What are you playing now?

[BBP]

Just finished all 60 levels in the first batch of Tile Tales (there's 30 more levels in the making):

-There is no overarching story that I could tell. The game has 10 levels per setting on the island, each sub setting tells a bit of a story but it's not (yet) a tale from start to finish.
-The first 9 levels have 3 stars to get, one for completing, one for getting that level's treasure, and one for completing with the treasure in the minimum amount of moves.
-Every 10th level is an end boss, which has a puzzle (no treasure or minimum moves). These will require your marbles.
-The animation is pretty decent, the game has no real visual flaws, characters look cute.
-That said, the game plays as a mobile game with minimal controls, although it could use more options during gameplay (skip animations, Turn Pirate Off, sound/music controls etc).
-Puzzle wise, after the simple two introductory puzzles, things get harder. In many a level you will find characters or a situation where you basically have to try different things to figure out how to solve it.How well this works, differs per level. When you are dying trying to figure something out it's more on the vexing side. In other levels it is more fun.
-Level 5.7 shouldn't exist. It's a trial and error where you have to choose between 2 paths 5 times, one of them is lethal, and this is randomised. Meaning there's a chance of 1/32 that you make it to the end, these odds are Not Funny especially combined with the next point:
-Pirate's dialogue is annoyingly limited. It's basically a humm and don't know gesture, a hum and ah ha if he discovers something ("Hey, I can put this rubber chicken on the table!") and Blimey! and Shiver Me Timbers! and Yo ho ho! And Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!" These sound clips are rehashed all the time, also in places where they don't work, being more detrimental to the already bare-bones story of that section. It is the worst in 5.7 where you are up against 5 different spots with a 50% chance of dying, and getting a "shiver me timbers" sound clip just before that.
-There is not much option for character development (though it's a bit odd when you're at the Village, helping people Link-style by herding cows, rescuing pigs, finding a lost pan and putting out a fire and solving Fox Chicken Grain - you're a Pirate for Pete's sake!) , all characters are limited to their own level and are limited with that. That said, I have developed a soft spot for the Ghost Scientist at the cemetery.
-Some of the characters may/will cause issues with some people, such as the Voodoo Queen from the last level, and the Natives in the Forest levels. Also, there's a huge nasty spider, which is a pet peeve and got my arachnophobia back up.

[Tawmis]

-Some of the characters may/will cause issues with some people, such as the Voodoo Queen from the last level, and the Natives in the Forest levels.

Cause issues? As in difficult or like racially insensitive type "cause issues"?

[BBP]

That's what i guess would happen. They're cannibals.

[Tawmis]

Been playing War in the North off and on - as I said, I had restarted my game, because I had no idea what was going on, since my last save was like from 2012. I finally got to Mirkwood (where I was originally, where the Warg howls, then the orcs come) - now past the Orcs and into where the Spiders are! Hooray!

I will say, Chapter 4 (the gates with the dwarves where they blow the horn) - that took MANY, MANY, MANY tries to pass again. The waves kept coming, and even remaining on the crossbow thing - could not clear it. I eventually commanded my other two characters to run out there (where the orcs and trolls emerge from) - and this slowed the orcs and trolls down as they'd engage with my party - giving me ample time to blast'em to pieces. But shew, that was difficult for sure.

I really, really, really like the three main characters - and love, love, love Beleram (the giant eagle that you rescue and remains to help when he can).

I will probably find a way to squeeze Beleram into my Lord of the Rings play by post game.

[Tawmis]

Just finished War in the North, and must say, I would pay to see this thing as a movie.

That was an incredible game.

[Tawmis]

I think I am going to replay it - because I played pretty much the Ranger, exclusively.

I think I am gonna do it as the Lore Master now.

Then I will do it as the Dwarf.

Just so I get everyone's dialogue.

I loved the game THAT much.

[Tawmis]

Started playing as the Lore Master... and pleasantly surprised (not only is, as I suspected, dialogue different) - but also, no idea how I missed it the first time - the Hobbit vendor in Bree. Missed him the first time I played (despite numerous returns to Bree). Also, was pleasantly surprised that the Lore Master gathers herbs to create potions! This was cool. And similar to the Ranger markings - she finds runes that reveal hidden passages (with storage in there, so far not been as cool loot as the Ranger storages!) But very, very, very pleased to see that thought went into making it unique for whomever you play!

[Rath Darkblade]

Glad to hear you're having such a good time!

I remember playing War in the North, which I played mostly as the Dwarf. (Dwarfs FTW!) I always felt bad for dwarfs, by the way, ever since I read The Hobbit. Everyone loves elves, they're so glamorous and shiny, blah blah blah. What are we, magpies? But dwarves are cool. I always felt that way, especially after hearing Gimli's story in LOTR (and his poem about Moria - "The world was fair, the mountains tall" etc.)

I also felt Gimli had a strong personality and a good heart, and Peter Jackson sold him short (sorry) in the movies. (Grr.) But anyway.

Yep, all three classes have their own little quirks. The Ranger has markings, the Lore Master has runes. The Dwarf has the best talent of all: made ya look!

By the way, I thought the "forest" chapter (with the spiders ... uggh!!) and the Mount Gundabad chapter (with the orcs/uruk-hai waves at the end) were probably the hardest and most brutal. Do you agree?

[Tawmis]

By the way, I thought the "forest" chapter (with the spiders ... uggh!!) and the Mount Gundabad chapter (with the orcs/uruk-hai waves at the end) were probably the hardest and most brutal. Do you agree?

The Spiders, I found easier. The waves (where the dwarves blow the horn) - that took so many tries, before I got it, because you have to defend the dwarves "health" as he's turning the thing.

And then when you're defending Nordinbrad from the waves (and need to defend the door's health) - I didn't fail that, but there wasn't even a sliver of the door's health when I beat that battle. Had a goblin sneezed on the door, I would have lost.

The one thing, I think, that would have been cool - is during the final battle, somehow show that Frodo is near Mount Doom (like when you do X amount of damage to Agandaûr - have flashes to see Frodo climbing Mount Doom (like at 50%, 75%, then 100%).

Because it came as a bit of a surprise, at the end, "Oh, Frodo must have destroyed the Ring! I feel light in my heart!"

[Rath Darkblade]

WARNING: SPOILERS.

By the way, I thought the "forest" chapter (with the spiders ... uggh!!) and the Mount Gundabad chapter (with the orcs/uruk-hai waves at the end) were probably the hardest and most brutal. Do you agree?

The Spiders, I found easier. The waves (where the dwarves blow the horn) - that took so many tries, before I got it, because you have to defend the dwarves "health" as he's turning the thing.

Hmm, maybe I didn't like the spiders because I don't generally like video game spiders. *shudder* I know they're supposed to be creepy and annoyingly lethal, I know spiders in real-life are nothing like the ones in games, but there it is. (Also, some RL spiders down here are terrifying).

As for the dwarves blowing the horn ... I agree, it took me forever to get that done. I remember thinking "How many %&@*&% orcs does this place have?"

And then when you're defending Nordinbad from the waves (and need to defend the door's health) - I didn't fail that, but there wasn't even a sliver of the door's health when I beat that battle. Had a goblin sneezed on the door, I would have lost.

Agreed. I remember thinking that was basically a copy of the Mount Gundabad climax (above). In both cases, you're got waves of orcs/uruk-hai/trolls coming at you, and in both instances, you have a big ol' crossbow-thing to help.

In Nordinbad, I guess you can call the eagles to help you too?

But I never understood why the game had you (and a few friends) defending the door. It's so stupid. Why don't the other dwarves come out and help? Why can't you, in the lull between waves, just go inside and get reinforcements or supplies?

The one thing, I think, that would have been cool - is during the final battle, somehow show that Frodo is near Mount Doom (like when you do X amount of damage to Agandaûr - have flashes to see Frodo climbing Mount Doom (like at 50%, 75%, then 100%).

Hmm ... I don't know. If the game gave you flashes like that, it would interrupt the flow of the battle.

I thought it a bit illogical that you can't actually kill Agandaûr, and only the Ring's destruction does that, as if Agandaûr is like Sauron. That felt like a cheat, because Sauron is supposed to be one-of-a-kind.

Because it came as a bit of a surprise, at the end, "Oh, Frodo must have destroyed the Ring! I feel light in my heart!"

Huzzah! The MacGuffin is gone!

[Tawmis]

Hmm, maybe I didn't like the spiders because I don't generally like video game spiders. *shudder* I know they're supposed to be creepy and annoyingly lethal, I know spiders in real-life are nothing like the ones in games, but there it is. (Also, some RL spiders down here are terrifying).

Considering where you live, you have every right to be terrified of spiders, lol. Australia and South America are two places where I would not like to run into spiders. Here in the US, almost every spider I encounter (except for black widows), I will capture in a plastic cup (if they're in the house) and relocate them outside, because they help with battling insects and mosquitos and such. Black Widows, however, could be potentially dangerous to my dogs, so they meet a quick demise when encountered. I think there's only ever been one black widow I did not kill when I found it - and it was because it was trash day - so I got it on a stick and put it in the trash bin, so it could (potentially, if it survived) live out its days in the dump site.

Agreed. I remember thinking that was basically a copy of the Mount Gundabad climax (above). In both cases, you're got waves of orcs/uruk-hai/trolls coming at you, and in both instances, you have a big ol' crossbow-thing to help.

However, they destroy the crossbows eventually, when the two trolls show up to smash down the door.

But I never understood why the game had you (and a few friends) defending the door. It's so stupid. Why don't the other dwarves come out and help? Why can't you, in the lull between waves, just go inside and get reinforcements or supplies?

They do say they suffered major casualties by the time you arrive, and the leader (his name eludes me at the moment) looks to have been killed - but you discover, he survived.

The one thing, I think, that would have been cool - is during the final battle, somehow show that Frodo is near Mount Doom (like when you do X amount of damage to Agandaûr - have flashes to see Frodo climbing Mount Doom (like at 50%, 75%, then 100%).

Hmm ... I don't know. If the game gave you flashes like that, it would interrupt the flow of the battle.

Well, every time you got him to a certain percent of his health - he would do something special. Like I remember, at one point (I think it's the first thing he does when you get him down) - is he flees to the bridge. There could have been something there - like as he takes damages, he is also seeing/feeling Frodo approach Mount Doom. Then out on the bridge, he begins to fly (which could be another flash of Frodo and Sam in the cavern in front of the lava). Then he does the lightning storm fly by (which could be Gollum's arrival into the cave). And then his demise, reflects Gollum's fall into the lava.

I thought it a bit illogical that you can't actually kill Agandaûr, and only the Ring's destruction does that, as if Agandaûr is like Sauron. That felt like a cheat, because Sauron is supposed to be one-of-a-kind.

I didn't get the impression you couldn't kill him, because he definitely takes damage. He may boast that he can't be killed, but every villain believes that.

[Rath Darkblade]

But I never understood why the game had you (and a few friends) defending the door. It's so stupid. Why don't the other dwarves come out and help? Why can't you, in the lull between waves, just go inside and get reinforcements or supplies?

They do say they suffered major casualties by the time you arrive, and the leader (his name eludes me at the moment) looks to have been killed - but you discover, he survived.

Heh. Reminds me of the "Dead Collector" sketch from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" movie.

"I'm not dead yet! I'm getting better! I feel happy!" *thump*

I thought it a bit illogical that you can't actually kill Agandaûr, and only the Ring's destruction does that, as if Agandaûr is like Sauron. That felt like a cheat, because Sauron is supposed to be one-of-a-kind.

I didn't get the impression you couldn't kill him, because he definitely takes damage. He may boast that he can't be killed, but every villain believes that.

Yep. Every villain in a nutshell: "YOU CAN'T KILL ME! NO-ONE CAN KILL ME!" (dies)

[Tawmis]

Just learned today - by accident - those wooden towers that archers frequently stand on - can be destroyed by hitting them.

I love I keep finding new things in this game.

[Rath Darkblade]

That's right! You can also summon Beleram to do the same thing. But you can only do that a limited number of times per scenario.

[Tawmis]

That's right! You can also summon Beleram to do the same thing. But you can only do that a limited number of times per scenario.

Yes, you need to have Eagle Feathers (which you can find as you explore) for Beleram.

I past the Dwarf horn in one try this time with the Lore Master.

Truly the key is keeping your other two people out in the area (up arrow on the X360 control repeatedly) that the orcs and trolls come in from - because the orcs and trolls will stop (usually) to fight them - which slows them down enough to blast them with the massive crossbow. That's what worked with my last play through (finally) and that's what worked with this one. So that seems pretty key. (You'd think telling them to defend to help the dwarves was the key... not so much - get out there and fight!)