In 2010, NIS America published Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger VS Darkdeath Evilman, a game that was every bit as eclectic as it name suggested. With Rogue-like mechanics and a storyline teeming with references to classic tokusatsu, ...

Mirroring the moniker of their parent company, Idea Factory, developer Compile Heart has been consistently proficient when it comes to conceptualization. Record of Agarest War introduced an intriguing “Soul Breed” system into the SRPG genre, ...

While Nippon Ichi has enjoyed sustained success with the Disgaea franchise, the Gifu-based publisher/developer has often struggled to cultivate another hit. Sure, Spike Chunsoft’s Danganronpa games has earned critical and commercial acclaim and NIS America ...

The potential to become blindsided by Tears to Tiara II: Heir of the Overlord is remarkably high. Outside of otaku circles, the title isn’t likely to trigger recognition, with six characters in Aquapazza: Aquaplus Dream ...

Fan service is generally regarded as lascivious-minded pandering, whether through a playful peek at pantsu or a bit of racy repartee. 2011’s Hyperdimension Neptunia certainly proved those types of indulgences, with suggestive dialog offered by ...

Video games habitually push the boundaries of sensory overload, whether it’s the number of projectiles in a bullet hell shooter or the simultaneous task-juggling required by real-time strategy titles. Personally, I prefer the overstimulation caused ...

From Akiba’s Trip: Undead & Undressed’s clothes-shredding capers to Surgeon Simulator 2013’s high-tech update on the classic board game, Operation, this week’s roster of new releases offers a number of offbeat titles for gamers to ...

While Fall and Spring are usually known as the transitional seasons, the latest batch of mid- Summer releases demonstrates an unusually high number of changes across platforms. PC indie Rogue Legacy offers a simultaneous release ...

With Sony and Microsoft attempting to build market share in Japan, gamers were probably expecting to see a few exports during each company’s respective presser. Yet, save for a short showing of Platinum Games’ Scalebound, ...

Undoubtedly, 2012’s Mugen Souls had its share of problems, burdened by longwinded dialog sequences, an abysmal framerate, and a battle system laden with convoluted mechanics which rarely enhanced the role-playing experience. But look past these ...