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Latest Reviews
Hindsight
When I previewed Hindsight, I said it promised to be a thoughtful exploration of memory, childhood, and family relationships. Creative director Joel McDonald and narrative writer and designer Emma Kidwell deliver on that promise. Hindsight is a narrative exploration game spanning the entirety of a woman’s life through memories that...
Stories can be told in many forms but there is something unique about their implementation in video games. BAFTA winners, State of Play, look to harness this to tell an emotional and personal tale. South of the Circle is a narrative-driven, cinematic experience but will it prove to be another...
Hohokum
When it comes to entertainment — whether movie, TV, book or videogame — there’s room at the table for everyone and everything. Not every game needs to be an action blockbuster, serious drama, open-world masterpiece or platforming extravaganza. Sometimes, just being chill and colorful is enough. That’s certainly true of...
I really enjoyed playing otome games growing up, so I do have some standards when it comes to fictional relationships. The difference now is my standards have become too realistic – like, there’s no way a guy could ever say that! Nevertheless, with zero hesitation I picked up Birushana: Rising...
Hell Pie
Most 3D platformers stick to conventions: bright and colorful worlds with wholesome, wide-eyed inhabitants. While the majority reside in this area, there are a select few that warp these ideals. Taking influence from titles such as Psychonauts and Conker’s Bad Fur Day, Hell Pie is a grotesque adventure that chews...
Westwood Studios originally released Blade Runner, the PC game, in 1997. Though the game bears the same name as the movie, the game tells an original story that takes place on a parallel path with the film. It occasionally crosses narrative paths with the movie.
Live A Live
Good games should have a focused vision. They need a running theme, a thesis statement that binds everything together. The more branching out you do, the more potential trouble you invite. Live A Live flies in the face of this wisdom. The protagonists seemingly have nothing to do with one...
When it comes to videogame narratives, deep dives into mythology aren’t rare. They are, however, rarely done coherently or well. Case in point: Achilles: Legends Untold, a game loosely inspired by Greek heroes and myths. It mixes and matches familiar characters almost without regard to the source material. At the...
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series is the long-awaited remaster of the first two Klonoa games. These 2.5D side-scrolling platformers are considered by fans to be lost gems. Does Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series live up to the hype, and are Klonoa’s adventures still worth playing? The answers are yes and yes, with...
It’s a lesson well-learned by writers, musicians, TV producers, and film directors: when something is successful, don’t mess with it. More of the same is a good thing. Sure, you want to tweak your product a little. Making big changes, though, tends to alienate your audience. It’s a good way...
The collection of games included in the Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium is relatively diverse. You’ll get a variety of fighting games, including the Street Fighter Alpha trilogy and three Darkstalkers games. There are a whole bunch of shoot-em-up games, such as Savage Bees and 1943. A decent collection of puzzle...
