Even for enthusiasts of other Japanese role-playing games, the Shin Megami Tensei series can be initially off-putting. From the pistol-like evokers which teen protagonists point to their heads in SMT: Persona 3 to the Jungian ...
Read More »Ragnarok Odyssey Review
With no confirmation of a Monster Hunter iteration and Phantasy Star Online 2 nebulously assured for ‘sometime in 2013’, PS Vita owners eager for a creature-killing time sink have been forced to remain stalwartly optimistic. ...
Read More »Mugen Souls Review
“It seems like an NIS game”, is a common, albeit reductive comparison for both Japanese role-playing devotees and detractors. Under scrutiny, Nippon Ichi’s publishing efforts share some broad similarities, but upon deeper inspection, their output ...
Read More »Way of the Samurai 4 Review
The concept of bushidō is often crassly articulated in gaming. Action-based titles such as Samurai Shodown and Brave Fencer Musashi- typically forgo the tenets of honor and loyalty to focus on the thrill of sword ...
Read More »Legasista Review
For some, 2010’s ClaDun: This is an RPG! and its sequel- 2011’s ClaDun X2, capably indulge the dungeon exploring urge, offering an engaging blend of Rogue-like exploration with real-time combat reminiscent of early entries in ...
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 »Dishonored Preview
Going into the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo, I had high hopes for Dishonored. Fellow podcasters SeanNOLA and DesertEagle jokingly speculated that title seemed made exclusively for me; after getting some playtime in, I’ve have to say ...
Read More »Planet Crashers Review
What is the concept? Capitalizing on the current dearth of role-playing titles for Nintendo’s autostereoscopic handheld, recent eShop release Planet Crashers sends players on an eccentric expedition in an attempt to salvage a weakening sun. ...
Read More »Ys Origin Review
Given my wide-reaching dismissal of the anime aesthetic this generation, it’s hard to believe that I’ve let the Ys series wriggle its way into my heart. I was more or less ambivalent toward the series ...
Read More »Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland Review
With playtimes which routinely transcend the thirty-hour mark, it’s not common for role-playing games to deliver a slow burn, engrossing players once the obligatory expositional elements are laid out. For Gust Corporation’s Arland series, the ...
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