Highlight Archives | Page 30 of 42

RPGs Coming This Week, 4/7/24

Posted by Kyle Cantelon on April 7, 2024

A trio of indies awaits us on this edition of RPGs Coming This Week. Just one is totally brand new; the other two have officially been accessible for a while, but we thought they still deserved some shine. So, without further ado, let’s dive in! Inkbound (Exiting Early Access) – April 9th (Windows)… Read More »

Narrative Design Analysis: Final Fantasy XV

Posted by Aleks Franiczek on April 6, 2024

It’s getting close to a year since the release of Final Fantasy XVI, and I enjoyed my time with the game’s focused narrative presentation and tight, explosive combat. The level of polish on these two fronts strikes me as a direct response to criticisms thrown at predecessor Final Fantasy XV for its… Read More »

Cryptmaster Hands-On: A Darkly Good Time

Posted by Mike Salbato on April 5, 2024

As a creative kid, I met the announcement of the original Scribblenauts with starry-eyed wonder. Okay, that game came out in 2009 and I wasn’t a kid. Just go with it. The idea of a game where your solution to puzzles was to type in whatever you wanted and see if you could get away with it was so imm… Read More »

Secrets of Grindea

Posted by Audra Bowling on April 5, 2024

Uncovering secrets can have a lasting impact, which is definitely the case for Secrets of Grindea, an old-school action RPG that provides an enjoyable experience if given the chance. That is, so long as you’re patient and remember that the game’s title holds a clue about what to expect on your… Read More »

Retro Encounter 411 – Musou Encounter

Posted by Michael Sollosi on April 4, 2024

Warriors! Come out and play~~~ Omega Force, a subsidiary of Koei Tecmo, has made a name for itself over the past 25 years with dozens of entries into its Musou series, Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors in particular. Today, a Retro Encounter panel discusses Musou’s origins as historical sims, it… Read More »

Retro Encounter Final Thoughts — Final Fantasy IV

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on April 3, 2024

Michael Sollosi Final Fantasy IV was my first RPG; I played at a sleepover with two other friends in 1993 or 1994. It was my gateway into all RPGs, and as a result feels like a genre staple. But Final Fantasy IV is so obviously influential to Square(soft)’s future output and to RPGs in general, that… Read More »

Everafter Falls Hands-On Preview: Charm Attack

Posted by Mike Salbato on April 3, 2024

In an expo hall full of promising game titles, one of the most charming I got to play was Everafter Falls at the Akupara Games booth. Of the many times I passed the booth last weekend, I never saw the game’s stations empty, which felt like a good sign. Once I spent some time in the game’s world, I u… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 131 – Sounds of the Season

Posted by Mike Salbato on April 1, 2024

Huh? Featuring: Mike Salbato, Hilary Andreff, Wes Iliff, Kyle Cantelon; Edited by Mike Salbato Links for this episode: YouTube: Might and Magic VI, All Voice Acting Part 1 YouTube: Might and Magic VI and VII: Creature Sounds PlayStation 2 Crystal Clock Tracklist 0:03:32 – Level Up – Dragon Quest0:03… Read More »

Random Encounter 293 – Dogmatic Dragons

Posted by Jonathan Logan on April 1, 2024

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re looking at a game-of-the-year contender and the latest from one of the industry’s most visionary indie devs. First up, Izzy is here to chat about Dragon’s Dogma 2. The sequel to Capcom’s cult-classic Dragon’s Dogma, DD2 is the true realization of many of t… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 3/31/24

Posted by Gio Castillo on March 31, 2024

On this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, a promising gacha RPG, a gorgeous otome game, and two standout indie releases. This is our bread and butter, and we’re ready to share it. Let’s dive in! Astra: Knights of Veda – April 2nd (Windows, iOS, Android) Another week, another gacha game, right? But A… Read More »

Dustborn Hands-On Preview: PAX East 2024

Posted by Hilary Andreff on March 29, 2024

As I approached the Dustborn booth, I wasn’t certain what to expect. I enjoyed The Longest Journey series from…well…1999 through 2016 and clearly am accustomed to waiting patiently based on those release dates. Still, I’d heard little information about Dustborn until now and wanted some fo… Read More »

Slime Heroes Hands-On Preview: A Goo-reat Time

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 29, 2024

Slime Heroes was revealed in June 2021 with an adorable trailer, showcasing both the novelty of a slime protagonist and the dang cute aesthetic overall. At the time, developer Pancake Games did not have a publisher lined up, but that changed earlier this year when indie game publisher Whitethorn Gam… Read More »

Retro Encounter 410 – Final Fantasy IV Part II

Posted by Michael Sollosi on March 28, 2024

I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon. Retro Encounter sees Final Fantasy IV through to its logical conclusion, from journeys to the center of the earth to heartbreaking family reunions, then, Alice, you’re going to the moon. Four Retro Encounter panelists talk the second half of Final Fan… Read More »

Visions of Mana: Hands-On Preview

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 28, 2024

One of my favorite childhood games was Secret of Mana. Gameplay-wise, it landed squarely between Final Fantasy IV and The Legend of Zelda, and was one of my first introductions to action RPGs. The lush world fascinated me, and my brother and I poured hours into exploring, leveling up, and seeking we… Read More »

Visions of Mana Dual Interviews with Series Producer Masaru Oyamada

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 28, 2024

This year, RPGFan has been lucky enough to spend a significant amount of time returning to the Mana series. It’s been 15 years since the last mainline game, so the anticipation to delve into this beloved world is intense. Fortunately, we were able to demo the game both at a media event and PAX East… Read More »

Coridden Hands-On Preview: PAX East 2024

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 26, 2024

This year at PAX East, I got to play Coridden, an upcoming action RPG from Swedish developer Aftnareld. The game focuses on co-op gameplay and a fun monster-shifting mechanic that lets you ride your friends (er, more on that later). Coridden recently wrapped its Kickstarter campaign, which raised 15… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 130 – RPG Safe Spaces

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 25, 2024

While RPGs have no shortage of high-energy moments requiring intense strategizing, quick reflexes, or simply a box of tissues for the more emotional moments, it’s important to have downtime between those to balance everything out. This episode is about “safe spaces” in RPGs, and our panelists did no… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 3/24/24 [UPDATED]

Posted by Gio Castillo on March 24, 2024

Readers, brace yourselves for a veritable banquet of goodies on this edition of RPGs Coming This Week. If last week was all about blockbusters, this week’s all about the games from smaller studios and publishers. I know I say this often, but we really are living in a second golden age for RPGs. Cons… Read More »

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Release Date, Collector’s Edition, FFXVI Crossover Detailed

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 24, 2024

At this weekend’s PAX East show, Final Fantasy XIV Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida hosted a “Journey to Dawntrail” panel, recapping the first ten years of the acclaimed MMORPG. It was a fun walk down memory lane seeing Yoshi-P recap the highlights of 2013’s A Realm Reborn and each expansion sinc… Read More »

Retro Encounter 409 – Final Fantasy IV Part I

Posted by Michael Sollosi on March 21, 2024

I am not my Dark Knight’s keeper Final Fantasy IV is a 1991 RPG full of colorful characters and high drama. But how does it hold up after 33 years of perspective? Four Retro Encounter panelists who grew up (separately) playing Final Fantasy IV give the classic SNES RPG another look (together), discu… Read More »

An Engine By Any Other Name: Interview with RPG Maker Developer Dari

Posted by Nick Mangiaracina on March 20, 2024

I Hate You, Please Suffer by scitydreamer. The splash screen of Dari’s latest game features that title, the credit, and a hand flipping the bird. When I first noticed Dari’s work, I was a little put off. I think there’s a fine line between game development punk rock and just being an edgelord (as th… Read More »

Random Encounter 292 – The Lord of All Unicorns

Posted by Jonathan Logan on March 18, 2024

On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re looking at two very different kinds of follow-ups to beloved games: a spiritual successor and a fan game. First up, we’re talking about a long-awaited revival of Ogre Battle-style SRPGs with Vanillaware’s Unicorn Overlord (the most bizarre na… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 3/17/24

Posted by Kyle Cantelon on March 17, 2024

On this edition of RPGs Coming This Week: Two next-gen heavyweights tangle with two niche titles. It’s one of the more packed weeks of the year, and I say we dispense with the pleasantries. Let’s dive in! Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery – March 19th (Windows) Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery is… Read More »

Another Crusade

Posted by Ben Love on March 16, 2024

One of the best things about indie RPGs is that they often revisit genre classic formulas with a new lens. The best indie homages update the core mechanics for modern sensibilities or place familiar mechanics in new and unique worlds with endearing characters, free from the restrictions of massive p… Read More »

Retro Encounter 408 – Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Spoilercast

Posted by Michael Sollosi on March 14, 2024

The real Infinite Wealth was the friends we made along the way. Ichiban Kasuga returns in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku 8 in Japanese), teaming up with former Like a Dragon protagonist Kazuma Kiryu in a wild turn-based open-world RPG set in both Japan and Hawaii. Four RPGFan st… Read More »

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