Mobile Friday: Apple Arcade - Warped Kart Racers - The First Hour

This third video in the new Mobile Friday: Apple Arcade series is on Warped Kart Racers. This is an exclusive game on Apple Arcade from 

Electric Square.

In the last video in this series, https://youtu.be/J_oywbo5WmI, i mentioned that i'd like to try out a racing game from Apple Arcade. I had a look and there were some familiar names and sequels on there. But Warped Kart Racers caught my attention because of the characters. i've watched most of the shows the characters are from, but it's not just characters as there are race tracks and collectables from these shows too.

When you star the game you're straight into a race. the Prologue section of the game acts like a tutorial with each race, or part of a race, being used to teach the controls of the game. it's very short, maybe 10 minutes or so, and simple to understand. Tho, it was a little difficult to master. I've played a lot of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Sonic All Stars racers and it's difficult not to compare this game to those top Kart Racers. in terms of controls, there are some differences but in the end they're slight and easy to adjust to. i felt like whether i used the touch screen or controller i was mostly in control.

This was the second time i've tried out using a controller and it was a welcoming experience. i went to the main menu, thinking a controller symbol was a button to press, and when i turned on the controller and it paired automatically the game added button prompts to the screen making it clear what button did what. This continued into the game as on screen prompts got controller buttons, too. i felt that i was able to be accurate with a controller, but the main benefit was that it was easier to fire off weapons. when using the screen, the fire button is above the drift, and it was difficult to reach with another finger so often i'd have to fire after a drift.

Ultimately, i had a nice time and i do feel that whilst it can be compared to other Kart Racers, it does have some of it's own unique charm. most of that comes from the shows that characters and tracks come from. so the more you like them, the more you'll get from this game. the thing that i think will be the most hit or miss with players is the character art. there's a slight cell shading on all the characters and they're also somewhat stylized in a way that makes all the characters from the different shows feel like they're from the same place. the tracks and their backgrounds were fantastic and mostly full of life, but i did find the characters themselves a little distracting. And, as it wasn't a problem, i should say the Dynamic Island never got in the way of the game.

Warped Kart Racers is well worth playing. there's something to enjoy if you like the shows, something to enjoy if you like Kart Racers, and something to enjoy if you like racing games. at the very least, the quick introduction to the game, via the tutorial and first set of races, makes this an easy game to try out, like a demo, whether you're out and about or at home.

Pokémon Violet - The Nineteenth Part – Defeating The Lurking Steel Titan

I’m the previous video, I followed the path and ended up in #Zapapico Town. In today’s video, I go from there across the desert to where the Lurking Steel Titan is. 

As usual, I meander along the way. So if you want to see the titan fight, head to the end of the video. Along the way I level up several Pokémon and catch some familiar fire types. I show that I only have 3 different fire type Pokémon and I was concerned that I would struggle against the titan. 

But as I made my way through the desert, it became clear that my team was most likely fine, if not over leveled for the task. Still, it was a shock to see what the Titan ended up being!

Pokémon Violet - The Eighteenth Part – The Journey to Zapapico Town

I didn't have a goal for this video. as you'll see in the beginning, there were many options open to me. In the end, i ended up following a path to the mountains near Medali City in West Province.

I then needed to find a Pokémon Centre, so that then became my target. i left and continued to follow a path and before i really knew it, i had ended up in Zapapico Town. I saw some raids in the distance so i went to have a look, but i came right back to Zapapico Town. 

as per usual, for me, there's lots of meandering on the journey, and even a really big fall. i evolved a Pokémon and caught a new one. Overall, it was a nice relaxing time and i hope you'll enjoy it as much as i did.

Pokémon Violet - The Seventeenth Part – Exploring Medali City and Defeating Larry

The goal for this video was to explore Medali City and to do it’s gym. Of course, with a little bit of meandering along the way. 

I did it, but it wasn’t easy. The gym challenge was unique and kinda interesting. It certainly got me thinking and took a little time. But the gym battle was hard. Larry’s team is tough with some good coverage moves. I made some mistakes and more than once I thought it would’ve been a loss.

Then my rival challenged me to a battle right afterwards. There was no time to change my team to my regular team. So they also had a hard battle and once again I thought I was going to lose. But, somehow, I won. 

I don’t really have a plan as to where I’m going to go next!

Puzzle & Dragons Tuesday - Nintendo Switch Edition - Christmas Cup 1! - Achievement Run

Welcome to Puzzle & Dragons Tuesday! Sit back and either watch me play through, with no commentary, the cup or leave it running in the background as BGM!

I play and earn all the achievements from the Christmas Cup 1! (12/11 4PM - 12/18 4PM (PST)) in Puzzle & Dragons: Nintendo Switch Edition whilst using a GamePad and my Nintendo Switch is Docked.

Back to back weeks of winning and finishing in 6 rounds!

Out of the 6 games, i won the first 4, got a second and a third place. it looked like i would get a clean sweep, but a new player came in in my fifth match and was able to beat me in that game and the following sixth match.

Just like in the video last week, the rules for this week were simple to understand and easy to pull off. you'll see in every game that i try to make a L shape and try to make long chains of the same color as these offered the highest attack score. as ever, combo's are somewhat luck based but i did get lucky a few times.

Pokémon Violet - The Sixteenth Part – The Journey From Porto Marinada to Medali City

I didn't expect so much of what happened on the way from Porto Marinada to Medali City.

The first big highlight was walking into a lvl 50 area with my lvl 35 Pokémon. I was soo excited in seeing a Tropius but as soon as i caught it, i knew i had to get out of there. But even then i was surprised when i came across a new fish Pokémon, Tatsugiri. i tried to catch it but it used Memento every time i tried.

Another highlight has to be catching a Frigibax via a Online Raid Battle. i had never seen one before, but i really liked it's design. being a Dragon Ice dual type is interesting and it soon became a part of my team and evolving into Arctibax, a Pokémon with an even cooler design.

All along the way i was on the look out for shiny Pokémon and new Pokémon. But i also had to level up some of my Pokémon, too. i haven't used fighting types, and with Medali City home to the Normal Type Gym, i really had to put in some effort.

Switch Funday - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass - 5 Tracks from DLC Wave 3

On December 7th, Wave 3 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pack was released. This included 8 courses. My goal was to play as many of them as i could in an hour. Ultimately, i was only able to play 5 of the 8 in not too much longer than an hour.

London Loop was fun, the map looks intense and the level changes each lap so it's very interesting. Berlin Byways, like London Loop, has many famous places from the city as well as a course that also changes as you play. Peach Gardens is also interesting as on the last lap the direction of the race changes. I thought Merry Mountain was a little simple, but there are hazards on the track to watch out for. the same can be said, to a lesser degree, about Rock Rock Mountain as i found it to be more interesting with its flying sections and hazards.

Overall, i enjoyed the courses i played. i didn't pay for the DLC as it comes with my Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass.