Review by Matt S. Elden Ring feels like the journey that developer, FromSoftware, has been on for the past 28 years has finally come full circle. In 1994 there was King’s Field, then in 2009, it was Demon’s Souls. Then came the Dark Souls series, but it feels like 2022’s…
Read MoreReview by Matt S. One of the things that has excited me most about Voice of Cards was the potential that it had to deliver a true “Dungeons & Dragons,” tabletop-like experience. Those who have been playing Dungeons & Dragons for long enough will know how the adventure modules work.…
Read MoreReview by Matt S. The Hyakki Yagyō – Night Parade Of 100 Demons – might be my favourite piece of Japanese folkloric storytelling. A “monster manual” of sorts, featuring some of the most bemusing, weird, wild, and entertaining spirit monsters, Hyakki Yagyō speaks deeply about the Shinto view of the…
Read MoreReview by Matt S. Monark is one of the most different and interesting things that I’ve played in quite some time. You’re going to see others make comparisons to the likes of Persona, because it takes place in a school and it’s a JRPG with turn-based battles, but that’s an…
Read MoreReview by Matt S. Edge of Eternity is a terrible game. You wouldn’t think that from looking at the screenshots – it looks the part. But this effort to provide players with a modern JRPG that recalls the classics of the genre fails to provide something actually interesting to play.…
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Video by Matt S. I have had the opportunity to get some hands-on time with Triangle Strategy and I sincerely think, based on early impressions, that this is going to be a serious game of the year contender. The narrative is gripping. The art is gorgeous. The tactical action is…
Read MoreReview by Harvard L. Stegosoft Games’ previous effort, Ara Fell, was a gorgeous love letter to 16-bit JRPGs that could only really be faulted by being too traditional. Now in the team’s second effort, Rise of the Third Power, they’ve brought the polish to match their enthusiasm. This is a…
Read MorePreview by Matt S. It really is a busy period of the year for JRPGs. We’ve got Atelier, Pokémon, Monark, Triangle Strategy, Edge of Eternity, and more, all coming out in a short span from one another. I worry that it means that people will overlook Rune Factory 5, because,…
Read MoreReview by Matt S. Maglam Lord is such a quaint little game. To its detriment, I think, especially with so many stand-out JRPGs on the way in such a short span of time. But also, it’s quaint in a fun and playful way that will appeal to genre veterans in…
Read MoreReview by Matt S. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a really, really good looking game. I’m going to put that up-front because it has been the discourse that has plagued this game from day one, but I genuinely love the aesthetic. I’ve always been a fan of softer colours, be that watercolour…
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