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.

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.

Upcoming Reviews

Let's see what is coming up shortly content wise... darn internet keeps going out making it a hassle to add content the past few days.

Game Boy (Color)
Off Topic Review - Monster Rancher Explorer
More of a puzzler in the vein of Solomon`s Key than an RPG, this is a nice change of pace from past games reviewed both on Game Boy Color and the PS2, so why not.

Game Boy Advance
(I need to get a few new GBA games to review)

Nintendo DS
Dragon Quest IX Sentinels of the Starry Skies
I kinda like this one... but I have been grinding this for hours and I have some gripes with this. It's nothing like Dragon Quest VII (my first DS review of a Dragon Quest game) and that is kinda a good and bad thing to me. Review upcoming.

Nintendo 3DS
I will check out the Etrian Oddssey demo first off.

Well reviews coming soon, stay tuned.

Minor Android Tablet Review : Glu`s Tavern Quest

Presently the only Cafe World like game I am recommending, as well as the only Glu game at present, Tavern Quest takes the usual running a Cafe game and innovates it by adding a limited RPG aspect to the game that is reflected in a few ways. Not a full out RPG, yes, but one if those games that offer a light slice of RPG and a bit of casual for a curiously enjoyable experience.

You play the role of a Dragon (who strangely looks like a older version of Spike) who doesn't want to do Dragon stuff, but instead want to run your own tavern. However monsters are bullying you, so you hire heroes to work for you, taking out the monsters bounty hunter style (you have a list of monsters increasing in difficulty from green to blue to red that you send three heroes to take out, a fighter and a ranged attacker and a healer).

Recruiting heroes is simple. First you buy the flag needed to attract them to your tavern, which you fI nd in the game store. Once you attract them you have to recruit them, but instead of paying them in gold you pay them in food. As heroes come in each has a voice bubble with a specific ingredient they want.Clicking in the hero states exactly how many servings you need to give him/her in order to recruit them. All you have to do is have the right food, with the right ingredient, with x servings in order to recruit them. You can add ingredients to recipes (which you earn over time collecting from said flags randomly as they play a part I n generating income for your tavern) as well as speed up completing recipes with Glu credits... which, by the way,is the easiest Premium currency I ever earned in a game. Unlike other games where the game is very stingy with Premium currency this one is rather generous with it in comparison. Sure you still have to grind like crazy to unlock 3 class flags but you feel as if it is an accomplishable task, a rarity with Premium currency.

My biggest problem with the game us while it is rather fun, mixing elements of diner SIM and RPG, it suffers from being rather finite. You can level up your heroes, but they quickly max out at 10. You can level up your tavern so it can hold more heroes but eventually that had limits. You can level up your recipes... as much good that is as you don't seem to have any differences between a one star and five star recipe from what I can see of it... but eventually you max them all out and you don't seem capable of earning New recipes aft e r a certain point. So the game is great, but eventually runs out if steam. I hope I am wrong, and that something surprising happens when I max out a row if recipes but... I am not holding my breath in that.  What this game needs is expandable dlc content to keep it going... not going to happen, but that would be nice.

All in all even with its finite lifespan it is still pretty fun. Nicely done graphics wise, a nice though small taste of SIM meet RPG, for a quick play on the bus or between stuff it's pretty recommendable. Limited but enjoyable. A 3 out of 5.

Waiting to Recharge 5/12

Unlike other blogs with game themes this is rather... focused. So I have a mix of sources to draw from every week review-wise. So let's see... this coming week...

Nintendo
Game Boy (Color) - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets GBC
The rare RPG in the Harry Potter gaming library
Game Boy (Color) - Final Fantasy Legend 3
Doubling up this week.
DS - Dragon Quest IX Sentinels of the Starry Skies
3DS - Monster Hunter Ultimate 3 Demo

Most of these are also appearing on Nintendopoly, except FFL 3, which is unique to here.

Tablet
Tavern Quest
A RPG in the most minimal of content, yet still recommended all the same. One part Cafe World tycoon SIM and one part minor RPG, Tavern Quest is a decently engaging free to play worth checking out... I will tell you why soon.

That is the review schedule, and knock on wood I am sticking to it. Stay tuned.

OK. Time to get to work.

Getting back on track

Sorry for the long delay, but working on getting back on track worldwide.

First step is getting my hands on a used laptop for working on podcasts. Something that is presently a work in progress.

Part of my summer schedule is getting podcasts back on track. That means posting related episodes of 3DS Addict, Antisocial Gamer, Pocket Gamer and Wii Life in relations to RPG and Strategy gaming.

First thing first, getting back on track to posting daily content. Stay tuned.

Waiting to Recharge

Waiting to Recharge

Not much happened last week game content wise but while waiting for the stuff to recharge... lets note the giant gorillas in the room.

Crytek CEO wants to eliminate single player offline gaming in favor of online multiplayer games only.

Fine. I admit it. I have no idea what Crytek is, or why it is so big that people care what he wants to do with his company. But I guess they are cranking out games people want lest nobody would care what this guy wants.

So... what does he want? Who can say. Maybe...

- He heard you like them online multiplayer shooters and wants to make it online all the time...

- So they can stream online ads to you nonstop... make the games loaded with micro transactions.

- Start cranking out Facebook social media addiction gaming... because if your not up to date and know Zynga is allegedly floundering financially you'd think Farmville clones were still fortune makers.

- Maybe he wants to exclusively provide content for the XBox 720. I hear they want to make it so you have to play all your games online on the next gen 720.

But whatever the case the CEO of Crytek said he wants to do away with offline single player... of course saying it and doing it are two entirely different beasts but we will see.

But that is not the only news. Speaking of micro transactions...

EA Games wants to make all future games set up for micro transactions?

Because really who wants to buy a full game anymore. Dont you want to buy, say, half a game? After all if they chop all their games up for sellable DLC and micro transactions then surely you will get a nice tidy discounted price on the game... except what if that is not the case? What if you end up paying full price for a game that plans to drill you for the full price of a game AND for DLC AND for micro transactions... by the way just how will that work on some game genres anyway?

Speak of micro transactions and no doubt your first thoughts should be of Facebook social media games. When it comes to those kind of games you send money to buy a form of Premium in game currency, be it cash is many Zynga games, or gems used in the My Little Pony Friendship is Magic mobile game. That is how we see micro transactions, but how does that translate in games like the LEGO series, Madden and other sports related EA Sports titles, or RPG strategy games in the vein of a Fire Emblem or Advance Wars? Thats in a few days as I continue this tact and discuss the possible ways micro transactions will affect how you play EA Games in the near future if they actually decide to go through with this nonsense, so stay tuned!

Next week - Hopefully back to casual updating... maybe.

Micro Review (handheld edition) featuring Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

Micro Review Handheld Edition
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution

When it comes to world building strategy gaming on the DS the experience for me to date has been decidedly hit or miss.

Maybe it is a fairly decent though ultimately shallow experience like Age of Empires Age of Kings. Maybe its an engaging though ultimately one trick pony like city building sim Sim City Creator, or its an oh my god this game is impossible even after reading the gamefaq walkthrough 1606 aka Age of Discovery! Either way the simple matter of fact is that I don't have the best track record with city or world building sims on the DS. Does this game change that? Well... yes, but I emphasis that with astericks and warnings that this can fulfill your world building needs... if shown a proper respect of its limitations and shortcomings.

The main driving force of the game is its line up of scenarios to play through. Unlike other games of this caliber like Age of Empires, Revolution does not have a story mode. Instead you have a sandbox open play mode, a mode to play preset scenarios... and there used to be a map of the week mode... years ago when this was new, forget about this. The meat and potatoes is freeplay and scenario play.

The first, and biggest fault I have with this game is a lacking online multiplayer mode. At best if there is multiplayer it might be ad hoc local, and good luck finding a second DS owner with a copy of this game. Then again I for one was never a big fan of the pre-3DS era DS wifi so go figure. Having a game like this with lacking wifi hence is no real surprise for me, disappointing yes but not surprising by a long shot.

The game itself is a pretty fun world builder overall. Build armies, build up cities one settler built or invaded or converted city at a time, and work your way to the future, doing research, fighting barbarians as well as rival nations... overall lots to do so that's good. However even with all that? Ultimately the game feels very repetative, and the AI seems unbalanced (too easy on the first difficulty, hard as heck on 2nd, and jumping leaps and bounds from there). Also, another fault of the AI, is a lack of unpredictability. Yes it is a straightforward strategy world builder, but even I enjoy a good twist in a game now and then. Having an AI that can think past simple aggression slash passive responses would have been great.

Long story short if you embrace it's limitations you'll find a pretty addictive fun game here... wish it had online multiplayer, yeah, and I hope they fix that if they port Civilization to the 3DS but... try it. Pretty fun for a DS world building strategy game. A 4 out of 5. Enjoy!

Waiting to Recharge

Start of a brand new week (though I am abit late, sorry) so once again its time to check what is incoming and coming up while waiting to recharge... wait a sec... OK plugged in my DS Lite and GBA SP so now we are truly waiting to recharge.

Ins and Outs
GB/GBC
Since I couldn't finish either if my very exsistence depended on it, I threw Aliens vs Predator (Game Boy) and Aliens Thanatos Encounter (Game Boy Color) up for trade over at gametz. Hopefully whoever gets these fare better than me playing these.

Otherwise nothing up either way. Walkthrough wise I am going to be playing through abit of Final Fantasy Legend III in coming episodes.

GBA
Nothing really happening here trade wise. Going through the walkthrough of Shaman King right now on the podcast.

DS
The trade for LEGO Indiana Jones The Original Adventures should be wrapping up this week, so the walkthrough begins shortly, as we continue with Pokemon Heartgold at the same time.

3DS
Just did a Demo Time! with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate here, and talk about it in an episode of Pocket Gamer that is going up shortly. Stay tuned.

In the meantime going over more Demo content soon, so stay tuned.

Wii
Since the Wii is hardly a handheld I am presently working on a cast specifically for the Wii. It is just getting started development wise so stay tuned for updates.

PSP
Since the topic of Monster Hunter has come up again, what with Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and all, I will be digging into the PSP and walking you through Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, one hour at a time.

Reviews
Slowly but surely I am working to get the reviewing aspect of things up and running. Starting off with Micro Reviews and working upwards from there.

I have a few reviews in mind and working to get them down and out ASAP.

Help Wanted?
Think I posted this past weekend about trying my hand at submitting for a reviewing job over at RPGamer. Not sure if I got the chops to make the cut, but we will see. Update shortly no doubt, stay tuned.

Game cast recommendations?
Good question! I can recommend quite a few comic casts, and a few of my favorite animation and pony related casts... but I am abit low on gaming casts. In fact the only one I am presently listening to is the RPG cast from RPGamer... so I am looking for recommendations on this front. If you are listening to any good gaming casts please post in the comments and tell us all about it.

Well that was a pretty busy update! Well now, time for me to get back at it! See you next time!

Content I am working on for this blog

Here is some of the regular articles I am working on tfor this blog in particular...

Short Review
Specifically a handheld and Wii version of short reviews.

It's Demo Time!
Game demo first looks, mostly from the 3DS but a few occasionally from the Wii as well.

Bits and Bytes
My thoughts on the latest things in gaming both good and bad

Waiting to Recharge
What I am trading for to bring to you review wise in the coming days.

Working now on fresh content for you so stay tuned!... also, knock on wood, I dropped a brief inquiry looking for work over at RPGamer.com (home of the RPGamer podcast that I presently listen to)... well, worst thing they can do is say no thanks and I'm off looking for work again in this regard. Still, fingers crossed and all that. Stay tuned.

Getting back on track with gaming

So let's see about getting back on track with gaming shall we? What do we have...

We have a new podcast for gaming, Pocket Gamer, which if I remember right is a revival of a past series with new added content (episodic walkthroughs of games). We start off with Episodes 1 (a new guide to the travelling gaming kit in case of emergency evacuations) and Episode 2 (Part 1 of Poke'mon Heartgold Walkthrough on the DS). with more to come.

Working on posting quick shot reviews here too as I work on new stuff. So stay tuned to that.

Coverage will be of...
Nintendo
Game Boy/Game Boy Color/Game Boy Advance
Nintendo DS
Nintendo 3DS

Sony
PSP

Hope to add on new stuff in the future but we'll see.

So that's it. Time to get back to work.

Sorry I've Been Absent (new reviewing jobs)

Sorry I've been absent for awhile. I got new writing positions and I'm cranking out a new blog to cover it.

AroundHawaii.com
It is the first time I ever had work here in Hawaii, as opposed to all my other jobs in the mainland and beyond. So this weekend I'm woeking to get my first month article out this weekend to the Editor.

GameSyndrome.com
I'm still waiting on permissions to start working. I am already preparing my first batch of content to turn in ASAP once I get cleared.

Once I got the Nintendo page up I'll post the link here, then I'll post new review.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance on Game Boy Advance

How can a game be good, and yet still have it all ruined by such a thing as a plot driven device like in this game? Yet here we are, a game with detractors for the fact of a simple plot element.

It all starts in the normal everyday world, where you learn the game's combat system through a snowball fight, as well as meet the gang. Once you do the story begins as a mousy boy, possessing a magic tome, wills the world to change somehoe turning the world into Ivalice from Final Fantasy Tactics of which I'm still trying to review.

You must join a clan to survive, and find the world your in dominated by chocobo riding beings called Judges, the one reason why lots don't like this. Really. Are the judges that bad? In the game they throw their weight around bullying everyone, but that's part of the story (they're with the mousy boy who turned the world, apparently being manipulated by a woman who is probably not his dead mother.

Speaking of dead you seem to be cast in the role of the destroyer of worlds, ready to tear Ivalice apart in order to return home... especially since this isn't really Ivalice but a hollow reflection created by a sad boy who only wants his family whole again.

The gameplay is solid, of course, and the judges add an element of difficulty even if you are not a fan of judges, and yes you are eventually armed with means by which to neutralize judge's orders, or change them to suit your needs if I remember right.

I think critics of the judge thing are way too harsh. I don't like them either, but not enough to score down the game. The game doesn't deserve to be ranked down for an element like the Judges, and all my memories of the game are fond ones, so I'm scoring it a nice solid 4 positive judgements out of 5.

Once I played it long enough I'll review Final Fantasy Tactics, then I'll get in the Fall Final Fantasy Tactics War of the Lions for review. Stay tuned.

Casual and Core Gamers in 2012

2012 may be a landmark year, the merger of the casual gamer and the core gamer, when Nintendo rolls out the Wii U. Made for the core gamer and next gen, a first for Nintendo, but not forgetting it's casual gaming roots. So, under the banner of Nintendo, casual and core may finally gather under one banner and one console... in the meantime that's why I put together two blogs... one for the casual and one for the core... so please enjoy and new reviews coming shortly. Stay tuned.

Replaying Dragon Warrior III again

That's why I didn't review it right away. Anyway next up is Poke'mon Crystal (Game Boy Color) on Friday.

Anonymous Notes From the Abyss Chapters 1 to 2

The problem with Nintendo's newest console, the 2012 Wii U, is the balancing act that Nintendo itself doesn't realize is coming. They're out to pursue the core gamers with their long overdue entry into the next gen cycle... but they need to leave a place for the casual gamer... which seems to be assured with first gen games like Pikman 3 and LEGO City Stories (seemingly a tongue in cheek parody of the Grand Theft Auto Stories franchise for the PSP).

But while we wait what is the latest entry into the vast scape that is bridging the gap between the casual gamer and the core gamer? It might be this, Anonymous Notes From The Abyss Chapter 1 to 2... almost, but not quite.

Split into bite sized real time combat RPGs, you play a different person each chapter, discovering the Abyss Hall for whatever reason depending on each character in question.

The dungeon diving is bite sized. X amount of exploring and creatures to fight. You gather gear, potions, gems and spells which carry over to the next chapter. Your ultimate goal is to uncover the boss of the Chapter, beat it, and then wait for the next chapter.

Story? Barely. You interact, barely, with the female guardian of the Abyss Hall who stores your extra gear (the only way to rid yourself of weaker gear as the game doesn't have a store to buy and sell stuff in) and she saves your game. That's it.

Could this game be better? Yes. It could stand a shop so you can sell weak gear you don't need, and the fame could stand to have free downloadable content to give the game a little distance between chapters. Then again this is a $2 a pop download game so I guess it is too much to ask for free dlc... sigh.

So this small bite of rpging is great for casual gamers... but unless your a fan of the From the Abyss series this might not be the greatest for core gamers... well, at least it is one more game to slowly seduce casual gamers into core gamers. Too bad though. While a great many games exist to gradually turn casual gamers to core gamers, only a few games (Professor Layton, Ace Attorney, Pikman, Mario Party and Mario Kart, etc) brings core gamers into the realm of casual gaming... sad. Anyway Anonymous Notes gets a 3 out of 5.