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This Week in Games - Mai, Now Buy
Mai Shiranui is coming to Street Fighter 6! Jean-Karlo takes a look at her design changes over the years (with specific measurements).
― Welcome back, folks! For folks who haven't kept up with me at BlueSky, I've teased a little something-something that I've decided to gift myself for the holidays. I make sure I don't make This Week in Games the "Here's What I Bought This Week" column, but this is so...
This Week in Games - Fire Breath, Radioactive Breath, and Tales of Breath
Godzilla joins the ever-expanding cast of pop culture characters in Fortnite, plus Jean-Karlo fondly remembers Breath of Fire II for its anniversary.
― Welcome back, folks! Thanksgiving Weekend was a great time; not only was the holiday well-spent among friends and loved ones, but I was able to catch up plenty in Xenoblade Chronicles 3! I was able to do a good chunk of the personal quests for the mai...
This Week in Games - Thanks, Nintendo DS. ThanDS.
This week we celebrate the Nintendo DS' 20th birthday—and also pontificate about Sony's announcement of their own new portable console being in development.
― Welcome back, folks. Hey, so like, who was going to tell me M.A.O voices Snow White in Goddess of Victory: Nikke? I've been keen on her ever since watching her in Kazoku Sentai Gokaiger and have tried to keep up with her many voice-acting appea...
This Week in Games - Welcome Back To The Stage
The Game Award nominees are out with contentious rule changes, like including DLC for "Game of the Year." Plus, Shenmue III finds a new home and Riviera is coming to Switch!
― Welcome back, folks! I had a fun experience this past weekend: I checked out a local game store and played a few rounds of the Digimon card game. It's really fun! I'm especially taken with the "Hatching" mechanic, where you can...
This Week in Games - Is There More 2D Zelda on the Horizon?
After the success of Echoes of Wisdom, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma hopes so. Plus, a Nintendo Direct from the new Donkey Kong theme park area and more!
― Welcome back, folks! We had a busy week—for one thing, that big important project that I couldn't refuse is finally out. It was reviewing Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake! The review is out now. Getting to cover Dragon Quest III was a blast, and ...
This Week in Games - Nintendo Numbers, Steam Stoppages, and Lots of Virtual Fistfights
Mere mortals can't hope to understand Steam's rationale for what makes a game "inappropriate" for their platform.
― Welcome back, folks. I figured the anniversary of my accident would be the toughest part of this week, but it looks like fate had other plans in store. On the other hand, I at least feel encouraged; if I can survive a car, I can survive a lot else. Besides, I have a column to write—some...
This Week in Games - Stuck On A Whole Different Planet
Game preservation takes a hit while several old games get a new lease on life, offline and with a new port!
― Welcome back, folks! I have a bit of a "behind the scenes" bit for you guys from last week's column; while writing about Poncle (the creator of Vampire Survivors), I had apparently flubbed up the spelling at one point. So until my editor caught it, I had written: "Poncleoncle doing what Konam...
This Week in Games - What A Horrible Halloween To Have A Column
AI translation rears its head again, Masahiro Sakurai stunts on everyone, Castlevania comes to Vampire Survivors, and Jean-Karlo has five games to bring in the spooky season.
― Welcome back, folks! The Fall Manga Guide is finally up, and with it a lot of behind-the-scenes work I was doing. Does that mean I finally have time to play Xenoblade Chronicles 3? Nope! Not only do I have to prepare my panels...
This Week in Games - Game Freak's Teraleak
The huge leak of alleged info is already showing some holes in its authenticity, plus video game legend Nobuo Uematsu isn't retiring YET, and more of the latest gaming news.
― Welcome back, folks! I'm not much of a MiHoYo fan. It's nothing personal; I just don't gel with their games—the gacha rates are too unfair, in my opinion, and the games straddle that uncomfortable zone where they're too sophist...
This Week in Games - The Ninja Engine Alarm Column
This week is packed with live-action movies, alarm clocks to get you waking up to the soothing sounds of Breath of the Wild, and a brand-new game engine!
― Welcome back, folks! October is in full swing, bringing with it Inktober, the yearly month-long hashtag where artists try to produce a single-inked drawing every day. One of my favorite artists made a neat Bunnygirl, Alma Armas, and was selling th...
This Week in Games - Tilting at Windmills Instead of Dragons
Jean-Karlo levels with the audience about supposed Dragon Quest censorship, catches up on Tokyo Game Show announcements, and celebrates Monolith's 25th anniversary.
― Welcome back, folks! I had a great time at Portland Retro Game Expo last week. We had a weird bit where someone triggered the fire alarm, and we had to wait outside for a few minutes, but it was a great time overall. I got to meet some ...
This Week in Games - Sony's State of Play and Level-5's To The World's Children
Jean-Karlo gets in deep in the Pal World lawsuit and gaming's history with patents.
― Welcome back, folks! I was surprised by the reception to last week's column; we had more than a few folks who responded positively to the Freedom Wars news. That makes me happy! I can't cover a lot of these obscure games getting revivals, but I live for seeing folks excited to see their obscure favorites getting bro...
This Week in Games - Nintendo Lays Down the Law
Jean-Karlo evaluates Nintendo's decision to file suit against Pal World developer Pocketpair, has some advice for fighting game fans, plus more game news than you can shake a joystick at!
― Welcome back, everyone! It's the week before the Tokyo Game Show, so there's very clearly not a lot to talk about. Yep, this is definitely a slow column, I tell you what; no big surprises happened this week. ... O...
This Week in Games - The Many Mixed Fortunes of Sony
Sony nails it with a sure-fire platformer only to whiff it with the PS5 Pro announcement. Plus, the inspiration for Type-Moon's Arcueid Brunestud is discovered!
― Welcome back, folks! Because I don't keep myself busy enough, I've gotten some Discord buddies together and will be starting a Mage: The Ascension campaign with them soon! I have a lot of love for Mage; it's a messy system, but it was the f...
This Week in Games - Good News, Bad News, and Just News
An overlooked ninja game, the death of the Visions of Mana studio, and a CAPCOM stalwart moves on to new pastures.
― Welcome back, folks! I had a nice experience this past weekend; I decided to visit my local GameStop to see if they had some titles I was looking for (I wanted Shadow of the Ninja Reborn and Gravity Circuit). They didn't have 'em, but they were nice enough to try and put the order thro...
This Week in Games - Nintendo Indie Direct + Partner Showcase for August 2024
Also, Brazilian Miku, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and some adult visual novels.
― Welcome back, folks! I discovered over the weekend: I don't think I like elk burgers. A local bar in my town offered them and I was feeling adventurous, but elk tastes a bit too game-y. Parmesan rosemary fries are killer, though. Also, my review for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI CHRONICLES went up earlier thi...
This Week in Games - Hungry Wolves, Alluring Ninja, and a Stingy Hedgehog
Catch up on all the latest gaming news this week, from Fatal Fury to Nintendo's new museum in Japan!
― Welcome back, everyone! I've shot myself in the foot; with Manga Preview Guide on the horizon, I've decided to help cover some manga instead of playing Xenoblade Chronicles. Mea culpa, but I can't help it; a lot of interesting stuff comes out every season, and Manga Preview Guide is normally how I f...
This Week in Anime - Visual Novels Aren't A Joke
Now that the Type-Moon's visual novels have a new lease on life in English, Lucas and Steve look at other great entries in the medium. Visual novels aren't just April Fool's jokes!
― Now that the Type-Moon's visual novels have a new lease on life in English, Lucas and Steve look at other great entries in the medium. Visual novels aren't just April Fool's jokes! Disclaimer: The views and opinions exp...
This Week in Games - Mourning Rachael Lillis
Jean-Karlo shares the importance of Rachael Lillis' Pokémon dub work as well as some upcoming anime x game collabs to keep an eye on!
― Welcome back, folks! It's been a heck of a week for me, being a humble VTuber fan; earlier this week was my favorite VTuber Silvervale's birthday (a fun time was had by all), and then the very next day my interview with Mori Calliope went live! I never thought I'd ge...
This Week in Games - Unlimited Glitch Works
A weird start levels out to some pretty exciting news for Fate fans! Plus, the newest Zelda developments, some adult games are put out to pasture, and fandom shows its ugly side.
― Welcome back, folks! Folks know I love Digimon, and I feel bad for forgetting about Odaiba Day last week. I've spoken out about dumb "nerd holidays" like May 4 or March 10, but Pokémon Day and Odaiba Day at least make sens...
This Week in Games - Classic Visual Novels Get a New Lease on Life
ToHeart, Katawa Shoujo, and Castle of Shikigami III have re-releases in the works. Also, have you ever wondered why there was no Mario & Sonic Olympics game released this year?
― Welcome back, folks! I had someone ask in the comments to last week's column why I hadn't mentioned the SAG-AFTRA strike with voice actors in the U.S. The simple answer: the news came in after our cut-off time. Nevertheless,...
This Week in Games - EVO 2024: Back from the Dead
Jean-Karlo's here to get you up to date with the latest news from EVO, including a Tekken 8 upset and the weird way to fix your GameCube controller.
― Welcome back, folks! My longtime readers will know that we don't just obsess over Xenoblade and Izuna over here—I'm also a huge tokusatsu fan. This is why I finally checked out Ultraman Rising over the weekend. It's brilliant! It's a phenomenal animate...
This Week in Games - How to Accumulate Karma
The best way is through cannibalism! (Well, at least according to Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga it is.)
― Welcome back, folks! This past week saw the 21st anniversary of Boktai: The Sun Is In Your Hands!. My long-time readers know I have a ton of love for those games, having grown up with them and sunk my teeth into them long before I ever played a Metal Gear Solid game (fitting, since Hideo...
This Week in Games - Pokémon, Kaiju, and Pals
Jean-Karlo deep-dives into Pokémon's Ultraman origins, the big update to Palworld, and classic games making a comeback!
― Welcome back, folks! I've been playing the much-anticipated summer event in Goddess of Victory: NIKKE. It's what you expect: the bathing suits are scandalous, and the Live2D animations are Live2D, but the story is surprisingly good. It's not Shakespeare, but the NIKKE events do a ...
This Week in Games - Diving Into The Crunchyroll Vault
This week, we take a look at the Crunchyroll Games Vault, the implications of Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi working with Square Enix again, and sad demise of Mega Man X DiVE.
― Welcome back, folks! I've reached a rather embarrassing situation with my Nintendo Switch: I'm running out of space on the console. I've installed so many games over the years that my 256-gig SD card only has about ...
This Week in Games - Need-To-Know Nintendo and Neptune Goes To Brazil
Jean-Karlo weighs the pros and cons of masking the creative team behind Nintendo titles, plus a long-shelved console is making waves in Brazil!
― Welcome back, folks! As it turns out, that bit of sickness I felt last week was COVID. Thankfully, I've kept up to date on all my vaccinations; this wasn't anywhere near as bad as it could have been, and none of the people around me (that I know of) have go...
This Week in Games - Nintendo Direct June 2024: New Age of Hype
Nintendo's 40-minute Direct left a lot of room to get excited! Jean-Karlo dives into the latest news as well as some bonus lost gems that were recently unearthed.
― Welcome back, folks! What a wild week this has been. As you read this, I'm currently fighting off a summer cold that's been going around. The good news is, I'm just warm and congested—no sore throats (I hate having a sore throat). Not the...
This Week in Games - Summer Games Fest 2024 Wrap-Up
One of the biggest game showcases of the year just wrapped and Jean-Karlo is here with some modern (and nostalgic) highlights.
― Welcome back, everyone! A major downside of this column is that the nature of its publication makes it a little hard to cover the news; by the time last week's column went up, Summer Games Fest was already in full swing, after all. While a lot of stuff here might already be...
This Week in Games - Dragon Gangster Drivers And Rusty Riding Rabbits
Before Summer Game Fest truly kicks off, Jean-Karlo checks out the upcoming Yakuza TV series news and Gen Urobutchi's deceptively cute rabbit puzzler.
― Welcome back, folks! In honor of the Astro Bot announcement, I spent some time playing Astro's Playhouse over the weekend. It's a cute tech demo disguised as a platformer, helped by Astro being an adorable little mascot. The historical angle of colle...
This Week in Games - Sony And Marvelous Woke Up And Chose The Same Day To Showcase, And I'm Paying For It
Jean-Karlo attempts to condense two big video game showcases into a coherent column, from the revamped Silent Hill 2 to the grazing pastures of Story of Seasons.
― Welcome back, folks. This is related to a big story for this week, but this past weekend, I listened to Utada Hikaru's re-recording of "Simple And Clean". It's very emotional. Utada Hikaru is a good twenty-plus years older than when she or...
This Week in Games - Uguu Stocks On The Rise
The touchstone visual novel Kanon is coming to Steam! Plus, Gundam in Call of Duty, Nintendo's latest studio buy, and more!
― Welcome back, folks! Last weekend, I had a sudden pang of nostalgia, and I started missing Avalon Code. Avalon Code was one of the many offbeat RPGs released on the Nintendo DS, this one by Matrix Software (and released in the US by Xseed). It had a fun concept: the world is g...
This Week in Games - Games Are Our Business... And Business Is Restructuring
Sony and Square-Enix are both reorganizing, from new CEOs to staff cutbacks. Also, sad news about Penny Blood, more Cotton, and the latest video game news!
― Welcome back, folks! You know, it's always nice to discover old stuff from a franchise you love that you didn't know existed. For example, I didn't know that the old Captain N: The Game Master cartoon had an episode that featured the world of Dr...
This Week in Games - Switchin' It Up
The Switch sequel console is finally happening! The details are scarce, but you can find out more in this week's column. Also: an interview with El Shaddai's Sawaki Takeyasu, Microsoft layoffs, and more.
― Welcome back, folks! What a wild week this has been for the gaming industry. We'll go further into it, but jeez. This past week also saw the disappearance of Capcom's Dark Void and Dark Void Zero. ...
This Week in Games - EVO Japan 2024: You Ain't From Chicago If You Ain't Broken exA Before!
Find out about the young star who set the internet aflame and walked away with two medals. Plus: Thousand-Year Door updates, a new HunterxHunter game, and Miku!
― Welcome back, folks! As is my wont, I'd like to plug my El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron HD Remaster that went up earlier this week... but I've also got the disappointing news that Megaton Musashi W: Wired finally released in the US la...
This Week in Games - Atlus With the Old, In With the New
Atlus reveals its big new game, Metaphor: ReFantazio, amid the recent exit of Shin Megami Tensei artist Kazuma Kaneko. PLUS: A Golden Axe comedy series and Pokémon Go models get a makeover.
― Welcome back, folks! As you probably noticed, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes came out earlier this week. It's a fun time, as you could see in my review of it. It's come to my attention that there are some per...
This Week in Games - Nintendo Indies Showcase 2024
Jean-Karlo looks at some of the most promising titles from Nintendo's latest showcases, explains why a big player heading over to Nintendo is worth watching, and more!
― Welcome back, folks! Does anybody know what to do when a snack you like isn't in production anymore? I used to look forward to Russel Stover's pectin jellybeans every Spring, but apparently, those aren't in production anymore. I've e...
This Week in Games - Ask Yourself, "What Would Shadow Do?"
The Year of Shadow is upon us! What sort of festivities can we expect for a resident Edgehog? Also: Jean-Karlo salutes the Miiverse community and more in This Week in Games!
― Welcome back, folks! Last week, I saw a bit of consternation from folks with regards to SaGa Emerald Beyond, specifically since SaGa games can be rather impenetrable. It's a tall order, but I still vouch for the SaGa games. Mis...
This Week in Anime - What Is An 'Anime Game,' Anyway?
Chris and Lucas try to quantify the 'vibe' that makes something an anime game; is it point of origin, art style, or something else?
― Chris and Lucas try to quantify the 'vibe' that makes something an anime game; is it point of origin, art style, or something else? Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants in this chatlog are not the views of Anime News Network.Spoiler Warning...
This Week in Games - Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Preview
This is the Suikoden game fans have been waiting for. It might have a new title, but the heart is there.
― Welcome back, folks! Another April Fool's Day has come and gone, another chance for unfunny people at gaming studios to make another "Hey, wouldn't it be funny if we made a dating sim for our game!?" gag for the pile of joke-visual novels we've seen over the years. As an aside, while I haven't h...
This Week in Games - Dragon's Dogma 2 and an Interview with SAND LAND Producer Keishu Minami
This week, Jean-Karlo looks into Dragon Dogma 2's microtransaction drama, gushes about the notable visual novels on the horizon, and has a chat with the upcoming SAND LAND game's producer, Keishu Minami.
― Welcome back, folks! It's a busy Spring, and I know folks are likely neck-deep in Dragon's Dogma 2. But someone on Twitter went and reminded me that Touch Detective 3 + The Complete Case Files is o...
This Week in Games - Mourning Mutsumi Inomata
This week, Jean-Karlo morns the loss of artist Mutsumi Inomata and takes a look at her contributions to gaming. Also in the news, there's a new Fatal Fury on the way as well as new title Mega Man Battle Network fans are sure to enjoy.
― Welcome back, everyone! As you read this, Dragon's Dogma 2 is already out and folks are likely going nuts making and sharing pawns. I still haven't had a chance to pl...
This Week in Games - The Gaming World Says Good-Bye to Akira Toriyama
Jean-Karlo invites us to take a look at Akira Toriyama's influence and legacy in the gaming industry. There are also good/bad news for Puyo Puyo and The Super Mario Bros.
― Welcome back, folks! I didn't get a chance to plug it last week, but my column on monster-collecting games came out last week! The timing on that column was... something. That weekend turned out to be the 25th anniversary of the D...
This Week in Games - Nintendo Stamps Out Emulator Yuzu Devs
Jean-Karlo discusses the recent emulator debacle, some of the most interesting games from the Microsoft Partner Stream, and KOS-MOS creator Monolith's 25th anniversary!
― Welcome back, folks! Over the weekend, I saw Dune Part 2. It was really fun, but it reminded me of how disappointing it is that we haven't gotten a new Dune real-time strategy game to tie in with it. Dune II: The Building of a Dynas...
This Week in Games - How Zygarde Got His Game
Jean-Karlo goes over all the good news from this year's Pokémon Day and worrying developments in the world of emulation.
― Welcome back, folks! It's been a fun week on my end; some good stuff came in the mail (I finally have a nice copy of the Valis collection). I still really want that one LGR physical edition of VA-11 Hall-A; it sure would be nice to find one at not-price-gouge-y prices. I also nee...
This Week in Anime - Previously On Final Fantasy VII
Before you boot up Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, let's remember Squaresoft's foray into feature films, including Spirits Within and the divisive Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.
― Before you boot up Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, let's remember Squaresoft's foray into feature films, including Spirits Within and the divisive Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed...
This Week in Games - Directly To The Lands Between
Return to the world of Elden Ring and all the gaming lands in between, and Jean-Karlo breaks down the Nintendo Direct and Shadow of the Erdtree DLC!
― Welcome back, folks! What a week for news this has been. I imagine folks want to get right into stuff, but I had some fun stuff I wanted to show off! I got some long-awaited goodies from @Kamaniki featuring KOS-MOS! Thank you kindly for everything, Gig...
This Week in Games - Not My Elena
Capcom's "Trendy Elena" sparks controversy, Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama leaves behind a legacy of great games, and three Japanese RPGs pass the 1 million sold mark this year!
― Welcome back, folks! We had some fun stuff come in this past weekend. In the wake of our Another Code: Recollection review, another really fun game I anticipated came in for review. I'll talk more about it in the comin...
This Week in Games - Is This Really A Final Fantasy VII Trailer? We Still Don't Know Sephiroth Or Nothing.
Jean-Karlo gets polygonal as he goes over the newest details for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the upcoming Sonic game and state of Microsoft.
― Welcome back, everyone! You've likely seen our review of Another Code: Recollection by now. What a wonderful experience that was. It's great that it got a second chance at bat. And it's been selling so well! Nintendo must've underproduced that title because it ...
This Week in Games - Kojima Can Strand Servants, Discuss
Layoffs hit Activision Blizzard, Sony shows off a ton of upcoming titles, and Fate/stay Night is finally getting an official English-language release.
― Welcome back, folks! I'm still here, plugging away at stuff. Udon put out the word that they're making another one of their comic book spin-offs for a Capcom series. On the one hand, I'm excited because they announced a Darkstalkers book featuring Je...
This Week in Games - Not The Best Of Pals
"I think a lot of folks who wring their hands about The State Of Pokémon™ would be better off just realizing that they outgrew Pokémon and stop making that GAME FREAK's fault."
― Welcome back, everyone! It was very nice to have such a warm welcome from everybody last week. And! We got something fun in the mail! Never mind me getting my copy of Another Code: Recollection (Look forward to a review shor...
This Week in Games - Brace Yourself For Gamer Discourse In 2024
More layoffs, Genshin Impact developer miHoYo adopting AI, and the fear of harassment for a Last of Us TV series actress are the focus this week.
― Hello all, I hope your week was equal parts chill and exciting because this week is gonna be a mixed bag of not-so-fun news with a dash of neato news for good measure. Yes, I know we're only two weeks deep into 2024 to have bad news. Unfortunately, like a...
This Week in Games - You Can't Keep Shigeru Miyamoto Down
Miyamoto and two other game industry titans have no interest in retiring any time soon. Plus: Jack Black's new video game film role, Twitch's nudity snafu, and more!
― Welcome to 2024, otherwise known as the sequel to last year. Hopefully, the first week of the new year has been equally restful and kind to you as you batten down the hatches for what is sure to be a busy few months of video game and s...
This Week in Games - So Long, Kotick! Thanks for Nothing
Controversial CEO Bobby Kotick is out at Activision Blizzard, Hideo Kojima has a movie in the works, Twitch tries to find a middle ground on sexual content, and a data breach sparks ethical conversations among gaming journalists.
― Good day, morning, afternoon, and whatever in-between time you happen to be while reading yet another edition of this Week in Games. Surely, the week before Christmas spel...
This Week in Games - The Long Death of E3
The gaming industry says goodbye to an old friend as E3 is finally put out to pasture. Plus, Sega is accused of threatening its recently unionized works, and Epic Games may have scored an epic win in court.
― If you're reading this, you've survived yet another week in games. Huzzah. Surely, this week was chill in comparison to last week's hectic Game Awards-centric week. Right? Nah, this week was pre...
This Week in Games - Give Game Developers Their Flowers
The Game Awards honored some of the year's best in entertainment, but the same can't be said for the program's treatment of the industry's developers. Plus, Twitch exits South Korea and concern over a new Splatoon 3 weapon.
― Congratulations, reader, you've made it to another Friday. It's crazy to believe this week would be busting at the seams with video game news outside of Geoff Keigley's not-E3 e...
This Week in Games - That Naruto Sounds Different...
Controversy unfolds this week, from strange-sounding lines in Naruto X Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections to what qualifies as an "indie" game.
― Happy Friday, fellow weeb gamers. Although this week has been pretty light on announcements and trailers from video game companies outside of Capcom's release date announcement (and $70 price tag) for Dragon's Dogma 2, it's also had its fair share of ...
This Week in Games - Wouldn't That Be Level-5 Five Times Over?
Jean-Karlo looks back on 25 years of Level-5 games, plus a new customer-unfriendly move from GameStop and the gacha games that's putting its players into gem debt.
― Welcome back, folks! It seems like my easygoing weekends are ending; I've got a game I'm working on at the moment. Look forward to that review sometime next week! For now, I hope you've checked out my colleague Kennedy's column on the .h...
This Week in Games - Trust The Fungus. Touch The Fungus.
Nostalgia wave hits us this week with Gigabash x Ultraman collab, Super Mario Bros. Movie 30th anniversary, and Touch Detective coming back to the US!
― Welcome back, folks! So, uh, confession time: I had forgotten all about the Portland Retro Gaming Expo being last week. (I tunnel vision badly.) Last Friday, I even considered going on a lark to visit the Retronauts booth... but then I remembered tha...
This Week in Games - Slim Pickings
Among the delight of anticipating the Izuna sequel, Lego Isabelle, Silent Hill: Ascension, and Gungrave G.O.R.E.'s Switch port, there is a questionable new PS5 Slim.
― Welcome back, everyone! Great news: I finally got to play Xenoblade Chronicles 3 for once this past weekend! It's nice to have spare time. The game is still introducing some phenomenal characters (even if I'm tilting my head a little a...
This Week in Games - Not So Epic
Layoffs continue in the gaming industry, and the creator of Hatoful Boyfriend reveals he's been stiffed by Epic on his royalties. Plus, new Digimon devices and Square Enix goes all in on its "Cait Sith" pronunciation.
― Welcome back, folks! We picked up on some cool news over the weekend—Bandai Japan is making a new series of Digimon virtual pets: a reissue of the Digital Monster Pendulum toys, modif...
This Week in Games - Big Names, Big Departures
It's a week of shake-ups in the gaming industry as Platinum Games and Sony see off Hideki Kamiya and Jim Ryan. Plus: CAPCOM president Haruhiro Tsujimoto thinks games are due for another price hike.
― Once again, I'd like to thank my readers who thought of me amidst the Izuna news last week. I appreciate being thought of like that. I like it when friends think of me when they see stuff they know I lik...
This Week in Games - The Game Industry Uniting Against Bad Decisions
Japan sets a precedent for Let's Play content, and Unity just pissed off the sleeping dragons that are The Pokémon Company, Disney, Activision-Blizzard, and China. Plus: the announcements from Nintendo Direct and Sony's State of Play.
― Welcome back, everyone! Y'know, I thought this would be a pretty calm week; I hadn't had a game assigned to me, and it didn't seem like there would be any big announc...
This Week in Games - There Is No Joke, Just Treat Game Developers Better
SAG-AFTRA eyes a strike on the video game industry to get the same wage increases for video game performers as for those who work under the film and television contracts. Plus updates on Nikke/Nier, Zelda DLC, and more!
― Welcome back, everyone! As you might have seen, my Rune Factory 3 Special review went up on Tuesday (and right after Laybuh Day). It's a fun game, definitely worth interrupting a Xe...
This Week in Games - Nintendo Presents: Super Mario Elephants
Plenty of news coming from every corner of the gaming industry this week ranging from a new character in Street Fighter 6 and free distribution of Cave Story to Nintendo Direct!
― Welcome back, everyone! With Autumn creeping ever closer, we're seeing the last of the big games getting released this summer. As you read this, my retrospective on the Armored Core series should be out by now. It's very gr...
This Week in Games - Thank You, Charles Martinet
Jean-Karlo delivers a send-off for long-time Mario voice, Charles Martinet. Plus, a new Nier collab, an update on Tekken 8, and PlayStation's answer to the Steam Deck.
― Welcome back, everyone! I don't know if it's because of summer ending or because our weird heatwave just ended, but it's getting comfortable again around these parts. No Xenoblade 3 has been achieved since I'm still working on a real...
This Week in Games - Cirno Is Stronger Than AI
The creator of Touhou Project gets real about AI in This Week in Games, plus The Pokémon Company considers slowing down its output, and a classic sim is getting a make-over!
― Welcome back, everyone! It finally happened: we hit triple-digit weather in my city. And it was rough. I know I'm always clamoring for the heat, but even back home, you didn't see a whole week of triple-digit weather. This stuf...
This Week in Games - Long, Long 'Mon~!
Gacha? In MY Atelier?! Jean-Karlo has all the updates on the new mainline entry, a giant wave of Pokémon-related news, and all those Street Fighter updates coming to a tournament near you!
― Welcome back, everyone! We had a busy weekend, so that's this week's excuse for not having played Xenoblade Chronicles 3 this past weekend. But that was also because we had to cover Rune Factory 3 Special! It's a...
This Week in Games - The Scions Discover Margaritaville
The newest Final Fantasy announcements are here from FanFest, plus a big change-up for Visual Arts and the latest on a spicy visual novel finally coming to America.
― Welcome back, everyone! We had one heck of a week this past week—after all, it was Xenoblade Chronicles 3's first anniversary! 遅れましたが「ゼノブレイド3」発売１周年おめでとうございます！Xenoblade3 1st anniversary congratulations! pic.twitter.com/Jb6bcKbH4i— 齋藤将嗣 (...
This Week in Games - Wetsuits Are Hot, Actually
Jean-Karlo dives into the fanservice fiasco at Limbus Company that led to an artist losing their job, the double standard in celebrating gay rep in Final Fantasy XVI, and more Zelda games!
― Welcome back! Last week, I informed folks I was trying to assemble my new PC. The good news is, I managed it! It took me two days, but I pulled it off. The bad news was, there was a snag—the H100i LCD water coole...
This Week in Games - Hack The Past
Cyber Connect 2 tells fans to let Bandai Namco know if they want a .hack//IMOQ revival, and there's already a hashtag (#dothack). Plus, Gundam Evolution is shutting down just one year after its launch. Say it isn't so!
― Hi, everyone! As you read this, I'll be trying to assemble a new PC. I've had my new PC case (emblazoned with my favorite VTuber) taking up space in my room; I may as well put it and...
This Week in Games - AI Voice-Scraping Can't End Soon Enough
It's Jean-Karlo's first TWIG anniversary, and he has a lot to talk about, including a new impressive set of releases from LimitedRun, and AI voice impersonations coming a head in the fan community.
― Welcome back, everyone! We've been busy over here; this past week, I was working on the Atelier Marie Remake review. It's a delightful game, someone does need to illustrate a family tree for the Atelier ...
This Week in Games - Back, By Popular Demand...
Tsukihime is returning with a brand-new route! Also, an interesting article by Art-Eater points out the similarities between Final Fantasy IV and the Terry Gilliam film, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
― Welcome back, folks! We've got AX and Independence Day behind us; hopefully, the rest of the summer is smoother from here. Anime Expo looks like a ton of fun, but every year you hear about the ho...
This Week in Games - Saltgirls
It is a good time to be an Atelier Ryza fan and Happy birthday Sonic!
― Welcome back to Summer, everyone! I've been hanging back and watching everyone talk about Final Fantasy XVI and... it sounds like I need to eat my words because it looks like they pulled it off? Sure, it sounds like the combat breaks down a little in crowds, but everything I've seen involving the game looks fairly solid. There's ...
This Week in Games - Elephantitis, Don't Even Get Me Started
The newest Nintendo Direct shattered all of our expectations with an amazing line-up!
― Welcome back, everyone! Things are nice and cozy as summer rolls along. I even had time to play a little Xenoblade Chronicles 3, though it's mostly exploration. Now that a big reveal has been cleared, I wanted to go back and fill out more of the map. It was a busy month, though, as I worked through three game revi...
This Week in Games - From The Materia Of Your Soul
Jean-Karlo hypothesizes about possible major changes in the Final Fantasy VII remake's plot, plus the missed opportunities in the Persona franchise's newest entry.
― Welcome back, everyone! Wow, what a week! I saw the Super Mario Bros movie last week. Wow, what a movie with a miscast lead and horribly shoehorned pop culture music. There were a ton of announcements this past week; I'm definitely itchi...
This Week in Games - Pokémon Strike Version and Protest Version
The top four players in Korea's Pokémon league were disqualified this past week for protesting the tournament by hacking their entire teams into knowing nothing but the move Metronome.
― Well, that's an egg on my face—I finished Chapter 5 of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 over the weekend. So much for "July"! They sure played us like a fiddle with that chapter. But we can talk about that later; in more impor...
This Week in Games - A Good Week For Dragons And Novels
We have the latest on all things Dragon Quest, including Adventure of Dai jumping into the gaming world. Plus: Nintendo Force kickstarts a book on Satoru Iwata's legacy, Tokimemo news, and more!
― Welcome back, everyone! I'd like you all to know I've been making slight progress on a chain of floating islands near a castle in Xenoblade Chronicles 3. With any luck, I'll be storming that castle by July....
This Week in Games - A Tale of Two Showcases
Jean-Karlo gets us up to speed on all the big announcements from Sony and Marvelous. Which game are you most excited to play?
― Welcome back, everyone! Great news: I was actually able to get some Xenoblade 3 in this past weekend. With any luck, I'll finish Chapter 5 by the end of summer! This is... Before We Begin... I want to get something off my chest, as it's quite important to me. This past May 2...
This Week In Games - Emotions Running High Like The Temperature
A new Mortal Kombat game, more Microsoft/Activision Blizzard drama, and the original Shantae comes to PS4/5!
― Welcome back, everyone! It seems Spring has given us a miss and we're just skipping right into summer. And that suits me just fine, I've been enjoying my lunches outside in the sunshine for the past week. But I do know a lot of people can't take temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, so I...
This Week in Games - "Next stop, Hyrule!"
It's Zelda Day in America! But don't rush out just yet to explore the new open world—there are some other games out there.
― Welcome back, everyone! As you read this, it's Zelda Day in America. No doubt everyone is gonna be going absolutely crazy delving into the hotly anticipated sequel to Breath of the Wild, which itself has become the metric by which all open world games and Nintendo Switch titles...
This Week in Games - The True Secret of the Dragon is Guns
It's a quieter week as we wait for Tears of the Kingdom, but Double Dragon is getting a new game! Also, RIP, Waypoint.
― Welcome back, everyone! With everything having calmed down slightly, I finally got some time to play Xenoblade 3! We also received a delightful surprise earlier this week! Back in late March, I was lucky enough to review Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key. And ju...
This Week in Games - "Hand It Over, That Thing, Your Armored Core"
It's been a great week for mecha game fans! Jean-Karlo digs into the new Armored Core VI trailer, the latest Gundam Evolution season, and more!
― Welcome back, everyone! We had a really busy week—me and my fellow contributors got everything ready for Manga Preview Guide this past week, so there wasn't much time for video gaming on my end—and the Xenoblade 3 DLC dropped earlier this Tuesday. Just one ...
This Week in Games - The Ten-Million Dollar Bricklayer
This week: the low-down on Nintendo's Indie Showcase, who is the less evil in the Nintendo vs Gary Bowser case, and what we know about the new Sonic live-action spin-off!
― Glad to see everyone back! As you read this, I'll likely be wrapping up my reading for ANN's seasonal Manga Preview guide. It's not game-related, but it's a phenomenal way to look into new stuff and discover new stories to love—I ...
This Week in Games - I Just Miss Julia Voth As Jill, Man
Fans are thirsty for Ganon, we get a better look at Final Fantasy XVI, and Resident Evil 4 Remake sneaks in some microtransactions.
― Great to see you back, guys! I was delighted last week with the reactions to the Breath of Fire discussion! There were a lot more fans of Dragon Quarter than I expected to see. Remember, I'm always open to discussing matters you want to bring to my attention! I can't p...
This Week in Games - I Didn't Plan For This Much Capcom, It Just Happened
From Breath of Fire's 30th anniversary to Resident 4 fandom shenanigans and Legendary acquiring Street Fighter adaptation rights, this week has coincidentally featured a lot of Capcom news. Jean-Karlo delves into it.
― Welcome back, everyone! I don't actually have much to ease folks into this week. I was working on a review for Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories, so no Xenoblade this time. We're wor...
This Week in Anime - Gacha Money Now
Don't you hate it when your favorite mobile game goes kaput? Chris and Steve look at the current gacha game landscape, its questionable game mechanics, and the bitter feelings left in their wake.
― These movies are available to purchase on Blu-ray and are streaming on digital platforms, including Crunchyroll, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the participants ...
This Week in Games - Aren't You Tired Of Being The Hero Of The Wilds? Don't You Just Want To Go Ape-Mode?
Jean-Karlo gets hyped for the upcoming Zelda release, discusses Congress' foray into the Sony-Microsoft spat, and spotlights game preservation efforts after the shuttering of the 3DS store.
― Welcome back, everyone! It looks like we're all having fun with the Resident Evil 4 remake! I must be honest; I didn't think Capcom could pull it off—but they did. It's entirely debatable and ultimately down to ...
This Week in Games - A Farewell To Legs
We might be saying goodbye to Ryza as a game protagonist, but she'll be back in her own anime! Also, some good news for a well-known Resident Evil modder and the push for a new American McGee's Alice game.
― Welcome back, everyone! It's been an emotional week. Between the death of Lance Reddick, whose presence in Destiny 2 was beloved by many of its fans, and the release of Atelier Ryza 3, we've had ...
This Week in Games - Welcome To The Next Saiyan Level
It's Ángel's birthday, so Jean-Karlo takes the opportunity to gush about the beloved KOF character and SNK games' unique history in Mexico. Also, Twitch cracks down on deepfakes, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi returns and more in This Week in Games!
― Welcome back, everyone! I hope you're looking forward to starting your weekend with some game news! I could definitely use a break, I had a very busy...
This Week in Games - If 'JRPG' is a Dirty Word, It's America's Fault
In a recent interview, Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida shared his distaste for the term "JRPG" and he has a good reason: the American game industry has mocked it for decades.
― Welcome back, everyone! We've had a heavy week behind the scenes; a number of time-sensitive projects have kept us from Xenoblade Chronicles 3. I wish I could say I was busy because I was breaking in my PS5 with Drago...
This Week in Games - We Finally Arrived At The Sony Factory
Lots of Sony news this week, with a State of Play, classic JRPG additions to PlayStation Plus, and more! Also, our columnist finally has a PlayStation 5 now.
― Welcome back! I hope you guys had a great week! Progress was halted on Xenoblade this week because of a number of projects that came my way. We also had a freak snowstorm in my city! Being from the tropics, snow and hail amuse me, even though ...
This Week in Games - You Go, Big Guy!
A popular VTuber gets a break in the latest Yakuza-related title, you can get a chance to clean up after Shinra's latest environmental disaster, and more gaming news in This Week in Games!
― Welcome back, everyone! We had a busy week this past week; we had a review for EA and Koei Tecmo's Wild Hearts go up earlier this week. Feel free to check it out! Sadly, it definitely got in the way of me being a...
This Week in Games - The First Nintendo Direct of 2023
Jean-Karlo breaks down the biggest announcements from this week's Nintendo Direct, including new Pikmin, Metroid, and Splatoon news. PLUS: a look at the Final Fantasy X kabuki play!
― Welcome back, everyone! Whole lotta disappointing news out there. Worst of all, I couldn't even play much Xenoblade 3, but that's because we have some coverage planned for an upcoming title. Look forward to it sometime ...
This Week in Games - E3, I barely knew ye
What was once the go-to event for new games and consoles looks like it's lost its fandom relevancy. Jean-Karlo breaks down the recent news, including new game announcements!
― Welcome back, everyone! I hope that freak freeze billowing over the country doesn't have you guys trapped. I know folks have really been feeling the ice down in Texas. Even in my town, it's viciously cold in the mornings; there...
This Week in Games - It Feels Like 2008 All Over Again
Jean-Karlo dives into the recent rumor of a "lost" Fire Emblem game, why Hi-Fi Rush isn't the Jet Set Radio successor he wants, and how AI helped botch the Persona 3 Portable remaster.
― Hello, everyone! Here we are again, on the verge of the weekend. We've got tons of fun stuff to talk about this week! The year is starting to kick in with plenty of awesome stuff to discuss. Unfortunately, not all of...
This Week in Games - "We Have Odin Sphere and Final Fantasy Tactics At Home"
Dokapon Kingdom: Connect is coming back to ruin your friendships, Vanillaware's Sword of the Vagrant is coming stateside, and Jean-Karlo discusses the massive layoffs at Microsoft in This Week in Games!
― Hey, yeah, so Maximilian Dood described Vampire Survivors as "video game crack," and uh... he's not kidding. I feel like that bit in The Simpsons where Marge sits down and sips a glass of wine. ("I ...
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