Monday, February 26, 2018

Brad's Tips For Keeping Free To Play Games Free And Fun

We've all been there. We've played a free-to-play game to a point that we feel forced to pay up to make anymore progress. We hit a paywall, and simply can't get any further without paying real money for fake money, or in-game items that will aid us in our online journey of enjoying a game we would like to enjoy, but cannot enjoy otherwise. That seems to be the go to formula for a lot of studios. Indie or Triple A. Thankfully all is not lost, and we too can manipulate the marketplace to our advantage. We can turn the tables, and make studios give us freely that which we would usually have to pay for. You simply have to show disgust in the games bad business practices, raise a social stink on social media about it, and stop playing for a while. Once your disdain gets the studio's attention their embedded reward algorithm will reward you handsomely for your return to the game. Sure, this reward is short lived, but rinse & repeat the previously mentioned disgust to not playing cycle and you'll continue reaping the rewards while making progress that costs you nothing. A lot of developers create their games to reward strategically in a desperate attempt to maximize player payouts. By understanding that this is how things work you can take advantage of the advantageous practices of those who would take advantage of you. It's that simple. So, the next time you feel the urge to pad the pockets of free-to-play exploiters stop playing awhile, make a fuss (albeit intelligently), and wait patiently as you are rewarded for your patience. Patience is a virtue. Even as a gamer.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

NISA's "The Longest 5 Minutes" Lives Up To It's Name

The moment of epiphany, and the moment of reflection in passing is a lot like @NISAmerica's "The Longest 5 Minutes". We often get to a point in life where we stop, and think how did I get here? That's what makes this game both different, and brilliant in regards to the JRPG genre's usually set formula. It is, in a way, a mirroring of self-reflection. In the game you get to take on the role of a heroic leader of a band of party members who has arrived at the final battle against the evil of all evils. For whatever reason you lose your purpose, and memory to a point that only with each attack against you are you able to relive your adventure in an episodic manner and recall all that you learned along the way. In doing so you slowly regain the will, and ability to fight the formidable foe that stands before you. The premise is simple, and the gameplay oldschool or retro in the turn based/pixel constructed sense, but in it's presentation it becomes a metaphor for life's key moments where we must reflect on how it is we got to this point in time, and how we are to move forward. As such the tale being told is a story that most can relate to even if it is directly unrelated. Like a lot of NISA games, especially the more indie titles, it makes you think on a deeper level if you even care enough to take it's underlying theme that far. The game has the usual NISA charm, and continues with the quality content NISA always puts forth. It is why, in this micro-review, I give it a good to buy rating. If you own a PS Vita definitely pick it up! I think it's also available on the Switch for those of you who own that console. I enjoyed it, and I believe you will too.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Slice, Dice & Rice (PS4)

Slice, Dice & Rice (by Dojo Games) is a gimmick fighter in the vein of games like 'Dive Kick' and 'Bushido Blade'. It takes the rock, paper, scissors formula in regards to trumping one's attacks or Bushido Blade's opening focus and wound system while utilizing a four button controller layout with 3 melee attacks (horizontal, vertical, heavy) & a parry along with dash options, aerial attacks & cancels to do so with. The fights last up to several rounds depending on the mode being played with each round being a potential insta-kill depending on the attack landed. There are fatalities done through a heavy attack no matter what round you might be on as well as splashy blood effects. The graphics are cell shaded, and the stages layered. It has an ancient Japanese folklore appearance, and a traditional instrumental soundtrack with a variety of different fighters included that each move, and attack differently according to fighting style & weapon type. The 'Dojo' mode which takes the place of a practice mode allows for learning the characters attacks on a basic level while the Story mode allows for a ladder style series of matches against select characters with story elements embedded.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Project Xenon Valkyrie+ (PS4)

Diabolical Mind and COWCAT Games take a tried and true indie platforming formula, jazz it up with impressive pixel art, and seal the deal with challenging gameplay that isn't off putting, but actually fun. The game comes complete with a light sprinkle of established lore about evil from the dark side of the moon encroaching on a civilization's turf with the intention of destroying all that is good. Past the hieroglyphics inspired telling of the world's looming disaster you are plunged beyond the animated display that is the story's prologue into a hub world with a crashed ship housing three could be heroes and heroines as well as a portal leading deeper into the alien world, and a shop of godlike gear to help you slay the evil that awaits you further into the game. There are no tutorials given beyond the set plot, and only through clicking the button prompts in front of NPC characters and items are you able to figure out a little more about the world, objectives, and features that will aid you as you go along from portal to portal facing a host of various alien creatures in a variety of different stages. Thankfully nothing in the game is overly complicated, and if you've ever played a game like Mega Man or any other Metroidvania you will be able to pick up on things rather easily.