arts // no. 8

Stull searching for a challenge

> ‘Final Fantasy Explorers’ review

Lauren Paulsen Senior Columnist

QOOOS

was excited when I heard about

Final Fantasy Explorers for the Nintendo 3DS. Although I haven't played a lot of the Final Fantasy games, this one looked different than the typical turn- based combat typically found in the retro games, and I was excited to try it. Although the game can be enjoyable, it was a bit of a letdown because it ended up being nothing new for me.

The aim of the game is to

explore various regions and complete quests. The plot

involves the player, as an Explorer, going through uncharted territory in the hopes of finding crystals. Unlike the other recent Final Fantasy games, the game quest driven rather than narrative driven. Unfortunately, this means the plot itself is pretty weak.

Players are able to choose from 21 job classes, which you unlock as you go. They are mostly the typical classes found in other roleplaying games, such as Ranger, Paladin, or Thief. Each job class also uses the typical weapons for that class, such as bows for Rangers—although it does seem odd that Monks use brass knuckles.

The only different element here is the customization options.

You are able to upgrade each weapon and piece of clothing with extra stats such as Accuracy, Attack, and Recovery, using items found in the world. After collecting enough items, you can completely max out every item’s stats. Items can also be imbued with monster souls that will add traits, such as health boosts. Another interesting element of customization has to do with the skills players can learn. When in battle, “Crystal Surges” can grant temporary perks. While under the effects of the Crystal Surge, compatible skills have a chance of mutating. This can add extra effects to the skills when used, such as Paralysis, Poison, Magic Attack bonus, or

HP Recovery. Skills can hold up to nine different mutations, or you can stack mutations to make them stronger.

Unfortunately, this game is extremely easy. Even moderately high level players will manage to annihilate pretty much everything. Even Eidolon, which are rare bosses that, once defeated, can be summoned, can be defeated rather quickly if the player is prepared. The difficulty can be increased by adding challenges to the quests, such as restricted use of healing items. This adds an extra star to the quest’s difficulty. However, even five-star quests don’t provide that much more challenge.

There are a few things to like

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es Image via www.eshopcodes.com

about Final Fantasy Explorers, the main thing being the multiplayer. When I play quests with my brother, they are actually harder to complete. All of the foes have higher stats and take more time to defeat. Depending on your class, this could make the game very challenging. A Ranger deals little damage compared to a Knight, so the time limit may be more restrictive for some player classes.

Final Fantasy Explorers can be enjoyable when playing with a partner, but it doesn’t manage to offer anything too new or interesting. If you really like these kinds of roleplaying games, go for it, but don’t expect it to have any “wow” factor.

Chairman of the Board: ‘A spy by any other name’

> ‘Codenames’ board game review

Ed Appleby Illustrator

Codename is a party game for two or more players designed

by Vlaada Chvatil and published by Czech Games Edition (CGE) in 2015. The players split into two teams, each lead by a “spymaster.” Cards with codenames are laid out ina five by five grid, and the spymasters must give clues to their team as to which codenames belong to their “contacts.” Once

a team uncovers all of their team’s contacts—or accidentally uncovers the “assassin’—the session ends and the team with the most contacts wins.

The gameplay of Codenames is as fast as it is hard. Several games can be played within a short period of time, and the

spymasters are governed by strict rules as to what they can use as clues. Each clue can only consist of one word and one number, the word being the clue to the code name and the number representing how many of the contacts the clue describes. The spymaster can say no more than that, and the team only has as many guesses as the spymasters’ number, plus one. If a team guesses wrong, the play moves to the other team.

Codenames is ranked as the no. 1 party game in the top 20 list on boardgamegeek.com, and is widely regarded as the breakout hit of 2015. The game is simple to learn, yet extremely challenging, requiring lateral thinking and creative strategy to win. I would recommend it to anyone.

Illustration by Ed Appleby