Tag Archives: Kid Friendly

Manga, anime, and gaming witches have a challenging gig. Not only must they protect their pantaloons/pantsu from overexposure, as impossibly short skirts are the normative clothing choice, but they frequently fall victim to formula. Often ...

What is the concept? From Raiden’s snaking plasma-beam to Ikaruga’s polarity switching mechanic, any respectable shmup has a distinctive hook. For Solar Shifter EX, a recent PC release from the one-man studio behind Meridian: New ...

In 2011, when developer Toys for Bob released Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure, the concept of fusing physical toys with video game was innovative. For many, being able to place a figurine on the bundled “Power of ...

What is the concept? Neo-Freudian criminologists believe that a large percentage of lawbreakers want to get caught. The theory is particularly useful when discussing the behavior of nearly every video game villain. Either divulging their ...

For a franchise with a notable absence of antagonism, the Bokujō Monogatari/Harvest Moon franchise has found itself in an ironic junction. Originally published in 1996 by Japanese publisher/developer Pack-In-Video (creator of Die Hard, Friday the ...

Customarily, game design employs an additive approach, progressively inserting new mechanics into each new sequel. It’s a method that’s helped Nintendo build an empire, with each new iteration of Mario Kart, Kirby, or The Legend ...

Many franchises feel the pangs of stagnancy by their fourth iteration. After a trio of titles that define, then gradually refine a series, the fourth game often exhibits a divisive tension between prudent evolution and ...

In retrospect, 2013’s Disney Infinity proved to be a surprisingly incongruous product. While the Play Set mode was elevated by the inclusion of cherished characters from the Disney and Pixar catalogs, the actual action was ...

While the late 1990’s saw a rise in polygonal fighters and racers, the era is best known for the upsurge of character-driven platformers. It was a time when oft-reminisced protagonists like Crash, Spyro, Banjo and ...

Much of Disney’s cinematic success can be attributed to a winning formula: their films traditionally exhibit top-tier production values and appeal to a wide range of audiences. In the realm of interactive entertainment, PopCap Games ...