Gotta Conquer Them All! - Pokemon Conquest! (Part 1)

Title: Pokemon Conquest
Genre: Tactical RPG
Developer: Tecmo Koei
Publishers: Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
System: Nintendo DS
Release Date: June 18th, 2012

It's one of the VERY RARE events in which one of Nintendo's main franchises decides to have a cross-over game with another series of games that isn't the Smash Bros. series. Pokemon Conquest is a game that combines the game play and strategy/tactical adventure of Nobunaga's Ambition with Pokemon.

The story of the game takes place in an area known as Ransei, where a legend states that if one nation has control over all seventeen of the kingdom's regions (which are based on all 17 Pokemon types), that the creator of the region will return once more. 

The Ransei region, the setting of game. The landmass itself is based on the legendary Pokemon, Arceus.

As stated previously, the goal of the game is to conquer all 17 nations of Ransei. You start off as a hero/heroine of Aurora, an area that specializes in Normal-type Pokemon. Like in Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, your starter Pokemon is an Eevee.

Unlike in Pokemon games where normally, you would send out a Pokemon and face an opponent 1-on-1 (or 2-on-1/2-on-2 for Double Battles), you and your allies each send out one Pokemon and that Pokemon is the only that can be used for that battle until all enemies are defeated. There is also a handful of different things that differ from normal Pokemon rules:

                             - Each character can vary in the number Pokemon the can have (most 8, least 2).
                             - Up to 6 characters can be in one nation at a time.
                              - Pokemon evolve when they reach a certain energy level
                              - Oddly enough, warlords themselves can also "evolve"
                              - Pokemon may sometimes leave a character's party
                              - Characters may also leave the army if not used at all
                              - All Pokemon will only have one attack to use.
                              - Warlords and other characters can use special abilities to aid the party

Now that's some of main things to look out for in this game. There's a lot, but once you start playing, you'll understand the mechanics quite easily.

A battle in the Fire Nation, Ignis, home to Fire-type Pokemon.

I think that I'm going to put a stop for now, and have a Part 2 for this entry as well, since there's a lot to talk about, and I haven't been feeling well. So stay tuned!

Looking Back -- New Info From Previous Tidings

Hey everyone. Today's blog is pretty much going over things that I did not get a chance to put and or update that status on certain blogs that I've previously posted on here.

If you've saw my post about Journey, you probably remember that the topic was on it's soundtrack being given a nomination at the 55th Grammy Awards earlier this year. Unfortunately, it did not with the Grammy, losing out to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo's soundtrack, composed by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross.

Still, for a video game that has gotten a lot of praise such as Journey, getting an Oscar nomination is just as awesome, even if they didn't win, which proves that video games can reach certain points it never could before.

Secondly, I will discuss the current events still going on with Shovel Knight and it's Kickstarter, which is still on for another two weeks. The developers have now reached their $75,000 goal, and have now decided to start up on "stretch additons" which are extra things they can add into the game, all at varying goals.

Some examples of these stretch goals include: a music player, achievements across all platforms, and a New Game Plus option.

If you haven't gotten already done so already, then check out the game's Kickstarter page, and read up on what's to come, and if you wish to do so, donate to get more things for the game.

Third, and most likely finally, I hope that everyone had a happy and safe Easter! Here's to April just not that far around the corner!

-Anthony-

Ground Zeroes And A Phantom Pain

Today's blog will be rather brief, as it is about something which is new information in regards to the latest in the Metal Gear series.

Title: Metal Gear Solid V (5): The Phantom Pain

Genre: Stealth, Action, Third-Person Shooter

Developer: Kojima Productions

Publisher: Konami

System: Playstation 3, Xbox 360 (other systems pending)

Release Date: TBA

Over the last year, there have been two major teasers that led up to Metal Gear Solid V's reveal at this year's Game Developer's Conference. It was initially announced through two separate games: "Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes" and "The Phantom Pain". It is also the first game to utilize the FOX Engine.

The Ground Zeroes trailer serves as the prologue for the game, which takes places after the events of the previous game in the Big Boss story line, Peace Walker. In the full trailer, it is shown that Big Boss has been a coma for nine years. How and why has yet to be known.

Trailer from GDC 2013:

Now to be fair, I've never played any of the Metal Gear games (unless counting the demos for Snake Eater 3D for the 3DS and Metal Gear Rising: Revengance count in any way), but I've always been interested in the series in itself for some reason. My guess is it's just the gamer instinct or something.

Anyways, more stuff will come in the following weeks and months until it's release, so until then enjoy the trailer!

-Anthony-

Rayman...Unvamped? Why You Need to Try Origins and Legends

Hello everyone!  This is a special edition post from yours truly, Rambo Covey, creator of The Gaming Athlete blog!  I'm here to amaze, wow and hopefully help you out in the gaming realm!

Now, please take a step back in time all the way to . . . the 1980s and 90s!  Forever ago, right?  Now, imagine how most games were set up.  Platforming games ruled back then and one certain game stood out, making a name for itself: Rayman.

A platforming game that should have stayed that way.

Rayman helped the platforming genre after its release in 1995 with it's colorful levels and fun-filled gameplay.  Unfortunately, platforming was about to enter its twilight years and Rayman went with it, as Rayman 2: The Great Escape moved over to a 3D format.  At that point, I thought one limbless hero might be gone forever . . .

However, at some point in 2010 and after many difficult attempts to recapture Ray's lost magic, some brilliant new minds at Ubisoft had decided to go back to the roots of the hero and bring a new title back to the platforming age!  On November 15, 2011, Rayman Origins was released, and the title couldn't be any more fitting.

Origins brought back the original style of 2D platforming and mixed it with a vivid new layout and wonderful HD cartoon graphics.  This also helped the gameplay look fresh and renewed, as some abilities had been added since the first game of the series.  Co-op is an absolute blast to play and it's definitely more enjoyable and entertaining when two people are playing instead of just one.

The funny thing about this screenshot is that it's in-game, not a poster.

The other great thing about Origins is that ole Ray hasn't lost his charm over all these years.  Add in the stunningly beautiful new visuals and you have a game worthy of being played over and over again.  In fact, the game was such a success that a sequel, Rayman Legends, is in the works.  It was to be originally released exclusively for the Wii U, but was pushed back so versions for the Xbox 360 and PS3 can be made.

What needs to be said is this: Rayman is back and he's better than ever.  Origins has brought this series back to life and Legends only looks to build on what was done right in 2011.  Often times, old ideas are best decisions to make and in the case of good old Rayman, a better decision couldn't possibly be made.

I would like to thank Anthony for this opportunity to post on his blog.  His information is rich and should be considered by any gamer and again, swing on by to my domain, The Gaming Athlete!!

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Like what you read?  Leave a comment on your thoughts and like this post and don't forget to read other posts from before for more gaming madness!  Also you can follow me on Twitter at @RamboCovey58!

Deuces for now bros!

Petals Through the Wind - The Life of a Flower

Title: Flower

Genre: Adventure

Developer: Thatgamecompany

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

System: Playstation 3

Release Date: February 12th, 2009

A game about flowers? What is this madness? Well, madness or not, a game of flowers exists. Flower is the second game created by Thatgamecompany as part of their three part original deal with Sony (alongside flOw and Journey).

If you're expecting a huge plot from this game, don't expect that.

The game conists of six levels (seven if you count the ending credits) which follows the dreams of each flower in a variety of different landscapes -- from meadows, near windmills, farms, and even a city.

At the start of each level, a petal will be plucked from the flower and carried away by the wind. You control both the wind and the direction of the petal and collect other flower petals along the way.

You have only two controls in this game: press any button on your controller to control the wind, and tilting the controller will change the direction the petals will go.

Rather than focusing on a major plot, the game is meant to show a variety of emotions such as happiness, which is done through the game's scenery and soundtrack, in which it would correspond with the player's actions in the game.

Flower is a game that's simple and has the ability to capture people's emotions as they play through. If you're looking for something that's affordable (at $7) and pleasing, then Flower's your choice here.

Kickstarting The Code of "Shovelry"

Hello everyone.

Normally at the top of this blog you'll normally see information about the game, it's name, it's release, publisher(s) and what not, but that's not the case for today's blog.

Not that long ago I came across a trailer for a new game that has yet to be released. I instantly was amazed by it's concept. The title that I'm talking about is "Shovel Knight".

Shovel Knight is an upcoming action/platformer game that will be released on Steam (PC), and also on Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS that will be released sometime in 2013. The game is done in a retro 8-bit design, from enemies, dialogue boxes, and even the musical score.

Like any indie game before it, making a game costs money, and of course the company behind this game, Yacht Club Games, is in need of funds in order to finish the game in its entirety. With the way the economy is, and how money goes by quick, sometimes you have turn to something in order to get the project at full speed.

That's where sites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo come in.

A week or so ago, Yacht Club Games started their Kickstarter campaign for Shovel Knight, and need a total of $75,000 in order to fully finish the game. Now you're probably asking: "Why should I donate to for this campaign?" Any campaign done on Kickstarter or IndieGoGo, regardless of the project type, gives people who donate certain amounts rewards in return.

Kickstarter and IndieGoGo campaigns can offer special rewards to those who donate. People who donate $100 or more for Shovel Knight's campaign get "official Shovel Knight Dirt" along with a special secret, and all other previous rewards.

Of course, the company must pay part of the money once that have fully funded their campaign to the site itself (this is the case for IndieGoGo, though I'm not 100% sure about Kickstarter).

Even though there's still a little over three weeks of campaign still going on, and it's reached halfway towards it's goal, the sooner it gets fully funded, the sooner progress can be made for the game's completion. Even if you donate just $1 to the campaign it helps a lot in a way.

So let's see what we can do to help get this game into a reality!

The Shovel Knight Kickstarter Page

Shovel Knight's Steam Greenlight Page (NOTE: You must have an account/login to Steam to vote it up)

Shovel Knight Trailer

Shovel Knight will also be shown at this year's PAX East, which is this weekend. So hopefully more info on the game will come out soon.

Cheers, everyone!
-Anthony-

Harmonious Harmony - HarmoKnight Demo

Title: HarmoKnight
Genre: Rhythm, Platformer
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo
System: Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: March 28th, 2013

You're probably surprised that I'm posting something about a game that hasn't came out yet, but luckily there's a demo of this game on the Nintendo eShop and I decided to check it out.

Because I'm talking about a demo, this blog will be pretty short, and spoiler free.

HarmoKnight is Rhythm based Platformer developed by Game Freak, the company that's well known for making the Pokemon series. Every now and then they'll make a non Pokemon based game, but if you still need that Pokemon fix in your life, several levels in HarmoKnight feature music from various Pokemon games.

The plot of HarmoKnight is simple: you play as a young warrior named Tempo and find out that monsters known as Noizoids have come and attacked Melodia (a planet/main setting) and it's up to him to save the planet from these monsters.

Going by the demo, you have two main controls: B in order to jump and A to attack enemies. Occassionaly there will be times where you will need to use the circle pad/controller in order change directions.

Again, to keep spoiling the game, it would be best to try out the game and or demo for yourself. Sorry for the short posting! And happy belated St. Patrick's Day everyone!