Neko Atsume: Cats For Days

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Just like the majority of this world, I love cats. I used to have a few cats, but they passed on (rest their furry souls). Which is why I was immediately smitten with the kittens of Neko Atsume – a game where you lure cats to your yard using food, toys, and means of relaxation.

Originally Neko Atsume was an easy game for most devices with minor updates, but this year it’s seemed to have a few prominent upgrades. This past year, we’ve seen the release of more items to satisfy our cats, attract new feline friends, and wallpapers for our devices (I currently have Ginger as my wallpaper). The last update also included the new cats Sapphire, Jeeves, Macchiato, Bengal Jack (one of my favorites), and Melange.

Today, we receive yet another new update filled with even more furniture, new wallpapers, and more fluffy friends. The more I play this game, the more I’m allured by its simplicity, its overall adorable style, and my love for kittens.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you liked it, feel free to subscribe, share, comment, and critic.

So tell me, what’s your favorite cat from Neko Atsume?

Pokemon a Go-Go

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

This week the registry for Pokemon Go Field Test in North America launched.  You can still sign up for it; in doing so, you’ll be testing out Pokemon Go before it is finalized for the public.

So, what do we have so far in regard to Pokemon Go?

Your phone (or the Pokemon Go Plus wristband (not yet available) which will need to be near your phone) will vibrate when a Pokemon is near. Simply toss a Pokeball and the Pokemon is yours – there is no battle. Pokemon battles against trainers appear to be crafted from quick time based events wherein you swipe left or right to attack and defend. This also applies to gym battles which are incredibly different than what we have seen through the years. Gym battles now consist of the player joining one of the three teams (Red, Blue, or Yellow). These teams compete with each other for the Gym’s Prestige aka ownership of the gym. Trainers leave one Pokemon at the gym to guard or fight for said prestige. When a team obtains control of a gym, they can use it to further their trainer levels through battles with the rival teams.

From how it sounds, gym battles aren’t a one and done deal as within the games: you fight the gym leader, you get the badge, next gym. Instead, it appears that the battles will never end not only for ownership of the gym, but for levelling up trainers as well.

Pokemon no longer need to level up either, but your trainer level does. It’s still uncertain as to how levelling up trainers will work, but all we know is that exploring the area and catching Pokemon are key notes in this process. My guess is that it’s determined based on how many steps you take.

Besides, you do find Pokemon eggs that hatch after walking for so long. Players can also encounter Pokeshops and items at art installations, historical locations, and monuments. However, you can also purchase in game items and extra items. Pokeballs weren’t included in this concept, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they were especially if you’re nowhere near those sightings. Yet Pokemon Go will be a free to download game in spite of its in game purchases.

Pokemon can evolve in this, but not in the way you’d expect. Since leveling up Pokemon is out of the question, you now have to catch Pokemon of that type until it eventually evolves. Ex.: To evolve Tentacool into Tentcruel, I would need to catch x amount of water type Pokemon until it evolves. When the Pokemon will evolve, it’s not mentioned.

I’m a bit iffy when it comes to Pokemon Go because of its weird transition from the gameplay we’re so familiar with to the phone. We’re not receiving those heart pounding, tedious battles that paid off in the end, the gym battle system seems never ending and confusing, and leveling up/evolving seems strange.

At least we get trainer customization and the ability to catch Pokemon which are cool, but will these factors hold up in the game?

Thanks for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to share, subscribe, comment, and critique.

So tell me, what are your thoughts about Pokemon Go?

Pokemon Go-ing Through Tests

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

Yesterday, Nintendo announced that Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem would be receiving mobile gaming apps this Fall. The gaming company also declared that they would focus on a new Legend of Zelda game at this year’s E3 and that the NX, a gaming console, will be released March 2017.

All this news is fantastic, but where exactly does that leave Pokemon : Sun and Moon and Pokemon Go? We haven’t necessarily heard anything from them in a while, especially the former. Thankfully, we have some information regarding the latter.

Yesterday, test footage of Pokemon Go leaked from Australia. While nothing is set in stone, here’s what  I managed to discover:

·         They’re only using the original 150.

·         To evolve Pokemon, you have to collect ‘Evolution Shards’. From how it appears, there are four sections to an ‘Evolution Shard’. I’m honestly on the fence about this feature, because I feel it takes away the anticipation we have when waiting for a certain level for our Pokemon to evolve.

·         The camera plays a heavy role in this app. The camera allows you to see the Pokemon (which randomly appear), capture said Pokemon, and change the background from a pixelated green field to your actual surroundings. If you pass by something, it may appear on the app as an icon that you can click and receive items from. You can also receive items from Pokemon stores which haven’t been implemented into the game as of yet, but have been confirmed by game creators.

·         Capturing Pokemon is rather unique in this app. When a Pokemon appears it will have a colored circle around it – each Pokemon’s circle is different.  Touch the circle and your ball will be thrown, resulting in a hopefully successful catch. Touch outside the circle and the Pokemon will most likely not be caught.

·         As a trainer you level up by catching Pokemon, fighting, and bumping into circles that level you up automatically. 

·         The fighting system appears to be the same, however, Pokemon only have two moves. An example of this was Porygon only having Thunderbolt and Quick Attack.

·         You can also obtain Pokemon by receiving eggs. From how it appears, you can have more than one egg with you. These eggs hatch into Pokemon from the original 150.

·         The gym is something I’m still trying to wrap my head around. From what I understand, you enter a gym and proceed to join a team (Red, Blue, or Yellow) to fight the gym leader. You select a Pokemon to fight with. Once that Pokemon is fighting in the gym, it cannot be taken out until the match is won.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to subscribe, share, comment, and critique.

So tell me, what are your thoughts about Pokemon Go?

Steampunk to Go

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

As a gamer I’ve played different types of games, but always found my way back to hidden object games. Hidden object games are a nostalgic part of my life that still carry with me to this day. What I love even more is when the game incorporates elements I adore, like Steampunk.

Steampunk is a popular topic revolving around Victorian elements, distinct fashion, steam powered devices, clockwork, and metalwork.  With its fame on the Internet, the trend is now seeping its way into movies, literature, and now, even video games.

I’ve had the pleasure to play my first Steampunk hidden object game on the Ipod.  Entitled Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink, the hidden object game oozed with Steampunk based on the character designs, their outfits, modes of transportation, and even a mechanical crow that accompanies you.  Your objective is to free your friend (Dr.Ink) from the evil clutches of Barber Engineer, a wealthy general who is causing massive earthquakes for the town of Hochwald.

The casual mode could easily be completed in one hour with the help of Hint and Skip features. Advanced and Expert took a little longer, with the elimination and slower recharge of those two features. It’s a fun little game with great graphics produced by Big Fish Games for $2.99 and is available on most mobile devices. They are currently working on a sequel for the game simply titled Clockwork Tales II. There is no word of when it will be released.

I give this game an 8 out of 10, because I wish the casual mode lasted a little longer. I usually play hidden object games on casual and find that they’re more than just an hour. Clockwork Tales: Of Glass and Ink had the shortest casual mode gameplay I’ve ever seen and I honestly wish it was a little longer, if not as long as the other modes.

Thank you for reading today’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, reblog, and/or critique.

So tell me, do you enjoy hidden object games? If so, what’s your favorite one?