Games reviewed… eventually
When you ask folk about the legacy of Final Fantasy IV, you can be quietly assured of a glowing response. People remember it for all sorts of reasons; for its consolidation of everything the early games experimented with and presenting it in one excellent package, for introducing the world to ATB and trying to bring … Continue reading Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
When you ask people about The Legend of Zelda, I’m sure a few titles immediately jump to mind. Games like Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past hold a special place in the memories of many as they each revolutionized the gaming landscape. If they’re old enough they might speak with wistful reminiscence … Continue reading The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
One thing I confess to having a great dislike for is when a sequel that doesn’t need to exist is made. Final Fantasy seems to be a perennial committer of this sin; while each main series game is largely designed to be a single complete experience, and as such you can generally pick up any … Continue reading Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-
Do you know, of all the reviews I’ve found tough to write, I don’t think I was ever expecting a Dragon Quest review to be one of them. I mean, I know I’ve enjoyed a lot of these games, so surely articulating my thoughts shouldn’t be a problem? In fact, I really struggled with this … Continue reading Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
Final Fantasy IV’s legacy speaks for itself. Since its release in 1991 it has been routinely cited as among one of the best games ever made, and certainly holds a special place in the hearts of many as the point where Final Fantasy began to metamorphosize into the franchise it is today; that this game … Continue reading Final Fantasy IV
When it comes to genres that I confess to not knowing much about, visual novels are quite high on my list. There are all sorts of good, legitimate reasons to not play a genre - I don’t touch horrors as a rule because I don’t enjoy the sensation of being scared, and I avoid grand … Continue reading Dungeons & Lesbians
The fact that Metal Gear Rising exists baffles me. If you know anything at all about the Metal Gear franchise, you’ll know it’s a series known for helping to popularize stealth games, for bringing movie-style production and sensibilities to gaming, typically in the form of lengthy cutscenes and the occasional big action set-piece, and for … Continue reading Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
As our slow playthrough of the Final Fantasy series progresses inexorably through the myriad games in this never-ending franchise we have finally reached the end of the NES era. This time around we’re playing Final Fantasy III, a game that took an extraordinarily long time to see an English release. In fact, it wasn’t until … Continue reading Final Fantasy III
There’s something profoundly incredible in knowing you’re playing a piece of history. When you boot up a game that you know is one which has had a monumental impact on the development of an industry as turbulent as that of videogames, it’s hard not to at least be a little in awe of the experience. … Continue reading Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation
One thing I love about indie games is the sheer eagerness with which they address topics and scenarios AAA games would never touch. Take today’s topic, for example. A Short Hike is a game about a young bird-lady vacationing to a sleepy, idyllic national park. There’s no grand twist to that narrative, no threat or … Continue reading A Short Hike
The Almighty Backlog 