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The Power of Sustain in Bravely Default 2’s Combat System
Combat in Bravely Default 2 is a little different than what you may be used to—first of all, it’s turn-based combat, but the game also uses a Brave and Default mechanic that you may have never heard of before. In combat, you save up Battle Points (BP) by using “Default” (think of Default as a defense battle command), and once you’ve built up enough BP (2-3), you can use them all up to attack several times in a row using “Brave”. You could, for example, save up BP to string together a chain of up to four moves when you’re in a tough bind—use a Phoenix Down on a fallen…
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Bravely Default 2: You Won’t Want to Put it Down
Time to take off work and hole yourself up with Mt. Dew and pizza for a week—you won’t want to put this game down once you have your hands on it, because the story (and the gameplay) are actually that good. But if you don’t want to take my word for it, I’ve went into more detail below in my review of Bravely Default 2. If you’re afraid of spoilers, stop here. ✋🏻 There are spoilers (from parts of the demo) in this review. You begin the game as a young sailor who has washed up on Halycon’s shore, somewhat affected by amnesia, with no personal belongings of your own. All you…
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Persona 5 Strikers: An Invigorating but Linear Sequel
The Phantom Thieves are back in Persona 5 Strikers to once again save the hearts and souls of millions—but if what you’re expecting is a familiar sequel, think again. Upon first loading the game, the familiar animations hit you in the face, and the Phantom Thief team dashes through the screen in all of their glory. And similarly to the beginning of Persona 5, you view a scene of Joker pulling off a super big heist, but the familiarity stops there. If you’re afraid of spoilers, stop here. ✋🏻 There are spoilers in this review. Persona 5 Vibes: A Brief Overview By typing in a passcode and adding one of…
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Video Games I’m Looking Forward to in 2021
The year of COVID-19 was a particularly long, rough year for all of us, including the video game industry. A lot of releases were pushed back (and for good reason!), and even with the release of the new PlayStation V and the Xbox Series X, there just wasn’t a lot of positive and uplifting news for video games. A lot of developers had to adjust to new stay at home orders, and in turn this either broke some games, or encouraged developers to take the time to make games even better before release. But with New Years just around the corner, it’s time to take a look forward into the…
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‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ For The Holidays
I’ve always been an introvert, so being able to celebrate the holidays from the comfort of my home without needing to visit friends and family is ideal, and Animal Crossing delivers. The Animal Crossing series always offers amazing experiences for players, and starting late November (in North America), Animal Crossing: New Horizons starts seeing changes to the weather—snow flurries will eventually cover the ground in a blanket of snow, and Isabelle is true to her word—any holly bushes you’ve planted will begin budding, Christmas lights will start going up around your island, Nook’s Cranny and Resident Services plaza slowly receives more holiday-themed decorations, and the days begin getting shorter. You…
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Stardew Valley: Still Amazing Years Later
Stardew Valley is more than just running a farm and setting up a daily routine. Within the first few days of in-game gameplay, you’ve built your own system: wake up, check the weather, think about whether or not you’re going to the mine, water your crops, tend to your animals, say hello to your neighbors, go fishing, hit some rocks, go to bed. Sometimes you can’t go to the store due to store hours or holidays that must be meticulously planned around. You’ll start asking yourself questions like: Am I out of animal fodder and when does the store open? I have too much in my inventory, should I sell…
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How to Setup ACT for Savage Content in ‘Final Fantasy XIV’
The third-party program ACT (Active Combat Tracker) is a real-time combat log generator, created by people who raid in MMOs (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) to track their DPS (damage per second)—it is an essential tool for players who want to take their raiding progress in MMOs to the next level. In this article, I’ll be going over using the ACT Tool and Final Fantasy XIV’s live uploader tool. In this article, I’ll talk about what ACT is, why you should care, and how to set it up. #AD: For more information on my static group, the schedule is listed here, and I stream on Twitch every Friday and Sunday.…
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How to Make Friends in ‘Friends of Mineral Town’
In Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town, your relationships are based on your interactions with villagers, nature sprites, livestock, and pets. There are actually two hidden measurements to rank your relationship with the villagers, one for normal townies while the other measurement is used for the bachelor/bachelorette. They are known as Friendship Points (FP) and Love Points (LP). To see your current relationship status, open the main menu by using the X Button on your Nintendo Switch controller, and then tab over to the Relationships Menu using the shoulder buttons. You can see your relationship with the villagers, nature sprites, livestock on your farm, and your pets. What Are…
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The ‘Animal Crossing’ Experience
One of Nintendo’s greatest, weirdest strengths has always been its ability to create something that appeals to a concentrated, nostalgia-related experience, and Animal Crossing on the Nintendo Switch is no exception. Animal Crossing is a long-running video game franchise about a human player living, working, and camping in various forests populated by anthropomorphic animals. It sounds pretty weird, but I swear it’s the cutest game you’ll ever play. Animal Crossing: New Horizons launched at a time where most people were staying indoors, unable to visit family or friends due to COVID-19 safety precautions, so it’s no wonder the game sold 22 million copies in just under five months from the…
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How to Profitably Allocate Your Time in ‘Friends of Mineral Town’
A lot has changed in the Friends of Mineral Town remake, including the addition of more lucrative means to make a profit on your farm. There are plenty of chores and errands to do in Friends of Mineral Town as the game progresses, but what are the essential tips to turn your farm into a self-sustaining money-maker? Here are a few basics plus seasonal tips to make the most of the different seasons in Friends of Mineral Town. Bear in mind, some of these can be spoiler-y. If you’re looking for a clean-slate experience, this guide may not be right for you. Happy farming! NOTE: Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral…
