Elder sign omens review6/2/2023 This is why it’s a good idea to learn the game with Vincent and Carolyn holding up the final two spots of your line-up, because their abilities to give health and sanity during their turn means that you can essentially provide free maintenance to your team without wasting player turns at the hospital…all while watching the doom track double at midnight. Pay special attention to the special abilities that each player has, as these abilities will literally save your blood pressure from climbing. This entire game, while you’re still feeling it out, is entirely about your Team setup. Watch the videos, and the game is easy enough to pick up. If you try to do this, you’ll most likely get frustrated quickly and wonder where all the mythos pain is coming from, and why your face wont stop hurting. This is not a game you can just pick up and think you’ll start winning. Do note though, that it is extremely helpful to watch the videos. The tutorial looks huge (it provides multiple videos, as well as a bunch of text based tabs), however the text based tabs are a repeat of the video for your reference. Learning the game, if you’ve never seen the boardgame itself, seems a lot more daunting than it really is. Seriously, for as much as the rolls for glyphs may make you feel abused, once you start, you just can’t stop. It can drive you crazy, but it’s more addicting than you could ever believe. Even if you have a great beginner load-out with your Team (Harvey, Amanda, Vincent, Carolyn) you’ll still spend a few games cursing like a sailor at how hard winning can be, as well as running away from events that require multiple actions, each having multiple lore requirements to finish. Elder Sign: Omens HD for Mac OS X - $6.99Įven on the easiest Ancient One, you’ll still have your work cut out for you.Elder Sign: Omens for iPhone & iPod Touch - $3.99.Finally, there are no Ally cards in Elder Sign: Omens, which further streamlines play while increasing the overall challenge.Ĭan you stand against the impending arrival of Azathoth?.Monsters have likewise been altered to make them more difficult. For example, the random negative effects drawn every midnight are more challenging, and the frequency of “no effect” results has been decreased. A number of subtle changes increase the peril of defending humanity.Face Yig in easy mode, Azathoth in normal mode, or Cthulhu in hard mode (in-app purchase required to face Cthulhu). A limited number of available Ancient Ones streamlines the game play experience while offering adjustable levels of difficulty.Note: while Elder Sign: Omens brilliantly conveys the spirit of the Elder Sign dice game, a few noteworthy differences were adopted to optimize the mobile play experience: Its detailed instructional resources and intuitive interface will have you investigating in minutes, while its deep and engaging gameplay provides countless hours of eldritch horror. You must constantly fight not only wild animals and ravenous monsters, but frostbite, starvation, and the madness that befalls many who enter this frozen, isolated, white world.Elder Sign: Omens is an application that delivers the tense excitement of Richard Launius and Kevin Wilson’s popular dice game to an all-new digital medium. Whether you choose to travel in summer or are forced to go in winter’s dark, at every step you’ll face terrible perils, from the port of Anchorage to the forest paths and mountain passes of the interior. Omens of Ice takes you and your fellow investigators on a treacherous journey into the Alaskan wildernesses, where you must solve the mysteries of three terrible new Ancient Ones. You must brave the brutal conditions that killed thousands of prospectors, and fight ferocious creatures from this world and others, or else the cold, hunger, and ice will devastate humanity. You know all too well that the Ancient Ones are causing the weather and hunger, but this time you cannot fight them from within the Arkham Museum, or even out on Arkham’s streets. Some people complain of insatiable hunger and sometimes the newspapers even report cannibalism. Now, down in usually temperate Arkham, the winds are blowing harder and colder than ever before. Most of them perished in the ice, a few got rich, and some awoke terrible, ancient evils. Twenty years ago, during the Klondike Gold Rush, over a hundred thousand prospectors traveled deep into the Alaskan territory.
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Splashtop personal chromebook6/2/2023 ^ "iOS 11 Screen Sharing and Unattended Support Added to Splashtop SOS"."Splashtop Expands Chromebook Remote Access Support Features". "Splashtop Expands Remote Access and Control Capabilities to All Android 8.0+ Devices". ^ "Splashtop Announces Support for Remote Access to Linux Computers from Any Other Device".^ "Splashtop - An alternative to LogMeIn and TeamViewer".Splashtop On-Demand Support was introduced in 2015. Splashtop Remote Support was announced in 2015 as Splashtop Business for Remote Support and later renamed Splashtop Remote Support. The original consumer-focused solution was renamed Splashtop Personal. The original Splashtop Remote product was split into multiple products with the release of Splashtop Business in 2013. Koh was able to build strong sales channels and partnerships in Japan, eventually leading to significant growth for Splashtop Japan. In 2011, Jin Koh launched Splashtop Japan with the goal of expanding the company's reach in the Japanese market. launched its Splashtop Remote product in August 2010. The company changed its name to Splashtop in 2010. The company partners with OEMs and manufacturers to integrate this technology into personal computers. Its first product, named Splashtop OS, was an ‘ instant-on’ Linux-based computing platform. The company was founded in 2006 under the name DeviceVM Inc. is a privately held software company founded in 2006 and headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in Amsterdam, Tokyo, Singapore, Hangzhou and Taipei. The Splashtop Personal client application is available for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch from the Apple App Store, as well as Android (including Kindle Fire), Windows and Mac, and Chromebook. Splashtop supports Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) and later versions, and even some Linux distros, such as Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04, and 20.04, CentOS 7 and 8, RHEL 7.3-8.1, and even Raspberry Pi 2 and later. The current versions of Splashtop Streamer are available for Microsoft Windows XP and later, as well as for Windows Server versions 2003 and later. Splashtop uses a modified version of the mobile keyboard which includes special keys, such as Ctrl, Alt, and Delete. For example, a two-finger drag gesture is used to scroll within windows, generally mapping to the mouse wheel controller. Gestures are used to replace mouse and keyboard controls. Where a mobile device controls a desktop computer, Splashtop uses touch-to-click controls and zooms using the pinch gesture. For desktop computers, the keyboard and mouse of the client computer will control the same functions on the server computer. Splashtop remote desktop applications map the screen of the mobile device to the screen of the remote computer, so that users can interact with the remote computer. Organizations are able to give employees remote access to computers and provide remote support for computers and mobile devices. Flexible grouping and access permissions allow IT admins to give students and instructors access only to the computers they need.Īll-in-one self-hosted remote access and remote support solution for organizations. Education IT admins are able to deploy, manage, and schedule remote access for students' and faculty members' on-campus lab computers through a centralized console. Splashtop Enterprise for Remote Labs Īll-in-one remote access and remote support solution for educational institutions. MSPs are able to remotely support their internal and client computers and provide users with remote access.Īll-in-one remote access and remote support solution for organizations. Remote support and endpoint management software designed for MSPs. To manage and support unattended computers, they must upgrade to the SOS+10 or SOS Unlimited plans. Users are able to provide on-demand attended support to their clients' computers and mobile devices. Remote support software for IT support and help desks. Users are able to remotely access their Windows, Mac, and Linux computers from a Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or Chromebook device. Remote computer access software for businesses, teams and individuals. Splashtop products offer different modalities of the remote computer access and require an internet connection on both the computers to operate. Splashtop enables remote computer access for businesses, IT support and help desks, MSPs, and educational institutions. Splashtop enables users to remotely access or remotely support computers from desktop and mobile devices. Splashtop is a family of remote-desktop software and remote support software, developed by Splashtop Inc. Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, iOS, Linux Pinpoint red dots on skin not raised6/2/2023 Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. If your baby develops a fungal infection, you’ll need to use an antifungal ointment. Don’t use talcum powder or antiseptics to treat nappy rash. Persistent nappy rash can be treated with a medicated cream. You can help protect the skin by putting on a barrier cream such as zinc or soft white paraffin at each nappy change. To avoid nappy rash, keep the nappy area clean and dry with frequent nappy changes and nappy-free time. Nappy rash is usually caused by urine (wee) or faeces (poo) irritating the skin. Nappy rash is inflammation of the skin in the nappy area. These pimples normally disappear without any treatment, usually within a few months. Some babies get pimples on their cheeks and nose in the first three months of life. The rash is harmless, not contagious, and will clear after a few days or a week. Flat, red patches or small bumps often first appear on the face and spread to the body and limbs. Many newborns develop a blotchy red skin reaction called erythema toxicum, which can appear between 2 days and 2 weeks after birth. They usually clear up without treatment within a few weeks. These are just blocked pores, and they’re not itchy or contagious. Up to 1 in every 2 newborn babies develop small white spots called milia on their face, especially on the nose. Rashes with no fever or itching Milia (blocked oil glands) You can read more about serious childhood rashes here. If you think your child might have meningococcal rash, go to the nearest emergency department immediately. Related information on Australian websites.If your child has a meningococcal rash, go immediately to the emergency department.If your child has a rash and fever, they should see their doctor.There are many different types of childhood rashes. YouTube is the only other scale player that really brings a truly social element to streaming. Even though Facebook has all the ingredients to do what those guys did, but at scale, it is far too big to try to get away with that strategy so had to get licenses in place first. These apps were small enough to be able to do first and ask forgiveness later. Apps like Dubsmash and Musical.ly showed that it doesn’t have to be that way. In short, the fun has been taken out of music. YouTube now has a social music competitor worthy of noteįor a whole host of reasons which warrant a blog post of their own, streaming music has coalesced around a very functional value proposition. (MIDiA subscribers – check out our forthcoming inaugural ‘Tech Majors Quarterly Market Shares’ report to see how Facebook’s content strategy stacks up against Apple, Alphabet and Amazon, and where it will be heading.) Facebook may be embarking on a content strategy like the other tech majors, but unlike Apple and Amazon, its core focus will be ad supported, not premium. Streaming music is a low margin business that is being competed over by a number of very well established heavyweights. Not only is it the wrong fit, it simply doesn’t need to. Let me rephrase that, just in case anyone in Facebook’s management team is getting tempted to – wrongly – make the wrong move – Facebook should never try be a Spotify clone. It’s not about subscriptions, nor should it beįacebook was never going to try be a Spotify clone. Doing live stream lip syncs in Facebook Live videosįor now the roll out is limited, which will give Facebook the opportunity to hone the service and learn from the behaviour of a relatively narrow user group.The official blog outlines two key use cases: As widely anticipated the service offering focuses on using music to add context to social experiences. Facebook has announced its long mooted move into music. Iflash drive best buy6/1/2023 When formatting your drive, it’s important to understand the different formatting options available for your ideal use. Next: USB 4 2.0 will provide double the speed even with existing cables. USB 4.0: Up to 40 Gbps (only available on USB-C devices) If you don’t need the fastest USB drive around, you can save a bit by opting for a USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 drive but it will take longer to transfer files onto and off of the device. Older generations have lower numbers as well as slower transfer speeds. The number after USB indicates the version of USB that is used by a particular device. However, you’ll also want to check out our Thunderbolt vs. USB-C is newer and has a much smaller, oval-shaped plug that’s reversible. USB-A explainer goes into more detail, USB-A is the older variety with a larger, rectangular connection plug that can only be inserted into a port one way. The first and probably most important you need to know about is USB-A vs. USB types explainedĪs mentioned earlier in this guide, there are a number of different USB types and protocols that you need to be aware of before buying a USB drive. Last but not least, check the warranty on a USB flash drive a lifetime warranty is preferred but 5 years is a decent fallback option. In terms of durability, look for USB drives with shock-proof or waterproof designs and other features that limit the chances of your drive being damaged. Flash drives aren’t the hottest or coolest devices but they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most USb-C drives support USB 3.0 by default.Īnother factor to consider is design. You can tell if a USB flash drive supports USB 3.0 or higher if its connector is colored blue. That’s why we look for USB 3.1 support or at least, USB 3.0 support if you care about performance. The faster the speed, the more data you can write to the drive quickly and access what you’re trying to see. However, if you’re more concerned about getting a cheap memory stick for carrying a few files, you can probably get by with 16GB or 32GB of storage space.Īside from this, you’ll also want to consider other critical features, such as read/write speeds. Most USB flash drives go up to 256GB and a few now have 1TB versions. If you have a large number of files, videos, or songs you want to carry around with you, getting a USB drive with at least 64GB is critical. When buying a USB flash drive, you’ll want to focus on storage first. But to get all that, be ready to shell out: The SanDisk iXpand USB flash drive is on the expensive side. Considering how difficult it can be to transfer data from those devices without Apple's help, that feature alone could be a major selling point for the iXpand. The iXpand flash drive's most important feature is its Lightning connector, which lets you connect to an iPhone or iPad and transfer data to and from that device. It has a metal finish to improve its durability, and thanks to its USB 3.0 connectivity, the device will deliver fast data transfers. The device starts at 32GB of storage, though you can configure the iXpand to have up to 256GB of space. If you're in the market for one of the very best USB drives available, and you're just fine spending some cash to get it, check out the SanDisk iXpand flash drive. Just be aware that you'll pay a bit more for this USB-C drive compared with other options. When the USB flash drive is not in use, you can retract both connectors to limit chances of damage and keep your data away from harm and readily accessible. SanDisk says that the drive achieves data-transfer speeds of up to 150 MBps. The memory stick comes with up to 256GB of storage and accommodates data transfers to and from a range of devices for example, from your computer to an Android smartphone, as well as Apple's latest Macs. Since it has both USB-A and USB-C plugs - there's a slide to expose one or the other - the SanDisk Ultra USB-C offers a nice mix of fast data transfers and future-proofing, so you can be sure it'll work with a variety of devices going forward. This is easily the best USB drive for newer laptops, like the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro, that have only USB-C ports. SanDisk's Ultra Dual Drive USB-C is a slick-looking flash drive that offers plenty of storage and fast data transfers. Hue go best buy6/1/2023 It has been updated since then, and I had no problems pairing or controlling either device. I touched the bulb after it had been on for a while-no burned fingers here.Īmazon reviews from around 2019 for both the bulb and the plug (which I also like) note issues with the app. It's also designed to not overheat, thanks to "special cooling materials," according to Nooie's website. It has regular on/off scheduling, as well as wake-up and bedtime schedules that can dim or brighten the bulb. Its white spectrum could be larger and brighter, but it's enough to satisfy most people's needs. The Aurora offers a range of nice hues, with preset themes and the ability to make your own. Also, the lights we recommend below are not meant to be used outdoors. Note: You might run into issues using smart bulbs with dimmer switches. It's not the worst thing, but it can be a nuisance. Most bulbs can be set up separately, but some companies require you to connect a hub to your router. You might have to occasionally reconnect the bulb to the app. Make sure to leave the power switch or the wall switch turned on so the corresponding app can control the power instead. Usually, you only need to replace a bulb and download an app. If you're buying lighting for an office or other professional space where pink or blue shades would be frowned upon (or you just want the most affordable bulb), we have basic options listed below. All the color bulbs we tried have multiple white and warm settings, so if there's any chance you might want to try out colors occasionally, we recommend going with them. You'll typically see smart bulbs categorized by full color, dimmable white, and tunable white (bright white and warm tone options). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day. This includes unlimited access to and our print magazine (if you'd like). Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). Updated February 2022: We've added the Govee Lyra smart lamp and Sengled's classic bulbs to this guide. If you decide to smarten up your home even more, most of these brands have a list of other products too.ĭo you want to try voice controls? Consider getting a smart speaker or smart display. Plus, there are no cameras or door locks for someone to hack into, and no wiring to mess with. Most options are relatively cheap, and they’re easy to install. If you want to make your home just a little smarter, smart bulbs are a great place to start. Now you can control the lights, set timers and schedules, and change colors with your smartphone or your voice if you have a smart assistant-no clapping required. The LIFX team has been working hard to fix production issues and start sending devices out to pre-order customers, Birt says, but they’ve also been working in the background on other efforts while that’s been going on.Remember the allure of the Clapper? No more getting out of bed to hit the light switch! It seemed cutting edge at one time, and you can still buy it, but technology has come a long way since then. LIFX will offer screw, bayonet and downlight models from the get-go, however, and unlike the Philips Hue, they don’t require a base to connect to Wi-Fi to talk to each other and to your iOS or Android device. Philips introduced two new types of Hue bulbs and starter kits earlier this week, effectively tripling its product lineup in a single blow. That’s all above and beyond the existing $10 million in pre-sales LIFX has done via Kickstarter and its own site, and the $4.6 million it has raised from private investors.Ĭo-founder and Director Andrew Birt says that they acknowledge that they’re behind schedule, but that the smart bulb race “hasn’t been won yet,” referring to the head start legacy lighting industry giant Philips has with its Hue series. LIFX bulbs will go on sale at Best Buy online Januin the U.S., and some global retail partners including John Lews in the UK, DickSmith in Australia, Digitech in the EU, MediaMarket in Scandinavia and Virgin Megastores in the Gulf Region, are launching it even earlier in December of this year. LIFX had promised to deliver by March, so they’re officially quite late to the party, but they’ve also managed to secure some major retail partners for a consumer launch late this year and early next. That’s a little later than originally promised in its Kickstarter campaign. Kickstarter success and Australian hardware startup LIFX is finally shipping its Wi-Fi connected smart lightbulbs this Friday. Federal minim wage6/1/2023 Under pressure from lenders, Greece imposed severe pay cuts in 2012 during bailout programs funded by a European Union rescue fund and the International Monetary Fund. The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is 7.25 per hour. We know that in our country, wages are still low, and they are being squeezed even more by inflation,” said Mitsotakis, whose center-right government faces a general election in the spring. We know that in our country, wages are still low, and they are. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the gross minimum monthly salary will go up on April 1 to 780 euros ($830) from 713 euros. These provisions are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece announced on Friday an increase in the minimum wage that will restore pay to levels existing before sweeping cuts were imposed more than a decade ago during an international bailout. General information about who is covered by the FLSA.Įqual pay provisions prohibit sex-based wage differentials between men and women employed in the same establishment who perform jobs requiring equal effort, skill, and responsibility. Provides general information concerning what constitutes compensable time under the FLSA.Ĭoverage Under the Fair Labor Standards Act Fact Sheet Information on the Youth Minimum Wage ProgramĪ minimum wage of not less than $4.25 may be paid to employees under age 20 for their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment, as long as their employment does not displace other workers.įact Sheet on Hours Worked Under the Fair Labor Standards Act Must Young Workers Be Paid the Minimum Wage? What is the Minimum Wage for Workers Who Receive Tips? Questions and Answers About the Minimum WageĪnswers to questions ranging from "How often does the minimum wage increase?" to "Who ensures that workers are paid at least the minimum wage?"Īdditional information about the minimum wage. Webpages on this TopicĪ clickable map that tells you what the minimum wage laws are in each state. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division administers and enforces the federal minimum wage law. However, some states do have laws under which such claims (sometimes including fringe benefits) may be filed. The FLSA does not provide wage payment or collection procedures for an employee's usual or promised wages or commissions in excess of those required by the FLSA. The federal minimum wage provisions are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In cases where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages. The federal minimum wage for covered nonexempt employees is $7.25 per hour.
Blackguards 2 curios6/1/2023 Command up to 20 characters in your party and lead them to death or glory.A story with many twists and turns, fateful decisions and more than 20 challenging hours of playtime awaits you.Find the Vanquishers of the Nine Hordes and see what has become of Takate, Naurim and Zurbaran.Recruit mercenaries, find upgrades and build an indomitable army. Sounds like a solid plan, doesn't it? But then again, how cunning must one be to escape the dungeon's walls and how reckless must one be to gather and command the worst scum of the realms? She needs to recruit an army of Sellswords and rally the Vanquishers of the Nine Hordes around her. She intends to break out of prison and overthrow Marwan to claim the throne herself. She is neither fond nor proficient in matters of diplomacy or politics, so she chooses a more. First of all, she spends her days incarcerated in a dungeon and secondly, there is already a man on her throne: Marwan. Unfortunately, there are two problems that potentially foil her plans. Cassia, a young woman of noble descent, has only one goal: She wants to claim the Shark Throne, no matter the price and be it only for one day. The Vanquishers of the Nine Hordes long parted ways but life in Aventuria went on. Three years have passed since Count Uria´s plots. Every action has consequences, so make your decisions wisely. Blackguards 2 is a turn-based strategy-RPG and will deliver challenging hexfield battles and a gritty story filled with violence and crime.Ĭhoose your playstyle: no matter if front line combat monster, mage or ranged fighter it's in your hands how you want to develop your character. Uncle bucks fish bowl6/1/2023 What should I put on my Iowa bucket list? How many of these short and sweet hikes in Iowa have you experienced? Some of the best kid-friendly hikes in Iowa that measure 1 mile or less include Wildcat Cave Trail in the Wildcat Cave Wildlife Area, Table Rock Loop in Ledges State Park, Bridal Veil Trail in Pikes Peak State Park, Hidden Prairie Nature Trail in Kuehn Conservation Area, George Wyth Mine Trail in George Wyth State Park, Yellow Banks Backpacker Trail in Polk County Park, Wildwood Loop in Ashton-Wildwood County Park, Savannah Trail in Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, and the Greenbelt Lake Loop. Luckily, there are plenty of shorter options that even the littlest explorers will enjoy. Iowa's trails are both beautiful and impressive, but not all of them are appropriate for younger hikers. You'll find plenty of family-friendly trails in Iowa: Learn more about these amazing Iowa destinations and why you'll want to visit them.Īre there any kid-friendly hikes in Iowa? Some of the best family-friendly attractions in Iowa include Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Des Moines, Lake Okoboji in Arnolds Park, Brucemore Mansion, the Irish Shanti in Gunder, Miss Spenser's Special-Teas in New Virginia, Wildcat Den State Park, Storm Lake, Iowa 80 Rest Stop, Decorah, Moon River Cabins, and Roseman Bridge in Winterset. Fortunately, we've outlined some of our favorites so that you can make the most of your time traveling through the Hawkeye State. From interactive museums to beautiful state parks, there are attractions for everyone. If you're planning on traveling to Iowa with the family, you'll be pleased to hear that the state is positively brimming with family-friendly attractions. There are plenty of family attractions in Iowa: It is elevated to provide views of the bowling action while serving up your favorite refreshment.What are some family-friendly attractions in Iowa? The bar features a huge saltwater aquarium with scores of beautiful, tropical fish. A host of exotic fish swim in and around the wreck while Dorado and Sharks, suspended from the ceiling, appear to swim overhead. Looking up, visitors can see the battered, barnacle and coral-encrusted wooden hull, an old rusted iron chain and the iron rail around the bow. Private dining is available and is the perfect spot for a private lunch or dinner, seminar or even a fun birthday party.Īn island-theme bar area, offers visitors the experience of feeling like they are underwater exploring the skeletal remains of a sunken ship. Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl and Grill features a truly unique atmosphere and design geared for family fun and dining.Ĭasual family dining is available in the Grill where you can select from a menu featuring a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and burgers. Hand-painted murals and fish hanging from the ceiling bring everything together for a deep sea dive like no other. “Dock” wooden lanes feature underwater scenery of sea turtles, sharks, stingrays and other saltwater species. Many full lanes of bowling offer a unique underwater ocean experience! Custom bowling balls that bear the likeness of octopus, mermaids, camouflage and more. Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill is located at Bass Pro Shops in Round Rock, Texas, and is under-the-sea fun for the entire family! It's a nearly perfect balance of everything. The battle system in Star Ocean 4 is to RPGs what red velvet cake is to dessert: the kind of experience that borders on the divine. Mostly, that job is escorting you from one fight to the next. In spite of its problems, it does its job pretty well. Still, I wouldn't go so far as to call the story bad. There's something to be said for subtlety and this game just doesn't have it. The end result is a handful of moderately interesting characters who can't quite carry the weight of the more annoying cast members on their shoulders. Apparently, anything with wings is chicken. Put them together and Meracle suddenly feels the urge to spout jokes about how Sarah reminds her of delicious chicken, complete with forks and knives and drooling. Both characters come from non-human species that have roots in previous Star Ocean games. Take Meracle, the obligatory obnoxious catgirl, and put her near Sarah, your white mage with wings. For every time Edge does something interesting or Bacchus is charmingly over-analytical, someone else drags the rusty nails of their personality across the chalkboard of your mind. Such a dynamic is a beautiful thing when said characters are good, which makes it unfortunate that the cast in this game is extremely polarized. Instead, you're often watching how the characters react. The majority of the game's cutscene time isn't actually spent on what's happening. Best hero ever? No, but his dilemmas are believable and when he faces a major crisis, you can relate with the way he responds.Įdge is just one of many characters that help to make Star Ocean 4 such a character-driven experience. He's brash but he admits it, even going so far as to crack a few jokes at his own expense. Edge pretty much spouts cliches from every pore in his body, and yet in spite of the negative first impressions, he's a fairly compelling hero. He wields a sword in a future where everyone else has plasma rifles and his name is a solid nine on the standard ten-point scale of cringe worthiness. The protagonist in Star Ocean 4 is Edge Maverick, a generically young starry-eyed hero type who dreams of adventure and hopes to one day be the captain of his own space ship. Perhaps most importantly, there aren't any mini-games involving mine-cart turtles. There's no more dying because you ran out of MP, the AI's been improved and the plot-while not necessarily amazing-is better. Let's get one thing out of the way right now, then: this newest installment does a good job of putting most things back on track. Caution was therefore warranted when approaching the sequel. Without making enough blunders to prove a thoroughly horrible experience, the PlayStation 2 outing still left many gamers scratching their heads and wondering what went wrong. It wasn't a bad enough burn to prevent a person from using the stove in the future, but it was enough to give one pause. Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, the previous entry in the series, was a little bit like burning your fingers on a hot stove. Going into Star Ocean: The Last Hope, the fourth proper installment in a long-running franchise, there was plenty of reason to be wary. The number of RPGs that have that kind of instant gratification is extremely limited, a true testament to the kind of fun you can have only with the likes of Star Ocean: The Last Hope." " Star Ocean: The Last Hope is the type of game that can have you reaching to play it again even though you just beat it a half-hour before, just for the opportunity to rough up some more monsters. Star Ocean: The Last Hope (Xbox 360) review |