Followers Wanted

Started a fresh search for work reviewing video games, comics and more... but I need your help! Looking for more followers to join, bringing up the page view count of the blog, hopefully catching the attention of editors I approach looking for hopefully paying work... if not now then in the near future. Any new readers and followers greatly appreciated, thank you.

Tablet Reviews : Solar-Games' Dungeon Explorer

As far as dungeon crawlers go innovation on the android, be it smart phone or tablet, lived and died with Dungeon Defenders (the game now seemingly only available on the soon to be past gen consoles). Still, occasionally a game rises that catches your attention and this game... isn't it. But it does deliver a down and dirty solid no frills bade core dungeon crawler hat delivers the basics, and does it well.

Plus sides? Graphics are pretty, though only to an extent. The dungeons are pretty, but that isn't a hefty feat as its the same x amount of background repeating endlessly. Monsters are so so, and some look better than others... the rest is rather simplistic gameplay (travel from point A to B), with no bells and whistles... my only complaint, but that is also the appeal of the game. A straight forward simple dungeon crawler, easy to pick up and play with no muss and no fuss.

If you strive on hoarding treasures and items, taking on side quests left and right, shopping until you drop for the latest gear and leveling up like crazy dealing out skill points here and there... this isn't for you. It's a simple as check dungeon crawler, ideal for a bus ride or long trip, dealing out compact dungeon crawling with no muss or fuss. A decent simple 4 out of 5. Great for quick bursts of easy to pick up gaming, a slice of casual with your dungeons.

Next time I got a more intense homebrewed Indy dungeon crawler for you. Part Hero Quest classic board game, part old school RPG, all interesting and recommendable. Stay tuned.

Coming Soon : Old School and Homebrewed

I never thought I would run into a homebrewed... well as homebrewed a Indy developer gets without me knowing much about them though I do plan to do my homework on them... RPG, but here you go. Also reviewing an old school first person dungeon crawler that US passable... but just barely. I am presently digging into these for reviews right now, so I will have wipr updates on both coming soon.

WIPR : Game Insights' Mystery Manor

Usually hidden objects games don't count as RPG or Strategy, even if said game takes place in an RPG style setting, and I have seen a few in such settings. No, but when the game in question depends greatly on level grinding for exp, and slaying slash banishing creatures in order to progress? Those are RPG elements.

Presently reviewing Mystery Manor from Game Insights, a pretty interesting addictive game... plagued with flaws, shortcomings, and glitches that causes failure to launch and failure to close issues... full review coming soon, stay tuned.

Summer 2013 Day 19 : Missing you RPGamer Podcast

Oh well, at least it is only on a month hiatus since two of its hosts married each other some days ago, taking a month off. Pity it had to be this month with E3 going on right now, and the whole fracas with Microsoft and the XBox One... still waiting for Angry Joe's take on the latest from E3, and whether or not he holds his ire with Microsoft, or begins to succumb to the eye candy of game releases future shown at E3 so far. I didn't think much of the few minimal Microsoft exclusives by the way, but I am waiting to see what Angry Joe thought of Microsoft's E3 conference.

If I have a problem with RPGamer, it's that they spent alot of last episode before the June hiatus being apologists for Microsoft... but that was before Microsoft doubled down pre E3, so I am wondering if their opinions changed between last episode and the first new episode post E3. They should be back in Late June barring any special episode between now and Late June so stay tuned.

BTW, the only other cast I listen to gaming wise is Idle Thumbs, 4urinfo.

Tower Defense Review : Playbean/SN's Fantasy Defense

Touted as highly popular in several Asian countries, Fantasy Defense is a Crystal Defender style clone game with little charm, originality or uniqueness past it's few selling points. It's a decent game with fairly robust upgradable abilities, decent gameplay... and female characters aplenty with large breasts and enemy females with breast bouncing animation cycles... yes, I just said that.

What sets Fantasy Defense apart from other tower defense games is It's unabashed use of sex appeal to sell itself to you... and mind you for such an obvious attraction practically nobody uses it. This is a rarity, in fact, despite the fact it clearly appeals. People may complain about games like Dragon's Crown, and the Sorceress character with giant breasts... but that won't stop people from playing said game. Attracting gamers with sexual enticement isn't a new concept, but it's also rarely touched on because if the horribly prudish people who complain about it. Boo hoo hoo. Go away whiney people. All this game needs is a topless code... but then if that happened this would be in my adult gaming blog, and by default automatically be more adult than the most adult game I could review to date... kinda sad really if a game like this could beat out every clearly adult game on the Android app store... by actually showing nude female breasts, what NONE of the adult games do.

Past the titillation factor? It is a decent tower defense game, but needs improving. There are no pauses between waves so you have to pause the action yourself in order to add and upgrade units. The second unit of each type (fighter, archer and mage) don't evolve to a new type unlike the base unit which evolves twice, which I see as a missed opportunity. You only get one hero type at first, and I am not sure whether you can use more than one Hero type after you unlock another... and the types are limited to fighters, archers and mages. Clearly adding new types later as dlc content would have been nice, along with new dlc levels.

But the game is what it is. An OK but so so tower defense game, fair but ultimately limited gameplay with a bit of a harsh learning curve as to how to beat certain levels, especially boss levels. And, well, it's biggest selling point is titillation. Static still images of female characters with large breasts occasionally partially exposed, and enemy females with breast bouncing animation cycles as they move across the field (most notable in large sub boss characters). Ok but it will never beat a Crystal Defender, or a few good tower defense games I played but long forgot the names of. A low 3 out of 5... 2 1/2?

WIPR : GameLoft's Dungeon Hunter 4

After a bunch of less than ideal games I loaded up on from GameLoft I had no real faith in this one, in fact I knew of it for quite sometime, but only just got around to looking at... surprisingly it is rather fun. I still hate the whole virtual analog stick control thing, more and more games I am reviewing use it, but the game as a whole is satisfying enough to forgive my general dislike of the virtual analog stick.

Reminds me a bit of Dungeon Siege (top down button masher) and has a bit of character customization with weapons and armor with upgradable slots for ability gems you can scavenge from bad gear, combine and attach to New gear. The customization is awesome, btw, definite plus.

The world is quite full in single player (hopefully offline friendly), co-op gaming and player versus player zones offering up a nice selection of game options... and did I mention the possibility of a Mass Effect style lesbian relationship going on, since apparently my female character once bedded the queen... yeah, pretty sure the game thought I would pick a male character but don't rain on my parade.

So, more updates as I grind both this and Bard's Tale for full reviews coming soon. Stay tuned.

WIPR - InXile's The Bard`s Tale

Probably the biggest review on the Kindle Fire HD I am presently working on, it is also probably the most disappointing as well. Layered with a rather pretty coat of HD, The Bard's Tale is a pretty good port of the PS2 era The Bard's Tale game... the problem I'd that it is a port of the PS2 era The Bard's Tale game... wait a minute, wasn't there supposed to be extra in this tablet release? I have to shake this down a bit for that.

But the longest part of this I'd playing through the game for the review, which I s hindered by the control setup which features a rather fussy virtual analog stick that frustrates me so, in a game that should have utilized a touch screen control schematic akin to certain 3DS (and no doubt PSVita) games.

Don't get me wrong, I gave the PS2 era The Bard's Tale a good score, and this is a good game but... I have issues with this game. And ad I dig into it more I will post my notes on the coming review for you to check out... stay tuned.