Gaming off the Beaten Path

I don't want to say I've been dreading this post...but I've been dreading this post. Because now, I'm going to have to attempt to explain how Vagrant Story works. Before we get started, I am going to make it clear that I'm going to explain the game's mechanics on a fairly basic level. Some of the systems run very deep here and I would be lying if I said I had much more than a surface level of understading of how they work. I will say, it's actually not too bad once you  figure it out, but  Vagrant Story has the reputation it does for a reason. There is a lot going on here, especially for a console RPG and it's going to take some time to really lay out how it all works. But we also have to address the elephant in the room here: is the complexity on offer good or bad? Do all these detailed stats and equipment combinations improve the game or make it worse? Well, that depends who you ask. But with so much to unpack here, we best get started. While it has ...

Of all the games that I thought would make go back on something I said, I never thought it would be this one. It's time to talk about yet another golden era PS1 RPG, one that certainly divides opinion amongst the RPG fanbase. But before we do that, I want to go back and revisit a topic I covered regarding how I talk about games in general. A few years ago, I talked at length about the words "overrated" and "underrated" in the general gaming discourse and how much I disliked them. I discussed at length how these terms were used as a crutch for overly simplistic and shallow criticism, often serving as vehichle for the myriad half-baked edgelord hot takes that permeate gaming discussion. That said, I even admitted that the two terms were somewhat difficult to replace and that while I would actively try to avoid them, there would be instances where I wouldn't be able to do so. And that brings us to this week, where, after years of not using either of those word...

It's been a long time coming. A LONG time. But it's finally here. A character that deservers, nay, needs to be the star of his own game has finally received his just desserts. It's been more than 30 years, but Ultros finally has his own game! I mean, it's right there in the name! Final Fantasy VI's resident octupus, the true breakout star of that legendary game, is finally a leading man (or leading cephalopod, as it were). I can't wait to dive into what I am sure is going to be a tentacle-riffic adventure! But, hey, wait a minute...where's all the stuff from the world of Final Fantasy VI we all know and love? No Serpent Trench, or opera house, or colosseum or anywhere else Ulty likes to hang out? And what about the other characters from the game? Where's Terra? Or Edgar? Or Sabin? Or anyone? Why are there bugs everywhere? And why is everything neon? I'm starting to think that I've been mislead. In all seriousness, this week's game has, unfo...

Last week, we took a look at Far East of Eden Zero, a fan translated game that stood absolutely no chance of ever being localized for Western markets based on its themes and story. But what about its gameplay? I think before I get into the details of the combat and other systems, I need to talk about something I glossd over last week; the graphics. FEOEZ very well could be the single best looking game on the SNES (or I guess the Super Famicon), and that's not an exaggeration. These are some of the best 2D sprites I've ever seen and it was legitimately shocking how much detail they were able to get into some of these assets. If you told me this was an early 5th generation game, I probably would have believed you. The story is largely told through cutscenes, which feature some incredible images that have a surprsing amount of movement to them. Overall, the game looks great and it sounds ok too, that was definitely one of the bigger positives here. I will say some of the gameplay...

It's time to dive once again into the world of fan translated JRPGs. A lot of these came from the end of the 4th/beginning of the 5th generation and a good portion of them are from series that never left Japan. That's not true of all of them, of course. Many of the early Shin Megami Tensei games have never been officially released in the United States and for a long time the only way to play Star Ocean or Mother (Earthbound Beginnings, if you will) was through a translation patch. But a lot of these games were never translated because the franchises they are a part of just aren't a thing in the West, or at the very least weren't at the time of release. That's not the only reason games didn't get ported, but it's a big one. It really is wild how many RPG series' exist in Japan that we just never think about, even to this day. And this week's game sort of fits into that category. Because while it's a major series in Japan, it hasn't had a sing...

It's time to keep the GBA Metroidvania train rolling. We started with Castlevania, then moved on to Metroid, and now it's time to make our way back to Dracula's castle. I was pleasantly surprised last year when I, sort of on a whim, decided to take a shot at Castlevania: Circle of the Moon on the Game Boy Advance. I had heard good things about the handheld titles in the series, but never actually took the time to play any of them. And that's a shame, because Circle of the Moon was outstanding. It was truly an exceptional example of just what the tiny but mighty GBA was capable of. It got me excited to dig into the other games in the genre I had missed from that console, both Metroid and Castlevania alike. I moved right along to Metroid: Zero Mission and while I wasn't as high on it as I was COTM, it was still a solid experience that was incredibly well designed and polished. So naturally, the next step in the progression was back to 'Vania with the next in that...

I guess we all have to start somewhere. Sometimes, starting could be a micro thing, starting a new game or starting a new review. Sometimes it's a Macro thing, like starting a whole new business. Sometimes it's somewhere in between, like starting with a whole new resolution. But at the end of the day, staring something new is starting something new. I first started with PlayStation Plus in late 2014,  having just received a brand new PS4 as a wedding gift. I initially wasn't too happy about this, the whole thought of paying just to play with my friends online wasn't something I was a fan of. However, there was also a nice consolation prize: two free games every month. And believe me, I made absolutely sure I downloaded those games as soon as they were available. I mean, I barely had any games for my new system. I always have been and always will be a physical media first person, but I'm not exactly opposed to digital media, especially when it's free (well, tec...

Last year, I jumped head first into the pool Metroidvania titles for the Game Boy Advance. I started with the "Vania," so now it's time to look at the "Metroid" side of things. As with Castlevania, Metroid is a series that needs absolutely no introduction. In some respect, I'm a little surprised that I haven't touched the franchise in the seven years I've been doing this. While it's far from "unknown," I feel like Metroid has a lot of weird, quirky entries that probably would fit the "off the beaten path" theme. These games may not be quite as popular as the bigger Nintendo IPs, but they have some very, very passionate fans that live and die with them. And I hope they don't get too mad at me for saying that Metroid isn't really a favorite franchise of mine. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I've ever played a bad Metroid game. I know  some people hate Other M for the Wii, but I haven't really played th...

It's time to start yet another year with a look at an old sports title. And it's one that I never thought I probably would have never touched if I didn't dig it up at random. But first, a little bit about my general sports fandom. While I am definitely more nerd than jock, I've always been a huge sports fan. Whether it's as a fan of my pro teams, as a reporter covering local high school teams or as a competitor myself, sports have always been a major part of my life. I watch as many sports as I can, though I wish I had time for more. I love learning about players, speculating about what teams will do with their offseasons, tracking statistics and immersing myself in various aspects of various types of athletic competition.  To me, the new year is a great time for sports, the NFL playoffs are starting, MLB's winter meetings are underway, the NHL season is in full swing and NCAA wrestling is coming back from its holiday break. It also tends to be a pretty decent t...