As anyone who has ever survived those oft-turbulent teen years knows, transitions can often be awkward periods. So when Yokohama-based Arc System Works, the gurus behind the Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, and Persona 4 Arena franchises ...
Read More »Saint Seiya: Soldiers’ Soul review
In Japan, Saint Seiya is nothing short of a national phenomenon. Even after the manga sold 34 million copies, interest hasn’t waned, with the Saints spurring an anime, four films, and even a musical. Purportedly, ...
Read More »Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax review
Skepticism toward a fighting game with characters culled from other genres and mediums is perfectly natural. For every praiseworthy effort like Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, there seems to be an equal number of mediocre cash-ins ...
Read More »Arcana Heart 3 LOVE MAX!!!!! review
In 1991, Capcom released Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, forming an indelible blueprint for fighting games. Teeming with innovation, many of the game’s mechanics became convention, bequeathing elaborate combos, an intricate multi-button input system, ...
Read More »Battle Fantasia -Revised Edition- review
Across the last decade and a half, the Guilty Gear and BlazBlue fighting franchises have cultivated legions of fans, thanks to well-polished play mechanics, distinctive rosters, and competitive matches that rank among the best in ...
Read More »Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R review
Mastering the intricacies of a complex combo system is one of the definitive ambitions of any fighting game aficionado. But for developers, balance is the Holy Grail, with studios often chasing after a meticulously tweaked ...
Read More »Dead or Alive 5: Last Round review
Remarkably, Dead or Alive 5: Last Round is best symbolized by the title’s two, quasi-new, playable characters. Originally, a boss from the franchise’s inaugural entry, Raidou, points to Dead or Alive’s adherence to tradition. At ...
Read More »Persona 4 Arena Ultimax review
While it’s not unusual for a game franchise to sidestep stagnation by switching genres, 2012’s Persona 4 Arena was a truly curious crossover. With its source material exhibiting the resonant characterization and rich storytelling that’s ...
Read More »Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution
One of the most prudent purchasing policies during the ‘90s and early 2000’s was to deliberate before purchasing a game based on an anime. In retrospect, the era was filled with lackluster licensed cash-ins, which ...
Read More »BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Review
After over two years, the BlazBlue series has finally returned. BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma (or BB:CP for short) is the latest in Arc System Works’ excellent 2-D fighting game franchise. Released just a few short months ...
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