Our Favorite Games Through the Years - Part 6 - Gaming Thoughts

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

This was the era where Chalgyr’s Game Room started, over a decade ago now. What started as a small blog to review some games that were semi-recent-ish at the time has turned into a full-fledged site that has seen numerous contributors over the years. There were a ton of great games that released during this period, as evidenced below.

Robert:

PlayStation 3: Assassin's Creed II

I struggled with this particular platform, in large because I was deep in the midst of my anti-Sony days (and to a degree, still am) and in part because there are a ton of really good games on the PS3. From the Uncharted series to the numerous Need for Speed titles, to a host of others and all with their own elements of nostalgia or have their own special meanings ... I had been considering putting any one of the numerous Tales games, or the Trails titles, or maybe the Atelier and Devil May Cry games in. So many to choose! So I picked Assassin's Creed II, in part because it's still one of my favorite games of all time (therefore made quite the impression) but also because no matter what I do, when I reminisce about the PS3 days, Ezio always creeps into my thoughts. I could be thinking about Rogue Galaxy and how it was a criminally under-appreciated RPG, or how absolutely wonderful the .Hack games were, or just how action-packed a Tomb Raider title truly is ... but then there's Ezio and ACII just lurking in the shadows, waiting for that moment to strike.

I spent hundreds of hours wandering the streets of ACII, gathering every little thing I could (and of course, spending quite the time making sure my outfit was just right) and sometimes doing nothing more than wandering the streets and soaking in the sounds of a time and space that I'll never be able to experience for real. That's magic right there.

Xbox 360: Halo: Reach

I think that this is a given, though there are some truly great contenders here- from Call of Duty: Black Ops to Dragon Age to Mass Effect 2 to any number of racing or sports games. The 360's library of titles was huge and fit me perfectly at the time, but the one game that I still compare others to to this day ... Halo: Reach. Reach is an interesting beast- any fans of the Halo franchise will likely know about the Fall of Reach; not only was it the prelude to Halo: CE, but by Halo: Reach's release, Halo and it's lore/history were household names. What I find fascinating about it is similar to why I find the success behind James Cameron's Titanic fascinating ... we already know how the story ends yet no matter what, we can't stop rewatching/replaying.

With how Halo: Combat Evolved and the original Xbox ushered in a new era for both Microsoft and gaming in general, Bungie's magnum opus and their last outing with the Halo franchise before moving on to other projects, brought with it the end of that era (for me). While there are many great games that came to the 360 after Reach's release, none of them gripped me the way Reach did. Brilliant and customizable co-op, exciting multiplayer modes, and a deeply touching (and in some cases, slightly traumatic ... ❤️ Kat) story helped close a chapter in my life, one of heartache and pain, but also of insurmountable mountains of joy, entertainment, and healthy escapism- it's only fitting that amongst the pantheon of greats in a console that's hard to beat, it was Bungie's first and final outings with the UNSC, Covenant, and everything in between, that truly gave life to two consoles and an entire decade of memories.

Nintendo Wii: New Super Mario Brothers

New Super Mario Brothers is a bit of an odd one- there were so many great games on Wii, but none really clicked with me the way New Super Mario Brothers did. I think, though, that it has more to do with life outside of the game than it does the actual title. Yes, it's fun, yes it has some excellent replayability, but what made it special to me was that it brought my family closer in a time when things were rough. We'd laugh endlessly as we bubbled our way to safety and it became more about how bad we could cheese the game with the bubbles and less about playing it- I have so many warm memories of late nights after a long days' work and a short reprieve from a colicky baby. Sometimes that's all it takes ... that and the little "bloop" sound that the bubbles make.

Pierre-Yves:

DS / 3DS: Etrian Odyssey

I’m grouping these two together. The Nintendo DS and the Nintendo 3DS are like the SNES, an absolute treasure trove of games such as: Final Fantasy Remakes, obscure JRPGs, niche RPGs, Radiant Historia, Luigi’s Mansion, Shin Megami Tensei IV and so much more.

HOWEVER, I’m doing another grouping as this series was simply one of the best and I’m a bit sad that Atlus haven’t found a way to bring it over to the Nintendo Switch. Etrian Odyssey. These old school Wizardry inspired titles, first person dungeon crawlers, not only had a brutal nature to them, but you had another component to worry about. Map making. Did you write down the proper shortcut paths? Or did you mislabel them? Were you well prepared or were you “murderlated” by a giant beast type known as a FOE which if encountered? RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

At least in the early stages of each game. There were a fair number of releases and re-released and then to add to the awesomeness there was also Persona Q and Persona Q2 which were side stories to Persona 3-4-5.

Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

So there’s a theme here isn’t there? Yes, more Legend of Zelda. While Wind Waker was cute looking to help mask the dangers ahead, Twilight Princess was dark. At the time being the first title that I was getting for the Wii, I went right through this title with every moment that I could fit in between work and school.

The world design was great, Link wasn’t always just a human but could turn into a wolf to solve certain challenges and this was finally one of those first titles that hinted that the fan theories of history and timelines may actually be a thing…

PS3: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

This is another tough one. Such a library to choose from, but when I think of the PS3? Castlevania: Lords of Shadow comes to mind. Mission based for its story instead of a metroidvania which it’s half of the reason for the style, the narrative of this adventure is what drew me in. Patrick Steward and Robert Carlyle, that right there was enough in the voice acting department to just make one’s jaw drop and they weren’t alone. Add in a great combat system and the ability to return for things that may have been missed? I think I’m going to go play this again now if you’ll excuse me…

Xbox 360: Tales of Vesperia

Bandai’s Tales of Studio’s Tale of Series. From the SNES to the PS1, to the PS2, this would be one of the two main reasons I got an Xbox 360. That and Mass Effect. Tales of Vesperia however to me, other than the lackluster ending and no post credits, would have everything. A protagonist who wasn’t a shiny white knight, a supporting cast that were all great to have around in and out of battle and that includes “Captain Carol” *laughs*. It was everything that I wanted in a Tales of and I was happy with the ports to the latest generation and I totally do not own Tales of Vesperia on the PS3/4, Xbox 360/One and the Nintendo Switch… you do!

Richard:

PlayStation 3: Tales of Graces F.

For my PS3 choice I have a game that's tied for my favorite Tales title: Tales of Graces F. I consider Tales of Graces F to be one of the best Tales titles in the franchise, right up there with Tales of Symphonia. Tales of Graces had a great battle system, an interesting array of characters, a "true man speaks with his back", and was a great game to play with friends. It's also the first Tales game I never played as the main character, interestingly enough. The bonus dungeon was also really hilarious, and the angriest I've ever been at chickens and eels. I had a lot of fun with Tales of Graces, making it my favorite PS3 title.

Wii: Trauma Center

I'm gonna toss out another one that's probably less well known for my Wii choice: Trauma Center: Second Opinion. Who knew surgery could be so much fun, if not a little frustrating at times? Following the work of a surgeon in training, Trauma Centre is like a surgery simulator where you will perform operations such as putting in pacemakers, removing glass from traumatic injuries and sewing up patients, to confronting a dangerous man-made disease. I have fond memories of playing this in University with my roommates. We decided to all do our laundry, so we brought a TV down to the laundry room and played while watching over our clothes. Good times, good times. Even with the sentimental value though, Trauma Center is a really fun title and series in general, despite some of the earlier installments being a little finicky with your controls. I'm actually thinking about cracking it back out right now. In fact, I will once I finish writing this.

Nick:

Nintendo Wii: New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Most of the games on my list so far have leaned heavily into the single player experience, with a focus on story. There were plenty of great options on this platform that fit that bill as well – but something about this iteration of Mario Bros. resonated with my family and I a lot. We sat around, playing this game for hours and hours together, and had a blast doing so. It was a chaotic mix of competition and cooperation that brought out the worst and best in all of us, but also created a ton of really fun memories.

Microsoft Xbox 360: The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion

This is where things really start to get ridiculous. In some ways, the last several entries I had were a bit easier, because while there were a ton of really good games on most of those platforms, I was generally a broke college kid raising a family who did not get to buy a ton of games. Around the time the Xbox 360 came out, I finally had access to grown-up money, and I started buying a lot more games again. Gear of War was my first real banger for the console, and I loved it, and there were tons of memorable games that came out, but Oblivion was probably my single biggest time-sink on the 360. I did -everything- that there was to be done. I explored the nooks and crannies of the nooks and crannies. I owned all the houses and decorated them with all kinds of ridiculous crap that I picked up and kept like a digital hoard. It was the first DLC I ever bought for a game. Yup, I had horse armor. It was ridiculous, but no regrets either.

Sony PlayStation 3: The Last of Us – There were so many titles that I loved on the PlayStation 3. My most played game was likely one of the Maddens that Landon and I had a long-running franchise of. There are so many good titles here I could talk about at length, and The Last of Us feels like a really ‘safe’, ‘mainstream’ choice given some of my weirder entries up until now. At the end of the day though, this game just hit me emotionally. The story, the characters, the tense gameplay, all of it. My son played through it as well, and it’s one we both talked about quite a bit while we were playing and after. I played through it again on PS4 as well later and was surprised at how much the story resonated with me still, even after a second go-round. 

Article by Robert, Pierre-Yves, Richard, and Nick

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Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux - 3DS Review

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux is a sort of remaster of Strange Journey that released for the DS in 2010, and now that Persona 5, which is from the same series vein, has garnered some popularity in the west, it seems like a fairly ripe time to put out a remaster/enhanced edition. If you're familiar with Persona 5, or another in the Persona series, you might be somewhat familiar with this style of game. If you hadn't picked it up some years ago for the DS, now is a good time to pick it up.

In Strange Journey Redux, you take the role of an unnamed soldier, sent out with a squad to explore a weird dimensional disturbance, called Schwarzwelt, that has appeared in Antarctica and is slowly expanding. It is your job to explore the labyrinths of dimensional flux to try and save the world, or at least make it out alive. The 'Redux version' adds an additional character and storyline, as well as additional demons.

Based on the choices you make throughout the story, you can change your ending, alignment, and the initial choices you're given determine your characters stat growth. And if you're familiar with the Shin Megami Tensei series at all, don't expect an easy time of it. I wouldn't name it in my "hardest games" category really, but the series has been known to throw you off a cliff. Or several. Especially in the bonus content <stares menacingly at the bonus bosses from Digital Devil Saga 1 and 2>.

At its heart, Strange Journey Redux is a fairly traditional dungeon crawler with the Shin Megami Tensei style and some interesting quirks and unique aspects. Using the power of the Demonica suit, and a weird program, you can befriend and use demons in combat as you explore each level of the Schwarzwelt labyrinth. Essentially, your suit defines your personal power, and you recruit demons to fill in the gaps in your party.

When you first start off, you will find yourself meandering around with no idea where to go, but as you walk around, you will fill in a map, which will get updated as you progress block by block. You will also get in semi-random encounters, as there is an increasing "likelihood" gauge that shows a rough estimation of how close you are to getting in a fight, although nothing is set.

Once you get in battle you enter a turn based combat with a total of four characters. Apart from the standard attacking, you also have the option to talk to demons, although some will be rather unwilling, based on either your alignment or their nature. The demon will ask you a couple of questions, and if you get the right answers, it opens the floor for potential negotiating with the demon, if they're willing.
 

When negotiating, you can ask the demon to give you an item, money, or request they come with you to help. Making a request of a demon isn't just that though, as the demon will also ask something in exchange, such as an item, a chunk of health, money, or a slice of your MP. Unfortunately, some demons are rather greedy, and request a lot. Like, really a lot, and they may even refuse after you've given them everything they ask for!

If negotiations break down, there are generally three ways things can go: enemy gets pre-emptive attack, battle starts as normal, or the enemy just leaves. Once battle starts, you'll notice that every type of attack has some sort of "element" attached to it, whether it's the common "slash" or "shot" from standard attacks, or the "fire or "lightning" you get the most from magic skills. While hitting an enemies weak point is always useful for increased damage, if there are teammates that share your alignment currently in combat with you, they'll do a follow up attack, and this isn't restricted to once per enemy or per round of combat, making it a nice part of potential combat strategy, balancing whether to take certain demons that you may like skills on, or demons that match your alignment.

As you roam throughout the different "layers" of the labyrinth. You'll come across search points that will generally provide you with useful crafting materials or items. Bringing these crafting materials back to base will unlock new craftable items, including weapons, consumables, and suit apps. Suit apps, once purchased, will enhance an aspect of your Demonica suit, such as better rewards from negotiations, or increased drop chance. Major materials may also unlock a suit function, such as the ability to unlock certain doors.

While the graphics are quite reminiscent of an older generation handheld, the music is still fairly solid Shin Megami Tensei fare. There are a bunch of really interesting demons, and the lawful/chaotic/neutral "affinity" is a really interesting balancing game that you play. Will you tailor your responses to keep a party alignment? Or tailor your party around what your choices make you?

You can also store demon codes, which you can pass along to other people. And no, the codes aren't the same as the first Strange Journey, so no scumming right off the bat. The fusion system make a return, allowing you to smash two, or more, demons together to make a new and improved one, so don't go getting attached to your demons for too long.

On the plus side, you can register your demons to resummon them for what usually amounts to a hefty sum of cash, but at least the option is there. The side quests that you can find from the friendly demons in the labyrinth are also interesting, although some of them tend to rely a little too heavily on luck for my tastes.

Overall, I'd say Strange Journey Redux gets 8 pixies out of ten. It's really solid with some interesting gimmicks and solid gameplay, but it just doesn't quite have the oomph to substantially set itself apart from the crowd.

Game Information

Platform:
Nintendo 3DS
Developer(s):
Atlus
Publisher(s):
Atlus
Genre(s):
Dungeon Crawler
JRPG
Mode(s):
Single Player
Other Platform(s):
NA

Source:
Provided by Publisher

Article by Richard

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Etrian Odyssey 5: Beyond the Myth - 3DS Review

I had the chance to sit down to the demo before launch which contained the first three floors and a level cap of the final release. Easily importing that data, my characters and my progress into the full version, it was time to go further. Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth is one of the best in the main line and hopefully it isn't the last as we still don't know the fate of the handheld's successor.

In a lot of ways this latest entry into the dungeon crawler is the most accessible yet. The ONLY complaint that I have about this map drawing quest of exploration is the lack of being able to teleport to the entrances of cleared floors. EO5 has brought back the need of the Ariadne Thread if you need to make a hasty escape from the labyrinth's dangerous floors.

Short of that the rest is incredible. Atlus have added a lot of small touches that just made everything better. Item management has always been a tough one as once you really get going you'll have to make hard choices. Do you start ditching new materials and monster parts or do you head back to town to sell them for cash and unlock new items. Now available is a seperate food tab that doesn't count or clog up your material spaces and character race abilities that allow for expansions of your carrying capacity.

On the subject of the food, it has made dungeon crawling just a little bit easier as it allows for both HP and TP regeneration outside of combat. If that extra stock wasn't enough you also now have access to cooking fire and recipes in order to enhance the restorative properties. While you can't use these in battle, having them as an option can make quite the difference.

Map drawing is as robust as ever allowing players the options to do it all from scratch or to have the system do a good portion of the work. Drawing walls, coloring in the floor and adding details and notes for recurring events take seconds allowing you to either quickly recall what is available between larger breaks or help others as you recreate and post them online. If you've made a mistake on a brush stroke or a symbol placement there are erasers to erase lines and paint on the floor as well as a garbage bin to remove the symbols.

Exploration surprised me as it wasn't simple a rehash of everything previously done. There are several new elements such as:

• switches that turn roadblocks into doors;
• double triggers that change where barricades appear. These will often get in your way but sometimes come in great use blocking a FOE (Formido Oppugnatura Exsequens aka VERY BIG and on the screen enemy) from moving closer to you or in your path; and
• finally some adjustments to those FOE as some will follow their paths across land and water with splashing effects while they move through water.

So there are the elements that have made the series what it is but at the same time this newest entry hasn't sat on what it has already done but continued to push the style forward with some new surprises.

One thing about this series that continuously astonishes me is the sheer amount of time that you can spend dungeon crawling and not even realize it. Exploring floors from top to bottom and right to left ot make sure you haven't missed anything, putting in all of the details so that you remember where something was for later such as gathering points for specific items like apples or wheat and this is before grinding for experience.

Enemies obviously get tougher after every floor, bosses are always a true test of your might however they can sometimes be more manageable than a floor's FOE. A prime example of this is that after I cleared the first Stratum I still couldn't handle the giant shrimp until much later. There's a reason they show up on the screen. They really are enemies that shouldn't be taken lightly and because of this it's your choice to do so. The rewards are always worth it though.

There's not much more to say than what I've already said back in November. All of the little changes and new touches add up to make this newest entry into the series better than the previous ones. The only bonus now, compared to then, is that a new title has been announced that we simply have to wait for. Is it a new core entry or a spin-off? We know it's not an Untold so it'll be interesting to see where the series goes next as after this one, there really isn't much left that they can improve upon without making something brand new.

Game Information

Platform:
Nintendo 3DS
Developer(s):
Atlus
Publisher(s):
Atlus
Genre(s):
Dungeon Crawler
Mode(s):
Single Player
Other Platform(s):
None

Source:
Purchased

Article by Pierre-Yves

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Creeping Terror - 3DS Review

To its credit, Creeping Terror has something of a unique premise in presenting the usual hide-from-the-horror gameplay in a 2D perspective. Unfortunately just about everything else that the game has to offer is pretty much what I expected from the genre.

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Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia - 3DS Review

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is an interesting throwback title, because it reminds me of what made Fire Emblem such an enduring video game series with many traits that have trickled down through the years. However, there are some unique aspects to the game as well, that also shows me how much the series has grown as well.

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Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright - 3DS Review

It’s funny how things can turn out some days. Nick who reviewed Birthright’s counterpart Conquest last year I believe picked it up after I did, which is funny, because I took a trip south of my own Canadian borders to hang out with both him and Robert for a week during that time. Only truly getting to it now as I felt I had a hard time sliding into it compared to Awakening. There’s plenty to enjoy but I have to agree with Nick with how it compared to Conquest before I get ready to jump into Revelations.

While the idea of an amnesiac surprises NO ONE these days, Fire Emblem Fates put a bit of a twist on it. Starting off with choosing Corrin to be either Male or Female (not unlike Robin in Awakening), “she” wakes up one morning with her servants booting her out of bed. Soon being tasked with leaving her home and her siblings on a mission, she finds herself meeting up with another set of supposed siblings.

Having an identical amount of brothers and sisters from two opposing and at war nations, Corrin must choose whether she goes down the path of Hoshido (Birthright) or the path of Nohr (Conquest) as she either sides with the family she was born into or the family that raised her. From here, the primary choice was that of the physical or digital edition acquired with the other available as DLC at half price.

Birthright was touted as the “easy” path and counterpart to Conquest which was supposed to be harder and less accessible in terms of how easy it was in order to gear your party for the tough battles that they would be facing. Having now gone through both I’ll agree that it is easier in terms of its difficulty for scenarios but at the same time I found that it wasn’t written as well as Conquest was.

In a lot of ways it felt like it was always missing just that little bit of something as it failed to capitalize on its enormous cast in favour of just spitting out each scenario until the credits rolled. Maybe this is why it took me so long to slide into Awakening’s sequel as once I finished and moved to Conquest, I simply couldn’t put it down while it took everything I had to finish Birthright.

Story elements aside for a moment, the rest of the systems were fantastic and continued along the more “accessible” route that Awakening put into place allowing characters to return to the garrison for the next fight instead of being permanently removed from the game. That option is still there for the more hardcore players if they choose to but sometimes, and in admission Awakening was my first real Fire Emblem, I have no idea how to pull something like that off as just one critical hit is enough to send a person to their grave.

What I loved with the gameplay system is the customizations for either a quick and dirty run with no theatrics or the whole nined yard enchilada with all of the toppings that you could think of. It really caters to both style of players in which I personally like to have my units move quickly across the field and simply play the numbers game otherwise what would be a five to ten minute battle scenario becomes fifteen to thirty just because of the animations.

The rock / paper / scissors x2 system that is in place was just as smooth as ever though there were some moments in which you simply knew that winning was not an option. Swords beat axes which beat spears that beat swords. Magic beat bows which beat the “misc” category in which shurikens can be found which beat magic. Adding in ground troops, flyers and riders and you really had to constantly worry about who was where upon the battlefield which brings into play one of my favorite systems. Fire Emblem’s Dating Sim!

Because of the lack of “oomph” to the campaign phase I was happy for the present dating simulator that has plenty of dialog and funny situations for characters to get involved in. It’s a small distraction that allows players to go through the what ifs of if someone were to fall in love with someone else or become best friends with another while ignoring the person they came in paired with at the beginning. More than this is that the system gives you access to couple’s offspring through the paralogues which in some cases are brutally hard and will test your decision making skills or the amount that you grinded through the side missions.

Overall while Birthright wasn’t a bad experience though it lacked a lot of what its counterpart offered. Conquest had heavy dialog at every turn and didn’t feel like it was simply rushing you into the next battle along your way to the credits. I would have liked more in that regard from this side of Corrin’s family.

Game Information

Platform:
Nintendo 3DS
Developer(s):
Nintendo
Publisher(s):
Nintendo of America
Genre(s):
SRPG
Mode(s):
Single Player
Other Platform(s):
NA

Source:
Purchased 

Article by Pierre-Yves

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Culdcept Revolt - 3DS Review

The Culdcept games have been around for about twenty years now, and they bring a unique mix of board game and collectible card game together in a lightweight but enjoyable RPG experience. The last time I played a game in the series was Culdcept Saga for the Xbox 360, and while I actually enjoyed the experience quite a bit, the game was pretty rough in a lot of areas. I am happy to say that Culdcept Revolt has smoothed most of those out and the end result is actually a lot of fun.

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Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth - 3DS Preview

The sign of a great series is one that can both innovate over the years while simultaneously keeping its charm and what made it great in the first place. Atlus’ Etrian Odyssey is one of these such series that have found a well loved home on the DS and the 3DS with their mix of Dungeon Crawling crawling and explorative based cartography as you lead a guild of adventurers through various labyrinths and frightening foes.

This series has really come far over the years with 1-2-3 on the DS and 4-Untold1-Untold2 and Persona Q on the 3DS. Each entry has only added more elements to make it more accessible while never compromising on the challenge that the labyrinths could provide. Etrian Odyssey 5 is no exception to this as from the beginning it has moved away from a fully human class based system and introduced other races to the mix with certain classes being exclusive to the present races.

This new direction for those involved in the adventure is a nice change of pace because with each race comes different elements that can be brought to the adventure. Instead of having only their class based skills

• Earthlain (Humans);
• Celestians (Elves);
• Therians (Beast like people not Lycanthropes); and
• Brouni (Gnome ish?)

all have what their classes allow as well as what their individual races grant. For example instead of having classes that can gather, mine or chop wood, now the races have their own specialties with fishing added to the mix. This means that having multiple Earthlain would be good if you really need to fish but having one from each race would better cover the bases for the exploration as not only will your gathering needs be covered but so will your fighting capabilities.

While some of the classes resemble what have been around from the beginning there have been some new additions and having them fall into different races is an interesting approach. While part of me would have liked to be able to pick and choose race and class from the beginning as sometimes you want a more robust healer or mage, part of the challenge to the series has always been figuring out a proper balance to the party and EO5 is no exception. This really gets you thinking upon your class composition until the first floor is cleared and the option to change classes to even that of another race becomes possible for the low cost of five character levels. From that point on the world is your oyster.

For the first time in the series players get to not only chose from one of four character portraits for their adventurers but also the hair, eye and skin colors. Both the hair and the eyes have multiple choices as well as combinations as you get to pick both the actual colour and the highlights. Yes it is cosmetic but it brings a more personalized approach than simply the four standard choices of two male and two female options. Nothing can be done about the clothing however but what is provided is already another customization step forward along with over twenty different voice options in which any can be set for a character during creation.

Once your party is created it’s time to leave town and get to exploring which may even be more smooth now than it was before. Graphically EO5 feels smoother and easier to look at than even Untold 2 or Persona Q which had already boosted the graphical levels. The colours are bright and the environments are nice to look at as you explore them while trying to find your way over to the next level. While you’re exploring though some changes have been done to the bottom screen’s map and they are definitely for the better.

Filling out the map on the bottom screen has always been a fun aspect to this series as it allows for you to customize it as you see fit. Gone is the need to tab through your icons at the bottom screen in order to add details to your map. Instead you have a tab that can be dragged out as far as you want it and re-arranged as need be. Drawing the map is also customizable depending upon your personal preferences with auto-filling allowing you to draw your own walls or having them filled in by the system leaving the gathering points and any other notes the only things left to be added in. This also classic fans to play as they always have or newcomers to have an easier time as they learn the ropes to the often unforgiving dungeon exploration.

Currently the Demo provides thirty uses from the 3DS main menu as well as a level cap of 10, “reduced audio quality” (sounds pretty good to me…), and the ability to make it to the third floor. Other than that there are no other real limitations and all of your data can be brought over to the full version once it launches.

With longtime series can sometimes come the worry that the next entry may not meet our expectations but with this one particular series that never seems to be the case. Instead what often comes to mind is what are they going to surprise us with this time as the Etrian Odyssey series continues to expand in order to bring about even better experiences on each release. I for one am looking quite forward to being able to further explore the labyrinth once it fully launches late next month!

Game Information

Platform:
Nintendo 3DS
Developer(s):
Atlus
Publisher(s):
Atlus USA
Genre(s):
Dungeon Crawler
RPG
Mode(s):
Single Player
Other Platform(s):
N/A

Source:
Nintendo eShop 

Article by Pierre-Yves

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RPG Maker Fes - 3DS Review

Game making software is already one of the toughest categories to try and review, and RPG Maker Fes might be one of the most difficult yet. Those who are familiar with the PC RPG Maker programs are bound to find this title somewhat limited in features, and those new to the genre may find the lack of guidance frustrating. Yet beneath those concerns and limitations is a surprisingly robust tool that can make perfectly fun games for your 3DS and those of others - which is actually pretty cool when you think about it.

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Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past - 3DS Review

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past is the hail mary that we never thought that Square Enix would localize. Originally having released for the PS1 it was re-designed, re-written and re-worked in Japan for the 3DS and for the longest time there wasn’t even the slightest mention of the possibility of a localization. Finally having happened and released late last year, we’ve got a review. After all this time was it worth the wait and the ride to get to it? I’m still not sure.

Starting with DQ8 on the PS2 and then experiencing DQ9 on the DS, I’m still going through my journey of the series. Having started at the beginning and reviewing the the ports of DQ1, DQ2 and DQ3 on the Android, DQ4 (written), DQ5 (where I currently am) and DQ6 are works in progress as the reviews will release back to back. At the time I was still going through the fourth though after all the time and the energy fans of the series went through I had both eagerly ordered and then opened the package of DQ7 for the 3DS the night it made it to my mailbox.

Figuring it would be an excellent entry into the series I dove right in and instantly I hit a wall. Where’s the action? Don’t tell me these goofballs and that bitch are the main characters. Yes. Bitch. I can’t remember the last time I despised a main character that much but Mirabelle takes the cake. After only the first few hours, in which almost two have nothing but story building and no combat. I had put it away for weeks before getting back to it. Maybe I was too excited? Continuing on since then? I found that I’ve got a severe love hate relationship with this one.

A big part of the issues that I have are with the cast. I found it so hard to even like them much less love them. Not only is your main character a silent protagonist, he’s SILENT. He does nothing. At all. He’s just there to lead the others around mechanically. Where the Love started was HOURS in when you finally get a fourth party member just to lose another one because he finally became someone that I could almost like and then he was gone. Alright… fine. Back to three for a long while with the occasional NPC drop in. By this point however the main flow of DQ7 was in motion and it felt less like a cohesive experience and more like a weekly adventure that you would log / sit down to the TV in order to see what your band of adventures would encounter next while also feeling like something was lacking.

DQ7 is very episodic. The idea behind everything is brilliant and even very well executed from a lore standpoint but it’s how the characters go about things that feel disjointed. The world was split up in the past and where our adventures start, everyone believes that they are alone in the world, and they are. They are the only island in the world’s ocean until the day that the fishermen brought back a piece of a stone tablet. With our main character the Hero and his friend the goofball Prince Keifer just couldn’t leave well enough alone and poked and prodded every square inch of the island until they found the Shrine of Mysteries. Speaking with its keeper and placing the stone fragments into their pedestal their lives, and the lives of everyone in the world, was forever changed.

By combining the stone fragments into their pedestals portals are opened to the past in which the adventurers have the ability to change the course of history. By defeating the evil forces that lie in these previous eras of time the future is changed and the islands to continents slowly come back to the modern era in which other than that original island, no one knows any differently. This was cool and it was well done as just because something was saved in the past doesn’t always mean that it exists in the future. Some towns sprouted up while others withered to dust. It makes sense as nothing lasts forever. It’s just everything else that goes with it that brings it down.

The events leading to all of this are ill paced however. Some are really long and drawn out while others are just there. No real context other than “Slay Evil Thing in that Poisonous Cave Over There.” So you do it, grab the fragment, head back to the “future” or your modern day, slap it into its pedestal and then go explore the area now present to find another fragment as you’ll most likely need it. You can talk to people and explore but generally there’s nothing to do other than grabbing the fragments and hauling ass back to the past to kick the crap out of some other form of evil.

Rinse. Repeat.

Some of these chapters are fun however but on an overall they don’t fit together and there’s no real emotions from the characters other than Mirabelle being less and less of a bitch as the characters say less and less as the story moves on. And it’s not just her. A lot of people in this world are assholes. I’m using these words specifically as that’s what they come across as. I don’t like swearing in my reviewing and I’ll generally try to find something fluffy but in this case? There’s no fluff.

A lot of the NPCs involved with the story are mean in the worst kinds of way and often misogynistic. This really took me aback as I’ve now played 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 7- 8- 9- Heroes- HeroesII (In progress for review)- and Builders (by far my favorite followed by 8/9). This is the only one where all of this is an issue. What the hell happened when DQ7 was being done? One or two people maybe in a specific situation but with the actual number being much higher? Wow. It didn’t add anything and if anything made me want to just put it away in favor of getting back full time to DQ5 or loading up my shiny new copy of DQ8 on the 3DS.

This just added to the lack of proper pacing. I mean what kind of RPG introduces a class system that allows for a variety of abilities to be learnt and cross used between classes fifteen or sixteen hours into the game!? Coming to Alltrades Abby I figured that it would have been a tribute to the well known class switching institution. Not only is it one of the worst arcs. Not only do they strip you of everything skill based making Mirabelle useless as she’s a magic user that can’t take a hit. They give you access to a class system afterwards. Don’t you think it was a bit late for this? Do you know how much grinding that I’ve already done just to beat certain bosses because they were unnecessarily hard because of certain abilities? Ugh...

As excited as I was to play Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past I think I spent more time hating it than enjoying it. Everytime that I found something to enjoy with it, despite the terrible pacing, I swear it was taken away or marred because someone opened their mouth to say something unnecessarily mean that added no value to the experience. It sucks because I had looked forward to this especially with the hail mary to get it as it as the chances had been slim to none. While I can appreciate the gesture, and am thankful for it, I seriously doubt that I will ever pick this one back up unlike a lot of the others in the series.

Game Information

Platform:
Nintendo 3DS
Developer(s):
Square Enix
Publisher(s):
Square Enix
Genre(s):
RPG
Mode(s):
Single Player
Other Platform(s):
Sony PlayStation (Original Version)

Source:
Purchased

Article by Pierre-Yves

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Farming Simulator 18 - 3DS Review

It is disgusting how addictive this game is. As with every game in this franchise, Farming Simulator 18 should really be called Farming Equipment Driver 18 since pretty much all you do is drive in as straight of a line as possible with various farming equipment to grow crops and make money. Like I said, this game should not be this addictive, but true to the franchise's history, Farming Simulator 18 on the 3DS proves that the formula of slow moving accomplishment can be successfully ported onto a handheld in a slimmer, slightly less visually detailed package.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience the satisfaction of a hard day's work without the inconvenient smells and dirt then this game is for you! You start off with a few small fields and a meadow which is a new feature to this edition along with the basic gear needed for farming. The starting gear includes Deutz Fahr AgroStar and Massey Ferguson MF 5610 tractors, a Case Axial-Flow 1660 harvester, a tipper, a Kuhn cultivator and a Giant Plains sower start you off with many larger and more powerful machines from big agricultural names available for purchase from the shop. Using these basics your job is to cultivate, sow and harvest various crops to sell to different buyers in the quaint American town you reside in.

As your operation grows in size you can hire helpers to manage multiple fields you own as well as purchase the equipment needed to produce hay or straw for sheep, pigs and cows. These livestock in turn provide fertilizer and products you can sell for additional cash income. On that subject, you can accept quests such as hauling a specific crop or a trailer to a set location for a cash grant. The game is pretty grind heavy so you'll need that cash saved for the periodic purchasing of equipment that spices things up. Like its computer based partner (Farming Simulator 15), the 3DS version allows for the storage of crops in silos if prices at the time are low. If farming isn't your thing you can also eventually get into forestry. Your only objective is to grow stuff, sell it, buy bigger toys and repeat.

There is no storyline. There are no explosions. You can’t even drive over the cliff. I tried so this game is strictly a relaxation sort of thing.

Each iteration of this franchise is pretty much the same base with a few new mechanics, some new crops and new equipment. This port is not exception. The new features are the ability to breed pigs, buy tractors already equipped with front loaders and plant sunflower seeds. Again I have no idea why this thing is so addictive, logically it should not be. I blame hypnotoad.

If you’ve played any of the computer versions you’re going to find this one a little simplistic since a lot of the gameplay is paired down. The timeline for crop production is significantly sped up and the chemical sprayers have disappeared removing one step in the growing process. You also can’t get out of your tractor so you’re pretty much a ghost that inhabits various pieces of farm equipment. Other than those few differences it’s pretty much the same experience you’d expect if you’re familiar with the franchise and a great place to start if you’re new.

My two biggest issues with the 3DS version are the map and the controls. The game is set in a canyon village that looks pretty when you first start but is a nightmare to navigate. Some locations are an unreasonably long way away from your starting location and you have to drive the long way around to get to them. Or just avoid them if you're lazy like me. The canyon also makes managing the placement of your equipment a little dicy.

Also, occasionally the helpers would get hung up on something I’d left by the field and call for help because there isn’t a lot of space around the beginning fields. Also, I don’t know what it was but if a helper had to go fill up the fertilizer they would go full derp on the way back. Several times I caught them driving diagonally across the wrong field or attempting to fertilize the base of a large rock. My other issue was the clunkiness of the controls. It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out how to start equipment (Editor's Note: She looked at me wondering how the hell and then went silent. She had figured it out. Laughing ensued). A better tutorial or an in game help would not go amiss here.

All in all Farming Simulator 18 on the DS is exactly what you expect: a massive illogical timesink that will make you question your life goals.

Game Information

Platform:
Nintendo 3DS
Developer(s):
GIANTS Software GmbH
Publisher(s):

Focus Home Interactive

Genre(s):
Simulation
Mode(s):
Single Player
Other Platform(s):
Sony PlayStation Vita
Mobile

Source:
Provided by Publisher

Article by Breanna

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7th Dragon III Code: VFD - 3DS Review

7th Dragon III Code: VFD is a really interesting throwback to old school turn-based RPGs, that feel right at home with the older Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest games. Code “Very Fancy Durians” is the game that I didn’t know I needed to get me back into turn-based combat. While I’ve always been a fan of RPGs, lately I’ve been finding it more difficult to have my attention held for longer than an hour or two at a time by these styles of games. Vicariously Furry Dogs however, had me up until three in the morning before an 8:00 am work shift. RPG fans will have a reason to dust off their 3DS if they haven’t picked it up in a while, because this is exactly what you’ve been missing.

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Games of January 2017

I would love to say that "It’s that time again!" but we are a bit later this month. Coming in near the end of the month however isn't all that bad as it hasn't been a heavy one and the important titles? Dragon Quest VIII on the 3DS just released this past friday and the best title of the month? Tales of Berseria comes out tomorrow!

Earlier this month and out now

Criminal Girls: Invite Only - PC

With Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors having released not that long before the end of the year, it's predecesor has made it's way over to the PC like many other of NIS/NISA's titles. Didn't have a Vita and missed out on this Dungeon Crawler? Now's your chance to jump on it!

(PSV Trailer)

Fate/EXTELLA: The Umbral Star - PS4, Vita

The next Fate exeprience has recently released and here's what it's all about:

Automaton is a spiritron computer, which exists on the moon and has the power to grant any wish. All across the spiritron-constructed virtual world, SE.RA.PH., Servants and the Masters who control them fight for the right to be the Moon Cell Automaton's one owner in a ceremonial conflict known as the Holy Grail War.

Now, the Servant Nero Claudius and her Master have won the Holy Grail War and have obtained the universal wishing mechanism, the Holy Grail.

They also obtained the Regalia, a ring that proves their kingship. With it, they rule over their once-enemy Servants and start a new beginning on the moon's new world.

But a new enemy has appeared before them. And this enemy has something that shouldn't exist: another Regalia.

Gravity Rush 2 - PS4

Still searching for clues behind the mystery of her origin, Kat must master three unique gravity attack styles as she takes on a new danger emerges to threaten the fabric of the universe itself.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King - 3DS

Dragon Quest VIII is where I started in the series after renting it for no other reason than playing the Final Fantasy XII demo at the time. Falling in love with both it and the series since then, it's seeing its second re-release with the first being for both the iOS and Android platforms. Best part is that the voice acting is back which was a dissapointment to have seen removed from the mobile versions alongside new features.

Saban's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Mega Battle

Alright. This. This right here is the most naltolgic thing on this month's list. I grew up with the Power Rangers on TV and this Brawler goes all the right back to the beginning with the original five and then adds in the Green and White (DLC) Rangers. Hell the putties make that hilarious noise and I swear it's Rita's original voice as she screams at you!

Tuesday January 24th

Tales of Berseria - PS4

Tales of Berseria - PC January 26th

A good portion of the team are fans of the Tales of series. Nick, Robert, Richard, and myself I know are going to be pretty busy throwing as much time as we can into this latest of the series which also finds itself being a few hundred years prior prequel to Zestiria. Thankfully we've only had to wait two years between releases!

Resident Evil 7 biohazard - PS4, XB1, PC

I have to be one of the biggest chickens on the team when it comes to horror and I can't wait to get my hands on this. Resisdent Evil going back to it's roots from the run and gun that's it's become and I'm excited to possibly be scared to death. <- I will NOT be playing this alone or in the dark!

Yakuza 0 - PS4

The Yakuza series is seeing its newest entry which acts as a prequel to the rest of the series and it's looking good.

Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue - PS4

I swear that I'm never actually going to see Kingdom Hearts 3 as the appocalypse has more chances to occur first. 2.8 is putting the last titles into HD while also giving us a brand new experience with Aqua who was one of the three main characters from Birth by Sleep which is one of my favorite PSP games.

Monday January 30th

Disgaea 2 - PC

Like Disgaea before it, Phantom Brave, and Criminal Girls above, Disgaea 2 is seeing a PC release. Join in on Adell and Rozalin's adventure as Adell tries to bring her back to Overlord Zenon, in which he's got a bone to pick with anyways. There's only one problem. He's afraid to be touched by girls!

Tuesday January 31st

Conan Exiles (Early Access) - PC

While it may have been cheesy watching it when I was a bit older, I still enjoyed the original Conan the Barbarian. Set in that same world is an open world survival that will allow you to play either on your own server or with others for both better or worse online. Think ARK Survival Evolved.

Digimon World: Next Order - PS4

Digimon World: Next Order is the latest Digimon to come out way after Cyber Sleuth. Unlike the awesome RPG however this time things are in real time. Can you once again save the Digiworld?

Hitman: The Complete First Season (physical release) - PS4, XB1

Hitman came back last year in an episodic way which is seeing the physical release of the entire season of content. Six episodes alongside bonus missions and DLC will be up for grabs for any fan that's been holding on for a full package.

Article by Pierre-Yves
Information Provided by Jim

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Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 - 3DS Review

Gunvolt is back, and yet again, the strange Copen is the omnipresent thorn in his side. Fueled by his usual hatred for all Adepts, Copen is actually a playable character this time around.

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Games of November 2016

It’s that time again!

Looks like it may finally be here. Most people don't even need to ask what by this point. Final Fantasy XV will have a huge bar to live up to for a game that's been in development for about a decade. It's been scrapped, it's been re-written, it's been everywhere but in our hands. The demo from Final Finatasy Type-0 was fun but can the rest live up to that?

With a new Harvest Moon, Pokemon, and Mario Party alongside remakes like Darksiders and Assassin's Creed, this month may be smaller than the rest but it has some awesome titles incoming. Personally? Super Dungeon Bros looks epic alongside the side scrolling Earth's Dawn!

Tuesday November 1st

BlazBlue: Central Fiction - PS3, PS4

First up this month we have a new BlazBlue! Here's a bit on it before the trailer:

Aksys Games and Arc System Works proudly announce that BlazBlue: Central Fiction will release Winter 2016 in North America physically and digitally on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. BlazBlue: Central Fiction is the newest installment in the storied BlazBlue franchise and stands alone as the pinnacle of next gen 2D fighters! Like a well-timed 2D punch, BlazBlue: Central Fiction bashes massive amounts of content and innovation into one slick title that hits hard and keeps the pummeling steady! Prepare yourself for a brand new story, new characters, levels, modes, system mechanics and more! Choose from over 33 unimaginable fighters as you battle for 2D supremacy!

and here's the PSN Blog Post from Aksys back in August

Earth's Dawn - PS4

Earth's Dawn was originally supposed to be launched last month however I'm leaving it up on the list instead of as a mention bellow because unlike those this is both a new title and secondly it looks awesome. I love sidescrolling brawlers.

Super Dungeon Bros - PS4, XB1

Supposed to have to come back out in September, I'm also leaving this on the list as I'll be personally covering it. The best part? I'll be getting my brothers together in order to see who's the most super out of us all.

Sadly none of us are named Franky.

Friday November 4th

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare - PS4, XB1, PC

The newest COD is here. I'll be honest that I'm not really a FPS player most of the time and I've barely touched this series. Will it be a good direction for the series after the Modern and Advance Warefare? Time will tell!

Mario Party Star Rush - 3DS

I love a good Mario Party like the next person but I wish this would have been at least on the Wii U because sadly I'm one of the only one of my friends that live close to each other that owns a 3DS AND who would want to play.

Tuesday November 8th

Harvest Moon: Skytree Village - 3DS

I'm glad that even after the split that we are still getting Harvest Moons. Thankfully the next one is here for all your non RPG farming needs!

Marvel Pinball: Epic Collection Volume 1 - PS4, XB1

The Boss Man is in for a treat this month with a newer version of Marvel Pinball from the previous one on the PS3. I would personally have to get my hands on one of these or a physical one for the basement that doens't cost a mortgage payment...

Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization - PS4, Vita

Sword Art is back with an all new story that was crafted under the supervision of the original author. Love the series and have been waiting for the next installment? Here it is!

Robinson: The Journey - PSVR

It's times like this that I wish I had a VR headet. Alas I'll have to wait for From Software's project before jumping on that wagon. It does look great though!

Thursday November 10th

Root Letter - PS4, Vita

Fans of visual novels have something to look forward to this month with Root Letter which is about solving a decade old murder.

Dishonored 2 - PS4, XB1, PC

I still really need to go through and play the original. No time like the present as the sequel is here!

Tuesday November 15th

Eagle Flight - PSVR

More to the PSVR category this month is Ubisoft's Eagle Flight.

Overcooked Gourmet Edition - PS4, XB1

I've been hearing great to amazing things about Overcooked from friends and fellow colleagues alike. With a physical release inbound maybe it's time for some local mayhem to happen around here!

Watch Dogs 2 - PS4, XB1

PC releases November 29th

The original Watch Dogs had interesting concepts. Not to let it fall quietly into the night here's the sequel!

Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection - PS4, XB1

For all those that either haven't played, played and wated to go back again in a higher definition, Ezio is back. Now if I can just finish Assassin's Creed 2 back on the PS3 and continue the series I'll be happy. Ah backlogs.

The Walking Dead - The Telltale Series: A New Frontier - PS3, PS4, 360, XB1

Still needing to play the Season 2, Telltale is back with a new installation of The Walking Dead. I'm happy to know that Clementine is still alive. While I don't watch TV, I do know how Season 7 of the show started so here's hoping for no parallels.

Thursday November 17th

Planet Coaster - PC

Nick has already had a chance to take a look at Planet Coaster and here were his final thoughts on it:

"Sure, we have a little ways to go until the game is ready to go, but what I have gotten to see so far has made me incredibly optimistic that Planet Coaster could be one of the best simulation games in quite some time. Those looking for a proper RollerCoaster Tycoon game will likely want to check this title out when it releases next month."

Friday November 18th

Pokemon Sun and Moon - 3DS

There are a few of us on the team that are fans of this long running RPG Grind Heavy series. Yes they are cute, but they are also very powerful and there's nothing better than mowing through your opponents to prove that you're a better trainer than they are!

Killing Floor 2 - PS4

The Killing Floor 2 released on the PC a while back. Launching for the first time on the consoles step into a crazy ride of FPS survival against some rather insane "things".

Star Wars Battlefront Ultimate Edition - PS4, XB1

Been holding off on Battlefront until the Season Pass content all came to pass? Now's the time!

Tuesday November 22nd

Darksiders Warmastered Edition - PS4, XB1

After the Deathinitive Edition of the second entry I could have only HOPED for a remake of the first. Wishes were granted because here it is. Also? The newly renamed THQNordic rock.

Tuesday November 29th

The Crew Ultimate Edition - PS4, XB1

The Crew are back for a slew of crazy driving stunts and awesome looking vehicles.

Final Fantasy XV - PS4, XB1

Finally this month, la piece de resistance.

Can this live up to everything that some of us have been hoping for over the past decade? T-Minus 28 days.

Note: Several releases such as Tumblestone, The Atari Classics, The SteamWorld Collection, Runbow: Deluxe Edition, Cartoon Network Battle Crashers, We Sing and Steins;Gate 0 can be found between some of the lists from previous months as they were either fully pushed back or were console specific delayed.

Article by Pierre-Yves Information Provided by Jim

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