SpikePsyche

I have been a fan of the Mass Effect series since the beginning. That being said, while this is not my fave of the series, I am still enjoying it and find it a welcome addition. Yes, it has its flaws, but it also has a lot going for it. The naysayers be damned. Check it out, it is worth it.

I was stoked enough to see the Red Mage (AND Samurai) jobs added to Final Fantasy XIV with this expansion. (My main on FFXI was a Red Mage, so I was getting nostalgic.) Since the moment I started playing the expansion I have been overjoyed. The new areas are impressive. Great design, nice detail. And you can swim and, in some areas, dive! The new story quests and side quests are engaging, although pretty much the standard fare as far as quests go, they do add to the story and lore while introducing you to the new areas and their monsters. I must admit that many times in games I am one of those who skip a lot of dialog and cut scenes so I can get right to the action, but in Stormblood I am actually compelled to follow the story tying everything together. So far this expansion seems massively bigger than Heavenward. Every time I turnaround I open up a new area. Lots of exploration. Lots of new creatures and races. And if you're like me and are a fan of the Final Fantasy universe, you'll see a lot of nods to monsters and creatures from past games in the series. We definitely got one of the best expansions I've seen on an MMO. And we got major bang for the buck.

I'm not far into the game, but I will say this: it makes me giddy as a kid on Christmas. The bridge of the starship and the control stations all look good. The strategy is real. The only thing that would make this better is to be able to explore a planet surface with a phaser and tricorder in hand. But that wouldn't be Bridge Crew, now would it? That would be Landing Party and a different game. My only complaint was the control configuration. Wasn't quite intuitive for me. But like the Borg, we adapted.

I tend to be rather critical of games in general and altogether picky. I've been waiting for awhile for a new, good, fun to play aerial shooter and/or space sim. I was a bit skeptical about this title, but I kept on checking it out. Finally I broke down and purchased it for my PS4 VR. Well, I couldn't be more pleased. This is an awesome team based space sim/aerial shooter. The dogfights are some of the most fun I've had since Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge. The aiming is spot on, and you are able to target your missiles with your head by looking while shooting your gattlings in the direction your flying. The graphics are pleasing and the explosions are great. I highly recommend this title to anyone looking for some great aerial combat and a pleasing, visceral VR experience.