Weekly Gaming Blog · 5:05am Mar 10th, 2017
Welcome to my Weekly Gaming Blog!
This week's coverage: Dragon Quest VII, Pokemon Shuffle.
I am going to regret the HELL out of this, I know it, but...
Now that I have a smartphone, I'm probably going to want to find a few really good mobile games. I haven't actually had time to deal with that this week between everything else going on in my life AND being sick with allergies most of the day Wednesday, and I'd rather not just waste endless hours aimlessly browsing the app store, so...
I'm now taking suggestions for mobile games I might play. A few stipulations:
- Must be available for Android. I have an Android phone, not an iPhone.
- Free games only, and ONLY games where in-app purchases aren't absolutely necessary.
- I've already got all the Candy Crush games on my PC and don't really need them for mobile.
- NO Summoners War. Already checked that out, freaked out when it wanted call permissions.
-- Nothing that wants call permissions.
- NO POKEMON GO.
-- Or anything else that requires you to actually get around a lot. Because I don't.
- Games with an animesque flavor or bright colors/art are a plus.
- Not terribly interested in Mobile Strike, but I am interested in some of the other mobile games you see advertised on TV a lot, so don't be afraid to suggest something "overhyped".
This is the one and only time I'm ever going to actively ask for suggestions for games I should try, so make the most of it, pendejos! 
Newly acquired games this week:
Disc Jam (PS4)
Earth Defense Force 2025 (PS3)
Lumo (PS4)
Mass Effect Trilogy (PS3)
Tearaway Unfolded (PS4)
Dragon Quest VII
Finally started this, but I'm not very far in it. Honestly? While Dragon Quest games tend to move at a more relaxed pace in general compared to other RPG series, this one gets off to such a slow start... Z_Z
Pokemon Shuffle
Pokemon Shuffle was updated to version 1.4 this week. Interestingly, the Gen VII starters appear in the home menu thingie for the game... (They're not in the game yet, but this means they'll probably be showing up soon!)
Also, upgrading to version 1.4 and checking in gets you 10000 coins and 30 Hearts.
Pokemon caught: 737
Pokemon at level 10 or higher: 156
* Main stage Pokemon caught: 529/529
* EX Stage Pokemon caught: 46/47
* Special Stage Pokemon caught:
=All Special Stage Pokemon released through 3/7/17=
* Safari: All Pokemon caught through 3/7/17
Main stages cleared: 1-550
Main stage S-ranks: 541
EX stages cleared: 1-46
EX stage S-ranks: 20
Survival Mode best record: SM16
Max combo: 166
Meowth's Coin Mania Record: 7200 coins
Best Competition Ranking Score:
Mega Houndoom Challenge
Score: 65809
Final rank: #2148
Best Competition Ranking Placement:
Mega Gyarados Challenge
Score: 58742
Final rank: #1178
Ranking Event awards won:
Abomasite, Absolite, Alakazamite, Banetteite, Beedrillite, Blastoisinite, Blazikenite, Cameruptite, Charizardite X, Charizardite Y, Garchompite, Gardevoirite, Gyaradosite, Houndoomite, Lucarionite, Manectite, Sceptilite, Sharpedonite, Steelixite, Swampertite, Venusaurite
Escalation Battle #1 highest level reached: 200
Giratina caught at: level 12 (12% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #2 highest level reached: 96
Cresselia caught at: level 4 (4% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #3 highest level reached: 125
Darkrai caught at: level 13 (13% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #4 highest level reached: 71
Latias caught at: level 16 (16% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #5 highest level reached: 101
Latios caught at: level 42 (42% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #6 highest level reached: 92
Keldeo (Resolute Form) caught at: level 11 (11% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #7 highest level reached: 239
Kyurem caught at: level 8 (8% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #8 highest level reached: 151
Diancie caught at: N/A (Diancie obtained prior to this event)
Escalation Battle #9 highest level reached: 247
Zygarde (50% Forme) caught at: level 9 (9% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #10 highest level reached: 246
Giratina (Origin Forme) caught at: level 14 (14% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #11 highest level reached: 100
Meloetta (Aria Forme) caught at: level 15 (15% catch rate)
Escalation Battle #12 highest level reached: 200
Mew caught at: N/A (Mew obtained prior to this event)
Escalation Battle #13 highest level reached: 75
Celebi caught at: N/A (Celebi obtained prior to this event)
Escalation Battle #14 highest level reached: 51
Volcanion caught at: level 48 (48% catch rate)
I find the Cut the Rope series to be enjoyable puzzle games, and the first one and Time Travel at least never ever made me feel like buying anything to proceed was needed.
Fallout Shelter, you can buy things, but the only things you can buy are lunchboxes, read: five random items. Playing without buying them is perfectly plausible. Though the game gets boring once you plateau near the top of progress and there's little to do but quests and just maintaining your Vault.
Postknight is pretty good, but not the kind of game you can play for 2+ hour sessions.
(And I know you said free games only, but if you have an IPhone there's a really good SMT 1 port for like, 4 bucks)
Funny thing you say how slow DQVII starts. The original PS1 version started even slower. One of the changes SE made for the 3DS is trimming the monotony of the first hour or so.
DQ7 is totally worth the slower pace in the beginning. And yeah like the previous comment said, the PS1 version was much worse.
I've only played Dragon Quest 1, 8, and Swords...but I enjoyed all of them.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper.
It's the anniversary month right now. The game is about to have an event where the materials to make skills in that game are easy to get.
FFRK starts out rather easy, but requires me to put it in thought and swap out characters consistently once I got to the higher levels.
Hmm, it's been a little while since I actually played anything on mobile, but I remember having a fair bit of fun with Clash Royale. (Clash of Clans was also kinda fun for a time, but then it really got to the point of feeling like a pay-to-win game, and I never paid a dime... I have not yet had the same feeling with Clash Royale.) I believe it fits all of your requirements, at least as far as I remember (works on Android, free to play, in-app purchases are not at all a necessity, and I don't think there were any call permissions). I wouldn't call it animesque at all, but I would certainly say that it has bright colors.
I'd have to check my Google Play store to refresh my memory for anything else I might suggest, if anything...
Edit: Flow Free by Big Duck Games LLC is a little puzzle game I'd think you might enjoy for a bit. (There's also Flow Free: Bridges and/or Flow Free: Hexes.)
The only two games I play on my iphone are Monster Super League and Fire Emblem Heroes. I guess you can try them out, if they are on android? MSL is kinda like pokemon, but with gatcha games mechanics AKA energy, gold, premium gems. But you can get the gems without paying so it's alright. FEH is small tactics battles with iconic fire emblem characters. Orbs are the currency to summon heroes, and you can buy those, but the game gives you a buttload for doing stuff. Hope this helped.
Well there is the MLP mobile game from Gameloft.....Marvel Avengers Academy is one I've sunk a lot of time into though.....that's only if you like or know of Marvel.....and don't mind an event about once a month.
Robot Unicorn Attack 2. The first one costs money, for whatever reason. It's got bright colors, it's fun and challenging, and also robot unicorns. It's more 80's favor than anime flavor, but I'm sure you can appreciate the surreal retro vibes as well as I can.
And dude, don't worry about the call permission. That's really not going to do anything. In fact, pretty much any game is going to have that. In fact, even my synthesizer app needed that.
For mobile recommendations, you can't really go wrong with Fire Emblem Heroes. It actually does a good job of avoiding the standard pitfall of gacha games where if you don't have amazing luck/loads of money to burn, you're SOL, since pretty much every unit you get is at least somewhat useful.
I'd also like to recommend Tower of Heroes and Realm Grinder. They're a type of game known as idle games, which means even if you aren't actively playing them, you're still gaining resources and advancing. I think you should at least check them (or some of the other idle games) out.
Yes, now we are Android buddies.
Although, I have to get a new Android phone for my birthday because I've had my old one for a couple of years and it's so fucking slow.
You won't regret that purchase.
4450362 I agree, especially since it was $4.50 on Amazon.
4450373
HOLY SHIT!
As much as I love the ME series, I'm still not sure about Andromeda.
Although I can say IMO I'm glad I stuck with BotW.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper, Mobius, and Brave Exvius, Brave Frontier, Fire Emblem Heroes, Skylanders Lost Islands, MLP FIM Gameloft and Puzzle Party, Kingdom Hearts Ux, Plants Vs Zombies Heroes and the 2nd game, Power Rangers United,
Layton Brothers Mystery Room, Tiny Monsters, Tiny Castle,
I'd recommend Monster Match and Pac-Man Monsters but they were discontinued a few years ago and are no longer playable which is a pity as they were very fun MMORPGs for mobile.
If you're into Steven Universe at all, Soundtrack Attack is a fun little time waster. All purchases are purely cosmetic for your character and AFAIK earnable in game anyway.
The game I was going to suggest requires moving about.
Alchedamy is an alright idle game.
Rick and Morty: Jerry's Game is a fun timewaster.
fire emblem heroes and world of tanks: blitz. both are terribly addicting!
I really wish that Mass Effect Trilogy was on PS4. I know the series is getting another entry for the PS4, but I wish I could get the whole series on it.