Review: Atelier Firis and the Mysterious Journey – A Journey to Find What We Want

March 14, 2017March 14, 2017 / Dustin Murphy / 1 Comment

Pros:
-A lovely and enjoyable Story
-Great Continuation of the Original Alchemy System
-Time Management Returns from previous titles
-New Game+ Returns offering post-game extensiveness.
-Smooth Battle and Party System
-Unique ways to Finish Main Game
-Outfits and Atelier Decor

To begin Atelier Firis and the Great Journey is a great game. It’s one that definitely gives of the vibes of the last gen games from the same series and ones close to it. Atelier Firis goes back to the smooth-opening moments and compliments such with a good start to what turns into a magnificent story.

With Atelier Firis you start out as a shut in girl who just wants to experience the world. This isn’t just metaphorically, she and her entire village are located inside a mountain and aren’t allowed to leave. One major difference between this game and other Atelier games is alchemy was unknown to the village. After a traveling alchemist visits, the game sets in motion the events for her to take this journey to become an Alchemist herself. This lets you experience two things that make this a great quite early into its gameplay time.

First is the alchemy system which come as no surprise. It’s a trademark system for Firis and is mostly a continuation of the one introduced in Atelier Sophie. The controls and navigation for it seem to be much smoother. Something very useful is that beside each recipe is a symbol that indicates if you are able to craft the item. If you are not there are different symbols as to say why. If its only cause you missing a component that you can craft its a triangle. This is where the second part of usefulness comes into play. Going into the recipe you want that is missing the component you need it will quick link you to the recipe to make the piece your missing.

Now unlike Sophie and even the last two Atelier games on PS3. Firis, fortunately, has brought back the age old Time Management System. This is a definite must to consider having in the game. This mechanic influences how players will play and approach everything they do. This even includes the games core mechanic – alchemy. A lot of your time can get sucked up real fast doing alchemy, specifically with the quick link to missing components. The time system is split up in 2 sections of the game. First is you have 30 in game days to finish your tasks in your village where you begin or you don’t get to leave. The second and major part is once you leave the village you get 365 days to complete your main quest and get to the end game city.

This can seem like a lot but it can disappear without a trace in no time. If this happens its game end with the not so happy ending for our Ms. Firis. This sadly happened to me, but it introduced one of the most fun aspects to return to the series that was absent from the previous one, New Game +.

For fans who missed this in Atelier Sophie this a great thing to have reestablished within the franchise. Especially with the implementation of the Time system. With New Game+ whenever you do beat the game you get a clear data save. If you load this save file you can start you next play through with all gear, gold, and Alchemy proficiency for items you have crafted. The only things that wont carry over are level, items, and any adventure quest items. This will give you a nice early start in the next playthrough and even make it easier to play at higher difficulty if so desired.

The battle system for Atelier Firis is very smooth and extremely reminisce of old systems. Characters can equip 2 weapons except for Firis herself. While in combat you have you action bar on right for attack order and a chain meter on left. Great thing about this is you can plan out your combos with ease. Enemies can also be knocked back to extend the turns for your characters. With the chain gauge you can get your other party members to shield Firis against attacks. Or once its full you go into essentially combo mode. As long as your character are in line to attack after each other you can chain attack items and skills for each. After reaching a certain level two different times you get to unlock chain breaks and chain finishers.

With Finishers if chain multiplier is high enough you get to choose who you want to use there ultimate attack. Know you can only choose 1 of the 4 in your party for that combat. But, your allowed to have up to five total in party including Firis. This means you can be strategic with party comp depending on your enemies. Even with your party full there are at least 2 others you can switch in and out of your travel party. Post game you get another two after you meet some requirements.

There have been a ton of Atelier games made going back to the era of PlayStation 2. With that being said this Atelier game has one of the most unique and interactive endings. If you are able to make it to the final city of the game within the time limit you get to take and Exam. Provided you have met your requirements. Now this isn’t just a standard u get there you pass. Oh you did what you needed and you made it your good, no. You the player actually get to take the exam. If your score high enough with a combined total for the 3 parts of the exam you pass. Even if you do pass the ending game exam there is still a lot you can do post game

When it comes to post game content, this one has a heck of a lot. If you choose to play post game you start back at your town and get to go explore the world again. Experience places and people you didn’t get to or couldn’t at first. You can also get new quests and alchemy recipes that you couldn’t your first time through. There is just so much waiting to be done after you finish the main story that it’s truly unbelievable. As was mentioned before if you do some requirements post game you get 2 more people for your party making choices and battle more fun. Some things can only be accessed post game, most useful is a doll for your atelier.

Atelier Firis and the Mysterious Journey – PlayStation 4
Developer: GUST
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Cost: $59.99
Release Date: Available Now

The doll you get you can give a certain item to to fill its inventory. It will then refill the uses on your equipped items as long as they have at least one use left. In order to use the doll you have to set it up inside your Atelier via the Atelier decoration system. This system is one of two that makes the game more fun and interactive With the decoration system you can expand inventory, get better perks for alchemy, or just deck out the atelier. The other system is the ability to change Firis’s outfit to one that has been unlocked in game. Each outfit can give different perks such as faster movement or being able to do more stuff before having to rest up.

Atelier Firis is definitely a remembrance of what the Atelier games are all about. The alchemy system, re-introduction of time management, and the return of NG+ are all wonderful to experience. If you want to enjoy the story or just explore the world and see what you can find on the journey of a lifetime Atelier Firis is a must play. All of this is thanks to the gaming bringing back what made the series great to begin with.

Our review is based upon a retail version of the game given to us by the games publisher. For information about our ethics policy please click here.

Final Score: 10 out of 10

About the Writer:

Chris Adee is one of B.A.T.G.R.’s JRPG writers who seems to love three things. Sleep, games, and MOBA’s. He also likes games. A lot. Oh and anime. Did we mention anime?

Destiny’s Age of Triumph Looks to Bring Back old Raids This Month

March 6, 2017 / Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

Ever wanted to have a chance to revisit raids such as The Vault of Glass or Crota’s End? Welcome to what the upcoming update for Destiny has prepared. Today, Bungie has announced that they will be preparing players to revisit some of the games oldest and most beloved content. With the release of the teaser below, fans are being prepared to get excited for the livestream that’s coming up, but first? Take a look at what they are using to help make you excited for this content.

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Review: Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea – Does More Mean Better?

March 6, 2017March 7, 2017 / Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

Pros:
+Highly rewarding JRPG elements
+Two stories that differentiate greatly between each other
+Unique scenery that becomes ever-more enjoyable with time

Cons:
-Frame rate issues can become problematic for those preferring smoother frame rates
-Encounters can become too easy for fans to enjoy, but at the same time, too difficult

Last year when I first got my hands on the Atelier series on PlayStation Vita, I was new to this series that’s been a long run JRPG franchise that has adored its fans for years. This was also the first game that would attempt to lure me in so that I would find myself enjoying. However, it was a series I wasn’t immediately hooked on due to the games creativity.

Thankfully, the Plus editions of the games are ones that carry on a bountiful amount of new content players have yet to see. Luckily, the Plus versions seem to be rather hefty in content for their discounted price. Technically speaking, for a new version of the game that comes to life, and offers plenty more for fans to enjoy with the games new improvements. Lucky for us, we get to see this new version continue the cycle, even with the release of Atelier Firis coming up this week. With a plus version for the PlayStation Vita, we get to see the series reach an even broader audience in order to bring in new fans.

Released just shortly before Atelier Sophie, Atelier Shallie was the final title to launch on the PlayStation 3 for the series, but it was also the finality to the Dusk Trilogy of the Atelier series. Luckily, the games do see some minor improvements to the games overall lifespan as well as dungeons for fans to enjoy. Luckily, some of the tweaks help fine-tune some of the games narrative in order to help iron out complaints from the fans such as plot holes, improvements of characters, and even a chance to quash out any nuances within the game.

Much like the last time we reviewed this game, the story revolves around Shallistera Argo and Shallotte Elminus, or Shallie for short. The game introduces players to both through small introductory scenes where they will get to experience both of the characters momentarily before ultimately choosing who they wish to experience first story wise. Both players will find themselves rather familiarized with the games town as both of the girls live there, and both of them are ultimately after the same goal. While this seems that playing the game in the same setting will make the game boring, transparent, and lacking for content, that’s not the case with this game.

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Review: Horizon Zero Dawn – The Doomsday Zero Hour

March 6, 2017November 6, 2017 / Dustin Murphy / 2 Comments

Pros:
+One of the strongest voice casts presented in gaming
+Top-notch graphics that show consoles can offer a PC-like experience
+Strong artistic creativity that brings the world of Horizon: Zero Dawn to life
+Crafting and leveling up systems actually matter and bring the size to life

Cons:
–Minor nuances such as getting stuck on random debris of the terrain do exist

What do you imagine humanity will be like in the next few hundred years? Do you imagine humanity dashing across the stars, starships battling it out among the galaxies? What if humanity never even made it that far? What if humanity saw the reset button pressed and the world brought to an end in one swift go? What if you got to see the world after the calamity and were one to play as a survivor within the post-calamity world?

This is the very story Guerrilla introduces as players take the role of Aloy, a Norah tribeswoman in this very post-calamity world. A world where machine has become the hunter and humanity is the hunted. Unlike previous protagonists from different developers, Aloy isn’t a blank-slate character. She isn’t a character without a past, or a character. She very much is alive, with a past, a character, and a personality that the game wants people to fall in love with as if she is someone that they know.

Her back-story however, is not a happy one, it’s not a great one as we learn in the opening moments. From the get-go she is portrayed as an outcast much like her adoptive father, Rost. With him they are shunned by the Norah tribes people due to their outstanding. As she grows to adulthood, her curiosity, cunning, and personality mature with her so that she is someone we could easily believe could exist in our world. It’s all in-thanks to the writing team who managed to make her compassionate, thoughtful, and most-of-all a character whom is apparent, flawed, and one that fits perfectly into a medium where you’ll be exploring fearless exploits throughout the world we’ve been handed.

As you would expect, your adventures with Aloy take you across the skeletons of a world now gone. This serves as much of your story, a narrative unspoken, which makes her world exist. It’s also a vital piece of the games design as much of this worlds skeletons serve as the ruins that you’ll help Aloy and her tribe explore as her quest begins quickly. Moments after the introductory cutscenes, players are instantly given their control of Aloy as a child. From there they will explore lost ruins in which Aloy finds herself falling into by accident and not-too-soon, she learns of a world now gone, and here our adventure with her focus begins as she uncovers a world long-gone.

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Review: Berserk and the Band of the Hawk – A Band of Berserking Madmen

February 21, 2017February 22, 2017 / Dustin Murphy / 1 Comment

Pros:
-Throws non-fans of Berserk right into the guts and glory of the 27 year old franchise
-Animation, sound, and design fit the world of Berserk perfectly
-Decently lengthy for the average Warriors and Beserk fan to enjoy

Cons:
-Repetitious hack’n’slashing that offers little-to-no depth for story elements
-Non-campaign modes are incredibly short
-Character customizations are too incredibly close to the Warriors titles

Berserk is one of the longest running franchises out there. Having spanned more than 27 years of multifaceted formats ranging from OVA’s, anime series, and even mangas – it’s a series well worth a chance in the modern era of gaming. It’s also a difficult task to think of an anime that is best suited for Omega Force’s well vetted Warriors meta-series than this very one. Much like any character from say Samurai Warriors, Guts is a man that lives and breathes this genre quite well. With his large sword, hunger for blood filled battle, and his unique back story, many would take the fact Berserk and the Band of the Hawk would fit quite well into this meta.

Sadly, its a game that seems to miss the point of what Berserk is all about. It’s a game that decided to take a one-dimensional approach to this rather large universe that animes, manga’s, and fanfics have helped bring to life. Instead, it’s a game that lead me to skipping through countless cutscenes since they were yanked straight from the anime, and placed right within the game. Granted I ended up having to go back and watch them for the sake of the review, needless to say, I regretted doing so as the core of the game is all about Guts, Griffith, Casca, and the rest of their band of mercenaries.

Much of this is due to the fact I was spoiled quite well with Omega Forces adaptions to the Warriors meta with Hyrule Warriors and Dragon Quest Heroes, which lead me whirling through well renowned worlds, and parading around as some of the best characters in the history of those franchises. The downside here is that these two games used the hallmark mechanics of the Dynasty Warriors franchise and did it even better. Berserk, however, is extremely limited on mission goals. All of these goals range from destroy, rescuing someone, and killing someone. Sounds simple, right? Well it is, and it’s irritating that one of the best anime franchises out there got this treatment.

Want to hunt down hidden objectives? That won’t happen. Want to find secret rooms like Hyrule Warriors? That’s not happening. Want to find different elements for your weapons like Dragon Quest Heroes? Let me laugh for you. It’s simply not happening, which is disappointing due to the games walking potential with such a deep, rich, and lush background that the Berserk franchise has. Even more-so because the game could have adapted quite well to the franchise over the span of 46 story chapters. Sadly, by 25, I wanted to quickly close the game and go back to enjoying the well-rounded Attack on Titan game that succeeded in bringing the anime to life via gaming.

The game is as one would expect. It’s surrounded in Guts’ need for revenge as well as his intense desire to kill anyone that gets in his way of what he’s searching for. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t even reward players for carrying through with this task, and doesn’t even offer the capability for players to change out Guts’ sword with upgraded ones. This is done via buffs that players can pick up by cutting enemies down. One of the best moments the game has to offer is one of the biggest downers. It revolves around sending Guts into a frenzy where amassing a bloody mess of over 1,000 bodies during each objective. This sense of completion is the most satisfying part in these rather lifeless missions that seem to serve almost little-to-no-purpose. sadly, the cutscenes become the most appealing part of the game over the course of the campaign.

While most missions will carry multiple objectives out of the one above, there are a few queues from other Warriors meta-driven games. Players will find mid-mission plot twists where the objectives will rapidly change so that a sub-objective comes to life. It’s here that players will find themselves flying through most of the games chapters in 10 minutes at most. Mission results don’t help to alleviate the pain of this games shortcomings. Missions as you would expect are rated using an alphabetic ranking system. Sadly, getting a “S” is mostly a long-forbidden dream that players will find themselves clamoring about to receive. Luckily the games intermissions are pulled from Berserk’s Golden Age where Berserk was coming up into a rise to fame.

If you are wondering how Guts’ repertoire is expressed? The game does it quite well through rather simple combos. You’ll find yourself constantly mashing square or triangle to use Guts’, Griffiths’, or even Casca’s combats in order to cut enemies down. While the occasional switch after so many presses of one button offers a sense of accomplishment, Guts or any of the others, show off their brutality by using his musuo-like mode. This mode allows Guts to build up his “ultimate” meter where he unleashes his rather devastating attacks in order to disperse enemies rather quickly. This also shows-off the fact the game follows the Warriors meta for mechanics quite closely.

While the novelty of playing famed characters exist, Free Mode is where players would probably want to go in order to enjoy the game at it fullest. Here is where you’ll be most disappointed since it only features previously cleared missions. Bummer, huh? At least you can try out the games supporting cast int his mode in order to see what they are made of. They all control rather similarly to Guts.

Beserk and the Band of the Hawk – PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PC
Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Cost: $59.99
Release Date: Available Now

Each brings in their own blood-filled combat tactics in order to cut enemies down. Griffith serves as one of the more lustrous characters in the title. His ability to kill with his lethal grace is a prestige no-one-other has. He moves through the combat beautifully in his zigs, zags, and ultimately gracious movement. Casca on other hand is not as brutal as her colleagues. Her attacks are more like that of a ninja. She’s fast, she’s dangerous, and she implores the player to take advantage of this in order to take out dozens of troops at once.

While the games sound, art quality, and appeal to the manga’s are almost on par, the game seems to miss the depth that Berserk is known for. While playing as the bloodlusted and battle experience Guts is a blast, it seems that the Warriors style meta misses its mark with Omega Force’s latest iteration. Luckily, there’s still room for improvement for the game on the sense of combat and adding depth via DLC. However, Omega Force’s more imaginative and more-accurate efforts seem to have been missed in this latest title. While story is what most of us will come here for, it seems this game won’t have that to offer and it will be one of those games that would have gratified itself better using a Ninja Gaiden style approach to the game in order to keep us entertained like the game should have at this point.

Our review is based upon a retail version of the game given to us by the games publisher. For our review, we used a PlayStation 4 Pro with a 7200RPM HDD. For information about our ethics policy please click here.

Final Score: 6 out of 10

About the Writer:

Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter, Google+, and or you can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.

Review: Nioh – Where the First Western Samurai Fight

February 21, 2017February 21, 2017 / Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

Pros:
+Creative use of Japan’s Sengoku Period
+A unique take on the Bloodborne and Dark Souls franchises combat systems
+Each stage requests players to spend hours clearing every inch of them
+Each boss provide a unique scaling of difficulty
+Armor designs feel historically accurate and quite well rendered

Cons:
-Stats feel almost useless in comparison to Dark Souls or Bloodborne
-The approach to coop decreases the games overall difficulty
-Little variation or importance of different builds
-Graphics and performance could use some better PlayStation 4 Pro optimizations

What do you imagine when someone mentions Japan’s Sengoku Period? Cities lavished in lanters lit to walkways, Sakura Tree’s dropping beautiful pink petals upon the ground, and perhaps Samurai clad in their armor walking among dirt roads? Or do you imagine a land filled with mystique and fantasy where mystical creatures roam? That’s exactly what Koei Tecmo has done as they show their fondness for Japan’s rather sumptuously rich history.

Nioh is one of those games that follows the tradition of the Dark Souls-inspired combat while also entrenching itself with touches of Ninja Gaiden. After all, what more could we expect from Team Ninja, the minds behind the Ninja Gaiden franchise? Much as you’d expect, this is a game that balances out the virtue of patience and the value of learning how to defend yourself against a lethal enemy. This is something Team Ninja has been known for in the past and continued to do so quite well to this day. This means tactics, dexterity, and a keen memory will play a rather large role in order to overcome the inevitability of dying, and dying a lot.

The game takes place during the explorations of protagonist William Adams, a true Western Samurai, whom adventured to Japan in the 1600’s. Our story uses this factual piece of history as its smelting point and forges forth from there. The game, however, depicts him as a an hunting down an antagonist whom just happens to be an occultist, by the name of Edward Kelley, whom actually exists in English history. Both of these men are hunting down one of the same thing: Amrita. This magical stone is abundant and Japan, it has also been seen as an artifact that holds power, and could turn the tides of war in Queen Elizabeth I’s fight against Spain.

However, this also means death is a heavy feature in this game and it’s not tied to the frequency of player deaths, but also the fact Japan is torn in war and ridden with yokai (demons). If you ever wanted to see a blend between anime, gaming, and a good Akira Kurosawa film, here’s your chance. Koei Tecmo blended perfectly the chaos of ruins and corpses littered across the lands. However, Nioh’s elegance isn’t due to the scenic creativity that Koei Tecmo exhibits with this game, but rather its combat.

Much as you would expect, Nioh is a title that thrives upon creativity and its artistic measures. It’s a game that bases itself around the premise of combat with multiple enemies. Combat is one that shines most when players are taking on enemies in one-on-one duels. Here players will exhibit choreographed combat based upon the stance in which they choose. Whether it’s deducing an enemies combat capabilities by standing in a over-head stance or whether or not it’s by making low-stance quick attacks. Here players will take on enemies decorated in ancient Japanese armors. Even the Yokai themselves dawn these kinds of designs. However, it follows through with their discipline and attack with their greatest combat efficiency. However, this game will make you debate upon whether or not to attack enemies in crowd.

The highlight to this aspect is it follows rather well into the game as players will find themselves moving between Jutsu or Onmyo focused builds. This will determine whether or not players will alternate between using ninja combat tactics or magics to enhance their combat prowess. As players gain experience from combat, they will notice Amrita serves much the same purpose as souls from the souls series. They will invest their Amrita into specializing William to their play-style. Unlike Dark Souls, however, it’s no longer about how well you can balance your talents, but instead, what weapons you decide to use and how you want to use them. If you prefer sickle and chain, then you may want Kurisagama, while Body will drive you to be more efficient in combat with spears.

When looking at Nioh, managing stamina, rather ki for the sake of this game, is quite the task, and something that you’ll find yourself doing quite often. To complicate matters, enemies will find themselves moving away from combat, and even letting ki regenerate before diving back into combat once more. To alleviate this players can opt to use stamina enhanced consumables as well as ki-specific weapon enhancements to allow combat to last longer. If you’re a more dexterous player, a quick shoulder button push of the R1 will help you refresh your stamina recovery boost. Also, this will help you bolster against enemies who corrupt the ground around you and ensure ki can’t regenerate.

Outside of combat, Nioh is aesthetically as well as audibly pleasing. Followed by its carefully crafted Japanese aesthetics, the game serves up a rather palpable dish of creativity, and authenticity. In comparison to most modern games, it’s one of the closest things players will find themselves enjoying for such a challenging adventure. Artists Hirohisa Kaneko and Tsutomu Terada deliver a pleasing art style that serves Nioh quite well. Between their delectable art style and Yugo Kanno’s compositions, players will find themselves sucked into Nioh for hours on-end.

Nioh – PlayStation 4
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Koei Tecmo, Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan
Cost: $59.99
Release Date: Available Now

With the Twilight missions offering a rise in difficulty and rare pieces of crafting materials as well as armor, there is surely quite a bit for them to take in until the DLC releases later this year. Just remember, the Dojo does serve a purpose and will offer rare resources that you will quite frankly need later on within the game.

That brings forth the need for players to enjoy such a unique title and spend the hours they should on it. Just note that this game is not for players who haven’t played games such as Dark Souls and Ninja Gaiden and will offer a challenge that surpasses that of what they might be used to. With that being said, Nioh is a unique title, one that offers up new challenges around every corner and will keep gamers busy for hours on end. Just remember, this game will kill you, over, and over again.

Our review is based upon a retail version of the game we purchased. For our review, we used a PlayStation 4 Pro with a 7200RPM HDD. For information about our ethics policy please click here.

Final Score: 9 out of 10

About the Writer:

Save Now on Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force on PC via Steam Today

February 15, 2017February 15, 2017 / Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

No matter where in the world you live, saving money is always a good thing, and this is something our friends at Idea Factory aren’t scared to acknowledge. With Valentines underway for some and still underway for others, Fairy Fencer F: Dark Advent Force has launched world wide on Steam for PC users via Steam.

Ontop of saving 25% to 28% of the game, you can pick up the complete Deluxe Bundle for $45.36. This bundle comes with the following, below:

Character Collection Art Book
Concept Art Collection Art Book
6 Mobile Wallpapers
5 PC Wallpapers

You can check out our PlayStation 4 review of Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force to get caught up if you haven’t already read it.

About the Writer:

STORY OF SEASONS: Trio of Towns Introduces Love into the Franchise

February 15, 2017February 15, 2017 / Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

If you ever wanted to see love bloom in the 20th Anniversary Entry to a series and Marvelous USA isn’t ashamed to see this happen in their latest title. This new one introduces our first five lucky bachelorettes whom players can try to win the hearts over of in STORY OF SEASONS: Trio of Towns. So lets take a look at the the the five lucky bachelorettes before going on.

Let alone do you get to meet a few lucky ladies to choose from, you also get to meet the capybara pet named “Capy-san”, which will be the highlight of the game when it releases on February 28th for Nintendo 3DS. The game will be available physically at participating retailers and digitally in the Nintendo eShop for $39.99.

Stay tuned for our upcoming review.

About the Writer:

Review: Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers – Gods Will Fall

February 14, 2017 / Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

Pros:
-Carries through with traditional Dynasty Warriors storytelling and absurdity of battle
-Character development stands along the lines of normal Dynasty Warriors normality
-Graphics are beautiful, which compliments the RTS style rather well
-Synchro Gauge moves are amazing and a delight to use

Cons:
-Battlefield tutorials can be hard to play for beginners
-Dialogue can be too much at once, and can be tedious to the players.
-Almost all combat scenes immediately beg to be skipped over

If you’ve ever played a Dynasty Warrior game, you already know about their absurd approach to story telling of real life events. You’re familiar with how well they also attempt to stay as historically accurate as possible. You would also know this is a series that is unwavering in its use of traditional gameplay mechanics. It’s a series that is rife with the ability to decimate entire armies with the use of two buttons. It is also one that emphasized on you working as part of a team in order to decimate your enemies.

Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers changes this mechanic and moves away from the rather fluid-like combat we’d all been used to. Instead, this new title takes us on a RTS style adventure, which will seem rather familiar to fans of games such as Fire Emblem or Advance Wars. The story is told through both an esteemed warrior Zhao Yun and his pal Lei Bin. This duo just happens to be accidental when they awaken an ancient God whom gives him (Lei Bin) the power to influence the minds of others and the ability to control them in battle. This, however, is not an accurate telling of the true real-life events, but instead is a rather unique telling of the game going from an action game to a turn-based strategy title.

If that is something that could be seen as a disgruntlement, I wouldn’t let it stop you from experiencing the title, if that’s something you like. Dynasty Warriors has done this before as a series, but not as a Warriors title thanks to Koei Tecmo’s other series – Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This game delves into those roots and follows forth quite well in doing so, however, it isn’t as hardcore as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but instead sits right in line with Fire Emblem, and will welcome those familiar with the series.

While it is fun in the other titles to sprint across China as a dedicated leader such as Cao Cao, Lu Bu, and even Zhao Yu. While that is something you may be quite used to of this franchise, which is a relief to some, with the release of Dynasty Warriors: Godseeker. Instead, now, you spend your time going through controlling the game with grids to complete each task, and fully move forward. As you do, you’ll find yourself seeing generals both come and go throughout the course of the game. You will see much of your experience focus around both Zhao Yun and Lei Bin, but also the God they awoke.

For fans who don’t mind this change, the game did a fine job of bringing the series to a main title, which is nice mainlining this as a title, and even bringing this game to the way it should be. Each character, as you would expect, and makes the movesets as natural as possible when selecting attacks. Thanks to Synchro and Musou, players can also move through the title as expected, and means you’ll find your way picking and choosing your battles. If you have a rather large queue of enemies infront of you; or entire armies; it’s best to use attacks to disperse entire crowds of enemies. However, a memorization of even character may help understanding each characters attacks, and understand the dinstances covered by each attack as key to higher-level play in the game.

This is something that reverberates through Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers, which follows quite well in other games, such as the Fire Emblem games, and many of the characters will use this similar grid. If you don’t throughout the game, it is extremely important to watch each characters formations, abilities, and movements. This will allow you to suitably position to take out an optimal amount of enemies as possible, but also setting up the most optimal way to keep your team alive. These damage bonuses that can be executed, are awarded handsomely, and will allow players to execute synchro attacks and musou attacks in order to devastate enemy forces.

While planning carefully could lead to entire enemies being devastated in one simple going. Of course that’s one of those that will also make enough ruckus that you could feel like you’re going Super Saiyan in real life. Just don’t burn yourself with special affects. While the game does push narrative to the front, it’s a game that does wish players to become emotionally invested with their characters, and unfortunately, it just won’t happen due to the need for players to pay attention to detail.

You’ll also, unfortunately, find yourself growing rather bored due to the fact you’ll need to watch your enemies and allies take their turns. While the ever-so-handy fast-forward button will get abused, but you will also find yourself annoyed with having to do this ever-so-constantly. It’d honestly have been a better practice to allow players choosing whether or not they wanted to see this happen at fast-speed movement instead of teleported enemies.

While combat is this games primary focus, you’ll find yourself sifting through an insane amount of dialogue, all of which is in Chinese unless you read the subtitles. While long-time fans of the franchise won’t be bothered by this, it’ll be rather tedious for anyone who is not, and they will find themselves growing enamored by this rather quickly. Veterans on the other hand; not so much.

While the game’s battles do offer a high point to the title, the idea that this is becoming one for fans to be invested in, will wear off rather quickly, but this isn’t a bad game. It’s a game that is seemingly aimed at drawing in fans of Fire Emblem among other games of the type. While you would expect Goodseekers to hold the depth of its competitor series, don’t expect it, as it does come up short in turn.

Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers – PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Cost: $59.99 | $39.99
Release Date: January 31st, 2017

While the game can be mildly entertaining, you’d find yourself scratching your head wondering why this game wasn’t made as a hack and slasher, or even a adventure game much like Assassin’s Creed. While that’s a lot to ask, it’d been interesting, and enjoyable for those wanting a console experience. However, God Seekers felt right at home on the PlayStation Vita, and operated great the way it did. It felt more at home on the hand-held device. While this game is one I found difficult to play, it’s a game that will fill that craving for a strategy game, and will keep you busy for hours to come. For now, however? I’ll probably stick with the Vita version to keep my cravings at bay.

Final Score: 5 out of 10

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Preview: Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands Beta

February 10, 2017February 10, 2017 / Dustin Murphy / Leave a comment

Over the span of ten years, Ghost Recon has been a series that has evolved multiple times, and even devolved multiple times. Our latest entry, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands is no exception to this, and this newest iteration forgoes our previous experiences with the third person shooter series. It’s one that ditches ongoing war efforts against enemy countries such as Spain, Russia, and even Mexico. It’s a game that decides to throw a curve ball and head straight for the urban jungle territories of Bolivia. In this location the Ghosts are tasked with taking down a drug cartel and even overthrowing the current regime, which just happens to be taken over by the narcos there.

However, there’s a few things that players will notice about this game. It feels like Just Cause 3 in the aspect of competitive play being absent, weapons, gear, and loadouts have no stats. Better said by a colleague of mine: Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands is The Divison 2.0, but without being locked inside of New York or dealing with a viral outbreak.

Ghost Recon Wildlands is About Hostile Takeover

While you already know you are being tasked with taking out the Santa Blanca cartel and disrupting their pats on the back of the government, you also know you are being tasked to assassinate, and overthrow the cartel all together. This means players will liberate towns in order to build up a reputation with the local rebellion, and lead your four-man team of Ghosts through Bolivia without backup.

Just remember, the SBC and the local military will fight back, and they have much bigger guns. Don’t look so down, just remember, you’re ghosts, so tactics matter. Just remember to have a sniper ready to pop off gunners and drivers whenever possible. This also means those new friends you made? Y’know, the locals? They’re a good idea to have on your back while attempting to overthrow their oppressive leaders and moving on. This can be done by killing off the leaders, clearing camps, and just helping them out with side missions.

Also, they make an awesome valet service for when you need those vehicles of yours, or y’know, a friendly mortar strike right into the enemies backyard.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands Has A Lot of Locale Sights and Goods

If you’ve ever wondered if you’d decide to stop on a hill top and take a gander, you will. Ghost Recon has a lot to offer you as you find yourself strolling about or taking across the lands in cars, trucks, helicopters, boats, airplanes, and even motorcycles. If you are up for opening up fire from the tree lines, this is fully plausible, and something you can do. That’s assuming you aren’t taking a few seconds to watch the realistic rain fall, the mud caking your boots, and your friends leaning out the windows like a couple of dimwits.

After all, you can always ditch them, parachute out of a plane and go through Bolivia to take on a sampling of the local goods. That includes finding hidden intel, interrogating a couple of enemies, and even finding a stash of some equipment for your load-outs. Just remember, silencers are your best friend, and they’ll be very useful to have while sneaking around.

However, one of the most important experiences remains hidden. Don’t forget to tag enemies, locales, and niceties they may like. Why? Sharing is caring and that is something you can’t forget. Whether it’s launching out a grenade, landing a plane, or simply just flying around, sampling everything is important while taking your friends on this tropical getaway. Mostly because the A.I. can’t appreciate the wacky things that’ll happen.

Closing Thoughts

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands left a lot to be desired from the Closed Beta. Whether it was from the character customization to the laughable moments of my team not flying out of a rolling over truck, Ghost Recon is back. However, if you’re a fan of the competitive side? You’ll have to hold your breath for now as competitive play was incognito from the Beta and could be until post-launch.

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Blast Away The Game Review

A little bit of news, a little bit of reviews, and bit of games from around the world for you.

Author: Dustin Murphy

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Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands Has A Lot of Locale Sights and Goods

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Final Score: 6 out of 10

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Final Score: 9 out of 10

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Final Score: 5 out of 10

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Ghost Recon Wildlands is About Hostile Takeover

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands Has A Lot of Locale Sights and Goods

Closing Thoughts

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