Games
Video game reviews - PC, Nintendo Switch, etc.
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Beginner’s Guide For Final Fantasy XIV
For new Final Fantasy XIV sprouts, and even newer players who have never played an MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) before, all of the tasks and functionalities of an MMO can be incredibly overwhelming—I know, I’ve been there! But with any luck, this quick list of beginners tips in Final Fantasy XIV will help make the learning curve just a little bit easier. Additionally, Square Enix has trimmed the content in the first two expansions: Realm Reborn and Heavensward. The sprawling storyline has been reduced with some quality of life changes making progress easier and more efficient for new players. Beyond that, Final Fantasy XIV has the friendliest community of any…
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Best PC Video Games for Couples
Single player is great and all, but playing games is even better with a friend or loved one, and usually makes for an amazing stay-at-home date night for couples! Multiplayer editions of video games are becoming more common these days but I still find the amount of cozy, couple-friendly video games to be nearly non-existent—most of them are a little too challenging and stressful for a sit-in date with your partner. I took to Google for some recommendations and I came up short with the results: instead of cozy, friendly co-op games, I found competitive MOBAs and other challenging or stressful multiplayer recommendations that didn’t suit my needs. I asked…
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Exploring Rune Factory 4: Special
I’ve played the Harvest Moon titles since I was old enough to pick up a controller on the Nintendo 64, so I’m no stranger to the gameplay and the mechanics. Since the release of Story of Season’s 25th anniversary game was releasing soon, I wanted to find a game that I hadn’t played yet that would hold me over to its release. Rune Factory 4: Special was recommended to me by friends, and it was a pleasant, albeit unexpected and unique, surprise. Ultimately, I decided to pick it up over Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town since it looked like Marvelous really dropped the ball on their 25th anniversary…
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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.…
