RPG – Golden Age Gamers

Five Reasons Why It’s Worth Revisiting Dragon Age: Inquisition

I love Bioware RPGs. That’s something I feel is quite obvious if you spend any time on this site. However, there is one in particular I have been replaying for the third time and feel is absolutely worth picking up if you love RPG’s. Here are five reasons why you should revisit or pick up Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Author: Nathan Doverspike

I love Bioware RPGs. That’s something I feel is quite obvious if you spend any time on this site. However, there is one in particular I have been replaying for the third time and feel is absolutely worth picking up if you love RPGs. Here are five reasons why you should revisit or pick up Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Dragon Age™: Inquisition_20180706050017 — See that big hole in the sky? It’s bad. Real bad.

The Story Is Better Than It Should Be

A big hole in the sky spewing out demons into the world is the main crux of Dragon Age: Inquisition. At first glance it might sound like the story is going to be underwhelming like its predecessor. Fortunately, the story is more than adequate to keep the player’s interest. Gaining agents and allies for the revival of the long-dead inquisition, seeking out why you have a strange mark on your hand that allows you to close the portals, and ending the threat is all entertaining to say the least. Plus, depending on your choices throughout the game, the ending will have vastly different outcomes, which is always nice to see that your choices do matter in an RPG from Bioware.

Dragon Age™: Inquisition_20180706051728 — Close those holes like they’re plot holes in Mass Effect: Andromeda!

The Characters Are Likable, and Useful

This is huge bugbear for me in regards to other recent RPG’s that have characters that are supposed to be interesting (any character except Drack in Mass Effect: Andromeda, the Bioware game that came out after the main studio was forced to focus its efforts on Anthem) but really aren’t in a way that makes them almost a drag to have in your party. I played Andromeda for over 30 hours, and not once was I engaged enough with the combat to get over the extremely poorly written dialogue for your companions or their bland backgrounds. With DA:I, neither the characters or their usefulness comes into question. Sure, there are certain combinations that are nearly unstoppable like having Cassandra, Cole, and Iron Bull all in your party, but that doesn’t mean that others like Varric or Solas aren’t useful in their own ways. It’s obvious the team at Bioware spent a good amount of effort on making sure all the pieces fit together, just as they did prior with Dragon Age: Origins (if you like a more tactical RPG like Baldur’s Gate or Neverwinter Nights 2, also Bioware products, I highly recommend giving that a shot as well).

Dragon Age™: Inquisition_20180710023740 — Combat without the HUD looks amazing, even if it isn’t practical in tougher battles.

The Combat Feels Satisfying

An RPG that is centered around combat needs to be satisfying to keep the player engaged, and that’s something that DA:I does so well. As a rogue character on my current hard difficulty play-through, I can’t believe it’s a class I haven’t chosen before. It plays so well and is so exhilarating to get those massive damage shots off on unsuspecting enemies, then dodge out of the way, dealing damage and escaping their range just before their attack lands. Don’t worry if bows and daggers aren’t your thing, the warrior class is really fun to play (especially as a reaver), as is the mage.

A Beautiful Rich World

An area where Dragon Age 2 slipped up, and one where DA: I far succeeds its predecessors, is the world you explore. Don’t misunderstand that statement: I still love Dragon Age: Origins, but the areas in this game are so detailed graphically and with so many different events to uncover, that it feels alive in a similar fashion to the Mass Effect Trilogy. For me, it isn’t just that the game is beautiful, it’s all the little side quests you can find by exploring. You can potentially go into the final portion of the game with almost the starting party and no one else. The game doesn’t force you to get characters like Sera or Iron Bull, but gives you the option to seek them out. It gives you choices that are less and less frequent in more modern games.

Dragon Age™: Inquisition_20180710031315 — Turning the HUD off isn’t ideal for combat, but man does it look pretty on a PS4 Pro!

Your Decisions Matter

As mentioned previously in this article, a staple in Bioware games is choice. The choice to side the mages will lock out any cooperation with the Templars down the road. The choice to exile Sera from your inquisition means she will leave, permanently. The decisions you make in this game have lasting effects, and seeing all the different ways the game handles them is fascinating. There isn’t a real win or lose in a lot of them, but there are entirely different outcomes and situations that arise.

Have you played Dragon Age: Inquisition? What do you think about the game as a whole? Do you feel it still holds up compared to other games in the genre? Let me know in the comments!

What Is Your Favorite Star Wars Video Game?

As someone who can’t seem to get enough of Star Wars video games, both newer and old, I want to hear what is your favorite Star Wars video game.

Author: Nathan Doverspike

I love Star Wars (well, Star Wars before the Disney acquisition). I love video games (obviously). I love Star Wars video games! As someone who can’t seem to get enough of Star Wars video games, both newer and old, I want to hear what is your favorite Star Wars video game.

Personally, I would have to give that award to the original Knights of the Old Republic. I had previously loved Bioware’s CRPG Neverwinter Nights and its multiple expansions, so a Star Wars game set thousands of years before A New Hope with a similar combat style was something I knew I would love. Even still, I wasn’t prepared for just how fantastic that game was, and how great it still is today. The writing holds up surprisingly well, as do the graphics. For a game released in 2003, 15 years old now, it still looks pretty darn good, especially if you play the steam version with the graphical mods enabled. Plus, you can now play it on an Xbox One by inserting the physical disc into the console, and it will play with noticeable graphical enhancements, faster load times, and steady frame rate.

Other Star wars games available to play on the Xbox One are Jedi Starfighter, Battlefront 1 and 2 (original Battlefront games), Republic Commando, and KOTOR 2. If you own the Xbox disc version, those games are also all worth seeing on the Xbox One. Let me know in the comments which Star Wars game you think is the best.

Cat Quest 2 Announced, Coming 2019

I loved the first game, so the addition of these welcome features means this should be a treat for cat and dog RPG lovers alike when it releases in early 2019

Author: Nathan Doverspike

One of my favorite RPGs of 2017 is getting a sequel. The Gentlebros, creators of the feline themed RPG that came out on Steam, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Android, and iOS as well, announced via their Twitter profile they are currently creating the sequel titled Cat Quest: The Lupus Empire.

In the release trailer, the addition of dogs is shown, as well as couch coop! I loved the first game, so the addition of these welcome features means this should be a treat for cat and dog RPG lovers alike when it releases in early 2019.

A Look Back at Dead Island (Xbox 360) – Still A Bloody Good Time

Why It’s Worth Revisiting Just Cause 3

Here are just a couple reasons why you should consider revisiting this blast from the past sandbox of destruction.

Author: Nathan Doverspike

A couple factors led to the writing of this article. Just Cause 4 was recently leaked as being a possible announcement at E3 2018, Playstation Store had a great sale on the XL Edition of the game that comes with all released DLC (under $12 USD); and the recent announcement that Red Faction: Guerrilla is getting a remaster sometime in Q2 of this year. Here are just a couple reasons why you should consider revisiting this blast from the past sandbox of destruction.

The Side Content Is Worthwhile and Enjoyable

As Rico Rodriguez, the world is your playground. Sure, there are main missions that you can complete. But with so many other activities to enjoy like racing in cars, boats, and airplanes, unleashing destruction within a certain time limit, or racing against the clock as you maintain speed to prevent your vehicle from exploding, this game has plenty of fund challenges to master. Even if some may not be for you, the others will more than make up for the ones you find less enjoyable. Plus, every time you complete a mission you earn up to five gears that are used to unlock perks for Rico. Unlike so many previous open world games, this one keeps rewarding you for completing the content.

Do What’s Fun For You

Something that a game like Just Cause 3 is providing you a giant world that let’s you be you. Do you want to liberate all the different towns in the world? Maybe you love the thrill of the wing-suit like I do and jump off the highest mountains just to open it up and see how far I can glide without touching down. I got much more satisfaction out of the side content than the short and obviously padded story missions. And that’s okay, because this game let’s you do what you find fun and keep doing it.

The Destruction Is So Satisfying

Hopping into a loaded helicopter and flying into an enemy military base only to rain down missile after missile never gets old! Usually marked with red and white colors, the plethora of destructible buildings and fuel tanks provide ample opportunity to see light up the screen with fiery explosions. This game has plenty of different vehicles of destruction to choose from. Jump in a helicopter, biplane, jet, tank, or corvette and show your enemies whose boss!

Traversal Is Still Incredible

Since the original Just Cause, Rico has been using a grapple hook and a parachute to make his way around each game. Each game, the mechanic is refined and still provides a great tool of traversal while still being a blast. This iteration in the franchise is no different, and the unlocks you gain that improve your mobility while gliding or parachuting only improve the experience the longer you play.

It’s worth noting that I recently bought a PS4 Pro, and that’s possibly why I had such a good experience this time compared to when I played it when it released. From what I can remember, the game did have slightly unstable frame rate when it launched. Combined with patches and the more powerful console, the I only notice the frame rate dropping below 30 when there was a ton of action on screen. Even then, it didn’t inhibit my ability to enjoy the game immensely.

Have you played Just Cause 3 yet? Are there other open world games that you’ve revisited recently and found them to be just as good or better than you remember? Let me know in the comments!

What Games Do You Enjoy Revisiting?

What game(s) do you find yourself coming back to time and time again?

Author: Nathan Doverspike

As someone who poured easily 120 hours or more into the Witcher 3, you would think that would be it for me? However, every time I want to put this game down for good, I throw it in my system “for one more go.” Each time I do that, I find even more quests, scavenger hunts, and more to do that keeps me playing for hours on end each session. Don’t take that the wrong way: I’m forever thankful that this game keeps providing endless hours of entertainment!

Which brings me to the point of this article. What game(s) do you find yourself coming back to time and time again? Is it a sports game like FIFA, NHL, Madden, or MLB The Show? What about an expansive RGP like Witcher 3, Dragon Age series, or Mass Effect? Or maybe you love JRPG’s like the Persona series, Shin Migami Tensei, or Final Fantasy? Let me know in the comments! I can always use a new classic to return to or start for the first time!

Omensight Review- More Fight Than Sight

Maybe it was the self-propelled hype, but after the six hours I spent with Omensight, I was left slightly underwhelmed with the overall mystery behind the gameplay.

Author: Nathan Doverspike

Disclaimer-Copy was obtained through purchase, not provided by developer.

As someone who loves mystery games, but isn’t necessarily the best at them, I knew I had to pick up Omensight by Spearhead Games the night it released. I thoroughly enjoyed Murdered: Soul Suspect, even if others didn’t share that sentiment. Maybe it was the self-propelled hype, but after the six hours I spent with Omensight, I was left slightly underwhelmed with the overall mystery behind the gameplay.

Omensight_20180517080506 — You’ll become very familiar with this screen as you progress through the story.

Omensight is a game where you are the harbinger, a being sent to prevent the end of the world caused by the evil entity Voden. Akin to games like Sexy Brutale, you follow different characters throughout the final day, unlocking more clues to the nature of the apocalypse each time. At the end of each day you are given the opportunity to upgrade your character with the experience you gain from that day, as well as learn new moves and eventually even reduce the overall damage you receive during combat. On the normal difficulty, I found that combat became a breeze after just a few upgrades, which is a shame because this game is about 85% combat and 15% figuring out the next path to take.

Omensight_20180517185046 — This is where you can see what clues you’ve uncovered.

This wouldn’t normally be a big gripe, but there is very little mystery to actually put together. A character at the hub area between days will just tell you where to go next after you compete a day, completely removing any sense of discovery the player could feel. I have no problem with hints if I ask for them but being spoon fed the plot in a game that calls itself a “mystery” game seems detrimental to the whole concept of the title.

Speaking of gameplay, it’s worth noting that I enjoyed the locations you visit and how they change as the end of the game draws near. Lush forests become overrun with glowing purple decay; statues crumble. These areas are fun to explore the first couple times through, but do become stale towards the end. The game offers you the option to skip to the critical point in a day with each character, and that is a welcome change over their previous game, Stories: The Path of Destinies. Unlike that title, it does cut out a lot of the fluff at the expense of not filling up your clues for each character. If you aren’t worried about that, I highly suggest taking that option whenever it is presented.

Omensight_20180518024556 — Pretty sure that purple stuff isn’t healthy.

That isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy my time with Omensight. I had a great time for the lost part (minus an escort portion of the game that I must have played half a dozen times) because it takes notes from the Batman Arkham game’s, with enemies having an indicator appear just before they attack. This allows you to dodge, counter, and combo your way to victory. The abilities you earn through upgrading and leveling up are also satisfying, like the ability to use telepathy that evolves into telepathy/life drain. If not for the constant and satisfying character progression, it would have been a struggle to finish.

Omensight_20180516024751 — Combat is by far the best part of this game.

The silent protagonist doesn’t do the game any favors either. Injecting any sort of personality into the harbinger would have made the numerous variations of situations you have with the different characters more interesting, because those four main characters themselves are quite a joy to hang with for a day. They all have their unique personalities, and seeing how they react to having different companions with you was certainly interesting. I just feel it would have been better if your character had more impact on these scenes instead of being nothing more than a pretty sweet-looking empty vessel.

Omensight_20180516031225 — The main hub is beautiful, even if it lacks things to do there.

This review may sound harsh, but that’s only out of love for the potential this developer has. As the same studio that created Stories: The Path of Destinies, they have proven they understand what it takes to implement entertaining combat into their games. The mystery part could use some work, and hopefully a third title set in this universe will nail everything down and it will come together to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Until them, I still recommend checking this game out if you enjoy that type of combat but aren’t afraid of a decent half dozen hour journey through ascetically pleasing areas.

Final Score: 7.5

This is currently available on PS4 and Steam. PS4 version used for review.

Pros and Cons of God of War (PS4) – The Summit of Gaming

While there aren’t many things to gripe out with this game, here are my pros and cons for God of War for your reading pleasure.

Author: Nathan Doverspike

If the title didn’t give it away already, this is one of my favorite games. Ever. I don’t say that phrase often either. Only Mass Effect 2 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt fit into that category for me in the last 10 years of video games. There aren’t many things to gripe about with this game, so here are my pros and cons for God of War for your reading pleasure.

Pros

The Combat Is The Best in The Series

From the minute you were able to throw the ax at an enemy’s head, have it stick in it and freeze them, then lunge forward with a flying punch to the face, I knew this game was going to be special. You don’t get as many weapons in this game as you did in the past God of War games, but they more than make up for it with robust

The Visuals Aren’t Just Breathtaking, They’re The Best

Graphics aren’t everything. Mass Effect 2 looks slightly aged now, but I still think it’s one of the greatest RPG’s ever. But unlike Mass Effect 2, God of War looks leagues better than its competition in a way that the Mass Effect series never did. The fact that I took a screen shot of mud in the game…should tell you everything you need to know about how great this title looks.

Exploring the Worlds Is As Enjoyable As You Would Expect

With so much effort placed in making the visuals some of the best in a video game to date, just as much effort was placed in making the gorgeous locations just as fun to explore. From solving puzzles to defeating powerful foes in the late game content, I never grew bored of any of the numerous caves, beaches, or treks up a mountain. Finding new paths to take as you gain more abilities and progressively better loot was always a great time.

Extra Content After The Story

This is something that I certainly didn’t expect. I had a feeling this game would have a lengthy story for and action RPG, but I didn’t expect it to have a bunch of side quests and content that is unlocked after you complete the story. With all of this content available to complete, this game gives you reason after reason to keep playing, even after the main story is finished.

Bonus: New Game Plus Added

Did you finish God of War and ask yourself: What next? Lucky for you, Santa Monica added a New Game Plus mode that allows you to carry over all of your gear, experience, currency, and talismans to experience the story again. You also have the ability to skip cutscenes, craft new armor and weapons, and even some previously unavailable abilities will be available! The new armor sets add a wonderful twist with positive and negative effects, breathing new life into an already spectacular Game of the Year winner.

The Story

I don’t normally get emotional playing games, especially not ones that feature Kratos yelling and grunting his way through them (of which he does a considerable amount less than the previous titles). God of War redefined my expectations for this series moving forward, offering an incredible story and a very moving ending with twist after twist. I love where the story goes, and the curve balls the developers boldly throw at you until the credits roll.

Cons

Odin’s Ravens

I understand the idea behind having clever things hidden in the environment for the player to find. However, to me the 51 Odin’s Ravens scattered throughout the game are more of a pain than they are worth to find. There are other collectibles like chests, artifacts, and special enemies hidden that are far more interesting and fun to find. Personally, I wish there weren’t as many to collect or didn’t literally blend in with some of the environments to the point of being almost completely impossible to see.

Attitude of Atreus Half-Way Into The Story

This is a minor gripe, since in the context of the story it makes sense. The story is about the journey and how it changes both Kratos and Atreus along the way. At one point, I grew tired of Atreus’s attitude. I understand what the developers were doing with his character, but it didn’t make it any less annoying. Thankfully, his personality doesn’t remain this way for too long.

How are you enjoying the game? Were there any points you think I missed? Let me know in the comments!

Tips and Hints for God of War (PS4)

Here are some tips and hints for God of War that I wish I had known earlier and some that have helped me enjoy the game even more as I continue my journey to the top of the summit (of gaming and Midgard).

Author: Nathan Doverspike

Almost 20 hours into this game, and I can honestly say this is one of my favorite games EVER. Not in the last decade, not favorite RPG or action game, quite literally top 3 games I have ever had the pleasure of playing. Here are some tips and hints for God of War that I wish I had known earlier, and some that have helped me enjoy the game even more as I continue my journey to the top of the summit (of gaming and Midgard).

God of War_20180422182418 — Not all realms are created equal.

Explore, Explore, and Explore Some More

As most RGP and open-area games go, it pays off to return to areas you’ve been. This holds especially true for the new God of War. Kratos and Atreus will receive ways to explore even more of the worlds as you progress through the story, so if you see something that looks important but you can’t access it the first time, make a mental note or real one on paper to return to that area. While some areas pay off more than others, I never felt cheated when I chose to spend some extra time exploring with “Boy”.

Mix It Up in Combat

While the axe is an adequate weapon, your fists can be just as deadly. Mixing it up in combat will help you overcome the myriad of enemies the game like to throw your way. At the beginning of the game, I found myself barely using my fists to pummel enemies. Now, I go all out, using the axe and fists, combined with the separate abilities that correspond with each style, to thoroughly obliterate my foes.

God of War_20180423044627 — The different environments are all beautiful in their own way.

Spread Out Your Upgrades

This goes for both your armor and skills. I foolishly upgraded an early armor a few times, then regretted it an hour later when I found a much more improved armor that I could have improved even further if I didn’t spend all my resources on the one armor set. You get a ton of loot in this game, and most of it is markedly improved over previous iterations. Keep that in mind when you are deciding what to spend those precious resources on.

God of War_20180422234048 — Stunningly gorgeous and equally dangerous.

Play It For the Story

A great story in a God of War game? Yup, and even though I haven’t quite finished it yet, I have seen more character development than many other RPG’s that have come out in recent years. It is obvious how much time and effort was put into making the story not just coherent, but engaging and moving. The characters are interesting, the setting spectacular, and the twists and turns the plot take are sharp and unexpected.

God of War_20180422234348 — To the summit!

Play With Headphones or a Nice Stereo If Possible

This one might not apply to everyone reading, and that’s understandable. However, if you have the ability to play this game with good headphones on or a nice stereo system, I highly recommend doing so. This game makes sounds I’ve never heard from my speakers before, and the World Serpent made my house literally shake from it’s voice. It’s something to behold that I never experienced in another video game before.

What do you think of the game so far? Are you enjoying the new camera and increased focus on story as well? Let me know in the comments!

Tips and Hints for Battle Chasers: Nightwar

Over twelve hours into Battle Chasers: Nightwar, and I can honestly say this is the most fun I have had with a dungeon crawler RPG since Diablo 3. If you have just picked it up, or are interested in what this game is all about, keep on ready for some tips and hints.

Author: Nathan Doverspike

EDIT: After searching the internet for recent patch notes, it appears the corrupted save file bug I ran into while playing the game has been fixed. That doesn’t guarantee that the game won’t crash, as it did for me and THEN I experienced the save corruption after 12 hours of gameplay, resulting in having to restart the game. I highly recommend this game, even if there is a chance the game can crash occasionally. The combat, art style, and exploration alone were worth another go at it, even if it means I’ll have my fingers crossed that I won’t have my save corrupted again. Also, the game hasn’t crashed for me since I restarted my save in March of 2018, which hopefully means the game is fixed and does appear to be a more stable build. Oh, and this game is just as good the second time around too!

Over twelve hours into Battle Chasers: Nightwar, and I can honestly say this is the most fun I have had with a dungeon crawler RPG since Diablo 3. This game isn’t just gorgeous (I love the art style and effects during battles); it is also challenging without being too frustrating. If you have just picked it up, or are interested in what this game is all about, keep on ready for some tips and hints.

Grinding Is a Necessary Evil

Like a lot of RPGs in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, grinding is a part of Battle Chasers. I don’t despise it since it lets me work on different strategies and leveling up characters I may not use as much as someone like Garrison (who has a great name and awesome abilities). Some may not be as thrilled about the possibility of grinding to see all the content, and I understand if it isn’t for everyone. For me, it hasn’t bothered me. I put too many hours in the original Neverwinter Nights as a kid and this is nowhere near as grind-fest heavy as that classic.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar_20171005194131 — Exploration and dungeon crawler are two areas this game nearly perfects.

Explore, Explore, Explore

This game is set up to let you explore the world, a chunk at a time. As you progress through the story, you open up new distinct areas with their own enemies and dungeon to discover. Not all areas are crucial to forwarding the plot, and I highly recommend visiting them. You may get whooped at first, but you can always come back or talk to other NPC’s to see if they have a side quest for you to undertake as well. Who knows, maybe clearing out those spiders in the sewers gets you some much needed gear and a level or two that you need before returning to a challenging dungeon.

Plan your Attacks Wisely

The action bar on the left side of the screen shows you what order your characters and enemies will take their turn. Use this to your advantage. Each attach has an indication of how long it will take for the character to use that ability. Some are instant, while others take a turn or two before they act. Using a very fast attack to finish off a weakened enemy might just be the edge you need to defeat a boss that summons more enemies during battle. Time these wisely, as they can be the difference between defeating a tough boss in a Legendary dungeon and getting your RPG-loving rear handed to you.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar Victory — Just looking at that Mimic is giving me Dark Souls PTSD.

Don’t Forget to Equip Perks

Yup, that’s right, I forgot to equip perks for the first four hours I played this game. Every time you level up you gain points that you can spend towards equipping perks for each character. For example, Gulley might have 4 perk points but the perks you want to equip cost 3 and 2 points, so either you grind a little until you level up, or you make a choice on which one you want to equip. All of these are passive stat boosts or enact certain conditions based on other abilities in battle. You can increase attack power, get more health from healing abilities, or even get a permanent boost to your overall defense as long as the perk is active. These can dramatically change how your characters perform in battle, so experimentation is highly encouraged.

Hopefully these few tips and hints are enough to help you glide your way through an incredibly beautiful and interesting world. While the story isn’t as integral to the game as I might want it to be, I am still really enjoying my time with it and look forward to pouring more time into it this weekend. For a small studio and a game half the price of other AAA games coming out recently, this has been a pleasant surprise of an RPG.

Did I miss anything? Did you pick up the game? If so, how are you enjoying it so far? Let me know in the comments!

6 Tips For Getting Started in Xenoblade Chronicles 2

While the story isn’t as engaging as I anticipated, I can’t help but praise the art style, wonderful world, satisfying and sometimes challenging combat, and intricate systems. So without further ado, I present five tips and hints for starting your journey through Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

Author: Nathan Doverspike

After almost a dozen hours in the breathtakingly beautiful world of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, I feel it is safe to say I’m definitely enjoying my time with it. The JRPG, which is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, caps of a brilliant first year for the versatile new console. While the story isn’t as engaging as I anticipated, I can’t help but praise the art style, wonderful world, satisfying and sometimes challenging combat, and intricate systems. So without further ado, I present six tips and hints for starting your journey through Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

1. The Map is Your Best Friend

This one seems obvious, and it should be. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a massive world, with countless side quests which combined together can understandably be overwhelming at first. I found it best to consult the map if I ever had trouble finding where certain side quests wanted me to go (indicated by blue diamond with white question mark inside). The main quest has been fairly simple to track, since it is denoted by magenta diamonds with white exclamations marks inside, but even then I have gotten turned around once or twice. Just keep in mind that you CAN navigate over large roots to trees in the left part of the map where the gold person is found on the image above. I found that out after an hour of wandering around and then getting slaughtered by a level 75 King Kong-looking monster.

2. Spend Time Exploring the Menus

Like many JRPG’s, this game has A LOT of systems working simultaneously during battles. Whether it is upgrading your Arts, Affinity grid, or unlocking new Blades, there is always something that can be improved in your party if you know where to look. The Affinity Chart above is a great example of all the upgrades available for completing certain tasks explained for each bubble. One might require you to revive a companion a single time in order to receive 20% extra health from potions dropped from enemies, while another may require you to enter 10 battles in order to get a permanent boost to physical defense. These may not seem like much, but you will appreciate that extra defense and health from potions when the battle lasts 10+ minutes and you have a skill that specifically drops health from enemies.

3. Don’t Expect Too Much From the Story

This one comes off as negative, but it isn’t meant to be. Setting your expectations appropriately for this game will help you enjoy it much more. After the great story from the original, I had high hopes for this one to continue that trait. It might fall flat on its face at times, and the lip syncing during cut-scenes might be laughably bad at times, but the game play and intricate systems make up for it. It won’t win any awards for the story it appears to be telling, but if you can get past that it will reward you with everything else it has to offer.

4. Grinding Isn’t Just Necessary, It’s Also Fun

Games like Xenoblade Chronicles 2 usually feature some form a grinding, whether it’s White Knight Chronicles, FFXV, games from the Tales series. Grinding is something that is expected and can even be relaxing if you do what I do and throw on a podcast to listen to while you go through the motions for an hour or so each night, chipping away bit by bit at your slowing increasing experience bar. I haven’t found the grind to be too cumbersome at this point, and hope it doesn’t become frustrating come late game content. The enemies have interesting designs, and rounding a couple up can result in fantastically engaging battles that leave you nearly out of breath and HP by the end. A dozen hours in, and I look forward to spending some more time fighting the denizens of Alrest.

5. Timing is Everything

Whether you are scavenging the clouds for treasure or fighting a plethora of monsters all at once, timing is everything. Whenever you choose to scavenge for treasure, you will be presented with button prompts. Hitting the corresponding button on screen while it is inside the inner circle in every prompt will result in better rewards from the dive, and can get interesting once you progress farther into the game and encounter enemies that are over 20 levels above you when you arrive on land.

Button prompts are also a key element of battles. While using your special attacks, depending on which ones you use with different weapons, you’ll have the opportunity to hit the correct buttons to do exponentially more damage. Timing your abilities just after landing a hit (auto-attack or Art) will increase the damage even further, so it is entirely possible to turn the tide of a lopsided battle in seconds once you begin to master the system.

6. Tackle Named Monsters of Equal Level

During my time, I encountered a few named enemies that may look like normal enemies, but are denoted by a special symbol and are much more difficult to bring down. I attempted to bring a level 12 beast down when I was level 15, and after 10 minutes of intense button pressing and frantically running to pick up dropped potions, I felled the beast and received numerous rewards for their defeat. I highly recommend trying to tackle some of these once you gain three characters simultaneously in your party. The monster I took down wasn’t overwhelmingly challenging, and I felt great afterwards! They even have a little gravestone where they were that allows you to fight them again should that be something you wish to do.

Overall, I’ve had a great experience with Xenoblade Chronicles 2, despite a few frame rate stutters and the occasional annoying character. It is a JRPG after all, and I can’t stop looking ahead and getting excited about what awesome Blades I will be able to unlock or wonder how this connects to the original game.

Have you picked it up yet? If you have, are you enjoying it so far? Let me know in the comments!

The Games I’m Most Thankful For

These games, some older, some newer, usually aren’t known for their outstanding graphics or mind-blowing plots, but they all have a special place in my gaming heart. Here are the games I am most thankful for (in no particular order).

Author: Nathan Doverspike

As Thanksgiving draws near, and we all make plans for how we want to spend this special time, whether it’s with friends, family, or a mixture of both, I can’t help but to think about the games that influenced me as a gamer. These games, some older, some newer, usually aren’t known for their outstanding graphics or mind-blowing plots, but they all have a special place in my gaming heart. Here are the games I am most thankful for (in no particular order).

tomb_raider_2_box — Lara in all her polygonal glory!

Tomb Raider 2

Initial Release: October 31st, 1997

Developed by: Core Design

This was the first game I ever played on the Playstation One I got for Christmas as a young boy, and it left me in tears (mainly because I was so terrible at it and erased a save from before the main boss so I had to restart the whole game over again.). It taught me how banging my head against a puzzle in a game could be solved by jumping off your left foot while running instead of your right, and that sometimes you need to hop backwards twice to get a running jump-start across a gap. It also showed me how working together (with my dad) we were unstoppable in our quest to kill a giant golden dragon that was a total jerk and totally not fun to fight. It also solidified my enjoyment of third person shooters and puzzle games, while helping me spend quality time with my father. Tomb Raider 2 hasn’t aged as well as I would prefer, but I’ll always remember the great times I had playing it as a kid.

2. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Initial Release: March 20th, 2006

Developed by: Bethesda

Oh boy. I could write a whole article about all of the wonderful things in this game: from the shrine of Sheogorath to the Shivering Isles, this game is near perfect. Sure, the framerate liked to tank every now and then, but the “took an arrow to the knee” guard more than made up for it. Plus the story in this game is arguably the best in an Elder Scrolls game to date, and I still prefer the leveling up system in this one to Skyrim (mainly because you could just grind it out in the arena and become way overpowered way too quickly). Did I mention Patrick Stewart is the voice of Uriel Septum VII, so that alone should be enough to go play this game! I first played it on a laptop that barely ran Windows XP, yet somehow I managed to beat the whole game on it, then beat it again when it released on Xbox 360, then again when the limited edition 5th anniversary steelbook came out. I couldn’t get enough of the MASSIVE open world, somewhat disturbing Dark Brotherhood quests, and overall freedom this game gives players. I love this game, and is one of my favorite RPG’s to this day.

neverwinter nights dragon — Did someone say, DRAGONS?

3. Neverwinter Nights

Initial Release: June 18th, 2002

Developed by: Bioware

Did someone say, RPG’s? That’s right, I played the OG Neverwinter Nights on PC when it came out. Not only that, I beat it AND all the expansions (except Kingsmaker because I didn’t care for that one at the time) and loved them. The Balder’s Gate style game play was fascinating to me, and I died plenty of times trying to disarm a trap only for it to go very badly and result with my character being poisoned right before a major battle. The ability to save anytime meant that I was free to experiment with my choices, and that no dice roll would set me back too far (except for when I delete my own save…because that’s always a good idea). While it might not have been AS influential as Oblivion or some of the others on this list, it definitely belongs on here. And if you like RPG’s like Neverwinter Nights, I highly recommend Tyranny on PC. It’s like Neverwinter Nights, only you are the bad guy, and by bad guy I mean you can be a really bad guy, wink wink.

mass effect well bang ok — I mean…if you insist.

4. Mass Effect Trilogy

Initial Release: November 20th, 2007

Developed by: Bioware

You didn’t think I would leave my favorite Scifi video game series off this list, did you? Mass Effect 1 may have been rough around the edges at times, but its sequel improved on nearly everything and in my opinion is the best RPG I have every played. It had combat that made you feel powerful without feeling invincible, gave you some of the best characters and stories in an RPG ever, and choices that had a real impact. Unfortunately, it did have a sequel that was one of the worst RPGs I’ve ever played, which makes this series all the more important because of everything that it did right before it took a hard left turn into a pit filled with tears and turned into the largest dumpster fire known to man. Now all we need is a remake on current gen consoles and my life would be complete.

star-wars-knights-of-the-old-republic-concept-art.jpg.optimal — One of the best twists in a video to this day is in KOTOR.

5. Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR)

Initial Release: July 15th, 2003

Developed by: Bioware

You can’t have a list of things I am thankful for without having something related to Star Wars. Growing up watching the original trilogy re-released in theaters and on VHS (yes I am old, no I will not tell you my age) I adored the idea of an invisible living Force surrounding and living in everything and being able to be immersed in that universe. Then there’s laser swords, and who doesn’t think laser swords are cool? Bioware made that happen in 2005, with the release of critically acclaimed Knights of the Old Republic. I played the hell out of this game on the original Xbox, as well as on PC after it released on Steam many years later. It’s also on iOS, if you want a portable version that I’ve heard runs surprisingly well. Anyway, all that feeds into what I love about KOTOR, and why it saddens me more and more that we will most likely never see a KOTOR 3 (thanks for that Electronic Farts…I mean Arts). Oh well, I still have my Steam version that runs at 60 fps and 1080p. That’s not so bad, right?

Honorable Mentions:

Sansretour Valley — Witcher 3 is a beauty to look at, even on a basic PS4.

6. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Initial Release:

Developed by: CD Projekt Red

If you want to know my full thoughts on this game, check out a previous article on why I think this is one of the best RPGs in the last decade. Let’s just say the combat, story, beautiful world, and fascinating side quests mixed together for a beautifully crafted potion in this masterpiece of a video game.

DeadSpace_2_-_Dementia — Don’t think about the needle, don’t think about the needle.

7. Dead Space 2

Initial Release: January 25th, 2011

Developed by: Visceral Games

The best horror game I’ve ever played is Dead Space 2. It didn’t have as much of an emotional or gaming impact on my life as the others on this list, but it was still a phenomenal experience nonetheless. From the main character Isaac Clarke hallucinating from the trauma he experiences, to the well thought-out crafting system, all the way down to the design of the levels, everything fits perfectly together. After how great the first game was, it would have been easy to create a somewhat disappointing sequel. Instead, the now defunct Visceral Games (thanks for that too EA) made a compelling argument for their game as the best horror title ever. For that, I am truly thankful.

There are so many others I could list, but that’ll do for now. What games are you thankful for? Are there some you have a personal connection with? Let me know in the comments!