Cut Off

Going more than a week with next to no web access, I've had plenty of time for projects that spent months in the back burner including, but not limited to, video games.

Mortal Kombat 11 (Switch)

Supposedly built from the ground up for the Switch and not a port of other console versions, I was turned off by the game's grainy, pixelated appearance; apparent when you holding the screen up close.  But I wouldn't give up on it after buying all the DLC, so I resumed the tutorial, hoping I can find someone to play with online once I'm done.

So after reviewing the basics, I moved on to combos (or is it 'kombos'?), Krushing Blows, and advanced techniques.

One minor 'nut punch' (besides my own timing) is that the commands displayed on screen don't always match the controls, something I've noticed with tutorials in other games.

And because MK11 has microtransactions, this is also a common thing, though I'm sure you have the option to cut off from the server completely for shorter load times.  But then I wouldn't get those daily log-in rewards.

Tetris 99 (Switch)

Taking a break from MK11, I logged on to Tetris 99 for the latest Maximus Cup event.  This time it's centered around the upcoming Nintendo game WarioWare: Get It Together! (all those ads and I've just looked up the title).  Here I just competed with 99 other players, racked up 100 event points, scored a special theme to customize with.  Rinse and repeat.

Resistance: Burning Skies (Vita)

The PS Vita is truly an impressive, versatile piece of hardware.  inally played this again after leaving my Vita in Sleep Mode for weeks on end, so I wouldn't have to start my current level over.  To my own disappointment, though, it seems to be the end of the line for firefighter Tom Riley as he's one step closer to rescuing his family from the Chimera forces invading the United States.

Once again I find myself pinned in the middle of a firefight despite the loads of ammo lying around.  Guess there's no point in keeping my weapon upgrades stashed.

Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town (Switch)

A 'far cry' from the games I usually play, this Harvest Moon clone was available through a free trial offered by the Nintendo Switch Online service.  Jumping on this one just hours before the trial ended, I didn't expect much, and my instincts were right.

At the beginning, your self-created avatar travels from the big city to serene Olive Town to inherit their grandpapi's debilitated farm.

Once there, you chat it up with the locals and once they tell you what you need to do . . .

You get to work on clearing and customizing the farmland.  I'm not proud of saying I didn't get very far, mostly cuz it took a while figuring out to equip the necessary tools.  Regardless, my save file's just taking up valuable real estate.

Fire Emblem Heroes (Mobile)

Another game I'm not so hooked on, I picked this one up again to kill time between washing and drying at my local laundromat.  After stuffing my cell phone with updates and daily rewards, I stumbled upon the Hall of Forms event, in which you level-up a randomly generated squad against waves of enemies, each a bit more challenging than the last.  It's the classic strategy-RPG model:  The more you play, the stronger your characters get, and the easier the fights become.  Players are awarded power-ups and new abilities during and after the event.

That about wraps up this post.  Next time I'm switching back to plastic model robots as I pave the way to the Top of the Heap.  Look forward to it!

*On a separate note, I've actually finished this 'recent' post in early October.  What have I been doing this whole time?  Stay tuned for the post as I tell all!