Dave Irwin
@dave-irwin.bsky.social
Freelance games writer. Words my own. Former Guides Writer
Bylines: Gamespot, Dot Esports, Pocket Tactics, PCGamesN, RPS, TheSixthAxis
Portfolio: muckrack.com/dave-irwin-2
Bylines: Gamespot, Dot Esports, Pocket Tactics, PCGamesN, RPS, TheSixthAxis
Portfolio: muckrack.com/dave-irwin-2
Seeing the news of #Pokemon doing a thing with the UK Natural History Museum immediately made me think if the reason these four Pokémon exist. secretldn.com/pokemon-natu...
September 22, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Seeing the news of #Pokemon doing a thing with the UK Natural History Museum immediately made me think if the reason these four Pokémon exist. secretldn.com/pokemon-natu...
Isn't Mega Malalar basically just the aliens from Mars Attacks!?
September 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Isn't Mega Malalar basically just the aliens from Mars Attacks!?
So Silksong's out.
September 4, 2025 at 2:10 PM
So Silksong's out.
I see what you did there! #pokemon #streetfighter
August 28, 2025 at 2:21 PM
I see what you did there! #pokemon #streetfighter
After several years of the feature being released, I finally found a wild Mesprit. #pokemongo
August 22, 2025 at 9:32 AM
After several years of the feature being released, I finally found a wild Mesprit. #pokemongo
So umm... this happened. #pokemontcgpocket
July 5, 2025 at 5:10 PM
So umm... this happened. #pokemontcgpocket
Therapist: OG Bungle isn't real. He can't hurt you.
OG Bungle:
OG Bungle:
June 20, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Therapist: OG Bungle isn't real. He can't hurt you.
OG Bungle:
OG Bungle:
So I went down a rather alarming rabbit hole. If you're a journalist who gets weird unsolicited pitches, chances are that it was written by ChatGPT. The aim is to get you to post fake news on reputable sites, even if they're not related to your content. It also gets in the way of legitimate pitches!
June 10, 2025 at 2:05 AM
So I went down a rather alarming rabbit hole. If you're a journalist who gets weird unsolicited pitches, chances are that it was written by ChatGPT. The aim is to get you to post fake news on reputable sites, even if they're not related to your content. It also gets in the way of legitimate pitches!
I take it we're all seeing this screen right now? #splitgate2
May 22, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I take it we're all seeing this screen right now? #splitgate2
I dreaded playing #FinalFantasy VIII for quite some time as I remembered not getting on with it, and it's worse than I remember. It's not quite as bad as FF2, and the remastered version is highly playable (the speedup function is a godsend). If you have to play it, this is the version I recommend.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
I dreaded playing #FinalFantasy VIII for quite some time as I remembered not getting on with it, and it's worse than I remember. It's not quite as bad as FF2, and the remastered version is highly playable (the speedup function is a godsend). If you have to play it, this is the version I recommend.
Also, cheesing this boss fight by casting Regen on Rinoa was a clever solution to a ticking time bomb.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Also, cheesing this boss fight by casting Regen on Rinoa was a clever solution to a ticking time bomb.
Enemy designs are also far better than FF7s. Take the gauntlet of bosses at the end for example. The Catoblepas and Red Giant actually look like their older sprites.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Enemy designs are also far better than FF7s. Take the gauntlet of bosses at the end for example. The Catoblepas and Red Giant actually look like their older sprites.
There were cool moments, though, such as Seifer murdering Odin, only for Gilgamesh to get vengeance in the same fight and become a new member of the GF squad.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
There were cool moments, though, such as Seifer murdering Odin, only for Gilgamesh to get vengeance in the same fight and become a new member of the GF squad.
I do like that you can augment your basic attacks with status ailments, and really early on as well. This T-Rex, for example, would have been impossible to fight if it weren't for Squall's gunblade inflicting sleepy time with every hit.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
I do like that you can augment your basic attacks with status ailments, and really early on as well. This T-Rex, for example, would have been impossible to fight if it weren't for Squall's gunblade inflicting sleepy time with every hit.
One major annoyance though was having to switch party members constantly. Transferring builds between the main party was fine, but every time I got to a Laguna section, it would desync everyone, meaning I had to manually sort out everything afterwards.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
One major annoyance though was having to switch party members constantly. Transferring builds between the main party was fine, but every time I got to a Laguna section, it would desync everyone, meaning I had to manually sort out everything afterwards.
This is partially down to how easy AP is to get while grinding. Yes, enemies level up with you in this game, but these hockey players helped me max my party's capabilities by granting me 9-12 AP per fight.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
This is partially down to how easy AP is to get while grinding. Yes, enemies level up with you in this game, but these hockey players helped me max my party's capabilities by granting me 9-12 AP per fight.
To get decent characters with good stats, you'll never use the good spells as it will make your character actively weaker as you fight. Luckily, the Junction system is so easy to exploit, I had three massively overpowered characters. This lot shouldn't have 9999 health at this point.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
To get decent characters with good stats, you'll never use the good spells as it will make your character actively weaker as you fight. Luckily, the Junction system is so easy to exploit, I had three massively overpowered characters. This lot shouldn't have 9999 health at this point.
Characters accrue magic this time by sapping them from enemies, drawing from specific points, and refining items with the help of their Guardian Forces (GFs). Alone, this isn't all that bad, but the Junction system relies on you having the maximum number of spells you can carry.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Characters accrue magic this time by sapping them from enemies, drawing from specific points, and refining items with the help of their Guardian Forces (GFs). Alone, this isn't all that bad, but the Junction system relies on you having the maximum number of spells you can carry.
So yeah, I didn't really enjoy the story as it went so off the rails I just didn't feel like caring about anyone except possibly Laguna and definitely Quistis and Selphie. However, the problems with Final Fantasy VIII run far deeper than a nonsensical plot.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
So yeah, I didn't really enjoy the story as it went so off the rails I just didn't feel like caring about anyone except possibly Laguna and definitely Quistis and Selphie. However, the problems with Final Fantasy VIII run far deeper than a nonsensical plot.
Eventually, the party let Ultimecia win, but transports themselves to her reality to fight her and "the ultimate GF", whom we give a name early on. The final boss is somewhat long, and given the character progression, a bit cumbersome to fight, but eventually went down to enough sustained attacks.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Eventually, the party let Ultimecia win, but transports themselves to her reality to fight her and "the ultimate GF", whom we give a name early on. The final boss is somewhat long, and given the character progression, a bit cumbersome to fight, but eventually went down to enough sustained attacks.
Lots of things happen in between which I won't mention as I don't want to dwell on the story too much more, but I just didn't vibe with it. Learning that the ultra-futuristic town was led by Laguna, who managed to evict the evil and highly macho sorceress Adel to the moon was my last straw.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Lots of things happen in between which I won't mention as I don't want to dwell on the story too much more, but I just didn't vibe with it. Learning that the ultra-futuristic town was led by Laguna, who managed to evict the evil and highly macho sorceress Adel to the moon was my last straw.
The reason Edea's gone all evil is because she's possessed by a sorceress from the distant future who wants to use the girl who's been sending us to the past, Ellone, to merge realities into one dystopian future where only she exists. I'd love to know what the writers were smoking.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
The reason Edea's gone all evil is because she's possessed by a sorceress from the distant future who wants to use the girl who's been sending us to the past, Ellone, to merge realities into one dystopian future where only she exists. I'd love to know what the writers were smoking.
After a failed train mission, we're introduced to Irvine and he eventually becomes our plot device for perhaps the dumbest twist I've seen in a Final Fantasy game. It turns out every main character except Rinoa came from the same orphanage, ran by Edea and Cid.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
After a failed train mission, we're introduced to Irvine and he eventually becomes our plot device for perhaps the dumbest twist I've seen in a Final Fantasy game. It turns out every main character except Rinoa came from the same orphanage, ran by Edea and Cid.
The bulk of Final Fantasy VIII though is in the revelations of Edea's identity and what it means for the world. But first, we properly meet Rinoa on a train and her pupper Angelo. I never once used them intentionally.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
The bulk of Final Fantasy VIII though is in the revelations of Edea's identity and what it means for the world. But first, we properly meet Rinoa on a train and her pupper Angelo. I never once used them intentionally.
The second subplot happens when everyone conks out. We get to play as Laguna and his two cronies Ward and Kiros. While he is a bit of a goofball, I did prefer him to Squall as his heart's in the right place. Turns out these are visions from a girl named Ellone.
April 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
The second subplot happens when everyone conks out. We get to play as Laguna and his two cronies Ward and Kiros. While he is a bit of a goofball, I did prefer him to Squall as his heart's in the right place. Turns out these are visions from a girl named Ellone.