I am surprised that Koei Tecmo and Gust decided to remake Atelier Marie. It is the original Atelier title, so there’s historical value in it, of course, but following the success of the Ryza series, which brought a new legion of fans to the series, I would have bet for…
Read MoreThe revival of quirky, themed simulators has been wonderful. From the two Two Point titles, to the Jurassic Park builders, and several theme park sims, sim fans have been spoiled for choice in recent years. Bandai Namco has now found an opportunity to play in the space for itself with…
Read MoreDeconstructeam is a developer I admire on principle alone. This is a team of people that are committed to building narrative experiences, and using gameplay mechanics as part of the fabric of storytelling. This is, I believe, how games should be, and Essays on Empathy and The Red Strings Club…
Read MoreKarmaZoo is a wholesome little thing with some real potential to become a multiplayer favourite. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with a couple of other critics, and a member of the Pasta Games dev team to play through some of the co-op experience. Though I’m not someone…
Read MorePreview embargo has lifted on the delayed and long-awaited Advance Wars 1+2: Reboot Camp! If you had a GBA, you owned and loved these games for their taut tactical brilliant in a comfortable portable format. The big question is, does the “remake” do enough? That’s what we chat about in…
Read MoreFans – and make no bones about it, there are fans out there – have been waiting for a new Advance Wars game. Even as Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have built Fire Emblem up to be one of their most cherished and beloved properties, Advance Wars, despite being reasonably similar…
Read MoreI’m not sure who asked for a Bayonetta origin story, but I’m glad they did. I’m only the first five chapters into Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, and I am loving every minute of it. Related reading: Our review of the most recent Bayonetta game – Bayonetta 3.…
Read MoreGosh Ryza’s gorgeous. Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, the game, I mean. Not the character (but yeah, also her). The third and final chapter of Ryza’s story is almost upon us, and I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with the opening chapter or…
Read MoreLittle Witch Nobeta has been a significant (and perhaps mildly surprising) hit since first releasing on PC last year. For a game developed by a tiny team, having a “Very Positive” rating on Steam, off more than 8,300 players, is a significant achievement. Soon, courtesy of Idea Factory International, the…
Read MoreOctopath Traveler broke some impressive ground back in 2018. As the first effort with the all-new HD-2D visual engine, it presented us with a new vision of what sprite-based games could look like. It backed that up with a wonderful fusion of the kind of turn-based gameplay that had been…
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