Sky, Sea, Earth, and a Kidnapped Princess A Link to the Past is an unassailable classic of a Super Nintendo game, as a crystallization of multiple gameplay concepts that established the formula for dozens of Zelda games to come, but also as an entertaining action RPG that stood the test of time. Thr… Read More »
Pillars of Eternity and its sequel are two of my favorite CRPGs from the last decade. Steeped in classic isometric vibes, loaded with busy civilian and wilderness settings, and capped with complex game systems, they were a work of real quality and scope. Despite the original selling well, the sequel… Read More »
I don’t like to compare video games. I prefer to evaluate each game on its own merits, as its own experience. I enjoy games much more when I do this because I don’t get wrapped up in what I think a game should be—it simply is. It’s very demure, very mindful, or whatever the hell kids are saying thes… Read More »
In my 2023 Game of the Year writeup, I put Master Detective Archives: Rain Code as the 2023 game I wanted to play in the future. At the time it was a Switch exclusive (and I do not have one), but it was inevitable that this cool game would not stay exclusive. And now we have the multiplatform Master… Read More »
I’ll freely admit that I may not be the target audience for World of Kungfu: Dragon and Eagle. I have minimal experience with the historical wuxia genre beyond watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon a few times and playing the Imperial China chapter of LIVE A LIVE. That said, I also love both of th… Read More »
We’re no strangers to game series-themed episodes on Rhythm Encounter, such as our Mario RPGs or Dragon Quest shows. Now, it’s time for the Tales series! Bandai Namco’s long-running series turns 30 next year, and the mainline series alone contains 17 games (or 18 depending on which ones you count).… Read More »
This edition of RPGs Coming This Week has a heavy adventure game slant, with a hint of… bullet hell tactics? Never say creativity in gaming is dead because you just don’t know where to look! Which, incidentally, is the point of this column! So let’s dive in, shall we? Maid Café on Electric Street… Read More »
Horizon Zero Dawn made a splash in 2017. Full of surprise, mystery, and AAA-production value, gamers near and far adored this new intellectual property. Being a new IP is risky business, especially with the sort of budget this title had. When sequels and reboots are the soup of the decades, a publis… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, we are chatting about a long-awaited remake and an unexpected spin-off! First, Zach is here to share his experience with the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. This ground-up remake of the beloved Famicom/NES JRPG has been a long time coming, first announced in 2021.… Read More »
Zelda! The Zeldster! Zeldarino! The Zelmeister! Making copies! The Legend of Zelda series has long starred a hero named Link seeking a princess named Zelda, but in 2024 the roles reversed for the first time on a Nintendo system. Echoes of Wisdom’s (sort of) new protagonist also sports an item-dupli… Read More »
“Grandma, I can’t beat these monsters. Can you help?” I stare up, wide-eyed, as I clumsily hand her the controller. As she pushes the controller back into my hand, she whispers, “Oh, you don’t have anyone else in your party, kiddo. Did you go pick up more party members? Be sure to get a healer.” I l… Read More »
As some of you probably know, I’m a huge fan of the Horizon series. I thoroughly enjoyed both Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, as well as their respective DLC expansions, and I am eagerly awaiting a third, possibly final, installment. But despite my love of Guerrilla Games’ post-apocaly… Read More »
The Hundred Years’ War is a fascinating subject for history buffs, though more of us may be more familiar with Game of Thrones or A Song of Ice and Fire, which draw heavily from portions of that time period. There have been video game attempts at capturing the deep, twisting intrigue of the Hundred… Read More »
My expectations for The Rise of the Golden Idol were sky-high, and with good reason. Its predecessor The Case of the Golden Idol was a stroke of brilliance, and Color Gray Games only refined their storytelling chops and level design with each of its expansions. This direct sequel was the developer’s… Read More »
In this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, we have a loaded slate headlined by the best RPG of 1988. Alongside it includes the sequel to one of the more acclaimed detective games of recent vintage, a spin-off of Sony’s Horizon franchise (with a blocky twist), and much more. It goes without saying, bu… Read More »
Having never played the classic Skies of Arcadia back in 2000 on the Dreamcast, the promise of similar sky pirate hijinks in Sky Oceans: Wings For Hire is intriguing. The developers are proud to present their creation as retro-inspired, and the character design, setting, and feel all hearken back to… Read More »
Are you ready for some Sploosh Kaboom!? Retro Encounter begins a month of Zelda celebration for a Nintendo November to remember! Five panelists draft parties of their favorite Zelda characters, items, abilities, and locations in a snake draft format, all while trying to snag their favorites be… Read More »
Slay the Princess originally released on PC in October 2023, but being the console-loving fiend I am, I missed it the first time around. Little did I know that luck would soon smile upon me, as one year later, Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut made its way onto all modern platforms. I soon found… Read More »
A reprobate is “an unprincipled person, often used humorously and affectionately.” Some archaic definitions refer to a reprobate as someone “predestined to damnation.” Joe Richardson, creator, must have spent time finding the right words for this game because that kinda says it all. Death of the Rep… Read More »
Slay the Spire needs no introduction. The first deckbuilder super success, Mega Crit took the indie scene—and mainstream audiences—on a stat- and card-infused journey through odd, twisting caverns, and even stranger enemies. Of course, cards weren’t invented on computers. So, rather than taking some… Read More »
Thanks to the lovely people at NIS America, we recently had the privilege of watching a preview demo of the upcoming The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II. No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you even though Trails through Daybreak only recently released this July: the sequel releases… Read More »
Metal Slug is a niche action side-scroller with a reputation for its art style and tough-as-nails gameplay. Truly a quarter-eater, Metal Slug takes the edge off wartime horrors with its approachability until you get a few levels in. Eager to experience the same in a strategy RPG format with Metal Sl… Read More »
It’s been awhile since our last instrument spotlight, so in this episode, we’re sharing some favorite RPG songs featuring woodwinds, like flutes, ocarinas, and more! Whether it’s the incredibly moving sounds of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the adventurous Dark Cloud 2, or Final Fantasy III’s Maiden of Wa… Read More »
This edition of RPGs Coming This Week is kind of… all over the place? Like always, there’s a ton of variety on the slate, from classic turn-based adventures to tactical romps. Let’s dive in! Metal Slug Tactics – November 5th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows) Metal Slug Tactics is an isometric… Read More »
Campaign Ends: November 7thPlatform: Windows, macOS, and Linux. Stretch goals may add a Switch port, per Nintendo’s approval. Nightmare scenario: you enroll in a prestigious new school, ready for a fresh start with exciting academic subjects that you know absolutely nothing about when a hideous mix-… Read More »
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