A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV is not a terribly long game, and in fact it was simply a pre-order bonus for those who went ahead and ordered Final Fantasy XV at Gamestop. I actually enjoyed the game a fair amount - it was not a spectacular title, but it provided me with something a little different that I still enjoyed. Winter White Ale by Bell's Brewing is a bit of a departure from my usual winter weather drinking, but I also enjoyed this change of pace.
A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV is a title I spent a little more time with than I had anticipated. When I first got it I thought: Okay, this is kind of neat. Free game, probably disposable though.
Due to its relatively short length, A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV is a nice afternoon diversion. The story is by no means critical to the core Final Fantasy XV game. Final Fantasy is of course an RPG series first and foremost, but with tactics games, more action-oriented titles and more, Square Enix has taken some chances with the property and A King's Tale is another nice example of this.
The game itself is pretty easy to play. You are introduced to different combos and attack types throughout the first third of the game. Enemies will roll out and you will be advised what types of attacks to use. Extra layers of strategy such as magic, or calling upon Regis' companions. To its credit, this game is actually deeper than old school beat-'em-up titles like Final Fight or Double Dragon, and could have been a longer game with perhaps a progression/leveling system of some sort and more monster variety. I'd actually love to see this get just a few more RPG elements like the old arcade Dungeons & Dragons games that had experience, gold, items - things like that. You could make a proper, full release (even if lighter-weigh download-only) Final Fantasy brawler out of this.
So, having already beaten the campaign mode, I went ahead and decided to try and complete the dream challenges that are unlocked after besting the story. Some of these are really easy. Not using magic is a bit of a pain to be sure, but clearing wave after wave without it is hardly impossible. Some of the other challenges are considerably stiffer and required that I go back and try again. These do not add any sort of narrative at all - they are simply challenges to keep you playing the game a little longer. I figured this would be a good time to have a couple of beers and try to beat as many of these as I could.
Recent Beeps and Beers have been focused on the thick, heavy porters and stouts I tend to prefer in the winter. Bell's Winter White Ale is a little different in that it focuses on a lighter beer fermented with Belgian yeast. It seems like the kind of beer you would drink in the summer as well, and is an easy sipping beer that rings in about 5% ABV. It has the sort of hazy golden/almost-but-not-quite orange color of summer wheat beers without a real strong aroma. That being said, the scent of clove is one of the strongest I get from this, and it is a pleasant one.
Light, smooth and with very little lacing despite a fluffy white head, Winter White Ale is a nice alternative to heavier beers of foods. If you are not a fan of Belgian or wheat beers, Winter White Ale probably won't be the one to convert you. It is very much a traditional style that doesn't really do anything that surprised me or stood out - it was simply a solidly drinkable beer that is usually only made this time of the year.
When I reviewed A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV yesterday, I scored it a 7 out of 10. It was a light, enjoyable experience that falls outside of the norm for Final Fantasy games. Similarly, Winter white Ale is a nice example of the style that provides a lighter drinking experience than my usual stouts from this time of the year. It is not particularly memorable, but it is a well-made beer that offers a crisp, refreshing change of pace if you are in the mood for it.
Article by Nick
