In an era when Pac-Man fever had yet to infect stateside gamers, Commodore PET users might be found playing MINER!, an excavation simulation that was published in Cursor magazine. Echoing games of the epoch, the purpose of Rod Longfellow’s title ...
Read More »Cyberdimension Neptunia: 4 Goddesses Online review
Amidst most of the twentieth century, the term, ‘simulacra’ typically implied inferiority. A painting based on a photograph was separated from its source material by two degrees, and subsequently would lose some of its essence ...
Read More »SteamWorld Dig 2 review
As an indie title that captured the polish and effervescent charm of a first-party Nintendo game, 2013’s SteamWorld Dig was a rarity. For a follow-up, Image & Form crafted SteamWorld Heist, which was based in ...
Read More »Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana review
There’s the tacit expectation that franchises will evolve over time. But occasionally, the pressure to advance can spoil an otherwise splendid series when rash ideas or slipshod mechanics are needlessly shoehorned into a sequel. In ...
Read More »Ys Seven review
Like most mediums, gaming has its own share of notable friendships. From the witty banter provided by eponymous duos like Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank, or the alliance between Uncharted’s Nathan Drake and ...
Read More »Narcosis review
Make no mistake, humans are an inherently social creature. If you don’t believe me, take a look at one of the fundamental themes of the survival horror genre. Whether you are exploring a remote space ...
Read More »Ittle Dew 2 review
1986’s The Legend of Zelda established one of gaming’s essential formulas, where a succession of puzzle-filled dungeons steadily supplied the tools that players would need to advance. At its core, Zelda (and Metroid, which contextualized ...
Read More »Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization review
Across the span of eighteen light novels, eight manga adaptations, and twenty-five episodes of anime, Sword Art Online has extended an enthralling exploration of game technology. Set in 2022, the work focuses on a device ...
Read More »Xanadu Next review
Xanadu Next’s narrative economy is evidenced across the game’s prologue. Here, players find a trio of characters, making their way across a massive lake shrouded in thick fog. Exposition is mostly handled by a boatman ...
Read More »Creepy Castle review
While older consoles regularly receive commemoration, eight-bit computers don’t always get the recognition they deserve. Owning a Commodore or Atari personal computer during the Eighties permitted owners to peek into the future- revealing several qualities ...
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