Navigating the world of isn't that tricky as a whole, but one element that's easy to get tripped up on is the game's approach to relationships. makes a major departure from both the original and by making relationship progress with party members a central part of the game, with the ultimate payoff lying in a number of potential dates at the Gold Saucer. Although the basic thrust of the system is clear enough, some key aspects aren't actually revealed until after the credits roll.
The most obvious implementation of 's relationship mechanics lies in conversations with characters throughout the game, where saying something that a party member respects or wants to hear can gain their affection. Similarly straightforward is the attachment of relationship progress to Odd Jobs, the side quests littered throughout the world that have individual party members attached. There's a bit of extra complexity in the fact that some side quests can be completed imperfectly, however, and that's only the tip of the iceberg for how specific the system can get.
After finishing, a new feature called the Play Log becomes available, and this finally opens up the ability to truly understand the relationship system. It's a weird choice, as it's only a useful metric at this point for those intending on another playthrough. is clearly trying to incentivize second runs in general, as likewise evidenced by the hard mode only being available as essentially a New Game Plus feature, but it's a big ask when a single playthrough can take over a hundred hours to cover all the side quests, World Intel, and minigame mastery.
There's an argument to be made that saving the Play Log until post-game helps make the game experience more immersive and less built around following a spreadsheet, but it just meshes in a strange way with the lack of agency afforded by the relationship system. Unlike a game like, where affinity makes it possible to romance a partner of the player's choosing, simply runs with the highest bond for the date at the Gold Saucer.
The lack of a choice or a clear indication of which character is the front-runner can make this approach nerve-racking, especially for those intent on getting a date with either Aerith or Tifa. Either of these options can be contended as canon, and the choice can significantly change the emotional thrust behind some major story events. Although uses a series of smiley face symbols to show affinities, it's easy to have every character at the highest indicator by the second visit to the Gold Saucer, making it impossible to tell who's in the lead.
For each character with a relationship tracker in, progress is ultimately determined by four main categories, each of which has its own progress bar
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The Avengers franchise has been the shining light of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since it really took off as a shared universe, and one franchise star has now revealed that their iconic performance in a pivotal Avengers arc was inspired by a surprising source.
does a lot of work to set up a climactic conclusion to the remake trilogy, but there's one key regard in which it's making the next game's job harder. Splitting one classic into three games is a tall order, even if the original packed more story into its relatively efficient runtime than many RPGs twice the length manage to tell. 's approach to expanding the story tries a lot of different things, some of which prove significantly more successful than others.
Getting a complete story experience in can take a long time, but the process tends to feel fairly straightforward in most regards. From a linear main story to checklists for side content, there isn't much about that leaves potential for confusion, especially when compared to the less straightforward approach of the original Even after 100%ing a playthrough, however, it's actually impossible to have seen every scene that the game has to offer in one go at the story.
There's a lot to enjoy in the base version of , but one particular feature that didn't show up until DLC definitely should have been included for free. has always had a somewhat contentious space in the franchise, and a big part of it is a feeling that the game falls into a one step forward, two steps back problem. Enhanced gunplay and settlement building are just a couple of the significant new attractions, but missing roleplaying elements and fewer narrative complexities can be disappointing compared to prior titles.
's long-awaited next-gen update has now refreshed the game on both the Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5, but it's still a better game on the former option thanks to one huge difference between the versions. Ever since first making its way to consoles with, the post-apocalyptic RPG series has had plenty of struggles with bugs and performance issues showing up in every game to varying degrees. The next-gen update does fix some key problems that have persisted in the game since launch, even if it introduces some of its own.
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The new is an interesting addition to , but more than anything, it's a reminder that one older game in franchise deserves to have a proper comeback. Although the release model of has long relied on extensive amounts of expansion packs, the series also spent much of its lifespan spinning things off into proper side games. Although this could sometimes get very far from the original concept (like in ), the franchise also had its fair share of games that fulfilled core concepts in their own interesting ways.
Based on rumors so far, the Nintendo Switch 2 seems to be mostly focused on keeping what people love about the Switch and improving on it, but a new report indicates that one iconic element of the system could be going away with its successor. The long wait for news on the console has been full of ups and downs, dating back to the time when a Switch Pro was expected before a new system entirely. More recently, a presumed 2024 date seemed to slip out the window in favor of a 2025 release, making the wait even longer.
might not look like a game that would have much of an emphasis on the story at first glance, but by the time it reaches the ending, it proves that its narrative ambitions are greater than might be expected. As an unusual twist on the soulslike genre, packs intense fights and a healthy dose of platforming into a package that's more charming than most of its peers. Although the framing might seem like it wouldn't dwell in the grim, quiet corners that most soulslike games frequent, the story ends up having some serious weight.
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isn't content to just be an average, everyday city-builder, and the game's commitment to doing something unique goes beyond its central concept. The obvious thing that makes different from other games in the genre is its blend of tactical battles into the mix, which gives it an extra dose of appeal. This isn't the only feature that's hard to find elsewhere, however, and another fairly unique addition also contributes to making its medieval settlements feel more like real places with real people.