PC

Following the success of 2010’s Hyperdimension Neptunia, developer Compile Heart’s output drifted toward the formulaic. Beyond a structure split between visual novel-based storytelling and turn-based combat, the Toshima-ku based studio integrated a copious amount of ...

With revenue in the billions, battle royale-style showdowns might seem like the hottest trend around. But there’s a solid argument that the incorporation of rogue-like elements has had the largest impact on the industry. Every ...

One of my earliest and most enduring gaming memories was produced by Dave Theurer’s 1981 classic coin-on, Tempest. As one of the first machines to employ Color-QuadraScan vector graphics, the game’s vibrant output looked like ...

While it might seem hard to believe, Steam was a relatively unfamiliar platform in Japan six years ago. But the PC port of Dark Souls changed that, and when sales of FromSoftware’s title greatly exceeded ...

With an annual onslaught of sequels, remakes, and derivative copy-cat titles, it’s easy to become cynical during E3. But look past the assurance-promoting pressers or the ostentatious showfloor booths, and you might find the rare ...

At first glance, Way of the Passive Fist might resemble just another side-scrolling brawler.  But the game’s moniker signals how an offensive takes a backseat, as the game’s protagonist fights by wearing down his opponent ...

Arcade-style titles were once the foundation for the games industry; today they have nearly grown exctinct. Long lapsed is an era when a twenty-five-cent wager could be converted into a coveted spot on the leaderboard, ...

Distressingly, tower defense games seem to be experiencing stagnation. Arguably, the genre’s last requisite effort was 2014’s Defense Grid 2. While the title didn’t deliver much in the way of innovation, it did give players ...

Pity the unassuming slime. With a gelatinous body and a lack of appendages, they’re repeatedly cast as one of role-playing’s meekest villains, serving as fodder for grind-inclined protagonists. But with the release of Ambition of ...

Most players will attest to the visual superiority of Compile Heart’s dialog sequences. Across an array of titles such as Record of Agarest War, Hyperdimension Neptunia, and Mugen Souls character portraits are painstakingly drawn and ...