monster; an immersive and fun way to make fights interesting, which is partly missing in Explorers.

As mentioned a while ago, there are some skills that improve the potency of your skills through mutations; giving some effects like blinding enemies and reducing cool-down for abilities. While beneficial, using mutations is a bit tedious as you need a specific mutation to get the necessary effects that you want for your abilities, which means that you have to study these in advance in order to maximize its uses.

Finally, previous DLC's that were distributed separately in the Japanese version are already included in the English version and there will be NO DLC's to be distributed for the English version in the future; which actually kills the hype for the game in the first place. It reminded me a lot of Evolve, where the lack of future DLC's was the reason most people decided to drop the game early on.

Do you have any regrets in buying this game? If so, what are those regrets? If not, what was the one word that best describes Explorers?
I want to be a bit honest about this, after seeing the announcement for Monster Hunter Generations and after playing the game a bit, I am starting to have some regrets on ever getting one. I've seen people in one of the Facebook pages that I am in selling copies of Final Fantasy Explorers two months just after the game's release, which is a shame because it has so much potential, yet offers so little. Nevertheless, I still find it enjoyable, but only for small doses as even if you try to come back, there really isn't anything new to expect there.

Do you recommend this game?
Only if you are a dedicated Final Fantasy fan or someone who just want to be familiar with monster hunting games. Otherwise, spend your money on Monster Hunter games or Toukiden titles instead (I've heard great things about Toukiden, so it's worth the shot).

Overall Rating: 7/10
Surprising playable, Final Fantasy Explorers is an ambitious take on the series with a well-known reputation. While there are some liberties to be taken into consideration, it still plays like a Final Fantasy game. The monsters, the weapons, the combat is OK all in all, but seriously, Square Enix could have done better here. Who knows, they may be able to make further improvements for the sequel... if there is enough fan support, at the very least.

--END OF REVIEW--

Character ideas for Phantom of the Kill - Part 2

After re-downloading Phantom of the Kill again, I must say that they are quite generous to players who came back to play the game again. I was like "Aw, shucks. You shouldn't have, Valyn".

That being said, I am back commanders and let us prepare to kick butt once more in Chapter 2. While I missed several events and collaborations due to Brave Frontier's awesome gameplay (another game published by Gumi), coming back to the game has never been this awesome.

Here's another set of ideas of characters to be put in Phantom of the Kill! This is part two!

Again, the list I would make here is not an official material from Gumi, but rather these are just character ideas that Gumi can potentially release in the future. Let's just say I am just making assumptions here and these may or may not likely to appear in future updates.

Here it is! Today's theme is Fire Emblem; as one of the primary inspirations for this game, it is likely that a collaboration such as this may happen.

Here are the things that would be included in the list:
1. Potential Background (based on given gender)
2. Weapon Type
3. Preferred Trait
4. How many stars does this particular unit can evolve into?
5. Signature Skill

1. Marth (M)

Potential Background: Known by many as the Hero-King of Archanea and a direct descendant of Anri, the kingdom's first king. A gifted leader and a skilled warrior, Marth was truly destined for greatness. Upon entering this strange land, he received Killium that comes from his legendary blade, Falchion, that was once forged by Naga, the Divine Dragon, as means of protection against dragons. Marth was once forced to exile from his homeland and train to become a better commander, and a better leader, so that one day he can reclaim his home and his people from the invaders that tarnished it.

Weapon Type: Sword

Preferred Trait: Force, Dexterity, Balanced

Stars: An automatic 5-star unit.

Signature Move: Heroic Flash - Marth unleashes a swift blow to an enemy, dealing massive damage. It has a low chance of dealing instant death against enemies. When Falchion is equipped, he gains +10 Attack, Speed, and Luck upon successfully executing the move.


2. Lyndis (F)

Potential Background: A young nomad raised from Sacae, she was the only survivor left of the Lorca tribe after a brutal attack from bandits. While living as a nomad for most of her life, she didn't realized that she is of royal blood. When she arrived in this "strange land", she receives Killium from both the Mani Katti and the Sol Katti, two blades that works in conjunction with one another; the latter being capable of slaying dragons. She has a strong sense of justice, which is why she despises people that tries to ruin the lives of many. A priest once told her that she is the true wielder of the Mani Katti after the spirits of the blade reacts as she touches the sword.

Weapon Type: Sword

Preferred Trait: Dexterity

Stars: 3-star unit, can evolve up to 5-stars

Signature Move: Gale Counter - Lyndis prepares a deadly counterattack stance that prevents the first damage from hitting her should it activates and counters it back to the attacker. When either the Manni Katti or the Sol Katti is equipped, she receives +20 Speed and +10 Accuracy upon successfully executing the move.


3. Hector (M)

Potential Background: Reckless and full of energy, Hector is an unusual prince that always goes into battle with nothing but his axe and sheer force of will. His Killium comes from Armads, one of the Legendary Weapons of Elibe which was known as the "Thunder Axe". Upon being chosen as the wielder of the legendary weapon, he received a grim prophecy that he will not die in peace, but he will die violently during battle. It doesn't matter for Hector, as he is ready to accept it for the greater good of his country... and the friends he fight with.

Weapon Type: Axe

Preferred Trait: Force, Guard, Vitality

Stars: An automatic 5-star unit

Signature Move: Cross Cleaver - Hector unleashes a wild axe swing towards his enemies, allowing him to deal a fixed 70 additional damage against enemies. When Armads is equipped, the additional fixed damage is raised to 100. The fixed additional damage cannot be mitigated.


4. Ephraim (M)

Potential Background: Ephraim is a crown prince that is well-liked for his good manners and sheer determination to lead. Upon arrival in this world, he receives Killium from his flaming lance Siegmund, one of the Sacred Twins of his homeland, Renais. He is the older brother of Eirika and while he discourages his younger sister to engage in war, he then realizes that her younger sister will eventually take up the sword one day, so he reluctantly teaches her how to fight. However, this doesn't mean that Ephraim will pull his punches on her during their time training.

Weapon Type: Spear

Preferred Type: Force, Dexterity, Balanced

Stars: 4-star unit capable of evolving to 5-stars.

Signature Move: Aegis Breaker - Ephraim unleashes a powerful spear attack; dealing massive damage while also ignoring any damage-reducing effects such as shields, barriers, and other skills that prevents the enemy from getting hit. After successfully activating this ability, when Siegmund is equipped, Ephraim's attacks cannot be affected by the Weapon Triangle or Elemental Affinities.

And that's all that I can think of the moment? So, do you think these ideas are good? Please feel free to let me know on what's your take on this. Any suggestions are appreciated.


DISCLAIMER: Please note that the images used here are not mine. These images belong to their respective owners.

A hunt of the ages - Monster Hunter Generations Reader's Review

First released for the PlayStation 2 in 2004, the Monster Hunter series has introduced a unique gaming experience to players which creates a satisfying vibe to the RPG genre. It was a sleeper hit for some people to the point that it moved on to other consoles like the PlayStation Portable and then to the Nintendo Wii (Monster Hunter Tri), WiiU (Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate) and then recently the Nintendo 3DS (MH3U port and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate).

Almost over 40 million copies has already been sold worldwide, the Monster Hunter franchise has grown significantly and it became one of Capcom's most prolific titles to date. However, in the past, not all Western players are as receptive to the first few Monster Hunter games; which is probably why there are only a few of them being distributed in the US.

Fortunately, as time goes by, Capcom continues to find new and innovative ways to make the series interesting and with the monumental success of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, selling over a million copies in the West, Capcom has started to find renewed interest from Western players.

OK! Enough of the background check and its time for another Reader's Review. This review is all about the "definitive" hunting game; Monster Hunter Generations!

Title: Monster Hunter Generations
Date Released: July 15, 2016 in the United States and in Europe (November 28, 2015 in Japan and a day later after the US and European release in Australia)
Company: Capcom
Genre: Action, RPG, Open world exploration
Platform: Nintendo 3DS family of consoles
ESRB Rating: Teen


Brief Background: As mentioned in my previous Reader's Review of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, the series as a whole sold more than 30 million copies and counting; making this title as prolific as their other games like Street Fighter and Mega Man.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate has sold over a million copies in the West, which was a safe thing to assume that Capcom has finally been able to make the Westerners embrace the game fully. The secret is that it is actually the first Monster Hunter on a handheld console to feature a fully-integrated online multiplayer mode; increasing the flexibility and interactivity of the game exponentially.

There are many people who have anticipated for the release of Monster Hunter Generations in the West after finding out that about 1.5 million copies has been sold in Japan for its very first week after release, which is a strong reason for these Western gamers to be excited in the game.

Time has gone by and while Monster Hunter Generations may no longer be the top best-selling game out there due to the release of other popular titles in varying consoles, the positive reception of players has lead to the rise of the popularity of the title and the sales of the Nintendo 3DS line of handhelds.

What do you do here?
You play the role of a Hunter (which you can customize upon making a new save file) hired by the Wycademy in Bherna Village to investigate the newly-found lands of the Jurassic Frontier. You are also given the opportunity to visit other villages in previous titles to provide additional assistance and to make the Wycademy known for a lot of people there... or so I would assume that's the plot.

However, as you investigate and explore the different Hunting Grounds, you are also forced to fight monstrosities, both old and new, in order to find out more about the unknown lands you are exploring. So it's best that you prepare your best gear to hunt them down; for better or for worse...

What makes the game interesting?
The game itself is considered a celebration to commemorate the past achievements of the franchise; which is quite evident to the places that you explore. You visit familiar places of Kokoto, Pokke, and Yukumo along with their respective hunting grounds; the Verdant Hills together with the Marshlands (known previously as simply Forest and Hills and Swamp respectively), the Arctic Ridge and Volcano (the former being a revamped version of the Snowy Mountains map), and finally, the tandem of Deserted Island and Misty Peaks.

The main village you are staying with is Bherna, where the Wycademy is stationed. The features in the game are quite different from Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, all of which were either heavily reworked (such as the canteen and Meownster Hunter system) or removed entirely (including weapon honing and Guild Quests) in order to introduce unique elements in the game.

Each town provide specific quests and allows you to earn Village Points (?) which will either provide useful items or perhaps recipes in making specific pieces of equipment. There are specific quests, however, that are not worth checking out (Yeah, I am talking to you egg delivery quests!).

Another mode that was added that significantly increased the player experience was the Prowler Mode. In the past, Palicoes (cat-like beings found in previous titles until today) were specifically known to be AI-controlled units, but in this game, you can play as one; which is a lot of fun!

Being a Prowler has its advantages and here are some of them;
1. Palicoes doesn't require stamina to dash, dodge, etc,
2. Prowlers don't actually need Pickaxes and Bug Nets to gather
3. Palicoes have unique skills to boot; making the experience differ depending on what type of Palico your Prowler is.
4. Palicoes are not affected by weather conditions
5. Weapons that Palicoes use don't go dull
6. It takes 3 tries before Palicoes get carted back, among others.

However, there are also certain disadvantages when using them:
1. They have generally lower defense than Hunters
2. They don't have Armor Skills
3. Their attacks are generally weaker, even with great gear equipped
4. Skills needed are only limited based on the number of slots
5. Only a few quests are dedicated to Prowlers (quests that is specifically catered for Prowlers), among others

Another important factor that made the game even more convenient is that the Advance Quests no longer need to appear and disappear; allowing you to gain access to certain missions with ease and to collect hard-to-earn parts.

With so many changes that has been implemented in this game, there will be a chance that I may not be able to cover them up, but the most important feature that is exclusive in this version is the inclusion of the Hunter Arts; extremely powerful techniques that can allow you to deal massive damage against monsters or provide extremely useful buffs for your fellow Hunters.

While there are some features in the quest system that has been removed (such as the Guild Quests), there is another system that has been introduced called "Special Permit" quests. Special Permit quests allow you to hunt special monsters known as "Deviants" which are considerably more powerful versions of certain monsters like Rathalos and Tigrex, but these are not to be confused with Subspecies and Variants that are majorly absent in this game. There are 12 of them and you can only access these quests once certain conditions are met. Each of these quests asks you to provide a certain amount of Special Permits in order to take the quests (with varying amounts depending on the difficulty and quest type). You can replenish these Special Permits by meeting other Hunters via StreetPass or to buy them from the trader worth 500 Wycademy Points (1000 points in the Japanese version).

What are the flaws that I found unpleasant in this game?
There have been a lot of complaints from some Monster Hunter fans; one of which is the exclusion of the G-Rank difficulty; a more difficult set of missions that was previously included in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. Veterans, to be specific, are quite critical about it since Monster Hunter was meant to be a game of memorization and timing.

Nevertheless, the absence of G-Rank was alleviated in the form of the Special Permit quests, however, with only 10 levels for each Deviant (120 quests in total), the amount of challenge was a bit shorter than the previous one (where each monster's HP in the Gathering Hall was optimized to be hunted by 4 Hunters).

Certain tweaks in the game are deemed unnecessary such as the removal of music to animated sequences when the music is turned off in the Options menu, the zoomed-in perspective where it can be pretty awkward especially when fighting tall monsters like Glavenus or Gammoth, and the removal of the arm-wrestling feature (I know that some of them may be irrelevant for others but these key features allows the players to have a nice experience, both in and out of the Hunting Grounds).

However, the worst one is got to be the removal of those immersive monster introductions. There is this odd yet satisfying feeling of seeing your actual Hunter in action; whether it is just gathering mushrooms and other irrelevant items like honey and herbs, or battling dangerous monsters that can either spell doom to that monster... or to yourself. The adrenaline rush of every hunt can be seen in those particular intros, which was toned down into brief CGI cut-scenes in Generations (which is a complete bummer).

If you were to play a Monster Hunter clone, what game would it be and why?
I have to be honest, there is no clone that can ever top Monster Hunter's unique formula. Nevertheless, there are some games that I can see the same promise that MonHun provides. That being said, if I were to play a game that looks like Monster Hunter, I would say either between God Eater or Toukiden; both good games with their own theme and style.

God Eater is set in a post-apocalyptic world where monsters rule around the lands, and you play as a character with the titular role of a God Eater to battle monsters. While the title can be misleading for most people, the game itself doesn't even actually involved about gods at all... or so I would like to assume. Toukiden, on the other hand, is set in a fantasy-like realm where you take the role of a Slayer to battle Oni (which is like the Japanese mythology equivalent of the large monsters seen in THAT hunting game) in order to prevent the Onis in taking over the world.

Again, the reason I would like to play either of them because they have their own style and unique mechanics that made them distinct from Monster Hunter games. God Eater has this particular mechanic where you "devour" monsters to gain useful abilities, while Toukiden has a Mitama system, which acts as spells that can heal your party or bolster your parameters, among other things.

EDIT: Oh, I forgot Final Fantasy Explorers, which also made a nice take on the Monster Hunter formula while also slapping in some memorable Final Fantasy game-play elements, which is nice.

Overall Rating: 9.4/10
Monster Hunter Generations is a celebration of everything that is Monster Hunter for the past 12 years of its existence. The combat is more dynamic while remaining to be exhilarating and fun. Also, with the additional features that made the game even more interesting, there really isn't any reason not to play this game at all. Truly, Monster Hunter Generations is the pound-for-pound king of monster hunting games!

--END OF REVIEW--