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Messages - Dlloyd82

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1
TalkBack / Re: Thirsty Suitors (Switch) Review
« on: December 07, 2023, 06:03:47 PM »
I don’t want to be that guy, but I’ve finished this game and wanted to make sure anyone who reads this gets a second opinion before passing on it. Now, let me start by saying that if Alex didn’t like aspects of the game, that’s perfectly valid. However, I noticed several facts about the game in this review that are incorrect. I’d recommend reading either of these reviews to get a full suite of opinions:

IGN - https://www.ign.com/articles/thirsty-suitors-review
The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/games/2023/nov/01/thirsty-suitors-emotional-combat-thats-equal-parts-funny-horny-and-heartfelt

My take, this is an amazing game that takes inspiration from Yakuza, Persona and Thousand Year Door. Jala’s responses are controlled by the player so the story can go quite differently than what was described here. If you got GamePass, I highly recommend playing it. If your only option is Switch, I’d still recommend it for a fun 8-10 hour experience.

2
TalkBack / Re: Video Game Memoir A Game In The Life Now Available
« on: November 16, 2023, 09:24:50 PM »
Where’s the official review?

This book is being denied the 10/10 it clearly deserves.

There was once a hero at NWR that gave Final Fantasy VIII the 10/10 it deserved, who at NWR will stand up for Jordan’s book now?

3
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Final Fantasy IV
« on: September 20, 2020, 07:39:11 AM »

All the best Final Fantasy titles have the characters travel to space.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54967/the-thirsty-mage-final-fantasy-iv

The pub crosses another Final Fantasy title off their to do list. David and Jordan discuss what makes Final Fantasy IV such an incredible RPG.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.


4
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Quest 64
« on: September 01, 2020, 12:19:32 PM »

Nostalgia Goggles may be needed to get through the first RPG released on Nintendo 64.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54792/the-thirsty-mage-quest-64

The pub takes a trip down memory lane and plays one of the top 3 RPGs on the Nintendo 64

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • Talk Nintendo Podcast Host - Casey Gibson

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.


5
TalkBack / Creative BT-W3 Bluetooth 5.0 Audio Transmitter Review
« on: August 24, 2020, 05:00:00 AM »

A simple and inexpensive solution to provide bluetooth audio to the Switch.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54710/creative-bt-w3-bluetooth-50-audio-transmitter-review

The adoption of Bluetooth audio technology becomes increasingly more widespread as the cost of entry continues to decrease. Rarely can I walk down the street without spotting a pair of Apple AirPods these days, and even more options are available for the more budget conscious. At the time of the Switch launch, I can’t say I thought much about the exclusion of a bluetooth audio connection, but now that I take my headphones with me everywhere I go, finding a third party option to add the connection has become a necessity. Enter the Creative BT-W3. This tiny transmitter attaches via the USB-C port and couldn’t be simpler to use. The inclusion of multiple codecs to provide specific listening improvements certainly is a nice touch but the thing I like most about the BT-W3 is that it just works as advertised.

Nothing is more frustrating than battling with technology and thankfully that is avoided (mostly) with the Creative BT-W3. Simply attaching the small dongle to the Switch activates the device, and holding the button activates the pairing for that first connection to your headset. It’s simple, quick, and sounds fantastic. The power required to run the device is minimal; less than 1% of the Switch battery is used, and I couldn’t detect any noticeable drain while playing. For those looking for advanced features, the BT-W3 comes with four pre-installed codecs that enhance the audio in specific situations. The aptX Low Latency codec ensures zero lag between the device and in-game audio, aptX HD transmits the audio at a higher bit-rate to compatible headsets, aptX is used with lower end bluetooth devices, and finally SBC is the standard codec used for headsets not compatible with aptX.

My own bluetooth headset is a mid-range Panasonic over the ear option. The BT-W3 only transmitted the three aptX options, with only the HD codec providing a noticeable difference. The music and sounds all came through with no detectable lag and I never experienced any dropped connections or stuttering. Pairing my device never presented any issues, and the small size of the dongle never distracted me or got in the way of playing my Switch on the go. With the relatively low number of games that have in-game voice chat, I tested the included microphone attachment on my PlayStation 4. Unfortunately, the ease of use applies only to the dongle as adding the mic attachment required changing my settings around to get it working. Attempting to use the mic on a Switch will take even more work as the firmware of the BT-W3 will need to be updated in order to use it.

Mic issues aside, the bluetooth audio functionality of the Creative BT-W3 makes it a reliable option for those looking for a way to connect their wireless device to the Switch. The device checks all the boxes with its ease of use, excellent audio quality, and low profile. Until we get a new hardware upgrade on the Switch, the BT-W3 remains a wonderful option for folks looking to add bluetooth functionality to their Nintendo handheld.


6
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Yakuza Kiwami
« on: August 17, 2020, 01:27:52 PM »

The pub hopes to not start any fights talking about Yakuza Kiwami.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54629/the-thirsty-mage-yakuza-kiwami

On this episode, The pub discusses the remakes of the first two Yakuza titles, plus the live-action Yakuza movie.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • NWR Associate Editor - Matt Zawodniak

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.

This week on The Thirsty Mage, Casey and David stream the first hour of Casey’s favourite MMO, World of Warcraft Classic.



7
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - River City Ransom
« on: August 09, 2020, 06:21:46 AM »

The Trio of David, Jordan, and Paige fight their way through the mean streets of River City.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54568/the-thirsty-mage-river-city-ransom

On this episode, the pub discusses the RPG elements of River City Ransom, a Technos Japan title that’s available in the Nintendo Online Service.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • LadiesGamers.com Reviewer - Paige Detlefsen

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.


8
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - The Nintendo DS
« on: August 02, 2020, 03:22:32 AM »

Is The Nintendo DS An RPG Powerhouse?

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54536/the-thirsty-mage-the-nintendo-ds

On this episode, The pub discusses whether the Nintendo DS remains as the greatest Nintendo platform for RPGs.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • Talk Nintendo Podcast Host - Casey Gibson

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.

This week on The Thirsty Mage, Find out why after 7 years, David finally decided to try an MMO in Final Fantasy XIV. Casey then provides an update on whats on going in his favourite MMO, World of Warcraft.



9
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Summer Six Pack of RPGs
« on: July 26, 2020, 06:17:00 AM »

The pub has a discussion of a number of recently released games, some RPGs and some not so much.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54470/the-thirsty-mage-summer-six-pack-of-rpgs

On this episode, Jordan and Casey return to discuss some games they’ve been playing recently. Some are RPGs, others not so much...

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • Talk Nintendo Podcast Host - Casey Gibson

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.

This week on The Thirsty Mage, David reviews the Nintendo Switch version of Rogue Company and Casey gets really excited about having Shin Megami Tensei V and an HD Remaster of Nocturne on Switch.



10
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Farming Sims
« on: July 19, 2020, 01:42:01 AM »

The patrons at the pub discuss the latest farming life sim to hit the Switch and how it compares to its peers.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54354/the-thirsty-mage-farming-sims

Tune in this week to The Thirsty Mage to hear about how Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town compares to other farming sims.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • LadiesGamers.com Reviewer - Paige Detlefsen

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.

This week on The Thirsty Mage YouTube Channel, David reviews Void Terrarium, a mystery dungeon title from NIS America.



11
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Cosmic Star Heroine
« on: July 12, 2020, 03:42:43 AM »

The pub discusses an indie JRPG that was influenced by a long list of some of our favourite games.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54335/the-thirsty-mage-cosmic-star-heroine

Tune in this week to The Thirsty Mage to hear about an indie JRPG that often goes under the radar.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • LadiesGamers.com Reviewer - Paige Detlefsen

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.

This week on The Thirsty Mage YouTube Channel, David provides his Void Terrarium impressions and Casey discusses more new games coming to Switch.



12
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Star Tropics
« on: July 05, 2020, 03:02:39 AM »

The folks at the pub this week felt right at home exploring the Colas.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54254/the-thirsty-mage-star-tropics

The Thirsty Mage and The Talk Nintendo Podcast get together again to play the unique original NES title, Star Tropics.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • Talk Nintendo Podcast Host - Casey Gibson
  • Talk Nintendo Podcast Host - Perry Burkum

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.

This week on The Thirsty Mage YouTube Channel, Not a whole lot of exciting news so instead, David and Casey tested the latest free-to-play battle royale title for the Nintendo Switch, Ninjala.



13
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Trails of Cold Steel III
« on: June 28, 2020, 03:56:58 AM »

A Zemurian history lesson and excitement regarding more Falcom games coming to Switch.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54216/the-thirsty-mage-trails-of-cold-steel-iii

The pub chats about the events leading up to the story in the first Legend of Heroes title to release on a Nintendo device: Trails of Cold Steel III

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.

This week on The Thirsty Mage YouTube Channel, David and Casey discuss the recent announcement of another Falcom developed game, Ys IX Monstrum Nox getting localized for the West.


And finally if you haven’t yet been convinced by Jordan’s review or by the podcast episode that Trails of Cold Steel III is phenomenal, you can watch the video review by David also on The Thirsty Mage YouTube channel.


14
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Xenoblade Chronicles DE
« on: June 21, 2020, 04:46:14 AM »

Both the Heropon we deserve and the Heropon we need right now.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54114/the-thirsty-mage-xenoblade-chronicles-de

With the release of Xenoblade Chronicles DE on Nintendo Switch, it only makes sense to go back to the series that began this podcast.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • Talk Nintendo Podcast Host - Casey Gibson

This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.

This week on The Thirsty Mage YouTube Channel, we discuss the announcement of Pokemon Snap on Switch but mostly just talk about the latest gameplay reveal of Paper Mario: The Origami King.


15
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Everything is Better Narrated: Bastion
« on: June 17, 2020, 03:09:00 AM »

We managed to solve the debut title from SuperGiant Games.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54095/the-thirsty-mage-everything-is-better-narrated-bastion

Joining us to discuss the first title made by SuperGiant Games is Ben Congalton, host of the podcast and Twitch channel, The Switch Island.

The topic in question this week at the pub is Bastion, a beautiful action-adventure title with RPG elements. This episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and even through your Alexa.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • The Switch Island Host – Ben Congalton

Listen to The Mage on the following platforms:

The folks at The Thirsty Mage also got pretty excited after watching the PlayStation 5 reveal, David and Casey discuss the hardware and what games that were revealed during the event they are most excited for.


16
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Final Fantasy VI
« on: May 31, 2020, 03:13:00 AM »

Our latest retro replay takes us to one of the greatest RPGs ever made, the timeless masterpiece: Final Fantasy VI.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/53885/the-thirsty-mage-final-fantasy-vi

Our latest retro replay takes us to one of the greatest RPGs ever made, Final Fantasy VI. The retro crew discusses what makes this title ageless and our favourite moments.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • Radio Free Nintendo Co-Host - Guillaume Veillette

Listen to The Mage on the following platforms:


17
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Pokémon Blue/Red/Yellow
« on: May 24, 2020, 03:00:00 AM »

A crossover so nice we’re doing it thrice, The Thirsty Mage and Talk Nintendo Podcast are back together to talk about Pokémon Blue/Red and Yellow.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/53804/the-thirsty-mage-pokemon-blueredyellow

The Thirsty Mage and the Talk Nintendo Podcast get together to play the original Pokémon for the Nintendo Game Boy. The crew discusses how it's the perfect game to get kids introduced to the RPG genre.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • Talk Nintendo Podcast Host - Casey Gibson
  • Talk Nintendo Podcast Host - Perry Burkum

Listen to The Mage on the following platforms:


18
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Trials of Mana
« on: May 17, 2020, 08:31:49 AM »

Square Enix released a second remake in April so it’s only we fair we cover it too.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/53769/the-thirsty-mage-trials-of-mana

The patrons of The Thirsty Mage discuss whether it’s worth picking up the other Square Enix remake released in April: Trials of Mana

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • NWR Owner - Neal Ronaghan

Listen to The Mage on the following platforms:


19
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Final Fantasy VII Remake Spoilercast
« on: May 09, 2020, 11:36:00 AM »

Part 2 of our coverage on the runaway Game of the Year for 2020.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/53682/the-thirsty-mage-final-fantasy-vii-remake-spoilercast

The folks at the pub experience a wide gambit of emotions discussing the story and ending of Final Fantasy VII Remake. The swear word buzzer got a workout this week.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • NWR Owner - Neal Ronaghan

Listen to The Mage on the following platforms:


20
TalkBack / Cloudbase Prime (Switch) Review
« on: May 06, 2020, 01:38:28 AM »

Keeping it simple can still lead to an enjoyable experience.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/53667/cloudbase-prime-switch-review

The indie scene on the Nintendo Switch has done a wonderful job of overlapping genres to create new and interesting experiences, but two particular styles combined have never clicked for me: First-Person Shooters and Platformers.  Add in an aesthetic that at first glance resembles a tech demo, and you can understand why I had trepidation going into Cloudbase Prime. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I’ve been convinced that the mixing of the two genres is something we need more of, but what I will say is that the column-launching mechanics mixed with the delightful humour make Cloudbase Prime an enjoyable experience.

As the pilot of a robot that can both control the terrain and shoot blasts of energy, your goal is to find a number of missing repair bots that have become stranded throughout the various levels. The terrain is made of hexagonal columns that can be triggered to rise upon command, launching whatever may be standing on them into the air. The mechanic is well implemented as launching enemies into the air with the purpose of blasting them before they hit the ground is a lot of fun. Using the columns as a catapult for your robot to traverse through the level is also satisfying, and the ability to slowly glide in any direction provides a degree of control to better enjoy the platforming portion of the gameplay.

Mastering the catapult and glide is a must since most of the levels employ a degree of verticality that needs to be overcome. The levels are divided into islands of columns that the robot will need to reach in order to search for the repair bots. The margin for error is quite wide thanks to the gliding; if the robot is launching too high or too far, it’s fairly easy to course correct. Aiming the blaster and targeting enemies is a breeze thanks to motion controls. Landing shots is fairly intuitive, and the enemies generally move slow enough that they aren’t consistently dodging attacks. Special attacks and powers are provided to assist in battle, such as a shockwave attack that triggers multiple columns in a row to rise or a fire-based projectile. These powers require fuel that is collected by catapulting prior to defeating enemies. The logic behind why the enemies have to be catapulted is strange, but the mechanic is welcome since it encourages creativity in defeating enemies.

Enemy variety is fairly basic, but new types are introduced as new areas are unlocked. Early on, enemies begin as square robots that just walk and fire at your robot. Spider-like robots with legs that can be targeted are both fun to blast and annoying to avoid. These types of robots fire homing missiles that will follow your robot for long distances. Boss battles highlight the end of a world and provide a good challenge and a degree of problem solving in order to take them down. The difficulty of the bosses varies, but an option is provided to supercharge the robot during a boss fight so that progression isn’t gated behind a particularly difficult opponent.

Cloudbase Prime may not have a whole lot of substance with its simple graphics and minimalist design, but the final experience is still greater than the sum of its parts. Dialogue is written with some well-received levity that provides light comedic breaks in between catapulting from column to column. Replayability is certainly up for debate since the levels are fairly simple in scale but at least for a period of time the experience of catapulting around a 3D environment in Cloudbase Prime is a decent amount of fun.


21
TalkBack / Lonely Mountains: Downhill (Switch) Review
« on: May 04, 2020, 06:11:34 AM »

Riding down the side of a mountain is the best way to experience nature.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/53634/lonely-mountains-downhill-switch-review

As an individual with a short attention span, I went into Lonely Mountains: Downhill concerned about just how many miles I would be able to endure. The premise isn’t complicated: successfully ride a bike from the top of a mountain to the bottom. As simple as that sounds, each run down a trail is a thrill ride of equal parts excitement, frustration and glory. Each trail only takes a few minutes to traverse but the constant enjoyment can easily distract from the amount of hours that are spent on any given play session.

Lonely Mountains begins with a single trail on a single mountain with a single bicycle. Nothing is given and everything is earned. Each trail progression is structured in the same fashion: An initial run down the trail with checkpoints, a second run that’s both timed and tracked for crashes, a third run with even tougher timed challenges, and a fourth patience testing stroll down the trail that requires no crashes and has no checkpoints. I initially believed the no checkpoint run would be the easiest since you can take as much time as you need, but it didn’t take long to realize the lack of checkpoints meant each subsequent retry from the very start just compounded the amount of frustration.

With the exception of riding through each checkpoint, the path down the mountain trail is only limited by your imagination and the physical integrity of the bicycle. An obvious path is almost always visible but much of the thrill of riding comes from leaping off ledges and testing the limits of what each bike can take. The numerous checkpoints along the path still encourage exploration as each crash will only cost twenty or so seconds since the rider respawns at the last checkpoint after a crash. My heart skipped a beat on a number of occasions as my rider flew through the air and the anticipation built as I waited to see if my rider would survive the fall.

New trails are unlocked by completing a run in the allotted number of crashes, with a total of 4 trails for each of the 4 mountains. Each mountain has a decent amount of variety, three feature a different type of forested area with trees, rocks and streams along the trails. The fourth mountain, Sierra Rivera, is the lone mountain with a desert theme that features a trail that requires the rider to scale down the side of a rock formation that is reminiscent of the Grand Canyon.

The trails are visually stunning, with a gorgeous amount of detail in the trees and streams in particular. The lack of music felt odd at first but it didn’t take long to appreciate the sounds of the birds chirping and the babbling brook as the feeling of total immersion in nature takes over. The menus are fairly intuitive but the biggest source of annoyance is being sent back to the title screen after completing a trail instead of the sub-menu of the mountain in question.

No less important than the impressive nature settings are the equally impressive bicycle mechanics. Control of the bike is sharp and responsive, and the minimization of button inputs keeps the focus on the movement of the rider. The left Joy-Con controls the direction of the rider leaving the shoulder buttons to control speed, whether it be acceleration, braking, or sprinting.

Sticking with the theme of earning your keep, only one bike is initially available with 5 other bikes available after collecting enough bike parts through trail challenges to purchase them. The amount of time it takes to save enough to purchase each bicycle feels a bit on the long side, but it’s worth the investment to try out the different styles. Each bicycle has a unique feel, some are better suited for sprinting or taking corners, others are built for surviving steep drops and harder impacts. The tendency is to stick with a particular favourite but some of the time requirements of the timed challenges require experimentation as the trails are tailored to certain bike types.

Not since Paperboy on the NES have I been so infatuated with a title revolving around bicycling. By having all the trails locked behind the completion of challenges a strong sense of accomplishment provides the motivation longer play times. Whether you enjoy the tranquility of a nice ride through a beautiful forest, or the adrenaline rush of flying down a hill at breakneck speeds, Lonely Mountains: Downhill is the type of game that can make time float away like a leaf in the breeze of a sweet Spring morning.


22

Just like the source material, the discussion on Final Fantasy VII Remake will span multiple episodes.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/53630/the-thirsty-mage-final-fanasty-vii-remake-part-1-no-spoilers

The pub keeps the spoiler-talk to an absolute minimum as they discuss the graphics and combat mechanics of Final Fantasy VII Remake.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek

Listen to The Mage on the following platforms:


23
TalkBack / Dread Nautical (Switch) Review
« on: April 30, 2020, 03:53:35 AM »

Escape an ancient evil on the cruise ship from hell.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/53624/dread-nautical-switch-review

Dread Nautical begins in the bowels of a cruise ship taken over by an evil force with little hope for salvation. The majority of the passengers have already been lost as most have turned into a horde of monsters scouring the ship for flesh to feast. Only a handful of survivors remain trying to avoid death, whether it be at the hands of a thrall or due to the dwindling number of supplies. The only hope of survival is to contact the outside world for assistance, unfortunately the only means of calling for help is the ship's foghorn, and its activation triggers a reaction that causes the survivors to lose consciousness and awaken back in the hold, doomed to repeat the groundhog day from hell.

After choosing one of four main protagonists, the adventure begins with an explanation of the current situation from a survivor named Jed in the safety of the cargo hold. He explains that supplies are running out, and someone needs to travel to the decks above on the lookout for food, weapons, and a means of contacting the outside world for help. Each of the main characters have different abilities and perks which certainly helps with replayability. Whether you prefer to fight your enemies up close and personal, from a safe distance, or if you prefer safety in numbers by recruiting the remaining survivors, each hero provides a unique bonus to gameplay.

The gameplay comes across as a turn-based tactical RPG with a roguelike feel to each level. Each deck contains a number of different rooms that can be explored in search for the necessary supplies to survive. The view is isometric and movement is achieved by selecting a square on the map in which you’d like the party to walk to. The objective to each deck can fluctuate or change on the fly. The hero may start out simply looking for the foghorn to call for help but the appearance of another survivor may require certain conditions to be met before blowing the horn. The deck ends once the horn has been blown and the hero’s party awakens back in the hold but with access to a new deck.

It wouldn’t be a ship from hell if there weren’t monsters roaming around looking for their next meal. In rooms with an enemy, the gameplay switches to turn-based combat which is determined by each character's action points. Any action has a cost, whether it be movement or combat. Each weapon also has an amount of action points required to use it, smaller weapons such as a pipe or broken bottle may only require 1 or 2 points, but larger weapons like spiked bats or golf clubs require 3. The hero begins the turn and once their party has exhausted all of the available moves, it's the monster's turn to try to take a chunk of flesh.

The combat in Dread Nautical is really fun and requires a good deal of strategy the further you get into the game. New enemy types are introduced very regularly and become progressively harder to take down as each new deck is unlocked. Basic enemies such as Thralls are fairly easy to take out unscathed but the appearance of enemies with a ranged attack or those that can take a higher amount of damage require thought and preparation. Further strategy is required in the case of what to use to dispatch an enemy as all of the weapons have a limited use and must be repaired in order to reuse them.

The strategy doesn’t end with just combat or inventory management as Dread Nautical also features a relationship mechanic with the numerous NPCs found throughout the ship. All of the characters have their own personalities and have a meter that is affected by the responses chosen by the hero. Make them angry and they’ll feel less inclined to help you, respond positively and they could provide useful resources and potentially join your party when a high enough affinity has been met. An element of risk and reward is prevalent since taking on more survivors also means more mouths to feed. When survivors become hungry their performance is affected which can result in stats declines such as lower health and action points.

The entire presentation of Dread Nautical is pretty impressive. Apart from some longer load times, the engine runs rather smoothly even with a large number of characters in a given area. The artwork is colourful and interesting though the minimal variety of rooms to explore does feel repetitive after a while. New room types are unlocked the further you go but generally speaking each deck has the same staple of room types for the majority of the map.

They may not have moving mouths but each of the characters of Dread Nautical has its own voice acting. Most of the characters follow a predictable archetype whether its a Scottish sea-captain or a Japanese member of the Yakuza, but the voice acting is done well enough to overcome their tropes and provide genuinely interesting dialogue.

The indie scene on Switch in 2020 has been pretty hit-or-miss so far with no clear standouts as of yet. With its engaging story and enjoyable combat mechanics, Dread Nautical has the potential to make a splash on the Nintendo handheld. Even after making it through the demonic ship, there’s enough variety and a strong enough combat system to encourage multiple playthroughs.


24
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - Mario Golf on Game Boy Color
« on: April 26, 2020, 06:45:00 AM »

Only natural we gravitate to a sport that allows beer on the playing area.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/53598/the-thirsty-mage-mario-golf-on-game-boy-color

The current pandemic situation may still have us stuck indoors but that doesn't mean we still can't play Golf. This episode we talk about Mario Golf on the GBC plus some discussion on Mario Sports titles in general.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • NWR Owner - Neal Ronaghan

Listen to The Mage on the following platforms:


25
TalkBack / The Thirsty Mage - RPGs That Couldn't Hold Our Attention
« on: April 19, 2020, 06:28:58 AM »

We've got a lot of problems with some RPGs and now you're gonna hear about them.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/53543/the-thirsty-mage-rpgs-that-couldnt-hold-our-attention

The Thirsty Mage has been able to keep the topics positive for two years, this episode though is reserved for the airing of grievances.

On the panel:

  • Thirsty Mage Host - David Lloyd
  • NWR Reviews Editor - Jordan Rudek
  • Talk Nintendo Podcast Host - Casey Gibson
  • NWR Owner - Neal Ronaghan

Listen to The Mage on the following platforms:


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