I do love a good horror game, and I completely agree with the statements made in the following press information.
Month in Review - August
Looks like it’s that time of the month again! See everything that we’ve been up to and catch up on anything you may have missed.
Last month I had the pleasure to preview Grindea, an Action Adventure RPG designed as a tribute to the great nostalgic games of old. Taking the time to answer our questions, here is our interview with Pixel Ferrets!
Going for something a little different this month, Nick, Hamza, and I each put together a Top 5 Games that should have had sequels. Agree? Disagree? Let us know what you think!
Now to the games!
Article by Pierre-Yves
Last month I had the pleasure to preview Grindea, an Action Adventure RPG designed as a tribute to the great nostalgic games of old. Taking the time to answer our questions, here is our interview with Pixel Ferrets!
Going for something a little different this month, Nick, Hamza, and I each put together a Top 5 Games that should have had sequels. Agree? Disagree? Let us know what you think!
- PY's Games that should have had sequels
- Hamza's Games that should have had sequels
- Nick's Games that should have had sequels
Now to the games!
Hardware & Software
- Ear Force Stealth 420X Headset
- Turtle Beach Ear Force Elite 800X for Xbox One
- Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 11
Microsoft Xbox One
PC / Mac
- Fairy Fencer F
- Funk of Titans
- Guild of Dungeoneering
- Icebound
- Into the Stars
- King's Quest - Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember
- Legions of Steel
- LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
- Machina of the Planet Tree -Planet Ruler-
- Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence (Preview)
- Rising World (Preview)
- Salt (Preview)
- Sword Art Online RE: Hollow Fragment
- Target: Renegade
- The Last Dogma
- WORLD END ECONOMiCA episode.01
- WORLD END ECONOMiCA episode.02
Retro Reflection
Sony PlayStation 3
Sony PlayStation 4
- AeternoBlade
- Ender of Fire
- Phantom Breaker Battle Grounds Overdrive
- The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
- ZEN Pinball 2: Ant-Man
- Zombie Army Trilogy
Sony PlayStation Vita
Article by Pierre-Yves
Beyond Eyes - Xbox One Review
Beyond Eyes is not your typical game - in fact some might not be comfortable calling it a game at all. Certainly it is interactive as you control the protagonist Rae, but the puzzle elements are incredibly light. It probably falls most comfortably in the recent sub-genre of adventure games dubbed walking simulators. If you frame your expectations properly going in, odds are you will find Beyond Eyes a unique and almost enchanting experience. However, for those looking for more action and more varied gameplay elements, they will likely come away disappointed.
"Rise of the Tomb Raider" Offers Players the Freedom to Discover Their Playstyle
Considering how much fun the last Tomb Raider game was, it is probably of little surprise that many people - including myself - are looking forward to what the upcoming Rise of the Tomb Raider has to offer. This video demonstrates some of the gameplay and offers a glimpse of the overall quality we can expect to see.
Games that should have had sequels (Part 3) - Gaming Thoughts
Over the last couple of days, we have had a couple of the members of the team submit their list of games that they wish had gotten sequels. To cap off the week, I thought I would go ahead and share my own list of titles that I really would have liked to see live on just a bit longer.
Heavenly Sword
Heavenly Sword
Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls - PS Vita Review
When you have something that works, it can be a risky proposition changing things up. You risk alienating your core fan base. When you keep things the same, you also run the risk of boring gamers with each similar iteration. Credit goes to Spike Chunsoft for managing to find the delicate balance between the two extremes and find something that is still absolutely worth playing.
Siegecraft Commander coming to consoles
The Siegecraft franchise has proven quite popular (over 1.5 million downloads) and this latest addition to the series will be coming to consoles early next here.
Games that should have had sequels (Part 2) - Gaming Thoughts
A continuation of the article from Pierre-Yves yesterday, Hamza now shares his thoughts on the matter. We all have games that just resonated for us. Maybe they were part of a series that came to an end (when was the last proper Shining Force game?) or a single game that just never garnered even one follow-up title (I'm looking at you, Heavenly Sword). Here are a handful of other games we would make a case for.
Narco Police
Narco Police
Sword Art Online RE: Hollow Fragment - PS4 Review
Sword Art Online RE: Hollow Fragment takes place immediately after the end of the first arc of the Sword Art Online anime and follows Kirito and gang as they navigate the dangers of the "death game." Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment was originally released for the PlayStation Vita here in the West in August of 2014 and just shy of a year later Bandai Namco released the "Director's Cut" version under the moniker "Sword Art Online RE: Hollow Fragment."
Kingdom Hearts III to include Big Hero 6
It is safe to say that the upcoming Kingdom Hearts III that yet again merges Square Enix and Disney properties is going to be popular. This latest bit of information should appeal to fans of Big Hero 6 as well.
Games that should have had sequels (Part 1) - Gaming Thoughts
Opinions. The one thing that can either make the world go round or stop it right in its tracks.
Keeping this in mind, the following is a list in which Hamza and I both consider our personal Top 5 games that should have sequels but haven’t. Everyone has reasons as to why they hold something near and dear and why they would want more or it. There are loads of other titles that could have made this list and we would love to hear about them and your reasons in the comments!
For what I’ve chosen below, my main reason for each of these entries is that they ended. Each title had a story to tell, they told it, and then it was over but not without leaving the want for more. Every one of my choices left an opening for a sequel to either be direct and immediately thereafter or even hundred of years down the line while still keeping with a portion of the original cast.
I’m going to start off my first title on this list which also happens to be one of my favorite games of all time. It’s one of two on this list that fits that bill alongside Breath of Fire III, Shovel Knight and more. Without further blabbering on my part, here are my Top 5 games that should have had sequels!
Rogue Galaxy
Keeping this in mind, the following is a list in which Hamza and I both consider our personal Top 5 games that should have sequels but haven’t. Everyone has reasons as to why they hold something near and dear and why they would want more or it. There are loads of other titles that could have made this list and we would love to hear about them and your reasons in the comments!
I’m going to start off my first title on this list which also happens to be one of my favorite games of all time. It’s one of two on this list that fits that bill alongside Breath of Fire III, Shovel Knight and more. Without further blabbering on my part, here are my Top 5 games that should have had sequels!
Rogue Galaxy
Turtle Beach Ear Force Elite 800X for Xbox One - Hardware Review
We recently reviewed both the Turtle Beach Stealth 500X as well as the Turtle Beach 420X and found both to be utterly fantastic. There is good reason that Turtle Beach owns the market share and as they continue to release hardware as solid as those two units there are no signs of them losing that prestigious place in gamers' households. While both the 420X and 500X are stellar units, Turtle Beach aims to outdo itself with their latest offering, the Elite 800X for the Xbox One. Does their latest flagship headset carry on the trend of Turtle Beach headsets that set the bar for usability? Read on for our review.
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut coming to consoles Oct 13th
Now this is very interesting news indeed. Especially given how fond we were of Wasteland 2 when we reviewed it upon release.
AeternoBlade - PS4 Review
More of an action game than an RPG, AeternoBlade is one of those titles that actually starts off fairly strong, but over time the gameplay became to repetitive and the storyline never really interesting enough to keep me hooked. It is a budget game for the PlayStation 4, and as long as you frame your expectations properly, it can be enjoyable, but AeternoBlade does nothing to set itself apart from the rest of the field either.
Icebound - PC Review
For whatever reason, it seems as though a large number of visual novels have been getting released lately. The genre is quite popular in some regions, but maybe it is starting to take hold here in North America as well? Icebound does very little to reinvent the visual novel wheel. It tells a decent story in a steampunk/fantasy setting, has enjoyable if inconsistent art, replay value and a very robust world that serves as a backdrop.
Demons Age announced for Xbox One, PS4 and PC
Sounds like a great idea - I will be curious to see how it looks as it gets closer to being a reality. In the meantime? Take a look.
Funk of Titans - PC Review
Having grown up with platformers, one thing above all else has always stood out to me. Mechanics. If you give me solid and responsive mechanics then it’s a fair bet that I’m going to enjoy myself even if the story can feel lacking. Funk of the Titans? I enjoyed the mechanics as well as playing that funky music.
Rare Replay - Xbox One Review
Nostalgia can be a powerful emotion many developers and publishers strive to capitalize on. Some, like Square Enix tend to do so in a manner that is quite off-putting; enticing fans of their classic titles with "new" releases on more devices only to find that the game has been altered in a manner far from flattering as is the case with the latest Final Fantasy VI release for iOS devices. Other developers, such as Rare, actually cater to the desires of their fans and release titles like the Rare Replay, a collection of 30 classic titles that grabs a hold of your feels and does not let them go. Fortunately the Rare Replay does more than simply allow you to relive your childhood days gaming away, but it does so with class and shows something seemingly rare in the gaming industry … a distinct appreciation for the gamers that allowed Rare to become who they are today.
Kingdoms of the Lost celebrates 15 years
MUDs have been around for a long time, and while their text-based method of content delivery seems somewhat dated when compared to all of the shiny visuals found in today's modern MMOs, those very same graphical titles owe a great deal to the way MUDs took the tabletop roleplaying experience and converted it so effectively to online format.
Gears of War brings back "Mad World"
I remember the trailers for Gears of War, but the one featuring the song Mad World stuck with me for quite some time. Needless to say, this latest version appeals for those same reasons.
Adventures of Pip - Xbox One Review
Tic Toc Games, with their ex-Wayforward pedigree, knows a thing or two about platforming games. This shines through in the excellent level design, colorful visuals and clever level progression. There are some rough edges to be found here and there, but the overall experience is a rewarding one for fans of the retro platforming genre.
Memorable Music in Gaming #11
This week in Memorable Music, I have a few tracks that I would like to share that strike the more emotional cords that we can all have. I’m a big softy and I have no qualms in publicly admitting it (so long as there’s a fire breathing dragon standing right behind my shoulder). With that being said, here are my more emotionally-inspired tracks.
The Disgaea Triple Play collection coming to North America for PS3 in Sept 2015
Wow - this is just very cool. I have been a huge fan of the series, and this is a great excuse for people to pick it up and play some of the best strategy RPG games ever.
Fairy Fencer F - PC Review
Fairy Fencer F is a story about world peace, though don’t tell the main character that! Fang, our protagonist, has to be the laziest and least motivated person to do anything in just about ever. Here is a man that is more than content to sit back and relax behind jail bars because it gives him a roof over his head and three square meals a day, thereby enabling him to sleep through the rest. Not having any of his laziness, his Fairy partner Eryn uses just about every trick she knows in order to get his ass out the door before the guards wake back up when opportunity arises. Being so lazy though, the guards wake up first introducing players to the battle system. Needless to say, Fang is not your usual protagonist.
Salt - PC Preview
Salt is a fun little game focused on exploration with enough mystery thrown in to make it a dangerously addictive pastime.
Dark Souls III Gameplay Trailer
Around here, Dark Souls is a very popular thing. Any news is good news - and there are several of us anxiously awaiting the next release.
The evolution of Secrets of Grindea - Interview
We recently had a chance to talk with Vilya Svensson from Pixel Ferrets about their Early Access title, Secrets of Grindea. Recently Pierre-Yves had a chance to preview and write up an article about the game for our Better With a Partner series, and he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Now we get a chance to discuss how Secrets of Grindea has evolved since its inception back in 2011. Vilya is the artist behind the backgrounds, UI, character portraits and more. For our last question, we are also briefly joined by the other two members of the team: Teddy Sjöström - developer, and Fred Ström - animator and creator of the character sprites.
Rick Dangerous - Retro Reflections
“Rick is the name, danger is the game”. No, this cheesy line is not what the protagonist of this action/adventure says but it describes what he does: getting involved in extremely dangerous situations. At the beginning of the first stage, after you make a few steps a giant boulder threatens to squash you. So, you run forward and fall in a pit with the rock just above your head and almost land on an angry tribe member, who gets squashed instead of you! What follows is worse.
Homefront: The Revolution - trailer and info
Homefront was one of those titles that worked for some people and not for others. Robert on our team was a big fan of the game back when he reviewed it. Needless to say, this latest trailer and information has him anxious to see more.
Rising World - PC Preview
Rising World doesn’t do anything really new but what it does, it does very well. As usual you are dropped into a world with minimal gear, a stomach that will soon begin to rumble and a hint at dangers that may come your way. A journal gets you started with building your first shelter and telling you how to gather your first necessary resources.
Guild of Dungeoneering - PC Review
Guild of Dungeoneering is an amazing game. Go buy it now, and then finish reading this while it downloads and installs. Ready now? Great! You may continue.
Divinity: Original Sin unveils the Overview Trailer
We have been pretty excited, even since Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition was announced. Any why wouldn't we be? It was one of our favorite games last year, scoring it quite favorably when we reviewed it.
Machina of the Planet Tree -Planet Ruler- - PC Review
This is another indie effort that was assembled with RPG Maker, so it will obviously not be for everyone. However, to the credit of Machina of the Planet Tree -Planet Ruler-, there is an unusually high level of polish to the game that helps it stand out against the numerous other similar entries into the genre and makes it a title most old school RPG fans should enjoy.
Batman: The Movie - Retro Reflections
I remember watching “Batman” in 1989, with Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton. The cinema was full of eager spectators and some were even sitting on the floor! The film was a huge success and made Batman a famous movie hero. Naturally, a game was released. Older readers probably know the NES Batman games but I am going to talk about the Amstrad version. The Amstrad was an 8-bit computer that was popular in several European countries between 1984 and 1990 and was basically used as a game console. It was not as good as the NES but it helped establish gaming in Europe.
Mekazoo - new images and trailer
Back in February I ran a brief article talking about the upcoming Mekazoo game. While there has only been a little information about it so far, the new trailer and images give us a nice look at it.
Ender of Fire - PS4 Review
Good old fantasy games are in a way making their way back into the limelight over the past few years. Male Warriors, Female Archers, and Male Wizards make up this almost holy trinity that has always seemed to just work. Taking this fantasy formula, XINESS has created an interesting fantasy world and set these classes into a Side-Scrolling Action Adventure that if nothing else, made me think of a much more serious toned Dragon's Crown.
Memorable Music in Gaming #10
This edition of Memorable Music in Gaming pulls from several different sources. A couple tend to be the usual suspects - well-known Nintendo titles for example. A pair of PC games and an arcade selection round things out nicely, however.
Arslan: The Warriors of Legend announced
I am all for a good tactical action game, and this one looks like it just might do the job. We have a ton of images below as well as a trailer.
Magic Duels: Origins - Xbox One Review
Magic: The Gathering and I go back a long ways, so I leap at almost every chance to play a new iteration of the collectable card game whenever I can. Having played every one of the yearly iterations of Duels of the Planeswalkers, I held out hopes that Magic Duels: Origins would get things right this time. Unfortunately it is a case of one step forward and two steps back that makes this a middling release that failed to keep my attention.
King's Quest - Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember - PS4 Review
Episodic format is a tricky thing to pull off in games. Some companies (such as Telltale Games) have pulled it off beautifully, while others have fallen flat on their faces in doing so. King's Quest - Chapter 1: A Knight to Remember is an incredible start to the series, laying the groundwork for the future episodes while providing enough joy in and of itself to make it easily recommended.
A look at diplomacy in the upcoming Nobunaga's Ambition
We have been covering this game a great deal (such as our hands-on preview earlier today) and with the release only a couple more weeks out, don't be surprised if we push a bit more content your way.
Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence - PC Preview
I have been hearing about Nobunaga's Ambition from Nick for a long time. If you read his Retro Reflection here, you realize just how long - we are talking NES days. He is not the only one who has been following the various updates and release announcements about Koei Tecmo's upcoming Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence. Having had a chance to spend some time with the game, my thoughts are quite favorable - and I thought I would share the experience.
XBLAZE Lost: Memories - PS3 Review
While Arc System Works is no doubt best known for their take on the fighting genre, XBLAZE: Lost Memories shows that the talented team can pull of a completely different style of game as well. Set in the world as the popular Blazblue series, Lost Memories expands on the excellent story found in XBLAZE Code: Embryo and offers us an even broader look at the world in unique, interesting ways.
The Banner Saga: Warbands Announced
I really enjoyed The Banner Saga - it was an interesting premise, beautiful music and in all just an entertaining game. I am quite curious to see where this collaboration leads.
Phantom Breaker Battle Grounds Overdrive - PS4 Review
It seems like every time that I get my hands on this title the length of it increases! Originally having reviewed the PC version through Steam, I already had an idea as to what I was getting into. Having now played the PS4 version? There’s no going back to basics.
WORLD END ECONOMiCA episode.02 - PC Review
While I enjoyed the first episode well enough, I found the second one to be a superior chapter in almost every way. You absolutely should take the time to view the first episode before delving into this one, and while it is not as good, the experience in this next chapter would be lacking without the foundation of the first.
Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 11 - PC Review
Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 11 is the latest in the long-running Xara family that lets you do anything from creating short animations to designing websites to editing photos. Though never achieving the same household name status as the likes of Adobe and Corel, the Xara brand is just as old, if not older. And given their diversity and robust package, Xara is a great alternative for beginners and professionals alike who want to expand their software and editing knowledge to beyond that of Adobe, Corel and even GIMP.
WORLD END ECONOMiCA episode.01 - PC Review
Visual novels seem destined to struggle to find their audience here in the west, despite their popularity in other regions. They often do not feel like games, and that is a turnoff for some people right away. The other trick is whether or not the story is going to appeal to the player. There is a world of books out there, and while I do enjoy reading, not every book is going to appeal to me. As such the audience share for a visual novel feels frustratingly small at times. WORLD END ECONOMiCA episode.01 is the first of a promised trilogy of tales that does something different with the genre, succeeding more often than not.
More Van Helsing: Final Cut info
We have even more news - but also some screenshots and a trailer to go with it for the upcoming title.
