Review by Matt S. The frequency with which we need to talk about nostalgia in the context of JRPGs is startling. Over and over again we are now seeing developers who grew up with the NES and SNES finally hit the age where they’re able to helm game projects of…
Read MoreReview by Priscilla M. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch first broke onto the scene in the west in 2013. The lovechild of Level-5 and world-renowned animation studio Studio Ghibli, Ni no Kuni combines traditional JRPG fare with a whimsical storyline that comes to life with the easily…
Read MoreReview by Pierre-Yves L. Code Vein has been a long time in coming. Developed by Bandai Namco, the company decided it was time to make its own Soulsborne instead of simply publishing yet another one. It’s one of the first anime-styled Soulsbornes, and through it we see just how far…
Read MoreReview by Matt S. Last week the Nintendo Switch got a superb port of the most recent Dragon Quest title. On the same day, albeit arriving with far less fanfare, ports of the first three Dragon Quest titles also landed for download off the eShop. I’ve decided to lump the…
Read MoreInterview by Matt S. Gust, as Koei Tecmo’s JRPG house, has produced some cracking titles over the years. Everyone with a fondness for the genre knows about Atelier, of course, but whether it’s Blue Reflection, Ar Nosurge, Nights of Azure, or something else, Koei Tecmo has made a habit of…
Read MoreReview by Harvard L. I wish this game had the subtitle, “a Dragon Quest for fans and first timers”, because that’s precisely what Square Enix was going for in this iteration of the long-running JRPG franchise. The base game released on the PS4 two years ago, along with a Japan…
Read MoreInterview by Matt S. Japan’s Ainu people have become one of the most diminished native peoples in the world. They’re native to northern Japan, predominantly Hokkaido, and if you weren’t aware of that, don’t worry, you’re by no means alone. Many, many people in the west don’t even realise there…
Read MoreInterview by Matt S. Three Atelier titles in a single year is a lot. Even to me, an avid fan that has never given less than 4.5/5 for any entry in the series. I love them because they’re wholesome, charming, “comfort food” experiences, and while I came to the party…
Read MoreVideo by Matt S. Utawarerumono is one of the most underappreciated properties out there. A gorgeous blend of Ainu (native Japanese) aesthetics and JRPG sensibilities, it’s a series that everyone should play if they like their games to be distinct and original. Utawarerumono Zan is the first spin-off for the…
Read MoreReview by Matt S. Utawarerumono might be my favourite property that almost no one is aware of. It’s followed a similar trajectory as the Fate series, albeit at a much more niche rate; it was once an adult visual novel, sex scenes and all, but then went “legitimate” with mainstream…
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