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This Week in Games - Ask Yourself, "What Would Shadow Do?"
The Year of Shadow is upon us! What sort of festivities can we expect for a resident Edgehog? Also: Jean-Karlo salutes the Miiverse community and more in This Week in Games!
― Welcome back, folks! Last week, I saw a bit of consternation from folks with regards to SaGa Emerald Beyond, specifically since SaGa games can be rather impenetrable. It's a tall order, but I still vouch for the SaGa games. Mis...
This Week in Anime - What Is An 'Anime Game,' Anyway?
Chris and Lucas try to quantify the 'vibe' that makes something an anime game; is it point of origin, art style, or something else?
― Chris and Lucas try to quantify the 'vibe' that makes something an anime game; is it point of origin, art style, or something else? Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning...
This Week in Games - Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Preview
This is the Suikoden game fans have been waiting for. It might have a new title, but the heart is there.
― Welcome back, folks! Another April Fool's Day has come and gone, another chance for unfunny people at gaming studios to make another "Hey, wouldn't it be funny if we made a dating sim for our game!?" gag for the pile of joke-visual novels we've seen over the years. As an aside, while I haven't h...
This Week in Games - Dragon's Dogma 2 and an Interview with SAND LAND Producer Keishu Minami
This week, Jean-Karlo looks into Dragon Dogma 2's microtransaction drama, gushes about the notable visual novels on the horizon, and has a chat with the upcoming SAND LAND game's producer, Keishu Minami.
― Welcome back, folks! It's a busy Spring, and I know folks are likely neck-deep in Dragon's Dogma 2. But someone on Twitter went and reminded me that Touch Detective 3 + The Complete Case Files is o...
Exploring the World of the SAND LAND Video Game
Explore ruins, infiltrate enemy areas, cruise the dunes, and more in this video game tie-in to the airing anime series.
― The world is still mourning the loss of the beloved artist Akira Toriyama. His unique worlds and love of fantastical machinery have captured the imagination of fans worldwide for decades. Fans, at the very least, can look forward to one last hurrah from Toriyama in the form of the...
This Week in Games - Mourning Mutsumi Inomata
This week, Jean-Karlo morns the loss of artist Mutsumi Inomata and takes a look at her contributions to gaming. Also in the news, there's a new Fatal Fury on the way as well as new title Mega Man Battle Network fans are sure to enjoy.
― Welcome back, everyone! As you read this, Dragon's Dogma 2 is already out and folks are likely going nuts making and sharing pawns. I still haven't had a chance to pl...
This Week in Games - The Gaming World Says Good-Bye to Akira Toriyama
Jean-Karlo invites us to take a look at Akira Toriyama's influence and legacy in the gaming industry. There are also good/bad news for Puyo Puyo and The Super Mario Bros.
― Welcome back, folks! I didn't get a chance to plug it last week, but my column on monster-collecting games came out last week! The timing on that column was... something. That weekend turned out to be the 25th anniversary of the D...
This Week in Games - Nintendo Stamps Out Emulator Yuzu Devs
Jean-Karlo discusses the recent emulator debacle, some of the most interesting games from the Microsoft Partner Stream, and KOS-MOS creator Monolith's 25th anniversary!
― Welcome back, folks! Over the weekend, I saw Dune Part 2. It was really fun, but it reminded me of how disappointing it is that we haven't gotten a new Dune real-time strategy game to tie in with it. Dune II: The Building of a Dynas...
Collect 'Em All: Other Video Games About Catching Monsters
On the heels of Pokémon and Palworld, Jean-Karlo looks back on years of monster collecting, from Megami Tensei to Dragon Quest Monsters.
― Pokémon is undoubtedly the king of the mountain when it comes to the collectible monsters subgenre of RPG—or "Mons" games, as fans call them. And while it's also currently the world's leading multimedia franchise, there's still something to be said about the many ...
Ufouria: The Saga 2 Game Review
Ufouria: The Saga 2 delivers a long-overdue comeback for a cult classic from the NES era, but can it live up to a legacy?
― Ufouria: The Saga 2 delivers a long-overdue comeback for a cult classic from the NES era, but can it live up to a legacy? The original Ufouria: The Saga was one that got away. Its North American release was canceled back in 1991, and even though the game made it out in Japan an...
Mario vs Donkey Kong Game Review
The most interesting part of Mario vs Donkey Kong is trying to figure out why Nintendo released this title, in this way, at this time.
― Mario vs Donkey Kong is fine. I should probably open this review by talking about the mechanics of the game, how much should or should not change in a remake, or if this title is worth its $50 price point; but, several hours after seeing the credits roll, I remain f...
This Week in Games - How Zygarde Got His Game
Jean-Karlo goes over all the good news from this year's Pokémon Day and worrying developments in the world of emulation.
― Welcome back, folks! It's been a fun week on my end; some good stuff came in the mail (I finally have a nice copy of the Valis collection). I still really want that one LGR physical edition of VA-11 Hall-A; it sure would be nice to find one at not-price-gouge-y prices. I also nee...
This Week in Anime - Previously On Final Fantasy VII
Before you boot up Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, let's remember Squaresoft's foray into feature films, including Spirits Within and the divisive Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.
― Before you boot up Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, let's remember Squaresoft's foray into feature films, including Spirits Within and the divisive Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed...
Sympathy Kiss Game Review
Sympathy Kiss is guaranteed happy escapism despite its workday setting and sometimes awkward writing. This is a nice low-key treat for otome game fans.
― Some otome games go all in on the escapism factor, putting their playable protagonists in various fantasy or dangerous situations where finding love and survival go hand in hand. That's not the kind of game Sympathy Kiss is. Otomate and Idea Factory...
Reflecting on Aerith's Death on the Eve of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Release
“Did you hear that there is actually way to save Aerith from getting killed by Sephiroth?”
― Spoiler Alert! This piece is going to cover spoilers from pretty much every single Final Fantasy VII thing that's come out leading up to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, including the original game, Advent Children, Crisis Core, FFVII Remake and even Rebirth's trailers. “Did you hear that there is actually way to ...
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island Game Review
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island could very well become someone's "forever" game: even if you reach the peak and obtain all the riches...maybe you'll be down for one last romp through the dungeon.
― In one run through the mystery dungeon, my sword and shield had been rusted to -1 stats by a ninja using water jutsu. I was low on health, and I had accidentally wandered int...
This Week in Games - Directly To The Lands Between
Return to the world of Elden Ring and all the gaming lands in between, and Jean-Karlo breaks down the Nintendo Direct and Shadow of the Erdtree DLC!
― Welcome back, folks! What a week for news this has been. I imagine folks want to get right into stuff, but I had some fun stuff I wanted to show off! I got some long-awaited goodies from @Kamaniki featuring KOS-MOS! Thank you kindly for everything, Gig...
Another Code, Ace Attorney, and Adventure Games 20 Years Later
The game genre's success has had highs and lows. Is the Nintendo Switch ushering in a new era of sleuthing?
― A new year of game releases has begun, and with it, the first wave of new titles by various developers and publishers. Among these offerings have been several action-heavy titles and role-playing games but, in contrast, Nintendo and Capcom have done something rather different to start 2024 b...
Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash Video Game Review
Cursed Clash is a retelling of the first couple of arcs from the franchise, and right off the bat, there is something undeniably cheap about the presentation.
― What's this? A 3D arena-based fighting game with tag team mechanics based on the current most popular shonen anime? Where have I seen this before? Cursed Clash is a game that will feel familiar to fans of anime video game adaptations that hav...
This Week in Games - Not My Elena
Capcom's "Trendy Elena" sparks controversy, Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama leaves behind a legacy of great games, and three Japanese RPGs pass the 1 million sold mark this year!
― Welcome back, folks! We had some fun stuff come in this past weekend. In the wake of our Another Code: Recollection review, another really fun game I anticipated came in for review. I'll talk more about it in the comin...
Granblue Fantasy Relink Video Game Review
Gorgeous visuals highlight Granblue Fantasy Relink as an ambitious title that is exceptional in most categories and solid in the rest.
― Granblue Fantasy Relink is an ambitious title that is exceptional in most categories and solid in the rest. At this point, there's a good chance that if you are plugged into the gaming space, you have heard of Granblue Fantasy in some capacity. Granblue Fantasy Reli...
Tekken 8 Video Game Review
Tekken's bombastic story continues in this latest franchise entry, coupled with an impressive soundtrack and a story that doesn't take itself too seriously.
― I love Tekken! It's such a fun, dumb franchise where the same three people constantly try to kill each other, but it's over-the-top fun in all the best ways. I have not played every iteration, but I wanted to dive into the latest installment si...
This Week in Games - Is This Really A Final Fantasy VII Trailer? We Still Don't Know Sephiroth Or Nothing.
Jean-Karlo gets polygonal as he goes over the newest details for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the upcoming Sonic game and state of Microsoft.
― Welcome back, everyone! You've likely seen our review of Another Code: Recollection by now. What a wonderful experience that was. It's great that it got a second chance at bat. And it's been selling so well! Nintendo must've underproduced that title because it ...
KONOSUBA - God's Blessing on this Wonderful World! Love For These Clothes Of Desire! Game Review
KONOSUBA - God's Blessing on this Wonderful World! Love For These Clothes Of Desire! offers plenty of wonderful content for existing fans of Konosuba but some aspects of the game make it rather unsuitable for newcomers.
― Are you the kind of fan who can not get enough Konosuba? Have you read the books and watched the anime—including the film and Megumin spin-off—multiple times? Did you even watch Ise...
Another Code: Recollection Game Review
What does it mean to die? What does it mean for the people left behind? What does it mean for a memory to die? These questions and more are answered in this remake of a 2005 cult classic.
― What does it mean to die? What does it mean for the people left behind? What does it mean for a memory to die? These weren't questions people were ready to answer when Trace Memory was first released in the United...
This Week in Games - Kojima Can Strand Servants, Discuss
Layoffs hit Activision Blizzard, Sony shows off a ton of upcoming titles, and Fate/stay Night is finally getting an official English-language release.
― Welcome back, folks! I'm still here, plugging away at stuff. Udon put out the word that they're making another one of their comic book spin-offs for a Capcom series. On the one hand, I'm excited because they announced a Darkstalkers book featuring Je...
This Week in Games - Not The Best Of Pals
"I think a lot of folks who wring their hands about The State Of Pokémon™ would be better off just realizing that they outgrew Pokémon and stop making that GAME FREAK's fault."
― Welcome back, everyone! It was very nice to have such a warm welcome from everybody last week. And! We got something fun in the mail! Never mind me getting my copy of Another Code: Recollection (Look forward to a review shor...
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth Game Review
A strong contender for one of the best games in the series, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is most enjoyed not blitzing toward its credits but basking in the depths of its detours.
― As a fan of the Yakuza series, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth's announcement felt like fondling a Christmas present and trying to discern the quality of its contents by the grooves of its packaging. Although Infinite Wea...
Apollo Justice Trilogy Video Game Review
This is the perfect way to complete your Ace Attorney collection, with lots of extras and features that will delight long-time fans and give newcomers a look into all the talent and creativity that goes into these games.
― You don't know how to get into all the Ace Attorney games? OBJECTION! In 2024, there is simply no excuse not to play through the entire Ace Attorney catalog — every mainline game, ...
Anonymous;Code Game Review
Less beefy than it's Science Adventure predecessors, Anonymous;Code nevertheless introduces an interesting gameplay mechanic to keep players engaged.
― Anonymous;Code is the newest title in the Science Adventure series of games and is in the same world as Steins;Gate, Robotics;Notes, and Chaos;Head. If you've played any of these visual novels (or seen their anime adaptations), you likely know what to...
This Week in Games - Brace Yourself For Gamer Discourse In 2024
More layoffs, Genshin Impact developer miHoYo adopting AI, and the fear of harassment for a Last of Us TV series actress are the focus this week.
― Hello all, I hope your week was equal parts chill and exciting because this week is gonna be a mixed bag of not-so-fun news with a dash of neato news for good measure. Yes, I know we're only two weeks deep into 2024 to have bad news. Unfortunately, like a...
This Week in Games - You Can't Keep Shigeru Miyamoto Down
Miyamoto and two other game industry titans have no interest in retiring any time soon. Plus: Jack Black's new video game film role, Twitch's nudity snafu, and more!
― Welcome to 2024, otherwise known as the sequel to last year. Hopefully, the first week of the new year has been equally restful and kind to you as you batten down the hatches for what is sure to be a busy few months of video game and s...
The Best Anime of 2023 - This Year in Video Games
Jean-Karlo slides in to finish the year with the best games and biggest developments in the industry!
― 2023 is finally in its casket. Many would quickly call 2023 one of the best years of gaming in a while, owing to the slew of phenomenal titles released this year. This, however, ignores the almost 7,000 employees laid off from various gaming studios across the nation this year alone. It also ignor...
This Week in Games - So Long, Kotick! Thanks for Nothing
Controversial CEO Bobby Kotick is out at Activision Blizzard, Hideo Kojima has a movie in the works, Twitch tries to find a middle ground on sexual content, and a data breach sparks ethical conversations among gaming journalists.
― Good day, morning, afternoon, and whatever in-between time you happen to be while reading yet another edition of this Week in Games. Surely, the week before Christmas spel...
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC: The Indigo Disk Game DLC Review
The Indigo Disk features more narrative strength equivalent to what we saw in the main game with the right amount of foreshadowing in payoff towards the game's worldbuilding.
― The Indigo Disk DLC is some of the better post-game content in the franchise for a while. If the Teal Mask was a side story that you could check out at your leisure, then The Indigo Disk is the proper follow-up to the events o...
This Week in Games - The Long Death of E3
The gaming industry says goodbye to an old friend as E3 is finally put out to pasture. Plus, Sega is accused of threatening its recently unionized works, and Epic Games may have scored an epic win in court.
― If you're reading this, you've survived yet another week in games. Huzzah. Surely, this week was chill in comparison to last week's hectic Game Awards-centric week. Right? Nah, this week was pre...
Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising Game Review
After the pandemic mired Granblue Fantasy Versus' release, Rising is giving it a new lease on life with impressive gameplay upgrades and new modes to explore.
― Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising is a release I've been looking forward to for some time now, despite having next to zero knowledge of Granblue Fantasy. The original Granblue Fantasy Versus was sandwiched between unfortunate timing for real-wor...
This Week in Games - Give Game Developers Their Flowers
The Game Awards honored some of the year's best in entertainment, but the same can't be said for the program's treatment of the industry's developers. Plus, Twitch exits South Korea and concern over a new Splatoon 3 weapon.
― Congratulations, reader, you've made it to another Friday. It's crazy to believe this week would be busting at the seams with video game news outside of Geoff Keigley's not-E3 e...
New Shiren the Wanderer Game Director and Project Manager Talk About Going Back to Basics
Fans enthusiastically told Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island game director Keisuke Sakurai that the first Shiren game was their favorite, and he listened.
― Recently, at a hands-on event in Tokyo, I was able to meet with Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island's director and project manager, Keisuke Sakurai and Hideyuki Shinozaki. We talked a bit ab...
Two Hours Hands-on with Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island
This throwback to "Nintendo hard" games of yesteryear is unforgiving, but that could be just the right challenge for retro game fans.
― The Shiren the Wanderer series, itself a subseries of the popular Mystery Dungeon franchise, has been on hiatus with no new games being released since 2010s The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate on the Nintendo DS. However, thanks to the success of that game's Ni...
This Week in Games - That Naruto Sounds Different...
Controversy unfolds this week, from strange-sounding lines in Naruto X Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections to what qualifies as an "indie" game.
― Happy Friday, fellow weeb gamers. Although this week has been pretty light on announcements and trailers from video game companies outside of Capcom's release date announcement (and $70 price tag) for Dragon's Dogma 2, it's also had its fair share of ...
The Newest Pokémon DLC is the Biggest Yet
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 2 offers an expansive new area to explore with plenty of new adventures for franchise fans.
― Despite some issues, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games have innovated a lot of things for the franchise. At the time of this writing, these are the Pokémon games I have spent the most hours on. The recent Teal Mask DLC was enjoyable for its simple story and interesting ch...
Cuisineer Game Review
Approaching Cuisineer wasn't that different from reading an ingredients list before I'd begun cooking. With a bit of time and step-by-step instruction, the disparate parts begin to coalesce into a rather appetizing treat.
― Cuisineer is a delightful title that blends several disparate elements in ways both fresh and familiar, all in an affordable and adorable package. You'll recognize a lot of mechan...
This Week in Games - Wouldn't That Be Level-5 Five Times Over?
Jean-Karlo looks back on 25 years of Level-5 games, plus a new customer-unfriendly move from GameStop and the gacha games that's putting its players into gem debt.
― Welcome back, folks! It seems like my easygoing weekends are ending; I've got a game I'm working on at the moment. Look forward to that review sometime next week! For now, I hope you've checked out my colleague Kennedy's column on the .h...
World of Horror Video Game Review
World of Horror is like being alone in the computer room downstairs late at night, cautiously clicking through some danger-filled adventure game without hints about what lies ahead. World of Horror is every possible fear from that night.
― We're certainly at no loss for modern throwbacks, those games that expertly summon the aesthetics of pixel-built classics from the 1980s and 1990s. We have retro-s...
Little Goody Two-Shoes Game Review
With ten endings, yuri romance options, and unsettling horror Little Goody Two-Shoes deserves a spot in your visual novel library.
― The first thing you'll likely notice about Little Goody Two-Shoes is the name and its apparent juxtaposition with Elise's character. Today, we use the phrase "goody two-shoes" to describe someone who is sanctimoniously perfect, which comes from the 18th-century children...
The Case For Remaking .hack//IMOQ
With more people than ever talking about the idea of the first .hack game series making a potential comeback, it’s worth examining why so many people want more of this iconic 20-year-old JPRG.
― Years before there was Log Horizon, Sword Art Online, or even Stay Alive, .hack told compelling stories set against the backdrop of MMORPG players being trapped in a game—or in some cases, being made comatose...
Sonic Superstars Game Review
As a high-speed platformer, Sonic Superstars still doesn't play as well as the original Genesis games from decades ago, but it hits the realm of "close enough."
― From the creators of Balan Wonderworld comes the latest mainline 2D Sonic game...kind of? Sonic Superstars is more of a 2.5D title, but it is a continuation of the classic mainline Sonic games that started with the Genesis titles up until S...
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Game Review
The newest Mario platformer is oozing charm, thanks partly to surprisingly fresh level design.
― After years of New Super Mario Bros., we finally got a…new Super Mario Bros. game (I had to make the joke, I'm sorry). So here it is, the first original 2D Mario game for the Nintendo Switch, and it only took them way longer than any of us were expecting. However, given Nintendo's very open philosophy abo...
Detective Pikachu Returns Takes on Police Corruption
Detective Pikachu Returns interrogates humanity's fear of those unlike themselves, their willingness to subjugate others for a sense of safety, and the desire to assimilate themselves into those groups for power.
― In order to discuss important themes in Detective Pikachu Returns, this review will contain major plot spoilers. Detective Pikachu Returns is starkly political, from a franchise best known...
This Week in Games - Trust The Fungus. Touch The Fungus.
Nostalgia wave hits us this week with Gigabash x Ultraman collab, Super Mario Bros. Movie 30th anniversary, and Touch Detective coming back to the US!
― Welcome back, folks! So, uh, confession time: I had forgotten all about the Portland Retro Gaming Expo being last week. (I tunnel vision badly.) Last Friday, I even considered going on a lark to visit the Retronauts booth... but then I remembered tha...
Final Fantasy XVI Producer Naoki Yoshida on the Game's Anime Influences and Design Philosophy
Find out how various anime served as inspirations for the final game.
― Final Fantasy XVI is a major departure from the Final Fantasy games of old. We had the chance to talk with Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida about why this is and how various anime served as inspirations to the final game. The Final Fantasy XVI universe seems dark and very adult, perhaps more than usual for this license. ...
Sonic Frontiers: The Final Horizon DLC Game Review
New playable characters, a new ending, and expansive lore all make Sonic Frontiers: The Final Horizon DLC worth it, but players will have to overlook unsatisfying controls and grinding.
― This review contains spoilers for the base game of SONIC FRONTIERS. Sonic Frontiers was a pleasant surprise. In the world where SEGA seems to constantly struggle with what it wants to do with the spiky blue hedgehog...
Resident Evil 4 (2023) DLC: Separate Ways Game Review
Let's be honest here—the original "Separate Ways" mode was more of a fun novelty. What could CAPCOM possibly do with a $10 DLC to justify the double-dip? As it turns out, the answer is, "A hell of a lot."
― 2023 has been stuffed to the brim with incredible video games, so it may well warrant reminding you all that, even though it's been nearly twelve months since it released, the Resident Evil 4 rem...
This Week in Games - Slim Pickings
Among the delight of anticipating the Izuna sequel, Lego Isabelle, Silent Hill: Ascension, and Gungrave G.O.R.E.'s Switch port, there is a questionable new PS5 Slim.
― Welcome back, everyone! Great news: I finally got to play Xenoblade Chronicles 3 for once this past weekend! It's nice to have spare time. The game is still introducing some phenomenal characters (even if I'm tilting my head a little a...
This Week in Games - Not So Epic
Layoffs continue in the gaming industry, and the creator of Hatoful Boyfriend reveals he's been stiffed by Epic on his royalties. Plus, new Digimon devices and Square Enix goes all in on its "Cait Sith" pronunciation.
― Welcome back, folks! We picked up on some cool news over the weekend—Bandai Japan is making a new series of Digimon virtual pets: a reissue of the Digital Monster Pendulum toys, modif...
WarioWare: Move It! Video Game First Impressions
I got to try a half-hour of the new WarioWare game at the 2023 Nintendo Holiday Tour. Once directed to the hidden area, I and other press members were in for the world's wackiest workout.
―
Do you ever find yourself nostalgic for the Wii era? Motion controls might not have been the best fit for all or even most games, but there's something to be said about how fun they could be for party gaming. Few...
This Week in Games - Big Names, Big Departures
It's a week of shake-ups in the gaming industry as Platinum Games and Sony see off Hideki Kamiya and Jim Ryan. Plus: CAPCOM president Haruhiro Tsujimoto thinks games are due for another price hike.
― Once again, I'd like to thank my readers who thought of me amidst the Izuna news last week. I appreciate being thought of like that. I like it when friends think of me when they see stuff they know I lik...
Silent Hope Game Review
For a first attempt at a dungeon crawler, Silent Hope does a stellar job of capturing what makes these games so addicting.
― First and foremost, Rune Factory and Story of Seasons fans need to be aware that Silent Hope is not a farming game. Yes, those are Story of Seasons cows roaming around the hub, and farming and cooking are important systems. The main weapon types in this game even call back to t...
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC: The Teal Mask Game Review
An intriguing story can't hide how appallingly poor The Teal Mask DLC runs on the Switch system.
― It has been almost a year since the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. It might not be my favorite game on the Nintendo Switch, but I have put the most time into it. As a Pokémon game, it does almost everything right to update the material and bring it to a new generation, only held back by the fact...
This Week in Games - The Game Industry Uniting Against Bad Decisions
Japan sets a precedent for Let's Play content, and Unity just pissed off the sleeping dragons that are The Pokémon Company, Disney, Activision-Blizzard, and China. Plus: the announcements from Nintendo Direct and Sony's State of Play.
― Welcome back, everyone! Y'know, I thought this would be a pretty calm week; I hadn't had a game assigned to me, and it didn't seem like there would be any big announc...
Samba De Amigo: Party Central Game Review
Sega diehards and casuals should consider adding Samba de Amigo: Party Central to their rotation of party games, along with Mario Kart and Wii Sports.
― Sega has finally seen fit to bring back one of their missing party-game favorites; Samba de Amigo: Party Central now exists in a world where Guitar Hero and Rock Band no longer dominate the rhythm game genre and where the most people can look forward...
Bringing Under Night 2 to the Arena: A Chat with Arc System Works CEO Minoru Kidooka
Kennedy speaks to Arc System Works CEO Minooru Kidooka about Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes], Guilty Gear -Strive-, Arc System Works' 35th anniversary, and more.
― Founded in 1988, Arc System Works (or ArcSys for short) is the game developer/publisher behind many iconic anime fighting games such as BlazBlue, Dragonball FighterZ, and Guilty Gear—whose most recent entry recently surpassed 2.5 milli...
A Glimpse Into Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes]
Kennedy speaks to French Bread's Kamone Serizawa and Seiichi Yoshihara about the upcoming Under Night sequel: Under Night In-Birth II [Sys:Celes].
― Founded in 1995, French Bread is the game development studio behind anime fighting games such as Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax, Melty Blood, and Under Night In-Birth. They were present at EVO 2023 with Arc System Works, where they announced that they're...
This Week in Games - There Is No Joke, Just Treat Game Developers Better
SAG-AFTRA eyes a strike on the video game industry to get the same wage increases for video game performers as for those who work under the film and television contracts. Plus updates on Nikke/Nier, Zelda DLC, and more!
― Welcome back, everyone! As you might have seen, my Rune Factory 3 Special review went up on Tuesday (and right after Laybuh Day). It's a fun game, definitely worth interrupting a Xe...
Rune Factory 3 Special Review
Longtime fans will undoubtedly appreciate that Rune Factory 3 Special gives us all a second chance at a forgotten entry to the series
― Rune Factory 4 was long considered the crown jewel of the Rune Factory series, and fans were delighted to see it escape Nintendo 3DS Jail and receive updated ports across a variety of modern systems. XSeed and Marvelous decided to look back a bit further and give the...
'We Are Limitless': Talking to Arc System Works about Guilty Gear -Strive- Season 3
Kennedy speaks to Arc System Works’ Ken Miyauchi, Akira Katano, and Kenta Asano about Guilty Gear -Strive- season 3.
― The latest entry in the heavy metal-inspired Guilty Gear series, Guilty Gear -Strive- is without question the largest Guilty Gear game yet—and one of the largest fighting games of the current generation overall, amassing more than 2.5 million players. At EVO 2023, Arc System Works an...
This Week in Games - Nintendo Presents: Super Mario Elephants
Plenty of news coming from every corner of the gaming industry this week ranging from a new character in Street Fighter 6 and free distribution of Cave Story to Nintendo Direct!
― Welcome back, everyone! With Autumn creeping ever closer, we're seeing the last of the big games getting released this summer. As you read this, my retrospective on the Armored Core series should be out by now. It's very gr...
A Look Back on the Armored Core Series
It's been a hot minute since Armored Core has been a “thing,” so we've assembled a basic primer for the series for anyone wondering what the commotion is about.
― FromSoftware's entire reputation in the latter day has revolved around its Souls games, and not undeservedly: their intentionally oblique design and borderline-spiteful difficulty have captured the imagination of an entire generation of fan...
This Week in Games - Thank You, Charles Martinet
Jean-Karlo delivers a send-off for long-time Mario voice, Charles Martinet. Plus, a new Nier collab, an update on Tekken 8, and PlayStation's answer to the Steam Deck.
― Welcome back, everyone! I don't know if it's because of summer ending or because our weird heatwave just ended, but it's getting comfortable again around these parts. No Xenoblade 3 has been achieved since I'm still working on a real...
What Elden Ring Fans Need to Know Before Playing Armored Core VI
ANN was able to talk with Yasunori Ogura and Masaru Yamamura—the producer and director of FromSoftware's newly released mecha action game, Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon.
― Recently, ANN was able to talk with Yasunori Ogura and Masaru Yamamura—the producer and director, respectively, of FromSoftware's newly released mecha action game, Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon. With the recent success of Eld...
Crafting the Story of Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout with Yashichiro Takahashi
We sat down with Yashichiro Takahashi, who wrote the first and third Ryza games and produced and wrote the Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout anime, on his experience contributing to Ryza and her world.
― The Atelier series has always had a cadre of loyal fans, but the Secret trilogy starring Reisalin Stout truly thrust the entire series into the spotlight. The trilogy might have ended with the rele...
This Week in Games - Cirno Is Stronger Than AI
The creator of Touhou Project gets real about AI in This Week in Games, plus The Pokémon Company considers slowing down its output, and a classic sim is getting a make-over!
― Welcome back, everyone! It finally happened: we hit triple-digit weather in my city. And it was rough. I know I'm always clamoring for the heat, but even back home, you didn't see a whole week of triple-digit weather. This stuf...
8 Hours Hands-On with Fate/Samurai Remnant
Fate/Samurai Remnant is the newest upcoming game in the ever-growing Fate franchise. How does Fate's brand of magic fit into Japan during the events of the Keian Uprising in 1651?
― Fate/Samurai Remnant is the newest upcoming game in the ever-growing Fate franchise. Recently, I had the opportunity to spend over eight hours with the game—progressing through the lengthy prologue and most of the game's ...
This Week in Games - Long, Long 'Mon~!
Gacha? In MY Atelier?! Jean-Karlo has all the updates on the new mainline entry, a giant wave of Pokémon-related news, and all those Street Fighter updates coming to a tournament near you!
― Welcome back, everyone! We had a busy weekend, so that's this week's excuse for not having played Xenoblade Chronicles 3 this past weekend. But that was also because we had to cover Rune Factory 3 Special! It's a...
Fate/Grand Order's New 'Memorial Movie' is Emotional Visual Storytelling at Its Best
This nearly four-minute anime music video tells a surprisingly emotional tale and adds to the overall Fate lore by showing what it's like to be summoned from a servant's point of view.
― As part of Fate/Grand Order Fes. 2023, the most recent yearly Japanese convention celebrating all things Fate, we got our newest bit of Fate anime: the Fate/Grand Order - Memorial Movie 2023. Released both at the con...
Rune Factory 3 Special Game Preview
Rune Factory 3 Special looks about as good as it ever will. The character models look far better on PC than they ever did on the DS, with all the charming outfits and designs freed from those tiny grainy screens.
― The Rune Factory 4 Special port gave Rune Factory fans the world over a whole new slew of chances to try out a lovely farm sim/RPG that had been tragically overlooked on the Nintendo 3DS. ...
This Week in Games - The Scions Discover Margaritaville
The newest Final Fantasy announcements are here from FanFest, plus a big change-up for Visual Arts and the latest on a spicy visual novel finally coming to America.
― Welcome back, everyone! We had one heck of a week this past week—after all, it was Xenoblade Chronicles 3's first anniversary! 遅れましたが「ゼノブレイド3」発売１周年おめでとうございます！Xenoblade3 1st anniversary congratulations! pic.twitter.com/Jb6bcKbH4i— 齋藤将嗣 (...
Touhou: New World
There are moments where the game's "fan-made" status sticks out like a sore thumb, but there's plenty to do here for franchise fans with missions to repeat and stats to tinker with and max out until you're satisfied.
― It's been fascinating to see the progression of the Touhou franchise. Once an internal institution of the hardcore otaku crowd, where Western fans had to import (or download) its PC en...
This Week in Games - Wetsuits Are Hot, Actually
Jean-Karlo dives into the fanservice fiasco at Limbus Company that led to an artist losing their job, the double standard in celebrating gay rep in Final Fantasy XVI, and more Zelda games!
― Welcome back! Last week, I informed folks I was trying to assemble my new PC. The good news is, I managed it! It took me two days, but I pulled it off. The bad news was, there was a snag—the H100i LCD water coole...
This Week in Games - Hack The Past
Cyber Connect 2 tells fans to let Bandai Namco know if they want a .hack//IMOQ revival, and there's already a hashtag (#dothack). Plus, Gundam Evolution is shutting down just one year after its launch. Say it isn't so!
― Hi, everyone! As you read this, I'll be trying to assemble a new PC. I've had my new PC case (emblazoned with my favorite VTuber) taking up space in my room; I may as well put it and...
This Week in Games - AI Voice-Scraping Can't End Soon Enough
It's Jean-Karlo's first TWIG anniversary, and he has a lot to talk about, including a new impressive set of releases from LimitedRun, and AI voice impersonations coming a head in the fan community.
― Welcome back, everyone! We've been busy over here; this past week, I was working on the Atelier Marie Remake review. It's a delightful game, someone does need to illustrate a family tree for the Atelier ...
Anime Expo 2023 - Stirring Up Mysteries with Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Creator Kazutaka Kodaka
RAIN CODE topped Japan's video game sales charts during its debut release, edging ahead of Final Fantasy XVI. Building off its success, we asked its creator about the neon rain-soaked world and if he plans to create more games in the series.
― Game creator Kazutaka Kodaka is well known for his specific brand of "strange," from the conniving murder-teddy of Danganronpa to the wild criminals of Akudam...
Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg
Atelier Marie can be clunky and might need you to be patient with its many peccadilloes. But also, it's a sweet, cozy sim game that reinforces the notion that everyone has a place in the world, and even the people in the dusty corners can be important.
― For 26 years, the Atelier series has delighted fans around the world with its comforting stories of charming alchemists working away in their little...
This Week in Games - Back, By Popular Demand...
Tsukihime is returning with a brand-new route! Also, an interesting article by Art-Eater points out the similarities between Final Fantasy IV and the Terry Gilliam film, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
― Welcome back, folks! We've got AX and Independence Day behind us; hopefully, the rest of the summer is smoother from here. Anime Expo looks like a ton of fun, but every year you hear about the ho...
Anime Expo 2023 - Final Fantasy Artist Yoshitaka Amano Discusses Next Big Projects
The acclaimed artist is working on his next anime work, ZAN, described as "Ocean's Eleven meets Dante's Inferno."
― Yoshitaka Amano is a man with a seemingly endless drive. He is in high demand, so there's no shortage of ambitious projects to take on. Such a packed slate takes hard work and focus, so you'd be forgiven for thinking such hardened resolve would be paired with a serious, no-nonsense att...
This Week in Games - Saltgirls
It is a good time to be an Atelier Ryza fan and Happy birthday Sonic!
― Welcome back to Summer, everyone! I've been hanging back and watching everyone talk about Final Fantasy XVI and... it sounds like I need to eat my words because it looks like they pulled it off? Sure, it sounds like the combat breaks down a little in crowds, but everything I've seen involving the game looks fairly solid. There's ...
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE
The newest game from Danganronpa's Kazutaka Kodaka is here! Read our spoiler-free review before setting off on this rain-soaked mystery.
― Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE is the latest game from Danganronpa mastermind Kazutaka Kodaka and character designer Rui Komatsuzaki. Fans of his earlier work will see similarities immediately, from neon pink blood splatter to the eccentric personalities of ...
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
While there are imperfections to the game's new lease on life, Ghost Trick remains the utterly unique, earnestly recommendable experience it was thirteen years ago.
― Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is one of those games that I have been harping on others to play for ages. For well over a decade. So, at last, I have this fresh opportunity to say that if you somehow have still not played Ghost Trick ye...
Charade Maniacs
I played it on the bus. I played it while walking. I played it after I got home from my day job and stayed up later than I should have. I was fully engrossed in the mystery and the characters.
― I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I have a major weakness for death game-style, social deduction adventure games. I'll choose to replay the Danganronpa or Nonary Games series in a heartbeat over the...
This Week in Games - Elephantitis, Don't Even Get Me Started
The newest Nintendo Direct shattered all of our expectations with an amazing line-up!
― Welcome back, everyone! Things are nice and cozy as summer rolls along. I even had time to play a little Xenoblade Chronicles 3, though it's mostly exploration. Now that a big reveal has been cleared, I wanted to go back and fill out more of the map. It was a busy month, though, as I worked through three game revi...
Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening
Much like the famed warlord, Bandai Namco set their sights on the heavens above in honor of the celebration of Nobunaga's Ambition's 40th Anniversary. It's a big game for a big number—so, how does it stack up?
― Few strategy games have the sheer legacy and weight of the Nobunaga's Ambition series. Much like the famed warlord, Tecmo Koei set their sights on the heavens above in honor of the celebratio...
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Just in time for the 20th anniversary, we have Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, an updated remaster of that beloved game. Does it live up to its predecessor's memory?
― Back before the Harvest Moon games had their complicated split, A Wonderful Life and its subsequent distaff counterpartAnother Wonderful Life became the introduction for many a farm-sim fan to the genre. While it wasn't too differe...
This Week in Games - From The Materia Of Your Soul
Jean-Karlo hypothesizes about possible major changes in the Final Fantasy VII remake's plot, plus the missed opportunities in the Persona franchise's newest entry.
― Welcome back, everyone! Wow, what a week! I saw the Super Mario Bros movie last week. Wow, what a movie with a miscast lead and horribly shoehorned pop culture music. There were a ton of announcements this past week; I'm definitely itchi...
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!
Overall, Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! is a stellar little game. The puzzles are witty and addicting, the co-op mode is sure to ruin friendships, and the Space Invaders mode—while a bit sudden—is a fun surprise.
― Ah, Puzzle Bobble. What a delightful classic of the arcades it is. Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! is similarly a delightful take on the old classic formula. While it's been a while since I've last...
The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story
Are you a murder mystery buff? Then The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story should go on your “to-play” list immediately.
― Are you a murder mystery buff? Then The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story should go on your “to-play” list immediately. Borrowing heavily from the traditions of Golden Age mystery novels (roughly equivalent to the time between WWI and WWII), this is a game that both challenges and r...
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