The Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime series shows the importance of a good foundation

By Jenni Lada // 4.16.184.17.18

The Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime series is pretty great. It might be difficult for people outside of Japan to understand, because we have sadly only seen one game localized. Only the second installment, which appeared on the Nintendo DS in 2005 in Japan and 2006 in other regions, came and showed us the joy of careening around a world as a slime, goorabbing allies and enemies as you go. But, when placed alongside its contemporaries, it is easy to see the sense of progression and how a good thing gets even greater over the years.

3DS

The Alliance Alive’s recruitment process is addictive and practical

By Jenni Lada // 4.11.184.12.18

Games with recruiting mechanics have a difficult line to walk. Giving players an opportunity to collect people for their force has the possibility to offer an addictive gameplay mechanic, but there is also the concern whether or not these these people will provide enough merit to make the chase worthwhile. The Alliance Alive not only makes the recruitment process appealing, it also provides ample reason to keep investing your time in the mechanic with its guild towers.

3DS

Waku Waku Sweets: Happy Sweets Making lends weight to cooking minigames

By Jenni Lada // 4.4.184.1.18

Ever since Cooking Mama appeared on the scene, we have seen other games attempt new twists on the similar formula. Chain a bunch of baking or cooking-related minigames together for the enjoyment of a player, taking advantage of the DS or 3DS touch screen. The satisfaction in some of these games comes from successfully completing each step to see a finished product. But with Waku Waku Sweets: Happy Sweets Making, there is more to the process. Actual story elements surround these segments, lending more weight to the process.

3DS

The Alliance Alive is extraordinarily efficient

By Jenni Lada // 4.3.184.1.18

It is always wonderful to see a company learn from its mistakes in past games. It shows an awareness of past problems, a sense of growth as a developer and a willingness to change. The Alliance Alive is a perfect example of this situation. FuRyu, the developer, made some mistakes with the spiritual successor The Legend of Legacy. In many ways, it could be a tedious game. Yet this new one feels like the developer saw ways in which it missed the mark and went out of its way to be sure the next endeavor would be better.

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Hakuoki is big on alternate histories

By Jenni Lada // 3.29.183.26.18

The Hakuoki series has always been one that offered an opportunity to enjoy alternate histories. Adding supernatural creatures to retellings of historical events is going to do that. As is adding in romance elements, since the players falling for these warriors will want happy endings with the men they love. Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms takes this concept to new heights. These new and expanded storylines offer even more alternate takes, some of which play with the course of fictional events.

3DS Review

Review: The Alliance Alive binds many RPG mainstays together

By Jenni Lada // 3.26.184.16.18

False starts happen. People can attempt to create or do things with the best of intentions, with the end result ranging from passable to a miserable failure. FuRyu found itself in that exact situation with The Legend of Legacy a few years ago. It wanted to create a SaGa-style JRPG, but ended up with a drawn-out, tedious affair. Now, The Alliance Alive has come along to not only rectify every failing of its predecessor, but deliver the sort of experience FuRyu likely intended and Nintendo 3DS RPG fans deserve.

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Who are Animal Crossing’s more unorthodox villagers?

By Jenni Lada // 3.7.183.7.18

In each Animal Crossing game, players get to meet an array of villagers who move into their towns and become their neighbors. These characters tend to be part of certain species. There are alligators, anteaters, bears, birds, bulls, cats, chickens, cows, cubs, deer, dogs, ducks, eagles, elephants, frogs, goats, hamsters, hippos, horses, kangaroos, koalas, gorillas, lions, mice, penguins, pigs, ostriches, rabbits, sheep, squirrels and tigers. All of these are rather typical and ordinary creatures. Yet within these confines, it is still possible to see more unusual creatures. There are, at this point, six characters that are a little more legendary.

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Monster Hunter enters morally gray areas

By Jenni Lada // 3.1.182.26.18

When players step into the world of Monster Hunter, they enter an untamed area where gigantic creatures roam free. Some are openly hostile. Others are not. No matter their demeanor, people’s goals are to wipe them out. While this makes for exciting gameplay, it may get players thinking. While we often engage in positive actions in the Monster Hunter series, some actions within the game can be suspect.

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Let’s talk about Sega’s rhythm games

By Jenni Lada // 2.26.182.25.18

Plenty of companies make a name for themselves by specializing in certain genres. People may not realize that Sega is responsible for plenty of great rhythm games. It has been musical for years, with plenty of titles that are entirely original properties or giving people an opportunity to tap along with characters or musicians from other iconic series. Let’s look back at some of the many games that can be found either immediately worldwide or easily imported.

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