I’m not sure how Nintendo and Game Freak manage to do this: over and over again they repackage the same game and convince us all it’s worth playing again. Pokemon Black and White 2 add the barest minimum of new features over the top of the game engine that has…
Read MoreAs I mentioned recently, I’m a little confused about how exactly to approach Mugen Souls as a review. So I’ll just say at the outset: this game probably isn’t for you. But I love it. If you think of the weirdest game you’ve ever played, it probably doesn’t come close…
Read MoreWow is Lunar: Silver Star Story a great game. In a genre that has had its fair share of great games, Lunar’s story is breathtaking in its epic scope and genuinely compelling characters. Its release on the iPhone is a big deal for fans of classic JRPGs. So, a bit…
Read MoreIt’s hard getting into Sword of Hope 2. There’s retro, and then there’s so retro that it’s alien. With a screen that is 80 per cent made up of menus, and the tiniest, static images representing the entirety of the game’s “graphics,” Sword of Hope 2 is alien. Get past…
Read MoreThe RPG genre is a nice fit for the iPhone. Turn-based combat and single-button input reduces the discomfort from virtual control systems, and this is a genre where fans are quite happy to play with simple 2D sprites, making games relatively easy to develop for small teams. That said, Grinsia…
Read MoreThe PlayStation really wasn’t short on entertaining JRPGs. Though many have had their fix from three incredible Final Fantasy games, the more committed fans were able to experience the genesis of Atelier games, the first Wild Arms and, of course, Grandia. Arc The Lad is probably one of the least…
Read MoreThe PlayStation really wasn’t short on entertaining JRPGs. Though many have had their fix from three incredible Final Fantasy games, the more committed fans were able to experience the genesis of Atelier games, the first Wild Arms and, of course, Grandia. Arc The Lad is probably one of the least…
Read MoreI’m a big fan of the Atelier series of JRPGs. Focusing on collecting materials and alchemy over the combat brings with it a fresh take on the JRPG genre, and couple that with playful and cheerful characters, story and visual style, and you’ve got a series that flies right under…
Read MoreI’m a big fan of the Atelier series of JRPGs. Focusing on collecting materials and alchemy over the combat brings with it a fresh take on the JRPG genre, and couple that with playful and cheerful characters, story and visual style, and you’ve got a series that flies right under…
Read MoreFor those who bemoan the “death” of the JRPG here’s some good news for you; Ash 2: Shadows is great fun. It’s equal parts slavish devotion to the formula and self referential humour, but throughout it’s guaranteed to delight. The secret is in the presentation. In looking like an RPG…
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