Games like Valkyrie Profile are getting more prevalent

By Jenni Lada // 8.12.198.11.19

Some games have a rather unusual way of conveying information and taking people on an adventure, and we then see that mechanic mimicked. Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution and GuitarFreaks led to games like Pump It Up and Guitar Hero. Tri-Ace’s Valkyrie Profile is a similar sort. It’s an RPG, but blends in platforming and a more active interface for engaging in attacks. But, as interesting as its ideas were, they didn’t really influence other games at the time. Rather, it took years for other titles to start picking up on the concepts and attempting to integrate them into their own experiences.

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Games give new life to the philosopher’s stone

By Jenni Lada // 11.20.1512.18.15

The myth of the philosopher’s stone has often been used as a plot device in media. People are introduced to this legendary object capable of extraordinary things through alchemy, may spend most of the game attempting to learn more about it or acquire it, and have peripheral encounters with it. While most forms of media focus on its ability to grant immortality, resurrect the dead, and transmute metals into gold, many Japanese games choose to focus on its ability to create new, artificial life.