Console

Sometimes, a single smart design decision can catapult a game to success. With the release of Galak-Z: The Void: Deluxe Edition onto the Nintendo Switch, developer 17-Bit makes several shrewd choices, resulting in an experience ...

Few role-playing franchises are as plentiful as the Atelier series. Dating back to the 1997 release of Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg, the prolific property is comprised of eighteen successors, sixteen spin-offs, as well ...

Like most developers, Nippon Ichi Software frequently creates follow-ups for their successful titles. But far more interesting are the developer/publisher’s divergences. From Phantom Brave’s melancholic reworking of Disgaea, to the evolution of rogue-like mechanics across ...

Only a few years ago, the console role-playing game seemed to be in peril, its existence whittled down to a few decisive hit points. Pundits predicted that a combination of escalating production prices, dwindling audiences, ...

With lore which traverses several mediums and revolves around different universes, the Fate franchise might seem impenetrable to newcomers. Paradoxically, that’s part of the allure. Immerse yourself in Type-Moon’s well-liked visual novels, manga, anime, games ...

Japanese role-playing aficionados know that allegory is a frequent storytelling strategy. Whether it’s Hyperdimension Neptunia’s spirted take on game console competition or the Persona series’ ruminations about our inner psyches, there’s something rather potent about the technique. Pleasingly, ...

In concept, taking an action-driven loot crawl like Diablo and adding anime-inspired visuals certainly has the potential for success. Essentially, that’s the approach adopted by the recent Switch release of RemiLore: Lost Girl in the ...

Released as a Java game nineteen years ago, Trials was a prototypical example of brilliant game design. Each stage tasked players with maneuvering a motorcycle across a series of obstacles. Difficulty was rooted in the ...

The Dead or Alive series is probably best known for its pendulous breast physics and revealing costumes, which is a rather reductive assessment. Team Ninja’s franchise is quite far from being skin-deep, with a distinctive ...

Recently, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown delivered dogfighting action to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC owners. With an engaging single-player campaign and an enjoyable multiplayer mode, those who possess a Switch might have been ...