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Once Upon a Katamari Game Review
The beloved series’ grand return is a raucous roll-er coaster!
― Roughly twenty-one years ago, I was simultaneously bamboozled and bemused by a strange little game I'd plopped into my PlayStation 2. A fifth grader at the time, I'd been tasked with putting all the stars back in the sky alongside a tiny fellow simply known as the Prince...and we were going to do it with something called a “Katamari.” ...
This Week in Games - Interview with Nobuyuki Okajima, Producer on Full Metal Schoolgirl Action Game
We spoke with the producer about the sci-fi schoolgirl action game, as well as a condensed history of Dragon Quest, and Love and Deepspace its dark-skinned character rendering.
― Welcome back, folks! This past weekend was Kumoricon—and my first time covering it professionally! I have a few interviews from the convention that'll go up shortly; it was a fun experience and a delight to speak to the figu...
This Week in Games - It Was A Very Spoopy PlayStation 2 Anniversary
Freshly back from vacation, Jean-Karlo discusses TwitchCon and reminisces about the PS2 on its 25th anniversary.
― Welcome back, folks! I've returned from my vacation in San Diego; apparently, my coworkers said I even came back with a tan! It was a fun trip, and I figured out how to have fun while I was abroad. I definitely needed the time off, even if I actually missed working on This Week in Games ...
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake Game Review
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake strikes the difficult balance of providing a truly astounding amount of new quests and story details without ever betraying the simple and earnest heart that is core to the franchise's identity.
― If you have ever taken the time to play the original Dragon Quest and Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line, you know that these are the bone-simple ancestors of...
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 Game Review
If you have been hankering to spend some time cruising the intergalactic highways and byways with Mario and Pals, these two games are essential experiences.
― I missed out on the Super Mario Galaxy duology back when they originally dropped because the Wii was the console that my younger siblings claimed as their own, and if I'm being honest, high-school James considered Nintendo platforms to be littl...
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & The White Guardian Game Review
I wouldn’t recommend it as your first Atelier game, but franchise fans should have a good time.
― How many Atelier games have you played? I don't ask to establish credibility or as a form of gatekeeping, but rather because the designers of Atelier Resleriana: the Red Alchemist and the White Guardian are counting on you having more than a passing familiarity with previous entries in the franchise. Alt...
Full Metal Schoolgirl Game Review
I can summarize Full Metal Schoolgirls thusly: it feels like a PlayStation 2 game, in the best of ways.
― I can summarize Full Metal Schoolgirls thusly: it feels like a PlayStation 2 game, in the best of ways. It's a simple concept, but one that manages to be plenty of fun, despite its workman-like execution. The concept is also charmingly high-concept: a schoolgirl rebels against an all-powerful cor...
DISGAEA 7 COMPLETE Game Review
What I want is a ridiculously big and endlessly customizable time-sink of a strategy/RPG that lets you fight for hours on end and build an absurdly powerful army. And on that front, Disgaea 7 Complete delivers in spades.
― Oh, hello, Disgaea. It's been a while. So sometime after Disgaea D2, I just… kind of decided I'd had enough of Disgaea for a while. The games didn't get notably bad or anything—I h...
TWIG Goes On Vacation, But The Gaming Industry Doesn't
Jean-Karlo takes next week off, but not before he imparts some Digimon deep cuts from the "Prelude" anime short.
― Welcome back, folks! So, I know what this looks like, and by the time you read this, I will be in San Diego on vacation. But this past Sunday rolled around, and I was preparing myself to write this week's column, only to remember I was supposed to be on vacation. But then I realized, my ...
Silent Hill f Game Review
This game will cling to the darkest corners of my nightmares for a very long time to come.
― I have been a Silent Hill fan all of my life, and I have just recently completed my project of replaying and recording every single game in the franchise (well, except for Silent Hill: Book of Memories, since my PlayStation Vita broke years ago). That said, for as much as I absolutely adore Bloober Team's re...
From Lovecraft to the Fear of the Unknown: Silent Hill f and Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterfly
Why is this niche so beloved, and what else can we expect to see as we return to games that focus on Japanese folklore, culture, and horror?
― Japan-set games are experiencing a much-needed Renaissance, with Silent Hill f's releaase on PC and consoles this month, as well as the announcement of a Fatal Frame: Crimson Butterfly Remake coming in 2026, along with a release for Nioh 3 in February and Ghos...
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Game Review
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds is hands-down the best racing game in the entire franchise.
― Sonic's racing game history has been very mixed over the years, and that's being generous. You would think that for a franchise that focuses on a character that's faster than the average mascot platform, we would have better and more beloved racing games throughout the past couple of decades. I have not played ever...
This Week in Games - Stray Kids, Hives, 'Mins, and DLsite Making Money
The creators of moon have a brand-new game in the works, and Nintendo Pictures debuts its first creation. Read more in This Week in Games!
― Welcome back, folks! In my continued efforts to keep this column on the straight and narrow, I avoid talking too much about Carnelian's efforts with the recent Kao no Nai Tsuki Remake visual novel. It's been out for a few weeks now, and as far as I can tell, it'...
Interview: My Hero Academia: All's Justice Producer Aoba Miyazaki on Creating More than a Sequel
"We're not just making [One's Justice 3]; as a team we said, 'We're going to make a new, even more fun game,' so we've drastically redesigned the inside of the game."
― With My Hero Academia heading into its final season and the battle between series protagonist Izuku “Deku” Midoriya and villain Tomura Shigaraki heating up, it's only natural for fans of the series to want to do more than just watch t...
This Week in Games - EA Games Gets Played
This week, Jean-Karlo examines the EA Games purchase, the latest Silent Hill news, and what consumers and companies can do to ensure the games we play are developed fairly.
― Welcome back, folks! I finally got to share my Digimon Story: Time Stranger review this week. It was definitely one of the most fun things I've worked on all year. I hope people enjoy the game for what it is. I sadly missed the ...
Digimon Story: Time Stranger Game Review
What even is a Digimon, anyway? You're sure to learn as you play Time Stranger - and you'll have fun doing it!
― Digimon fans have waited a long time for a video game adaptation that truly succeeds at doing justice to Digimon's expansive world. The Digimon games have always struggled on that front, with even games within the same sub-series having wildly different mechanics and settings. The good new...
Interview: The First Descendant Director on the Issues with the Game And How They're Fixing Them
We sat down with Director Min Seok Joo at Tokyo Game Show 2025 to talk frankly about the issues currently facing the game and their plans to overcome them.
― The First Descendant is a free-to-play, sci-fi looter shooter filled with fast-paced action, attractive characters, and tons of explosions. Now, more than a year since the game's release, I had a chance to sit down with Director Min Seok Joo, ac...
This Week in Games - Sony State of Play 2025
Kojima cannot be stopped! Jean-Karlo looks at the big news out of Tokyo Game Show and Sony's State of Play!
― Welcome back, folks! Man, they certainly kept us busy this week with the Tokyo Game Show. However, I am happy that I didn't have to sit through another two-stream day, where, I dunno, someone had a presentation right after Sony's State of Play. It's been a long week and there's a lot of news,...
Yakuza Kiwami 3 is More Than Just a Remake, And Dark Ties Proves it
One of the common criticisms of the original Yakuza 3 is that Mine didn't get enough screen time. Well, Dark Ties certainly remedies that.
― Sega and Ryu ga Gotoku have made sure that older games in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series are accessible to newer audiences. By remaking the first two games as Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2, as well as remastering the older PS3 titles, almost all of the game...
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Game Review
This game is a true labor of love from Final Fantasy Tactics' original creators, and it delivers a superlative refinement of one of the franchise's best entries.
― Final Fantasy Tactics holds that rare honor of being a relatively niche spinoff to a blockbuster gaming franchise that many fans would argue outdoes some of the series' most beloved main entries. Even 30 years ago, RPG fans knew that there...
Will Nintendo's Holiday Showcase Sell Me on a Switch 2?
Is Kirby Air Riders, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A the push console fence-sitters need to upgrade?
― This is the third year in a row I've been invited to Nintendo's Holiday Showcase event for Anime News Network — but my first year where the games on display are for the Nintendo Switch 2. I have yet to upgrade to Nintendo's latest console, and with the majority of games showcased h...
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster Game Review
The greatest JRPG ever made, now in HD.
― I first realized that Bravely Default was a game that would forever change the JRPG genre during a battle with the Jabberwock, which is a dragon whose name is a direct reference to Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky poem. Though this boss fight was optional, it was part of a side quest to gain entry into the foreboding Vampire Castle, and getting into a place called...
This Week in Games - Nintendo September Direct 2025
You've watched the trailers; now get the full run-down of the latest news from last week's Nintendo Direct. From more Yoshi to the return of the Virtual Boy!
― Welcome back, folks! I hope everyone enjoyed my cameo appearance in This Week in Anime yesterday. I'd have made a cute segue for it in last week's column, but things were arranged a bit too late for that. It's always nice to collaborate with S...
Varlet Game Review
It's above-average dialogue in a below-average, uh, everything else.
― Varlet is a game that is more than the sum of its parts, but it still feels undercooked and overpriced. The core pitch is going to seem familiar if you've played any RPGs of the last few years. It's a school-based RPG with a split between the battle/events and structured downtime. The battles are turn-based, largely traditional co...
This Week in Games - Little Nightmares 3 Preview, and Digimon Stories: Time Stranger Interview
Jean-Karlo sets the record straight on Nintendo's latest patent, plus a preview of two upcoming games from PAX!
― Welcome back, folks! I've been ruminating on my recent review of Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar. I mean what I said, but I worry if I might've been too harsh on the game. I feel like having to play a game like Grand Bazaar for review does it a disservice, because the nature of playing a g...
The Villainess is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom Game Review
The Villainess is Adored by the Prince of the Neighbor Kingdom is the sort of game you buy on sale.
― It used to be that anime series would be licensed without a whiff of possibility of our ever getting the source manga or light novels to read, to say nothing of the visual novels. But now we've come to the point where we're likely to get at least one version in English. The Villainess is Adored by th...
Dragon Ball Genkishin Squadra Game Review
I wish the character selection didn't feel so random or that the rewards were actually worth the grind. It makes me wonder exactly how long this game's shelf life is going to be.
― There have been a lot more of these real-time strategy action games popping up in the past couple of years. Honestly, it's a little shocking that it took Dragon Ball this long to jump on the trend. Having a simple team-bas...
PREVIEW: Digimon Story: Time Stranger Bares its Brave Heart
Never mind monster-taming, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is shaping up to be a great RPG, period.
― Bandai Namco has made Digimon Story: Time Stranger impossible to ignore, promoting the game as much as they can. If you haven't seen any of the many videos highlighting specific Digimon and their unique special moves, you've at least seen the news about Digi-riding. We were granted permission by Bandai ...
Shuten Order Game Review
Two-thirds of it range from good to excellent… but in a 60-hour game, that still means around 20 hours of mediocre-to-bad gameplay.
― Update: Following a Nintendo Switch patch released on September 19 to rectify translation issues, reviewer Caitlin Moore would like to update her review of Shuten Order. The rest of the review in its original format begins after the line break. Spike Chunsoft announced...
This Week in Games - Shattered Hands, Ultima in Japan and My Hero Academia: All's Justice
Jean-Karlo tests out the latest MHA game at PAX, shares the tokusatsu history of a retro title, and explains why the American game franchise Ultima is a big deal in Japan.
― Welcome back, folks! I have returned from Seattle, having (distantly) experienced PAX West for the first time! No, I didn't fly out to Seattle for PAX specifically (in fact, I only spent a few hours touring the place); I was in t...
SHUTEN ORDER Creators Open Up About Its Secrets
Writer Kazutaka Kodaka, director Takumi Nakazawa, and artist simadoriru have a new mystery game full of intrigue and psychadelia.
― Spike Chunsoft's SHUTEN ORDER's promises to combine five different gameplay styles with intrigue, mystery, and psychadelia. With the game about to release, Anime News Network was given the opportunity to sit down with three members of its development—director Takumi Naka...
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion Game Review
The sheer variety on display is catnip for people who love tinkering with robots, and you'll have plenty to chew throw once you have your perfect mechanical soldier.
― The original Daemon X Machina was a fun mech battle game, but it unfortunately passed by most audiences without much notice. Developer First Studio took stock of the situation and did everything in their power to ensure that their sequ...
Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact Game Review
If you're getting into Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact, then you have to know you're doing it purely for the love of the game.
― Hunter x Hunter: Nen Impact is a frenetic and often fun fighting game experience, but the mix of modern and classical fighting game sensibilities makes it such an acquired taste that it is likely too unique a brew for most people to enjoy. While this review experienced a slight...
This Week in Games - Laboring LaDS
Love and Deepspace is too hot to ignore, former CAPCOM alums are starting a new studio, Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius shutters, and more Romancing SaGa is on the way!
― Welcome back, folks! Our Power Rangers charity stream last weekend was a success! It was such a blast to roleplay with the folks, fun times all around. I also took the opportunity to join some folks for an anime trivia night at a local ...
Producers Talk Shop about Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian Game
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian banked on the franchise's history, and now it's making the transition from a mobile game to a full-fledged console RPG.
― With its magic shops and the many Alchemists who run them, Gust's Atelier series has quietly continued over the decades as a fan-favorite thanks to its charming characters and comfortable atmosphere. Atelier Resleriana: Th...
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Game Review
If you've never played a farm sim before, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar might be a great place to start.
― There's a major difficulty when it comes to reviewing Story of Seasons games: they're slow. Moment-to-moment gameplay is repetitive (you're doing the same tasks daily over and over), the game can take a long time to throw new wrinkles in the formula at you, and even fervent playing means that i...
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Game Review
This a must-play game for both existing Shinobi fans and newcomers alike.
― Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is the perfect balance between modern sensibilities and nostalgia, making it one of the best action-platformer games of 2025. This will inevitably gain comparisons to Koei Tecmo and The Game Kitchen's Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound which was released last year due to both utilizing similar ninja archetypes,...
This Week in Games - Kirby + Air = Rider(s)
Kirby is back, riding to glory in a sequel decades in the making. Also news about the Tales of... remasters and Shenmue III for all your nostalgia needs.
― Welcome back, folks! Hey, so, I wanna be honest about something for a minute: I put effort into giving credit to a lot of offbeat titles—obscure RPGs or simulation games or visual novels. A lot of that was my bread-and-butter growing up, and it st...
How Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' Lucy Joined Guilty Gear -STRIVE-
We thought Edgerunners was done. Then came the stunning announcement that Lucy would be coming to Guilty Gear -STRIVE- as a fully playable DLC character. How does the anime character translate to a fighting game?
― Bet you thought Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was done! The highly-regarded surprise collaboration between CD PROJEKT RED (CDPR) and Studio Trigger was a bright spot in the tumultuous early years...
This Week in Games - Robos Saved, Ninja Babes, and Sega's AI Plans
Mario gets a new line for young fans, Chibi Robo comes to Nintendo Switch Online+, and Sega commits to generative AI. It's This Week in Games!
― Welcome back, folks! Over the week, I saw someone I follow bring up Backloggd, a website for keeping track of your game collection. I used to have a similar deal on the now-defunct 1Up.com. I've gone ahead and made a Backloggd page for myself. It's quite inc...
This Week in Games - Brawling Capes, Big N's Red Tape, and Grown-Ups in Spandex
This week we have all the updates from EVO, what happened to Pekora's Pokémon stream, and an actually good Power Rangers collab!
― Welcome back, folks! It seems my busy schedule got the better of me: earlier this week, I checked to see if I still had time to submit a panel for this year's Kumoricon... and I was but a few days too late. What a shame; I was looking forward to hosting my History of Jap...
Iwakura Aria Game Review
If you're a fan of The House in Fata Morgana or The Dark Maidens, this is a game you'll want to play.
― We tend to view the past in either a rosy light or a gently-tinted sepia one. Yes, bad things happened long ago, but it was still a simpler time – no internet, no constant assault by phones, just a world that seems not quite real, if not better. Iwakura Aria, an original visual novel from MAGES, ab...
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion Brings Mecha Action To A New World
Titanic Scion offers a ton to people looking for a great open-world action-RPG, especially if you need more mecha in your life.
― I had an ongoing regret regarding the original Daemon X Machina from Marvelous: I never played it. I knew it was a game about mech suits, I knew there was action, and I knew there was some degree of customization—and that was it. Marvelous is putting in extra effort in no...
Donkey Kong Bananza Game Review
There is no such thing as a perfect work of art, but Donkey Kong Bananza gets about as close to perfection as possible.
― One of the first video games I can remember playing as a young tyke was my dad's copy of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest on the Super Nintendo. When I was old enough to get a Game Boy Pocket of my own, one of the first purchases ever made with my allowance was a copy of ...
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.
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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.
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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...
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