Reaction to the Brave Exvius x Ariana Grande Collaboration

DISCLAIMER: By the time of writing this, I am pretty sure that the Ariana Grande event is almost over, and I don't think that there really is any more need for us to punch around on this topic any further. Nevertheless, I can't help but comment on the matter because I find a lot of players to be simply ridiculous... in a mean way, that is.

So, without any further ado, allow me to start.

January 19, 2017.

The day where Ariana Grande, multi-awarded singer and songwriter, makes her stunning debut in the world of Lapis. That's right! Square Enix and Gumi made a collaboration with this pop-star sensation in order to create an experience that her fans will never forget; her inclusion to Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.

This move by SE is very significant as the company has to pull in new players from time to time. Additionally, there are a LOT of Ariana Grande fans out there that will ended up being fascinated by the fact that she, an already popular person of all personalities, will be included in an already very popular game.

This is actually a nice move... that comes with a cost; the dissatisfaction of certain players in the community that is the Final Fantasy fan-base.

I have visited the official Facebook page of Brave Exvius, as well as the Brave Exvius Reddit page, and I saw that a lot of people are complaining and ridiculing the collaboration itself. Here are some examples of the complaints I have encountered in the forums;

"Ariana Grande is not even a Final Fantasy character! She doesn't deserve to be in the game or we'll quit in playing this stupid game."

"Stupid decision on Square Enix's end! Why bother making such a ridiculous decision?!"

"What the heck is this?! What kind of stupidity are you doing Square?! Only young girls will appeal to this piece of s***!!!"

"This is ridiculous! I've lost my respect to you because you make garbage such as this."

"We quit! Go f**k yourself Square! Arrrrggghhhble!!!"

And the list goes on, and on, and on... Seriously, just because that she isn't a Final Fantasy character to just be included in the game, doesn't mean it deserves to be bashed too much. In fact, many people hated this collaboration just because they wanted to, and that's pretty unreasonable. To add insult to injury, people who despised the event and still want to play the game regardless go on to great lengths of getting rid of their Ariana units (e.g. such as fusing said unit to a "weak" unit) the moment they get her.

First of all, as what I have mentioned, this is to cater new players and to attract Ariana Grande fans in playing the game. This means that old players are not "a priority" at the moment, and I am not saying this out of neglect.

Just try to understand that Square Enix needs to get more people to play the game from time to time. This is not just to accommodate new players, but this is to ensure that the developers will be able to deliver fresh new experiences to the game in the unforeseen future; which kinda makes it a win-win deal for me.

Another complaint that I have seen so far is the sprite used for her in-game appearance. Many players think that the unit reminds them of some hooker in a bar or something, but that's not actually the case. The sprite art was accurately based on the costume she wore in the "Dangerous Woman" music video, which kinda fits her "dangerous" appeal in the game. Also, if you are going to make something familiar for fans to enjoy, then I say take everything that you can and make the most of it.

And since the song Dangerous Woman is very popular, well, I really see no reason to object, despite my displeasure...

Also, you gotta take credit for her being one of the few people to be featured in a video game that is not a politician. Besides, how come most people don't complain when their hated politician was included in a game but when some pop sensation that everybody gives a crap on about added to a game everybody joins in the flaming?! Isn't that a bit hypocritical? Such a treatment is a bit unfair.

While I don't really like her music in the long run, I must say that the music that she lend her voice for during the Dangerous Woman Tour quest grabs my attention at the very least.

In short, don't be jerks.

It's her moment. Let her have it. I mean, we do post the pics of the awesome units that you get, and it has that 'awesome' feeling of being... you know, awesome!

Instead, let's just celebrate that Square Enix have even bothered to continue in showering us with Global-exclusive contents. And if you don't like it, just clam up. You are not making the community any better with that kind of attitude.

Anyways, that's all I can say about this issue. Again, this does not mean that I like Ariana Grande or anything of the sort, but please, if you have something that you don't want, say it in a manner that people will understand rather than getting offended and call you 'fools' for it.

Enjoy the world of Lapis and have a nice day! :)

Character Ideas for Phantom of the Kill - Part 5

Well, I can't help but be fascinated by Phantom of the Kill once more, now that Tyrfing enters the Global Version of the game. I must say that despite that the Global Version is lagging far behind the Japanese Version in terms of playable units and story, there are a ton of goodies that we English-speaking players get nonetheless.

This, however, ignites my imagination once again to create another set of character ideas for Phantom of the Kill. This time, the characters from Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.

For the uninitiated, Brave Exvius was released on June 29, 2016 and a year before in Japan. The game is said to be inspired from another Alim game, Brave Frontier, using the game mechanics of the latter as the driving force in creating Brave Exvius. It has been downloaded more than 5 million times and it has become one of the most successful Final Fantasy mobile titles to date.

The format is same as before:
1. Potential background (based on gender) and Element
2. Weapon Type
3. Preferred Trait
4. How many stars does this unit evolve into?
5. Duel Skill
6. Leader Skill

1. Lasswell (M)

Element: Ice

Potential Background: A young knight hailing from the world of Lapis, serving as a knight of a kingdom known as the Grandshelt Empire. Serious and steadfast, Lasswell never wavers in fulfilling his sworn duty. Upon entering this world, he receives Killium from Purple Lightning, a magical blade that serves as his remaining memento of his mentor, Sir Raegan. After being transported to Terra under mysterious circumstances, Lasswell cannot helped but be alarmed regarding his own predicament. However, after hearing the plight of Terra's people, he is then compelled to protect them as he reminded him of their own mission to save their world from imminent destruction...

Weapon Type: Sword

Preferred Trait: Dexterity, Force

Star Levels: This unit is an automatic 3-star unit, capable of evolving to a 5-star unit.

Duel Skill: Azure Sky - unleashes an instant critical strike against an enemy.

Leader Skill: Azure Blade's Mind - -5/-10/-15 damage taken by allies and Lasswell from all elements (except Thunder)


2. Rain (M)

Element: Fire

Potential Background: A young knight hailing from the world of Lapis, serving as a prestigious knight of the Grandshelt Empire. Strong, courageous, and a bit flirtatious, Rain has the charisma and guts while also having a strong sense of duty. Rain's Killium comes from a strange weapon component, similar to Laevateinn; the same sword that once burned the entire world into ruins. Together with Lasswell, Rain was transported to Terra under mysterious circumstances. Despite their "suspicious" looks, the Ragnarok Institute became interested in both of them; in terms of their fighting abilities and pleasing personalities. Rain, being a flirt and all, tries his best to sway the Killer Princesses in going out with him and describes them as "roses over a bed of thorns". However, his attempts are futile as Lasswell will pull him away from them before he mutters a word or two.

Weapon Type: Sword

Preferred Trait: Dexterity, Guard, Balanced

Star Levels: This unit is an automatic 3-star unit, which can be evolved into a 5-star unit.

Duel Skill: Shining Nova - deals a powerful Fire attack to an enemy. A very low chance of instantly killing an enemy.

Leader Skill: Crimson Knight's Will - +10/+12/+14 Critical Chance of all Fire units


3. Dark Fina (F)


Element: Dark

Potential Background: A mysterious woman who aids Rain and Lasswell at some point during their travels throughout Lapis. It is said to be the true embodiment of a young maiden who managed to unearth her memories. Dark Fina's Killium comes from Empress' Birch, a mysterious whip that is enveloped by a malevolent force. Oddly enough, however, it was transformed into a staff upon her arrival to Terra. Little is known about her intentions upon arriving at Terra, but whenever she encounters Rain and Lasswell, she can't help but feel at ease. Despite her seductive appearance, she has a sharp tongue; catching any flirts off guard with both her speech... and magical prowess.

Weapon Type: Staff

Preferred Trait: Magic, Dexterity, Guard

Star Levels: An automatic 4-star unit, which can be evolved into a 5-star unit.

Duel Skill: Chaotic Touch - unleashes a barrage of dark magic; dealing 5 full hits to an enemy! Deals fixed 20 damage each hit instead in Coliseum battles.

Leader Skill: Dark Witch's Beauty - x1.2/x1.3 PAtk, Mag, and Lck to all Dark allies on whole stage


And yeah, that's all I can think of right now. If you ever felt that a Brave Exvius character deserves a chance to come out in Phantom of the Kill, feel free to comment and to share your thoughts.

P.S. The pictures used in this blog does not belong to me. They belong to Square Enix.

P.S.S Also, I find it weird that Dark Fina's footwear in game is red, while in her official artwork it is colored black. xD

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--