Sporadically, Hyperdimension Neptunia co-developers Compile Heart and Idea Factory endorse the use of character by other development studios. The results of these spin-offs often approach the quality of the main franchise. With titles such as ...
Read More »Judgment review
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s Yakuza series is undoubtedly one of gaming’s most unique franchises, with a duality nearly unrivaled in any medium. Across seven main iterations, an expansive cast of colorful characters have chaperoned players ...
Read More »Citizens of Space review
2015’s Citizens of Earth was a decidedly mixed experience. Although developer Eden Industries’ procession of pop-culture references, Earthbound-inspired quirk, and ever-growing entourage of recruitable everyday types was occasionally clever, it also suffered from serious executional ...
Read More »Dragon Star Varnir review
The term ‘Galápagos Syndrome’ was coined to describe an intriguing situation that emerged with Japanese mobile phones. These wondrously evolved devices were undoubtedly some of the best phones on the market. But they weren’t compatible ...
Read More »The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II (PS4) review
Media sequels can fall victim to their own version of middle-child syndrome. Whereas inaugural efforts revel in world-building as well as character backstory, and concluding episodes are elevated by contributing a sense of closure, middle ...
Read More »Kotodama: The 7 Mysteries of Fujisawa review
Inevitably, there will probably be a few prudish critics who will dismiss Kotodama: The 7 Mysteries of Fujisawa as little more than lecherous fan-service. Regularly, the game offers up a match-three puzzler where combos remove ...
Read More »Crystal Crisis review
The industry’s dominant puzzle franchises have been around for a while. Tetris is thirty-five years old, while Taito’s Puzzle Bobble (aka Bust-A-Move in North America) has been around for twenty-five years. Even Puyo Puyo is ...
Read More »Lapis x Labyrinth review
Button mashing is term to describe the act of hitting controller buttons in a wild act of desperation. It’s often used to describe a rookie trying to fortuitously trigger a combo or special move. Occasionally, ...
Read More »Bubsy: Paws on Fire! review
Much like Keith Richards, the Bubsy franchise refutes the rules of longevity. The Rolling Stones’ guitarist persists despite a lifetime of bacchanalian revelry. Similarly, Accolade’s bobcat enigmatically endures, even after a succession of slipshod sequels. ...
Read More »Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland review
Occasionally, games can seem like a jumble of ideas, with little sense of unity. Or perhaps, efforts like the recent release of Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland happen to blend ideas together so seamlessly, ...
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