(s) Archive
2020-05-20
I have a lot of history with Aerith Gainsborough. It sounds strange to say that about a fictional character from a video game, but Aerith is incredibly important to me. I’ve been playing video games most of my life, mainly RPGs, but I can’t think of any other character who has changed my relationship withā¦ Read More »
2020-05-13
The SaGa series has been around for almost as long as RPGs have, but it’s seen a bit of a resurgence in the West lately with ports of bothĀ Romancing SaGa 2Ā andĀ Romancing SaGa 3Ā making their way to modern consoles and mobile, in addition to the long awaitedĀ SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions. Along with those console titles, Romancingā¦ Read More »
2020-05-11
In 1995, Hideaki Anno and Gainax began airing the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion on TV Tokyo. The series was incredibly influential and marked a watershed moment in the anime industry, spawning countless spin-offs and a full-length feature film. It was also a product of both its time and its creative environment, with major aspects of itsā¦ Read More »
2020-05-09
Our vast galaxy is home to an infinity of wonders; breathtaking nebulae, billions upon billions of stars, and most importantly, planetary spirits in the form of handsome young men. At least, that appears to be the case in My Only Sunshine, an upcoming Otome visual novel that will have you romancing the entire Solar System.
2020-04-29
Greg Delmage I’m pretty certain it was about 7 or 8 years ago I first gave Soul Blazer a shot, and it didn’t take much to convince me this game was neat. Here I had found a clear SNES gem I had missed out on! Though much of the story is rather simple on theā¦ Read More »
2020-04-22
Editor’s Note: This piece contains heavy spoilers for both NieR Gestalt and NieR: Automata. The power of words is a common theme in art. As an English teacher, I tell my students at least once a week that although reading helps us to understand ourselves, the most important part about reading is that it helpsā¦ Read More »
2020-04-19
Singapore, 2032; the glimmering, neon-lit city remains one of the few bastions of order in a world on the edge of collapse. Step into the shoes of Amira Darma, a private investigator with an office situated in Chinatown. Build up your business, track down criminals, and uncover a world-spanning conspiracy in Chinatown Detective Agency, a cyberpunk point-and-click adventure and love letter to the classic Carmen Sandiego games.
2020-04-18
“To believe in Eorzea is to believe in nothing.” This memorable line from Gaius van Baelsar, an imperial general and antagonist in Final Fantasy XIV’s first main storyline, has flown around my temples like a persistent gnat. To those familiar with this world, van Baelsar’s statement is an admonishment of the Warrior of Light’s faithā¦ Read More »
2020-04-15
The Xeno Middle Child Whenever you hear of Monolith Soft, one series usually comes to mind: Xenoblade Chronicles. Originally intended to not release in North America, the Xenoblade Chronicles series has since become popular around the world. The latest entry, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, sold over 1.7 million copies worldwide. A remake of the original game is on itsā¦ Read More »
2020-04-08
Final Fantasy VII is one of the most important JRPGs of all time. Regardless of how we feel about it over 20 years later, it broke new ground and brought untold numbers of people to the genre. Final Fantasy VII was so appealing in large part because of the captivating opening hours in Midgar. Withā¦ Read More »
2020-04-07
Fans of 2018’s retro action game, The Messenger, take note! A prequel is on the way in the form of Sea of Stars; a gorgeous turn-based RPG set in a beautiful oceanic world with gameplay heavily inspired by Chrono Trigger. If you missed out on the original, never fear; while long-time fans may be delighted to see some familiar characters and enjoy the nods to the shared universe, this new title is being developed as a stand-alone experience, perfect for newcomers or those who struggled with the action-focused gameplay of the first installment.
2020-04-05
Michael Sollosi I didn’t play Tokyo Mirage Sessions until this year, in large part because I never owned a Wii U and the Switch port was exactly the opportunity I was waiting for. I was hesitant at the pastel rainbow of a game cover and the promise of a soundtrack loaded with J-Pop, but theā¦ Read More »
2020-04-01
ateĀ·lier | \ Ėa-tįµ l-ĖyÄ \ (noun)1. An artist’s or designer’s studio or workroom. | 2: Workshop. In 1997, the small Japanese development studio Gust accidentally stumbled onto a formula (and franchise) that would grow into something they could not have imagined. Prior to the first game in that series, Atelier Marie, they had releasedā¦ Read More »
2020-03-24
It is my firm belief that one should spare a bit of time each day to look at handsome cat-men in suits. Thankfully, Nekojishi: Lin & Partners will make this task significantly easier. Taking place in a modern-day Taiwan where folklore and legends are real, the game follows college graduate Liao, a young man who has the ability to see spirits and gods. In a delightful turn of events, these supernatural beings predominantly take the form of anthropomorphic, attractive, and often muscular men. Golly!
2020-03-18
Yakuza Kiwami‘s gameplay is built on power, even at the expense of reality. Whether that’s the duck and recovery present in Call of Duty‘s multiplayer or Link experiencing a momentary stun after a bomb to the face in The Legend of Zelda, video games have always struggled with depicting violence’s impact. Kazuma Kiryu, our protagonist,ā¦ Read More »
2020-03-14
Editor’s Note: This review contains major spoilers for seasons 1 and 2, as well as minor spoilers for season 3. Bring your holy water and crosses, if you dare. How do you adapt a video game series like Castlevania? With a heavy focus on platforming, level design, atmosphere and (sometimes, for our sake) leveling up,ā¦ Read More »
2020-03-11
There have been a lot (and I mean a lot) of PokĆ©mon movies over the years, but perhaps none of them have had quite the same impact as the very first one. Originally released in 1998, PokĆ©mon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back holds a special place in the hearts of many fans, having beenā¦ Read More »
2020-03-10
Zach Wilkerson I don’t replay games much anymore. Sure, when I was younger, I’d play every RPG I got my hands on at least half a dozen times. But now, I have papers to grade, new games to review, and the occasional dish to wash. As the clichĆ© goes, there’s just too much to play,ā¦ Read More »
2020-03-08
The relationship between anime/manga and JRPGs goes back to the beginning of the genre, with Dragon Ball creator and artist Akira Toriyama acting as character designer on Dragon Quest. After that, most early JRPGs played on the tropes and storytelling beats of anime and manga. Seriously, go watch Castle in the Sky and NausicaƤ of the Valley of the Wind andā¦ Read More »
2020-03-04
Sometime last year I had a dream where I was playing a PokƩmon dating sim; though our main characters are considerably larger, Kaichu: A Kaiju Dating Sim feels like the closest thing yet. A short and adorable game, Kaichu follows the love lives of a pastel-colored array of giant monsters, featuring charming PokƩmon-inspired designs and a narrative filtered through two plucky news anchors eager to spill all manner of kaiju secrets.
2020-02-28
If the grey February weather has you feeling grumpy, Rose of Starcross is sure to elicit at least one modest smile. Following the adventures of young witch Viscera and her best friend Annie, the game is an adorable open-world RPG set against a stylish pixel graphic backdrop full of neon-pink clouds, sparkling cityscapes, and mischievous, pumpkin-faced demons.
2020-02-26
Surprise is probably the word I would use to describe The Witcher‘s first season on Netflix. I was certainly surprised when Netflix announced they were working on a Witcher TV series back in 2017. I was even more surprised when we found out that Henry Cavill (known for his role as Superman in the current DCā¦ Read More »
2020-02-24
Level-5’s Ni no Kuni franchise has always flirted with cinema. The original game features animated cutscenes from the acclaimed Studio Ghibli, as well as music from composer Joe Hisaishi, creating an audiovisual landscape that hearkens back to classic animated films. While Ghibli didn’t return for the game’s sequel, Ni no Kuni II still adheres toā¦ Read More »
2020-02-19
Given Dragon Quest’s huge popularity in Japan, it’s surprising that, other than one OVA-length manga adaptation from 1996, there hasn’t been another film based on the series. Last year, that changed with the release of Dragon Quest: Your Story in Japan, a film version of the 1992 Super Famicom classic, Dragon Quest V. I played this forā¦ Read More »
2020-02-18
Greetings! I am here today to tell you about my deep admiration for the art of Moebius, and my joy in discovering a new game inspired by his style, alongside other sci-fi favorites such as Hayao Miyazaki’s Nausicaa. Let us dance and rejoice!
