Review: Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception takes a novel approach to telling its tail tale

By Graham Russell // 5.23.179.2.19

Have you read any good games lately? Visual novels are nothing new, but their presence on consoles is often paired with something more closely following the traditional definition of gameplay. Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception is no different, augmenting a dozens-of-hours-long story with strategy-RPG skirmishes. Still, the game’s primary motivation shines through: to tell a very specific story and have you follow along.

PS3 PS4 Review

Review: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 5 unmasks the rebellious youth in us all

By Andrew Passafiume // 4.10.175.11.17

It’s been almost nine years and countless spinoffs since the initial release of Persona 4, which allowed many to dip their toes in the world of Shin Megami Tensei without diving too deep into the long-standing franchise. Since then, anticipation has been building for the release of Persona 5, a title that transcends its genre for many people. Thankfully for them, it was worth the long wait.

3DS Vita

How Shin Megami Tensei is bridging the skill gap

By Andrew Passafiume // 9.20.169.20.16

Two words often come to mind when thinking of Shin Megami Tensei: mature and difficult. The first makes sense; it’s a series that prides itself on its darker themes. The second, while also true, is becoming less relevant in recent years. That’s right, folks: Shin Megami Tensei is finally opening itself up to wider audiences. In fact, it’s been doing it for a while.

3DS Review

Review: Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse continues the end of the world as we know it

By Andrew Passafiume // 9.15.1611.10.16

At this point, many people have a vague idea of what playing a Shin Megami Tensei game entails, even if their only connection to the series is the increasingly popular Persona spinoffs. These dark, demon-infused, dungeon-crawling RPGs have maintained cult status outside of Japan since the early 2000s thanks to the release of Nocturne, and have only continued to grow in popularity.

3DS Review

Review: Stella Glow’s the end of a voluminous arc

By Graham Russell // 11.13.159.2.19

It’s understandable if you find Stella Glow eerily familiar. It’s the last project from developer Imageepoch, which found much of its success with the Luminous Arc series, and there’s so much — from the battle systems and interfaces to the plot and character designs — that makes this game undeniably a spiritual successor. Two of the three games of that series were released in the West by Atlus, so even after the shift in Japanese publishers from Marvelous to Sega, Stella remains right at home in the hands of its old localization pal.

3DS Preview

Preview: Six things you should know before starting Stella Glow

By Graham Russell // 11.5.1511.17.15

Stella Glow, the last Imageepoch game before the developer’s demise, is reaching U.S. shores later this month thanks to Atlus. And here’s the thing: it’s a big, involved game! While it’s fun to lose yourself in a strategy-RPG like this one, here are a few things to note before you jump in that’ll make your experience just a bit brighter.

3DS Review

Review: The Legend of Legacy grinds to a fault

By Graham Russell // 10.9.159.2.19

Nostalgia is a fickle thing. It’s a tough path toward appeal, since success lies not in matching the original experience itself, but rather how that experience feels through rose-tinted glasses. When it’s done well, though, there’s no doubt that it resonates at a level that a totally-new experience just can’t. The Legend of Legacy is certainly an attempt in that vein, coating an old-school game with a veneer that reminds you of the hand-drawn illustrations of children’s books. It reminds you of the past, sometimes at the expense of the present.

3DS Preview

Don’t pick the frog, and other tips for surviving The Legend of Legacy

By Graham Russell // 10.2.1510.12.15

See that frog up there? His name’s Filmia, and he’s one of seven selectable protagonists of Atlus’ The Legend of Legacy, releasing for 3DS in North America on October 13. He’s great. We like him a lot. But you shouldn’t pick him on your first playthrough. Read on to learn why, and get some other handy advice so you’ll be ready to play on launch day.

Video Vita

Video: Getting down in Persona 4: Dancing All Night

By Graham Russell // 9.23.1510.27.15

Graham and Jenni are joined by good friend and Shin Megami Tensei expert Andrew Passafiume to take a look at the new rhythm game entry in the Persona series!

← Previous