Koei Tecmo’s JRPG house, Gust, is a factory for the genre. It’s just as well that their output is a reliably good time, but they are without a doubt a studio that churns out its work. Fairy Tail 2 comes four years after the original (with a whole lot of Atelier in-between), and was clearly built quickly and efficiently, but…
When it comes to the Atelier series, combat and synthesis are core gameplay elements. Upcoming Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land (first announced during August 2024’s Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase) is no different, but both elements have been revamped to give the JRPG a new, fresh…
The remake of Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII is now out…
Remaking strategy games comes across as an odd decision, because strategy games…
We are, of course, looking forward to Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. “What if Nioh but in China” is a heck of a concept. The game was only publicly announced to be in development four months ago, but now we have the release date so it feels all the more real…
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Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is the end of the Ryza trilogy, which is super exciting. The game follows alchemist Reisalin Stout and her friends on their third summer adventure (one for each game) as they investigate a group of islands that have mysteriously…
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Described as the first AAA hunting experience for a new generation, Wild Hearts is an upcoming title from the developer of all those amazing Warrior games (Dynasty Warrior, etc.) that features ancient technology to give players a fighting chance against giant beasts. It seems like a pretty big jump, but…
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You have to go back around 16 years to find the last time that an Atelier title had a “3” next to it. From the PlayStation 3 onwards, Gust has been predominantly interested in building games with new protagonists each time. Characters might cross over from one title to the…
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Yesterday, Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key was shown off during the Nintendo Direct. The game is a direct sequel to Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout and Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy (similar annoying long titles), continuing its…
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One of the challenges I have with Koei Tecmo’s Warriors franchise is determining the pecking order of the various games within the series. If you asked me to rank the Final Fantasy series, for example, there’s a clear upper echelon (Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy IV, Final Fantasy VIII), but…
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Fire Emblem and Koei Tecmo’s Musou (Warriors) formula are a good fit. So much of what people love about the Musou series (a large roster with a big variety in the characters that are available), is also something that the Fire Emblem series is popular for, and while the Warriors…
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Fire Emblem makes me happy. Warriors make me happy. Put the two of them together and you get some of my favourite gaming experiences. This video is a (totally spoiler-free) preview for one of the most exciting games that Nintendo is releasing this year. The first Fire Emblem Warriors was…
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There aren’t many combinations that are more specifically “me” than Fire Emblem and Koei Tecmo’s Warriors (Musou) formula. One is my favourite tactical JRPG series of all time. The other is my favourite action brawler formula. Both series’ love their fan service and beautiful people, and both have persisted on…
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Touken Ranbu is a game about pretty boys. Who are swords. And travel around time, Quantum Leap-style. I’ve got to be honest with you, if you had told me that at some point in my life I’d be playing an anime boys game whose closest direct comparison is an ‘80s…
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