Fire Emblem Heroes (review)

In the past, Nintendo has traditionally released games on its own hardware. When Nintendo decided to jump into the mobile space, it made a conscious decision to create mobile-tailored games to supplement software on its own dedicated gaming systems. One of the first games announced from this mobile venture was a new entry in the Fire Emblem series.

Fire Emblem has a long history dating back to the Famicom (Japanese NES) with Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light which came out in 1990. Gamers in the U.S. weren’t introduced to the Fire Emblem series until 2003 when the plainly-titled Fire Emblem came to Game Boy Advance. From that point on Fire Emblem has slowly built up a fanbase across the world with a half-dozen follow up titles.

The Fire Emblem series has a large cast of characters in its history–many of which show up in Heroes

With the deep history of the Fire Emblem series, Nintendo has a rich cast of characters to bring to the mobile landscape with Fire Emblem Heroes. The turn-based strategy game relies heavily on character development and an intricately weaving story that plays out differently depending on how you perform on the battlefield and which relationships you choose to develop.

Gameplay

Fire Emblem Heroes follows in the footsteps of its older siblings with similar gameplay, similar art and music, as well as comparable sound effects. The gameplay translates perfectly to the touchscreen nature of mobile devices. Sorting and commanding your troops is very easy to execute by selecting your units with your fingertip and dragging or tapping nearby squares within the game grid. You’ll quickly learn how each unit type can attack and move within the gameplay area and how your turns throughout each battle play out against your enemies. The amount of variety in each battle quickly becomes apparent early in the game.

Guide your allies to victory as you master the unique art of the battle

As you command the Emblian Empire against the Askran Kingdom, you’ll be able to summon “Heroes” you encounter throughout the game. Strategically choosing each group of playable characters allows you to command the battlefield to varying degrees. After completing a set amount of story missions you’ll gain access to special timed events, as well as fight against rivals around the world in the arena maps. Items that buff your heroes’ abilities can be obtained in arena battles as you make your way up the leaderboards.

I really have to commend Nintendo on its ability to focus on gameplay first with a lot of the titles its made in the past. Fortunately with Fire Emblem Heroes, the graphical presentation and overall package don’t suffer from this focus on gameplay. The entire package fits together nicely with an emphasis on classic gameplay.

Presentation

The visuals in Fire Emblem Heroes are some of the best in the mobile space–especially when it comes to the fully pre-rendered cutscenes. Each character within the game is drawn with incredible detail and color. It’s easy to differentiate each character from the next because of the amount of detail each character employs. It’s also fairly evident from early on that care was taken in designing the world, the characters, and playing fields in Heroes.

Fire Emblem has always been known for great symphonic music. Fire Emblem Heroes follows suit with a wonderful soundtrack that brought joy to my ears every time I booted up the game. The music has a strong Japanese influence, but also integrates a fair amount of European classical flair to complement the visuals. All in all, Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have done a great job composing a strong soundtrack for Fire Emblem Heroes.

The hand-drawn art style is second to none when compared to other games on the Google Play store

The story plays out in a traditional medieval setting. You play as a commander to the heroes that you’ll instruct on the battlefield. The dynamic between the player and the accompanied heroes plays out nicely with an introduction to each new battle. Menu systems are designed well but take a little bit to get used to, as there are a lot of options for the player. Navigating between the battle arenas, your home area and the shop is just a tap away at any moment and each section is labeled at the bottom of the screen.

Mobile ties

Although Fire Emblem Heroes harkens back to the classic and appreciated gameplay of the games before it, it also has some new features that many current mobile games have employed. Among them is a currency system represented by Orbs within the game. Orbs that you collect through gameplay can be used to progress through missions within the game and there’s always an option to purchase more.

Nintendo and DeNA’s partnership comes together in multiple titles, including Fire Emblem Heroes

Fire Emblem Heroes does a great job of tip-toeing between a traditional handheld game and what many mobile phone games have become. It never forces you to pay in order to advance, but instead gives players the option to purchase items that provide benefit in various ways. I honestly prefer this setup over completely unlocking all modes from one larger payment as it gives the choice to really dig into the experience or occasionally hop into a few battles from time to time. In regards to that point, the battling is also streamlined to be much more bite-size in comparison to other dedicated games in the series. This fits nicely with the lifestyle that many mobile gamers have–occasional free-time that allows for a quick match.

There are also bonuses available to those players that choose to link their game to a Nintendo account. The ‘My Nintendo’ account system allows players to receive certain perks and discounts on digital goods that can be applied to Fire Emblem Heroes or other offerings from Nintendo. it’s a nice feature that few mobile games make use of and could be used to promote other Nintendo properties.

Heroes Wrap

Nintendo/Intelligent Systems and DeNA have paired up to offer a wonderful gaming experience that encapsulates what’s great in both mobile and traditional handheld games. The entire experience is tied together nicely in a fairly approachable package that eases even the least seasoned gamer into the basics. This approachability along with a strong presentation and deep gameplay mechanics make Fire Emblem Heroes one of the best turn-based strategy game available on Android.

ZTE launches the midrange, dual-camera-toting Nubia Z17 mini in Asian markets

Why it matters to you

ZTE’s Nubia Z17 mini is one of the company’s most affordable dual-camera phones yet. And there’s a possibility it could come to the U.S.

A new day, a new smartphone. On Monday, ZTE sub-brand Nubia launched the Z17 Mini, a midrange handset with a dual-lens camera that’s bound for developing markets.

It’s endorsed by soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, but that’s far from the only noteworthy thing about it.

Specs

It’s an all-metal affair. The Nubia Z17 Mini boasts a curved 5.2-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixel) LTPS screen, with an 85 percent NTSC color gamut, a 1500:1 contrast ratio, and shatter-proof glass. Under the hood, there’s an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor and Adreno 510 GPU, 64GB of internal storage that’s expandable via a MicroSD slot, a dual SIM slot (micro and nano), and a fast-charging 2,950mAh battery that charges via USB Type-C. A pricier configuration with a Snapdragon 653 processor and 6GB of RAM is also available.

More: ZTE scraps Kickstarter for Hawkeye, its crowdsourced smartphone

The real star of the show is the 13-megapixel rear dual camera system, comprised of two f/2.2 (with aperture adjustment from f/1.0 to f/16.0) Sony IMX258 sensors — one monochrome and one color — and a dual LED flash. Imaging data from one combines with imaging data from the other to produce much brighter, more colorful pictures than would otherwise be possible. On front is a 16-megapixel camera with an 80-degree field of view and an f/2.0 lens.

In terms of software, the Nubia Z17 Mini ships running Android 7.1 Nougat with ZTE’s proprietary Nubia UI software.

Pricing and Availability

The Nubia Z17 mini goes on sale in China on April 12. The 4GB and 6GB models start at 1,699 yuan ($246) and 1,999 yuan ($290), respectively, and come in black, gold, and red.

It comes on the heels of the Nubia N1 Lite, which ZTE announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. That phone boasts a 5.5-inch HD display with a 1280 x 720 pixel screen and a MediaTek 64-bit processor paired with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage expandable via a MicroSD card slot, a single-lens 8-megapixel camera, and a 5,000mAh battery.

More: Faster than a bullet? ZTE is going full speed ahead with the gigabit phone

The two are roughly the same price — about $254 on the low end — but the Nubia N1 lacks the Nubia Z17’s dual cameras.

Accessories

ZTE is selling the Nubia Z17 alongside a new 360-degree camera: The Nubia NeoAir VR. It’s a budget camera that attaches to a phone via a USB Type-C connector and captures 2K (2560 x 1280) footage with dual 210-degree cameras. It’s available in China for 700 yuan ($101).

The Nubia Z17 may not be coming to the U.S. anytime soon, but that could change as ZTE looks to nab a larger slice of the market. Last year, the company’s U.S. shipments grew 30 percent to 15 million phones. And its name recognition grew from 1 percent to 16 percent.

Moto Z Power Pack battery mod won’t debut until later this spring

Why it matters to you

There’s a lot of potential in the Moto Mods platform, but not many products to take advantage. That should change for Moto Z owners in the second half of the year.

Motorola revealed a series of upcoming and concept Moto Mods at Mobile World Congress back in February. Among them was one called the Power Pack, an extra battery similar to Incipio’s Offgrid mod that provided up to 50 percent more juice to the device. The Power Pack was billed as a smart external power source that only charged the phone when it was most efficient to do so.

Motorola said it planned to release the mod in March, but the month came and went without a whisper. Now it appears the accessory has been delayed to “later this spring,” according to Phandroid, who got word of the revised launch from a representative from the company.

More: Motorola’s crazy concept Moto Mods include a photo printer and more

Among the mods intended for production revealed at MWC were a wireless charging back and a gamepad housing that gave the Moto Z controller inputs on either side, similar in form to the Nintendo Switch. Motorola was also working on a cable to charge mods when they weren’t connected to the device. All of these are still awaiting release.

There’s also the Transform the Smartphone Challenge, which is supposedly in its final stage now as developer pitch their campaigns at Motorola’s Chicago headquarters. The company has pledged to promote and distribute selected designs on its own website, and Lenovo has reportedly set aside $1 million to bring the best mods to the market.

Among these proposals are a multi-color lighting system for notifications, several mods that turn the Moto Z into a walkie-talkie (appropriate, considering the company helped invent them), and a wallet fashioned out of steel and carbon fiber that also includes a small external battery.

As for Motorola’s own mods, it appears we’ll have to wait a little bit longer until we see them hit the shelves. The most recently launched mods were Incipio’s Vehicle Dock and Mophie’s Juice Pack, which released back in December.

Pre-order records topple as new Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus stir up excitement

Why it matters to you

Despite an exploding phone last year and a political scandal this year, Samsung still knows how to get customers excited about new products, as evidenced by the pre-order success of the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Samsung is back, and in record-breaking form.

Despite the alleged involvement of its de facto leader in a wide-reaching political scandal and the abject failure of its last flagship phone, it looks like Samsung still hasn’t lost its mojo when it comes to drumming up excitement from its eager (and decidedly loyal) customers. According to local media reports, pre-orders for both the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the S8 Plus have hit 550,000 in just two days. This represents the highest pre-order volume in South Korean history.

More: Master your Samsung Galaxy S8 with these tips and tricks

The highly anticipated S8 and S8 Plus will be Samsung’s first phones since the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7, which was best known for spontaneously combusting before it was recalled globally. To ensure nothing like that ever happens again, Samsung has taken its time in releasing its new handsets, and it looks like that strategy has paid off. Reports note that the gap left by the Note 7 and Samsung’s supercharged marketing campaign for its newest phones have both contributed to the S8’s popularity.

As it stands, pre-order volume is nearly three times that of the Galaxy Note 7, and 5.5 times that of the Galaxy S7 for the same two-day period. The most popular version in South Korea is currently the Galaxy S8 Plus 128 Gigabyte model, which is the first model in Korea to have a 6GB RAM.

Also breaking records is Samsung’s decision to operate 3,000 pre-sale trial zones in South Korea. So yeah, this is shaping up to be one aggressive push. Pre-orders of the new handset kicked off late last week in South Korea, Canada, and the U.S., and if you’re one of the folks who decided to become an early adopter, you can expect your new phone to arrive on April 17, with official sales slated for April 21.

If all goes according to plan, South Korean analysts predict that the newest Galaxy handsets will help Samsung achieve record profits for the second quarter of 2017.

Sprint’s iPhone leasing plan, iPhone Forever, now applies to the iPhone 7

Why it matters to you

Getting a new phone can be an expensive endeavor, but with Sprint, it doesn’t have to be. Even if that phone is the iPhone 7.

Have a penchant for bleeding-edge iPhones and an unparalleled hatred of two-year contracts? If you find Sprint’s service and coverage copacetic, the carrier’s vision might just whet your whistle.

In 2015, Sprint chief Marcelo Claure announced in an interview that the company would eliminate two-year contracts and subsidies in favor of phone leasing plans, plans which Sprint says a majority of its customers (51 percent) favor. It was a move that brought the SoftBank-owned carrier in line with its major competition.

As a part of Sprint’s new strategy, it introduced iPhone Forever, an evolution of its iPhone for Life phone leasing program. The crux is simple: Lease the latest and greatest iPhone for a low monthly fee. And now, its latest iteration allows you to get an iPhone 7 32GB for cheap. Simply switch to Sprint, turn in your current smartphone, and get an iPhone 7 “on the house.” Just like the previous versions of iPhone Forever, you will be able to upgrade to the newest iPhone any time following 12 lease payments.

“We’re always listening to customers to make sure we’re delivering what wireless users want and care about — great devices and unlimited data plans,” Chief Marketing Officer Roger Solé said. “We know customers want unlimited and we know they love iPhone 7. With our industry-leading unlimited plan and reliable, fast network, there’s no better place to get the iPhone 7 and experience mobile life without limits.”

Sprint will also offer unlimited data, talk, and text for $50 per month for the first line, $40 per month for two lines, and $30 per month for four lines. The service provider promises that its unlimited plan encompasses HD streaming for video, music, and gaming, and 10GB per month per line of mobile hotspot data.

More: Forget iPhone for Life — Sprint will give you an iPhone 6, iPad Mini 3, and unlimited plan for $100 a month

Sprint’s program is similar to T-Mobile’s new monthly device payment program — Jump On Demand. This plan offers a greater choice of handsets and allows subscribers to upgrade to a new phone up to three times a year, but folds the cost of phones into monthly payments (the 16GB iPhone 6, for example, runs $27 a month).

So if you’re looking for a new iPhone, Sprint may be the way to go.

Article first published in August 2015. Updated on 04-10-2017 by Lulu Chang: Added news of the iPhone Forever plan’s application to the iPhone 7 32GB.

The Uvolt watch charges your phone with solar power — and without wires

Why it matters to you

Tired of running into this scenario: A dead battery without a power outlet, charger, or extension cable in sight. The Uvoly analog smartwatch uses solar energy to recharge almost any device.

If you’re a smartphone user who’s frequently on the go, you’ve probably run into this scenario: A dead battery without a power outlet, charger, or extension cable in sight. Sure, you can pick up a portable battery, but they also will eventually run out of juice.

Enter the Uvolt, a rectangular (37 x 37 x 1mm) analog watch that leverages an anti-reflective solar panel and custom circuit to passively recharge a high-density removable battery. The Uvolt’s 600mAh power pack sports a built-in cable (with one of three connectors — Lightning, Micro USB, or USB Type-C) and wireless tech that’s compatible with inductive chargers. It partially recharges in about 45 minutes and fully recharges in a day, delivering five hours of talk time, or three hours of internet browsing and video streaming.

More: ZTE’s Quartz is one of the most affordable Android 2.0 Smartwatches yet

It’s the brainchild of Antony Diaz, a Montreal native who developed a prototype as part of a high school science project. “We saw the potential, and wanted to transform it into more than a science project,” Diaz said.  “We believe design is as important as how it works. When you have a solid structure, beauty falls in place just like gravity.”

In April 2015, Diaz teamed up with investor Marc-Antoine Bonin to turn Uvolt into a business. The two solicited funding from friends and family, recruited a team of engineers, and contracted an industrial firm based in North America to embark on mass production. Through a Kickstarter campaign, they hope to raise enough seed money for a first batch of Uvolt units.

“The reason why we wanted to built a port into the power bank is, you don’t have to carry a cable,” Diaz said. “We wanted to create a watch that’s sleek, not a gadget — something people can use every day when they need to charge their phone. We’re look[ing] for ways to make clean energy accessible through wearable technology. We see a future with accessible, unlimited clean energy, and the Uvolt Watch is our first step to get there.

More:  The best smartwatch you can buy

The Uvolt comes in three editions: A $100 Kickstarter Special with a single watch, power server, wireless charger; a $190 Duo Edition with two watches, power packs, and chargers; and a $360 Family Edition with four watches, batteries, and chargers.

It’s available in black, white, silver, and rose gold, and is projected to ship to U.S. customers in December 2017.

‘Yours, Mine, or Ours’ star Taylor Spellman says apps simplify interior design

Why it matters to you

It’s easier than ever to virtually

If you’ve been using a slew of apps to help with your home remodel, fear not: The pros use them, too. Taylor Spellman, star of Bravo’s Yours, Mine, or Ours and owner of an eponymous interior design and staging firm, likes being able to show her clients what she’s envisioning before the shopping, painting, and arranging starts. Some of her favorite apps are below.

Home Design 3D Gold ($10)

There’s both a free and paid version of Home Design 3D (iOS, Android), both of which let you see 2D and 3D renderings of floor plans. You can add and subtract walls, put in a new door, and make other structural changes. If you’re not looking to tear down anything, you can play with new furnishings, flooring, and paint. “I love this app, as it really gives the user the opportunity to create the visual of their wildest design dreams,” Spellman told Digital Trends. “Oftentimes it can be hard to envision what removing a wall or adding an island looks like, and this is a one stop shop to designing creative spaces.”

Curate (Free, Android and iOS)

“I must confess that I often get lost for hours on Curate searching the for perfect piece of art,” said Spellman. The app lets you upload pictures of your walls, then scroll through galleries of artwork to see what they’d look like in your home. You can also snap a picture you see hanging elsewhere and virtually test it out on your wall. “It is a great way to determine the depth and scope of the art you want for a space without creating so many holes in the wall,” she added. “Plus, the search engine to explore so many artists is a great for inspiration.”

More: How an online interior designer made my apartment look magazine-worthy

MyPantone ($5 month/$30 year,  iOS)

Even if colors look fairly similar on their own, they will take on different hues and casts depending on what else is in the room with them. Pantone put its color collection into an app that can also identify colors in pictures and create palettes around them. “I make a living on choosing the perfect color palette and MyPantone never disappoints,” said Spellman. With the app, she says it’s much easier for her to explain the difference between sage and moss to her clients.

More: Interior design specialist Havenly giving free design advice to iOS 10 users

Houzz (Free, iOS, Android, Windows)

Spellman calls Houzz the “Library of Congress of design apps.” Its database has millions of photos that you can filter in countless ways to find inspiration. From there, you can save pictures, hire professionals, or buy furniture. If you’re having a “Design Dilemma,” you can submit to the community for feedback and advice. “The options are endless and you can explore to your heart’s, or phone battery’s, content,” said Spellman.

Best Clear Cases for the Samsung Galaxy S8

What are the best clear cases for the Samsung Galaxy S8?

It’s the same debate with the release of every new phone: Do you show it off or protect it with a durable case?

The Samsung Galaxy S8 has a brilliant new design that you’ll definitely want to flaunt, but you’ll also want to keep all that glass unscathed, right? Split the difference with a clear case and show off your new phone while keeping it protected from harm.

More: The best cases for the Samsung Galaxy S8

• Samsung Clear Cover case
• Spigen Ultra Hybrid Galaxy S8 case
• Spigen Liquid Crystal Galaxy S8 case
• Ringke FUSION Crystal Clear case
• SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Frosted Clear case

Samsung Clear Cover case

Of Samsung’s own cases, the Clear Cover case is the most compelling. This case features a translucent cover that protects your phone’s screen, while still allowing you to interact with your phone by answering calls, changing the music, and more.

Planning to watch a lot of video on that shiny new screen? This case also folds over into a stand for hands-free viewing. Samsung has designed a very minimalist case that keeps the slim profile of your Galaxy S8 intact. If you’re planning to pre-order your new phone directly from Samsung, you can add this case to your order during checkout.

See at Samsung

Spigen Ultra Hybrid Galaxy S8 case

Spigen consistently designs outstanding cases, and their clear cases are some of the best you can buy.

The Ultra Hybrid is a one-piece case that blends two of the most popular case materials. The bumper is made of flexible TPU to help absorb the shock of a drop and also features a raised lip around the front to protect the screen. The back plate is made of durable, hard PC plastic, which protects against scratches and other damage.

This case is virtually crystal clear, so you’ll barely notice that it’s there, but you’ll be happy it is when it saves your phone from unsightly blemishes or a cracked screen.

See at Amazon

Spigen Liquid Crystal Galaxy S8 case

If you’re looking for a clear case that’s a little more svelte, Spigen has you covered with its Liquid Crystal case.

The one-piece design fits snugly around your phone and offers basic protection while letting the beautiful look of your phone shine through. Made of lightweight and flexible TPU, this case is easy to pop on and keeps your phone protected with a 0.04-inch lip at the top and bottom of the screen.

This is another great option if you’re looking for subtle protection that won’t distract from the Galaxy S8’s brilliant design.

See at Amazon

Ringke FUSION Crystal Clear case

This dual-layer case features a hard PC backplate held flush against your phone by the flexible TPU bumper to provide a slim case that offers the drop protection you need while giving you the nearly invisible look you want from a clear case.

With extra protection in the corners and a tapered rim around the top and bottom of the screen, this case has been precisely designed to keep your phone safe. Ample cutouts around the speaker, charging port, and headphone jack ensure you have no issues with other accessories while maintaining a very stylish design that’s available in three color options for the bumper.

Ringke has included, as always, a free DIY template for slipping a photo in the back, allowing you to change things up with a custom design whenever you want.

See at Amazon

SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Frosted Clear case

If you’re looking to balance rugged protection while still letting your phone’s design shine through a bit, the SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Frosted Clear case is the choice for you.

This case keeps your phone protected with a formidable bumper made of shock-absorbing TPU. Its been designed to feel comfortable in your hand with grippy texture along the sides and firm and responsive buttons. The back plate is transparent, so you can show off your Galaxy S8’s true colors while ensuring it stays scratch-free.

Featuring sizable cutouts and a raised bezel around the screen and the camera on the back, this case is designed to keep your phone protected without impeding any of its functions or ports. If you aren’t looking to sacrifice rugged protection for a sleek clear case, this is your best option.

See at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ hands-on preview!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

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Farpoint for PlayStation VR: Everything you need before the game launches!

Survive the desert, find the scientists, kill the baddies, and do it all with a sweet new aim controller.

After months of waiting, Farpoint for PlayStation VR is almost here. With a release date of May 16, 2017 it’s right around the corner. There has been a lot of hype for Farpoint, and for good reason. You’ve got a full length single-player campaign, a mysterious desert planet that wants to kill you, a new controller for shooting things in VR, what’s not to love?

If you’re anything like us, you want to be prepared when launch day arrives. That’s why we’ve put together list of everything you need to know ahead of launch day.

Read more at VR Heads!

Google Home app hints at multi-user support

A new card in the app’s Discover tab says multiple users are now supported… but they aren’t yet?

If you share a Google Home with multiple people, chances are you’ve been eagerly awaiting the day your smart speaker is able to offer each user a personalized Google Assistant experience. It seems like that day is very quickly approaching, as some users are seeing a new card in the Google Home app’s Discover tab, which purports that Google Home now supports multiple users.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any added functionality to back up this announcement, but it does confirm that the feature is on its way and may be going live very soon.

Adding support for multiple user profiles is expected to expand the Google Home experience to better mirror the same functionality of Google Assistant on your personal phone. Currently, Google Home is unable to perform many features linked to personal accounts such as setting personal reminders, creating calendar events, messaging contacts, and more due to privacy and concerns. This should change once multiple accounts are supported, and we’ll be sure to fill you in on all the new features once things have officially gone live.

Google Home

• Google Home review
• These services work with Google Home
• Google Home vs. Amazon Echo
• Join our Google Home forums!

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