'Heroes' of Breaktime

Since I've started working nights and sleeping all day, I've split my leisure time between gaming and searching for a day job.  Here's what I'm hooked on right now.

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (GBA)

Stop me if I said this before: I popped this second-hand cart into my GBA just to make sure it works--and I haven't put it down since.  The sequel to Intelligent Systems' awesome, but obscure, strategy game sees the nations of Wars World (yes, that what they call their version of Earth) uniting their forces against a common enemy.  If not for some subtle changes missed by the untrained eye, you'd swear you're playing the same game, though that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The options offered in AW2 include upgraded modes . . .

New CO's with enhanced abilities . . .

New weapons like the Neotank (Right) . . .

And missile silos (Above) that target multiple units from great distances.

You can also customize maps and character sprites as you progress.  Introducing Lt. Santa of the White North Corps.

Fire Emblem Fates (3DS)

Usually, when there are multiple versions of the same game (e.g. Pokemon), I choose one and only one version to buy and play.  Facing the same dilemma with Fire Emblem Fates, I ultimately chose Birthright, being more beginner-friendly.  Then I discovered another way to get the full Fates experience.

In Chapter 6, when having to choose between the warring nations of Hoshido and Nohr, you can either stay the course in your current game or the download the other version (in my case, Conquest) at a discount.  At some point in that game, you can choose to download a third version of Fates, Revelations, where your avatar rejects both sides.

If you choose to Smash, though, it'll cost extra.

Significant quality-of-life changes from the last Fire Emblem title include the removal of weapon durability and the return of the Pair Up system, where 2 units can fight side by side.  However, the enemy can now do the same.

This in turn raises the level of support between characters from your party and strengthens their bonds.  Still sore about my missed opportunity in Amakening, I'm keeping my rank with all female units at A, so my avatar can have his pick of a post-game bride.

Speaking of Awakening, you can also fight alongside characters from that game in a DLC map.  I intend to get all paid content from all FE games on the 3DS for when the servers eventually shut down.

Fire Emblem Heroes (Mobile)

My initial attitude towards this free-to-play app was about the same as when I've first tried the mainline games.  However, playing Fire Emblem Heroes over those games is like eating a burger when you can have steak every night.  And I love burgers.

Starting out like a 'gacha', or toy-vending machine, you blow in-game money to summon random Fire Emblem characters to use in the field.  And like a gacha, you're likely to get the same, low-tier character most of the time.

Once you've assembled your team of 4 (and only 4), Heroes plays like a regular FE game with turn-based strategy on grid-like maps.  The 'Weapon Triangle' (swords-beat-axes-beat-lances-beat-swords) still applies, as does character customization, and your objective is mostly wiping out the enemy.

Though Heroes includes a story mode, pair up's and supports are left out.  And units, once defeated, live to fight another day.  While the game offers loads of content, including new events and characters, without the challenge and stakes of a mainline game, I don't see myself playing Heroes for too long.

That's it for my gaming progress.  It's off to my work desk as I complete the Gundam plastic models I've kept in the backburner.  Join me next time as I snip, sand, scrape and paint my way to the Top of the Heap.