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Review: Episode Prompto, Putting Together the Missing Pieces

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After the 10-year wait for Final Fantasy XV, it released with a flurry of mixed reviews from fans and critics. Being a long time Final Fantasy fan, I have to say, that I was one of the people who really enjoyed the visceral and large open world of Final Fantasy XV. I purchased the season pass based on the promised episodic character DLC and eventually a multiplayer DLC. Unfortunately, the Season Pass has been a giant let down so far, Episode Prompto Included.

For anyone that has done a full playthrough of Final Fantasy XV, you’ll know that these single character focused episodes fill the missing pieces from the main story, bits where party members went missing for inexplicable amounts of time. After completing the hour and a half long DLC, Episode Prompto, I was quite disappointed.

First, let’s talk about the story in Episode Prompto. I actually really enjoyed the story. I loved getting a chance to explore Prompto’s dark past, however, it could have been delivered better. Having all of this information crammed into an hour and a half felt rushed. Prompto finds out where he came from, faces his fears, and defeats a major enemy in this amount of time. Prompto seems like he could possibly be the least generic character from FFXV, and it would have been great to have more time with him.

Somehow Episode Prompto gave some important information and made it feel like the complete opposite. Every time it felt like the story was going to climax, I felt abruptly pulled out and rushed forward. Emotional conversations, plot reveals, and action sequences were all very short lived making it hard to connect with the character.

We get to explore Prompto finding out that he was manufactured to be a Magitek Soldier. After being separated from his friends, Ardyn taunts Prompto with hallucinations of being a Magitek soldier. There is even a sequence of Noctis chasing Prompto, treading on Prompto’s fears of betraying or losing his friends. Prompto struggles with the idea that his friends will not accept him for who he really is.

There are some hidden tapes and different things added in order to give some exploration aspect, but it didn’t really help. Instead, the tapes felt like a cheap way to give me story details and avoid giving me more gameplay. We also got a chance to see some more Arena, which also felt like a plot device to move the story forward, basically showing up to offer some suck it up style inspirational speeches to Prompto and some companionship in the heat of battle.

The controls were a bit interesting for a third person shooter style gameplay. They were kind of unique and took a second to get used too, but by the time I did, I had finished the DLC. You basically had a knife, your pistol, and random generic weapons that could be picked up as you moved forward. This included a submachine gun, a sniper rifle, a bazooka, and a grenade. The attacks were pretty basic and unmemorable.

You’re also given a snowmobile to travel and I actually enjoyed it. The trailer for this made it look gimmicky, but I found myself having fun running over enemies, shooting them at high speeds, and ramping off of mounds of snow and rocks. It was fun to have full control of a vehicle, opposed to the train track feel you get when driving the Regalia.

If you’re a fan a Final Fantasy XV, I would suggest waiting on purchasing the DLC if you haven’t already, as I don’t expect much more from Episode Ignis. I’m still holding out hope for Comrades the multiplayer DLC, but with Episode Ignis slated for December, it’s safe to say we will have to wait until 2018 to see any multiplayer gameplay.

I have always let my imagination run wild. Now that I am an adult, not much has changed. Now I spend most of my free time doing so through video games, film, television, and comics.

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Sony is reportedly engaged in discussions to form a partnership for a potential bid on Paramount

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There hasn’t been much buzz lately about any new acquisitions in the world of video game intellectual property. According to a recent report, Sony is currently engaged in discussions with a well-funded partner to potentially acquire the renowned film studio Paramount, along with all the exciting possibilities that come with such a merger.

As reported in the New York Times (thanks, ResetEra), Sony Picture Entertainment is reportedly in discussions with Apollo Global Management, an investment firm, as per two sources familiar with the matter. In the past, Apollo had made an offer to acquire Paramount for a minimum of $26 billion, but their bid was ultimately turned down.

The terms of the joint bid are currently under discussion, and there is a chance that the two parties may decide against making a formal offer. Unnamed sources have revealed that Paramount is currently in exclusive discussions with Skydance, preventing any official offer from being made at this time. Investor opposition to the recent deal that Skydance brought seems to have been significant.

The potential impact of such an acquisition is immense. First and foremost, it would introduce adaptations of Sonic and Halo into the expanding media empire of the PlayStation platform holder. Following the announcement, Paramount’s stock experienced a significant 11% surge in after-hours trading.

What are your thoughts on the news? Is there a possibility of Sony acquiring Paramount? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Helldivers 2 Players Face Overwhelming Hordes of Factory Striders

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In the ongoing conflict against the Automaton invasion fleet, the Helldivers 2 players have successfully halted their advance. However, the situation has now reached a tiresome stalemate. Yet again, the machines refuse to take a break from their relentless pursuit of progress, with reports emerging of the Factory Striders being deployed in record-breaking quantities.

There have been reports of alleged machines that were supposedly encountered during Operation Swift Disassembly, which was just the beginning of a larger campaign. However, these accounts should be taken with a grain of salt, as they are unverified and seem to be more on the imaginative side. Factory Striders have gained a reputation as formidable weapons platforms that can produce more Automatons while enduring significant damage. If the machines are able to withstand such a relentless assault, it will be necessary to develop innovative strategies.

Have you come across groups of Factory Striders in Helldivers 2? Which strategies are proving to be the most effective in taking down these armored brutes? The Orbital Railcannon Strike will prove to be a valuable asset in the comments section below.

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Todd Howard affirms that the timeline of the Fallout series is coherent and well-constructed

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The recent release of Amazon’s adaptation of Fallout has ignited a renewed interest in the series and brought attention to the captivating alternate history that forms its foundation. Fans have expressed concern that the TV show’s events might be at odds with the plot of the Obsidian Entertainment video game New Vegas. Warning: Spoilers ahead for New Vegas and Amazon’s show!

Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard and Fallout TV executive producer Jonathan Nolan recently sat down with IGN to discuss the timeline. Howard was taken aback when showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet presented him with the surprising concept of obliterating Shady Sands, the bustling capital of the New California Republic, in the aftermath of the events in New Vegas. Howard eventually warmed up to the idea: “After discussing it, we realized that this could be a significant story moment that many things hinge upon.”

It seems that they had to make some tough decisions to ensure everything fell into place, but Howard emphasizes the importance of preserving the integrity of the Fallout timeline: “We take great care with the timeline. There seems to be some confusion in certain areas. However, all the events from the previous games, including New Vegas, did occur. We take great caution in that matter. We’re really pushing the limits here, but the explosions occur right after the events of New Vegas.

What are your thoughts on this? Is it up to par? Even though it may not have a significant impact on the overall quality of the games or show, it is comforting to know that those in charge are paying attention. We value your feedback and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

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