Author: Jeremy Milliner

Jeremy is an avid gamer, writer, musician, and instructor. He has been teaching for over 15 years, with his primary focus on music, and has written all manner of gaming articles, reviews, FAQs, walkthroughs, strategy guides, and even the odd screenplay or two. He has run the gamut of tech reviews, game guides, lifestyle content, and more. His focus as a writer is to give fair feedback of products, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in a clear, concise, and entertaining manner.

No more loot boxes for Battlefront II

Can it be true? Yes, it can! As of Spring 2018 EA and DICE have totally overhauled the level up system for Star Wars Battlefront II, and the infamous loot boxes have been (almost) entirely removed from the game. Star cards are still present and an integral part of the game’s progression, but no longer will players have to shove credits into a slot machine in hopes of receiving abilities and upgrades. Good on you, EA.

http://www.gamerzrm.com/star-wars-battlefront-2-how-to-get-credits-fast/

This is all well and good, but so how does progression work now? What about crafting and new character skins? How can we unlock new emotes for Bossk??

$32

Star Wars Battlefront II

From: Amazon

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Let’s go over the new changes:

Only the daily crate remains

The only loot box you’ll have access to anymore is your daily crate, which spawns a consistent 500 credits.

If you haven’t logged into Battlefront since the new update, you’ll be happy to find a dozen crates that reward you with various unlocks, skins, and cards. Once you open them, though, that’s it! Just daily crates from here on out.

Credits will only buy you aesthetics

Credits are still the currency earned from playing matches, and they are still awarded more for completing milestones or staying the duration of a match than they are for actually getting eliminations (kills and assists). Completing objectives is also a factor here, but being in the top 5 players won’t necessarily grant you any extra credits. Not that they ever really did. Since there are no loot crates anymore, you can’t spend credits on that either.

Credits themselves can no longer be spent on star cards in any way. They’re instead used for unlocking new skins for your characters, both infantry and heroes, and there are plenty to choose from. Our favorites are Cloud City Lando and Ahch-To Rey. There are some occasional instances where credits can be used to unlock heroes, but that’s mostly for ships (like the Millenium Falcon with Lando and L3-37).

Carrie Fisher returning in Star Wars IX

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What about emotes and victory poses?

If you check pages for emotes and victory poses you’ll see it still says “available in crates.” But there are no crates aside from the daily, so what gives?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6jTXQI1EvQ

Completing daily challenges (listed at the bottom of the game’s opening screen) seems to be the way to unlock them. As for which ones you’ll unlock by completing them, looks like it’ll just be a surprise. Expect EA to clear this up in the coming weeks.

Characters skins are organized by rarity

The new skins for heroes also have a ranking now, with some unlocks being considered more valuable than others. That Cloud City costume we liked for Lando, for example, is considered “rare” (20,000 credits to unlock) while the Skiff guard skin is “epic” (40,000 credits to unlock).

The two costumes from the Solo movie are legendary, requiring a whopping 80,000 credits to earn.

Gaming Check out EA Battlefront II’s awesome new modes

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Skill Points are used to level up star cards

This new change is a big one: Unlocking and upgrading your star cards is now a matter of leveling up your characters and spending skill points on your chosen cards. The way this works is by playing as a specific class, hero, or ship, and just generally doing well – completing objectives, scoring kills and assists, and using your abilities effectively. Earn enough experience and eventually, you’ll level up your character and/or earn a new skill point.

TL, DR: Play well with your character and you earn experience. Get enough exp and you’re awarded a skill point. Use the skill points to upgrade and unlock your cards.

Star cards are level locked

Oddly enough, there are now some star cards that are deemed more powerful than others from the start. The end result is that there are now certain abilities that are restricted until you reach a prerequisite level with the character.

This is an odd choice because it was not previously implied that any star cards were supposed to be objectively more powerful than others; it’s all about how you decide to build your character, or how much you’d upgraded your cards. But at least unlocking powerful cards isn’t just up to chance anymore! If there’s a particular card you really want for your character, you’ll just have to play as them more in order to reach the level that unlocks it.

Upgrading star cards is also level locked

Similar to our above point, you aren’t able to upgrade your star cards past a certain efficiency level unless you’re at the required level to boost it.

Even if you have a skill point to spend, you won’t necessarily be able to spend it on bumping a card up to epic; some cards require you to be as high as level 35 (25 for heroes) with your character before they can be upgraded as high as epic. Rare cards will need you to be level 12.

Crystals can now be purchased with real money

Click the “get more crystals” button and you’ll be able to spend actual hard cash on anything that you could spend in-game credits on. Thankfully, these crystals cannot do anything in the way of actually upgrading your characters, which means the only thing you can spend actual money on is character aesthetics, just like in Fortnite. We’re okay with this.

$2.49 will earn you 200 crystals, while $39.99 will get you 4400, enough to buy all the costumes you want. Crystals can still be earned the down and dirty way, completing milestones, but the rewarded crystals haven’t scaled with the new update; you’ll be receiving the equivalent of pennies.

Crafting Parts are no longer obtainable

Since loot boxes have been removed and skill points are the new way to upgrade, crafting parts are no longer a functional element of Battlefront II. If you’d been hoarding them like we did, fear not; your saved crafting parts can all be converted into skill points for any class or character you like.

You just can’t use them on cards you don’t meet the level for.

All your previously earned upgrades are unaffected by the update

In the same vein as the crafting parts turning into skill points, for better or for worse any star cards you’ve previously unlocked or upgraded will remain just as they were before the upgrade. No player will have to re-earn star cards or upgrades that they already unlocked.

This is good for players who put in the time and skill to be rewarded with the cards they wanted … but it is a little unbalanced now that there are some players who happened upon epic cards via either loot crates or pre-ordering the game. The rest of us have to work to unlock them.

While this is unfortunate, we think in the end it’s still better than players losing gear they already had and having to unlock them all over again. Overall we think these changes have improved the progression system for Battlefront II, and are anxious to see whether it will rekindle people’s interest in the game. Battlefront II’s rocky release hit it pretty hard … but strike something down and it may become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

Collect cats with the free Neko Atsume app

Do you like cats? Do you enjoy sunshine and rainbows? Ice cream? Bountiful meadows of flowers in springtime?

Do you have a soul?

Because if you do, Neko Atsume is the game for you! Hit-Point Co.’s “kitty collector” is a free app for download on both iOS and Android devices. It lets you attract, feed, play with, and take pictures of over 60 different cats. You’ll use fish as in-game currency to purchase them new toys, locations, and fancy chow, all of which will attract different cats to your choice of abode. Simple, warm, and utterly cute this game’s sure to please any cat lover.

Neko Atsume Download free ►

While not exactly chess, there is actually a strategy to Neko Atsume if you’re looking to eventually own all the toys, get a steady influx of felines, and a scrapbook full of adorable kittens. We’ve put together a guide on how best to climb up the game’s purr-gression:

Food

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-easiest-way-to-get-a-rare-cat-in-Neko-Atsume-Kitty-Collector

Of course, this is rule number one! It’s the golden rule: “Feed me and I am your friend.” The best way to get a cat to like you in Neko Atsume is to prove that they can trust you. Place food in the cat bowl and close out of the app. Fire it back up in a few minutes and there’ll likely be a cat playing with a nearby toy. The first one you’ll have access to is the red ball, Snowball’s favorite. As such, Snowball will likely be your first friend.

There are six different kinds of food in Neko Atsume, ranging from the less enticing to the downright bougie. The ranking is as follows:

Thrifty Bitz: And the cats know it. They won’t be thrilled to see it, and they certainly won’t come in droves, but nevertheless, Thrifty Bits are a cost-effective way to build up your resources enough to soon afford better options. Cost: Free.

Frisky Bitz: The ol’ reliable, filling your food bowl with frisky bits is a good compromise between luxury cat food and thrifty bits. Relatively inexpensive, it’s a good idea to have a solid stock of them readily accessible. We’d recommend at least six. It’ll hold you for a while! Frisky bits will also attract a larger number of cats, and will last longer than the really hot-ticket items. It’s Tubbs’ favorite, by the way, so don’t be surprised if you attract this big kitty who eats it all on his own. Don’t be upset, though; he tips well! Cost: 30 silver fish will give you three helpings.

Ritzy Bitz: Ritzy bits are the first menu choice that will require gold fish as opposed to silver, and will earn you the attention of a good 50% more cats than frisky bits. It gets eaten up faster, though, so check your phone more often if you want to snag those pics! Cost: Three gold fish

Sashimi: Colorful and elegant, sashimi is sure to fill your yard with hungry, excited cats. A great choice since it’s still relatively inexpensive, and just nice enough to get the message across. Plus, you may also get a surprise visit from the elusive Whiteshadow! Cost: Five gold fish

Bonito Bitz: Getting into the really fancy territory, bonito bits are the fois gras, the filet mignon of the culinary cat cuisine. There’ll be so many cats on screen you’ll start to feel like a crazy cat lady. Surprisingly this typically gets eaten pretty slowly, too, so you’ll be getting your money’s worth for sure. Cost: Seven gold fish

Deluxe Tuna Bitz: The pinnacle of your choices, the paradigm of options, deluxe tuna is a feast that no cat can resist. Put this in the bowl for a special occasion if you want to see literally every position on the screen filled up. It’s pricey, but you can’t beat the photo opportunities. It’ll look like they’re taking over your yard! Cost: 12 gold fish

When you buy the fancier treats like Bonito Bitz or Sashimi, you will be offered the option to buy in bulk. Definitely do it! It’ll save you fish in the long run.

Cats and toys

Every cat has a few toys they tend to gravitate toward, be it a favorite cushion, ball, or scratching post. If you want a cat to make more frequent return trips to your yard, definitely note which toys they like best! Once you’ve taken a picture of a cat, you can view it in your album. Here it’ll show the cat’s “power level” (which pertains to how rare they are), as well as how many fish they will leave you as a reward.

Below the cat’s portrait it will show his/her top 3 favorite toys. Leave out all three for your best chance at seeing them come back.

Mementos

If a cat visits you a certain number of times, a “cutscene” will trigger, after which they’ll leave you a reward of sorts. It may be a damaged spoon, an acorn, or even a damp matchbox.

Greatttt.

You can check your mementos screen to proudly scroll through your plethora of useful rewards.

Unique cats

https://twitter.com/janineveazue/status/678618047737917441

Some cats in this game are funny little pop culture references. Mr. Meowgi, Guy Furry, and Billy the Kitten are some examples. These guys will come only if you’ve got a specific toy (or two) out, so the more toys you purchase the more chance you’ll meet these special cats. Mr. Meowgi likes his wooden log, for example, while Conductor Whiskers is fascinated by anything involving trains. Unique cats will also pay you more fish, so it’s worth trying to get their attention. Plus, they’re adorable.

Tips

Buy the yard expansion first

On the ‘shop’ screen the final option you have (tab left once to get to it faster) is for an expensive yard expansion. We recommend you save up your gold fish and get this as early as you can. This will double the size of every map in the game, which not only provides twice as many spaces for toys, but also a second food bowl. It’ll pay for itself in no time.

Never relocate if there are cats present

If there’s a cat playing in your yard, you can look and take pictures, but don’t try and relocate; they won’t like it. It’s the equivalent of taking them away from their toy. Switching maps before your cats have had their fill will result in your rewards being knocked down to a single silver fish.

Input the daily password

Check out the in-game menu and you’ll see a red exclamation mark at the bottom. Click this and a cat will pop up on top with a sign showing “today’s password.” Click the password and you’ll automatically input the password and get some free fish! Do this five times and you’ll get a free can of ritzy bits!

Exchange silver fish for gold

All the really good toys in this game will cost you gold fish. Scroll past the luxury cat items on the shop screen and you’ll see an option to spend 500 silver fish in exchange for 10 gold ones. Early in the game this seems ludicrous, but as you get a steady stream of silver fish the choice will quickly become more enticing – particularly if you have your eye on the aforementioned yard expansion. Always keep some silver fish on hand, too, but any surplus would be better turned into gold fish than needlessly spent on extra frisky bits.

Auto-set your goodies

In your “goodies” menu where it lists all your purchased toys you’ll see the option to “auto-set” up top. Click it and your yard will randomly fill with toys you’ve collected. This is a good way to quickly clean and reset your yard. Remember that different cats prefer certain toys over others, so varying up your selection is key. Plus it provides with more animations and opportunities for new pictures! Similar to switching locations while there are cats present, never reset your yard while there are cats playing; you’ll be taking away their toys!

Get the cat trees

Toys like the cat metropolis or the sled will be able to hold multiple cats. You should usually opt for a big gymnasium or cat tree instead of two smaller toys. Put in a luxury cat food while the metropolis is out, for example, and you’ll see the whole yard completely filled with cats!

Get the cubes

Boxy objects like the cubes or the tree stump can fit one cat inside and another on top, so if you’re going to use luxury cat food it’d be a good idea to have these out; you’ll get more bang for your buck!

Thrifty bits before bed

Before you go to bed at night, or if you’re not going to have access to your phone for a while, put out a bowl or two of thrifty bits. You won’t be missing any notable cats if there’s only thrifty bits available, so you’re not going to lose your chance to get a rare photo. It’ll be nice to wake up in the morning and find a bunch of fish in your rewards menu, though. Some cats even leave gold fish for thrifty bits!

https://www.deviantart.com/frosty-nekoatsume/art/snowball-599953576

And that’s about it! We hope this guide has been helpful, and that you’ll post a bunch of cute cat pictures in the comments below.

Steam chat update: here’s what’s new

If you’re a Steam user, then you probably noticed the big update that came down on July 25. Valve actually had this in beta since June 12, and the full version has at last been shared with the general public. If you’re a fan of gaming with friends online or just plain like to hang out in party chats, this update is going to make you very happy – particularly if you like Discord.

If you don’t yet own Steam, you couldn’t ask for a better time to make an account! You can do it right here:

Steam Download now ►

The update’s main focus was to tweak and improve Steam’s previously bare-bones social capabilities. While the improvements are vast and the new features numerous, we’ve got to be honest: This feels like what Steam should have been doing years ago. Better late than never, though!

So exactly what are these new features? Let’s go over them:

Group chat

This is the big one. Users can easily make a new group in Steam simply by “creating a new chat.” These groups can hold an unlimited number of users, though expect lag if you end up hosting a ridiculous number of people. SeriousMartin discovered this the hard way. His reactions are … NSFW (language):

Still, though, any and all groups you join or create can be saved at your convenience. It also takes up less bandwidth chatting through Steam rather than having to have both Steam and a browser open to Discord just to allow us to speak with multiple friends.

Beginner's guide to Discord

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Media sharing

Like in Discord, you can now type, send video, pictures, tweets, links, and .gifs in the main chat window. It makes media sharing a lot more streamlined and user-friendly, and additionally allows for the more basic utilities like sharing group names, friends, and trading. It’s worth a mention that this goes for every chat in Steam now, too, not simply the new group chats. Every channel is multi-media friendly.

New friends list is more accessible and organized

Open up Steam and on the bottom right you’ll see a new “friends and chat” button. Click it and it’ll pull up a list of all your online friends. If it doesn’t open for whatever reason, be sure that your family mode is turned off. It won’t open otherwise. A window will pop and that shows all your friends. It will list all group chats that you’re a part of so you can join or leave them at the click of a button. There’s also a link in the same window that lets you start a chat of your own.

The friends in your list are also sorted by the game they’re playing, which is handy if you’re trying to see how many people are active in any one game. All of your offline friends are listed in a minimized list beneath that. Adding friends to a chat couldn’t be simpler either; just drag and drop them in!

Customize your groups and settings

Hand in hand with the inclusion of group chat is the much-needed implementation of group settings and permissions. These range from changing the owners and admins of groups you create, to managing invite links, to banning and booting as needed. It’s all pretty intuitive.

Everything is on the overlay

What we’re most excited about is how all these new improvements fit seamlessly into Steam’s in-game overlay. Press shift+tab during your game and you have instant access to all the chats, channels, and groups you’re part of. Share links, pictures, manage your screenshots – all while still in-game. The social aspect of Steam finally feels intertwined with the gaming experience.

And really what more can we ask for than that? Steam definitely accomplished what it set out to do with this update: Streamline and simplify the social half of playing games on Steam. Online gaming is almost a given in today’s titles, and an elegant interface has become necessary. We’re glad to see that Steam has taken note of what gamers are looking for in a chat environment; it means they’re listening and trying to keep aligned with what’s expected.

Check out this video to see how it all works together:

So does this mean Steam is going to replace Discord?

It’s too early to tell, but Valve’s certainly upping the competition in all the right ways. You can check out Steam’s walkthrough of all the newly-implemented features here.

Why WolframAlpha is a mathematician’s dream search engine

In this day and age, it’s difficult to imagine a world without Google. It’s become so commonplace, so effortless being able look up virtually anything that we scarcely give doing so a second thought. That said, Google has its strengths and its weaknesses. For those of us looking up typical searches and information, there’s Google. For people looking for a more niche approach? There’s WolframAlpha.

WolframAlpha download now ►

So what exactly is this niche approach? Why would someone use WolframAlpha when you could just Google it?

The answer is largely dependent on what it is you’re searching for. Google has it in spades when it comes to articles, news, documents, and web pages. WolframAlpha is not so much a search engine as it is an “answer engine.”

What’s the difference?

An answer engine is designed to spit out a factual answer to your question. No beating around the bush, no thousands of articles with competing perspectives. If it’s a clear-cut fact, WolframAlpha will tell it to you.

http://getintopc.com/softwares/maths/wolfram-mathematica-10-4-1-free-download/

Released in 2009, WolframAlpha is based on the 1988 Wolfram Mathematica, a powerful computational platform designed for use in technical, scientific, engineering, and mathematical fields. Users can simply go to WolframAlpha and punch in a query.

Just like Google, WolframAlpha offers a solution in less than a second. Unlike Google, the answers and all the relevant visualizations are pulled from a curated knowledge base of structured data from sites and books. Instead of chucking up a wide index of answers, WolframAlpha gives you the one you need.

https://www.howtogeek.com/106925/10-amazing-uses-for-wolfram-alpha/

So where does WolframAlpha get this data that’s supposedly so accurate? The answer is that it uses academic and commercial websites like the CIA’s The World Factbook, the United States Geological Survey, the Chambers Biographical Dictionary, and even the Federal Aviation Administration. WolframAlpha runs on more than ten thousand CPUs and is written with over 15 million lines of Wolfram Language code including hundreds of data sets that cover everything from complex mathematics to even music theory.

So WolframAlpha answers factual questions, sure, but if you ask Google to tell you what 2 + 2 is, it will say 4 just as simply as WolframAlpha could. So specifically when is WolframAlpha the better choice?

Short answer: When your question is more complex than that.

Ask Google a factual question like “how do copper and manganese compare?” and it will offer you thousands of articles related to copper and/or manganese. Your answer is probably somewhere amidst the thousands of hits, but to find your answer you’ll be sifting for a while.

Ask WolframAlpha and you’ll immediately get a side-by-side comparison of the two elements as the engine lists off their differences in melting points, densities, tensile yard strength, sound speed, atomic mass, and the universe abundance. It’s all laid out for you in seconds.

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=How+do+copper+and+manganese+ions+compare%3F&wal=header

“It combines a lot of existing data in a pretty convenient way,” says Computer Science PhD candidate Joshua Brulé, “and since it’s a smaller set of information, and it’s being explicitly selected by the engineers and scientists who built WolframAlpha, I’d say it’s much more likely to be accurate; it’s relying on a much smaller set of extremely trustworthy information.”

When asked about how a similar search would turn out on Google, Brulé explained, “The only way you’d get a specifically factual result from Google is if someone had already created a web page where they wrote about exactly what you’re searching for.”

Google would direct you towards an article where your answer might be found. WolframAlpha eliminates the middle man and just straight up tells you the answer you’re looking for. That’s the difference in a nutshell.

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=iss+position

Next time you’re looking up some solid facts, consider saving yourself some time and put your query instead into WolframAlpha.

5 tips to avoid spending money in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

Hogwarts Mystery is a great game for any Harry Potter fan, with spells to learn, characters to befriend, and a compelling story to keep players checking in time and time again. Unfortunately, the game does heavily encourage micro-purchases with everything from clothing and accessories for your avatar, to even the most simplistic actions players can perform.

Do we still think the game is worth downloading? Absolutely. You can get it right here:

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery swish and flick: Download HERE ►

The micro-purchases in the game really do put a damper on the experience, so we’ve put together a list of five tips that should help you get through the game without ever needing to cough up actual currency. Before we get into that, though, it’s important to understand the way energy works in Hogwarts Mystery, as replenishing your energy supply is the most enticing reason to spend money in-game.

Understanding energy

The way you progress in Hogwarts Mystery is by completing “actions.” Any time you see an object or character on-screen that’s outlined in blue, you can touch it. Completing lessons and scripted story events will require you to expend energy points (shown on the top right of your screen).

https://www.pcauthority.com.au/review/review-harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-492749

For your first year at Hogwarts, you’ll likely have no more than 25 to spend when you’re capped. Spend all of them and you’ll get a message asking if you’d like to spend “gems” to refill your fatigue meter. These gems are awarded naturally, albeit rarely, through the game’s progression.

We recommend you save them so that you can spend them on extra energy should you accidentally find yourself in need of it and the timer running out. We also suggest you pick gems any time they are offered as a reward for completing tasks, but never buy them otherwise. Don’t spend your gems on frivolous things like attire, either; it’s just not worth it in our opinion.

You will also naturally regain one point of energy every four minutes, which means that you’ll be totally replenished in a little over an hour. For scripted events that do not involve a timer (like the Devil’s Snare), your best bet is just to wait until it comes back, no matter how awkward a position your character is waiting in. If no timer is shown, it means there isn’t one. You’ve got nothing to worry about; your character cannot die in this game.

A beginner guide to Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

Get more tips here ►

Tip #1: There are hidden energy points around and outside the castle

The first tip we can give you is that sprinkled around Hogwarts are nine hidden interacts that will reward you energy points. There aren’t too many, but they do return every eight hours or so. These interactions are:

https://www.imore.com/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-tips-and-tricks#lessons

The house elf in the dungeons. He’s leaning on the wall right next to the Potions Classroom.

https://aminoapps.com/c/hogwartsmyst967/page/blog/free-extra-energy/8RmM_56fmu2nPYxbapx46lmlDgzReaPXRj

The stick outside in front of the whomping willow on the castle grounds. Touch it and Fang runs by to pick it up.

Peeves. He’s hovering towards the right end of the East Towers hallway.

The empty portrait in the East Towers. It’s the first portrait you’ll see – close to the Prefects’ Bathroom. A little girl will appear in the portrait and laugh.

The empty portrait in the West Towers. It’s not far from Peeves. Touch it and oranges will appear.

Re-organize the books on the lower floor. This one isn’t available from the start, but once you unlock this area you can touch the books on the bench.

The middle knight to the right of the Great Hall on Lower Floor West. If this statue isn’t holding a shield when you see him, touch him and he’ll exchange his sword for it.

http://simplypotter.com/hogwarts-mystery-energy-tips-and-tricks/

The torch to the right of the Great Hall entrance on Lower Floor West. If it’s extinguished, you can touch it to relight it, granting you energy.

https://gamerant.com/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-free-energy-year-3/

The kid in the Hogsmeade alley. You won’t be able to access this area until year three, however.

We recommend you approach these after your energy is spent, and to get all of them all at once. That way you can significantly speed up the wait period before your energy is back.

Tip #2: Set timers

A little silly to have to do this, but we recommend setting a timer when you run out of energy. Set it for an hour, and when it rings you should have nearly full energy restored. This is especially helpful mid-class when you’re pressed for time. If a lesson ends before you’re able to complete the required actions, you’ll be forced to re-do the class, and that’s pretty irritating.

Tip #3: Manage the length of your lesson

When you begin a lesson at Hogwarts you’ll be able to select how long you’d like it to go for. Shorter classes require fewer stars to complete, but longer classes grant larger rewards and more opportunities to get them. Pick a longer class and we guarantee you won’t be able to finish it with only 25 energy, though.

Our recommendation is to pick the longer classes, but only to begin them when you’re at max energy. Perform the actions quickly so as not to waste class time, then set a timer and rest. When it rings you can resume your work.

Tip #4: Perform lengthy actions first

Every action you perform during a lesson will bring you closer to the next star. Get all the stars and you’ll pass the class. As we said before, different actions will require varying amounts of energy. The key to remember here is that there is no overlap. If you’re a hair’s breadth from unlocking your next star, don’t perform longer actions! The excess points will not push beyond the next star, so you’re wasting energy.

Every time you unlock a star you get one bonus point of energy, too, so start off by picking longer actions, then close the gap with actions that only require one or two touches. That way you’re maximizing your efficiency.

Tip #5: Prioritize flying lessons

Lastly, the reward for completing flying lessons is a +1 to your energy limit. We’d suggest doing as many flying lessons as you can stomach early on in the game, even before completing story chapters. It’ll make things much easier as the game goes on and you’re required to spend more and more energy on tasks.

One final note is that when you level up you will regain all your energy points. If you’re close to hitting the next character level, take a longer class. The exp you earn from progressing through the lesson might be enough to fully replenish your energy supply, which will carry you through the rest of the class.

Best of luck in your first year at Hogwarts, and remember to choose your Bertie Botts’ with extreme caution.

A beginner guide to Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is the mobile game that whisks you away aboard the Hogwarts Express to begin your first year at the famous School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. On paper, it sounds like every Harry Potter fan’s dream – and in many ways it is! – but there are some game elements that don’t get much explanation at first, and end up getting swept under the rug. And brooms aren’t for sweeping. Not at Hogwarts! Here’s our beginner guide to help you through the game’s mechanics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXaMsqaWabg

The very basics

If you don’t own Hogwarts Mystery yet, you can download it here:

Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery download now ►

The game begins simply enough – design your character’s gender (you cannot switch this later, so pick wisely!), look (this you can change later), and your name. Then your buddy Rowan will send you to Flourish and Blotts to collect your books and learn the basic game mechanics. That means clicking on any items that glow blue and following the scripted tutorial.

https://mashable.com/2018/04/13/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-game/#oyvM8yo0CPqR

Activating highlighted objects and people is the fundamental method for progressing through the story and your lessons, so if you see anything outlined in this game, it means you should click it!

Afterward, you get to pick your wand at Ollivander’s. The type of wand you get is determined by how you react to his question about the mysterious Jacob. You’ll get Acacia if you “feel bad,” Blackthorn if “you were angry,” or Hornbeam if “you were determined.” The result is completely aesthetic, though, so don’t worry too much.

https://www.gameskinny.com/jy3tl/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-wand-choice-starter-guide

The last part of your introduction will be selecting your Hogwarts house, and yes, it’s precisely as Harry Potter tells his son: The choice is ultimately yours, not the hat’s. As such, you get to make the call which house you’ll be spending the game in once the hat is put on you. This decision will impact where both you and Rowan get placed, who your Head of House will be, the color of your robes, and the house you’ll be cheering to win the House Cup at the year’s end.

https://www.inverse.com/article/44124-harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-sorting-hat-game

Dealing with Energy

Energy is what you will use any time you’re brewing potions, studying spells, or taking classes. In short, it’s expended any time you “do something,” and it’s the only way you can level up your character and/or progress in the story.

Some actions will take more energy than others. The catch is that you only have a set amount of energy in your pool, and when it’s spent, you’ll have to wait for it to replenish before you can continue your game.

https://gamerant.com/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-get-more-gems/

Well, you can wait or you can spend “gems” which are the game’s currency. How do you unlock gems? Complete tasks and chapters … or spend actual money. The game is rife with micro-transactions for changing your character’s clothing or eventually getting a pet, and unfortunately, those micro-transactions extend to basic game mechanics like quickly refilling your energy too. You can always wait, however, if you don’t want to spend money. Just be prepared to play this game in short bursts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozqBrkn2IV0

Once you get a pet, they’ll be able to help you recharge. When your pet is asleep you can tap them to gain back points of energy. You can usually do this three or four times a day. The more pets you have, the more energy you can get from them. In all likelihood, though, it will be a while before you can afford your first pet.

5 tips to avoid spending money in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

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Attributes

You’ll soon learn that Hogwarts Mystery has three attributes for your character: Courage (shield), Empathy (heart), and Knowledge (book). You may be tempted to try and min/max here, but it’s better if you don’t.

Since the primary function for attributes in this game is a means for unlocking specific dialogue options it’s definitely best to keep them pretty balanced. Dialogue options conversations in conversations may rely on any attribute. Rowan, for example, favors knowledge while Ben is more inspired by courage.

If you’re in a hurry to boost your attributes, your best bet is to stop slacking off and get to class! But talking to your friends and teachers might yield a bonus, too.

Classes are always in session at Hogwarts

Another thing to remember when it comes to leveling up your attributes is that while classes are part of the game’s narrative story arc, Charms, Potions, and Flying classes are available at any given time. Completing them multiple times will earn you more attribute points, so stock up if you’re feeling under-leveled.

Make Stronger Friendships

A good friend will come to your defense when you’re being verbally (or physically) targeted by other students such as the ever-present, always-nasty Merula. A stalwart companion will also accompany you during the game’s later quests, and it’s always nice to have a helping hand. You may just find yourself locked in a closet with a Devil’s Snare (<cough cough> you will <cough>).

https://www.primagames.com/games/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery/tips/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-how-to-level-up-friendships

In order to improve your relationships with your friends, you will need to interact with the character in question whenever the opportunity arises. It’s kind of like a Bioware game that way. These range from encounters like eating with them in the Great Hall to playing Gobstones in the courtyard.

Mind the “recommended attributes” below the character portrait, however; if you can’t match their recommended attributes it might be wise to take a class or two to level up in order to have access to all the dialogue options.

Control the length of your classes

At the start of a lesson, you may get the option to extend or shorten the length of the class (wish that was the case in real life)! Shorter classes require fewer stars to complete, meaning they will take less of your energy. This is good if you’re trying to avoid micro-transactions, quickly advance in the story, or just need get that little bit of exp to level up.

Longer classes yield higher rewards, though; more attribute increases, more exp, as well as more opportunities to obtain gem and coin. If you’re in it for the long haul, we recommend you go for the longer classes. It will require more stars to complete the tasks of your longer classes, however, so a longer class will demand more energy. It’s logical if you think about it.

Picking an 8-hour class that means you’ll have eight actual hours to complete the set of tasks for this less. It’s guaranteed that you will run out of energy before you can. The real danger here is that if your class ends before you can acquire the necessary stars you’ll be forced to repeat the course. No one wants that. There are three tips that can help ensure this doesn’t happen:

1. Set an alarm

Rather silly, but if you don’t want to spend any gems (or real money) on energy mid-class, then your best bet is to first expend all your energy while there’s still plenty of time left before the end of class. Then set an alarm on your phone and when it goes off hop back into the game to finish your lecture.

Four minutes in real time will restore 1 energy point, meaning it will take over an hour to recharge them back to max capacity. So set your phone alarm for an hour, then come back and you should be good to complete another star or two.

2. Be sure you have enough gems for a refill

If you click on the energy/gems/coins on the top right of your HUD and tab over to the energy screen. Here it will allow you to spend your collected gems to instantly refill a portion of your character’s energy bar.

If you’re going to go for a longer class, be sure to always have enough gems to buy at least one refill. That way if you’re cutting it close at the end of the lesson you can splurge and get enough to squeeze through to the end.

3. Complete small tasks when you’re close to a star

All the activities that need to be completed during a class lesson will take a set number of clicks before they are completed. Each one of those clicks will take one point of energy from you. Each task you complete bumps you closer to achieving the next “star” on the class completion bar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBizePznLnA

There is no overlap, however, which means that if you’re a millimeter from getting the next star and you complete a 5/5 action (spending five energy) it won’t bring you any higher than the start of the next star! Save the low-energy tasks for when you’re about to hit the star. That way you won’t waste energy.

Dueling Club

Hogwarts Mystery has a smattering of scripted duels, and additionally, there’s a Dueling Club located in the dungeons. You’ll eventually unlock this as you progress through the story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIX_M-Pm4mU

Here, you can duke it out with NPCs and will be rewarded energy for any battle you win. Definitely hit the dueling club if your energy isn’t capped, as it can be a quick way to restore energy levels before a long class or a scripted event.

How to duel

The last element of Hogwarts Mystery we’ll be covering in our beginner guide is how to duel properly. It’s kind of a rock-paper-scissors combat style with the focus being on which stance to adapt. The stances are aggressive, defensive, and sneaky. The order goes as follows:

Aggressive beats sneaky
Defensive beats aggressive
Sneaky beats defensive

https://www.imore.com/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-everything-you-need-know

There’s little way to predict what your opponent will choose, but it does help to consider their personality and their relation to you, the player. Once it’s your action round, your allowed actions will depend on what you chose for your stance. You’re always offered one spell and one potion, but despite their names, they all do the same thing:

Throwing a vial will damage the opponent’s stamina bar, while casting the spell will do the same thing, potentially offering a chance to stun. You can also use a Wiggenweld potion to heal yourself after you’ve learned the recipe.

Keep in mind that your moves will also more effective if your attributes are tailored to your actions. Check out this video to see for yourself:

Overall you’ll find Hogwarts Mystery to be a very user-friendly experience once you get used to dealing with the micro-transactions and your dwindling supply of energy points. Hopefully, this guide will help you through the beginning of your wizarding school year!

5 ways gaming can make you an awesome musician

Just because you’re a rock legend in Guitar Hero or Rock Band doesn’t mean you’re actually a good musician.

But could it?

The debate has been going strong ever since the release of the original Guitar Hero in 2005. While research indicates that video games do help with both cognitive and physical health, can they really help instill musical talent?

The first thing to realize is that music is a culmination of several subjects. Music is equal parts science, math, language, history, exercise, and – most of all – art. When you put it that way it’s almost harder to find a subject that doesn’t relate to music.

If you’re playing a video game with a strong focus on history (Civ 6 for example), it makes sense that it would help you better appreciate the historic implications of music, whereas a game like Dance Dance Revolution is both parts musical and physical exercise.

https://www.destructoid.com/konami-announces-dancedancerevolution-classroom-edition-226142.phtml

We’ve compiled a list of 5 big ways that video games can help teach music. You might be surprised just how many connections there are.

5. Know your role

https://www.wallpapersrc.com/download/nvidia-hunter-3-evolve/3200×1800

Video games across all genres can revolve around good teamwork. Great examples are titles such as Overwatch, Evolve, Borderlands, Star Wars Battlefront, or Team Fortress 2.

Team Fortress 2 is a class-based shooter with two competing teams. Players can pick from an assortment of characters like the Pyro, the Spy, the Scout, the Soldier, or the Medic. It’s all about knowing your role, and knowing where your unique talents are best put to use. Video games teach that there’s a shining moment for every weapon type, every class, every spell, and every character.

Or at least every character besides Yamcha.

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http://www.resourceentertainment.com/entertainers/bela-fleck-and-the-flecktones

Playing music in a group setting like a band, an orchestra, or a choir is all about knowing your role too. Are you the lead voice? The harmony? The rhythmic pulse? You play a specific part in the music you’re creating. Know when you’re needed, but don’t overstep your boundaries.

Being a good musician extends past just knowing the ins and outs of your instrument – it’s about blending and listening, leveling and mixing, playing and resting. Just because you’re a trumpet doesn’t mean you won’t have moments where you need to play quietly, or just because you play bassoon doesn’t mean you’ll never be asked to be the lead melody. Video games can help you learn when it’s your moment to shine, and when it’s time to pass the ball to another player.

4. Different settings, different genres, different music

Video games have come a long way since the beeps and blips of arcades or early Mario games. Modern AAA titles hire professional composers like Jeremy Soule, Martin O’Donnell, or Jack Wall. We dare you to play any track from Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura for a skeptic. We guarantee they won’t believe that it’s from a video game.

But does a professional quality soundtrack equate to a game “helping you learn about music?”

http://onlysp.com/marty-odonnell-starts-his-own-game-development-company-highwire-games/

Yes, it can.

A truly well-crafted game will not skimp on music that fits the game’s setting. Let’s look at the Witcher series, for example. Based on the works of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, the Witcher games are entrenched in Slavic lore and oozing with medieval fantasy. Check out the soundtrack and you’ll hear that it’s kept very true to the roots of the literature. Check out this article that describes the composition process for such a title.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Download now ►

It’s not just Witcher either – listen to the Japanese influence in the title track for Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, or the entire album for Civilization V: Brave New World. Every civilization in Civ V has its own unique collection of tracks based on the country you play as.

Ancient Greece’s peace theme in Civ V is a take on Epitaph of Seikilos, the oldest piece of music known to mankind – the melody and lyrics of which are etched on a tombstone that could date back as far as 200 BC. Music is history, and games can introduce a widely colorful array of music genres, instruments, composers, and scores.

3. Soundtrack matches the visuals

Just like with film, the accompanying soundtrack is determined and defined by the action taking place on-screen. Sometimes that action is the result of scripted events, and other times it’s the result of something that you did as the player.

You might be in the middle of a stealth mission in Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory when the music suddenly shifts to indicate that a guard has spotted you. Or it could be you’re roaming around in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim when suddenly you’re set upon by a dragon.

Tonal shifts or modulations in music are nothing new. They can add a refreshing flavor to a piece, or they can be used to introduce a new direction or theme. It’s not just key changes either – jazz musicians like Horace Silver or Frank Zappa often change a song’s time signatures too.

Musicians who are more often exposed to songs where the time or the feel will change are not thrown off as easily the next time it happens. Additionally, anticipating tone shifts and recognizing modulations can help with visualizing the narrative of a song, lending insight and relatability to your own performance – something that any musician will tell you raises your musicianship to the next level.

2. Video games are reactive

The old slogan for Electronic Arts was to “challenge everything.” Video games are competitive at their heart, and for any competition, you need at least two entities: Yourself, and the opposition. You need to have someone or something to compete with, be it the AI, a high score, or another player. A player’s actions are always determined by what is seen on the screen. Moreover, their actions in a multiplayer game are determined by those of the other players, whether their intent is cooperative or competitive.

Let’s look at Street Fighter 4, for example: You can know all the moves and combos for Ryu, but that doesn’t mean you’ll always be playing as him with the same strategies. A fight with M. Bison is going to look and feel very different from a fight with Chun-Li. That’s because they’re two very different opponents.

Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition download now ►

What determines who wins the match is hugely dependent on who reacts and counters more appropriately, capitalizing on their character’s strengths and their opponent’s weaknesses.

http://www.truman.edu/majors-programs/majors-minors/music-major/music-ensembles/

Playing jazz in a combo setting is all about reacting to other players and carrying on a musical conversation with them. Similar to our first point, listening is hugely important.

If you’re playing keyboard and the drummer suddenly changes the style underneath you, you’ve got to match the change. If the saxophone just finished an improvised solo, how did their solo end? Can you begin your solo on the same note and pick up where they left off?

Video games teach players how to handle a dialogue with another player. That dialogue might be literal words, or it may be a combination of button presses that demand a certain retaliation. Music and games are both reactionary conversation.

1. The grind

Ask any musician “how they got so good” and they’ll immediately say it was through practice. Talent plays a part too, but no one wakes up a virtuoso. The legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker allegedly practiced anywhere between 11 and 15 hours a day for over three years to achieve the technical facility he was famous for. Put the work in, and eventually, you’ll have the skills to show for it.

There’s a practice method for every video game out there, too. Mortal Kombat IX even has a room specifically for practicing mastering a character’s combos, or learning the proper timing for fatalities. Halo 3 introduced “theater mode” as a means for players to study their matches. They could use it to see their mistakes and improve upon them next time around.

But does landing a 30-hit combo in Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension mean you’ll be a guitar legend?

Well it doesn’t quite work like that. But it does mean you have good diligence, patience, and self-discipline, and those are massively important to succeeding with music.

All of this goes double for games that focus primarily on music – playing with a group in Rock Band, learning the outrageous timing and button combos for Guitar Hero, or learning to train your ear and listen carefully with Loom.

http://walkthrough.wikia.com/wiki/LOOM_(1990)

So pick up your controller and hop online to play some Overwatch or some Fortnite. But next time you nervously sit down in front of a piano, remember that video games can teach you a thing or two about listening, knowing your role, and developing a good solid practice routine.

5 maps we want to see in Star Wars Battlefront 2

Star Wars boasts some of the coolest science fiction locations to ever hit the big screen. Be it the endless dune seas of Tatooine, the lush fields and waterfalls of Naboo, or the salty red dustbin of Crait. We’re lucky that so many Star Wars games have given us the pleasure of living out our dreams and playing in these fantastic locations. As game graphics get more and more advanced, these locales are looking better and better, too.

Ever notice, though, how many of these planets are defined by a single topographical feature?

In all seriousness, though, EA Star Wars Battlefront II has some of the most cutting-edge graphics to date, and their released maps are nothing if not stunning. We were particularly excited to see the faithful recreations of fan favorites like Theed and Echo Base.

Still, there are a plethora of locations from the series that we’re longing to explore, score kills, and inevitably die on. We’ve narrowed the list down to our top five.

If you haven’t experienced EA’s superb imagining of your favorite Star Wars locations, be sure to pick up the game here:

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It’s impressive. Most impressive.

Carrie Fisher returning in Star Wars IX

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5. Coruscant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3gc9vDOVwg

Think of Coruscant and you’ll soon be thinking of the Jedi temple where so much time was spent in the prequels. There are a ton of scenes and encounters that take place on this planet, making it an excellent candidate for inclusion in EA’s Battlefront 2.

The biggest plot points that come to mind are the two fights from “Revenge of the Sith” that take place here – Palpatine vs. Mace Windu (who we’d love to see added as a playable hero!) and later Palpatine vs. Yoda. Though we’re not sure which factions would be present were EA to include it, we’d sure love to march on the library like in “Episode III.”

https://www.starwars.com/news/from-a-certain-point-of-view-who-is-more-powerful-the-emperor-or-yoda

Playing a heroes vs. villains match in this huge open room full of moving podiums would also be a blast, and would make for some really chaotic lightsaber duels. Oh, and let’s not forget about that huge chase scene with Zam Wessell in the beginning of “Attack of the Clones” – that was on Coruscant, too.

4. Utapau

Like Coruscant, Utapau was also present in Pandemic’s 2005 Star Wars Battlefront 2. Utapau is the massive sinkhole planet where Obi-Wan famously confronted and dispatched the fearsome commander of the droid army, General Grievous. In the time that we got to follow General Kenobi’s escapades at this location, we got to see a flashy lightsaber fight, a retaliatory clone strike force, and a chase sequence leading to the final confrontation with Grievous. We’re getting antsy just thinking about how cool it would look to run down clone players with a massive wheel bike.

https://www.starwars.com/databank/utapau

Since “Revenge of the Sith” was fresh out the gate at the time of 2005 Battlefront, this map was featured heavily in the trailers, and was one of the maps we got to play on in the demo. The scale of the map seems extremely small when compared to massive maps in EA’s Battlefront 2 (Kashyyyk and Yavin come especially to mind) and we’d love to see what they can do to expand upon it.

The hive network of the sinkhole would also allow for the map to have more verticality to it – something that we haven’t seen in abundance on the ground maps in EA’s Battlefront 2. We can envision some excellent ambush opportunities for flying classes like the jet trooper or Boba Fett.

Utapau also seems the logical choice with the game’s inclusion of both Grievous and Obi-Wan.

3. Scarif

http://starwars.ea.com/starwars/battlefront/news/welcome-to-rogue-one-scarif

Added to the first EA Star Wars Battlefront, “Rogue One’s” Scarif came along with the same downloadable content that added playable characters like Jyn Erso and Director Krennic. An oceanic paradise world rife with tropical islands and teeming with beaches and palm trees, Scarif was also home to a high-security Imperial base. Hidden inside were the schematics that revealed the Death Star’s one weakness.

http://starwarsplaces.com/locations/rogue-one-a-star-wars-story/scarif/

Galactic Assault matches on Scarif would in all likelihood play similarly to the walker pushback like the one on Crait. A neat difference would be if the late-game stage put more focus on stealing the plans and escaping, almost like a Capture the Flag mission from Pandemic’s original Battlefront 2.

If DICE went in this direction, it would certainly be a great way to put the focus on team cohesion, and would likely call for a vastly different choice of class and hero than the earlier phases. Plus this locale looks like it was straight out of James Bond, and that can never be a bad thing.

2. Mustafar

https://www.starwars.com/databank/mustafar

The battle of the heroes, the duel to end all duels, Mustafar is the volatile volcanic world where Obi-Wan faced off with Anakin Skywalker at the end of “Revenge of the Sith.” Covered in molten lakes and laced with rivers of lava, this treacherous terrain would make any match exciting and challenging, be it Heroes vs. Villains, Blast, or even a full-on Galactic Assault.

http://cuebycue.blogspot.com/2016/05/star-wars-ep-iii-revenge-of-sith.html

In addition to the multiple stages that we see in Galactic Assault, we think it would also be cool if sections of the map became covered in lava and were rendered inaccessible as the match went on. It would increase the intensity and make the most of the planet’s awesome atmosphere. Maybe even destructible and repairable bridge platforms? But alas, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. We probably shouldn’t even bring up how awesome it would be to PvP on a collapsing platform over a river of lava …

1. Jabba’s Palace

Another fan favorite from Battlefront 2 2005, this was one of the coolest maps in the game. Boasting sadistic droid torture chambers, ruthless Gamorrean Guards, A vicious Rancor, and even Jabba himself in the center throne room, this map really had it all.

What we loved so much about this map was how much it pushed the close-quarters chaos: Small rooms, cramped stairwells, tight corners, and brutal firefights peppering all across the map in a desperate attempt to hold back the horde of enemies. We can only imagine how crazy a Blast match would get on a map like this!

Not to mention that with EA Battlefront 2’s multi-stage games, we think it’d be pretty sweet to skirmish on the Sail Barge like the heroes in “Return of the Jedi.” Considering how much of the cast was present during that fight (Luke, Han, Chewbacca, Lando, Boba Fett), it actually seems pretty remiss not to have put this map in yet. Not to mention that EA has finally nailed the way sand looks and behaves in Battlefront. If there were two sail barges in the later phase of the match, it would almost amount to a ship-to-ship battle for control, all with heroes running around and people ducking in and out of the barge itself.

Any of these maps sound like a Star Wars fan’s dream come true? Let us know which ones are on your wish list!

Top 10 games that need a remake

With remastered games popping up left and right, it’s exciting to hear when your favorite childhood memory is going to transform into a modern visual masterpiece. Likewise, it’s also equally disheartening when a game that sorely needs the same treatment gets swept under the carpet and ignored.

While we’re excited to see games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Bioshock, or Crash Bandicoot get a face-lift, there are many old titles out there that have yet to receive their much-needed makeover.

https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/crash-bandicoot-ps4-2018-news-release-date-gameplay-wishlist-trailer-3388420

We’ve assembled a list of our top 10 games that really deserve the TLC to bring them back in the public’s gaze.

10. Dark Forces

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Doom 2 with a Star Wars twist, Dark Forces puts the player in the boots of Kyle Katarn on his first missions to help the rebellion after the destruction of the first Death Star. The game was fully voice-acted and had a cast of familiar faces, including Darth Vader, Jabba the Hutt, Boba Fett, and Mon Mothma.

Some of the folks who worked on Dark Forces moved on to make the next games in the series – Dark Forces 2, Jedi Outcast, and Jedi Academy. Since Bethesda’s release of a remastered Doom, we’re anxious to see how a Dark Forces reboot would look and play.

9. Call of Duty: World at War

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Set during World War II, the fifth game in the Call of Duty series is action-packed and gritty as ever. With a surprisingly emotional campaign that split the player between fighting the Japanese as an American and fighting the Nazis as a Russian, this game captured the dirty, demoralizing look and feel of the locations, weapons, and sounds of the war.

The first game in the franchise to introduce the now infamous Nazi Zombie mode, a remade version of Call of Duty: World at War would be truly spectacular to see. With some smoothed-out edges and refinement, the multiplayer here could be just as exciting as the more recent Call of Duty installments. Since they’ve already remade Modern Warfare, it would make sense if CoD 5 was up next!

8. Far Cry: Instincts

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With Ubisoft’s March 27 release of Far Cry 5, the Far Cry series has really hit its stride and become a well-known public title with the AAA funding to back it. Most fans of the series have experienced the latter three games (and likely Far Cry: Blood Dragon as well), but fewer current fans of the franchise can say they’ve played the original Far Cry. Now that we’re five games deep, it’s a better time than ever to put out a fresh remaster of the game that started it all.

The first game in the Far Cry series was a much more linear, scripted experience – far from the free-roam RPG that made its entrance with Far Cry 3. Far Cry Instincts’ story plays more like a cheesy 80s action flick that takes the player through island jungles, dark rain forests, abandoned mines, towering canyons, and zombie-infested research labs. It didn’t take itself as seriously as Far Cry 4 or 5, for sure. A remake of Far Cry: Instincts would be a great idea for any gamer interested in checking out the newer Far Cry games, and yet still want to start from the beginning.

7. Final Fantasy IX

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Since nearly every Final Fantasy game has gotten a full remaster, it only seems fair that Final Fantasy IX receive the same treatment. With a roster of likable characters, compelling narrative, refreshing backdrops, a solid RPG system, and a memorable score, this installment in the series is definitely worthy of returning to the spotlight.

We’d love to see how these beautiful vistas and characters would look with updated graphics and models. Just don’t mess with our chocobo track – it’s perfect the way it is.

6. Mercenaries

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames Download Now ►

Few games can match the zany destructive fun of Mercenaries 2: World in Flames. Pandemic’s 2008 release was a single player or (online) multiplayer shooter game set in the sandbox world of war-torn Venezuela. The protagonist gets shot in the butt during the opening cutscene (yes, we’re serious), and proceeds to seek vengeance on the man deemed responsible – Ramon Solano. By vengeance, we mean dropping nuclear bombs on … well pretty much anyone you like, really. It’s that kind of a game.

With multiplayer hijinks that rival popular titles like GTA or Saints Row, an updated Mercenaries 2 would be glorious indeed. Seeing as EA is behind the wheel on this one, we can understand the skepticism, but hear us out: Two Mercenaries games have already been canceled and yet EA still renewed their license on the franchise. We’re not sure whether Mercenaries 3 will ever be a thing, but we can definitely see EA putting out a generic reboot. We hope so; we’re itching to skydive into a military base without a parachute again. Chicken suit: Mandatory.

5. Ultimate Alliance

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Since Square Enix’s announcement of The Avengers Project, fans have been long wondering what the mysterious game might be like. For news on that front, check out this article! Many fans are hopeful that The Avengers Project will be an unofficial sequel to the beloved Ultimate Alliance and we have to say we agree.

Ultimate Alliance was the perfect game for any Marvel fan. Featuring a huge roster of over thirty playable and upgradable characters with a variety of moves there was a character for everybody. Players were also able to assemble their own teams and change costumes, for strategy or simply for aesthetic, to create a team capable of facing off with the game’s huge number of villains. The cutscene graphics have aged gracefully, but the in-game graphics could certainly do with a touch-up. While the RPG elements were solid, the combat itself (particularly the boss fights) tended to drag on. With the sad lack of Marvel games coming out this past year, we’d love to see this one get polished and redone.

4. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

http://www.gamersonlinux.com/forum/threads/lord-of-the-rings-return-of-the-king-guide.905/

$35

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

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We love WB’s Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War to pieces, but they didn’t do much in the way of letting the player interact or play as Middle Earth’s most beloved characters; it was never the intent of the game. EA’s 2003 release of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King was a surprising success given the generally infamous reputation of games based on movies. Featuring solo mode or two-player co-op, Return of the King took the well-constructed combat and RPG elements from Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (2002) and simply improved upon the formula by adding more missions and more playable characters.

Players hacked and slashed their way through three separate campaigns – the Path of the Wizard, The Path of the Hobbit, and The Path of the King – to make their final stand at the Black Gate while Frodo and Sam dealt with Gollum once and for all. Chock full of playable characters (Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Sam, Frodo, and Faramir to name a few), upgradable weapons and combos, unique enemies, twisting and turning maps, and voice acted by many of the original cast members, it’s easy to tell that a lot of love was put into this one. We’d be thrilled to see what it looks like spruced up and with multiplayer compatibility.

3. Goldeneye

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This one’s been a fan favorite since its release on Nintendo 64 back way back in 1997. One of the first games to highlight splitscreen competitive play, Goldeneye was the ultimate party game … and ruiner of friendships. With a healthy mix of weapons (including the infamous golden gun), maps, and character models, Goldeneye is more than deserving of a remastering.

We’d love to play this game with our friends again. Just please nerf Oddjob? Pretty please?

2. Quest for Glory

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Another of our favorite games from the 1980s and 90s, Sierra’s Quest for Glory: So You Want to be a Hero was the first of a five-part series of point-and-click adventure games. One of the first RPGs, players could pick between the wily thief, the mighty warrior, or the clever mage. It was a puzzle game at its heart, but the puzzles were not always solved with equipment in the player’s pocket as was the case with games like King’s Quest or Monkey Island. There were a number of tricky puzzles that were solvable in different ways depending on which class you were playing as, sometimes opening up entirely new avenues and locations. One of the more charming features of Quest for Glory was the inclusion of an import option between games, allowing players to keep their character and transport them from game to game. Revolutionary for its time, and sadly underutilized today.

With Roberta Williams’ King’s Quest series receiving a reboot in July 2015, it’d be great to see other Sierra games make a comeback. Quest for Glory’s fast-paced combat and humorous storytelling make it our top choice. If you want a more modern take on Quest for Glory, you can check out the recently released Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption, available now by the same developers as the original!

1. Knights of the Old Republic

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A fan favorite by LucasArts and Bioware, the original Knights of the Old Republic is set in the beloved Star Wars universe and features an intricate plot with memorable characters, locations, quests, and battles. The game is definitely showing its age, however, and the animations and combat are clunky at best by today’s standards. It’s a shame when that detracts from the overall impact of such a deep and detailed story, and in our opinion, there’s no game more deserving of a remaster.

If EA and Bioware want to see an influx of players on their servers for The Old Republic, this would be a smart place to start. It would remind people of what made the KOTOR series so special, and would renew their faith after the mixed response they received from Battlefronts 1 and 2.

Agree with our list? What games would you like to see brought up to 2018 speed?

How to use alchemy, bombs, and oils in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher series puts the player in the mud-stained boots of the grim and gritty Geralt of Rivia: A ladies’ man, a cunning hunter, and a master swordsman. As such, when it comes to combat and allocating perk points, a lot of players will gravitate towards increasing Geralt’s skill with his blades or the potency of his combat signs like Quen or Igni.

The game mechanic and corresponding skill tree that’s often overlooked is alchemy, as is the case in so many fantasy RPGs. But is it deserving of this treatment in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt?

Let’s find out.

Oh, and if you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t gotten around to playing Witcher 3 yet, here’s a download link for you:

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Unlike other famed video game protagonists, Geralt of Rivia is not a one-man army. He’s not Dragonborn, he’s not Starkiller, he’s not Kratos. He’s not immortal, he’s not blessed by the gods. Geralt is defined by his witcher training and by his years of experience, and he bears the scars from both.

It’s one of the things we love about him the most – Geralt has made it this far largely because he’s resourceful, knows his quarry, and plans meticulously. This is precisely why alchemy goes hand in hand so well with being a witcher.

Use oils for a leg up

Your swords can cut down humans and monsters alike, but the longer the skirmish takes, the longer you’re at risk of getting walloped by a golem, or blinded by a water hag. Trust us – neither is a situation you want to find yourself in. In this way Geralt is like the Batman of fantasy RPGs:

He’s brooding, he’s somber, and he knows to strike when he has the best chance of coming out on top. Proper planning is key when going up against harder creatures – particularly on the game’s higher difficulties.

Endrega nest giving you trouble? Try putting insectoid oil on your silver sword. Superior insectoid oil will add a mighty 50 percent increase to your damage every time you hit an insectoid monster, and will last for 60 hits. Could you defeat the monsters without using it? Probably, but the fight will take longer and every time you get hit your equipment will degrade. Why make things harder on yourself and on your wallet?

Alchemy is best used in tandem with the in-game bestiary. What’s so cool about the Witcher’s monsters is that every creature has its resistances and its weaknesses. Exploiting an enemy’s weakness is what witchers were trained to do. Approach a fight with the proper oils applied and you’ll see why they treat preparation so importantly.

Decoctions are more than just trophies

There are two types of potions you can use in Witcher 3: Potions and decoctions. Potions are more run-of-the-mill and primarily serve as temporary buffs: Full Moon increases your maximum vitality for a full minute; Black Blood damages vampires and necrophages whenever they wound Geralt. Useful for sure, and definitely not to be underutilized. Decoctions, however, take it to the next level.

Decoctions are created with rare ingredients, some of which you’ll only come across once in a playthrough. These are things like mutagens found on unique earth elementals, forktails, leshens, or werewolves. In other words, it’s not stuff you’ll find a street peddler selling! You can, however, buy formulae. Learn the formula to make a decoction for one such creature, and once you acquire the proper ingredients you’ll be able to craft it.

Decoctions can do a variety of things, ranging from increasing Geralt’s vitality per kill, to growing attack power over the course of a fight, to even things like unlimited sprint or jump outside of combat. Each decoction is completely unique, and every one you get adds another tool to your arsenal. By mid-late game you’ll want every bit of help you can get.

Are bombs even useful?

Yes. Oh, yes they are.

If you’re uninspired by a lackluster grapeshot or dancing star, remember that these, too, need to be upgraded as you progress further in the game! A superior Devil’s Puffball will last 20 seconds longer than a regular one, and in the heat of combat, that difference is huge. Additionally, much like the oils, certain monsters will have vulnerabilities to different bombs. Learn how to craft each one and keep them upgraded as often as your budget will allow.

Don’t be afraid of running out of supplies

This is a big one. To players who are leery of using bombs, oils, and potions because it’s a finite resource, we hear you. You’ll be thrilled to know that this is not the case! When we saw that our griffin decoction had only one use, we were prepared to horde it until the final boss. Imagine our excitement when we learned that decoctions, potions, bombs, and oils can all be resupplied very easily.

Any time you meditate (accessible from both the RPG menu and from the combat wheel (LB on controller)) it will replenish all of your used supplies, provided you have strong alcohol on your person. This means items like alcohest, dwarven spirit, or mahakaman spirit.

If Geralt has even one of these in his inventory all your stuff will be capped off for immediate reuse. Strong alcohol can be found practically anywhere, too. Just open a barrel in the nearest city or talk to a traveling merchant. There’s no reason to be shy about using your supplies!

How does this toxicity meter work?

Witcher or not, the potions and decoctions Geralt imbibes are still toxic and would kill lesser men. Check out this description of the trial of the grasses to see what we mean.

Every potion and decoction has a toxicity level and will fill up that much of the green bar you can see on either the HUD or from the inventory screen. As long as your combined potions fall within Geralt’s limit, you can use varying combinations of effects. Use this to stack buffs like increased damage or vitality regen.

Is it worth your points or your mutagens?

It really depends on your build. For those who are unfamiliar with how to use mutagens, the short explanation is that they can give you an increased buff if they’re put next to corresponding skills you have equipped. For example, red mutagens increase Geralt’s attack power. The more powerful the mutagen, the higher the bonus. Likewise, if that mutagen is modifying three equipped abilities the overall bonus it gives is stronger than if it was just modifying one or two.

Complicated? A little bit. Check out this picture:

The green mutagens you harvest are buffed by your equipped alchemy perks. As you can see, our Geralt has an extra 450 vitality just from two equipped alchemy perks. That can make a surprising difference in a fight. Obviously, this isn’t even doable unless you have the alchemy perks to begin with, so yeah you’ll have to equip a couple. Again, it’s all about the build you want. If you’re trying to tank, wear heavy witcher gear and stack your alchemy mutagens for a truly massive vitality bonus.

As for the alchemy perks themselves, we found they were all quite useful, especially when stacked. Fixative, for example, gives blade oils more charges before wearing off. Pyrotechnics adds or increases damage to all your bombs. The question wasn’t so much whether we liked the perks, but more whether we valued them over our martial skills. That much is up to you to decide. If you’re interested in seeing what a full-out alchemy build would look like in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, check out this video:

We hope this guide will help players feel a little love for alchemy in The Witcher 3, and that you’ll consider its perks and gameplay on your playthrough! Now harvest some pringrapes and get back on the trail!