Samantha Lienhard's Blog, page 128

Celebrating All Things Spooky 2017

Welcome back to another October’s worth of celebrating all things spooky! For its fifth year, we have new stories to look at, more horror games to discuss, and a new horror game giveaway!

I recently announced the reprint of my Lovecraft-inspired The Book at Dernier, available now in print from Amazon with an ebook version coming soon.

This year also saw the release of It Came Back my horror novelette (another story inspired by H.P. Lovecraft) published by The Book Smugglers this summer. It is available as an ebook.

Final Masquerade, which includes my horror story “The Artist,” has a fantastic new cover this year, and you can also pick up copies of “Sand” (in The Mad Scientist Journal) and “Rokurokubi” (in Wicked Words Quarterly).

And if you prefer something on the lighter end of the spectrum, my zombie comedy The Zombie Mishap, published by Griffin Publishers, is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

All of my stories available in print will be available at my book signings later this month, as well. You can find full information on all my stories here.

A Horrific Giveaway

Now, let’s move on to the giveaway! This year, I have a selection of horror games to give away, all Steam copies:

Dead Age
Lakeview Cabin Collection
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location
Dead By Daylight

As with last year’s contest, this one isn’t random. Instead, it will be based on your participation in discussions on these blog posts. When October ends, I will tally the scores to determine the winner.

Rules

No purchase is necessary.
Only comments made between October 2, 2017 at 1:00 PM EST and November 1, 2017 at 12:00 AM EST will be counted.
Comments can be made on any post on this blog, not just Celebrating All Things Spooky posts.
1 non-spam, non-anonymous comment = 1 point.
You must use an email address or website URL (or include another way of contacting you) in your comment so I can contact you if you win.
You must have at least 10 points at the end of the month to win.
The person with the most points will get their first pick of the four games. The person with the second most points will pick second, and so on, until all four games have been given out.
The winner will be contacted on November 2, 2017.

If you have any questions, let me know and I’ll clarify the rules. Enjoy your spooky October!

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Project Octopath Traveler Demo Thoughts

In Wednesday’s discussion of upcoming turn-based RPGs, I named Square Enix’s Switch-exclusive Project Octopath Traveler as one of the RPGs I’m most looking forward to. Let’s talk about it a little more.

With an art style the developers are calling “HD-2D” (don’t ask me), its look reminds me a lot of classic Final Fantasy games. And while it doesn’t seem to have a world map, favoring connected areas instead, it definitely has a traditional feel.

Project Octopath Traveler has 8 protagonists, each of whom has their own special skill. The demo lets you play as two of these characters. Primrose can “allure” characters to follow her and fight alongside her in battle, while Olberic can challenge characters to a duel.

Since I’d watched a significant portion of Primrose’s part of the demo before I downloaded it myself, I decided to start with Olberic.

Olberic’s story has a slower start, but it’s still interesting, and I enjoyed what I saw of Primrose’s story. I’m not entirely sure how useful Olberic’s skill will be (although one duel solved a side quest), but I had fun fighting NPCs when I wasn’t following the story or exploring.

The combat seems fun. At first it felt like enemies had way too much HP, but then I realized how to effectively use its systems. When you attack an enemy with an attack it’s weak to, its shield gauge lowers. When the gauge reaches 0, you “break” the enemy, lowering their defense and making them unable to attack.

On each turn, you also gain one Boost Point. You can have up to five at a time and use up to three at a time to increase your number of attacks or the power of a particular skill. With the right combinations, you can deal a ton of damage. It feels like an improved, somewhat streamlined version of the Brave system in Bravely Default, with the tedious parts taken away.

Now, back when I played the demo for Bravely Default, I enjoyed it, only to end up disliking the full game. The main difference is that the Bravely Default demo focused on gameplay (and I was so nostalgic for traditional RPGs, that was enough to win me over). Here, I’m already interested in the characters and their stories, and I hope all 8 protagonists end up united in an exciting story.

What are your thoughts on the Project Octopath Traveler demo? What do you expect from the full game’s story?

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Top 5 More Upcoming Turn-Based RPGs

Near the end of 2015, amid claims that turn-based combat in RPGs was dead, we looked at 5 upcoming turn-based RPGs

All of those games are now out, except for Dragon Quest XI, so let’s take a look at five more upcoming RPGs to keep in mind if you still love turn-based combat.

5. Dragon Quest XI

We’re getting this one out of the way early because I technically included it on the previous list, along with two other Dragon Quest titles. Back then, localization was still in doubt, but now we can look forward to Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age in 2018.

Dragon Quest XI has two distinct styles depending on whether you get the PS4 version or the 3DS version, and the 3DS version also lets you go for an even more old-school look, but no matter which version you get, it’s a turn-based JRPG with a traditional style.

Dragon Quest shows no sign of leaving its roots behind, and fans are happy for that.

4. Battle Chasers: Nightwar

Due out next week on October 3 (except for the Switch version, which is coming later), Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a game based on the Battle Chasers comic series and inspired by classic JRPGs.

I have no familiarity with the Battle Chasers series, but Nightwar looks pretty cool. The only thing I’m uncertain about is that it has randomly-generated dungeons, but previews of the game have suggested it does an excellent job with the classic JRPG formula.

3. Lost Sphear

When I finished I Am Setsuna, I was disappointed with the ending… but eager to see Tokyo RPG Factory have another chance. Lost Sphear will be out on January 23, and everything about it looks like exactly what I hoped for: a game styled after classic JRPGs, but with improvements over I Am Setsuna when it comes to the world and ATB combat system.

It remains to be seen if the story, which deals with characters restoring the world around them through the power of Memory, will be satisfying, but I have high hopes for Lost Sphear.

2. Project Octopath Traveler

I was skeptical of Project Octopath Traveler when it was first announced, because it’s being handled by the team behind Bravely Default. To some people, that’s fantastic news (and yes, I did have Bravely Second on my previous list of top upcoming RPGs), but when I tried to play Bravely Default, I couldn’t get invested in the story and characters at all.

However, the demo for Project Octopath Traveler available from the Switch eShop convinced me that maybe I was too hasty in my judgment. It looks beautiful and reminds me of older Final Fantasy games, and the story and dialogue so far seems a major step up from Bravely Default.

Project Octopath Traveler will be out in 2018, and I’m looking forward to it.

1. Trails of Cold Steel III

Finally, while I’m still all the way back with The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (First Chapter), the Trails series has already caught my attention as one I’ll enjoy.

Trails of Cold Steel III will be the newest entry in the series, and it’s due out tomorrow in Japan. No news has been announced yet about it’s Western release, but it seems a given that it will be localized. It won’t be the end of the Trails series, either. According to the developer, Trails of Cold Steel III will bring the overall Trails story to just over 60% complete.

They’ve taken steps to streamline combat, but it’s still turn-based. If it lives up to the standard set by previous games in the series, it is definitely one to be excited for.

Conclusion

Of course, these are only five of many. Last time, I left off some of the games I ended up enjoying the most, like World of Final Fantasy and Persona 5, so I might have overlooked something wonderful again. What turn-based RPGs are you looking forward to?

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The Book at Dernier is Now Available in Print

My horror novella The Book at Dernier has been available at The Red Penny Papers since 2013, but now it is also available in print.

For a while now, the original has been more difficult to navigate due to changes on the site. (You can still find it here, but you’ll need to add “wordpress” to the URLs for the links to work.)

Not only did I want to make that easier, but I also always dreamed of making a print version available. Since the rights have returned to me, I’ve now self-published a new edition.

The Book at Dernier follows Paul Bryce, an obsessive scholar who digs into the dark secrets of a small town called Dernier and finds himself caught up in a nightmare.

(Of all of my Lovecraft-inspired horror stories, the inspiration might be strongest in this one.)

This paperback reprint of The Book at Dernier includes additional revisions and a few new scenes. It is available now at Amazon and CreateSpace, and I will also have copies available at book signings later this year.

You can also add it on Goodreads.

The ebook version isn’t ready yet, but that should be up and available shortly as well.

October is almost here, and we’ll have plenty of horror to discuss as Halloween approaches, so this is perfect timing. And if you’ve read either version of The Book at Dernier, I’d love it if you left a review!

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New Story Content Coming to Final Fantasy XV

At the Tokyo Game Show 2017, Square Enix revealed the “Final Fantasy XV: Universe” trailer.

This trailer takes a look at the overall Final Fantasy XV universe, including both products already released and those coming soon.

It shows:

Brotherhood (the anime)
Kingsglaive (the movie)
Episode Gladiolus
Episode Prompto
Episode Ignis (coming in December)
the Comrades multiplayer expansion (October 31)
Monster of the Deep (the VR fishing game, November 21)
the Final Fantasy XV PC version (early 2018)
Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition (chibi mobile version, autumn 2017)
King’s Knight: Wrath of the Dark Dragon (vaguely part of the FFXV universe as an in-universe mobile game)
a free update that increases your hunt capacity and adds additional story content.

Episode Ignis might be interesting and looks like it will expand Ravus’s role, and it will certainly be nice to take on more than one hunt, but the free story content is the stand-out announcement here.

This is a very small part of the trailer, starting at 2:16.

In this part, we see Ifrit, Shiva, and scenes between Luna and Gentiana.

While we don’t know how extensive this story content will be, it sounds perfect. Ifrit’s lore is incredibly vague in the game, which means he seems to show up for no apparent reason. A clearer understanding of his motivations and the backstory of him and Shiva should greatly help Final Fantasy XV’s story.

Luna’s role in the game was also lacking, so a greater look at her journey will also be helpful.

All we need now is more information about Ardyn… although it seems like we’ll have to wait for a new product for that.

Really, Ifrit’s backstory alone would be a fantastic addition to Final Fantasy XV, so adding Shiva and Luna content on top of that makes this sound like an excellent update. What do you want to see in the new story update for Final Fantasy XV?

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Steins;Gate Elite is a “Full Animation Adventure Game”

Back in May, Steins;Gate Elite was announced for the PS4 and Vita in Japan.

Very few details were revealed, but it sounded like some sort of enhanced remake of Steins;Gate.

Now the Switch has been added to the list of platforms, and Steins;Gate Elite has been described further as “a full animation adventure game.”

All of the animation from the Steins;Gate anime will be used, along with new animation for the routes that weren’t in the anime.

No one seems quite sure what to make of this.

I loved Steins;Gate and also enjoyed its sequel/midquel, but I don’t quite see the point of making a fully animated visual novel.

Is it like an expanded version of the anime, except you can answer Okabe’s phone and make choices to lead to the different routes, like in the visual novel? That’s interesting, but is there really an advantage over reading the visual novel? Is it intended for people who don’t like visual novels but don’t want to just watch the anime? Who is the target audience?

Steins;Gate Elite will be out in 2018 in Japan, so we’ll see what it’s like then. No localization news has been announced so far.

What do you think of this idea? Am I just missing the appeal? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

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Chaos;Child Release Date: October 24

The visual novel Chaos;Child is being localized for the PS4 and Vita, and we finally have an official release date. It will be out on October 13 in Europe and October 24 in North America.

Chaos;Child is part of the Science Adventure series, which also includes Steins;Gate, although you don’t need knowledge of one to play the other.

(The Science Adventure series includes Steins;Gate and Steins;Gate 0, Chaos;Head and Chaos;Child, and Robotics;Notes and Robotics;Notes DaSH.)

It is also the sequel to the still-unlocalized Chaos;Head, but fans have said you don’t need to be familiar with Chaos;Head to play/read Chaos;Child.

Chaos;Child is about a group of high school students who begin to investigate supernatural murders.

I loved Steins;Gate, so I’m excited for this.

Are you interested in getting Chaos;Child?

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New PopoloCrois Game Announced

PopoloCrois: Narcia’s Tears and the Fairy’s Flute has been announced as an upcoming new addition to the PopoloCrois series.

This story stars Pietro and Narcia, now adults, as they set off on a great journey. It promises an “emotional story” that is “filled with love and friendship.” Gameplay details haven’t been announced yet.

Narcia’s Tears and the Fairy’s Flute will be a mobile game released for iOS and Android.

The last PopoloCrois game was a 3DS crossover with Story of Seasons, Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale.

It was a fun turn-based JRPG with light farming elements, and it made me eager to play more games in the series. You can find my Return to PopoloCrois review at Nintendo Chit Chat.

Unfortunately, while a remake of the original PopoloCrois games was localized for the PSP, it isn’t available on PSN. It’s not too rare yet, though, so I could play it if I ever get a PSP.

In the meantime, I’ll look forward to learning more about this newly-announced entry in the series. (I hope it isn’t a gacha game.)

PopoloCrois: Narcia’s Tears and the Fairy’s Flute will be shown at Tokyo Game Show on September 23. Do you think this game will come West? Will the originals ever be available digitally?

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Theories After Life Is Strange: Before the Storm Episode 1

Over the weekend, I played Episode 1 of Life is Strange: Before the Storm, “Awake.”

Despite some problems with the explanations in the final episode of the first game, I enjoyed the original Life Is Strange quite a bit.

I was a little less certain of Before the Storm because I don’t connect with Chloe as easily as I did with Max, but Episode 1 was pretty interesting and has me intrigued about their plans.

This isn’t a review, however–that can wait until I’ve played the full game. Instead, I want to talk about a few of my biggest Before the Storm theories after playing Episode 1.

Spoiler warning: this post will include spoilers for Before the Storm Episode 1. If you don’t want events in Episode 1 spoiled for you, turn back now.

There are plenty of theories out there, over course, but here are a few of the strongest ones for me.

Rachel Has Powers

Some fans speculated even during the first game that Rachel Amber has powers similar to Max. That never occurred to me at the time… but after this episode, I really have to wonder.

First, let’s consider the ending scene, as shown in this video.

Rachel’s scream doesn’t sound natural. And when she screams, the wind visibly whips around her. This happens with each scream and seems to help spread the fire. It could be symbolic… but it has a very supernatural presentation.

Second, she has an unusual amount of knowledge about Chloe. This is most evident in their “two truths and a lie” game, where Rachel is always able to see through Chloe’s lies (even knowing approximately how many years ago she broke her wrist), but also when she references Chloe’s conversations from the start of the game.

Her scream suggests power over wind (or fire?) but her knowledge could be a sign that she really does have time powers like Max.

Can Rachel Be Trusted?

We go into this with a good impression of Rachel from the sequel… but can she really be trusted? If she doesn’t have powers, her unusual knowledge of Chloe feels creepy, like she was stalking her.

Even without that, she feels a bit manipulative. And what about the fire? It’s understandable that she’s upset, but starting a large fire like that intentionally feels dangerous. There was even a part earlier in the game where characters discussed the dangers of wildfires.

I expected to like Rachel Amber, but I left the episode feeling uncertain of her.

“Ansia”?

Before Chloe returns the photograph to Rachel in the scene above, there’s a moment where we see the photo in Chloe’s hand.

The word “ansia” is written on her palm. “Ansia” means “anxiety” in Spanish, so it could refer to Chloe’s mental state, but why is it written on her hand?

In the episode, you can check your plot objective by looking at Chloe’s hand, where she writes notes to herself. However, this isn’t a section of the game where you can check… and it doesn’t appear to be Chloe’s handwriting.

Why is “ansia” written on her hand? This scene occurs right after a nightmare that showed her where to find Rachel. Could the writing have come from the dream?

The Woman in White

This isn’t a theory so much as a question, the question on nearly everyone’s minds after the episode. Who is the woman in white? And why is she smiling as the fire spreads? What does she want?

Whatever it is, it seems there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Conclusion

If you’ve played Episode 1 of Before the Storm, what do you think? Can we trust Rachel? Does she have powers? (Is she connected to the eventual storm?) Why is “ansia” on Chloe’s hand, and who is the woman in white?

Let me know your own theories in the comments!

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Cosmic Star Heroine Vita Release Coming Soon

One of the games in this year’s backlog is Cosmic Star Heroine, a long-anticipated RPG I backed on Kickstarter.

Cosmic Star Heroine finally released on April 11, but the Vita version was delayed.

I’d considered playing it on the Vita, which is one of the reasons I haven’t gotten around to it yet. (The other reason being the size of my backlog and the other games I’ve been playing, of course.)

Well, the Vita version is almost done now that they’ve fixed a major bug that was giving them problems. Unless something else surfaces, it should be coming soon!

Physical rewards are also coming soon.

Time to get working on that backlog so I’ll be ready to play Cosmic Star Heroine!

Do you ever hold off on playing a game because you’re waiting for a specific version?

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