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--

Top 10 Favorite Monster Hunter Monsters

In celebration for the release of Monster Hunter Generations, I have decided to make a list of my Top 10 favorite monsters in the Monster Hunter franchise. With a copious amounts of monsters in the franchise, it really is difficult to choose ten from these bad boys. Nevertheless, I find some of them to be very interesting while there are others are trying hard as much.

So here it is, my Top 10 Favorite Monster Hunter Monsters!

As mentioned, there are tons of monsters which can definitely make on this list, however, I will only consider large monsters found in this game, which means there are no small monsters or Elder Dragons to be found here as they can have a list on their own. Subspecies, Variants, Frenzied monsters, and the newly-introduced Deviants and Hyper monsters won't be included here as well.

That being said, let us begin!!!

10. Tetsucabra

One of the new monsters to be introduced in Monster Hunter 4, Tetsucabra is considered to be a beginner monster and one of the newer Amphibians in the game. Tetsucabra is very tough, even as a beginner monster. These beasts can dig big chunk of rocks to smash and they use their weights to create small tremors that will put hunters into a disadvantage. They also spit out a stamina-draining acid that will tire out Hunters if not careful. The reason why I like this monster so much because first of all, I am quite curious to know what frogs taste like, but besides that, it is one of those few monsters that defines "annoying but fair". Also, its moves are predictable and it can be good training for the more difficult fights.

9. Lagiacrus

This thunderous Leviathan is the flagship monster of Monster Hunter Tri, where underwater battles are introduced. I got to admit that I have yet to play Monster Hunter Tri and its enhanced iterations, but after finding out from a lot of people (from the Internet and even to my brother) that underwater battles are very primitive and clunky, I have made second thoughts on whether to play them or not. Gladly, this monster has re-appeared in the latest Monster Hunter Generations, and as a monster, I got to say that it provides decent challenge. It's lightning attacks are quite annoying and most of its movements are fluid yet manageable. The only thing going for this monster, however, is the nostalgia factor, especially for the people who played Tri, and I am glad that I am one of those people who considered this monster to be a nice addition to the new game; while also getting some updated move sets to match the new game's mechanics.

8. Zamtrios

First introduced in Monster Hunter 4, Zamtrios is... an odd ball of sorts. It's quite likable but there is also this kind of feeling that makes me despise this fellow. Probably because that it can burrow itself on solid ice while trying to surprise you with deadly Ice attacks, which is why it is kinda low on the list. However, the armor you make from this beast is quite cool. You also get the effect of Mega Dash Juices when eating a Well-Done Steak, which is very essential for Dual Blades and Lance users who rely on Stamina for some of their key attacks.

7. Rathian

One of the classic monsters that never gets tired to age. First introduced in the very first Monster Hunter along with Rathalos, Rathian is considered to be a veteran monster and one of the most difficult monsters early in the game. With a combination of deadly Fire and Poison attacks, Rathians are quite the challenging enemies and rewards players with a tough monster that never disappoints. Also, the weapons you make from this ferocious queen are very nice, as Poison weapons are quite difficult to come by early in the game and it's a very essential status to make hunts faster, along with Blastblight.

6. Deebil Joe (aka Deviljho)

The hunger of this beast knows no bounds, Deebil Joe, errr I mean Deviljho, is a savage like no other. Making its debut in Monster Hunter Tri, this monster was being heavily reviled for its difficult AI. Ranging from spamming Dragon Breaths to ridiculous physical damage, Deviljhos are approached with caution and only the most prepared of hunters can be able to conquer the Violent Wyvern. Also, it is highly adaptable to a lot of locations and you can see these monstrosities EVERYWHERE you go! The reason why I put him on this list? Well, it eats a lot and I eat a lot too so... :3

5. Tigrex

Fierce and savage, this Flying Wyvern shows no mercy to anything, or anyone, that stands in its way. As the flagship monster of Monster Hunter Freedom 2, many people have many terrible memories with this thing because on how difficult this monster is. Despite the lack of any form of elemental attacks, Capcom compensates it by giving Tigrex brute force and enormous coverage, allowing this monster to create devastating attacks, from a 360 degree spin attacks to its infamous charge attack. The reason why I put this guy on the list is because of its very nice ability to adapt with the environment. Like Deviljho, it can go from a wide range of places like hot surfaces like the Dunes and even snowy regions like the Frozen Seaway.

4. Nargacuga

One of the most memorable and the most nostalgic monster to ever exist in a Monster Hunter game, the Nargacuga is just cool in design and game play. First appeared as the flagship monster of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, this monster has a lot of things going for and it is considered to be a fan favorite for many years. In terms in making it playable, however, took the developers a lot of time to make it work. Capcom also admitted in one of their interviews that designing the Nargacuga's movement in the game was one of the most difficult ones to program back in the PSP... and succeeded. From there, the players are quite impressed with the monster ever since its conception. The reason I put this baby on the list because of its armor sets focusing on evasion; which is useful in many hunts.

3. Rathalos and Glavenus

The third spot comes to a tie between Rathalos, the King of the Skies, and Glavenus, the Scorching Blade. Both of these monsters are the master of the Fire element, doing the best they can to burn their enemies to crisp. Rathalos was first introduced in the first Monster Hunter while Glavenus was introduced, along with 3 other monsters, in Monster Hunter Generations; both of which are tough and both of them capable of shooting fireballs. But if you are going to ask me on who is my favorite among the two, I would say Rathalos because Glavenus wouldn't have been existed if it wasn't for the burning wyvern with an attitude. Nevertheless, the armor you make from a Glavenus has a neat armor skill called "Heavy Polish" which increases the attack power of your weapon temporarily while also preventing your Sharpness from depleting for a brief moment.

2. Brachydios and Seregios


Another tie and this time between the exploding giant and the sharp-scaled wyvern. Brachydios and Seregios are both excellent monsters in terms of challenge and the weapons that you can make from these bad boys. For those who are not familiar in the franchise, Brachydios is the main flagship monster of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on whose weapons are considered to be extremely powerful through the use of Slimeblight; a powerful component capable of dealing damage based on the max HP of the monster after being hit several times with slime-based weapons. Seregios, on the other hand, was introduced as the flagship monster of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (an enhanced version of Monster Hunter 4 that was also known as Monster Hunter 4G in Japan) and the weapons based on this wyvern was praised for its versatility and the ability to sharpen weapons without the need of Whetstones. Both equipment based on these monsters were later tweaked and adjusted in future titles, but nevertheless, hunting these monsters and getting their parts to make sweet equipment out of them is a satisfying feat.

1. Zinogre

And here it is, my favorite monster in the franchise. Back when my brother was playing MH3U, I kept hearing about this "Zinogre" guy, and my brother was so hyped about this beast. Obviously the oblivious me is not even familiar with this gem of a monster back in the day, but when I played Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate the first time and the theme of this beast kicked in, then I realized that it was LIKE AT FIRST HUNT! The energy, the majesty, the theme that this awesome monster possess, is exhilarating and powerful; it feels that you are actually hunting a menace that will do what it takes to destroy you. Additionally, as the flagship monster of the Japan-exclusive Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (which was also known as the best-selling PSP game in Japan), the hype factor around this monster was second to none. The armor you make from this thing is not clearly the best out there in terms of its effects (screw you Latent Power) but its regal design screams awesomeness wherever you go! :)

Well, that's it for my list. What is your favorite monster that didn't appear here? Let us know what your thoughts about it by commenting them. Your kind suggestions will be appreciated.

Until then, savor the hunt and don't get left behind!

A new frontier awaits - Brave Frontier Reader's Review

Does anyone remember Valkyrie Profile? An RPG from Square Enix (previously known as Squaresoft) which introduced one of the most unique kind of combat system known to man. You simply press in the button of the assigned character, and then the character will perform a unique attack; while pressing buttons in quick succession can allow you to perform a chain of combos to create devastating attacks!

Evidently, while the game itself wasn't that memorable for most people, the combat system was a remarkable feat for its time to the point that it was adopted by other games throughout the years.

This game, however, is one of them. This is Brave Frontier for the mobile, and I am going to make a Reader's Review about it.

Title: Brave Frontier
Date released: December 13, 2013 (July 3, 2013 in Japan, 2014 for Kindle Fire users and 2015 for Windows users)
Company: A-Lim (published by gumi overseas)
Genre: Action RPG
Platform: Mobile
ESRB Rating: None (but it will be either E10+ or Teen if given such)
The picture seen here is Vargas, one of the Six Heroes featured in this game.

Brief Background: gumi, founded in June 13, 2007, is the worldwide distributor of the game. The game itself has spanned from multiple mobile devices including Amazon, Apple, and even mobile phones that handles the Windows OS. The game itself received positive reviews from Western critics due to its simple mechanics and innovative take to the RPG genre.

What do you do here?
This is basically a "chosen hero" kind of story where you, taking the role of a Summoner, is chosen by Lucius, god of the gate, as the champion to save Grand Gaia from total destruction. You travel from various locales, meet people, and unravel the secrets that befell upon the land, for better or for worse.

What makes this game interesting?
The most interesting about Brave Frontier is its simple game-play mechanics; you simply tap the character bar to attack enemies. You can also swipe the character bar in order to perform other actions such as blocking attacks and even unleashing super moves; all of which are extremely useful in battle.

Other than the Quest Mode which you'll be doing for the most part, where you travel the world of Grand Gaia and stuff, you can also gain access to some other modes like the Vortex, Arena, the Guild, and even Imperial Capital Randall.

The Vortex is basically a mysterious dimensional gate where you gain access to special dungeons; some of which are only there for a limited time. From these dungeons you can get neat goodies like materials used for item creation and unit evolution, some Zel (in-game currency), Karma (another commodity found in Grand Gaia used for unit evolution as well as upgrading facilities in your Town), and special Units not found in the game.

There are other things that you can do in this game; such as Raids, where you tag with 3 other players to beat a powerful set of monsters that will try to beat the living daylights out of your characters if left unattended, and Arena Mode, where you test your powerful units to defeat other players (both parties use CPUs to decide the action of each of your units).

There is a particular portion in the Quest mode known as Grand Quests, where you access special levels that can only be unlocked after completing the first map. This is actually a good place to get rare gear, as well as to learn a lot regarding the NPC's backstories and what-not.

Every occasion, there are some featured units to recruit, allowing you to bolster your roster with powerful units. With a copious amount of gems to be given away frequently, there really is no reason for you to miss out these powerful units unless you want to save the gems for some powerful units later on.

The game is also generous in providing useful items, whether healing items or Crystal Gods to boost your characters' EXP, which can give you a very nice advantage early on in the game and to make you get hooked on it.

Finally, there are tons of characters to power-up and collect, making you confused and lost on whom to power-up first. Nevertheless, once you got enough materials and experience in playing the game, it is easy to get in touch with those features.

What are the flaws you found in this game?
Being a very BIG game, despite being on the mobile, bugs and glitches are expected in this game like 90% of the time; ranging from text errors to game-breaking issues that can cause major inconveniences to all players. Other than that, there really is nothing much to complain other than the game itself will force you to pay money so that you can be able to get those envied units, which is dangerous if you are working on a short budget.

Should I recommend this game? 
Not to all, especially to those who are fond of consoles and to those who find mobile games to be much of a hassle. The good thing is that if you have a smartphone with a large memory capacity, it is highly accessible and it is very easy to get hooked in this game for a long, long time.

Overall Rating: 7.2/10
While there are a lot of things to go for, Brave Frontier is not your typical Triple-A title that will create a solid experience. Nevertheless, it is a game full of potential and it is something that is truly worth playing, especially if you are the type of person who likes to collect a lot of things.

--END OF REVIEW--

My thoughts about the Monster Hunter Generations Demo

Well, it has been a few days after the release of the Monster Hunter Generations demo, and I just got to say that the game play is actually revved up and the adrenaline of every hunt has been pumped up considerably! It feels that the hunt is always out there, ready to be grasped

I am not going to say that much about this demo because its basically what you will expect from Monster Hunter Generations that will be released on July 15. Nevertheless, I must say that I am excited for the game to come stateside.

Pretty much a lot of the Monster Hunter games of the past were known to be very sluggish and requires patience to even try to hit the monsters. As time goes by, however, innovations in game play have made the Monster Hunter series to be flashier and more dynamic that it needed to be; making it more playable for new-comers of the series. Also, the introduction of online multiplayer has been a game-changer for the series.

OK! Enough introductions! Here's my thoughts about the demo.

While the new controls will take some time for newbies to master, the effort of mastering them will surely pay off, especially if you rely on your buttons most of the time. Executing special skills (known as Hunter Arts) are very easy to pull off, nonetheless.

The Prowler Mode is by far, for me, the most interesting and exciting part of the demo as you try to fight large monsters using only your nimbleness and tools to achieve that victory.

As for each Hunting Styles that you can use, there are some things that I have observed on using them.

1. Hunting Styles alter the move set for each weapon type - there are some specific moves that either removed or significantly altered; allowing players to identify on which style suits best for each weapon. For example, when using a Great Sword with a Striker Style setting, there are no attack reductions when overcharging your sword attack, however, using a Long Sword in conjunction with the aforementioned Style will prevent you from using the Spirit Round Slash. These changes in move sets can be extremely crucial as you may not be able to properly adapt with your team if you aren't used with that particular skill set.

2. Hunting Styles has their own strengths and weaknesses - each style has a unique set of capabilities and limitations which is also another deciding factor on how effective and ineffective can you become during hunts. For example, the Aerial Style can allow you to perform a special jumping dodge which you can use to jump on other hunters, obstacles, and monsters, in exchange for having only a single Hunter Art to be equipped. In contrast, the Striker Style is capable of filling up the Hunter Arts gauge faster and it grants you the ability to equip 3 Hunter Arts, however, most notable move sets, such as the Sword and Shield charge slash, are disabled. Always pick the right Hunting Style so that you can try on how effective you can become. It's not that bad to experiment as well, nonetheless. Most importantly...

3. All Hunting Styles are quite flexible in every way - each Style creates a distinct feel during hunts, allowing you to get attached to that particular Style with ease. While there are some Styles that are more difficult to cope up with than others, they are great addition to the already robust hunting game which makes the game even more dynamic.

Well that's all I can say about the demo. It is a success for me and this is a sure-fire way to get people to become excited of the upcoming game. See you in the hunting ground, people!

Monster Hunter Generations in stores July 15, 2016.

Weapons and warriors UNITE! - Phantom of the Kill Reader's Review

There was this one time that I am walking in the mall, holding my cell phone, and watching some random YouTube videos. As I watch through the videos, there was this ad that popped in my screen...

It was a game that was somehow similar to another game that I became close with, and that game was Fire Emblem.

However, this game was different. It was on the mobile and it had some interesting design choices that made me like the game at first glance. That being said, behold one of the underdogs of the SRPG genre.

Enter... Phantom of the Kill's Reader's Review. For more information, feel free to go to their website at https://phantomofthekill.com/.


Title: Phantom of the Kill
Date released: May 19, 2016 in the US (with constant updates keeping into consideration)
Company: Fuji&gumi Games (gumi)
Genre: Strategy RPG
Platform: Mobile
ESRB Rating: None (but it's a sure-fire Teen)


Brief Background: gumi was founded in June 13, 2007 and the company has been since popularly known in the mobile community with games like the immensely popular Brave Frontier, the now defunct Chain Chronicle, and the recent Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius, a game developed in cooperation with Square Enix and Alim.

What do you do here?
In a world where malevolent forces dominates the land, you serve as a commander in this Norse-inspired post-apocalyptic world where the many weapons of legend are at your disposal; in the form of people known as "Killers". These are a selective few who partake a secret yet dangerous proposal by the Ragnarok Institute known as the Killer Project where these individuals are granted beast blood and essences from legendary arms (known as Killium) in order to make a last-ditch attempt to save humanity from utter destruction. However, these powers do not come without risks...

Killer Princes, male test subjects of the Killer Project, tends to go haywire when they undergo "Beast Mode" for long periods of time; making them more savage and uncontrollable. This is where you, the player, steps in. Commanders possesses a unique material called "Vibium" granting them the ability to keep these men in check. The troubles do not step there however, as a horde of monsters have taken over humanity and its up to you, and your army of Killer Princes and Princesses, to stop them.

What makes the game interesting?
The game play is simply a straightforward Strategy RPG; choose a unit, pick where you want to go, attack enemies, rinse and repeat. This is very cool as people who are fond of the Fire Emblem series will be able to identify these mechanics very easily. However, there are some mechanics that are quite distinct for this game. One of them is the elemental affinities. These affinities greatly affects on how much damage you can both deal and take. Additionally, each character are not basically carbon copies of each other unlike in other Strategy RPGs. While each of them can have the same job, the play style of each unit differs from one other; from the stats that they get when they level up to the unique special moves that they can learn. Speaking of special moves, specific characters can undergo special quests known as "Character Quests" where you see the origin of story of each Killer Princes and Princesses, after which they receive a special skill that you can use in battle. Another interesting thing about this game is that it has tons of Event Quests for you to enjoy, from the experience-filled Metal Gardens to some very important side quests like Gold Rush and quests that you can do to get evolution materials. There are two ways to recruit units, via Lazulis and another one using Mana Points, which you can use to make powerful units early on. Finally, there are a lot of updates going on right now, so be on the lookout for future upgrades in game modes and other stuff. Also, I would like to add that the game has no permadeath, so this will probably give some breathing room for those people who are not fond of that particular feature.

What are the flaws I found in this game?
Being a free-to-play title, it also utilizes micro-transactions. Fortunately enough, the game is so balanced that you won't be needing much Lazulis (the game's premium currency) to proceed further of the game. Also, with the game just recently released in the West, it is quite short and still needs more content to fill in to. Furthermore, like every other freemium games out there, it relies on a random number generator to determine certain outcomes; from the units that you want to recruit to the critical hit chance of your attacks. Weapon fusion also relies on RNG, which sucks because I am quite hesitant to fuse my strong weapons only to get useless ones in the end. Despite these short-comings, these are compensated by a very-well balanced combat system and a daily rewards system... just make sure to check in every single day! The arena matches are fun, but what's more fun is that they remove the EXP limit that players can receive (or at least increase the threshold).

How did you know about Phantom of the Kill? What was your initial reaction to it? Who is your favorite PotK character so far?
I am not entirely sure what to say at first, especially that the trailer that I watched is so cheesy that it's easily to assume that its terrible, but after playing the game, I must say that I am quite caught off guard. The game play is nice despite its random nature, and there really is no need for you to do anything special, which I've already mentioned above. I have to be honest, the game is not ground-breaking but it is a very nice addition to the mobile library by every means, if it only because of its familiar game-play. As for my favorite character in the game, I have to say Labrys, because she reminded me of Love Live... for some strange reason. :D

Can you recommend this game?
I say yes. The mechanics of this game is very much recognizable (if not innovative) and the game-play is so balanced that newbies can be able to get into the game so easily. Also, with a lot of constant updates and features, the developers really do know how to keep their player-base interested with the game.

Overall rating: 8.7/10
As expected from a freemium, this game has the setbacks and limitations of being an online-only game. Nevertheless, it is not a frustrating experience and it has a lot of things going for. Updates, events, freebies, you will be sure to play this game for a long time. Now then, go out there and bring victory for humanity!

Fight on, Commander!!!

--END OF REVIEW--

Character ideas for Phantom of the Kill - Part 1

Phantom of the Kill is a game where warriors (known as Killer Princes and Princesses) are bestowed by different powers based on different weapons coming from different mythologies.

That being said, with a lot of mythological weapons that are introduced in this game, there are some weapons that came in my mind that can become great additions to this game. NOTE: These are just ideas that I came up with and these are not confirmed by any way to be released as a character in the game (and if ever they are ever released eventually, then feel free to ignore everything that is written here).

For this topic, I would be mentioning that characters':

1. Potential Background (based on given gender)
2. Weapon Type
3. Preferred Trait
4. How many stars does this particular weapon have?
5. Signature Skill

Anyways, here it is. 

1. Claimh Solais (M)

Background: Calm yet tenacious, this young warrior is known among one of the most well-composed Killer Princes that was ever produced by the Ragnarok Institute. His Killium came from the legendary sword Claimh Solais, also known as the "Sword of Light". While outside the battlefield, he is known to be a very kind person; capable of making trades of jokes and puns. He is also a very cheerful young man which he can use to cheer up fellow Killer Princes and Princesses whenever odds are going against them. When backed into a corner, however, he unleashes a malevolent force, so powerful that not even he can't realize what's happening.

Weapon Type: Sword

Preferred Trait: Guard

Star Levels: Starts as a 4-star Unit, can evolve up to 5-stars!

Signature Skill: Radiant Force - May activate when attacking. Deals massive damage and has a chance to deal fatal damage against enemies.


2. Hrunting (F)

Background: A young woman with a lustful thirst for battle, however, she often fails to display them. Her Killium came from Hrunting, a sword that was once used by the hero Beowulf. It is known that Hrunting was once used by Beowulf to slay an evil giant, but the weapon fails to harm it. Just like her Killium, she often becomes a burden to her fellow Killer Princesses. But despite the backlash that she is getting from her peers, she is willing to do whatever it takes to prove her worth and not to end up like her source of Killium; to become useless.

Weapon Type: Sword

Preferred Trait: Force

Star Levels: Starts as a 3-star Unit, can evolve up to 5-stars!

Signature Skill: Unyielding Spirit - May activate when being attacked. When an attack is about to KO her, the attack will instead drops her HP to half of her max HP.


3. Gleipnir (M/F)

Background (for Male): A young prodigy with an undying passion for knowledge. His Killium came from Gleipnir, a mysterious ribbon that binds the wolf Fenrir. Like his Killium, Gleipnir used to bind his negative emotions by showing off his cheerful side to everyone around him, because he believes that getting depressed in such a grim time can be devastating for the team's morale. Despite his charade, however, his commander can see through his acts and encouraged him to become more open to his situation. 

Weapon Type: Staff

Preferred Trait: Magic/Vitality

Star Levels: Starts as a 3-star unit, can evolve up to 4-stars!

Signature Skill: Phantom Soul - May activate when attacking. When activated, his attack will never miss.


Background (for Female): One of the youngest Killer Princess to undergo the Killer Project, she finds strength from negative emotions and loneliness. Her Killium came from Gleipnir, a powerful ribbon that acts as a powerful seal against Fenrir. She is an anti-social and will do whatever it takes to avoid contact with anyone. If someone approaches her, she'll just simply shoo them away. Or in extreme cases, forcing them to do so. She believes that relying in her comrades is a stigma and can cause her to falter sometimes. Perhaps she's just trying to be independent? No one will ever know...

Weapon Type: Staff

Preferred Trait: Magic/Dexterity

Star Levels: Starts as a 3-star unit, can evolve up to 5-stars!

Signature Skill: Grand Hex - May activate when getting attacked. All damage taken instead heals her HP.


That's all I can think of for now. Nevertheless, if you have ideas, feel free to share them. Also, my Reader's Review of this fantastic game is already on the works, so be sure to check that out as well. :)

EDIT: The Reader's Review for Phantom of the Kill has already been released, so feel free to check that one at your own leisure.

First impressions about Monster Hunter Generations

So after hearing the Nintendo Direct last March (I think? I can't really remember), there is soooo much anticipation (and perhaps some disappointment) regarding to the lineup of games announced, and one of them is a game called "Monster Hunter X". It's international title was then revealed as Monster Hunter Generations which added to the hype because it is finally to be localized in the West.

The point is; after the monumental success of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, Capcom really has no reason to localize the said game. After all, Monster Hunter has recently become one of Capcom's staple titles alongside Mega Man and Street Fighter after the game's remarkable performance in Japan (with no less than 3 MILLION copies being sold in just a month after release). 

For those people who are not familiar with this series, the Monster Hunter franchise was first released to the world by 2004 on the PlayStation 2 where it became a very popular title in Japan. However, unlike Japan, Monster Hunter wasn't all that well-received overall for western players. While Monster Hunter Freedom Unite had a very strong cult following, the game itself was met with mixed reviews despite its cult following.

Now, people are starting to wonder on what will be the future of the franchise at that point. Nevertheless, it remained strong till this day.

So, what will people expect from this new iteration of the Monster Hunter franchise? I will only be able to come up with the some of the highlights.

1. Hunting Styles - one of the newly introduced combat mechanics in Monster Hunter Generations is the Hunting Styles. These styles can allow you to mix and match your playstyle; whether it is acrobatic gun-play or powerful blade techniques, these styles can enable for you maximize your hunting experience.

2. Hunter Arts - another combat system that is introduced in conjunction with the Hunting Styles. Hunter Arts are special techniques, unique from weapon to weapon, which utilizes unique attacks and skills that are never seen in a Monster Hunter game before, making hunts faster and more dynamic than any other in the series. These techniques can allow you to unleash massive Hammer swings and even shoot a gigantic fireball!

3. Prowler Mode - among the newly introduced mechanics in MHGen, this is one is the most awaited one! For the very first time, players can now play as Felynes (cat-like NPCs that help you during hunts), utilizing a unique move-style and different sets of equipment. Additionally, it also has its own quest line, making the game itself even more expansive.

4. Deviants - Subspecies will not make a comeback in Monster Hunter Generations, instead we are being introduced to the Deviants, unique monsters whose skills and appearances differ greatly from their normal counterparts. They are more powerful, more vicious, and deadlier than ever before. They possess unique attacks that can destroy you if not fully prepared. The good thing is that they can only be accessed at a certain point of the game, which gives you some ample time to prepare for these beasts. There are 12 of them... in case you're wondering.

... and SOOO much more. There are a lot to be expected about Monster Hunter Generations, so stay tuned for more updates!

Monster Hunter Generations in stores July 15 2016!