Dear Backlog,

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Ebony Blade

The Elder Scrolls: Arena

Part Two

The Ebony Blade

(The first part of this series can be found here)

I spent the next few days after my desperate escape from the Imperial dungeons getting some much needed rest in a small village in Skyrim called Oakwood. I had been doing odd jobs around town to earn some coin, from delivering items and letters to escorting villagers to and from the local shops. It seemed even in a quiet town like this, danger lurked around every darkened corner. But after a few days of errand running, I knew that in order to stop the foul Battlemage Jagar Tharn, I would need more than a few coins and the earned respect of the locals. I decided to head out into the wilds to hone my skills.

After a bit of exploration I came across a small farm. I looked around for the owner of the farm to see if I could assist with any trouble with raiders or goblins or the like; anything I could do to help. But instead of giving me more chores, he ended up sharing the exact information I needed. He spoke of a man he met at the Lucky Dragon Inn in Oakwood who boasted that he knew how to find the fabled Ebony Blade. I thanked him for the tip and headed straight there. This was just the sort of weapon I would need against Tharn and his twisted followers.

The Lucky Dragon was a raucous and smoky tavern, but I found the man without difficulty. Above the din of the pub he loudly bragged, “Oh I don’t know where the Ebony Blade itself is, but I know where to find the map to it! But it’ll cost ya!” The man wanted 750 gold pieces for this information, but seeing how drunk he was I “convinced” him to tell me for 500. He reached for my map and scribbled down an X and a name: The Hole of Tragondon. The dungeon's name itself made me uneasy, but it was where he put it down on the map that worried me most. I was headed to Morrowind.

Join me next time in my travels to Morrowind and beyond where I will search ancient dungeons and crypts, and fight deadly foes. All part of my quest to complete all of the Elder Scrolls games. Follow me @SKYE2117 for more of my time in Arena. Or play it for yourself for free by downloading it at http://www.elderscrolls.com/arena.

Good luck adventurers,

- Skye

Monday, January 27, 2014

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII-3 Demo Review 7.5/10 (PS3)

Final Fantasy holds a special place in my heart. Over this past generation, I’ve been trying to decide whether it still affects me in the same way or if it’s just nostalgia… whether Final Fantasy XIII was actually bad or if I was the one doing something wrong… whether I want the series to evolve and give me something entirely new or if I just want them to go back to what worked before. I’m not alone in these questions. There are fans around the world, new and old, asking similar things. If it’s to be believed that Square-Enix has heard us and is indeed listening, then the next question we as fans should ask is… “Is Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII-3 the answer we’ve been looking for?”

The demo starts off with a cutscene that attempts to introduce players to the conflict that’s already spanned two titles. While I didn’t quite follow everything that was going on, and didn’t expect to, I did get the gist of the story and thoroughly enjoy the visuals that the Final Fantasy series has been known to deliver. The graphics are crisp and showcase what the developers are capable of doing now that they know the hardware inside and out. It’s enough to make you forget that there are better looking games on the horizon. I was particularly impressed with the amount of colors they’ve fit into this game. It may sound like a trite point to make, but it’s an achievement to create a world that can believably house a palette like the one the developers have drawn from. That, paired with the character design, by series mainstay Tetsuya Nomura, will have you commenting about the functionality of the world while at the same time questioning if it really matters when it’s this beautiful. All in all, the Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII-3 Demo is simply stunning whether in cutscene or real-time gameplay.

I was annoyed that the demo launches from the Playstation XrossMediaBar, or alternatively the Xbox Dashboard, straight into the same cutscene mentioned above minus the dialogue. It’s a small thing that’s probably unique to the demo, but experiencing it once in all its glory would have been a much more poignant intro and a better use of my time.

One of the things in the demo that can at one minute go unnoticed but at the next take the narrative by the reigns is the music. It’s not only epic when it needs to be, but it’s also magical at all times. It goes on to reassure the player that this is a cohesive thought out world. Just like previous entries in the series, the music could stand alone. It’s no wonder the series has given birth to orchestral tours featuring tracks from the games.

A new feature that I encountered during the LR:FFXIII-3 Demo is the Outerworld system. This system allows you to take pictures at any time and share them over the internet via Facebook and Twitter. It also allows you to make comments, cheer on other people’s snapshots, and purchase items people are selling. All you have to do to access this Outerworld feature is pause the game when you’d like to take a screenshot and upload. After that, your screenshot and profile is displayed by a random avatar in other people’s games who are playing online. Sadly, the Outerworld system never revealed itself to be more than a free publicity gimmick during the demo. I couldn’t figure out what I would gain by sharing pictures with everyone who follows me on my social networking sites. I couldn’t figure out how these spectral avatars bearing screenshots somehow fit into the narrative LR:FFXIII-3 is trying to tell.

You can argue whether the last decade has produced Final Fantasy games worthy of the series’ pedigree, but one thing you can’t argue is that they’ve all been divisive. Ever since Final Fantasy X, Square-Enix has been making changes to the formula. In the LR:FFXIII-3 Demo, we finally get to see what they’ve come up with next, and this time the battle system has received the most notable iteration.

In LR:FFXIII-3, Lightning, the title bearing main character, has the ability to change costumes at any time during battle. Changing costumes instantly grants Lightning new stats and four new attacks that each have their own strategic value. These attacks also cost ATB points to use. ATB, short for Active Time Battle, is the battle system anyone who’s played XIII or XIII-2 should be familiar with. Basically, in the ATB system, the battles play out in real time, without pause for action, forcing the player to think quickly. One thing that stands out between the previous games and the LR:FFXIII-3 Demo is that you only play as one character that switches roles instead of playing three characters that each have different roles.

The battles also play out more like an action game now. Players used to have to select attacks until they filled up their action bar before the avatar would attack, but now as soon as you press the button, you attack. This encourages fast gameplay and is rewarded after the battle in the form of battle score, which can be uploaded using the Outerworld system. LR:FFXIII-3 has also done away with the battle menu system altogether, in favor of assigning those same options to face buttons.

The Lighting Returns: Final Fantasy XIII-3 PS3 Demo receives an 7.5/10. It was long enough to fit in all the new and exciting additions to the game, but too short to tell if they’re going to be improvements.

So… “Is Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII-3 the answer we’ve been looking for?” I can’t tell you. This is just a review of the demo. What I can tell you is that Square-Enix’s Final Fantasy series is trying to find that answer. It’s not sitting idle. It’s not just trying to cash in. It’s experimenting. And though this may not be the answer we’ve been looking for, this is a step in the right direction and proves that they still have plenty of magic that’s worth your time.

I would love to pre-order this game so that I could get the exclusive Final Fantasy VII Cloud Strife DLC, but alas I haven’t even played through FFXIII-2. And since I’ve already pre-ordered the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, which comes out a month after LR:FFXIII-3, I can’t realistically see myself purchasing this until June. I will say that there is a big part of me that just wants to go ahead and dive into LR:FFXIII-3.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII-3 releases in the US on February 11, 2014 for Xbox 360 and PS3 at 59.99 for the Standard Edition and 89.99 for the Collector’s Edition.

+ Evolved battle system

+/- Pre-order exclusive costumes (Cloud Strife, Yuna, etc.)

+/- PS3 exclusive costumes (Utsusemi Samurai Garb just for downloading)

+/- Demo exclusive costumes (Siegfried Garb if you post your battle score after defeating Zaltys)

- Free Xbox Live Silver members can’t download until Jan. 28th (Did not take this into account when assigning a review score since it’s probably more of an Xbox thing than a LR:FFXIII-3 thing)

- Timed demo

Sunday, January 12, 2014

The Elder Scrolls: Arena Day One

I awoke in a sparse and dimly-lit prison cell, left for dead by an imposter to the Imperial throne. In a dream the ghostly visage of a woman explained to me my situation; the Imperial Battlemage has betrayed the Emperor, imprisoned him in an unknown dimension, and usurped his throne. The woman goes on to tell me that she was murdered before she could reveal the Battlemage's evil plot. It is up to me to find a way to unmask his scheme and save Tamriel before it is too late. This is The Elder Scrolls: Arena.

Day One

I explore my cell and stumble upon a key that opens the door. Outside my cell I find a pile of used equipment and grab a sword and shield, for through the darkness of this prison I can hear the footsteps and scratchings of unknown creatures. Soon enough I encounter a group of goblins, armed to the teeth, forcing me to fight for my life as I try desperately to find and escape from this hell. After hours of sneaking around darkened corridors and crawling through filthy sewer drains, I finally spot a glimmer of the magical phase gate created by my ethereal guide that will hopefully take me far away from these Imperial prisons and back to my home country.

I emerge in a small city of Skyrim. I run up to the first person I see and ask about the nearest inn where I can get some much needed rest. While there maybe I can find some work and ask around for information that might help me in my seemingly impossible adventure. Soon I will be off exploring dungeons, wilds, cities and farms in a quest to find an ancient relic to defeat the Emperor's imposter and restore peace to Tamriel.

This is my New Year’s Quest: to play through all of The Elder Scrolls games in order. Stay tuned for more adventures of my Nord Barbarian (pictured above) by following me on Twitter @SKYE2117 and here at Dear Backlog for more articles. Or better yet join me in my quest! You can get The Elder Scrolls: Arena as part of The Elder Scrolls Anthology or you can download it for free at http://www.elderscrolls.com/arena.

Good luck adventurers,

- Skye

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy 3DS Demo Review 9/10

I was up until 2:30am last night. Let me put this in perspective for you a little bit. I just went back to work from a much needed 10 day winter vacation on Thursday. During that “anything-goes” break, I did all the things that help me relax; read, write, record, exercise, and of course, play games. When taking out the nights that I was out on the town, the number of times that I stayed up past 1am during that break tallies up to a big fat whopping zero. In fact, I haven’t stayed up playing games that late in about 2 months. I’ve noticed this about myself and had decided that it was because I’ve become more responsible for my sleeping schedule and I’m just generally “growing up”. After playing the Bravely Default: Flying Fairy Demo, I’ve realized that I just haven’t had a game that I literally couldn’t put down in a while.

I’ll start with what originally piqued my interest about this game; the art. As soon as I saw the first Nintendo Direct Trailer for BDFF, I knew it was a game I had to keep my eye on. Not only was it a turn-based RPG, but the graphics were lush with color and character. The graphics aren’t similiar to Ni No Kuni, but like that game, BDFF could win players over with it’s looks alone. Going into the demo, I felt I knew what I was getting into as far as graphics went, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. BDFF is a game that makes holding your 3DS at awkward angles 10 inches in front of your face worth it. The 3D implementation in this demo is seen throughout and it is indeed a treat I have not experienced anywhere else. That’s right folks! There are still unique experiences to be had in gaming. The cities come to life like pop-up storybooks. The clouds move along your screen as if you could reach into the 3DS and feel the water vapor. The battles take place on a proscenium stage where you’re sitting front row. After every flourish of the graphics, you can’t help but smile and give a standing ovation in your head.

(I could go on and on about the graphics but it’s better you just see it for yourself. Keep in mind that you won’t get the 3D experience from the trailer or screen shots. I want to stress that this game is one you have to see in 3D.)

The battle system is introduced fairly fast in the demo. Having played many an RPG in my day, I had no problem jumping into it and running with two small daggers. But there were times when I didn’t know how a certain stat affected my choices. For example, it was never explained in the demo whether an A or S rank was better for weapon proficiency. From experience in other games and from visual cues, S seemed to be better. But when I asked the game to equip my characters automatically using optimum settings it would often pick a weapon with a proficiency of B or C etc.

The actual battles are typical turn-based RPG gameplay a la games like Golden Sun where you select all your party actions first and then watch them play out against your opponents. The two things that make BDFF different from those games are the customization and the Brave/Default system.

Customization in the game is a major hook because right at the beginning of the demo you have full control over what classes your party is going to consist of. They give you 8 classes to choose from and you can switch any of your character’s classes at anytime outside of battle. Having played many hours of Dragon Quest IX, I know how fun this can be when the game gives you creative freedom over what abilites you learn. Many games such as Final Fantasy Tactics have done this before and it looks like they’ve successfully incorporated it into this game. I’m particularly happy that I no longer have to stop what I’m doing and visit some random npc to change my class.

The Brave/Default system is most interesting and must be very important judging by the fact that it’s in the title. Basically during battle, along with standard actions like “Attack” or “Items”, you also have “Brave” and “Default”. When you select Default, your character will defend during that turn and as a bonus, get an extra action stored for use in subsequent turns. When you select Brave that’s when you get to use that extra action. For example, if my character selects Default on his first turn, then on my second turn I have the option of attacking twice using Brave. It’s kind of complicated to explain, but I assure you it’s a welcome addition to the genre as I’ve seen nothing like it.

I haven’t forgotten this is a demo review, although it would be easy to do so because the demo is presented so well. Playing demos for RPG’s has always been weird since the days of the PS1. Generally they would just throw you into the game about 30 minutes in when battles actually start taking place. I know I’ve even skipped RPG Demos because I didn’t want any of the story to be spoiled… ahem Mass Effect 2. But BDFF really pulls out the trump card by not giving you much story at all and even stating that the quests in the demo don’t appear in the full retail release. They also let you know that by playing the demo you will unlock gear and upgrades that will help you in the early parts of the full game. It generally only takes me a couple hours max playing the demo to know if I’ll be purchasing the game, but the BDFF Demo gives you reason to go beyond just that. I’ve clocked over 5 hours now and while I’m playing to have a headstart when the game comes out, I’m also having lots of fun. That’s important too.

I could go on and on about this game. I wasn’t even able to touch on the music or the online character sharing or the robust streetpass feature that will have me leaving my 3DS on while traveling… please just listen to our podcast to find out more on those features. Simply put, the Bravely Default: Flying Fairy Demo has not only sold me the game, but if this was my first foray on a 3DS at a friends house or at a local game store, it would have sold me a 3DS.

The Bravely Default: Flying Fairy Demo receives a much deserved 9/10. It’s one of the best demos I’ve ever played, and if it wasn’t for the confusion I had with the stats, the menus, and the small grinding that asks you to streetpass, it would have received a perfect score.

I had already planned on purchasing this game, but it’s now going to get a pre-order. I’ll be getting the normal version but there is a collector’s edition that will probably be very limited so jump on that if you’re interested.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy launches in the U.S. on February 7, 2014 for Nintendo 3DS at 39.99 for the Standard Edition and 54.99 for the Collector’s Edition.

/cheers

Derrick Bettis Class: Chiefly-Editor Level: 99

Stats:

Hours played: 4

% spent with 3D on: 63%

3DS colour: Flame Red

Friday, December 20, 2013

If I Only Had 11 More Days...

Since the apocalypse hasn’t yet trended this year, I think it’s safe to say that we dodged another bullet folks! Job well done! But just because we’re not on a trajectory orbit to plunge into the most recently discovered asteroid and subsequently eternal darkness doesn’t mean that we can’t pretend… If I only had 11 more days on this earth, and was forced to spend it playing games, here’s what I would do.

At Dear Backlog, we have lots of deeply rooted, shameful gaming secrets that should they ever come out, we might be forced to actually deal with them. Well, I can’t bear this burden with my merely mortal shoulders anymore. Plus, we’ll all be kapooie in about 264 more hours, so what the hell! I’ve got nothing to lose. The truth is, I’ve never played Mass Effect 2 or 3. The original Mass Effect, which I’ve beaten twice, is one of my favorite games and set the stage for the most exciting sci-fi universe since Star Wars. So in my pending death, let it be known that I would finally cross Mass Effect 2 and 3 off my Backlog.

I picked Mass Effect not just because it’s a game I know I would enjoy, but also because I believe that it is one of the greatest accomplishments in interactive media. It’s a Triple-A title that captured the imaginations of a generation and actually came through on it’s promises. We were able to play one character, our character through 3 games and now Commander Shepard is a household name in the gaming community. It offered us branching paths and choices that felt weighty. It sold well and caused uproar when players felt the ending wasn’t perfectly executed. It was all there.

The cool thing about this quasi-end of year/life resolution is that I might just be able to pull it off. I do have 10 days off for the holidays. My roommate did just beat Mass Effect for the 2nd time, all but forcing him to hop on Amazon and order a copy of 2 and 3. And I do feel like playing it.

What are your plans for the holiday break? If you only had 11 more days before being scorched from the face of the earth, what game would you play? I know I technically said two games, but the rules for the purpose of this article is that you just have to keep it in the family. Please feel free to let us know in the comments below or hit us up on on twitter.

You can follow me @derrick_be if you want to see how I end up spending my extra time! It might not be Mass Effect, but surely it will be sprinkled with cool games.

Anyways, Happy Holidays to you all! Thanks for stopping by and reading Dear Backlog. It’s a labor of love and we love you! Cheers!

- Derrick Bettis

@derrick_be

Monday, November 18, 2013

Convince Me Back to Azeroth: 2013 Edition

It’s about that time again when my loins literally ache to play World of Warcraft. It happened when Wrath of the Lich King came out. It happened when Cataclysm came out. It happened when Mists of Pandaria came out. And now, on the heels of Blizzcon 2013, it’s happening again.

I don’t know what it is about Blizzard but they sure know how to get a busy boy excited. With the recent announcement of Warlords of Draenor, I find myself once again visiting WoW Websites like it’s my job. Maybe it feels that way because many of these visits have happened at my job... (*disclaimer* if my boss is reading this, know I added that last part just for laughs). I’ve also been acting rather strange lately; Listening to The Instance: World of Warcraft Podcast, asking my WoW friends what they’re currently doing in-game, and obsessively searching for the best deal on my third Battle Chest. I just can’t stress enough the fact that something really does stir in me once a year to come back to Azeroth.

What’s weird is that this feeling is all too familiar. And I know how it ends; with me playing the game all winter break only to reach level 41 before deciding I don’t have enough time to be the very best there ever was and leaving it all behind. I know this. But no matter how hard I try to pretend like I’m not curious about how it’d feel to burst down the door on a new expansion, I just can’t shake the feeling that I’m missing out. I want to feel that. I want to be part of the hoopla that happens every year that gets the kids talking like they’re fantasy lore mathematicians.

So this post isn’t about how this year is going to be different. In fact, this post is going to be the opposite. This post is going to be me justifying why I and all of you should indeed take a walk down memory lane… for a wise man once said that if you’re going to fall down a deep dark hole that involves cheeto addictions and 5am raids, then it’s best to bring others with you. Join my ranks.

Here’s 5 reasons why we should party together in Azeroth.

#SYNERGY

The first and foremost reason you can catch me in Azeroth these days is because of Battle.net, and more specifically Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft. I’m a complete sucker for card games and Hearthstone is the godsend I’ve been waiting for since The Pokémon Trading Card Game was released for Game Boy Color back in ‘98. I’ve been a competitive TCG player since the Pokémon TCG was originally released and it’s not a coincidence that I also love everything else Pokémon. Now that WoW has a free to play TCG, I’m sure I’m fulfilling Blizzards fortuitous prophecy by wanting to check out WoW. Hearthstone is the perfect gateway drug for me. If you haven’t played it for yourself, you’ll get your chance when it hits open beta in December or January. If TCG’s are not your spiked cup o’punch, then just you wait! Blizzard will be releasing it’s second gateway drug, Heroes of the Storm, a Blizzard All-Stars DoTA 2 of sorts, when it’s done. My knees buckle at the thought that maybe one day I could get a special card/skin in Hearthstone/Heroes of the Storm by downing a boss in WoW.

2. Community

This may be the biggest reason I keep returning to WoW. After watching and reading about Blizzcon 2013, it’s clear that Blizzard has one of the best gaming communities out there. Their fans are so passionate that they buy virtual tickets to the show... after the show is already over. And let’s not forget that WoW still has 7.5 million people who vouch for it every month with a $15 charge to their credit cards.

I also have two best friends that have played WoW since launch. Obviously it’d be great to spend more time with them playing games especially since we no longer live in the same city. The thing that I’ve always loved doing is hearing them talk about their adventures in Azeroth. I see the twinkle in their eyes as they brag about a loot drop they received or an epic quest they completed. I’d like to experience that with them.

3. Warlords of Draenor

Seriously?! Bad-Ass Rock 'n' Roll Orc Gods from Hell? Please count me in!

Besides the simple fact that the announcement of a new expansion is exciting by itself, I’m really stoked to see what Garrisons look like in WoW. I’ve never played an MMO that had housing and Garrisons look to be quite the introduction.

No two Garrisons will look the same. Yup, someone built that!

I’m also excited that if I am level 90 by the time the new expansion comes out, it’ll be almost like a reset button in progress as all players will be pushing to the new level cap, 100. Sometimes when you miss the hype train and come in all thrifty a year later, you feel left out because everyone has already read Harry Potter and there’s no one to talk to. But seriously, to hit the ground running right alongside my friends and not have to play catch up is very enticing! Not to mention that if this whole “Convince Me Back to Azeroth” -thing doesn’t work, Blizzard will be giving me a free level 90 boost (DING!) for simply purchasing the expansion. That sounds like a win-win for me.

The art. Need I say more? The correct answer to that question is no.

5. Player Versus Player

PVP is extremely important to me in an MMO. I love SWTOR but epic PVP just isn’t possible in that game due to the limits of the Hero Engine. And although WoW is running on a much older engine, it has always been able to support open-world PVP. In Warlords of Draenor they’re adding a new open-world PVP zone with no player cap. I can’t wait to see what Blizzard has in store for us.

Well I’m off to play my level 9 Pandaren Monk named Velshir. If you think of any other reasons I should commit my existence to the Horde, please drop me a comment below or hit me up @mutrap. Otherwise I’ll be back with some Pro-Tips in a couple days that’ll help you jump back in. Until then...

/cheers

Derrick Bettis

@derrick_be

Dear Backlog,

Dear Backlog is a place for gamers to ~~hate~~ celebrate their backlogs. It’s a place where we can talk about games we may never beat and games we will never even play. You no longer have to be afraid. You no longer have to watch YouTube spoilers in shame. You are with friends.

And just like you, we have lives that occasionally pull us away from the latest adventure, but that doesn't mean we can't have meaningful conversations about the games we purchase and hope to play. It just means that our conversations will be a little different than your favorite industry site.

We hope you enjoy our content, but our ultimate hope is that you'll join our conversation. After all, my best gaming experiences are ones I've shared with other people.

Sincerely,

Derrick

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