Coming off of the two biggest features I have ever done, it is hard to get back in the swing of regular writing. I have so many ideas spinning around in my head of articles to write, but no true direction of where I want to take Silver Bit next. It is a very peculiar position I am currently in with Silver Bit. Personally, I think getting back into the regular of schedule of work and school after Reading Week will get the creative juices following in this writer's brain. For this week, I like to revisit an old staple of Silver Bit, Bit by Bit. Now let us break down yours truly's favourite games and videos of the past few weeks.
Game of the Month
Nintendo always knows how to get people playing their handhelds during February. Last February, Nintendo released Fire Emblem Awakening, a game which engulfed an enormous amount of this writer's free time and earned Silver Bit's 2013 Game of the Year. Early this February, Nintendo brought Square Enix's Bravely Default to North America and it has easily won over this gamer's heart. Bravely Default harkens back to the early entries in Square's legendary RPG franchise, Final Fantasy. The story is very familiar as the player is sent on a quest to purify four elemental crystals. Bravely Default's job system pulls a lot from the systems implemented in Final Fantasy III and V. While Bravely Default does share a lot with Final Fantasy, it captures a sense of fun and wonder that modern Final Fantasies completely lack. The battle system is turn-based like many RPGs, but it offers an incredibly creative twist. During battles, you are able to brave or default. Default acts much like defending as it decreases damage taken, but also increases battle points (BP). You use BP to brave, which allows a character to unleash multiple attacks in a single turn. Braving and defaulting is a risk-reward system that adds an inventive layer of strategy to battles. The choice of braving or defaulting can be the difference between success or failure in battle. The battles are only just one piece of the great pie that Bravely Default offers from the incredible StreetPass features such as rebuilding the main character's hometown with those you walk past or summoning friends to help in battle to the innovative ability to change encounter rates and difficulty at anytime. If you own a 3DS and are fond of RPGs, I highly recommend picking up Bravely Default. It is well worth the price of admission.
Most Anticipated Game of the Month
Usually around this time of the year, I put up my Most Anticipated Games of the Year article. 2014 has been different. When I write those articles, I personally enjoy writing about a variety of games made by different developers, usually for various devices. Sadly, there is not much of anything that has gotten me truly excited outside of Nintendo's offerings this year. With the new consoles, it is going to be a waiting game until E3. A few announcements may trickle out before then, but nothing too substantial in my opinion. In the midst of all my pessimism, there is one downloadable game I am really psyched for. Take some old-school Castlevania gameplay, add in Scrooge McDuck's pogo jump from DuckTales and meld in the themed bosses from Mega Man. From this crazy concoction, the game you get is Yacht Club Games' Shovel Knight. Taking inspiration from classics of the 8-bit era, Shovel Knight looks to modernize these amazing elements while keeping the look and feel of these classics. The more I see of Shovel Knight, the more excited I get. If you are looking to get in on the excitement, I will share the trailer for Shovel Knight below. March 31st cannot come soon enough.
Video of the Month
Whoever the person at Nintendo that creates the trailers for Super Smash Bros. deserves a raise. These trailers are among the best I have ever seen. Each new character reveal feels like an event and rightly so. This time around Nintendo pulled the curtain back on one of the most requested Smash Bros. character, Little Mac. This veteran of the boxing ring will make his first appearance on the battlefields of Smash Bros. in the Wii U and 3DS entries of the series. Even though it is his first time, Little Mac looks up to the challenge with his all fisticuffs move set and Doc Lewis at the the pink sweatsuit-wearing pugilist's side.
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