Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Review: Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn [PS4]

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn has finally arrived on the PlayStation 4 and, over the course of a week, I spent quite a few hours running about, fulfilling quests, battling monsters and gathering loot to pull together my first stab at a review-in-progress for the game.

Following is my review from Gaming Blend that covers the first 10 levels of progression. I plan to revisit the review after level 30, and then again if it continues to hold my interest at 50 and beyond.

Final Fantasy XIV PS4 Review: Solid start to a big adventure

Friday, April 18, 2014

Gaming in the face of tragedy [Column]

I recently took a step away from my usual writing duties at Gaming Blend to explore something quite a bit more personal than the daily news and reviews.

My Pop passed away in March following a brief battle with cancer. Gaming continued to play a part in my life during those confusing weeks and, in this piece, I explore that role. It's a bit rough, I admit, and probably doesn't dive deep enough in order to create a real "point," but writing about it helped me work through some tough emotional issues.

Anyway, here it is:

Gaming in the face of tragedy: Cancer and Control

Reviews aplenty

I did a ridiculous number of reviews these past couple of months, so here's the rundown. No need for an intro this time around. Just get to reading. Go on...I'll be here waiting. Take your time.

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is a cut bellow

Ragnarok Odyssey ACE is worth a second adventure

Deception IV: Blood Ties is a trap well sprung

Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zeroes review: Not Quite (Outer) Heaven

Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Complte Edition brings epic war to the PS4

Dark Souls 2 impressions: An absolute blast

Dark Souls 2: Helpful tips for the recently cursed