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
April 14, 2011
Review – Jikandia: The Timeless Land
The concept of time travel has been used as a plot device in videogames time and time again, often with sterling results. From Square’s masterpiece, Chrono Trigger, and its follow up, Chrono Cross, to more recent fair such as Atlus’ DS release, Radiant Historia, time travel is nothing new for the medium. And yet as memorable as those titles are, no videogame that I’ve played to date uses the concept of time quite as effectively as Jikandia: The Timeless Land.
On the surface, the story is simple enough. You play a typical high school student who, along with eight of your friends, is magically transported to another world during your daily commute to school. You come to learn that you have been summoned to the world of Jikandia to help save it from destruction. Jikandia, until very recently, was devoid of time – that is until a crop of monstrous baddies began popping up, bringing with them the concept of time, which threatens to unravel the world of Jikandia with the resulting chaos.
In order to get back to your own world, players must uncover the origins of these vile monsters, eliminating them and restoring Jikandia the timeless land to its former state.
January 4, 2011
Your Recommended Dose of Hyperdimension Neptunia
I’m earnestly not sure whether Idea Factory’s upcoming RPG will be my cup of tea or not, even given the console war tie-in.
But I know plenty of you are interested, and since NIS America offered up quite a bit of character art, it only seems right to share – so catch it below.
December 26, 2010
The View From Felghana
There’s a group of lovable ne’er-do-wells that frequent the library I work at. All of them are past high school-age and their ambitions seem to center on engaging in Yu-Gi-Oh! duels, reading manga, and channeling as much time and energy as possible into playing Gaia Online. Though they might not have found their niche as productive members of society yet, the library is like a home to them, and it’s rather heartwarming to know that they’ve found a place where they fit in.
One of the members of this band of misfits always has a tattered PSP in hand, and he often uses our Internet connection to download new games via “alternative” means. Though I normally frown upon piracy, I know that purchasing new games is a luxury he can’t afford, and no degree of lecturing from me is going to stop him.
Once he discovered I was a fellow gamer, he began attempting to talk shop with me on occasion. His social and conversational skills are far from exceptional, and our discussions are usually awkward, though I would argue charmingly so. I know it probably takes a decent amount of bravery on his part to even approach me, so I’ve always tried to be as friendly as possible.
Recently he marched up over to my desk with a massive grin on his face – “Whys,” he cryptically said. I raised an eyebrow to signify that I didn’t quite follow what he was getting at, “Whys,” he repeated, “I just got the new Whys game.” At this point I deciphered that he was talking about Ys.
December 17, 2010
Lord of Arcana Demo Coming Next Week
Because gamers never rest, not even during the holidays, add another investigate demo memo to your quest list, as Square-Enix offers an early look at Lord of Arcana on December 21st.
The multiplayer party-flavored monster hunting PSP demo will be available via PSN, and sensibly enough, character customizations and skills will be transferable to the retail release should you decide to pick that up on January 25, 2011.
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.