Another week, and another ill-fated Working Design’s PlayStation 1 release. Vanguard Bandits was a decent JRPG/Strategy game based on stereotypical anime mech troupes. Vanguard Bandits had a little more ‘flash’ than most Japanese strategy games of the time. It featured multiple story events with different ramifications given the choice of the protagonist, and consequently, multiple…
The Best Games of 2006 According to GameRankings
While the Xbox 360 arrived in 2005, its impressive next generation software did not hit stores until 2006. The year also saw the launch of the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, meaning a ‘new’ console generation had just begun. As usual, Sony’s system had an awful launch lineup, and thus, none of its games…
Deus Ex is a First-Person RPG Masterpiece
Deus Ex is one of the greatest first-person role-playing games I have ever experienced. The game made me love the futuristic, cyberpunk aesthetic. Its freedom of choice is legendary, and it offers a top-of-the-line story. Though the title is from the year 2000, Deus Ex is a strong competitor for the greatest FPS RPG ever…
Final Fantasy XVI: New Trailer and Target Release Season Revealed
Sony’s state of play was not a mind-boggling event. Most games in the presentation were cross-generational titles. However, JRPG and Final Fantasy fans in general had much to celebrate about as a new trailer of Final Fantasy XVI was unveiled. A More Mature Fantasy: Final Fantasy Goes Witcher Political turmoil, large scale bloody battles, and…
TGIF: Which was the Largest “Next Gen” Console Leap?
I guess, if I asked someone the question of “what have been your favorite home console ‘next gen’ moments in any console generation?” The answer would be largely dependent on the age of the person being asked the question. To me, these special moments took place during the 32/64-bit era. The transition from 2-D to…
Games That Will Cost You a Kidney: Thousand Arms
Thousand Arms, like other games on this weekly feature, is not prohibitively expensive. If you are willing to gamble with your money on “resurfaced discs”, you can get the game on Amazon for about $189.00. This (the price point) is a whopping $169.00 more than I paid for my physical copy of the game about…
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster: An Exceptional Way to Experience Final Fantasy
Why Pixel Remaster over the Original NES Title? I initially planned on playing the Nintendo Entertainment System edition of Final Fantasy from 1990 (US NES), but I recalled that the game had been rereleased within various collections and on a multitude of different systems. After a little searching for which version to play, I decided…
The Best Games of 2005 According to GameRankings
2005 is here! It brings the last hurray of the short PS2, GC, and Xbox console cycle. In the home console space, the Xbox continued to dominate critical reception with its high-quality titles and superior rendition of multiplatform ports. The PlayStation 2 continued to punch above its pedestrian hardware specs by showcasing some impressive late…
Throwback Bit Thursday: Re-Loving Tales of Vesperia
Tales of Vesperia is my favorite Tales game ever. After more than a decade without making a serious run through the game, I decided to give it another try last week. Basically, playing older JRPGs is difficult for me these days, because if I already know how the story ends, I quickly lose interest in…
Final Fantasy IX’s Animated Series to be Revealed This Week
Final Fantasy IX is about to get a new lease on life 22 years after its original release by way of an animated series, and rumored “remake” of the game. An interview by Animation Magazine with Bruno Danzel d’Aumont, VP of international licensing and marketing at Paris-based animation powerhouse Cyber Group Studios confirmed that the…