Tag Archives: DRPG

One-Shots, Switch

A comprehensive review of Mary Skelter 2 after spending almost exactly 100 hours completing it

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One of the nice things about having your own website is that you can take your time over things you want to write about rather than rushing through them in order to meet a deadline. And I knew as soon as I started Mary Skelter 2 that I wanted to take my time over it.

100 hours of gameplay later, and I’ve finally beaten it. So I think it’s time that we talked about it in great detail. Because whew, there is a lot to talk about, and I’m certain that I’m going to miss at least a few things that struck me along the way. (I reserve the right to add to this piece as I think of things!)

I know I’ve written a few pieces about this game already, but I intend this piece to be a full, summative roundup of my experiences with the game and my overall thoughts on it. So let us begin.

Continue reading A comprehensive review of Mary Skelter 2 after spending almost exactly 100 hours completing it →
Gaming on a Schedule, Switch

Gaming on a Schedule, Day 6: More Mary Skelter 2

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And so, we return to my current “Big Game”: Idea Factory and Compile Heart’s excellent Mary Skelter 2, which I’ve been gradually ploughing through for quite some time now.

I really love dungeon crawlers. Something about the way they work just speaks to my brain. I think it’s the inherent satisfaction of gradually uncovering a map and discovering things.

In a good dungeon crawler, you’re always moving forwards and finding something new, and it’s satisfying to uncover a chunk of map even if all you discover is a complete dead-end.

Continue reading Gaming on a Schedule, Day 6: More Mary Skelter 2 →
short;Play, Videos

short;Play: Moero Crystal H

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In the mood for a great dungeon crawler filled to the brim with gorgeous monster girls? You should definitely check out Moero Crystal H from Idea Factory and Compile Heart, then, especially since eastasiasoft has worked so hard to bring this title to English speakers.

I absolutely adore this game, as you’ll know if you’ve read my review over at Nintendo Life, but since I was under a lot of time pressure to get the review out for an embargo, I wanted to spend some more time with it after getting that post up! This video will give you a look at the game in action, and you can expect some more in-depth articles on the game in the near future.

In the meantime, enjoy this episode of short;Play below, and don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube for more!

Sega Ages, Switch

Sega Ages Phantasy Star – Classic Dungeon Crawling, Modern Conveniences

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Although at the time of writing a lot of people are super-excited for the impending PC release of Phantasy Star Online 2, the series as a whole isn’t anywhere near as well-known as the heavy-hitting classics of the RPG genre.

Indeed, Phantasy Star as a whole has always been something of a niche interest series — perhaps in part due to the majority of its “golden age” being released on platforms that were not typically renowned for their role-playing games.

The first game in particular is very interesting to return to, especially when you consider its original release date as a contemporary of the first Final Fantasy and the second Dragon Quest. And the Sega Ages version for Nintendo Switch is the definitive way to experience it — so let’s explore that now!

Continue reading Sega Ages Phantasy Star – Classic Dungeon Crawling, Modern Conveniences →

Podcast

The MoeGamer Podcast: Episode 27 – Death to the JRPG!

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Ohayou gozaimasu, listener-san, and welcome once again to The MoeGamer Podcast, featuring both my fruity, succulent baritone and my good friend Chris Caskie of MrGilderPixels.

The MoeGamer Podcast is available in several places. You can subscribe to my channel on YouTube to stay up to date with both the video versions of the podcast and my weekly videos (including the Atari A to Z retro gaming series); you can follow on Soundcloud for the audio-only version of the podcast; you can subscribe via RSS to get the audio-only version of the podcast in your favourite podcast app; or you can subscribe via iTunes. Please do at least one of these if you can; it really helps us out!

Or you can hit the jump to watch or listen to today’s episode right here on MoeGamer.

Continue reading The MoeGamer Podcast: Episode 27 – Death to the JRPG! →

Features, MoeGamer Awards 2017

The MoeGamer Awards: Saving the World with Only Girls

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The MoeGamer Awards are a series of made-up prizes that give me an excuse to celebrate games, concepts and communities I’ve particularly appreciated over the course of 2017. Find out more and suggest some categories here!

Today’s category comes to us from SoriasSire, who left some great ideas in the comments of this post just like you (yes, you!) should go and do right now. SoriasSire is also a longtime supporter of the site and Japanese gaming in general, so a hearty thank-you for your ongoing support!

It’s a popular misconception among people who don’t know any better (or do any research) that we have a shortage of badass female lead characters in video games, but nothing could be further from the truth — particularly in Japanese gaming. This award aims to celebrate an awesome example of an all-female ensemble cast that we’ve explored over the course of 2017.

And the winner is…

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Cover Games, Rance 5D + VI

Rance VI: An Epic for Adults

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cropped-rance-header-1-6620974This article is one chapter of a multi-part Cover Game feature!
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Whew. Sorry for the somewhat delayed appearance of this article, but as you will know if you’re a regular reader, I like to beat at the very least the main story of games before I write about them in detail.

Rance VI’s main story is a substantial, ambitious affair — and there’s a whole bunch of post-game stuff to do once you’ve cleared it, too, if you really want to ensure you’ve got the most out of the game. Beating it to my satisfaction before penning this article took a little longer than anticipated!

In fact, Rance VI as a complete package is a substantial, ambitious affair, not just from a narrative perspective. There’s a whole lot to talk about, so the best way to go about this is going to be to tackle it a bit at a time. Make sure you visit the toilet before we set off… this is going to be a long journey!

Continue reading Rance VI: An Epic for Adults →

Cover Games, Dungeon Travelers 2

Dungeon Travelers 2: Sights and Sounds

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cropped-dt2-header-4645863This article is one chapter of a multi-part Cover Game feature!
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A big draw of Dungeon Travelers 2 is its gorgeous presentation. This shouldn’t be surprising, given its heritage, but it really does have a distinctive look and feel to it.

Its visual aesthetic also proved to be the most controversial aspect of the game, with commentators such as Polygon’s Phil Kollar refusing to take the game seriously due to its appearance. This is particularly sad, as the game has some lovely art, some distinctive character designs and a very strong sense of style to it.

Let’s take a look at the art and sound of Dungeon Travelers 2, then.

Continue reading Dungeon Travelers 2: Sights and Sounds →