(s) Archive
2022-01-22
Winner: NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… is an impressive new version of Yoko Taro’s classic, a game that proves that you can uplift even the most basic game design through beautiful aesthetics and writing, concepts, and characters that touch upon complex universal themes. The game approaches difficult topics such as the inherent struggles of… Read More »
Winner: Fantasian Fantasian quickly captured the attention of longtime RPG fans with its gorgeous diorama backgrounds and impressive developer pedigree. The game brings together Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father of Final Fantasy, and Nobuo Uematsu, whose iconic music has defined that same series over the past 35 years, for possibly their final project, and the end… Read More »
Winner: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker It took a miracle team to save Final Fantasy XIV, but eight years ago a realm was reborn. The MMORPG remained remarkably consistent in the following years, allowing it to grow its player base exponentially and build a critically acclaimed story. This year’s expansion, Endwalker, had the unenviable task of… Read More »
Winner: Eastward Eastward weaves a collage of homages so large that it forms its own beautiful image. Some see the spirit of Quintet in its combat and world-trekking scope, so call it a Zelda killer. Others take note of the in-game Earth Born arcade game that links disparate folks, even in the post-apocalypse, which plays… Read More »
Winner: Super Robot Wars 30 The venerable Super Robot Wars series of crossover strategy RPGs featuring giant robots from popular mecha anime has enjoyed immense popularity for the past 30 years. Sadly, none of the mainline games ever made it outside of Japan until Super Robot Wars 30. Gargantuan gatherings of glorious anime crossover moments,… Read More »
Winner: The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Trying to get into a long-running series can be daunting. With Ace Attorney, for example, you’ve got six mainline entries, three spin-offs, and two seasons of anime. That’s why I am so excited to tell you about The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, a collection of two previously Japan-only titles.… Read More »
Winner: Tales of Arise Tales of Arise is the biggest rejuvenation and reinvention the Tales series has seen since its inception. It’s hard to understate the impact this newest entry has had, taking a series that had strong niche appeal into the relative mainstream. It goes back to the core concepts of the series, ensuring… Read More »
Winner: Shin Megami Tensei V The long, quiet wait for Shin Megami Tensei V has been maddening, but now that it’s finally here, it’s clear that the wait was worth it. This is easily the most beautiful series entry to date — a sumptuous production that does full justice to its otherworldly setting and the… Read More »
Winner: Scarlet Nexus When Scarlet Nexus was announced, my expectations were subterranean. Even as I popped the game into my system, I figured it wouldn’t hold my attention for more than a couple of hours. Yet, with each scene, battle, and conversation, I found myself getting attached to the characters and hooked on the story.… Read More »
Winner: Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode INTERmission Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode INTERmission is what all DLC should aspire to be. It expands on the base story without feeling like it’s a missing piece of the main game. It introduces new combat mechanics that help the brief adventure feel fresh, and the side activities give… Read More »
Winner: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker I’m going to start out simply here: Endwalker is one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of gaming. I’m not saying that because of the “epic comeback” from 1.0. Endwalker has to stand on its own, and it fires on all cylinders at all times. I’m not even… Read More »
Winner: New PokĂ©mon Snap Over twenty years ago, PokĂ©mon Snap launched on the N64. For many of us kids, this was the first time we got to see many of these creatures in 3D. At the time, it was a sight to behold — PokĂ©mon living in their natural habitats, frolicking around as you throw… Read More »
Winner (tie): Hootle (Tales of Arise) Mascot characters: you either love them or hate them. If done wrong, they can break the mood of a game (hi, Bienfu from Tales of Berseria). However, the great ones melt your heart every time they are on screen, and that’s exactly what Hootle does in Tales of Arise!… Read More »
Winner: Venat (Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker) Note: Light spoilers for Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker follow. At its best, faith pushes people to be better, kinder, and aspire to something higher, even if it’s based on something we can’t see. Venat, Hydaelyn, Azem, or whatever you want to call her, despite becoming a deity in her… Read More »
Winner: Fandaniel (Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker) It takes skill to turn an antagonist who at first seems incredibly one note into a much deeper and more intriguing villain. Final Fantasy XIV has a habit of doing this, but Fandaniel is a particularly noteworthy case. He is hardly compelling in the lead-up to Endwalker, and his… Read More »
Winner: Yuffie Kisaragi (Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode INTERmission) Episode INTERmission is fascinating because it’s focused on edges of the Final Fantasy VII world that have never hit the mainstream. Sure, all the surprise extended universe appearances are wonderful, but none add depth to the world quite like the time we get to spend with… Read More »
Winner: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Final Fantasy XIV has always dazzled with the written and spoken word, so it is no surprise that Endwalker has an incredibly rich and powerful localization. However, that doesn’t make what it does any less impressive. The sheer depth of emotion the localization team wove into this climactic expansion contributes… Read More »
Winner: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Few other games have led me to tears just by asking a simple question such as “Has your journey been good? Has it been worthwhile?” But Endwalker‘s deeply human and hopeful story reaches out from the screen and touches your heart in ways other video games have tried and failed.… Read More »
Winner: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Masayoshi Soken’s music in Final Fantasy XIV is so iconic that it’s practically a character itself, and this is perhaps no truer than in Endwalker. From “Footfalls,” with its callbacks to leitmotifs from previous expansions, to the theme of Sharlayan and its beautiful vocal variant “Flow,” Endwalker introduces powerful new… Read More »
Winner: Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode INTERmission Final Fantasy VII Remake certainly piqued many fans’ interests with its new take on the 1997 classic by using Unreal Engine 4 to the fullest. Even though the game is largely defined by the 2020 release, the visual benchmark set was still enhanced in the release of INTERmission.… Read More »
Winner: Tales of Arise Tales games institute a new combination of adjectives into their fighting system with every new entry. For Tales of Arise, they’ve gone back to their roots with the name “Linear Motion Battle System.” Limiting martial artes (not a typo) and spells with MP, SP, TP, or anything else with a P,… Read More »
2022-01-21
Game That Rises Above Others Award Sorry Monster Hunter Rise, I did love the time I spent with you, but another game with the word “Rise” in its title was just superior. Tales of Arise really was a spectacular game through and through, and shows just how great a game can be if companies take… Read More »
I try to spend some of my free time playing games, and of course, I try to dedicate some of this time to RPGs. The curious thing about me generally, especially this year, is that I didn’t play a single solitary game that came out this year. Most of my game time for this website… Read More »
2021 was a banner year for RPGs that I, Wes, didn’t play. Sure, I made my way around some of the big ones, but all the little hidden gems I’d usually revel in are waiting for 2022 as I spent so much of this year revisiting old favorites for comfort, or via one of the… Read More »
Game of the Year – Deltarune: Chapter 2 With every new game Toby Fox releases, he successfully iterates on his signature style even more. Deltarune Chapter 2 is as madcap as ever, but in a medium where comedy usually feels forced or unintentional, it is rare to play something so genuinely gut-busting. Maybe this is… Read More »
