What are sound novels and kinetic novels?

By Jenni Lada // 9.4.189.10.18

Visual novels went from being a rare genre outside of Japan to one we see appearing on major consoles! This is great news, but it also means that there can be some ambiguity. Lots of games are having the “visual novel” label applied to them. Which is fine for beginners, but it does not really show how distinct and unique some games can be. There are different categories falling under the visual novel umbrella, after all. With games like Nekopara and 428: Shibuya Scramble finding their ways to consoles, now is a great time to go over the different kinds of visual novels, so you can be better informed before you start reading!

* PS1 SAT SNES Video

Video: Learn about time travel (and English) in EMIT

By Graham Russell // 8.30.189.10.18

Language learning is a big part of import games! If you can pick up better comprehension skills, a whole new world of games will open to you. So today we’re looking at EMIT, a game that helps you do just that!

Um, if you’re Japanese and need to learn English.

It’s a cool thing to check out, though! Do just that with us.

* PS4 Review

Review: Yakuza Kiwami 2 explores familial ties

By Graham Russell // 8.23.188.30.18

With Yakuza Kiwami 2, Sega returns to the second PS2 game to give it a visual overhaul and a feature set to match modern titles. With the refreshingly rapid pace of localizations for the series and a renewed interest in the franchise in general, a lot of people have been playing a lot of Yakuza lately. So what’s going on with this one? Well… quite a bit, actually.

* 3DS DS GBA Guide Mobile PC PS2 PS3 SNES Switch

Where can players go after Octopath Traveler?

By Jenni Lada // 7.24.188.1.18

Octopath Traveler really blew up, didn’t it? The Nintendo Switch exclusive became a top eShop seller after launch and physical copies were so rare, Square Enix was issuing apologies and asking people to please consider a digital copy if they could not wait. It is a fun RPG to spend 40 to 60 hours playing. But, what if you already finished the game? What if you are ready to follow some new stories? Well, let’s help you find something similar to enjoy!

* Guide PSP Vita

English Vita otome games: a guide

By Jenni Lada // 2.12.186.8.18

In the years since Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom made its English debut in 2012, otome games have enjoyed a surge of popularity worldwide. The genre went from an unknown to one that received multiple releases on various platforms each year. Sony handhelds have long been a haven for such titles, with people who own a Vita enjoying the fruits of this bevy of releases.

* 3DS DS GBA GC Guide Mobile NES SNES Switch Wii Wii U

A beginner’s guide to Fire Emblem

By Graham Russell // 5.22.176.8.18

With the release of Fire Emblem Echoes and Fire Emblem Heroes, and Warriors on the way, this year has given Fire Emblem its time to shine. So where do you start if you want to get into the series? What’s the next step if you enjoy Heroes, and where do you go after that? We’re here to help you answer those questions.