The world of Valkyria Chronicles is more accessible than ever, making it a great time to get into the hybrid strategy franchise. But where should you start? Check out our guide for getting the most out of your time in Europa.
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With the PlayStation Vita’s official support coming to an end, it’s a great time to look back at the cult-favorite handheld and check out its import-only options! Of which it has many. Whether the 3DS just isn’t your thing or you’re looking for even more, the system has some great options. It’s… also a bit of a importer-hostile minefield, so tread carefully.
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As a society, we’re constantly retelling iconic love stories. Cinderella may be the most memorable poor girl to be catapulted into high society thanks to finding love with a handsome prince, but she’s not the only down-and-out person redeemed by love.
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Fanservice games aren’t that unusual a thing. Many dating sims rely on the concept to bring in players, since they are about finding a virtual character to form a relationship with over the course of the adventure. Koei Tecmo’s Ruby Party otome games definitely offer plenty of that. But when it comes to Kiniro no Corda: Octave, the concept heads in a different direction.
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With Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon out on the Nintendo 3DS last year and Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate gracing Vitas two weeks ago, you may have developed a taste for tough-as-nails dungeon-crawlers. Roguelikes are on the rise. But then, when it comes to these Spike Chunsoft joints, they always have been.
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Star Ocean is one of those series that did, and still does, things that others don’t. Think of it as a JRPG for fans of series like Star Trek. The casts regularly involve people from more advanced civilizations getting involved with those who are still growing, even though there are various measures in place to allegedly stop that sort of interference. As a result, we get energy weapons, cyborgs, magic and people who can turn into cats. It is a lot to take in, and Michibiku is here to help you on your way into this ocean of stars.
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Atlus’ Persona series has exploded in popularity. This means there are not only mainline installments, but also ports, updated releases, reimaginings and spin-offs. There are all interesting games that do cool things with elements from the series, but it is also a series where you probably shouldn’t go and begin with the very first game. Fortunately, it isn’t difficult to find a good starting point.
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Thanks to Monster Hunter World, the series has exploded in popularity. People might experience it, go through its Iceborne expansion, then wonder what’s next. While moving on to another entry in that series is a possibility, it isn’t the only option. The series is so popular, it has inspired a whole collection of contemporaries who do similar things. Best of all, some of them explore the space to try and improve on areas Monster Hunter doesn’t touch.
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There are certain smaller studios out there making Japanese games that are gradually growing in notoriety. One of them is Tokyo RPG Factory, a developer that most people probably know as the one that is owned by Square Enix. (Other acceptable answers include “the one that makes sad games” or “the one where all the games look a lot alike.” It’s been five years since its founding in 2014, and the company has kept on trucking. In fact, it has a new game coming out this year! Which means now is the perfect time to figure out more about it and why you may want to take an interest in the team’s games.
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