Fighting Ex Layer - A Retrospective Review

Arika's return to the forefront of fighting games was perhaps one of the most hyped moments in the FGC in recent history. Possibly over hyped. Their game, "Fighting Ex Layer", brought back fan favorite characters from a once dead 3D fighting game series, and attempted to do something new within a 2.5D fighting game frame. The mechanics, which were mostly unique to the new experience, did not hold the gamers' attention for long though, or at least not seemingly so. The online as of late is pretty much dead in the water. At the heart of the game, and perhaps what turned people away, was a deck based system known as GOUGI in which players could earn buffs, and abilities that would add an advantage if requirements were met during battle. The timed, and limited perks weren't game breaking per say, but they did play into that initial April Fools Day announcement that sparked the game actually being released in full. By that I mean it incorporated a sort of absurdity that normally would not be a part of a tournament friendly fighter as it threw the rules right out the window with what equates to cheats.

The Meaning of Life, A Gift From Me & My Grandmother To You

In my mourning, in the passing of my beloved Grandmother life finally made sense. It took the hardest low hitting moment of my entire existence for me to finally realize what's truly important. We, as humans, complicate things unnecessarily. We truly do. We hang onto that which only serves to enslave us. The hate, the anger, the sadness, the worry, and the fear. We let it become our focus, and in doing so lose our freedom. True freedom. We don't realize that this world and life, in it's entirety, is what keeps us wanting, and longing for something better or something else. All the while if we only let it go, all that binds us to those Earthly desires, we could be free. We could be happy. As long as what we seek is of this world though it will only serve to enslave us to this plane of being. Let it go. Let the cards fall where they may, and realize that in passing life itself is not what's really going to matter in the end. What will matter is the peace that follows the realization that life is simply a conditioning of the soul. That every emotion we feel along the way, every idea that passes through our mind, and everything we do in response can either loosen our restraints, or keep us bound to the things that will not last. The things that are not important.

It is my privilege and honor to pass unto you, my friends, the meaning of life. Do with it as you will. Your life is your journey, and only you can make the decision to let go of that which keeps you from what is truly important. Peace be with you always.

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk (PS4)

NIS has tried several different approaches to the oldschool maze exploration RPG formula. Most of them were just alright. They did something different, and new every time, but visually lacked that signature NIS appearance in a lot of cases. Using a familiar witch theme, a few features from "The Witch and the Hundred Knight", and other series though this game comes together in such a way as to be both visually inviting, and more fun than the usual labyrinthine affair. At the heart of the story you will follow along as Dusk Witch Dronya, and her loyal apprentice Luca put on one hell of a puppet show. Chasing after the secrets of the Labyrinth of Refrain, which resides in the town of Refrain somewhere in the mystical world of Tanis Dronya seeks to uncover via puppets what she herself cannot gather. Due to miasma blocking any human entrance Dronya uses a magical soul possessed book known as the Tactatum de Monstrum to lead a brigade of puppet led covens into the mysterious maze in order to find rare items, and ultimately the secret that lies at it's core. A secret that could spell doom for the world, or grant such wondrous things as immortality.

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk ~ A Twitter Preview Review

One of many game related Twitter moments. This time it's related to my upcoming review of NISA's "Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk" for the PS4. This is not the full review, but it will serve to give you some idea of what the game is about.