A Video Game Design Blog
Unicorn Overlord is a Real-Time Strategy RPG developed by Vanillaware and published by Atlus. It was released simultaneously on PlayStation 4 + 5, Xbox Series X + S, and Nintendo Switch in March 2024. MSRB is $60. I played the Nintendo Switch version. I'm not shy with how much I love the Japanese developer Vanillaware. … Continue reading Unicorn Overlord Review – A Worthy Heir to Classic Strategy RPGs
Last week I tried to defend silent protagonists as a viable narrative option in video games, both for developers and for players. Today I tackle yet another controversial game mechanic: turn-based combat. This isn't a joke -- I genuinely enjoy turn-based combat, and I want to help explain why. I know, I know, it's silly … Continue reading Defending Turn-Based Combat
If you've played video games for a few years, particularly RPGs and Action/Adventure games, then you've probably experienced a game with a silent protagonist. Maybe it was Link from The Legend of Zelda, or maybe it was the Dragonborn from Skyrim, or maybe it was your main character from Pokemon or Persona. The prevailing attitude … Continue reading Defending Silent Protagonists
Not too long after I got my new Xbox 360, another friend told me that he had a PlayStation 3 lying around that he wasn't using anymore. He didn't give it to me, but he did offer to lend it to me for a while. How could I pass up the opportunity? And so, in … Continue reading Reviewing the PlayStation 3 in 2024
Near the end of 2023, a friend of mine told me that he had a spare Xbox 360 lying around, and he didn't want it anymore. I offered to pay him for it, but he insisted on giving it away. In his own words, "I just love seeing people enjoy collecting games." Yeah, I too … Continue reading Reviewing the Xbox 360 in 2024
On January 30st, 2019, Nintendo permanently closed the doors to the Wii Shop Channel. On March 27th, 2023, Nintendo locked up the 3DS / Wii U eShop and threw away the key. In 2021 Sony announced that they were closing the PSN store for the PSP, PS3, and PS Vita, only to backtrack on the … Continue reading Why I Modded My Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, and PlayStation Vita
Persona 5 Royal is a Turn-Based RPG developed by Atlus and published by Sega. The original Persona 5 was released in April 2017 for the PlayStation 4. Persona 5 Royal, an enhanced version, was released in March 2020 for the PlayStation 4, and then on the Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series, and PC in October … Continue reading Persona 5 Royal: An Unexpectedly Queer Story
Final Fantasy X-2 is a Role-Playing Game developed and published by Square Enix. It was originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2003, followed by an HD remaster for the PS3 and PS Vita in 2014, for the PS4 in 2015, for the PC in 2016, and for the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One in … Continue reading Final Fantasy X-2: How to Leave a Religion
Final Fantasy X is a Role-Playing Game developed and published by Square Enix. It was originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2001, followed by an HD remaster for the PS3 and PS Vita in 2014, for the PS4 in 2015, for the PC in 2016, and for the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One in … Continue reading Final Fantasy X: The Problem with Nostalgia
After watching last week's Nintendo Direct, it's plain to me that the Nintendo Switch is winding down its life. Just as the 3DS's later years were filled with ports and remasters such as Metroid: Samus Returns, Fire Emblem Echoes, and Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, we are seeing the same lineup appear for the Nintendo … Continue reading My Selfish List of Remakes, Remasters, and Ports for the Aging Nintendo Switch
Hookshot, Charge Beam, Revive 