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Review: How anime helped ‘Final Fantasy XVI’ get the franchise’s groove back

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:55 GMT

At one point in its history, “Final Fantasy” was the pinnacle of video game storytelling and graphics. Each title pushed the limits of the hardware and delivered a satisfying tale full of epic adventure, heartbreaking moments and stunning surprises.Square Enix lost its mojo around the PlayStation 3 era. That’s when the hardware managed to push out visuals that could handle developers’ imaginations. Suddenly, it took much more to impress players than fancy computer graphic sequences or the summoning of the Knights of the Round.What worked in previous generations seemed dated, and it didn’t help that the combat system was going through an identity crisis. Again, as technology advanced, the developers veered away from turn-based combat and sought a battle system that meshed with the epic confrontations they wanted to bring to life.THE RIGHT FORMULAAfter several entries that felt like shallow missteps, Square Enix’s Creative Business Unit III finally ...

Timeline for San Jose Sharks’ goalie prospect to play again after surgery remains unclear

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:55 GMT

San Jose Sharks goalie prospect Eetu Makiniemi is making steady progress from offseason hip surgery but there remains no clear timeline for when the Finnish-born netminder might play again, Evgeni Nabokov, the organization’s director of goaltending, said Monday.Makiniemi, 24, played 22 games with the Barracuda, the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, last season before an MRI revealed a labrum tear in his hip. After a subsequent surgery, it was hoped that Makiniemi would be ready for the start of training camp this week.The Sharks should get more clarity on Makiniemi’s health on Wednesday when he and other players receive their physicals. The team’s main training camp starts Thursday and indications are that Makiniemi will be eased into the proceedings.Nabokov told the Sharks Audio Network that while Makiniemi is recovering nicely and has recently been increasing his workload, “we’re going week by week, and we’ll see where he’s at every week and he’s making really g...

San Rafael police respond to violent incidents after Guatemalan Independence Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:55 GMT

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KRON) -- Two men were shot and another man was stabbed when violence erupted in San Rafael following peaceful celebrations of Guatemalan Independence Day, according to police.Police said the celebrations saw over 1,500 attendees taking part both at Northgate Mall and at a parking lot on Andersen Drive. The events ended with no major incidents and only minor noise complaints. Southern Marin shoplifting suspect reached for gun while being detained: police After the events ended at 9 p.m., gatherings in the Canal neighborhood took place along Medway Road, Canal Street, Pickleweed Park and other cross streets, SRPD said. Moving into the night, traffic jams were starting to occur due to the large gatherings. Hundreds of vehicles and over a thousand people were estimated to be present, according to officials.San Rafael police began to clear the large crowds at midnight as sideshow and reckless driving activity was occurring between Canal Street and Medway Road, polic...

Boy, 13, reported missing in San Francisco

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:55 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A 13-year-old boy has been missing in San Francisco for three days, police said Monday. Knowledge Shepard is considered "at-risk" and the San Francisco Police Department is asking for the public's help to find him.Shepard was last seen entering the Embarcadero BART station at 7 p.m. on September 15. "Shepard has a fascination with buses and trains, and usually rides Muni or BART," SFPD wrote. He was reported missing that night.Shepard is 5 feet 5 inches, 98 pounds, is bald, and has brown eyes. He is considered "at-risk" because of a medical condition. When he disappeared, the boy was wearing a black Nike hoodie sweatshirt with the sleeves ripped off, gray khaki pants, and white shoes with blue and orange checkmarks. Knowledge Shepard is missing. (Image courtesy SFPD) Anyone who finds or sees Shepard is asked to call 911 to report his current location. Anyone with information on his possible whereabouts should call SFPD at 415-575-4444.

Sketch helps police nab suspect in string of alleged sexual batteries in Fairfax Co. 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:55 GMT

A Virginia, man has been arrested and charged with the sexual battery of a minor along a walking path in Fairfax County — and police believe he’s connected to a number of other sexual battery cases involving young people in the area.On Sept. 7 around 6:30 p.m., Fairfax County police said a girl under the age of 18 was on a walking path near the 5800 block of Wood Poppy Court, when a man — later identified as 65-year-old Ghafari Abdulahad — grabbed her wrist and groped her. She eventually got away and called police, according to a news release.A composite sketch of the suspect in Virginia sexual assaults. (Courtesy Fairfax County Police Department)Police completed a composite sketch of the suspect on Sept. 14, and then conducted a large canvass of the area as they looked for more leads.During the canvass, police received more tips about incidents involving the same suspect, such as an assault against a minor and another case of sexual battery against a minor, according to the n...

The Giants’ comeback against the Cardinals may have saved their season, at least for now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:55 GMT

The New York Giants’ hopes for a second straight playoff berth got a boost from a record-tying comeback in the second game of the season.Instead of being 0-2 heading into a Thursday night game against the talented San Francisco 49ers (2-0), the Giants (1-1) seemed to get back on track by rallying from a 21-point second-half deficit to beat the Arizona Cardinals 31-28 on Sunday.There are many who think the comeback orchestrated by Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley saved New York’s season, at least for now.The Giants were awful in a season-opening 40-0 loss to Dallas, and their first 30 minutes in Week 2 were just as bad. New York allowed Arizona to take a 20-0 halftime lead and a 28-7 advantage in the third quarter.Had the trend continued, the odds would have been against Brian Daboll’s team in 2023. Not only are they facing the 49ers on three days’ rest, they have Seattle, Miami and Buffalo — all playoff teams last year — after that.Daboll refused to think abou...

Canada expels top Indian diplomat as it investigates whether India is linked to slaying of a Sikh activist

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:55 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Canada expels top Indian diplomat as it investigates whether India is linked to slaying of a Sikh activist.Source

Steelers place WR Diontae Johnson, RB Anthony McFarland on IR ahead of meeting with Browns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:55 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to bounce back from a rough Week 1 loss without wide receiver Diontae Johnson.The Steelers placed Johnson and running back Anthony McFarland on injured reserve on Monday, hours before Pittsburgh (0-1) hosted the Cleveland Browns (1-0).Johnson tweaked his right hamstring while being tackled at the end of a 26-yard gain in the third quarter of a 30-7 loss to San Francisco in the season opener. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin had already ruled Johnson out against Cleveland. The move to injured reserve means he’ll miss at least four games.Johnson is Pittsburgh’s leading receiver over the past four seasons, averaging 85 receptions a season since being taken in the third round of the 2019 draft. He was a Pro Bowler in 2021. McFarland, who serves as the Steelers’ primary kickoff returner, is dealing with a knee injury. Pittsburgh promoted running back Qadree Ollison to the 53-man roster. The move is a homecoming for Ollison...

Army extends the contract of coach Jeff Monken. The deal runs through 2027, AP source says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:55 GMT

Army has extended the contract of Jeff Monken, who is the second-winningest football coach in school history.The multiyear extension was announced Monday, three days after the Black Knights won on the road at UTSA.The new contract runs through the 2027 season and averages more than $2 million per year in salary, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school was not disclosing financial terms.Monken is in his 10th season at Army and has a record of 66-50, with five victories against rival Navy, four against Air Force and four in bowl games. Army has earned the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy three times under Monken and has the best record among the service academies (52-27) since 2017.“No coach in college football epitomizes the essence of their institution better than Jeff Monken,” Army athletic director Mike Buddie said in a statement. “His commitment to developing young ...

The 49ers see more work needed after 2-0 start on the road to open the season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:14:55 GMT

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The season-opening road trip couldn’t have gone much better for the San Francisco 49ers.Quarterback Brock Purdy looks completely recovered from offseason surgery and has the offense clicking with the same efficiency it had at the end of last season. The defense has adjusted to new coordinator Steve Wilks and hasn’t taken a step back.It all adds up to a 2-0 record following a 30-23 victory Sunday over the Los Angeles Rams that has garnered much praise from outsiders even if the Niners see plenty of things that need to be fixed.“We got a long way to go,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I thought we did last week, too. Hopefully we got a little bit better this week and will continue throughout the year.”The victory over the Rams didn’t come nearly as easily as the one in Pittsburgh in Week 1, when San Francisco led 20-0 before the Steelers even generated their initial first down.San Francisco struggled to slow down Matthew Stafford and the Rams o...