Years ago, rhythm games infiltrated arcades and living rooms, where titles like Guitar Freaks, Taiko: Drum Master, Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band dominated recreational spaces with their hulking cabinets and faux plastic ...
Read More »RIVE: Ultimate Edition review
Typically, a developer’s final project is an imprudent mess, if not an outright disaster. From Ion Storm’s Daikatana, Maxis’ SimCity 2013, Realtime Worlds’ APB, Flagship Studios’ Hellgate: London, to Free Radical’s Haze, there’s been a ...
Read More »The Mummy Demastered review
Not long ago, games based on film properties were routinely awful. Defunct publishers like THQ, LJN, Acclaim, and Ocean Software become known for their slapdash adaptations, each company attempting to make a quick buck by ...
Read More »Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon review
Having developed the acclaimed Atelier, Ar Tonelico, and Ciel Nosurge series, Nagano-based Gust seemed to find contentment in the creation of turn-based role-playing games. As such, the release of Nights of Azure (Yoru no Nai ...
Read More »Touhou Kobuto V: Burst Battle review
Pugnaciousness doesn’t have to rooted in quarter-circles and z-motions. While the finger gymnastics required by the Street Fighter, Guilty Gear and BlazBlue franchises are an apt substitute for conveying martial art mastery, they’re not the ...
Read More »Phantom Trigger review
Ambiguity is becoming increasing rare in modern games. All too often, our recreations leave little room for even an iota of doubt, devotedly explaining each play mechanic and clarifying every last plot detail. While that ...
Read More »Namco Museum review
During the 1980s and 90s, if you stepped into an arcade, there was a very good chance of finding a Namco machine among the assortment of cabinets. While the Minato, Tokyo-based firm has been around ...
Read More »Fate/EXTELLA: The Umbral Star review
For years, musou games were mocked by critics and consumers alike. Both groups viewed franchises like Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors as repetitive, tedious treks, where players button-mashed their way to victory. At certainly at one time, that complaint had merit, ...
Read More »Mr Shifty review
Gaming often progresses through diminutive steps. In 1978, Taito’s Space Invaders’ antagonists tenaciously marched across monochromatic screens. But a year later, the foes broke formation, attacking players with kamikaze-like vehemence in Namco’s Galaxian. Later, the ...
Read More »Snake Pass review
Save for Rare’s Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll and the eponymous diversion that was built into many mid-2000-era mobile phones, snakes rarely earn the role of game protagonist. Although unfriendly roles in everything from the Bible ...
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