Darkest Dungeon: Ancestral Edition for Switch (SPOILERS)

Thanks to Red Hook Games for the partnership. All thoughts/opinions belong ro the reviewer. Your experience may differ. This post contains affiliate links. 

(Once again, much thanks to Leigh for the review!)

For those who don't already know SPOILER ALERT! Now that we got that out of the way, let's talk about Darkest Dungeon. For this review I'm going to break it down into three different categories: Graphics, Storyline, and Gameplay.

Graphics

Now as far as graphics go, you can definitely see the detail the designers put into the game, from the way the characters are unique in every class to the town which goes from dawn to dusk. While as for my self, I prefer a smoother 3D texture for my games, this does not at all take away from Darkest Dungeon. 

If you can get totally immersed into games like I do, then the sounds and visual effects make the game very eerie and suspenseful. They can make you feel like you are surrounded in this dark atmosphere and using your torches is not only to make the fights easier but also relieves some of the pressure. When you use your abilities or get attacked, you feel every curse, strike and shot from enemies. But also you feel the relief from your buffs and heals. For these reasons I give the graphics a 4.2 out of 5.

Storyline

As far as storyline, it is as eerie and as dark as I can get out. I mean the first part of storyline that you ever hear is an old man telling you his tale and then committing suicide. Now I like to have a storyline that has its ups and downs to keep you interested in wanting to find the rest of it but for me, the progression is a little too slow. It gets you hooked in real quick and then kind of lingers on and it's quite some time before finding out more but when it does it again, it pulls you into the story and makes you want to continue. For this I give the storyline a 3.3 out of 5.

Gameplay

The game play, however, if you like difficult games that are very challenging and don't make it too easy for you to progress, this is the perfect game for you. Although I don't like the fact that I have to have several upon several different champions just to be able to play another mission, this is another part of the game that what makes it so intriguing.

While you can upgrade your Caravan in order to get better Heroes that start at higher levels, it's hard to upgrade because you have to run so many different missions just to get the items you need to upgrade it and that goes along with anything else in this town, which again, makes it challenging and that I like.

Each dungeon is very unique in its own way. The progression through the dungeon makes it even more interesting for you have to look for traps, which can be challenging, and you have to keep torches lit in order to see the traps and to make your fights a little easier; and by easier I mean you may surprise monsters when you fight them to make it easier to fight them but if you run out of torches, they may spot you first and get the first strike. But the positive side of doing that and letting that happen is that you get better Rewards.

Now the leveling system in which your characters level up is really a bit slow. I can play six to seven Dungeons and my characters will only be level 2. As far as using spells and abilities, they were great for me, some very weak but I know as it progressed, the spells got stronger and more useful. The fact that you get to upgrade everything in the town made it that more intriguing to keep doing dungeons, but in order to do that you have to have a lot of people because they can start losing health and when they do that you have to put them into a place like the bar or brothel or the cathedral so they can pray in order to relieve the stress that's put on them and heal up but again, that makes the game even more enticing. And based on this I would give the game play a 4.7 out of 5.

I recommend this game for anybody who likes the gruesome, the dangerous, and the eerie. However I would not recommend it for children for obvious reasons. I believe this game was well made well-planned and brilliantly designed and I think it would be a must have for RPG players.

FYI: Darkest Dungeon is digitally available for PS4 and Nintendo Switch. A physical edition for both consoles will be available in March. The physical copy, Darkest Dungeon: Ancestral Edition will include The Crimson Court and Shieldbreaker expansions. (Keep an eye out here for more updates on the physical releases!)

If you're wanting to purchase Darkest Dungeon on PlayStation Network or Nintendo eShop (prices may vary), you can pick up gift cards at the following retailers:

GameStop PlayStation Network Nintendo eShop
Walmart PlayStation Network Nintendo eShop 
Best Buy PlayStation Network Nintendo eShop 

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Gamers get a competitive edge by using #TurtleBeach Elite PRO PC Headsets

Thanks to Turtle Beach for the partnership. All thoughts/opinions belong to the reviewer. Your experience may differ.

(Thanks to Leigh, our resident gamer, for the review!)

I have been a gamer for many years and have played on multiple platforms and have playes multiple genres of games. But I have always wondered what could I do to improve my play style.

Of course I've heard numerous ways to improve one thing or another in a game but it usually comes down to the gear you use to play - a custom or advanced keyboard can help you prioritize skills, abilities, and weapons better than a normal keyboard, while a custom mouse could also help you  with reaction times, aiming, and spell or skill set manipulation through macros.

Although I have tried many keyboards and mice to find a set that works better with my play style, I always seem to be lacking in some aspect. I never knew how much sound quality could affect how well or poorly you do in a game until I was able to use the Turtle Beach Elite Pro Professional Surround Sound PC Gaming Headset.

I have used many different brands of headsets and mics and each one seems to be the same. They all seem to put out good sound quality and comfortability and clarity when it comes to talking with your team... Or so I thought. I never knew how wrong I was.

COMFORT & SOUND
After using the Turtle Beach Elite Pro Headset, not only did I immediately notice how comfortable they were and how they had adequate ventilation for your head and ears, but I also noticed that the sound quality was unrivaled in its ability to pick up every single audio detail.

We all know thar when playing games, the quality of each game has improved over the years to where even the slightest sounds from reloading a gun to a tip toe are in each game, but what I noticed is on most headsets is that those sounds are so faint of a sound, you can barely notice them.

After using the Turtle Beach Elite Pro, I could hear every subtle detail in sound that I've never heard before, or at least not clearly. I played several rounds of Call of Duty and noticed that my KDA had improved tremendously compared to other games before using it. I was able to hear the small reloading sounds from behind a wall or someone trying to crouch and sneak behind me; therefore it decreased my reaction time and I was able to dodge and move out of the way or kill someone I normally wouldn't have heard before.

MIC
As for the mic on the Turtle Beach Elite Pro, my teammates and friends could tell me how much better of a quality of sound was coming from my end and how they could hear more clearly what I was saying to them in terms of strategy or any other situation you may need it for.

OVERVIEW
If you are one of those people who always wonder why it seemed like other players had a bigger edge over you in a game, there is a good possibility they are using a high quality headset like the Turtle Beach Elite Pro Surround Sound PC Headset. I would recommend anyone who wishes to just improve their game or even if they plan to become pro to purchase the Turtle Beach Elite Pro. Watch your score skyrocket.

SPECS

• What's in the box: Headset, removable microphone attachment, 3m PC USB Amplifier Cable with In-line Controls, 1.3m Console 3.5mm Audio Cable with In-line Controls, Quick Start Guide (a full user manual is available for download)
• Audio: USB For Windows PCs / 3.5mm Jack for PlayStation 4 Pro/PlayStation 4/Xbox One/Mobile/Tablet
• ProSpecs Glasses Relief System
• Superhuman Hearing
• Unidirectional Gaming Microphone

You can purchase the Turtle Elite Pro Surround Sound PC Gaming Headset for $199.95.

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An Early Access Look at Tanzia

Thanks to Aracnity, Inc. for the partnership. All thoughts/opinions belong to the reviewer. Your experience may differ.

Tanzia is an old-style RPG set in a 3D open world currently being developed by Arcanity, Inc.

Arcanity Inc.'s first title, Tanzia is currently available in beta testing on Steam and Leigh, who recently reviewed Guardians Of Ember, got a chance to play and test out what is available in the game (which is still being developed).

(Much thanks to Leigh for the review!)

Tanzia happens to be one of my favorite genres of games RPG. Although it is an RPG and single-player, it gives you the feel of an MMORPG. The concepts and controls of the game are unique for a single-player RPG, because unlike other RPG’s where you either have a turn based fighting system or a hack and slash fighting style, you have a 10 slot spell bar and complete freedom of movement. Although your character has a staff to do melee combat with, the game does flow around a spell casters play set, at least until you unlock the ability to turn into a bear.

Storyline

As far as the storyline goes I am still trying to finish it because the game is still unfinished and the storyline is not complete, but the storyline as of now seems to be a good one so I am really anxious to see what happens next. The story so far is a narrative one - it is filled excitement, it keeps you hooked, and gives you the want to play on so you can hear more of it.

Gameplay

As far as the gameplay, I find it challenging and very enticing for you to explore and want to find out all you can about the areas and what things you may discover. Each new area has a lot to explore and some things are easy to miss if you don’t go looking for it.

Even the quests help you learn how to play a MMORPG in a single-player environment. They even have a tutorial quest to teach you how to “kite” enemies to where you can take them down without receiving damage. In regards to the quests I only have this to say: I wish they either used the MMORPG style where quest givers had something saying they have a quest for you or you are ready to turn in a quest such as a Gold or blue exclamation point or had name plates above the NPC’s head so you can find who it tells you to find in the quest just so you don’t have to run around talking to everyone just to find who you need.

With the spell list I think it’s perfect; I just don’t know how to level up the individual spells to level 2 or higher, but that could be because ether it is not currently implemented or I just missed something.

Controls & Graphics

The controls are originally set up in MMORPG style but for me that was way too difficult to play because there is no auto attack like in most MMORPGs so you have to hit “1” a lot just to use physical attacks and with all the “kiting” needed it makes it difficult to do so and get a good spell rotation done, so because of these difficulties I decided to use a controller for the game which made it a little easier on the handling.

The graphics are amazing for the comic book style they chose for the game. The storyline is told comic book style with no real CGI animation scenes but with this game, I like it.

Overall

Overall I would give the game a 4 out of 5 and the only reason that is, is because I hate waiting to finish storylines but I am confident that once it is complete, it would be 5’s across the board and I can’t wait to see what the developers do next.

Tanzia is currently in beta testing on Steam for $14.99. Developers are looking for feedback on quests and gameplay. 

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A Complete Look At Guardians Of Ember: Immortal Edition

Thanks to Runewaker for the partnership. All thoughts/opinions belong to the reviewer. Your experience may differ.

Guardians Of Ember Waypoint

Released on December 13, 2016, Guardians of Ember is the newest hack-and-slash MMORPG game by Runewaker. Runewaker is the maker of the games Runes of Magic and Dragon's Prophet.

(Much thanks to Leigh for the review!)

I was given a chance to play Guardians of Ember in its fullest by getting its Immortal Edition, which does give you a lot of interesting items to enjoy the game with. I also looked in depth at each race and class although I did primarily stuck with three classes through-out my gameplay experience due to my play style. I tried out many of the games features including the dungeoning system, Party system, and PvP battlegrounds.

The Different Races

Races (left to right): Dwarves, Neia, Elf (Female), Elf (Male), Human (Female), Human (Male)

In Guardians of Ember there are four different races: Human, Dwarf, Elf, and Neia.

• The Human race has a small story to how they are part of the campaign and look as you would expect a human to look and you can choose whether you want to play a Male or Female Character. 
• The Elves also are accompanied by a short backstory and have what we would call Elvish characteristics with being tall with long hair and pointy ears, and you can also choose to be a Male or Female character. 
• The Dwarves, although are short and stubbly with beard like you would expect, are restricted to only playing with the Male gender and their short background doesn’t explain why that is. 
• Like The Dwarves, the Neia also have a sex restriction but it is restricted to Female only. The Neia also look like very short versions of the elves but their background story is very extensive when compared to the other races. 

With each race you do have a wide assortment of ways you can change the way your character can look by changing the color of their skin, eyes, hair, and lips, and the color pallet is very large compared to some games. Other than the sex restrictions given to both the Dwarfs and Neias, one other thing was missing which you can find in almost any type of MMORPG, the RNG or Random Name Generator. I love to just pick a random name for my characters instead of having to deal with a message saying, “That name is already taken.” every time you try to make one up yourself. I hope that some of these issues such as the gender restrictions and the RNG are implemented in future updates for the game.

The Classes

There are now six different classes which are Knight, Priest, Arcanist, Engineer, Ranger, and Dark Knight. 

• The Knight class is your typical sword swinging, shield wielding, tank/damage class. 
• The Priest is more of your support healer who can damage at range with spells. 
• The Arcanist is a magic casting damage dealing squishy. 
• The Engineer uses guns ether 2 pistols or 1 rifle for damage and uses machines to help buff or heal the party. 
• The Ranger is your bow and crossbow wielding ranged class. 
• The Dark Knight is also a duel-wielding damage/tank whose abilities can enhance their weapons. 

I personally like the class system which brings iconic classes to be played in a much different environment.

Gameplay

Arcanist Gameplay screenshot

The gameplay is what you would expect from these types of games. You collect your quests from anyone with a yellow exclamation point above their head and turn them into the people with a blue question mark. You go around completing quests buy collecting items, killing certain creatures, or achieving certain objectives. I just wish they had a way to tell the difference between Main storyline quests and optional side quests, especially since you have to read everything with no voice-overs even in cinematic scenes.

As for the graphics for the game I would say a good 3 out of 5 on the “World” graphics and 4 out of 5 on the cinematic graphics. 

Cutscene

The normal party system is average. All you have to do is find someone or a friend who you want to party with and send a party invite. The dungeons are a bit liner with MOBS every so often and there is no dungeon party making system, but it’s not really needed because you can solo these dungeons, even if you’re a squishy Arcanist, as long as you know how to “kite” the bosses. The PvP, in my opinion, is where the most work is needed. All the PvP is either 1v1 or 3v3 and it’s you killing the other team on a 2 tier circular map. I would have liked a more objective based PvP Battleground.

Guardians of Ember Boss

The Immortal Edition

The Immortal Edition of the game costs $50 and entitles you to many different perks. These perks include Exclusive Permanente mounts, items for visual fireworks, Bag expansion, experience boosts, and much more. There is however one very big downfall. The code given to you so you can get these Items can only be applied to one character and in my experience, when you buy a special edition of any game, including MMORPGs, it is implemented to all characters you have or make in the future and unless it is fixed in future patches, I do not think it is worth the price you pay.

Guardians Of Ember Engineer

After playing the game for quite a while I have learned that there are features that I really like about the game and a few features which seem mundane. Overall I would give the game a 3 out of 5 the way it currently is, but if some of the thing I mentioned were fixed, I would say 5’s across the board. I will definitely continue to play the game because it is a fun play through and I can’t wait to see what changes they have in store for Guardians of Ember.

You can find Guardians of Ember on Steam for PC. Editions available are the Mortal Edition ($19.99), Demigod Edition ($29.99), and Immortal Edition ($49.99).

read more "A Complete Look At Guardians Of Ember: Immortal Edition"

Now There's a Smart Pillow That Wakes You Up Gently

Imagine waking up one morning, feeling refreshed, like you just got the best rest of your life. Hard to imagine that, right? Most of us stumble out of bed and to the nearest thing with caffeine, hoping it'll make us feel halfway human.

If only our pillows could help us wake up more naturally, instead of a blaring alarm on our phones that we constantly put on "snooze".

Wait, there might be a solution for that! I was on Twitter one day when I came across the Sunrise Smart Pillow, currently being developed by Mode Modern. (Check out their Kickstarter.) Touted to be the first ever "smart pillow", it's supposed to bring a better way of falling asleep and waking up.

Here's the how:

It comes with an impressive 18 features including:

• Sleep Tracker
• Smart Alarm
• Sunrise Alarm
• Wireless Music
• Fan Sounds
• Blue Light Technology
• Deep Sleep Mode
• Custom Wake Messages
• Sound Conditioner
• Audio books
• Directional Speakers
• Binaural Beats
• Reading Lights
• Breathable Fabric
• Premium Memory Foam
• Ergonomic Support
• Cooling Technology

Using Bluetooth and technology,  the lights this smart pillow sports wake you up when it’s time. All you have to do is set it up on their mobile app.

The pillow also incorporates a gyroscope and accelerometer to monitor how often you toss and turn. Need guided meditation? Yep, it has that, too. 

To say that this packs more gadgets than Iron Man's suit is an understatement.

You can pre-order the Sunrise Smart Pillow on Indiegogo starting at $129.

We'll wait to see the reviews on the Sunrise Smart Pillow before we decide if it's worth giving up our favorite $10 pillows from Walmart.

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How Quinn & the Quips are getting girls excited about technology.

With technology becoming more and more popular, trying to find a way to reach a much younger generation excited about technology can be difficult.

The people at Blue Socks Media have come up with a great idea - create an animated TV series and game called Quinn & the Quips, which centers around the 11-year-old game developer and technology-savvy Quinn, who has to keep her emoji-like character called Quips, who have escaped from her latest game and are causing chaos in her life and relationships, quiet from an overly-competitive classmate.

The Quips

Quinn & the Quips shows that science and technology can be cool - encouraging girls to be excited about a field where they may be afraid to show interest or experiment with.

To learn more about this awesome project, meet the characters, and help them create the pilot, head on over to the Kickstarter page. Every bit helps, especially when it comes to a project that could impact so many girls and a field a lot of women aren't represented.

We had the chance to sit down and ask writer and producer Alex Anderson a few questions about Quinn & the Quip:

Edge Of Insanity: Quinn is obviously tech-savvy. Where did the inspiration to create Quinn come from?
Alex Anderson: I’ve always loved games. I grew up playing NES (still have it, still mostly works) and turned to computer games as soon as my family acquired a desktop computer (& massive tower) with Windows 95. Games are interactive & the media we watch is becoming more & more interactive so I wanted to create a character that could translate to both and could cater to many possibilities of combining games, “traditional” story, and virtual reality (which is what I’d love to do eventually).

EOI: What's the story behind the Quips?
AA: I’ve always been a fan of physical comedy, bright colors, simple design, and magic…combining all of that, the Quips just naturally happened. In the show, the Quips are characters in Quinn’s latest game that continuously escape from her tablet and cause some havoc in her life, especially since she must keep them a secret from her frenemy, Ben. How do they escape, you ask? I can’t tell you yet. Couldn’t she just delete them? She could…but they also turn out to be very helpful in certain ways and they each have a personality & feelings.

EOI: In the QQ Game, what can we expect to see?
AA: We are in the pre-development stage of the game. It could change if we end up working with a gaming company and they have a better, crazy-super-cool idea. As of right now though, we are planning a multi-level app game where players will create avatars or choose to play as a character from the show. The avatar will be responsible for finding, catching, and keeping the Quips out of Ben’s (the antagonist) hands [and possibly while also maintaining her grades & her social life].

EOI: What are you hoping children, and parents, will take away from Quinn & The Quips?
AA: I’m hoping they will laugh together, relate to the characters, take away positive social values, and a new perspective or interest in technology and how we relate to it.

EOI: Any advice for young girls who are showing interesting in technology, science, or creating games?
AA: Don’t be afraid to experiment! Maybe do that with parental guidance or a teacher…especially if there are chemicals (or the internet) involved, but explore your imagination. You have one for a reason. And don’t be afraid to stand out or be different than your peers. Having different opinions and interests is part of what makes you unique. That might be frustrating or seem uncool if you feel you don’t “fit in” when you’re younger, but keep playing! Your interests could turn into cool, fun, & fulfilling careers or hobbies someday!

As a girl who showed an early interest in technology and gaming, Quinn & the Quips is groundbreaking as it shows that even girls can have a love of technology and games without being afraid to show it.

read more "How Quinn & the Quips are getting girls excited about technology."

How the #GoMohu #Releaf Anntenna changed the way I watched TV

Thanks to MOHU for the partnership. All thoughts/opinions are my own. Your experience may differ.

I don't have cable. I haven't had it for years because it just got to be too expensive to keep up with. So we've been buying converter boxes and antennas for a few years. But not all antennas are created equally. The antennas I've been using are just your run-of-the-mill rabbit ears, and let's be honest, I could hardly get a local channel less than 5 miles away!

A lot of people who don't have cable use antennas to get their TV, but lets face it - they're not using rabbit ears. Flat antennas have now become so popular, you can find them practically anywhere.

Mohu, the #1 rated original paper thin indoor antennas, allows you to "cut the cable cord" with their line of high-quality HDTV antennas and receive free over-the-air television channels.

The great thing about Mohu is that you can search for an antenna that will work in your area. Just enter your zip code on the front page, and it will bring up a list of antennas for you to compare. It will even show what channels are available in your area and which antennas will receive those channels.

Mohu's Leaf® series is the most popular indoor antenna on the market, and it is paper thin! The series is available in 30-mile and 50-mile radius.

Notice how thin the ReLeaf® is?

Their newest product is the ReLeaf® Indoor HDTV Antenna, which is made from recycled materials! They turn crushed cable boxes into antenna parts and the ReLeaf® is not only paper thin, it's actually made from 30% cardboard, making it eco-friendly.

So if you're ready to get rid of cable bills once and for all, you might want to check out Mohu. They not only have indoor antennas, they have accessories like amplifiers and stands for your Leaf® antennas.

Be sure to follow Mohu on Facebook and Twitter.

BUY
You can purchase the ReLeaf® Indoor HDTV Antenna for $39.99 with FREE shipping.

WHAT I THOUGHT

Only 3 items to get OTA (over-the-air) TV? That's all I need!

Like I said, I don't have cable. I kind of miss it, but then again, I definitely don't miss those bills! But for the past few years, we've been using converter boxes and those rabbit ears. You know the kind - where you had to constantly position the arms and if you walked by them, the signal would get wonky. I knew I needed something a little more up-to-date.

When I first got the ReLeaf Indoor HDTV Antenna from Mohu, I wasn't sure what to think. The manual was printed right on the box! I've never seen that before!

Now, notice how it says to connect it to your television. But out of habit, I connected it to the converter box... The signal was still wonky, and I knew it had to be the converter box, so I connected it to the television. The signal, minus when it's windy, is almost perfect.

What I really like about the ReLeaf HDTV Indoor Antenna is that I can pretty much place it out of sight, or hang it on the wall, where the signal is better.

Kind of stands out against the wall, but better than metal rods sticking out for signal!

On the bottom of the box, it showed an outline of something you could cut out. I won't lie - I didn't even know where to begin to so I went to the website listed (http://gomohu.com/cuttheboard, in case you're just as intrigued as I was). Guess what it was?

A cute little stand made of cardboard, making the whole thing eco-friendly! But I feared the Siamese kitty would whack his tail against it, knocking the whole thing over, so I placed it on the wall where it couldn't be reached by furry paws.

Honestly, the pins to hang it on the wall bend easy, but once you get the antenna where you want it, it doesn't go anywhere or budge, and luckily it comes with a white set and a black set of pins, so if you happen to bend a pin completely, you have extras!

I kind of miss cable (mostly Doctor Who and The Walking Dead), but I think I like the ReLeaf. I can finally get good signals, not that constant pixelated mess I used to get with rabbit ears.

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#Fellowes can help protect your identity! #IDSafetySeason

#spon: I'm required to disclose a relationship between our site and Fellowes. This could include the Fellowes providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

Last month, we covered the basics of the Fellowes 73Ci Shredder, along with ways to protect your identity during the Holiday season. In light of the Target hacking issue, we decided to let you know exactly what we thought of it!

The stylish 73Ci is great for gadget lovers, like Dad, because it features a sleek design and several advanced technologies such as:

• SafeSense Technology which automatically stops shredding when hands touch the paper opening
• 100% Jam-Proof System that eliminates paper jams and powers through tough jobs
• A proprietary Energy Savings System that maximizes shredder energy savings 100% of the time – both in use and out of use
• Capacitive touch screen controls
• Heavy-duty Cross-Cut blades that destroy 12 sheets of paper into 397 particles per sheet, making it extremely difficult to reassemble 
• The 73Ci is available at office superstores and their online counterparts for a suggested retail price of $199.99.

WHAT WE THOUGHT

Having tried the shredder myself, I must say that I feel a lot safer! I would normally just tear the papers into as many tiny bits as possible, but when you are throwing away more than 5 sheets, it can get tedious. So all I have to do is plug it in, turn it on, and put the sheets through. In less than 1 second, they are shredded and there is no way anyone could put them back together!

Since I do have a kitty, I would normally worry if she jumped on top of the shredder. But with SafeSense, it would automatically stop, and even show a hand symbol to let me know that the cat was sitting on the shredder. After a firm no and moving said cat, it would resume shredding.

Another thing I love? It shreds credit cards! I have a couple of expired cards and wouldn't feel comfortable just cutting them. Into the shredder it goes!

It feel a lot safer for my identity as well as my family's identities now we have the Fellowes' 73Ci!

read more "#Fellowes can help protect your identity! #IDSafetySeason "