PS3

Although Japanese role-playing games are habitually criticized for having derivative battle mechanics, verbose dialog, and trope-filled plots, the genre flaunts one prodigious advantage; no other type of game routinely offers such a rich depiction of ...

In retrospect, 2013’s Disney Infinity proved to be a surprisingly incongruous product. While the Play Set mode was elevated by the inclusion of cherished characters from the Disney and Pixar catalogs, the actual action was ...

While it’s not unusual for a game franchise to sidestep stagnation by switching genres, 2012’s Persona 4 Arena was a truly curious crossover. With its source material exhibiting the resonant characterization and rich storytelling that’s ...

Synergy doesn’t always materialize when prodigious talent comes together. From Chickfoot’s underwhelming union of Sammy Haggar, Joe Satriani, with Red Hot Chili Pepper and Van Halen alumni to Ocean Twelve’s disastrous attempt to recreate the ...

Video games habitually push the boundaries of sensory overload, whether it’s the number of projectiles in a bullet hell shooter or the simultaneous task-juggling required by real-time strategy titles. Personally, I prefer the overstimulation caused ...

The dawn of a new hardware generation is often accompanied by a few pangs of uncertainty. For fans of Japanese role-playing games, the future remains especially uncertain, with only Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts ...

Robert’s Take: Over the last few years, development teams have embraced the potpourri method of game design, combining an assortment of familiar genres together in an effort to create a distinctive new experience. But much ...

While progressive representations of female characters remains a stumbling block for the game industry, few emphasize the handful of exemplary efforts. In the genre of the Japanese role-playing game, Gust’s Atelier franchise has long been ...

Not long ago, the shooter was one of the most visceral and engaging genres around, consistently delivering frantic firefights that outmatched the best summer blockbusters. But over time, those once-invigorating action sequences began to lose ...

Not long ago, it was nearly impossible for Westerners to play a localized visual novel. As former Nippon Ichi Software president (and now CEO of Idea Factory International) Haru Akenaga once explained, SCEA wasn’t interested ...