Category Archives: Articles

All the non-Cover Game articles and features in one place.

Waifu Wednesday

Waifu Wednesday: Penelope

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On previous occasions, you’ve had the opportunity to meet two of this site’s mascots: Midori and Yumi. Today, I finally managed to track down the most elusive of MoeGamer’s staff, one Penelope.

Penelope was not part of the MoeGamer staff right from the start, unlike her two peers. The story of her origins has been told in The MoeGamer GameCast, so check that out if you want to find out a bit more about her background.

For now, though, let’s take the opportunity to have a chat with this infrequently seen but vital part of the MoeGamer machine.

Continue reading Waifu Wednesday: Penelope →

One-Shots

Super Mario Maker 2: In Praise of “Normal”

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Now Super Mario Maker 2 has been out for a little while, we can consider certain aspects of it in greater detail — something of a necessity when contemplating an online-centric title like this!

There’s already a huge variety of levels out there for you to enjoy, with new ones being added all the time. I’ve even got in on the action with two of my own at the time of writing and more to come — check the game’s Hub Page for the codes if you want to try them!

And, of course, the game is flavour of the month for streamers and YouTubers. But I have a bit of a concern about this side of things in particular; let’s talk about that.

Continue reading Super Mario Maker 2: In Praise of “Normal” →

The Zelda Diaries

The Zelda Diaries: Part 3 – I Wonder What’s Over There

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“I wonder what’s over there” has been an aspect of game design that creators of open world games have been grappling with for some time now.

Ideally, when playing an open world game, the player should be able to find a definitive answer to “I wonder what’s over there” simply by… well, going there. “You see those mountains in the distance? You can actually go there” and all that.

Not every open world game gets this quite right, but Breath of the Wild presents an excellent example of how to do it very well indeed.

Continue reading The Zelda Diaries: Part 3 – I Wonder What’s Over There →

Announcements, Community

Around the Network

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Happy weekend to you! We’ve just lit the barbecue so I’m typing this as we prepare for delicious smoky meaty goodness.

This week saw my less than thrilling return to the day job, but needs must and all that. As always, my various creative projects have been keeping me sane, and I’m really excited about the new Cover Game feature, as it’s something very different in terms of subject matter.

So without further ado, let’s review what you might have missed this week, then!

Continue reading Around the Network →

Essentials, Racers, Sega Ages

Sega Ages: Virtua Racing – Arcade Perfect Plus

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The Nintendo Switch has seen a real renaissance for classic-era Sega.

The launch of the Sega Ages collection on the platform has brought a host of the company’s most beloved titles to a whole new audience. Even better, these releases have brought these titles up to date with modern conveniences without sacrificing what made the originals great in the first place; a true example of “enhanced retro” at work.

The latest title from Sega’s golden age to get this treatment is Virtua Racing, so let’s take a look at where this influential title came from… and how the Nintendo Switch incarnation honours its legacy.

Continue reading Sega Ages: Virtua Racing – Arcade Perfect Plus →

Waifu Wednesday

Waifu Wednesday: Da Ji

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While the majority of the Warriors Orochi cast is drawn from the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors series — at least in its first installment — there are a few new characters in the mix, too.

Besides Orochi himself, who we actually don’t see all that much until each faction’s respective final (and secret) missions, probably the most prominent and persistent of these new characters is Da Ji.

But who is this mysterious and devilish woman with a penchant for deception? Where did she come from? And what’s with the weird feet?

Continue reading Waifu Wednesday: Da Ji →

The Zelda Diaries

The Zelda Diaries: Part 2 – Toys of the Trade

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One key way in which Breath of the Wild differs from its predecessors in the Legend of Zelda series is in how it handles protagonist Link’s core abilities.

In past Zelda games, Link would typically (though not always) gradually acquire a selection of useful items over the course of his adventure, and in most cases these would correspond to the challenges in the dungeon or situation in which he found them.

In Breath of the Wild, meanwhile, you get given all of your abilities almost from the very beginning of your adventure, and then it’s up to you to spend the rest of the game figuring out all the different ways in which you can use them.

Continue reading The Zelda Diaries: Part 2 – Toys of the Trade →

One-Shots

Super Mario Maker 2: Nintendo Hands Over the Keys… Again

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Super Mario Maker was a noteworthy title in that it managed to be extremely popular and culturally relevant despite being on a console considered to be a high-profile “failure”.

Now Nintendo has well and truly picked itself up, dusted itself off and raised a hearty middle finger to its competition with the Switch, many people would have doubtless been happy with a simple port of the original Super Mario Maker, opening up the possibilities that package offered to a whole new audience.

But what Nintendo has actually given us is something much, much greater. Let’s dive in and see what Super Mario Maker 2 brings to the creators’ table.

Continue reading Super Mario Maker 2: Nintendo Hands Over the Keys… Again →

Announcements, Community

Around the Network

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Good morning everyone! Apologies this is a day later than it usually is, but I spent most of yesterday travelling so just wanted to relax and unwind a bit when I got home.

As I type this, I’m enjoying the last day of my holiday, so it’s back to work tomorrow. I’ll be making the most of the day, for sure; I’ve got articles and videos planned, so I’m pretty sure I’ll fill most of the day even before Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Maker 2 enter the picture!

Later in the week, we’ll be kicking off a new Cover Game feature, too, but in the meantime let’s check out what you might have missed from my holiday week!

Continue reading Around the Network →

Another Eden

Another Eden: First Look

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I thought I’d sworn off mobile games. But when one comes along that promises a single player-centric experience and boasts talent that previously worked on titles such as Chrono Trigger and Luminous Arc, I pay attention.

I’d actually already had my eye on Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space for a while, since it released in Japan a while back and seemed to be very positively received. Now, it’s finally available in the West, so I thought I’d dip in and see what it was all about.

Read on for my first impressions, based on a couple of hours of play on the recently released Android version.

Continue reading Another Eden: First Look →