For some, the appeal of the Japanese role-playing game is rooted in the cultural. JRPGs are often masterworks of storytelling, crafting rich contexts inhibited by colorful casts of characters who experience satisfying character arcs and ...
Read More »The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC review
The modern Japanese role-playing dazzles the eyes and ears with sumptuous visuals and stirring, symphonic soundtracks, but it can often leave the heart feeling a bit empty. As such, it’s not surprisingly that there’s a ...
Read More »Brandish: The Dark Revenant review
Although the PSP might have lost the sales battle to the Nintendo DS, Sony’s prodigious PlayStation Portable prevailed in the niche war, hosting dozens of delightfully quirky titles during its decade-long prime. From Kenka Bancho: ...
Read More »Star Wars Pinball: Heroes Within Pack Review
In 2008, Zen Studios released Pinball FX, a prodigious title which strove to adapt the nuances of the cherished pastime into video form. While most critics praised the game’s ball physics and online functionality, many ...
Read More »Class of Heroes 2 Review
Long before Atlus and NIS America spoiled stateside gamers with sumptuous special edition packages, Working Designs established precedent. Take, for instance Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete for the PlayStation, which offered an unprecedented bundle of ...
Read More »Black Rock Shooter: The Game Review
Few properties have had a trajectory as remarkable as Black Rock Shooter. Originally a collection of conceptual drawings, the composition gradually progressed across mediums- with a music video, OVA, and eight episode animated series gradually ...
Read More »Generation of Chaos: Pandora’s Reflection Review
For PSP owners who cherish the intricacy of micromanagement, both 2005’s Generation of Chaos and 2007 sequel Aedis Eclipse, have provided two of the portable’s most complex time sinks. Teeming with dense menus, a myriad ...
Read More »Corpse Party: Book of Shadows Review
What Is The Concept? Corpse Party: Book of Shadows‘ purpose in life is to show you anime characters dying in truly horrifying ways. Their desperate struggle to defy fate, their thoughts, feelings, and suffering, are ...
Read More »Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time Review
It’s a known fact: fans of Japanese role-playing games rarely arrive at a consensus. Whether it’s a disagreement over how combat should be articulated, the delicate balance of grinding, or even if amnesia still retains ...
Read More »Unchained Blades Review
Last year’s release of Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls hoped to revitalize the dungeon crawler on Western shores. Regretfully, the game’s sharp learning curve and utilitarian visuals likely did the genre a disservice. With the ...
Read More »