sharpcypher

Thanks for the tips, guys. Since stats are tied to classes, I guess it doesn't matter too much. Characters come with their class pre-installed, so they're generally going to have the stats they need to get the job done. I'll probably just focus on traits, too.

@bonbolapti: Bigger combos do not affect greater rewards. The rewards are determined by the dungeon you are playing in. Generally, the more difficult the dungeon, the higher-level drops you get. Also, certain dungeons provide drops with specific characteristics, such as elemental affinity or creature type. So, if you are looking for Spirits because you have a max-leveled monster ready to evolve, you can run one specific dungeon to guaranty a Spirit, although you might not get the exact KIND of Spirit you want. There's always some element of chance. Also, these specific dungeons are not always available; they rotate on a regular basis. I'm not sure of the schedule, but I'm sure the regular ones are documented somewhere.

Bigger combos typically just make it easier to progress faster, because they increase damage. Some monsters can also have abilities that trigger off longer combos. So, skill at the matching game only makes it easier to play, not easier to get better drops. Of course, playing more quickly allows you to get more drops in the time you play, which would increase your chances of finding something over time. MATH!

In my experience, being able to run specific dungeons for monsters with specific characteristics adds a hunting-like aspect to the game. It gives you agency in your team composition, instead of just slapping together what you think is the best out of what has dropped. For instance, I ended up with a high-levelled monster that boosts healers in my team, so I started focusing on levelling up and evolving all the healers I had. I ran specific dungeons to find monsters with the same color as my monster, so they'd level up faster when I merged them. Then, I had to run the Spirit-specific dungeon that showed up each Friday to try to get the right color spirits I needed to evolve my Healer monsters.

I don't like to play most Early Access games until they're released. So, despite being a proud backer, I only really played for the first time yesterday. I only have an hour or so played, but I've really enjoyed what I've experienced so far.

I do have a question for those who've played longer. Is there a description of each stat in the game? Intuitively, I understand that Strength affects melee attacks and Vision obviously helps you see further. But, how important is Dexterity to a caberjack? Do hunters need Strength at all? Is Intuition only useful to saigewrights? Is this information in the game, or does it get tutorialized later? (My game time has only gone 50 years or so. My first heroes are starting to die off.)

I'm considering starting over with iron mode turned on, too. Should I wait until I've played through the game, first?

So far, the game has been really fun, and I'm looking forward to really seeing how it unfolds.

I think it's very telling that people who have something good to say about Hatred are mostly saying that it "looks" good or that they saw a video. I'm seeing extremely low numbers of people saying they actually played it and enjoyed it. Every professional review I've seen has called it mediocre, at best.

After watching the Quick Look of Puzzle and Dragons for the 3DS, I gave the original app for the Android a try.

I enjoy a good match-three game, when it's well-executed. Sometimes, I want to play something with low stakes for just a few minutes. Other times, I want something to fiddle with while I zone out or listen to music or a podcast. The little dopamine drip of repeatedly finding matches and looking for better combos and seeing them succeed can be satisfying, albeit short-lived. I wouldn't call it fulfilling. I'd probably say, "soothing".

As a puzzle game, Puzzle and Dragons is not great shakes. It's mechanical tweak of moving a piece around the board instead of just one space over isn't that revolutionary. The minute-to-minute gameplay isn't the draw.

The real draw is the progression. As you play, you see monsters more powerful and cooler than yours, and you want to acquire those monsters. The way you choose another player's best monster to team up with gives you another glimpse of just how awesome your monsters can be... if you only played just a little more. You aren't playing Puzzle and Dragons to solve puzzles; you are playing to build dragons.

But, the goal posts are always moving. You level up your team with "trash" monsters, until they're ready to evolve. At that point, you play more to find the right materials to perform the ritual that unlocks their next level. That new form comes with moderately more powerful stats and abilities. It also comes with more progression. It's harder (aka, more time-consuming) to level up stronger monsters, but they're more effective, so you don't mind having them as long. Plus, they can always evolve again. Eventually, you might even use your powered-up monster to evolve yet another one, because more powerful monsters convey more experience - or even skills - during the evolution process.

I think it's very similar to Pokemon. You don't play it for the game. You play it for the toys. And there are always more toys.

Palm Harbor, FL, USA

Oh, wow. Where have I been? Transistor is out this month? I'm definitely adding that to my list.

Excellent work!

I've been wondering about Cities in Motion 2, after the Sim City debacle. I'll take that, if you please.

Nothing new for me. I've been having some success digging through my extensive backlog, so I'll probably keep doing that.

• On part 4 of the Back to the Future game. I'll finish that in the next couple of days. After that, I'm going to finish Walking Dead. (I think I'm on day 3)
• Recently bought Dynasty Warriors 8 XL to play with my fiancee.
• We're also making our way through Final Fantasy X HD, on our way to Final Fantasy X-2 HD. I've finished the first one before, but I want to do all the "new" stuff. I'm looking forward to X-2, since I didn't get very far with that one the first time.
• Hoping to get some more regular time with Heroes of the Storm.
• Just got Shadowrun on a Steam sale, so I'll be starting that, at some point.
• I might start Infamous this month, too. (Yeah, the first one. I haven't had a PS3 for long.)
• Hearthstone. Duh.