(s) Archive
2024-10-25
Character design is something I’ve been particularly interested in since I started gaming. I’m always fascinated to see concept art from various stages of development to get an idea of how a particular character’s appearance evolves over time. If a game I love has an art book, you might as well take my money now!… Read More »
2024-10-16
At the end of this month, Square Enix will publish a full-scale remake of a classic SaGa title, Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven. Alongside our hands-on preview based on the available demo, which gave fans a glimpse of what this remake offers, we had the opportunity to present questions to Shinichi Tatsuke, who… Read More »
2024-09-28
Beware! This article contains spoilers for NieR: Automata. This August, I had the pleasure of attending and presenting at Replaying Japan, an academic conference bringing together Japanese and non-Japanese scholars to share research related to Japanese games and the culture surrounding them. This year’s conference took place at the University at Buffalo, SUNY (North Campus)… Read More »
2024-09-24
Whenever a new Metroidvania with RPG elements is announced, I do a little happy dance in my imagination.
2024-09-18
[Note: This feature is intentionally spoiler-heavy, and assumes cursory knowledge of the DrakenNieR universe. This article aims to give players who missed their chance to play NieR Re[in]carnation a synopsis of the game’s three story arcs.] In 2021, live service mobile game NieR Re[in]carnation launched to mixed reviews. The ensemble cast approach and setting which… Read More »
2024-09-06
Audra Bowling I still have fond memories of my first Dragon Age: Inquisition playthrough, so I was thrilled when the opportunity to revisit the game right before the looming release date for Dragon Age: The Veilguard presented itself. I’ll always have a nostalgic soft spot for BioWare games, and I am pleasantly surprised to find… Read More »
2024-09-04
I may likely qualify as a Final Fantasy fanboy. The first console games I played are from the series, and I’d list a couple as my favourite games of all time. I must admit, somewhat controversially, that I haven’t ever completed (or in some cases played at all) Final Fantasy I through VI. I know… Read More »
2024-08-28
As part of the Atlus event where we got to play a large portion of Metaphor: ReFantazio (don’t miss my preview of the first four hours with the game!), we also got to participate in a question-and-answer session with a few of the developers. Producer Junichi Yoshizawa, Lead Scenario Planner Yuichiro Tanaka, Lead Daily Systems… Read More »
2024-08-26
Some heroes go unsung. Masashi Hamauzu stands as a stark example of this. He’s composed part or all of many Final Fantasy soundtracks you love (most notably X, XIII, and the Final Fantasy VII remake project). Sadly, these contributions become overshadowed by the star power of Uematsu, Soken, and Shimomura. Hamauzu provided a potent reminder of his legacy with an… Read More »
2024-08-23
Mental Health Awareness Month occurs in May, and wow did it pass quickly this year. It hardly seems like enough time for a topic so vital for so many. Beyond this, addressing mental health need not be limited to a specific month, especially when we as a society sorely need to shift our view and… Read More »
2024-08-10
Origins Game Fair, as suggested in our feature last year, seems to be undergoing some changes. If you’re an Essen or GenCon attendee, you might not know what I’m referencing, as these conventions seem to have bounced back to normal since the pandemic, per my conversations with others this year. The “big boys”—CGE, Rio Grande,… Read More »
Do you enjoy tea? What about escape rooms? Interested in the logistics of actually manufacturing a game? What about LGBT non-profits and queer friends who play and make games? Origins has all of that and more. Tea Punk Teas In years past when we’ve covered Origins, we discussed the odd and novel businesses surrounding soaps… Read More »
A Message From the Stars I must have been sleeping on AllPlay pre-pandemic, or they’ve just grown tremendously since then. Initially a luxury board game table developer, AllPlay has leaned heavily into publishing board games that they describe as “approachable and easy to learn,” which I agree with, except for our first title: A Message From the Stars.… Read More »
I’m a medium-to-heavy board gamer. I don’t turn my nose up at any game, but if I had my way, I’d be chompin’ on an intense, complex, multi-hour battle for first place. That said, short, snappy games have their place, especially depending on who I have over. 5-Minute Dungeon contributes nicely to a shorter experience,… Read More »
Origins is so much more than just board gaming with strangers and buying the latest and greatest. You can meet your favorite designers and chat with them! Imagine going to ye olde E3 and having a chance to talk with Hideo Kojima or Shigeru Miyamoto. With a wealth of guests and board gaming celebrities to… Read More »
2024-08-07
One of my favorite archetypes in sci-fi is the artificial or constructed sentient being. They go by many names, including robots, droids, automatons, and synths. I am fascinated by exploring the complexities and moral dilemmas of interacting with an artificial being. There is no shortage of memorable characters who fit this criteria throughout the history… Read More »
2024-08-06
Heavily inspired by Quintet classics, Golden Sun, and even drag culture, I’m proud to present Tako no Himitsu: Ocean of Secrets, a new action RPG follow-up to 2021’s Save Me Mr. Tako.
2024-07-31
Dom Kim I must confess that I feared how this playthrough for Retro Encounter would turn out. It had been years since I last booted up Dark Souls, and having recently gone on a month-long Elden Ring spree both preparing for and playing through the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC I couldn’t help but wonder… Read More »
2024-07-24
I got my first console back in the late nineties when I was around twelve — a PS1. In the preceding months, I spent hours thumbing through gaming magazines and getting excited about specifically playing Final Fantasy VIII (which was due out soon) and Final Fantasy VII (which I’d bought a magazine walkthrough for even… Read More »
2024-07-17
And we’ve come to the end of our list! While there will be some surprises, the top of this list is very good and showcases just how excellent the PS4 library is! #8 Disco Elysium Writeup by Aleks Franiczek Disco Elysium is, first and foremost, a PC game, heralding back to the Infinity Engine classics… Read More »
A lot of people will point to the Super Nintendo or the PS1 as the “Golden Era” of RPGs, and there’s certainly something to that. But the PS4 is full of so many excellent RPGs, and they run the gamut between big budget, AAA titles, smaller AA titles, and indie darlings that took the genre… Read More »
And now we’re on to part 2 (games ranked 17th through 9th on our list). A couple of series have multiple entries here, but each game is very different. Check them out! #17 Undertale Writeup by Tim Rattray The PS4 has many great RPGs, but I’d wager that none were more influential—or more influenced—than Undertale.… Read More »
2024-07-03
Claton Stevenson My first impressions of Grandia II was initially to cringe, particularly at the abrasive and often misogynistic sass coming out of main protagonist Ryudo’s mouth. Thankfully, though, Ryudo is quickly given opportunities to soften and grow, as the narrative reveals more about his life and relationship to the conflict between Valmar and Granas.… Read More »
2024-06-28
Are you too cool for school? I’m certainly not, especially if it’s the magical school featured in today’s game of choice. Introducing Arcadia Fallen II, the standalone follow-up to 2021’s enchanting visual novel from Galdra Studios.
Chocobo’s Dungeon: The Board Game is a light cooperative board game that captures the feeling of the video game series through its charming visuals and dungeon-diving course of play. For those whose hearts have been foraged by this tenacious avian, Chocobo’s Dungeon is sure to scratch that chibi artwork itch while inspiring soft knowledge cooperative… Read More »
