Have you ever wondered what a version of 1980s America (Showa 66) would look like if overtaken by Japanese culture and influences? Okay, probably not. But it’s a great setting for a game! In Showa American Story, the Japanese economic bubble in the USA never popped; immigration surged and Japanese citizens could use their wealth to buy most of the…
RPGs are RPGs, so common, but stick one in what’s described as a “mystical world” and you’ve got my attention. Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients has players journeying across Gliese, a mystical world threatened by dark forces. A mysterious presence will help you during the adventure you’re about to take…
Read MoreThe partnership between Eastasiasoft and Idea Factory is going strong! First, the pair released Moero Crystal H and Seven Pirates H. Then came the cult classic Mugen Souls. Now, Mugen Souls Z will be launching for Nintendo Switch. The vibrant RPG was originally developed by Idea Factory with Compile Heart,…
Read MoreAll a developer/publisher has to mention is that something is inspired by Stardew Valley, and I’ll be immediately drawn to it. Mirthwood is one of those titles, though it’s also inspired by Fable (love it!) and Rimworld (haven’t played it). It’s a captivating single-player game about an epic journey through…
Read MoreAt first I was disappointed with the concept of Ash of Gods: The Way. The original Ash of Gods (subtitled Redemption) was a gritty little tactics RPG with rich, albeit dark storytelling. Clearly inspired by The Banner Saga, it never eclipsed that masterpiece, but it still stood in the same…
Read MoreSorry folks, I know I’m a bit late on this news – it’s been a day! Compile Heart has announced the latest Neptunia spin-off, Neptunia GameMaker R:Evolution, through Weekly Famitsu. It also released a good amount of information about the game, including a trailer, which it is described as an…
Read MoreBrave’s Rage is fine. It’s a new entry in a very over-saturated genre, and doesn’t do nearly enough to stand out, but there’s nothing inherently wrong with the game itself. It’s just disappointing that there seems to be a shrinking pool of gameplay structures that indies work with, at a…
Read MoreWandering Sword blends HD-2D-style RPG blended with the aesthetics and style of Wuxia martial arts, and that is a most incredible concept for a game. You won’t need to wait long to see how it’s turning out, either, as there will be a demo available via Steam from February 6.…
Read MoreI feel so naughty. Risen is banned here in Australia. It was refused classification back in 2009, for predictably nonsense reasons (it features drug use, which the Australian Classification Board absolutely hates in the context of video games). It has never been re-classified, meaning that it’s still not available here…
Read MoreI never had the opportunity to play Risen on its original release, many years ago. It was banned in Australia. It’s still banned, but thankfully modern consoles are region-free and I’ve been able to grab a copy from elsewhere. This stream covers the first hour or so of the Nintendo…
Read MoreI’ve been looking forward to my chance to play The Outbound Ghost, an RPG by an indie developer about helping ghosts pass on – and maybe even solving a mystery! The Paper Mario inspiration is strong and obvious (and reminds me that I must play the latest in the series,…
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