Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition is Short, Sweet and to the Point
February 08, 2018 by RSS Feed
Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition (Free) by Square Enix is an abridged, mobile version of the latest entry in the Final Fantasy franchise. If you didn't get a chance to play the original game, had no time, or just disliked certain things about the console version, then Pocket Edition is a great alternative.
When Final Fantasy XV was first announced over a decade ago, I was super excited for it. I had even bought a PS3 back then because I didn't think it was going to take a whole decade, plus another generation of console, before the game would see the light of day. But when I played the first beta, I was disappointed by the combat system. I was put off by it, but I thought I'd give the final release a try.
My fiancé got the game for me for Christmas, but again, I tried it and still didn't like the combat system. Plus, I didn't have the time to invest fully into the game, with the massive open world and side quests. But when they announced FFXV Pocket Edition, I was intrigued — how would such a massive game work on mobile, with watered down chibi graphics? I've been playing the game all morning, and so far I'm actually quite impressed.
FINAL FANTASY Ⅸ
SQUARE ENIX Co., Ltd.
Visually, FFXV Pocket Edition replaces the gorgeous graphics from the console with chibi-fied, low-poly character models and environments. This makes sense, given the limited capabilities of mobile hardware versus consoles. I'll admit, the first time I saw this, I chuckled and thought it was kind of dumb, but the look has grown on me. Square Enix translated incredibly high quality graphics to lower definition in a seamless way, and it works. The game still packs in a lot of detail, especially with the giant bird creature you'll discover in just the first chapter. And even though the in-game, realistic food visuals got watered down too, they still look dang tasty. Animations are smooth, and I did not have issues on my iPhone 8 Plus. The soundtrack remains the same as the original game, and the dialogue are in-sync with the console version cutscenes. For this port, I'm satisfied with Square Enix's transition.
Unlike the original console version, Pocket Edition is broken up into chapters. The first chapter is free with the initial download. Chapters 2 and 3 are $0.99 a pop, while chapters 4 through 10 are $3.99 each. There are also bundles for $19.99 (2-10, 4-10) or $11.99 (7-10). The first chapter does give players a good taste of what the full game is like, and honestly, it's satisfying and enjoyable. So far, Pocket Edition has exceeded my expectations.
In the console version of FFXV, there was a lot to do, even in the beginning of the game. While you can just do the main story quests, there were a ton of side quests to pick up, or you could just run around and explore to your heart's content. But Pocket Edition simplifies things and it's much more linear, which is great if you felt overwhelmed before.
Pocket Edition does a good job of showing you the important cutscenes from the game that advance the story. It removes the unnecessary ones, and the dialogue from the original cinematic scenes line up with what you see in Pocket Edition. You'll travel from area to area in the car, without the option of going back, so make sure you complete all of the side quests you have before moving forward.
In the first chapter, after the infamous car-pushing scene, players end up at Hammerhead, where they meet Cindy and Cid. The first quest from Cindy has you go fight off some monsters in a small field map next to the shop, and then after that's done, you end up back at Hammerhead. There's no exploring and no fluff — just straight to the point, and I like that.
The controls in FFXV Pocket Edition are simple and work well, though I wish there was more options for movement. Instead of having a ground-level view, it's more of a top-down, action-game perspective like Diablo III or Kingdom Hearts. You tap where you want to go, or keep your finger on the screen to move continually in that direction. Honestly, I wish that there was a virtual joystick for movement, as it would feel much better and I don't have my hand blocking my view.
When there are NPCs that you can interact with, such as through conversation or shopping, you just tap on the button above their character sprite.
Combat has been simplified, and I'm ever so grateful for this. You only control Noctis, while the computer controls Prompto, Ignis, and Gladiolus. When you tap on an enemy, Noctis will go towards it and automatically attack with his weapon. If you can block or parry, an action button appears on the screen, and you just tap it. Noctis can have a few different weapons equipped at the same time, and you just tap on the one you want to use in the bottom right corner.
Noctis' Warp Strike technique still plays a central part of FFXV Pocket Edition, and it's much easier in this version. To do a Warp Strike in battle, just long tap on the foe you want to strike. Doing the Warp Strike on enemies can surprise them and break their defenses, leaving them vulnerable. To get to higher ground, a Warp Anchor button appears, and all you need to do is tap it. Then you can do surprise Warp Strikes on unsuspecting enemies, which kill them instantly.
Unlike previous Final Fantasy games, you don't gain your experience points right away and level up after battles. Instead, you'll have to complete quests before all of the accumulated experience is accounted for, and then you level up. As you gain levels, you earn AP, which can be spent on combat abilities so your team is stronger in battle.
And again, don't forget about cooking! Recipes are vital in FFXV, and Pocket Edition is no different. But like combat, it's been simplified too. You'll get side quests that involve searching for some ingredients (golden shiny drops), and after you acquire them all, the recipe becomes available. You'll want to cook whenever you're resting at camp, as food grants your team some benefits in battle, like better health recovery.
The story of Final Fantasy XV has been redone for mobile devices.
The Good
Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition is a surprisingly good time. Even if you've played the original, or have yet to get through it, Pocket Edition differentiates itself in a variety of ways. Namely, it streamlines everything so you can get through the story easier, and the combat is so much better. And there's something charming about the chibi, low-poly graphics that makes it hard to resist.
The first chapter provides a great example of what to expect from the full game. The other chapters are pretty reasonably priced, and if you think about the full chapter bundle, it's about what you'd expect for a full-fledged Square Enix Final Fantasy game on mobile.
The Bad
The only thing that bothers me about the game is the controls for moving around. I hate that my hand is blocking my view, and I'd prefer to play this using two hands. So to me, having a virtual joystick would make more sense for movement. Hopefully this can be changed in the future.
The verdict
I played through the first chapter of FFXV Pocket Edition, and I'm getting much more enjoyment out of this than the console version so far. I wasn't expecting to like the game this much, but it's won me over with the cute and endearing, slightly deformed character models and vastly improved combat system. I've already gotten farther in just the first chapter than the console version, and that's saying something. The dialogue matching up is also impressive.
Whether you've played FFXV or not, this is a great port that's exceeded my expectations.
Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition is on the App Store as a universal download for free. You can purchase the other chapters as a complete bundle for $19.99, or individually at $0.99 or $3.99 each.
8.5
OVERALL
Sound/Music 10
Gameplay 9
Replayability 8
Graphics 8
Game Controls 7.5
FINALFANTASY XV POCKET EDITION
SQUARE ENIX INC
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Dandara is a Gravity-Defying Metroidvania That Exceeds All Expectations
February 07, 2018 by RSS Feed
Dandara ($14.99) by Long Hat House and published by Raw Fury is a distinctive metroidvania platformer that's unlike anything you've played before. If you enjoy games like Kraino and Goblin Sword, then you'll fall in love with Dandara.
Last year at GDC in San Francisco, I had the opportunity to check out an early build of Dandara on iOS and even Nintendo Switch (before it came out). When I sat down and tried it, I knew that this was something magical, as I've certainly never seen a metroidvania platformer with such uniqueness before. And as someone who became obsessed with 2D Castlevania series games during high school, I can definitely appreciate a good metroidvania game when I see it. And Dandara does not disappoint — it's well worth the cash.
Kraino
Angel Dorantes
Goblin Sword
Gelato Games Ltd
Visually, Dandara has a classic, pixel-perfect aesthetic that takes me back to my childhood, where I'd play games like Super Mario Bros. and the like. The retro, 2D pixel art style in Dandara is a blast from the past and looks like it came straight out of the '80s, especially with all of the bright, vivid colors. Even though it's pixelated, everything in the game is incredibly detailed, from shading to textures. Animations are smooth and fluid with no lag on my iPhone 8 Plus. Since the game relies heavily on quick thinking and reflexes, the steady frame rate is necessary. The ambient, atmospheric soundtrack is subtle and adds another layer of depth to the game, and it's quite enjoyable to listen to. Overall, Long Hat House did an excellent job with the visual and audio design of Dandara, making it a sure keeper.
Since Dandara is a metroidvania style game, that means players progress through a series of connected rooms. These rooms contain plenty of traps, obstacles, and enemies that you'll have to get past in order to explore and move on to the next room. In the case of Dandara, players will be traversing through one giant world called Salt.
But what is Salt? It was a world where peace thrived, and ideas became more than just another abstraction. But all of this transformed into oppression and isolation as Salt took away the freedoms of its own citizens. Fortunately, there is one ray of hope left, and her name is Dandara. The ultimate quest is to battle the oppression and bring back freedom and balance to the world of Salt.
In Dandara, players can only jump to navigate around Salt, but it's rather gravity defying. Dandara has the power to jump on walls, floors, ceilings — you name it. However, she can only land on the white spots, so while the movement system defies gravity, it's still limited, making it all the more challenging for players. The virtual joystick in the bottom right corner lets you aim your reticle, and if it's green, you can release and Dandara jumps to that spot. The camera angle shifts when necessary, making it easier to orient yourself with the changing perspectives. When she's at a door or chest, just move the joystick towards it to open.
But again, there are enemies that will make sure you don't succeed, including tough bosses, so there's combat in addition to the special jumping mechanism. In the bottom left is another virtual joystick that lets you aim your gun and shoot upon release. It takes about a second to charge up though, so timing is everything, especially in later areas.
If you have a MFi controller, the game has full support for them. It's seamless, and some may prefer physical controls for a game such as this one. However, the touch controls are optimized well, so I had no issues with them.
Dandara starts out with only three hearts, so when she takes a hit, it depletes a heart. If all three are out, then it's game over. However, there will be campsites scattered throughout the world of Dandara, and if you find these, they pretty much act as checkpoints. You can continue after your dead, and the game places you back at the last campsite you discovered. A ghost-like sprite is left in place of where you died, but unfortunately, you do not recover items when you pick up your ghost. Knowing this, it gives you more of a reason to, you know, not die.
Fairly early on in the game, you'll find the Map item, which shows you where you've already been. This is useful in not only helping you not get lost, but also going back and revisiting areas where you couldn't progress because you were missing key items or mechanics. Even though it's a metroidvania platformer, there are plenty of puzzles that you'll need to solve to get into every nook and cranny of Salt.
Dandara takes your idea and expectations of a metroidvania platformer and turns it upside down with a fresh new experience.
The Good
Dandara is a bit pricey for an indie iOS game, but this is definitely high quality. The pixel art graphical style is top-notch and looks amazing. The music is atmospheric and a delight to listen to, so make sure you have some good headphones on while playing this one. While most metroidvania platformers are very similar to one another, Dandara separates itself from the pack and offers a completely fresh experience. And with the unusual gaming mechanic, the controls are streamlined and optimized for the touch screen, and having physical button support is an excellent addition. The world of Salt is huge, so it emphasizes exploration and keeps you coming back.
The Bad
While Dandara is a great game, I was a bit surprised with the price. Usually, when a game ends up on multiple platforms, including mobile, the iOS or Android prices are usually cheaper than consoles. However, Dandara is $14.99 across all of the platforms it's on (iOS, Google Play, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Steam). For an iOS game that isn't from a big company like Square Enix (most of the old Final Fantasy games are this price range), it may be a tough pill to swallow.
Fortunately, I bit the bullet and think Dandara is well worth the price. I'm also considering getting it on my Nintendo Switch later on.
The verdict
I'd been looking forward to Dandara ever since trying it out almost a year ago, so I'm ecstatic that it's finally available. It's proven to be well worth the wait too, because this game is superb in every aspect. The visual style is gorgeous, the sound is delightful, controls are intuitive and streamlined, and the mechanic is different but satisfying. I know it's early on in the year, but this is a contender for game of the year for me.
Dandara is available on the App Store as a universal download on the iPhone and iPad for $14.99. You can also get it on Google Play, Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One.
9.5
OVERALL
Graphics 10
Gameplay 10
Replayability 9
Game Controls 9.5
Sound/Music 9
Dandara
Raw Fury
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4 iOS Puzzle Games to Confuse and Delight Your Brain
February 06, 2018 by RSS Feed
If you’re a fan of iOS puzzle games, you’ll love this roundup of games. Puzzles are great games for those rainy days when you’re curled up with a blanket and a hot cup of tea. On your next rainy day, consider checking out these puzzles.
The Room: Old Sins
The Room is an award-winning iOS puzzle game by Fireproof Games, and there’s a new version out. Explore a complex dollhouse that transforms at your fingertips. Follow obscure clues, manipulate weird contraptions, and explore unsettling locations as you uncover the mysteries within Waldegrave Manor. | The Room: Old Sins – US$4.99Rusty Lake Paradise
This puzzle game is set on a small remote island cursed by the ten plagues of Egypt, and is the third game in the series. Follow Jakob as he returns to Paradise after his mother passed away. Find her hidden memories and partake in strange family rituals in order to stop the plagues. | Rusty Lake Paradise – US$2.99-look-
-look- is a minimalist iOS puzzle game to train your brain. There is no time limit, move limit, or points to earn. Instead you need to find the reflection of the shapes on the walls from different perspectives. There are 100 levels with relaxing music to sharpen your mind. | -look- – US$0.99Quote Codes
Quote Codes is a word puzzle game where you unlock your favorite quotes by substituting one letter at a time. In every game each symbol stands for a letter, and your aim is the guess and decode the quotes. There are over 85 themes like Game of Thrones, 13 Reasons Why, Lord of the Rings, and more. | Quote Codes – Free Source link: https://www.macobserver.com/tips/quick-tip/4-ios-puzzle-games-confuse-delight-brain/credit : macobserver
Magic Golf is More Greedy Than Enchanting
February 05, 2018 by RSS Feed
Magic Golf (Free) by Qwiboo is a miniature golf game featuring a cute rabbit and stages that feel like a magical toy box. If you enjoyed games like Super Stickman Golf 3 and Vista Golf, then you may get a kick out of Magic Golf as well.
I'll admit it now — I'm not a huge fan of golf, at least regular golf. I find it boring and slow, personally. However, when you bring up miniature golf, I'm all ears! There's something about these cute mini courses that makes me want to pick up a club and take a swing, even though I can either be lucky or terrible. I think it's the puzzle aspect of it. However, I don't often go out for mini golf, so I usually get my fix through games. The Super Stickman Golf series is one of my favorites, but I'm always eager to check out other mini golf games too. So when I saw Magic Golf, I was enthused to pick it up.
Super Stickman Golf 3
Noodlecake Studios Inc
Vista Golf
Shallot Games, LLC.
Graphically speaking, Magic Golf is definitely pretty to look at. The game's rendered in 3D and it's full of bright and vibrant colors that are appealing to the eyes. The various stages feature what looks like a children's playroom, complete with all sorts of toys and gadgets laying around on the textured, wooden floor. On the courses themselves, it's easy to recognize the different types of obstacles that await you, as well as where your rabbit ball can actually go. Animations are smooth and fluid, so I had no issues with lag on my iPhone 8 Plus. The music is rather whimsical and it's all completed by the cute sound effects. Like Qwiboo's other games, Magic Golf is definitely aesthetically pleasing and charming with sound design.
Like most mini golf games on the App Store, Magic Golf is level-based, with thousands of levels from just the developers. In addition to the huge offering from Qwiboo, Magic Golf has a level editor so players can create their own stages, and then submit them to the rest of the community to download and enjoy.
In the regular mode, players must go through each stage chronologically, as the next level does not unlock until you clear the one before it. Up to three stars can be earned on each stage, and the objectives change up every so often. Stars can be earned by completing the stage in a number of specified strokes (par), collecting all of the golden carrots, or finishing before time runs out. Besides the par and countdown, you can play the game at your own pace if you don't care about being perfect with stars.
The level editor allows you to create your own stages, and they can be either "Collect the Carrots" or "Time Attack" mode. You construct your course by putting together varying course tracks, corners, and obstacles together as your heart desires. Then top it off with some decorations. Once you're satisfied with your creation, you can go live with it after naming it and giving it a theme.
Controls in Magic Golf are simple and intuitive. To hit the ball, just pull back on it and aim. An arrow behind the ball indicates the direction you're hitting it towards, and the arrow color changes from green to red depending on power. Then just release your thumb to hit the ball. When it stops moving, that's when you can hit it again. You can also swipe anywhere on the screen besides the ball to adjust the camera angle, in case you need a better view of the course.
While these controls work, I think it could have put the trajectory arrow in front of the ball, rather than only behind. That way it could be easier to aim and see where the ball is actually going to go. Right now, you can only see it from behind, and it doesn't go far enough for you to know where it ends up. I've missed a few pars because I was off by a nanometer or some other ridiculously close measurement.
However, since Magic Golf is a free game, there are limitations to how much you can play at a given time. After every five holes, there's a chest with a timer before it can be opened. This also prevents you from accessing the next five holes, at least until the chest is opened. You can use purple gems to unlock the chest early, or watch an ad to shorten the timer by thirty minutes.
While there are in-app purchases for gems and costume tokens, there's no way to get rid of the ads or timers before getting the next set of holes to play. This is annoying and feels a bit greedy, which is disappointing.
On top of all of the levels that you can play in the game (after waiting a while or paying), there are also costumes that you can unlock for your rabbit. Unfortunately, you need a certain amount of tokens for three rarities (common, rare, and epic) before you can pick out a costume. These are purely cosmetic, and don't affect the gameplay itself in any way. If you don't have enough tokens, you can also buy the costumes through in-app purchases.
The maker of Aqua Globs, Ball King, and Bike Baron has a new mini golf game.
The Good
Magic Golf is a cute golfing game that would appeal to both adults and kids alike. The graphics are bubbly and endearing, the sound is fun, and the gameplay is simple yet challenging. Controls are natural and streamlined for the most part, and there are a ton of levels to get through. Plus, having a level editor means the chance to see the creativity from others.
The Bad
While I wanted to like Magic Golf a lot, there's just too many flaws that prevent it from being good. It's rather annoying that I can't accurately see where the ball will end up, and it's messed up a lot of my strokes so far. Having the aim trajectory arrow in front of the ball, rather than behind, would help out a lot.
The game feels a bit too greedy with the implemented timer system. It's just ridden with timers to advance in stages, along with free chests. And with no option to get rid of the timers and ads, pushing players to get more gems to progress, is just irritating. And with there being thousands of levels, it's a bit of a letdown to only see seven costumes available.
The verdict
There's a few nice things about Magic Golf that make me want to like the game. As an avid fan of adorable things, the visuals and sound design are done well and make the game friendly enough for the whole family. The stages can be straightforward or challenging. And having a level editor opens up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to stages. But all of the good is tainted by the greediness of the timers and the push towards in-app purchases, with no option to just get rid of timers and ads altogether. I wanted to like the game, but this current version just feels like a cash grab.
6.9
OVERALL
Graphics 8
Sound/Music 8
Replayability 6
Game Controls 6
Gameplay 6.5
Magic Golf
Qwiboo Ltd
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Put the Pedal to the Metal and Make Your Getaway in PAKO 2
February 02, 2018 by RSS Feed
PAKO 2 ($1.99) by Tree Men Games is the sequel to the original PAKO that came out four years ago. If you were a fan of the first game, or like games such as Grand Theft Auto, then PAKO 2 is a must.
When I checked out PAKO when it first came out, I was intrigued. What drew me in was the low-poly art style, and what appeared to be a simple game mechanic that tests how long you can survive. It was a quick little arcade game that killed time, was insanely fun, and hard to put down once you got the hang of things. It became one of my favorite iOS games for a while, so I was incredibly excited to learn that there was a sequel. As a huge fan of the first game, I can say that PAKO 2 improves and builds upon the original title for a more immersive and engaging experience.
Pako - Car Chase Simulator
Tree Men Games OY
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Rockstar Games, Inc.
Visually, PAKO 2 is a unique blend of handcrafted, highly detailed environments with low-poly vehicles and explosions. The game is rendered in 3D and has an angled, top-down perspective so you can see everything happening on screen in a single glance. PAKO 2 has five huge areas to drive in, and they're all quite different from each other (the desert, downtown, snowy mountains, and more) but pack in a ton of fine details, such as lighting, shadows, and textures. The colors are a nice mix of muted earthy tones to bright, vibrant shades, so everything is visually appealing to the eye. Animations are super smooth and fluid, so there's no lag on my iPhone 8 Plus. The electro soundtrack is a delight to the ears, and the sound effects are fairly realistic, particularly those police sirens.
Like the original, PAKO 2 has only one game mode, but the gameplay is much more involved now. Previously, you'd just have the car and just outrun the cops as long as you can. The police would get more aggressive the longer you outrun them, making it harder to last.
But in PAKO 2, you must now drive to certain destinations on the huge map and pick up your crew members in the getaway car. They'll shoot down the cops chasing you while you head to the next destination, as indicated by the arrow, to drop them off. Once you drop them off, your car is basically refueled in terms of health, and you get money for your trouble.
Controls in PAKO 2 are the same as the first game. Since the car is always in motion, you're responsible for steering. Just tap on the left side of the screen to steer left, and the right half for turning right. In order to brake, just press both halves at the same time.
If you want to evade the cops and earn some dough, then you're going to have to do some sick moves with these simple controls to outwit them. Their numbers increase and they get more aggressive as time goes on, so make sure you outmaneuver them as well as have your crew take care of them with firepower. Oh, and watch out for their police choppers too.
The more crew members you escort to safety, the more money you earn. Eventually, you will get busted, or just fall down a pit and crash or something along those lines, since each car holds only a certain amount of hit points). The longer you manage to hold out, the better. You'll earn cash depending on your overall performance.
The dough you earn can be spent to purchase new getaway cars or maps. There's a huge plethora of vehicles to choose from, whether you want a sporty muscle car or a rugged pickup truck, to a fancy limo or even the classic Bonnie & Clyde car. No matter what you're looking for, you'll find it for sale in PAKO 2.
If you don't feel like buying a new vehicle just yet, you can spend that cash on new maps as well. These start off reasonably priced, but do get more expensive as you go. I suppose it's a way to prevent players from getting all areas too soon, but still. You'll have to work for the new maps, which are all pretty vast, so there's plenty to discover.
The car chase simulator returns with more action and more expansive locations.
The Good
PAKO 2 is an excellent sequel that fleshes out the simple gameplay mechanic into something much deeper. The graphics are a big step up from the previous game as well, though it still retains some low-poly elements in the proper places. The game also makes it easy to see where your destination is, but it's getting there that's a challenge. The variety of cars and areas to purchase mean the game has high replay value, and honestly, this game is just too fun to put down.
The Bad
While I love almost everything about PAKO 2, I wish that the areas weren't so expensive to unlock. I also noticed that sometimes it's hard to tell when your car flips over or gets reversed, and then you're moving in the opposite direction of where you want to go. It's a little annoying and just hard to see when that happens, so maybe that can be improved somehow.
The verdict
Overall, PAKO 2 is an incredible followup to an already great game. PAKO 2 also has even more polished graphics that are hard to not love, great music and sound, and simple yet effective controls. The new areas are packed with detail and are huge, so there's plenty of room, and the amount of cars you can get are crazy. This is definitely one that you'll be replaying over and over until you have them all.
PAKO 2 is available on the App Store as a universal download for your iPhone and iPad for just $1.99. There are no in-app purchases.
9.6
OVERALL
Replayability 10
Sound/Music 10
Game Controls 9.5
Graphics 9
Gameplay 9.5
PAKO 2
Tree Men Games
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