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This Week in Games - One More Path Ahead
Jean-Karlo looks at the exciting new game announcements from this week's Nintendo Partner Showcase, breaks down Sony's lawsuit against Tencent, and payment processors are in the spotlight again as adult games get delisted.
― Welcome back, folks! I've spoken before about my regrets over not having played any of the Daemon X Machina games. The good news is, I was given a chance to do so—and I'm current...
Shadow Labyrinth Game Review
Has PAC-MAN come a long way since Symphony of the Night? I’m not sure.
― As 2024 came to a close, Prime Video's Secret Level threw viewers for a loop with Circle—a strangely dark reimagining of video game forefather, PAC-MAN. Not long after, Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed that the animated short was a stealth teaser for an upcoming Search Action title, Shadow Labyrinth. Since the announcement, ...
The Silent Hill f Staff on Moving the Horror to Japan
Amidst the screams of onlookers, I had the opportunity to discuss Silent Hill f's new setting in Ebisugaoka, and try our best to avoid major story spoilers.
― In Anime Expo's Entertainment Hall, there was a plethora of booths dedicated to gaming and merchandise, but one of the largest was Konami's Silent Hill presentation. Enveloped by black walls covered in red spider lilies, a huge line of fear-s...
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2 Game Review
This game drags its feet so hard you would think it had 2 ton weights strapped to them.
― Man, I was so excited when this game started up because it really just throws you right into the swing of things. There's no extended prologue or even much of a summary. One of the first screens you see once you boot up this game for the first time is you're thrown into a fight with a simple command list in the ...
How No Sleep for Kaname Date Developers Gave the Game Its Name
Director Kazuya Yamada and localization producer Alex Flagg answered our questions about certain game mechanics and how they came up with the game's name.
― During Anime Expo 2025, we got to sit down with Spike Chunsoft and talk about No Sleep For Kaname Date from AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES. It's the latest entry in the visual novel series. Director Kazuya Yamada and localization producer Alex Flagg answe...
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Revitalizes a DS Classic
A remake of the 2008 Nintendo DS title of the same name, Grand Bazaar completely revitalizes the game for a brand new generation of fans and newcomers alike.
― Thanks to Marvelous, Anime News Network was given a chance to preview Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar on the Nintendo Switch 2. A remake of the 2008 Nintendo DS title of the same name, Grand Bazaar completely revitalizes the game for a brand ne...
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Game Review
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound brings the gory franchise back to its 2D roots in a fun way.
― Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound feels like a game straight out from the 1980s and 90s, especially with its story and higher difficulty threshold. The game's plot is rather one-note, with Kenji vowing to take revenge on the demons and Kumori attempting to double-cross the Demon Lord. Eventually, both Kenji and Kumori develo...
Tamagotchi Plaza Game Review
It's a little ridiculous that a game meant for such a young audience wouldn't be a lot more clear and direct with its instructions.
― When I first got ahold of Tamagotchi Plaza for my Nintendo Switch 2, I was shocked to see the little doodads I used to carry around in those plastic egg toys as full-blown video game characters. My surprise made more sense when I realized that I wasn't just utterly out...
This Week in Games - Pokémon Presents 2025
It's a nearly-all Pokemon edition of This Week in Games, bursting with announcements. But don't worry - there's some news for Atelier fans, too!
― Welcome back, folks! I was feeling punchy last week, and I noticed I had omitted my closer after last week's column was published. Imagine I spent all weekend in a corner of your room, occasionally repeating vocal stims under my breath. Being a vtuber fan:...
Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy Game Review
Surely, there are better dungeons to delve somewhere out there.
― Did you know that those cute little slime-things from the Puyo Puyo puzzle games originate from a series of dungeon crawlers from the early 90s? If you didn't, I don't think anyone could blame you, since the franchise has only ever had a single western release in its decades-long history. It was called Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great ...
This Week in Games - Horse Play
Jean-Karlo celebrates a second wave of Umamusume, shares more details about Ghosts of Yotei, and speculates on Universal's possible Donkey Kong film.
― Welcome back, folks! I saw Kpop Demon Hunters for a second time this past weekend. It's still an addictive movie. I'm short on news otherwise, let's get into it! This is... Uma Musume: Pretty Derby Gets Big Like many of you, I was made aware of Uma Mu...
No Sleep for Kaname Date – from AI: The Somnium Files Game Review
It would be best for fans of AI: The Somnium Files to manage their expectations.
― If you have not played AI: The Somnium Files, I do not recommend you pick up the new side story, No Sleep for Kaname Date – from AI: The Somnium Files. I don't recommend you do anything other than go into the eshop of your platform of choice and purchase the absolute masterpiece that is the first game of the series. If...
This Week in Anime - Back in the Saddle
As the Uma Musume game races to the top of the popularity charts, Steve and Chris explore the reasons why horse girls are perennial favorites.
― Steve and Chris explore the reasons why horse girls are perennial favorites. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning for discussion of the series ahead. Uma Mus...
Yakuza 0: Director's Cut Game Review
Unfortunately, for all of its improvements and refinements, this Director's Cut cannot truly be called the definitive version of Yakuza 0.
― Going back to Yakuza 0 after all of these years was a fascinating experience. On the one hand, this is a decade-old entry in a franchise that has since exploded in its popularity and ambitions, all of which is thanks in large part to this particular prequel's su...
This Week in Games - Square Enix Ringing In Final Fantasy IX's 25th Anniversary
If you think you know what's coming for the Final Fantasy IX anniversary: no you don't.
― Welcome back, folks! To anyone who went to Anime Expo, I hope you guys had a fun time! To the rest of us, how about that new My Dress-Up Darling season? I'm excited over the Kamen Rider news; Kamen Rider Zeztz looks great! I appreciate the minimalist design, and while the Driver being positioned along the chest,...
Digimon Story: Time Stranger Reintroduces the Digital World to New Audiences
“To bring out that experience to its fullest, we intentionally didn't make it an open world. We wanted everybody to get that same story experience from playing this game.”
― Bandai Namco Entertainment's latest addition to the Digimon Story game franchise, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, marks the first time the series will have a fully English dub. Coming nearly eight years after Digimon Story: Cyber ...
Persona5: The Phantom X Game Review
I found the original Persona 5’s story to be particularly resonant and engaging, so this is an unbelievably disappointing downgrade so far.
― Love them or hate them, games featuring prominent gacha mechanics are big business. While initially more the domain of mobile platforms, we've moved on technologically since the heady days of (decade old!) Fate/Grand Order's one billion US dollar annual earnin...
Persona5: The Phantom X Developers Speak About the Game's Success
Persona5: The Phantom X was released globally on June 26, and even though it has only been about two weeks since its launch, Atlus is satisfied with the reception so far.
― It's almost been nine years since Atlus released Persona 5 in Japan, and since then, the game has garnered critical acclaim and become wildly successful. The original and Royal versions sit at scores of 93 and 95, respectively, a...
Final Fantasy XVI Producer on the Series' Future
Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida discusses how the series will progress in the future, as well as what he'd like to accomplish in the next several years.
― At Anime Expo 2025, Anime News Network got the chance to sit down with Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida to discuss how the series will progress in the future, as well as what he'd like to accomplish in the next several years. With ...
This Week in Games - Is the Third Time the Charm?
Between new projects from Arc System Works and another attempt at a live-action Street Fighter movie, there are a lot of old friends making new appearances this week.
― Welcome back, folks! It's been... a week. Tragedy struck: some Path to Nowhere merch I had tried importing from China was unfortunately routed back to the Netherlands because my address was misspelled. And unfortunately, they destroye...
This Week in Games - Switch 2 Breakdown
Jean-Karlo got his hands on the newest console and is ready to give it a test drive.
― Welcome back, folks! I gave myself a much-needed five-day weekend last week, after having missed my chance to have one during December. I visited a local card shop for some Digimon, saw The Phoenician Scheme and Kpop Demon Hunters, even got some progress in on a Tekkaman Blade model kit I had been waiting for since...
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered Game Review
It's incredibly easy to load up, blow up a few robots, drop the points in your robot, then do it all again a few minutes later.
― Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered is a fun enough title for what it is, but it struggles to feel like more than a solid port of a decent game. Battle Destiny Remastered is a port of the original PS Vita title, launched back in 2012. The original title was o...
This Week in Games - Finally Back To Kick Some Tail
Jean-Karlo's favorite ninja is making a surprise appearance in the new Cotton, Bloober Team returns to Silent Hill, and DK is back with kid Pauline!
― Welcome back, folks! I had a fun weekend at This Week in Games Central. I was able to find a few old Shogun Warriors comics at a local comic swap, and I counted the minutes until Monday rolled around and UPS would deliver my Switch 2. For folks waiting...
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Game Review
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is the gold standard that all PS2 remasters need to adhere to.
― Originally a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series, Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army separates itself from Atlus's other games. One aspect is that the story's tone sits between Shin Megami Tensei and Persona's. It's not as apocalyptic as Shin Megami Tensei, but y...
Producer Keita Iizuka: Code Vein 2's Story Will be Darker Than the First
From a darker story and more customization options, here's what to expect from this sequel.
― Bandai Namco Entertainment's sequel to its 2019 hit, Code Vein, is set to release next year. The action RPG features a unique Buddy System that gives the players a partner to explore within Code Vein 2's dystopian world. After the debut trailer gave the world a first glimpse into the story, the game is still...
Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY Brings Canon Source Material to Life
Worlds collide in the new collaboration between MTG and FF.
― Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix partnered on a collaboration that felt like worlds colliding. Longtime Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy fans have a new topic to bond over as MTG, one of the largest tabletop card games in the world, integrates characters from Final Fantasy into stunning cards. Speaking with Zakeel Gordon, an exe...
This Week in Games - Summer Games Fest 2025
Curious whether you missed any of the big announcements from Summer Game Fest? Jean-Karlo's got you covered.
― Welcome back, folks! With Summer Games Fest behind us, and we have another little bundle of news to share. How nice. It ought to take my mind off of not having a Switch 2 yet... This is... Splatoon Stays Fresh With New Spin-Off, Other Goodies Inbound Splatoon has done pretty well as the orig...
Resident Evil Requiem – The First RE Game to Make Me Jump
The latest Resident Evil game is the equivalent of an icy hand on your neck when you think you're alone.
― The latest installment in Capcom's Resident Evil franchise turned heads during the Summer Game Day trailer premiere. Despite the series turning thirty next year, the RE development team manages to breathe new life into every addition in its long history. Despite the Biohazard games defining the ...
Sonic Team Studio Head Takashi Iizuka's Bid to Appeal to Japanese and Global Audiences Through Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
With some surprising guest characters, the latest Sonic game is ready to prove its bona fides to as many people as possible.
― As the latest exciting addition to the Sonic gaming franchise, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds surprised fans worldwide with the inclusion of Miku Hatsune, Like a Dragon's Ichiban Kasuga, Persona 5's Joker, as well as Minecraft's Steve, Alex, and Creeper. A total of twenty-three pl...
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Keeps True to its Predecessors
The latest Onimusha game looks modern while simultaneously keeping the charms and unique gameplay mechanics from its previous entries.
― Capcom's Onimusha series had a long run on the PlayStation 2, starting with 2001's Onimusha Warlords. It was basically Resident Evil but with samurai, due to the gameplay's focus on fixed cameras. However, Onimusha didn't really take off nearly as well as Capcom's i...
Capcom's Pragmata is Intriguing
The game finally has a release date, and the demo shows that it's worth being excited for.
― Five years ago, Capcom released the announcement trailer for Pragmata, a new sci-fi IP. It was only a cinematic trailer, but it piqued my interest as it showed an astronaut interacting with a small girl. All of a sudden, their surroundings completely warped in zero gravity, with both of them sent flying and a...
Code Vein 2 is Bigger and Better
With a customizable player character and a new bike, Code Vein 2 is looking like a good bet for 2026.
― One of the biggest surprises during Summer Game Fest was the announcement of Code Vein 2, Bandai Namco's follow-up to the 2019 vampiric soulslike RPG. The game is slated to launch sometime in 2026, and I got a chance to learn more about it through a hands-off preview with Bandai Namco. Code Vein 2 ...
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree is Hades but Japanese
Bandai Namco's newest roguelite is Hades with an Eastern flair - is that enough to make it worthwhile?
― During Summer Game Fest, Bandai Namco revealed a new roguelike game called Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree. While it was a bit difficult to tell what it was just by the gameplay trailer, it looked like Supergiant's massive hit roguelike game Hades, but with an Eastern aesthetic. Turns ou...
Hands-on with Anime-Inspired Rogue-like Game Starlight Re:Volvers
Ever wonder what would happen if you took Sailor Moon, Kamen Rider, and Hades, threw them in a blender, and covered the result with hot neon paint?
― Ever wonder what would happen if you took Sailor Moon, Kamen Rider, and Hades, threw them in a blender, and covered the result with hot neon paint? Well, wonder no longer. The answer is Starlight Re:Volver. Recently, I was able to spend a few hours with...
This Week in Games - Sony State of Play: The War of the Dead Man
Jean-Karlo goes over all the exciting announcements from this week's State of Play as well as updates on Tango Gameworks and Shueisha Games' newest title.
― Welcome back, folks! I had the pleasure of working on a Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma review earlier this week. The Rune Factory games are routinely some of my favorite titles to cover; I am ashamed to admit that I never got around to playing ...
Production +h Want Dark Machine To Be For Gaming What Slam Dunk Was For Basketball
Producer Fuminori Honda and director Tomoyuki Kurokawa discuss working on Dead Dead Demon’s Dedede Destruction and what viewers can look forward to with Production +h’s video game anime Dark Machine.
― Despite being newer on the scene, Production +h is an anime studio already making waves with animated films like Netflix's The Orbital Children and the anime adaptation of Inio Asano's post-apocalypti...
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Game Review
Series fans will definitely appreciate the evolution of long-time mechanics, and newcomers will enjoy the cast and building mechanics.
― The Rune Factory series has firmly established itself as more than just a mere "Fantasy Story of Seasons. However, with every series—and every season—there must come a time of growth and experimentation. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma notably avoids counting itsel...
This Week in Games - Theatrical Rings, Dragon Kin, and An Excuse To Talk About Banana Hair
Jean-Karlo discusses the give-and-take of video game IP movies, the latest news on the Dragon Quest remakes, and Capcom's latest contest!
― Welcome back, folks! People who've kept up with my column know about the Mage: The Ascension campaign I've been running for some Discord friends. Because my players need a breather (and I think it's a good enough spot for a minor recap), I'm going ahead with a "s...
An Easy, Step-by-Step Guide to “Getting Gud” at Elden Ring Nightreign
Elden Ring Nightreign is not an easy game—not even for experienced “Sloulsborne” players. So here’s a simple guide to make your runs through the land of Limveld much more fruitful.
― The key to playing Elden Ring Nightreign is not memorizing boss patterns and learning attack windows (though let's not pretend those aren't still important). Rather, it's a game about getting as strong as possible as fas...
Persona 5: The Phantom X Makes Smart Changes to the Traditional Persona Formula
The free-to-play spin-off brings smaller-scaled crimes to your mobile device.
― Persona 5 was released almost a decade ago in Japan. Since then, we've had many spin-offs: Persona 5 Strikers, Persona 5 Tactica, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, and Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth. I'm surprised we haven't had a Persona 5 spin-off fighting game. While the whole world is waiting for even the slightest ...
Elden Ring Nightreign Video Game Review
Rather than being a game about “getting gud”—slamming headlong into a big boss over and over again till you learn every tell and attack pattern, Nightreign is a game about “getting fast”.
― In Elden Ring Nightreign, you pick one of eight unique characters and are dropped into the land of Limveld along with two other players with the nebulous goal of defeating the Nightlord. The map is full of locati...
Bravely Default Switch 2 Remaster Game Preview
From 3DS to Switch 2, George Yang checks out this RPG's graphical and interface updates to see if it's worth the double-dip or a first-time playthrough.
― Bravely Default was a gem on the Nintendo 3DS back in 2012. Its turn-based combat and sense of adventure invoked old-school Final Fantasy vibes during a time where so many other games were incorporating open-worlds and more action-oriented gameplay...
This Week in Games - Fate-ful games, Dolphin Wings, and T-Posing
An obscure shoot-em-up gets a new lease on life, the Fate franchise gets another console release, and new details on Keita Takahashi's latest game!
― Welcome back, folks! This isn't gaming-related, but a crow almost stole my dinner last weekend. I had ordered some fried plantains to be delivered, and when I went to the door to pick them up, I caught a crow trying to drag away the take-out box with it...
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Is Shaping Up to Be One of Atlus' Best Games
I spent three hours playing the remaster's first two chapters, and it's shaping up to be one of Atlus' best games, especially from a combat angle.
―
Atlus and Sega had quite a momentous 2024 with the release of big hits like Persona 3 Reload, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. This year, Atlus is taking it a bit easy with its releases. Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Sou...
This Week in Games - Ig Noble Realities
Jean-Karlo looks at the history of Tamagotchi pets, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves' disappointing sales, and upcoming visual novel DesperaDrops!
― Welcome back, folks! I don't talk about it much, but I love little tchotchkes—toys, y'know? A few years back, I watched a video from Chris "Vangelus" Ho on the Glyos system, an indie-toyline made by one Matt Doughty. The character aesthetics speaks to me, ...
This Week in Games - Dolphin Tales, Gacha Whales, and FM Synth Beats To Pilot Jets To
Ecco the Dolphin is back and there's a new release for Sega Genesis? What year is this?
― Welcome back, folks! As usual, Free Comic Book Day crept up on me last week—I didn't even remember it was this past weekend in time to mention it in last week's column. I hope folks were able to pick up some free comics? I wanted that one Mega Man comic, but my local shop didn't carry it. Oh well. I had a nice d...
This Week in Games - Take Your Turn
Jean-Karlo dissects his experiences with the game review industry and reveals that there's life in Puzzle & Dragon yet.
― Welcome back, folks! I've mentioned before how I've been running a Mage: The Ascension campaign for some buddies over Discord. They know I like tokusatsu, but they've never watched anything like Ultraman. So when I have them fighting off an invasion of bizarre extra-dimensional li...
Honkai: Star Rail Lead Game Designer Chengnan An on Creating an Immersive World
― ANN caught up with Hoyoverse's Lead Game Designer, Chengnan An, at this year's Game Developer's Conference. After graduating from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Chengnan An joined HoYoverse in 2016 as the Lead Combat Designer of Honkai Impact 3rd, responsible for developing and fine-tuning the game's combat mechanics. He advanced to a more strategic role in 2019 and now serves as the Lead Game Des...
Rusty Rabbit Game Review
If I had a friend who was curious about Metroidvania-style games, this would probably be at the top of my list of beginner games to recommend to them.
― When I picked up this game to review, I thought it was a match made in heaven. Do you mean to tell me that I get to review a Metroidvania-style game with cute mascot characters in a story written by the man who has written some of my favorite anime o...
This Week in Games - You Can't OutRun The Future
Michael Bay and Sydney Sweeney gear up for a new game movie, VTuber Nekomata Okayu's visual novel is going to the States, and Blizzard is preparing two big tie-in campaigns. Play on in This Week in Games!
― Welcome back, folks! Seems like I need to make some space in my life for The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. I don't know anything about it other than that it's from AI: The Somnium Files's Uc...
The Hundred Line - Last Defense Academy - Game Review
Neither Uchikoshi nor Kodaka are strangers to being experimental and telling rich stories with twists and turns aplenty. But even by their standards, this game is exceptionally ambitious.
― ~This reviewer's headcanon of how this game was conceived~ Japan, late at night. Kotaro Uchikoshi and Kazutaka Kodaka—the creative masterminds behind the Zero Escape series and Danganronpa respectively, among plen...
Battlefield Waltz Visual Novel Review
I've been playing otome games for quite some time, and I feel confident in saying that Battlefield Waltz is the most difficult I've encountered.
―
I've been playing otome games for quite some time, and I feel confident in saying Battlefield Waltz is the most difficult I've encountered. Before picking it up, I had (foolishly) thought that otome games like the ones that form the basis of the manhwa se...
This Week in Games - Prices and Princesses
Tariffs continue to destabilize the gaming market as Nintendo and Sony annouce price adjustments. Plus, a new daughter-raising game in Magical Princess and the Chainsaw Man director's latest is a...Roblox game?
― —I have to do. ... Ah, it worked! Welcome back, folks! I pulled double-duty on both This Week in... columns, not unlike that time an ongoing story in Kamen Rider Gaim was interrupted for a K...
Lunar Remastered Collection
This version of the PS1 Lunar games is the most accessible way to experience these classics.
― A standout series from a time in the video game scene where Japanese RPGs and aggressively anime-styled games weren't consistently brought over in English, the Lunar line carved out a historic niche for itself. That legacy can make it easy to initially fixate on what this Lunar Remastered Collection doesn't...
This Week in Games - Space Snakes, Samurai Dates, and Tekken Patch Woes
Hakuoki fans get a pleasant surprise while Tekken players are a little less lucky. Plus the unexpected return of an 80s classic character!
― Welcome back, folks! I wanted to take a moment to thank people for the warm reception to the interview with Story of Seasons' series director Hikaru Nakano in last week's column. I was quite worried it would get overshadowed by the bigger news that week. Nakano ...
This Week in Games - Sticker Shock
Games for the Switch 2 will cost how much? Plus Jean-Karlo sits down for a chat with the director of the Story of Seasons franchise.
― Welcome back, folks! I got a nice phone call from my best friend. He and I go way back, as does our mutual love of Atlus games. He has a harder time keeping informed about games, so he was excited to learn about the new Raidou Kuzunoha remaster. He's also the guy who ...
PREVIEW: Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
Grow your crops, romance your neighbors, and sell them goods in the upcoming Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar remake!
― Once again, the future of the Story of Seasons series lies in the franchise taking a look at its past! Marvelous was generous enough to give us a first look at the upcoming Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar remake. Longtime fans might remember this game from the Nintendo DS; the years h...
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection Game Review
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection shows that it can be fun to revisit the past, but we also have to acknowledge that sometimes the past can be awkward.
― I love Yu-Gi-Oh!. Whether it's the anime or the card game, I always find myself coming back to this franchise and its incredibly overpriced cardboard. It still exuded a charm I couldn't find anywhere else since my childhood. The franchise has gone thr...
This Week in Games - Nintendo Direct March 2025
Jean-Karlo's got the scoop on a surprise Nintendo Direct, the return of Digimon Vpets, and a very strange addition to a fighting game.
― Welcome back, folks! For the past few months, I've been Storytelling a Mage: The Ascension campaign for a pair of buddies over Discord. Now, my reference pool is a bit... esoteric, I'll admit; a combination of my weird range of tastes (from Pedro Almodovar to tokusa...
The First Berserker: Khazan Game Review
There's a new soulslike on the block. But does its lore-filled world and fluid combat system offset the crazy difficulty spikes?
― In recent years, the long-running Dungeon & Fighter franchise has been breaking into new genres—first with the fighting game DnF Duel and now with The First Berserker: Khazan. The First Berserker is an action-heavy soulslike. Expect labyrinthine dungeons, massive castles...
This Week in Games - Build Mode
Jean-Karlo shares his preview of the new Rune Factory game and an interview with its producer as well as looking at Iron Saga VS and Silent Hill f.
― Welcome back, folks! I can finally discuss what got in the way of writing the column last week: I was flown out for a preview for Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma! I was still able to find time to write up a review for Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Me...
PREVIEW: Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Jean-Karlo explores the world of the latest Rune Factory game, Guardians of Azuma, to find out what's ahead for the franchise.
― Fans of Rune Factory can finally sigh in relief: we finally have word on the new Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma title! We were fortunate enough to be given a first-hand look at the game courtesy of Marvelous, who was excited for fans worldwide to experience this new take ...
Him, the Smile, & Bloom Game Review
Although Him, the Smile, & Bloom wouldn't be the first otome game I'd recommend, it's still a good time.
― Although it's not unheard of (Norn9, anyone?), Him, the Smile, & Bloom isn't an otome game where you're forced to choose between romantic interests. Instead, when you pick which route you want to follow, you also pick which heroine you're playing – each love story unfolds between a specific coup...
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land Game Review
I can wholly vouch for The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land as a fun, breezy title perfect for ringing in the springtime.
― Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land is a competent RPG with fun characterization and mechanics that falters slightly in a few areas, but nevertheless makes up for its shortcomings with its charm--not unlike the many ditzy alchemists that sta...
Interview: Zero Escape's Kotaro Uchikoshi on Ever 17 and Never 7 Finally Coming West
Newly available to Western gamers, Uchikoshi talked to us about the evolution of his themes, his popularity overseas, and how COVID changed his thoughts on sci-fi themes.
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Kotaro Uchikoshi has garnered something of an international cult fandom. He's known for science fiction-themed adventure games such as Zero Escape and AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES and his collaboration with Danganronpa creator Kazutaka ...
This Week in Games - Suikoden Returns
This week in games, we take a look at the Suikoden remakes, more game delays over at Level-5, and two video game artists who deserve a shout-out.
― Welcome back, folks! We normally talk about video games in this column, but this week was overshadowed by the news of George Lowe's passing. Anyone who grew up watching Cartoon Network would've been familiar with his dry wit and zany humor as Tad "Space G...
This Week in Games - Heart ToHeart in Lumiose City
Jean-Karlo has all the details from the latest Pokemon Direct announcements, plus two minor gaming miracles: ToHeart is back, and Samurai Pizza Cats has a new-old coat of paint!
― Welcome back, folks! I worried about something over the week: I take my time exploring in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, which means that I'm a few levels stronger than they are when I get around to fighting bosses. I've seen some...
Never 7 - The End of Infinity and Ever 17 - Out of the Infinity Game Review
The times, they are a-changing: visual novels have a niche but robust international following, and Uchikoshi is a recognized name within that.
― It's a good time to be an English-speaking fan of esteemed game writer Kotaro Uchikoshi. While he may be best known internationally for the Zero Escape and AI: The Somnium Files series internationally, he first made a name for himself with his work on Infini...
Macross -Shooting Insight- Game Review
While the storied franchise has finally taken flight around the world, this shoot ’em up seems to be drifting out of formation.
― During Otakon back in 2023, I narrowly missed my opportunity to play an early build of Macross -Shooting Insight-. However, impressions were generally positive (if not a touch mixed) from those who did get a little hands-on time with the game. After a handful of delays, th...
GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- Nintendo Switch Port Game Review
GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE- is the gold standard of combining style and substance.
― Suppose you're not super into fighting games. In that case, you'd be forgiven for guessing that fighting game players would probably love the Nintendo Switch—after all, what community is known more for feeling passionate about finding a way to make a tournament work anywhere at any time than the fighting game community? The...
Monster Hunter Wilds Game Review
Wilds is a solid evolution of the franchise, and while its innovations don’t change too much of the core experience, sometimes it's fine to just get a bigger version of what’s come before.
― For a long time, Monster Hunter was one of those franchises that looked cool, but felt a bit too intimidating for me to actually get into. I dipped my toes into Monster Hunter Tri on the Wii back in the day, but ...
This Week in Games - Isekai Gaming
What happens when your game takes you to a whole other world? Jean-Karlo looks at isekai-flavored gaming adventures plus impressions of Elden Ring: Nightreign, Shūhei Yoshida's recent interview, and more.
― Welcome back, folks! My long President's Day weekend turned out to be a bit longer than normal: we got snowed in from a freak winter storm (we sometimes get those in February up here). I was able ...
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Game Review
This is the most fun I've ever had playing Like a Dragon, and that is saying something given the series' pedigree.
― God bless Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. It has been an incredibly wild ride this past decade to watch the mad lads from RGG take their cult franchise of weird little crime adventure games to the upper echelons of gaming's most respected institutions. I remember when I first discovered these ga...
10 Things I Learned About Elden Ring Nightreign Playing the Network Test
This past weekend, a select group of fans from across the world, myself included, got the chance to participate in the Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test. Here's what I learned.
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This past weekend, a select group of fans from across the world, myself included, got the chance to participate in the Elden Ring Nightreign Network Test. Over 18 hours, we experienced a game that takes Elden Ring and mixe...
This Week in Games - Himmel The Hero Would Have Liked the Sony State of Play...
Get the lowdown on Sony's State of Play and its major gaff after an outage left its consoles mostly useless. Plus an unexpected Frieren collab!
― Welcome back, folks! We hope you enjoyed last week's segment on American games getting censored in Japan; the segment was brainstormed by our colleague Jacki Jing, who will make a short video about the matter on Anime News Network's socials. Keep an eye out...
SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada Game Review
This model of repeated actions on similar environments can work if the quality is there – I’ve certainly enjoyed such games in my time – but usually for some combination of meaningful extrinsic and intrinsic rewards.
― SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada is a game which makes a strong first impression before almost immediately nose-diving into humdrum monotony. The bones of the setup are strong enough to support ...
AI2U: With You 'Til The End Game Review
A computer can never create, therefore computers must never make creative decision.
― To paraphrase IBM's slide from a 1979 panel: a computer can never create, therefore computers must never make creative decisions. AI2U: With You 'Til The End prides itself upon using generative AI as a focal point in its game, powering the basic intelligence of its three protagonists as you interact with them. In ch...
Creating a Classic JRPG in the Modern Era: An Interview with Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi
"I write a certain amount every morning, but I do it while I'm engaging in "gameplay" within an imaginary world."
― This past December, Hironobu Sakaguchi, the man known as “The Father of Final Fantasy,” brought an upgraded remaster of his studio's latest JRPG to PC and consoles with Fantasian Neo Dimension. Recently, ANN asked him a few questions about his return to making traditional turn-based RPG...
Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos Game Review
I had a decent amount of fun riding around power-sliding through goofy dog slimes and the game never takes itself too seriously to get upset about the shallow plot or simple visuals.
― Neptunia Riders vs Dogoos is one of the stranger games that I've reviewed here for ANN. As far as Neptunia goes, it's something of an institution at this point. Starting back in 2010 on the Playstation 3, the series fo...
This Week in Games - Censorship in Japan
Jean-Karlo flips the perspective and looks at games that had to be censored before their Japanese release, from Abe's Odyssey to Lollipop Chainsaw.
― Welcome back, folks! With February, it's finally Black History Month. It's a good time to read up on the many important Black members of the game industry who have shaped our hobby. This can include voice actors like Cree Summers or John Eric Bentley, i...
Genso Manège Game Review
All of the routes are very enjoyable, bittersweet in good ways, and even the ones I didn't expect to like, such as tsundere Serge, I ended up enjoying.
― You have to speak two languages to understand the title of Genso Manège, but there's no denying that it suits the game well. “Genso” in Japanese roughly means “dreamlike,” while “manège” is French for carousel, so the title can be translated as “Dre...
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Game Review
Donkey Kong has finally returned…again!
― Donkey Kong has finally returned…again! Come to think of it, he's returned a few times hasn't he? While Donkey Kong hasn't exactly had a new mainline game in quite some time, it's nice that Nintendo is doing their best to make sure that some of his best games are available on current generation hardware. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was one of the fir...
Hiro Mashima Praises Fairy Tail 2 Video Game in New Interview
“The level of accuracy is high, and being able to walk to places that were actually in the manga is fantastic.”
― While video game adaptations of popular anime are now more than commonplace, few anime are as well suited to jump between the mediums as Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail. With its sprawling fantasy world, extensive cast of colorful characters, and focus on explosive action, it's no wonder there...
This Week in Games - Return of the Ninjasaurs
Where are the Ninja Gaiden and Dino Crisis fans at? Brand-new games are on the way! Jean-Karlo looks at the Xbox Developer Direct and a major shake-up at Sony.
― Welcome back, folks! It's been a dumpster fire of a week, but I'm taking joy in what I can. For one thing, the Pyra and Mythra amiibo are finally getting re-released! Make sure to pre-order those in a hurry. Maybe I can beat Xenoblade 3 befo...
Hello Kitty Island Adventure Game Review
Even if you’re not a Sanrio fan, it’s easy to get pulled into the gentle world of the game, and if you enjoy the cozy exploration experience, this is a good choice, no matter what your age.
― Traveling to a tropical island resort is the dream of the winter months for many people living in colder climates, and Hello Kitty Island Adventure is very well aware of that. The story invites players to join H...
This Week in Games - Remembering David Lynch and His Influence on Games
Jean-Karlo looks at Lynch's influence across video game history, from Zelda to Persona.
― Welcome back, folks! Longtime readers might recall that back in October of 2023, I found an old copy of the Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja artbook from Japan. I had mentioned that artist Yoshida On had also made a doujinshi featuring some of his early sketches for the characters and how I likely would nev...
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero Game Review
If any of you are outsiders sitting on the fence, take it from me: This game is pretty neat!
― I've always wanted to dig into the beloved-but-niche JRPGs from Nippon Ichi Software (a.k.a. “NIS”), especially the Disgaea games, but I've always been intimidated by their reputations for containing complex and finicky systems that require a real commitment to number crunching and min-maxing. When the oppo...
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete Game Review
Pocket Camp Complete is perfectly designed to be playable in bite-sized chunks, a relaxing experience when you just need a brief moment of escape.
― I am not, by and large, a mobile gamer. I'll play games on my clunky old Galaxy A03 every so often, but it's rarely my first choice of platform. That's important to mention because Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete was a game I found myself coming ba...
This Week in Games - Who Owns Sonic's Freedom Fighters?
Hatsune Miku joins Fortnite and we learn who owns Sonic's pals at long last. Plus Nintendo finally reveals their new console!
― Welcome back, folks! I look forward to every column's debut because I look forward to how all of you receive it, especially since more than a few of you have brought some interesting stuff to my attention. Remember that you can hit me up on Bluesky with questions or comments...
This Week in Games - Pirate Things, Dancing, and the Robot Boy Who Couldn't
Jean-Karlo gives the lowdown on the latest Like a Dragon direct, Bayonetta's anniversary, and the sad saga of Mighty No. 9.
― Welcome back, folks! I don't know if this relates to my adblocker, but Nintendo's eShop website is always so twitchy for me. Whenever I try to make a purchase, it asks me to log in and then throws up a wonky error page. It's annoying since I'll have to make the purchase on Swi...
This Week in Games - Super Fighting Robots
Jean-Karlo looks at the history of the Mega Man U.S. cartoon, the NIKKE mascot that has escaped gacha containment, and a new visual novel from Success!
― Welcome back, everyone! Taking a week off from writing This Week in Game feels weird; I'm almost always working on it, so it's odd to sit back and see something on Bluesky and think, "Oh, I gotta remember to cover that... next week. At any rate, a f...
The Best Video Games of 2024
From new, original masterpieces and powerhouse sequels to game-redefining expansions and reimagined classics, gamers feasted this year.
― 2024 was a great year for games. From new, original masterpieces and powerhouse sequels to game-redefining expansions and reimagined classics, gamers feasted this year. But which were the best of the best? Let's get into that, shall we? Here, in no particular orde...
This Week in Games - Santa Kamiya Got Us That Dog We Wanted For Christmas
The Okami sequel is finally happening! Jean-Karlo looks at some exciting announcements out of the Game Awards this week!
― Welcome back, folks! In between wrapping up some of the quests in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, I've actually given Path to Nowhere a look—and not a moment too soon, because Eleven (that character I was obsessed with) has her event rerun active through the 24th. Also, Aisno (the compan...
This Week in Games - Mai, Now Buy
Mai Shiranui is coming to Street Fighter 6! Jean-Karlo takes a look at her design changes over the years (with specific measurements).
― Welcome back, folks! For folks who haven't kept up with me at BlueSky, I've teased a little something-something that I've decided to gift myself for the holidays. I make sure I don't make This Week in Games the "Here's What I Bought This Week" column, but this is so...
This Week in Games - Fire Breath, Radioactive Breath, and Tales of Breath
Godzilla joins the ever-expanding cast of pop culture characters in Fortnite, plus Jean-Karlo fondly remembers Breath of Fire II for its anniversary.
― Welcome back, folks! Thanksgiving Weekend was a great time; not only was the holiday well-spent among friends and loved ones, but I was able to catch up plenty in Xenoblade Chronicles 3! I was able to do a good chunk of the personal quests for the mai...
Fantasian: Neo Dimension Video Game Review
Fantasian feels like a game from a different timeline where the Final Fantasy games kept their turn-based roots but still innovated within that framework in creative ways.
― Fantasian: Neo Dimension is the newest (and perhaps final) game to spring from the mind of Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father of Final Fantasy. It is a love letter to the classic 8 and 16-bit games in the series, most notably Final F...
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