Bringing traditional role-playing game elements to pinball introduces objectives beyond a high score in Phantom Compass’ Rollers of the Realm. And while the idea isn’t foreign to me, the implementation found me ramming my head against the game for a handful of hours before I stopped trying to simply keep the ball in play and learned instead to play with those elements the game offers.
November 17, 2014
Review – Rollers of the Realm
February 13, 2013
Demo Report – Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan
I love milkshakes.
I know they’re not necessarily the healthiest treat option available to me, so I try not to drink them too often. However, when I get my hands on one, I am relentless and guzzle it up, usually to the point that my wife has to tell me to stop making disgusting sounds as I suck the straw like an addict trying to get just one last tiny hit from his crack pipe.
The Etrian Odyssey IV demo is kind of like that.
I have tasted every last bit of what it has to offer and am starving for more. Atlus was generous to provide such a meaty demo, but in a sense, they were also a little cruel. If anyone takes the time needed to build a party of adventurers, traverse through and map out every square inch of the available labyrinths, level up their characters to the max that is allotted in the demo, and complete all offered quests, they are going to find it very hard to wait a couple more weeks to continue their journey into all that Etrian Odyssey IV has to offer.
September 4, 2011
Review – Catherine
A monstrous baby and grotesque sexual mutations of the female form cast ominous and destructive shadows over the nightmares of Vincent Brooks, who finds himself dragged into a dark dream world each night – a nightmare realm where men seem to be punished for the crime of living wasted lives. Aside from the philosophical attachment, the weight of this crime is the way in which Vincent’s indecision and resistance to adulthood cause others to suffer, specifically his long-term girlfriend, Katherine.
Having followed the development of Atlus’ original HD title for some time, I’d anticipated finding plenty to discuss in these manifestations of male fears, seemingly stepping out of the mind of David Cronenberg and so dramatically intent on literally crushing Vincent beneath the weight of their significance – and in that regard I was certainly not disappointed or left wanting for words.
And yet, the truly frightening part of watching Vincent’s fears of a relationship with girlfriend Katherine, and the way that fear feeds a sudden affair when the mysterious and seductive Catherine appears, hits a note so personal, that the academic leanings must give way. The most terrifying element of Catherine is the similarities I’ve drawn between Vincent and myself.
January 28, 2011
Demo Report – Catherine
Catherine’s recently available Japanese Demo opens with a separate slice of animation, a montage that offers glimpses from iconic cinematic genres, including the biblical, the love story, the monster movie, and the horror film – and then the brief bit of video ends and the game’s protagonist, Vincent, enters the screen to face the first of two tastes from Catherine’s puzzle-block focused agenda. Film genres linger though, every one of those seen in that quick sequence showing some influence within the game proper.
Catherine’s animation builds on the seductive eye-candy of the Persona series, with a color palette and design aesthetic that is visually arresting, but which also shows new signs of maturity – and not simply because of the sexual psychology at the heart of Catherine’s most immediate and deliciously kinky appeal.
Whether through scenes featuring Vincent and girlfriend Katherine talking over tea, or the way a crime scene pulls back into a television report, and then further still to the bar where Vincent and his friends can see that television emitting signals, every shot and transition brings stylish cinematic sensibilities to the screen.
And then there is the playing…
January 12, 2011
Radiant Historia Rage
Some of the screenshots Atlus sent out for their upcoming DS RPG seem a bit aggressive in the dialogue department today – I suppose time traveling to fix events will cause even the best of us to lose our cool though.
Whether Radiant Historia will delight or upset players remains to be seen, with the release date still set for February 22nd, but the publisher has released a walkthrough video for the game that you can try to gleam some answers from after the break.
December 17, 2010
More Life Extension for Demon’s Souls
Atlus had previously pledged to keep the lights on for Demon’s Souls’ servers until at least March 2011, and now sends word that they are aiming to keep the online side of the RPG that refuses to die running until the game’s second anniversary – which would put us around October 2011 if you’re keeping score. I do realize many would like the online part of the game to continue forever.
The announcement comes with a reminder that the game is available at greatest hits pricing, and that those in Boletaria can expect a Pure White World Tendency event starting on December 20th and running into the start of the new year.
November 22, 2010
Radiant Historia Is On The Way
Atlus sends word that the game will hit North American DS’ early next year, February 22, 2011 to be specific. As often is the case, Atlus is including a bonus with launch copies of the release, which will include an audio CD with “unique piano arrangements from composer Yoko Shimomura’s acclaimed musical score.”
My initial reaction is, ppfft, this isn’t Catherine, but I guess since the game involves time travel I’ll let this oversight slide, for now.
Meanwhile you catch a trailer after the break.