Xenoblade Chronicles X Review (Wii U)

            Despite how amazing the original Xenoblade Chronicles was, the thought of a sequel or successor being created never crossed my mind since the game was so niche. Prior to Operation Rainfall’s attempts to get Xenoblade Chronicles localized in America and Europe, I had never even heard of Tetsuya Takahashi or his previous titles while working under Squaresoft or Namco. But in January of 2013, Monolith Soft revealed Xenoblade Chronicles X in that month’s Nintendo Direct, where it was only known as “X”. It’s been nearly three years since that initial reveal, but the long wait for the game’s release was well worth it.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: My First Impressions

            To start, I’m about 20 hours into the game, and I still have yet to unlock the Skells. I haven’t gotten very far into the story either, having done a lot of sidequesting and exploring. But so far, I firmly believe that Xenoblade Chronicles X is the best game to have come out this year.

Rodea the Sky Soldier Review (Wii)

            During the development of the infamous Sonic the Hedgehog 2006, Yuji Naka, one of the original creators of the Sonic franchise, left Sega. He went on to form a company called Prope; it’s here that he developed Rodea the Sky Soldier for the Wii. However, Kadokawa Games, the publisher, delayed in releasing the game in order to create 3DS and Wii U versions. Both of these versions play differently from Yuji Naka’s original vision, and were very poorly received. This review focuses solely on the original Wii version.

Tales of Zestiria Review (PS3, PS4, PC)

            Ah, Tales of Zestiria. Practically every recent title in the series, especially this one, has seen some form of controversy or another among the fans. I’ve spent the time up until the American release with nothing but mixed feelings about what I’ve been hearing in regards to this title. Now that I’m about 15 hours into the game, I can confidently say that Tales of Zestiria is one of the best modern titles in the series (except for maybe Graces or Vesperia).

A Look at the Modern Tales of… games

            Many would say that after Tales of Vesperia, Namco’s JRPG series began to decline in quality. With Zestiria just recently released, let’s take a quick look at these games and their flaws.

Batman: Arkham Knight Review (PS4, Xbox One, PC)

I've never really been a superhero fan. But if you were to ask me now which one was my favorite, the answer would undoubtedly be Batman. Over the past several years, Rocksteady rose to fame by developing the critically acclaimed Batman Arkham series. And now, the series has come to an end with Arkham Knight being the grand finale.

My thoughts on Square Enix's recent actions

Square Enix as a whole seems to be listening more closely to its fans lately. When Final Fantasy Type-0 HD was released, it came with an almost sickening camera system with absurd amounts of motion blur. For a while, there was no hope of it being fixed. But on the day Episode Duscae's patch launched, the camera for Type-0 also got patched, addressing the game's biggest issue. And the fact that Episode Duscae, a demo, got patched at all seems to signify that Square wants to make sure the final game turns out well, and that they don't want to repeat their mistakes from Final Fantasy XIII.

Genei Ibun Roku #FE Impressions (Wii U)

Back in 2013, Atlus and Nintendo delivered shocking news: Shin Megami Tensei would receive a crossover with Fire Emblem for the Wii U. But after two years of no information, a Nintendo Direct in April finally showcased more of the game... and immediately made it one of the most controversial entries in both series.

Conception 2 Review (PS Vita/3DS)

The PS Vita is known for having a large number of niche JRPGs of varying quality, Conception 2 being no exception. But it stands out for having a rather bizarre premise that bears a few similarities to Persona 4's basic mechanics. Unfortunately, originality means nothing in the face of poor execution.

Tales of Symphonia Review (PS3 Chronicles Version)

Tales of Symphonia for the Nintendo Gamecube is often regarded as one of, if not THE best game in the Namco's Tales franchise. And in 2014, it (alongside with its sequel, Dawn of the New World) received a remaster for the PS3 called Tales of Symphonia Chronicles. During the transition, it also received several new bonuses that were previously exclusive to the Japanese PS2 version. Despite the battle system showing its age, Tales of Symphonia is still worth playing.

Star Stealing Prince Review (PC)

There are times when the RPGs developed and sold by big companies like Square Enix, Namco Bandai, or Nintendo just don't satisfy one's current tastes. If you're willing to dive into the RPG Maker scene, there's tons of different games to try out (and most are free). Star Stealing Prince is one of them, and it's evident that a lot of work and care was put into the development of this title.

Final Fantasy Type-0 HD Review (PS4/Xbox One)

In 2011, Square Enix released a PSP title called "Final Fantasy Type-0". Those who imported it claimed it was one of the few modern titles in the series that could be called great, and others went as far as to call it one of the best Final Fantasy games they ever played. But differing opinions aside, everyone wanted the game to be localized on the PSP or Vita. Several years after its initial release, the West finally got the game... on the PS4 and Xbox One.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Review (3DS)

In 2013, Nintendo unexpectedly announced and released a new Zelda game that used the classic top-down perspective. Not only that, but it was made as a distant sequel to A Link to the Past, set in the same version of Hyrule several generations later. And thanks to the innovations and mechanics this title introduced, it's the best Zelda game so far.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Review (PS3)

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch was yet another JRPG that was unlikely to see release in the U.S. and Europe. Its first incarnation in Japan was a turn-based RPG for the DS that came with a large book known as the Wizard's Companion, which contained information needed to progress further in the game. A PS3 version was later made that changed the story and battle system drastically. Fast forward to 2013, and the PS3 version was released in the U.S, with Collector's Edition including the Wizard's Companion despite it being stated that it was the biggest obstacle to localization. However, what's really notable about this title is that it was developed by both Level 5 (the developers of Dragon Quest VIII) and the legendary Studio Ghibli. And the game they produced is an unforgettable experience.

Final Fantasy XV: Episode Duscae Impressions

So, Square Enix has finally released Final Fantasy Type-0 HD and bundled the Final Fantasy XV demo with it. Finally, fans will get a chance to play a game that's been in development since around 2006, nearly a decade ago. Of course, being an action RPG (and merely existing after the Final Fantasy XIII era), fans are skeptical as to whether this game will be worth playing. I can definitely say that from what I've played in the demo so far, Final Fantasy XV looks to be very promising. You can check out some of my gameplay footage here.

Persona 3 Portable Review (PSP)

Following the success of Persona 3 and 4, Atlus released Persona 3 Portable in 2010, which updates the game mechanics to be more in line with that of Persona 4's. Strangely enough, I ended up having a hard time getting into this game and kept on putting it down until recently. Now that I've given it a chance, I can definitely say it's an amazing game.

Tales of Hearts R Review (PS Vita)

            In April of 2014, something that nobody saw coming happened: Tales of Hearts R was announced to be coming to the West. Considering the fact that the Vita was and is doing poorly worldwide, as well as the niche status of the series, it’s a miracle the game made it over to begin with. And though its flaws prevent it from surpassing the likes of Xillia 2, it’s still a worthy entry in the series.