Dragon Age: Inquisition & Assassin's Creed: Unity Under the Microscope [SPOILERS]

Finally back again to post and there is a lot to talk about in the world of gaming right now.

First off, I am pleased that another two games have been knocked off of the list I posted a while back here on my blog. Dragon Age: Inquisition and Assassin's Creed: Unity have occupied the lion's share of my playing time but I have to admit that a recent foray into EVE Online has been a source of fun for me as well.

I got my collector's edition of AC: Unity at my local Gamestop location and had more fun "unboxing" a game than ever before! The art book, music box, and massive Arno figurine were all epic additions to my gamer collection and the soundtrack has a noteworthy location in the car where we've listened to it frequently. My camera isn't working right but I'll see if I can get my wife's phone from her and snap a few shots of what I got from Ubisoft.

 

Assassin's Creed: Unity

Okay, so there is a lot of documentation and discussion about the issues surrounding Unity. Everyone who keeps up with gaming (even casually) has heard about the bugs, the game breaking crashes, and other problems with the launch version of this title. Before all of that hullabaloo emerged, I have to state (as many have) that I was having a major blast with this game.

Big time.

For one, customization was FINALLY meaningful in this installment and aided me in connecting with Arno more than any other Assassin in the franchise to date. But the biggest reason for my early enjoyment was definitely the city itself. Paris is alive in this game. Alive and beautiful. Crowds aren't just there; these things have minds of their own as they cry out against the King or rally to defend their neighbors from loyalist soldiers. Markets teem with action and buildings are finally the correct size (for the most part) when compared to the height of a human being. It was a grand experience, no matter the difficulty you might have had with a bug as you tried to traverse its streets.

The story and missions were solid, but not mind-blowing. I beat the "main story missions" fairly easily as Arno and never had my mind blown. I did enjoy the narrative, the voice acting, and the characters a great deal. Even more, I enjoyed the "present day" story that revolved around the assassins needing MY help to search Arno's memories and to help rescue other assassins trapped in various other memories (some even in World War II occupied France!).

Most importantly however, is that the combat was top notch. Despite having played every other Assassin's Creed game to date and being a master at the simple combat that had become a mainstay in the series I repeatedly found myself dying at the hands of skilled swordsmen or axe wielding brutes. This added a tension and almost desperation to many of my fights. It wasn't as much rhythm based as with Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor as it was timing based. That said, even after many hours of trying, it is still all too easy to mistime a parry and end up the victim of a vicious salvo or chain of attacks that leave you with no other option than to run for your life.

Multiplayer co-op missions were even better than I anticipated. I had a great time coordinating attacks and completing missions with my fellow Assassins via Xbox Live. I started my own club, recruited for my own personal little brotherhood, and was ready to enjoy what other multiplayer excitement Ubisoft had in store for me. But my game crashed. And, as you've likely heard, I can't even play Unity while my console's wireless internet is connected. The game just crashes every time I attempt to load my saved game.

With 25 hours into the game already, I am willing to wait until they fix things before returning to that game. I am hopeful that Ubisoft knows the definition of Very Soon and I can play FarCry 4 while I wait:

"Many of you have asked about how Season Pass owners will receive their free gift offer and we will have an update that outlines the process in greater detail very soon. For now, we can tell you that we’re working on a web-based solution for submitting requests and distribution fulfillment."

Or I can continue playing:

Dragon Age: Inquisition

 

Now HERE is a game.

Where can I even begin? There is so much to do in this game that I can't succinctly break it all down for you in any readable fashion whatsoever. Essentially, however, everything you do in whatever area you happen to be exploring or going through matters. Whether it is collecting materials to craft with, slaying monsters/enemies to collect more crafting items and quest items, questing, entering random caves in the wilderness, pursuing a lengthy conversation with a new acquaintance, or any of the many other things you can do in this game, the statement I am about to make remains true. All of the little things and each of the big things all go directly toward your Inquisition's influence or power and/or the members of your party.

You've probably heard about the story and the gameplay of Inquisition from other sources, so I just want to focus on why this is the best RPG I've played in a long time and why it will be the measuring stick for all other RPGs that come out for my Xbox One. 

Customization. Yes, this one thing alone is the reason I keep coming back to for why I am so immersed in the game and why I am enjoying it so much. I'm not talking just about the appearance of my Inquisitor or the skill trees I have access too (there isn't a TON of depth in the latter) but how everything works together to aide me creating a custom experience that is all my own.

To explain, I'll use Cassandra and the rest of my party as examples. I am playing a Dalish Rift Mage, so my character is definitely all about dps, aoe (area of effect), and making enemies pay for trying to get close enough to use melee against me. Naturally, this means I need a good tank. Cassandra fills the role nicely thanks to the Vanguard skill tree as well as some of her Templar abilities.

Most RPGs stop pretty much right there. You can buy them some thick armor, a good shield, and a powerful one handed weapon but that is all you can do to improve a character's tanking abilities aside from magical buffs or helpful potions. In Inquisition, you get those potions and buffs but also the ability to customize not only what kinds of gloves and boots are attached to Cassandra's armor but the material everything is made from. Picking the types of metal, cloth, and leather, for example, changes the types of bonuses she receives from her armor. For my game, I loaded up on health and guard boosts that aide her abilities, skills, base armor, and magical buffs in being the best tank I've ever used in a Dragon Age title.

Add in Vivienne, Varric, and Reyna (my elf) and the possibilities feel endless. I crafted Vivienne's armor and weaponry to benefit her as a Knight-Enchanter. She can get close with her magical blade and tear demons apart or sit back and buff/protect/revive the party when things get hairy. Her armor helps her survive even in a thick melee thanks to the deep level of customization afforded me.

Next up in customization is the option to strategically plan ahead of conflicts by giving orders to my party. I can make sure everyone does almost exactly what I want in just about any given situation simply by "pre-programming" their tactics from a handy little menu. Furthermore, I can pause the combat and give orders on the fly if those preplanned tactics are failing.

All of this together makes for an experience that feels solely mine. Not everyone plays RPGs with the goal of immersion being a focus, but for those like me who do, this is a title you don't want to skip.

Dark Link Trailer & Character Information!

We've done it!

And by it, I am of course referring to the Official Teaser for our new IP called Dark Link. After the video, I'll explain in this blog post what you are seeing and why you are seeing it. Enjoy this first look at an exciting new title from Bio's Remnant Gaming.

The Art and Animation of Larc Muckenmuller

The bit of gameplay footage you see in this brief teaser is the proverbial star of the show. Our Art Lead - the aforementioned Larc - did an amazing job of creating this Mephistopolian backdrop and bit of character work. You can clearly see Kaela moving to hide behind what we call a "Boo Box" before she is suddenly transformed into a rather ghastly monster named Rendark. He proceeds to launch himself at a second "Boo Box", destroying it and releasing the soul of some unfortunate creature from its prison.

And that is all you get for now. I know, the pixel art is better than anything many of you have ever seen (certainly surprised the hell out of me) and the world is definitely interesting, but I have to admit that we are still VERY early in the process of making this game. This footage wasn't even done in an engine. We have a long way to go.

This teaser was born out of the necessity of having something for us to take to Web Summit 2014 in Dublin, Ireland. We can show off our ideas and where our creative headspace is at while also displaying some of the work of our remarkably talented staff. This should go a long way in helping us secure some capital moving forward.

This month is already shaping up to be an exciting one, and not just because my birthday is tomorrow. We will find out over the next few weeks what exactly Bio's Remnant Gaming is and what we are going to have the resources to do as a company. I am excited by what is happening and can't wait to start proper development on this amazing game (as well as others!). Be on the lookout for some pretty meaty updates over the next few weeks.

And, as always, good luck!

~Matt

Dark Link Has a Website & Logo!

I am too excited for words, so here is a picture that helps explain why.

We have a logo! A cacophonous round of accolades for Janece D. Winder and the amazing work she did for us on this image. You can clearly see the silhouettes of Rendark and Kaela and sort of get a sense for what might be coming with our game in the near future.

The game trailer/teaser/gameplay video is nearly completed as well. I am super excited to post that up and talk about it as well. Larc Muckenmuller is doing epic work for us on that front with pixel art and animation. I feel pretty lucky to have such a great team around me helping me get this thing done and out there.

Here is the link to the site: http://darklinkgame.weebly.com/

Also, we have launched a community with the site as a means of providing everyone with a way to give feedback and hang out with those of us at Bio's Remnant Gaming who are involved with the project. Seriously, we actually do want the feedback of the gamer community. We are still really early into the development phase so your opinions and comments now would go a long way toward helping us craft an experience that would be fun and accessible for as many gamers as possible.

You can access that community here: http://darklinkgame.weebly.com/

Any questions about Dark Link? Bio's Remnant Gaming? Me as a Designer? Make an account there and fire away. :) I look forward to seeing you there!

PS: If it won't hurt, do you mind sharing this blog post with everyone you know? Let me know if you've been spreading word about my blog and I'll tweet and share your link out to my followers in return. Thanks in advance!

Alien: Isolation...Keep Your Head (MILD SPOILERS)

Tough Vulnerability

Alien: Isolation. Judging by the conversations I've been having with many of you out there in the Gamersphere, this title is either must-have or an easy-to-forget. Now that I've had plenty of hands of time with it myself, I can tell you that the polarization of opinions regarding this game will never change.

At its core, Alien is a horror game. That said, I don't think hardcore fans of horror games are going to find a lot to love here. Even on the hardest difficulty, avoiding certain death at the claws (or vicious teeth) of the Xenomorph and other myriad enemies (other survivors, androids) isn't all that challenging. I did fail a fair amount initially but after changing how I approached the game and playing with a decent amount of patience, it did become easier. Essentially, all you have to do is think on your feet, hide long enough, or use your little crafted contraptions (Amanda might even be more resourceful than her Mom) in clever enough fashion and you'll be cruising through Sevastopol station.

So, like I said, not really something a super fan of the horror genre is going to find fulfilling. But if you are a fan of Alien and good science fiction, there is a lot here to enjoy. For me, this was a pleasant trip into a fictional world I've only ever been able to enjoy from a distance via my television. This game stuck me into that universe in a remarkably satisfying way. This IS Ridley Scott's Alien, down to the slippers by the cryo beds, highly textured surfaces, and the slime dripping from the villain's fangs.

The story is worth tracking and the gameplay keeps you on your toes. You'll find your own pace and rhythm (especially when the motion tracker finds it way to your hands) as you go but keep in mind that if you simply react to what is happening rather than attempt to "figure out" everything before it happens you'll save yourself a lot of frustration. This game is meant to surprise you and it certainly can. But once you find yourself memorizing the locations of closets and dark, chair-less desks then you'll basically be ready to survive most encounters.

That think-on-your-feet gameplay is fun but the real draw for the fans of the source material is that will remember the characters, story, and events of this game long after they've forgotten where the save points are. Amanda Ripley is acted well and reminded me a great deal of Crystal Dynamics' turn with Tomb Raider. In that game, just like this one, the playable character is strong but inherently human and vulnerable. I am enjoying this trend in games and hope it continues long into the future. Being Master Chief or Duke Nukem is fun for a spell, but being human is far more interesting.

As is Alien: Isolation.

Best game ever? No. But it is worth a play-through even if you aren't a fan of the films. If you are however, just TRY and trade this one back in. Playing as THE Ripley herself on the Nostromo in the Crew Expendable mission is more than enough reason to add this to your Permanent Collection of All Things Ridley. Or to place at the base of his statue in your closet, whichever applies.

~Matt

Gamer Video Blog Challenge! Shadow of Mordor Hit Streaks!

Gamer Vlog Challenge

I am officially challenging my fellow Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor players to a little Gamer Video Blog Challenge! It is really simple. First, just watch this clip of me (Uploaded from my Xbox One) dishing out a world of hurt on these Uruks.

Now that you've seen my epicness, let me see yours! Beat my 134 Hit Streak, Captain Kill, and Quest Completion Combo if you can! By my rudimentary and entirely made-up scoring method, I earned 134 points for the combo, 25 points for the Captain Kill, and 50 points for completing a Sword Legend for a total of 209! Beat that!

Here is how to SCORE:

1 point for every hit in the streak
25 points for a Captain Kill (Zero if Captain escapes)
50 for a War-chief
50 for a Sword or Bow Legend completion

Here are the RULES:

> You must be beyond or near the 130+ Hit Mark
> You must kill at least one Captain
> You can use ANY skills/powers/or weapons you like
> BONUS points for a War-chief
> Upload as many videos as you like! There is a week!
> Contest ends at 2:00pm CST on Friday the 31st of October. I'll put the three best videos up against each other for you all to vote on (via my Twitter and this blog) and we'll decide our winner!

Just find me on Twitter @MAWeeden over the next 7 days hours (starting from right now, 1:20pm CST) or comment on here with a link to your video and we will see who reigns supreme! To the winner goes the spoils! And by spoils, I mean bragging rights and views for your channel/blog/twitter/twitch/or site.

See you around, and happy streaking!

~Matt

My First Interview! Full Disclosure: Dark Link

Thanks to Stew Heckenberg for giving me an opportunity to talk about Dark Link and Bio's Remnant Gaming! The interview was fun, even if I was a bit jittery at the start.

Watch and enjoy!

Middle of the Month October (Dark Link Update!)

Wow is the word to describe my current schedule. It has been difficult to even find time to catch my breath, let alone maintain the most interesting blog ever written. A lot of family matters have come to a head here these last two weeks coinciding with the Bio's Remnant Gaming work that is also coming to a sharp point as well.

Everything happens at once, right?

Not everything that is happening is bad either. A lot of good things are taking place in regards to Dark Link, as evidenced by this picture.

Major ultra-epic kudos to Larc Muckenmuller who is currently breathing color and life into Mephistopolis and the characters of Dark Link. This might just be a simple idle animation but it represents the culmination of planning and hard work of us over at Bio's Remnant Gaming.

Soon, we'll have the trailer put together for our company to take to the Web Summit in Dublin, Ireland. There are still some questions about who is going and what is going on there but hopefully some good things will happen with our indiegogo campaign and we can have our cake and eat it too. Please give it a look and let me know if you think I can improve it over the next couple of days.

If you can donate, that is epic too! You can even get a signed art print from the artist who did the above awesomeness. Cool right? What are you waiting for then?

And check back here. I'll have more updates!

~Penfighter

Shadow of Mordor: Not You Again!

Scratch one game off of this list of games I want to play. I picked up my copy of Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor yesterday for my Xbox One, and after spending about six and a half hours on it last night, I have a first impression for you!

Also, I've included a segment that details the death of Muzglob the Painted as a way of demonstrating how the lauded Nemesis system works with the rest of the game.

The First Few Minutes

I won't spoil the story of the beginning too much here in my blog, but I did enjoy how they worked the movement and combat tutorials into that story. By the time the cut scenes finished rolling and the music reached a crescendo I felt confident I would be able to handle the controls well enough. Though, to be honest, that confidence likely came from my extensive experience with the Arkham and Assassin's Creed games, respectively. If you have played both of these titles before then the controls will feel right at home.

The open-world portion of the game begins on a giant tower that isn't actually there (you'll see). You have a mission to assassinate someone as well as about a dozen or so icons scattered throughout the map around you. I got the sense from these first moments that there was a LOT to do here. Some open-world titles don't necessarily give you a lot to do between one point and another but that is definitely not the case here. I found myself distracted by a number of things as I made my way through the layered and texture rich environment.

One of those things was the beauty of the game. It is every bit as gorgeous as a new-gen title should be, particularly at night in the rain. I finally feel like a game of mine is getting the most out my new console visually.

Anyway, as I was saying, before reaching that first assassination target, I found myself distracted by opportunities to free slaves, a few collectibles, and of course the chance to fight dozens of enemies clad in various types of armor and wielding a variety of weapons. My skill with rhythm-based combat is such that I was able to survive these initial encounters, especially since I'd stealth kill a few before the real fighting began.

 The Combat & Movement

The fast-paced rhythm based combat is similar to what was done in the Arkham games but has notable differences thanks to the swordplay, wraith abilities, and ranged combat effectiveness of Talion, the protagonist of Shadow of Morder. Experienced players will enjoy being able to set how helpful the combat prompts are if wanting more of a challenge. I can say though, do not let the ease of the early fights dissuade you. As you fight your way up the Orc and Uruk ranks, you'll find yourself dying more than you might have thought based on this early encounters.

The movement is close to Assassin's Creed but the world itself is very different from anything seen in those varied titles. You might be pushing similar buttons as you would for AC: III or IV, but the logic is a bit different. Especially after a couple of hours when you begin to receive movement bonuses thanks to new abilities you've unlocked for your wraith.  

If you haven't played either of those games, then note that the combat in this one will transition seamlessly from stealth to combat based on how you choose to engage your targets. Taking the time to meticulously sneak your way through a stronghold assassinating the Uruks one at a time until they are gone is a good way to build up XP for upgrades but takes a while. Charging in sword drawn is possible if you have nimble fingers but can be ridiculously difficult if enough shielded and berserker enemies join the fray.

Killing Muzglob the Painted

Some hours into the game, I decided it was time to kill this Warchief by the name of Muzglob the Painted. After interrogating a lowly Captain of the first tier, I learned that he had a couple of weaknesses and who his bodyguard was. This was, to my dismay, Tumug the Bloody. You see, Tumug and I have a history going back about four hours (and several deaths) ago.

Tumug Must Die

I had been chasing after some minor captain by the name of Skurg or something like that early in the game when Tumug (just a random, nameless enemy at first) shows up with a shield and spear. The captain I was attempting to interrogate for information on his Warchief was an archer and was pelting me with arrows as I tried to kill the shielded uruk. Eventually, the pair got the best of me and Tumug finished me with a vicious spear thrust. He insulted me as any good Uruk might and I respawned.

Almost immediately after jumping down from one of the towers Talion re-spawns at, Tumug was there with a posse and was eager to do me in again. He succeeded much faster than I would like to admit and I could do nothing but watch as he gained power and dueled another Uruk in the Sauron's Army 'mini-game' or whatever it is. He beat that Uruk and climbed the ranks.

Over the next couple of hours, Tumug dueled, recruited, and challenged his way up the ranks until he was a high level captain of about 13 or 14.  I would kill a captain or stop a duel only to see Tumug gaining power and respect amongst his peers. I definitely wanted to kill this ugly, spear-wielding jerk but was also mildly concerned that at this point, he was beyond my capabilities.

However, I did discover before doing in that lowly first tier captain (as I stated in the first paragraph) that Tumug was Muzglob's bodyguard. Getting rid of him would make my life easier during my assassination attempt of Muzglob so I made the call and selected Tumug as my target. He was holed up in a crumbling stone structure with a group of about twelve shielded uruks and several more warriors and archers. I did the archers on the raised platforms in with stealth kills and my bow (which is fired much like the bow in the Tomb Raider remake) before doing my best to polish off as many of the shielded guys as possible before the real fighting began.

When it finally did, it was not simple. In order to get past an uruk defender's shield, you have to "vault" over him as part of your continuing "streak" and slash or pound at his back. This can take several tries per Uruk and when there is a pack of them things can get pretty desperate. I knew that Tumug had a weakness to monsters however so I started looking for a caged carragor (think Warg). I found one on my mini-map and bolted from the battle. I found a nice perch on a stone wall that gave me a good vantage point to fire at the lock from and released the beast.   

He tore through the ranks pretty effectively and it ended up being just Tumug and a couple of his guys trying to stay alive against the creature. I hopped down and brutally finished off one of Tumug's buddies. I actually helped Tumug dispatch the carragor before turning my attention on the now weakened and army-less captain. I managed to stun him with my wraith fist ability and managed to kill him after a series of flurry strikes. Or so I thought.

You Again!?  

I went after the supposed bodyguard-less Muzglob at that point in his stone stronghold. Again, I used stealth to climb and infiltrate the compound, killing everything I could find as I went. My information told me that ol' Muzglob only had two weaknesses and one of those was ranged attacks. So I settled in by a nice little stash of Elven arrows and proceeded to attack him once he made it out onto this stone span between two of the structures.

Lo and behold, Tumug pops out of hiding and gets between me and his master, blathering on about the scar I left him with. What worse, he's invulnerable to ranged so now my plan is ineffective. Still, I am hoping that I can use a stealth finisher on Muzglob (his other weakness) if I can cause some distractions and move around behind him. I end up failing to accomplish this task and get overwhelmed trying to escape the structure. The lucky Uruk who got this kill is called Kaka and he now becomes a Captain. 

To keep a long story from getting any longer, it would be several more tries before I could even get Tumug killed off again (he ends up being level 19...and another one Korosh who I thought was dead is now level 20 and nigh invincible) let alone make another attempt at killing Muzglob.

NEMESIS

Because of this system, I found myself relishing in the death of Tumug, even though it wasn't technically as important as Muzglob's demise. Tumug had insulted me, killed me, and escaped death too many times for me to let him live. It was a genuinely rewarding experience to do him in. I just hope he stays dead this time.

The other factor in all of this are the runes that you get from killing off captains. The one I received from offing Tumug this last time was quite good thanks to his now super-high power level. I got a level 21 Sword Rune that grants me 21% defense versus ranged attacks. Not too shabby. And every time I look at the rune I'm treated to the image of Tumug's ugly face contorted in pain as he leis dead on the ground.

Now, I have seen other gamers and reviewers commenting on how this system has no context. That killing someone as Tumug doesn't really change anything physical in the game. From where I am sitting, I don't know what they are talking about. Mordor is a sea of orcs and uruks so the death of one or a handful shouldn't upset the balance of Sauron's plans. Not in the slightest. The context for these deaths came solely from my own mind as I desired to end the lives of these villains. Not because the game told me to or the story dictated it, but because he was a bastard and I wanted him dead.

That is the first time I've ever had that particular type of motivation in a game. This story of Tumug is MINE and belongs to no one else. Go out and find your own stories in this game, that is the point!

~Penfighter

Why So Picky?

When did gamers become so picky?

I am not about to go on a baseless rant against gamer culture and attitudes and nothing in this blog will have anything to do with GamerGate. I am simply reaching out to my fellow gamers in an attempt to understand why we've become so damned picky about the games we play. To be clear, I'm not referring to personal preference. Hey, everyone has their own style. What I am referring to is the apparent and incessant need to color that entire opinion based on a few things in a game that you don't care for or are broken.

These thoughts are directly coming out of a recent conversation I had with a fellow gamer. This guy was bashing Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag because of its perpetuation of the so-simple-it-is-boring combat and the outdated "tailing" mechanics. He said things like, "I hate this game" and "this is a travesty". When I asked him if there were any redeeming qualities his reply startled me. "Yes, but they don't matter. This game sucks."

They don't matter.   

I remember being a kid and this same buddy told me that the odd controls and the difficulty of simply moving around in Neversoft's Apocalypse didn't matter because the game was still fun. He said, "I find stuff to like."

Which is why I'm asking the question when did we become so picky? When did "fun" become less important than a game's perfection?

I disliked several things about Black Flag but I enjoyed several mechanics as well. Building up a navy from the ships I boarded and took for myself was a great deal of fun. I'll remember sailing around the Caribbean, diving for collectibles, and those wonderful sea shanties for a long time. I understand the objective need to let people know that I didn't like many things about that game but to go all out and call it a "shitty" game is ludicrous.

Right now, Destiny players are all over the map. I'm hearing more complaints than I can even remember to mention here in this post. "The game is too short" or "its just Halo" are two of the common ones right now. You know what I haven't heard or seen one person say? 'I'm having fun playing Destiny'.

If we were kids, we'd be out of our minds right now! I mean, we get to  online in this world with our friends and kill aliens! Even as an adult I can't wait to get in there and play in that sandbox. I know there isn't enough content to satisfy me right now but I also know that Bungie intends on pumping that game full of new stuff all the time. So it doesn't matter. I'm actually excited by that because it means I can play it for a bit then put it down and go on to the Elder Scrolls Online on my Xbox One and the other titles I'm itching to play.

This paragraph is normally where there would be a call to action. I have none. I am honestly just trying to figure out why it doesn't seem like we are having fun anymore. I do have gamer friends who get all excited like I do about games and have a lot of fun. But that number of friends I have who have more complaints than praise for their games is increasing.

Why? Are games really worse than ever or are we just getting picky? I don't know.

Free Consultation

Writers and Game Designers,

Today (and only today) I am offering up free Script Consultations to anyone who needs them in the indie game development industry. I can only do so many but until you see me comment here that my inbox is closed, please assume that I am still taking them.

I will be paying extra attention to story content, character development, and gameplay implementation. I am not doing this in an effort to fix every typo in the indie industry so much as I am offering up an opportunity to have a peer examine and critique your work. Games have the ability to be the best form of telling a story out there. Let me help you get the most out of that aspect of your game. 

I had some free time today that I could have used to read some more of my Captain America comics or continue my latest playthrough of Mass Effect but instead, I want to give back to the community I've become a big part of. The following is a list of criteria you must meet before asking me to look at it:

1. YOU must be the writer/creator/owner of the document you send me. 

2. Do not expect me to Edit or Proofread the entire document completely. I will, of course, point out the mistakes that I see as I read through it but I am not going to take a couple of days to fix every minute error of syntax, grammar, or mechanics. 

3. Send it to me in .pdf form please! 

4. I am NOT referring to the programming side of script consultation, but the literary sense. Do not ask me to take a look at your coding. That is not my specialty.


I am ESPECIALLY looking at RPGs and Adventure games. I am also giving priority to those indie devs who do not have an established storyteller at their disposal. Let me help! I cannot promise that I will change the way you look at your game, but maybe I can help you get the final push toward feeling great about your character(s) and story. A fresh set of eyes never hurt!

Send your scripts to the_last_penfighter@hotmail.com.

If you would like to chat about it, add me to your Skype contacts: Hexias

I look forward to hearing from you!

~Penfighter

Captain America Spotlight #1: Free Spirit

I am starting something new here at War of the Words and guess what? It has absolutely nothing to do with video games!  I am currently developing games, playing games, and talking about games both for recreation and business. As a result, I have been turning to comic books and other forms of media to escape from my busy life.

In light of that, I am going to begin regularly posting about Captain America characters, issues, storylines, and villains. I'll put up images (from my own digital Cap library), issue numbers, and other details that even other Cap diehards might find useful or new. Also, if you have any recommendations for me to read, I'd love to discuss my favorite super-hero with you! Just comment here or find me on twitter @MAWeeden.

Without further adieu, my first ever Captain America Spotlight begins!

Captain America Spotlight #1: Free Spirit

Free Spirit was first introduced in the issue above (Vol. 1 #431). She is Cathy Webster, a university student who pretty much rocks at everything except for athletics. She volunteers to do some sort of psychological experiment put on by Dr. Deirdre Wentworth that ultimately ends up with her being brain-washed to hate men (thanks to subliminal messages), as you'll see below.

"A good consciousness raising" indeed. Her confident stance in the image above and the techniques you'll see in the one below are a result of a powerful ray that has made Cathy into some sort of super-soldier not all too different from Captain America himself (who, at this point in the comics, was actually in the middle of losing some of his power). The Free Spirit makes quick work of these college kids before finally managing to break Dr. Wentworth's brainwashing.

On the whole, I never felt as if Cathy Webster was a serious A-lister in the Cap universe, but I always liked her costume and origin story. She did help quite a bit against Superia (who was Dr. Wentworth's other identity) and some other villains and even shouldered some of the crime fighting work-load left behind when Cap finally did lose just about all of the power he had.

The Free Spirit is a character I'd love to see come back in a big way or even play a role in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). She was set up to be one of the greats but that never did come to pass. Maybe we should start a movement to make sure that happens? Haha.

In the meantime, be on the lookout for more Cap Spots in my blog as well as some original content concerning Dark Link and another title we are currently developing over at Bio's Remnant Gaming.

See ya'll around!

~Matt

 

Writing and Development Assistance Day

Friend,

You've probably seen me blasting twitter all day with hashtags about game development and writing. I want to lead this blog post off by saying that yes, my offer to provide feedback and to answer questions relative to those tags is as simple as it sounds. Just drop a comment here, e-mail me at the_last_penfighter@hotmail.com, find me on skype by looking for the name Hexias, or drop me a line via twitter @MAWeeden.

I am giving myself to the gaming community today in an effort to restore a little goodwill and companionship to a community that has seen a lot of toxicity lately. So if you know anyone who is aspiring to write or develop video games (or books, comics, etc) please give them the contact information I have listed here and tell them that I am eager to help.

I am looking for questions you might have that relate to the development of YOUR games and IPs. Not mine. This day is not for me. The only gain here for me is to fulfill my selfish desire to get to know everyone I possibly can in the industry. Ask away! No question is too small!

My main skills are with content generation, gameplay design, character development, script writing, and story writing. But I might be able to help with other areas as well. Just ask!

I will be doing this until about 6:00pm Central Time (it is currently 11:21). That said, I will not close my inbox to anyone at any time in the future. I will just be ceasing my bombardment of twitter at that time.

See you around! And happy writing!

~Matt

You can also use the submission form to contact me found here (the submit button will send it to my e-mail): http://biosremnant.weebly.com/get-a-hold-of-us.html

List of Upcoming Games I Have to Try

Has anyone else noticed the massive list of games set to release this fall and winter? With the release of Destiny, we've officially started a cycle of releases that seems to guarantee we'll have something to play well into the spring and summer months of next year. This remains true even if some of them are duds!

Here is a quick hit-list of games that you probably shouldn't miss. I will attempt to do this without unnecessarily fueling any hype trains and without adhering to any of my usual biases. In this day and age I believe it is important for gamers such as myself to try and look at a game release objectively. With that in mind, here is my list in chronological order! (Be sure to bookmark so that you can keep track as well! Also, comment with any games you think I need to add to my list. Lastly, this information is up-to-date as of the publishing of this article. I will post notes or comments if I update it any further)

First up is Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor set to release September 30. This "nemesis" system they keep showing off has me intrigued. I've seen enough gameplay videos to see that this game will most likely play and feel like a fusion of Rocksteady's Arkham games and the Assassin's Creed franchise. Whether or not this is a good thing is up for debate but the system of creating, dispatching, and dominating your enemies based on how you - the gamer - wish to do so is tantalizing. Here's to hoping that the open-world aspects have plenty to offer as well or this might end up just being a quick novelty instead of a sturdy addition to my library.

Alien: Isolation, releasing on October 7, has me guessing at this point in regards to what the actual gameplay will be come launch, but as a massive fan of Ridley Scott's Alien I can't help myself but be a little biased. That said, at this point this game doesn't have a high spot on my list of priorities. I simply don't know enough about the style of play right now to make an informed decision about purchasing this game. Information might be out there, however, so I'll do some digging this weekend and see if I can't learn anything new.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel releases on October 14 and might be one of the safest bets of the month. After watching the videos they've released and reading what is coming out of Gearbox, it seems evident that this is another Borderlands game. Some might say "just another Borderlands game" but I'd respond by saying, so what? Some of the most fun I've had on my Xbox 360 was spent on Pandora. This game looks like it adds a few new twists to a formula that has proven to be successful. I'm not saying it can't fail, but if you liked the other Borderlands games then you probably shouldn't miss this one either.

The next game on my list is Civilization: Beyond Earth which releases for the PC on October 24. Some are calling this the "next Alpha Centauri" but I'm not willing to heap a pile of baseless hype onto that topic. It does appear to be 'Civilization on new planets out in space' but I haven't seen anything that shows the same level of tech and unit customization as I saw with Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. Another item that made that the original so good was the personality of each nation. It is difficult to say if Civilization: BE will showcase leaders as personal and different as the likes of Daedra Skye and Colonel Santiago. More importantly, it is no secret that some recent Civ titles have had their share of bugs or mistakes on release. Perhaps it would be best to see what happens a few days after launch before purchasing this title. (Still, it is Civ so I will eventually own this game. Even if I end up waiting for the expansion to fix any bugs.)

Some of you are going to roll your eyes about some of the games on this list.  Heck, even as I write the title Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (November 4) I can almost hear those eyes rolling about. I invite you, Doubting Gamer, to at least give this one a chance before you dismiss it out of hand.  Especially if you are judging it because you don't like Activision or you don't like previous entries in the series. Being honest, I haven't enjoyed a Call of Duty game since World at War. Objectively however there is enough here for me to be interested in at least giving it the good ol' college try. It remains to be seen if Sledgehammer will finally provide us with a proper campaign to play through, but the multiplayer reveals that they've done this year are enough to at least plant the notion in my skull that I shouldn't pass this game by like I did Black Ops II.


The next game shares a release date with another title in the same franchise. Bonkers, right? Assassin's Creed Unity comes out November 11 and is at the top of my list. I share a lot of concern with other gamers that the AC franchise has grown a bit stale in regards to gameplay and difficulty. That concern has been obliterated by the mentality of this title's developers and the risks they've taken to give us a story and associated game-play that they truly believe in. I also like the idea of them going back to some of the fundamentals of the first game including a return to assassinations being the focus of the game. I believe in what Alex Pedneault and the rest of the dev team are doing with this game enough to do even pre-order the collector's edition. Some would say that the joke is on me if the game sucks and they might be right. However, forming opinions takes research and thought. I've done both and refuse to be swayed by those who don't want anything to do with this title because they disliked other entries in the franchise.

Assassin's Creed: Rogue also releases on the 11th but I am not as excited about this one yet. Mostly because I am not convinced it clearly separates itself from the boring, all-too-easy combat and horrid stalking missions of previous entries. The notion of playing as a Templar has my curiosity piqued enough to want to give this game a fair chance. 



Halo: Master Chief Collection comes to the Xbox One on November 11 as well. What a busy week this one will be for my console! Anyway there isn't much time I need to spend on this one. I am a massive fan of Halo so it makes sense that I'd want to play all four core games with updated graphics and framerates (I'm still playing them on my 360). The multiplayer has me excited as does the access to the Halo 5 Multiplayer Beta  (set to release on December 29) and the Ridley Scott produced Halo: Nightfall series that comes with the collection. The only thing I want more than this collection is Halo 5 itself. 


Dragon Age: Inquisition will come out seven days later on November 18 and will find its way to my game shelf soon thereafter simply because it is a fantasy RPG. Sounds pretty biased and I'll admit that I definitely am subjective when it comes to dealing with this genre.  I did not care for DA: II that much but the first one left me wanting more. Hopefully this one is a good RPG adventure more along the lines of what I'm used to getting from other franchises boasting the name BioWare. Its new engine and open theme leave me with hope that I'm not too far off the mark in adding this to my list.

The last one on my list for now is FarCry 4, which also releases on the 18th. I had a great deal of fun playing FarCry 3 and I hope I'm not let down by the next installment in th3 franchise. The new setting looks to be even better and the open-world design and gameplay I came to enjoy from the last FarCry game seems to be in full swing. I have seen some gameplay videos that left me feeling that there isn't as much innovation as some might be wanting from a next-gen title. However just as with Borderlands, more of the same is more than enough for me with certain franchises. I didn't tire of the last one in the series until I'd found every last nook and cranny there was to explore. I believe the next one will hold me in a similar grip.





And that about does it for my list. I do want to point out that for the time being, I am almost exclusively playing games on my Xbox One & 360. Aside from Civilization, there isn't much I intend to get and put on my laptop. You will also note the absence of any indie games. The honest reason here is that I have had enough bad experiences getting excited about an indie game only to realize it wasn't what I was expecting. I have become a bit more cautious about these over the last couple of years. I'll definitely write up a piece about the indies that look good in the coming days.

If you are excited about a game, please let me know below!

It has been since May, but I'm finally getting around to adding a new post. To say life has been busy would be an understatement. My wife, Angie, has been spending a lot of time away from home as she starts up a promising career with Banker's Life out of Saint Louis. The result has been some stress and tension around the home but nothing to really complain about. This is good for her and for us as a family.

Complaints instead are directed at the laptop of mine which suddenly and inexplicably ceased all function and perished before its time. Lousy good for nothing piece of ju--

Anyway, life goes on and with a new computer comes new opportunity. The start-up video game developer Bio's Remnant Gaming that I've done some work for throughout the year has an exciting venture in the makings and I've been lucky to have a chance to participate. We've finally got a website put together that more or less details who we are as a company and why we exist as well as some glimpses at one of our feature projects.

http://biosremnant.weebly.com/

The site is basically an "alpha" version that will be steadily upgraded and polished up as time goes on so check back often!

It is with great pleasure that I announce the game Dark Link as the main project for us over at Bio's Remnant. I've worked on the story concepts and characters for this game for some time now and couldn't be happier to see the copyright taken care of and the game officially in the works.

I will probably post osme nuggets and tidbits in my personal blog here at blogspot but expect to find more depth and more material at the Developers' Blog over at the official site.

Give me a follow for more game reviews, updates on the games I'm making, and what is going on with the fam. See you around!

~Matt

Platformer fun! (Dust: an Elysian Tail & Deadlight)

During my little hiatus from my blog here, I downloaded two free games on my Xbox 360. Before I get into them, however, let me point out how awesome that is. Steam and Sony have been doing it for a while but I am more pleased to see Microsoft on that bandwagon considering I own a 360 and an Xbox One. This means that I could potentially have four free games every month!

Excited doesn't quite cover it.

Anyway, this post concerns the two games I've recently been playing thanks to this "More with Gold" offer that Microsoft has going. They are Deadlight by Tequila Works and Dust: an Elysian Tail created almost solely by Dean Dodrill. Both are 2D platformers but otherwise couldn't be more different. Aside from the fact that they are both fun and both several years old. (These reviews of mine are out of date, but I get the feeling that like me, many of you might have missed these gems as well)

Let's begin with Deadlight. This 2D survival platformer is set in a post-apocalyptic Seattle. Shadows (read: zombies) run amok in this grizzly setting and constantly chase after you as you jump, leap, grab, and puzzle your way from one dazzling level to the next.  Tequila Works definitely went the realistic route with their artwork which makes clambering over damaged vehicles, through eerily empty houses, or crumbling buildings all the more exciting.

The story suits the setting and is not one for the kiddos. Art stills with limited animation serve as the primary method of filling in the gaps between levels and they range from the brutal to the downright depressing. If you are a fan of The Walking Dead or post-apocalyptic zombie tales in general then you will not be disappointed. This game tends to focus not just on telling a gruesome story but in detailing how someone might survive under these conditions. I found the level of detail to be slightly wanting overall but far more than I would have expected from a 2D platformer.

But is it fun? A capital YES is there. Admittedly, it did take me a little time to become accustomed to the controls but once I did, I was jumping across rooftops, shooting the heads off of Shadows, and smashing through doors like a pro. I did find myself occasionally frustrated when trying to stand underneath a ledge or object and jumping up to grab it. It seems you have to be standing in the exact right spot or you might end up leaping from your position of safety or even further out of position. Those moments were scarce however and I found the entire experience to be enjoyable on the 360's controller.

Do not expect the puzzles themselves to be all that difficult. That said, there are definitely some moments that take quite a bit of trial an error. I died quite a few times in areas where you have to execute a string of maneuvers in order to effectively dodge the shadows, escape an environmental condition, and move on to the next area all at once. Thankfully this game comes with an excellent auto-save system that seems to know where the difficult moments will be. I rarely lost any significant gameplay due to a poorly timed jump or getting overwhelmed by Shadows.

Overall, this is a solid game. Its shooter elements are fun once you become accustomed to the control scheme but its strength is in the sometimes frantic platforming elements that can be tricky but rewarding to complete. If you missed this game, the time to rectify that mistake is now. You won't be disappointed.

Dust: an Elysian Tail is an entirely different can of beans.

The biggest similarity between these two games is that there is more to them than meets the eye. You would expect either to be a fun but relatively straightforward experience. This is not the case. Particularly with Dust. This game has RPG elements including a leveling system, extensive (for the genre, anyway) conversation options with certain NPC's, and long, full levels that require multiple trips to experience everything they have to offer. Couple that depth with an easy to pickup and incredibly fun and remarkably responsive combat system and you can be certain that you'll have plenty of hours of fun with this title. Also, it is beautiful.

The story is solid and definitely more than I expected. A lot more. There are moments of levity between Dust and his little flying companion but they are smothered by the deep story concepts of the central lot that deal with identity, death, war, and societal concerns. It is difficult for me to believe that aside from the music and a trace element here or there, this game was designed and created by one man. There is just so much to it and the combat really is as fun as I'm trying to explain.

You build up combos by hitting enemies - which happens incredibly fast if you use the whirling special attacks in unison with your companion's magic - and lose the combo bonus if you get hit by enemies. It sounds simple and plays simple but that in no way takes away from the fun. In fact, even as a gamer who plays more the story than the gameplay usually, I found the high-flying combat to be a welcome contrast to the at times pensive dialog and deep plot elements.

As a platformer, it is pretty straightforward. You have to jump just right from one spot to the next or hop down from one ledge to another but there is nothing special here. Really, the environment is best served as a tool to use in combat to help you gather up your foes and achieve higher combos to increase your XP and gold rewards.

Again, if you missed this one like you might have missed Dead Light then stop reading my blog and go play it. By no means will it be the best game you've ever played but you should find it a satisfying and even rewarding experience.

With that, I have more games to play and I'm sure you do as well. Still, if you find the time, please subscribe to my blog here for industry updates, game reviews, and posts about Bio's Remnant Gaming as we finally start to get our games out there. You can also find me at twitter @MAWeeden and can drop me a line at the_last_penfighter@hotmail.com

~Matt

Far Too Long

Friends,

Apologies for the lengthy hiatus from posting here. I have received quite a few emails inquiring about the status of my blog and whether or not it is dead. I can confidently report that this blog is still, in fact, very alive.

My lack of posting here is not an isolated occurrence. I am not really posting anywhere! Work with Bio's Remnant Gaming has been keeping me incredibly busy and much of what I am doing with them is done behind closed doors for now. I am certain that when some of the projects we have been developing finally see some light you will here plenty about what I've been up to.

In the mean time, I will be following up this remarkably brief blog post with commentary on the gaming industry as well as indie game development. Heck, I might even toss in a review or two!

Check back often!

~Matt

Write It Forward

Today, I will answer the feedback in my inbox by providing an excerpt of a current work of fiction. A collaborator and I have been working on a science fiction television pilot about a very unique colony of humans far away. I won't reveal the big hook, not yet, but I have been working on a short story within that universe that explores a specific group of military leaders.

They are the Anrisan Air Captains and they are exciting to work with. However, I am not going to stop there, oh no. Today, I am kicking off my Write It Forward campaign. Everyone who reads this and is a writer must continue the cycle by posting an excerpt of one of their current or recent works as well.

Please, comment in my blog with a link to your excerpt, or hit me on twitter @MAWeeden so that your followers can see what you are up to as well. Facebook is an option if you don't have a blog. Instead of excuses, I'd prefer to actually do some reading tonight. :) Enjoy the following excerpt and remember Write It Forward!

*********

 

             

“Just a minute!” Brandyn called out as he rushed toward the door. A quick look through the small square peephole revealed his roommate, Prospect Arin Lushe, leaning on the other side. Brandyn backed away and activated the round dial to the left of the plasiglass doorframe. The door slid noiselessly down into a thin slit in the floor and Arin wasted no time in crossing over it into their room. He looked Brandyn in the eyes as he passed but said nothing.

             

“Nope. I’m not going to ask, Lushe. Not this time.” Brandyn joked.

           

His roommate didn’t reply. It was obvious, however that Arin was barely containing his mirth. Brandyn watched him saunter over to the closet door and began punching an identity code on the square buttons of the lockpad. 

             

Brandyn sighed but allowed a thin smile to show itself on his face. A face he only just remembered was half covered with hygiene gel. His eyes flicked down to the dress white military uniform slacks he was wearing and for a moment he panicked, afraid that in his carelessness some of the gel might have dripped down onto them. It would be nearly impossible to get the gel off the uniform and the material dried before the ceremony began later this morning. Thankfully, a cursory examination proved his fears unfounded.

             

He stepped further into the small training quarters to a set of twin sinks against the back wall. Brandyn looked in the mirror, reached down to reclaim his shaving edge, and resumed preparing himself for graduation. He slid the sharp edge along his jaw line delicately, careful to avoid nicking his cheek.

After today, Prospect Brandyn Teris would be an Anrisan Air Captain; he didn’t want his first battle scar to come via an embarrassing shaving accident.

           

“Hurry up, Teris! We’re going to be late!”

           

 It seemed Lushe finally felt like talking. Brandyn stopped shaving long enough to say “Look who’s talking! Instead of getting ready like your eminent roommate has been all morning, you’ve been off dallying with a nurse from the medical domicile.”

             

Lushe gasped in exaggerated shock as he stuck his head out from the small closet he was rummaging through, “Me? Dallying with a nurse? How dare you impugn my honor! Today is a remarkably solemn day and I would never disgrace myself by engaging in such activ-“

           

“She was a waitress from the meal room then, wasn’t she?” Brandyn interrupted.

            

 Laughter came out of the closet. A moment later so did Lushe carrying his dress uniform unceremoniously in his arms. Brandyn briefly wondered where the man would find time to get into it before they were supposed to report to the Brazen Courtyard. 

“Yes,” Lushe answered dramatically, “But she was so much more than a waitress. More like a deity of desire!”

             

Brandyn rolled his eyes and faced the mirror again. He finished shaving as Lushe prattled on about how this girl was the one he had been searching for but he had no idea how to proceed given that he was leaving the facility tonight. Instead of replying, Brandyn just let him talk knowing that Lushe sometimes accomplished more while he was running his mouth than he might if forced into a proper conversation.

             

Sure enough, by the time Brandyn dried his face from shaving and turned around, his friend was already in the uniform slacks and was pulling the white undershirt over his chiseled torso. He offered Lushe a sympathetic half-grin and then stepped over to the wall to his left and pressed a small blue button on the otherwise smooth white surface. A thin seam suddenly appeared along the wall and a short, flat bed with a dark blue covering emblazoned with the Air Captain Logo – a white Multi Craft silhouette flying through a silver wreath - emerged from the wall. On it was his dress uniform’s shirt and jacket. Both were startlingly white and unadorned. Prospects didn’t earn awards.

          

He examined the shirt carefully before removing it and sliding his right arm into a sleeve. As he started with his left arm he heard Lushe say, “Did that trick actually work; pressing it flat by leaving it in your combo bed?”

             

“Yes, Lushe, it did work. Why do you always doubt my methods?” The question wasn’t entirely serious, but it wasn’t completely in jest either.

            

 “Because I didn’t think of them!” Lushe fired back with a grin and a chuckle, “I’m always number two when compared to you, Brand. You are always one step ahead. First to fly.”

          

  Despite the laughter, he wondered if Lushe actually resented that fact. “First to die.” Brandyn stated automatically before adding with a wink, “Besides you are number one with the ladies, Arin.”

             

“That’s true,” Lushe said with a wide grin, “I deserve a medal for handsomeness. They should call it ‘The Irresistible Star’. Though instead of pinning it on my uniform, they should give me dozens of them to hand out to the ladies I meet.”  

In that moment Brandyn began to doubt his eagerness for it all to end. Arin Lushe might be a bit overbearing at times but Brandyn had become accustomed to having his friend around. For six years they’d been roommates together here at the Vanbourgolie Air Captain Academy. There could not have been two more different men in the entirety of the Corps but somehow that helped them achieve more in the team drills than anyone else. They’d become mild celebrities amongst the other Prospects. It seemed the duo could not be bested at any war game or trial.

“Sure, Lushe, whatever you say.”

Arin went to the sink and began to hastily shave his cheeks as Brandyn lifted his jacket from the bed and examined it carefully. Everything was in place and properly sewn. Nevertheless he meticulously double-checked the decorative buttons and seams. He knew there were no mistakes but it felt good to have a place to expend some nervous energy.

Brandyn had long anticipated this moment. He had expected to feel a sense of completion or fulfillment at accomplishing his lofty goals but now that the time was here he found himself feeling uncertain and a little overwhelmed.  

“Air Captain Brandyn Teris,” He muttered to himself as he pulled the jacket on, zipping it up the front and checking to make sure the short tail in the back wasn’t rumpled. His hands tugged at the bottom to test the jacket’s fit before finally turning to look in the mirror.

Tears threatened to well up in his eyes. Light blue eyes that matched the trim of his otherwise brilliant white jacket and dark brown hair that matched the belt and shoes.  His immaculate posture presented the uniform as proudly as his father once had. Suddenly it was not his reflection staring intently back at him from the mirror but his father’s. Brandyn imagined the lone tear rolling down his smooth cheek was actually traveling his father’s face as he looked on at his son with pride.  

           

 He wiped the tear from his jawbone with his thumb before realizing Lushe was standing next to him, speaking words that echoed his thoughts, “Your father would have been proud, Brand. You are doing more than filling his shoes.” Brandyn felt his roommate’s hand rest on his shoulder as he leaned in close, “You didn't just get yourself through the toughest school in the Free Nations, but me as well. I will never forget that.”

           

 Brandyn turned to face his friend and blinked back a new wave of tears. “I know.”

           

 He felt Lushe grab his hand and shake it gently. When he let go, Lushe smiled as widely as only he could before turning away to finish dressing himself.He felt Lushe grab his hand and shake it gently. When he let go, Lushe smiled as widely as Brandyn had ever witnessed before turning away to finish getting ready. He felt Lushe grab his hand and shake it gently. When he let go, Lushe smiled as widely as Brandyn had ever witnessed before turning away to finish getting ready.

There was nothing left to say. No words could communicate the bond they had forged here and it would have been foolish to try. Instead, Brandyn knew, they would honor each other’s memory by continuing to uphold the standard their new uniforms implied. They would honor their memory and the memory of everyone else who wore the same uniform by serving the people of the Free Nations of Anrisa either through commitment to their duties or, if necessary, self-sacrifice.

“Hey, Brand, have you seen my dress shoes?”

That is, if they made it to graduation on time.

******

I truly hope you enjoyed the read! Remember to Write It Forward by posting a link to an excerpt of your own work and then ask your readers to keep it going. Who knows, maybe we'll help someone out of writer's block or connect tomorrow's next famous collaboration. Can't hurt, right?

Just post it.

~Matt