Tag Archives: gaming

Mega Drive, Streets of Rage

Streets of Rage 2: Everyone’s Favourite

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Speak to pretty much anyone familiar with the Streets of Rage series, and chances are their favourite installment is probably the second.

While the first game may have set the template for the series to follow by being a beat ’em up designed for the home rather than the arcade, the second is where it well and truly hit its stride. Streets of Rage 2 demonstrates what the humble Mega Drive is truly capable of in the hands of real masters of their craft.

And it’s a game that is still relevant, enormously playable and impressive to look at, even to this day. So let’s take a closer look.

Continue reading Streets of Rage 2: Everyone’s Favourite →

Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy Marathon, Videos

Final Fantasy Marathon: Soul of Rebirth – Final Fantasy II #19

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With Final Fantasy II down for the count, it’s time to move on… to Final Fantasy II’s postgame story, originally added in the Game Boy Advance version.

Soul of Rebirth, as it is called, casts you in the role of all the characters who died in the main narrative, and invites you to check out what they’re getting up to in the afterlife. And, indeed, to discover that one can still get one’s ass well and truly kicked even if one is already dead.

Soul of Rebirth is hard. But we’re not giving up, no siree — we’re seeing this thing through to its conclusion, however long it takes!

Cover Games, Death End Re;Quest

Death end re;Quest: Down the Rabbit Hole

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cropped-header-2500285This article is one chapter of a multi-part Cover Game feature!
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Death end re;Quest, in keeping with the rest of Compile Heart’s Galapagos RPG project, is an ambitious and rather unusual affair from a narrative perspective.

The setup for the game is pure isekai, but almost immediately after actually starting the game for the first time, you’ll come to realise that there’s much more going on here — a really interesting blend of genres and styles that makes good use of its medium to tell a story and raise some intriguing questions.

Let’s take a closer look.

Continue reading Death end re;Quest: Down the Rabbit Hole →

Podcast

The MoeGamer Podcast: Episode 19 – Best of Battling

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Good afternoon! Welcome, once again, to The MoeGamer Podcast, featuring a pair of shamelessly pants-free games enthusiasts: myself, and the good Mr 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 19 – Best of Battling →

Cover Games, Death End Re;Quest

Death end re;Quest: The Art of Fighting

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cropped-header-2500285This article is one chapter of a multi-part Cover Game feature!
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One of the things Compile Heart’s Galapagos RPG project has been keen to do ever since its inception is experiment with mechanics, particularly when it comes to combat.

Death end re;Quest is an excellent example of this, featuring several layers of mechanics that keep things consistently interesting as you play through the main story and the optional side content. It’s also one of Compile Heart’s better balanced games to date, featuring a smooth incline in challenge factor rather than sudden, unexpected spikes.

Let’s take a closer look at how it all works.

Continue reading Death end re;Quest: The Art of Fighting →

Waifu Wednesday

Waifu Wednesday: Shina Ninomiya

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One of the more interesting things about Death end re;Quest, as we’ll discuss in more depth when we talk about its story in detail, is its dual-perspective narrative.

The “real world” unfolds from the perspective of main male protagonist Arata Mizunashi, while the “game” side of things is the domain of trapped director and lead heroine Shina Ninomiya, who initially has absolutely no recollection of how she found herself in a virtual reality game so realistic it’s difficult to distinguish from “reality”.

Shina is an excellent lead for the “in-game” side of things, for reasons that will become apparent shortly. Let’s take a closer look!

Continue reading Waifu Wednesday: Shina Ninomiya →

Cover Games, Death End Re;Quest

Death end re;Quest: Where Does the Game End and the World Begin?

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cropped-header-2500285This article is one chapter of a multi-part Cover Game feature!
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One of the most interesting things about Death end re;Quest is the fact that it gradually evolves over the course of its duration, with new mechanics and structural elements being continually introduced throughout the first distinct “part” of the game.

Today we’re going to take a look at part of the game’s overall mechanics and structure: specifically, the part of the experience that allows you to explore and advance the overall story. We won’t be discussing the narrative itself today — just how it’s presented and how the game hangs together.

It’s one of Compile Heart’s most interesting games, even before you’ve unlocked everything — so let’s take a closer look at one of its coolest aspects.

Continue reading Death end re;Quest: Where Does the Game End and the World Begin? →

Waifu Wednesday

Waifu Wednesday: Sumika Tokiwa

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Being a Compile Heart game, Death end re;Quest is, naturally, overflowing with colourful, interesting and delightful female characters.

In fact, women make up the majority of the cast… though, again, this is nothing unusual for a Compile Heart game. What is a little unusual this time around is the fact that the game unfolds across two discrete “worlds” — the “real” world and the “game” world.

For today’s Waifu Wednesday, we’re taking a look at one of your companions during your time in the “real” world, as you attempt to uncover the conspiracy that has led to heroine Shina Ninomiya — and possibly others — becoming trapped in the virtual reality massively multiplayer online game, World’s Odyssey.

Continue reading Waifu Wednesday: Sumika Tokiwa →

Videos, Warriors Wednesday

Warriors Wednesday: I’m On a Boat – Warriors Orochi #30

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Well, okay, there was one more challenge left to undertake with the Wu forces… just like with the Samurai forces, Orochi needs a second kicking just to make sure he stays down for good!

This time around, the stage for the battle is a take on the Battle of Chi Bi, a Dynasty Warriors classic that sees both sides battling across a flotilla of warships, with a bit of fire to keep things interesting.

Gives a whole new meaning to “tiger, tiger, burning bright,” huh?

Continue reading Warriors Wednesday: I’m On a Boat – Warriors Orochi #30 →

Waifu Wednesday

Waifu Wednesday: Maria Osawa

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Before we bid 428: Shibuya Scramble a fond farewell from the Cover Game spotlight, I wanted to give some love to one of its main characters.

Since many of the articles on MoeGamer deal with the core narrative themes of the games under the microscope, I don’t typically bother with spoiler warnings. However, in this instance, I will preface today’s article with one, since… well, to explain why would probably in itself constitute a major spoiler for 428: Shibuya Scramble. So consider yourself warned.

Armed with that knowledge, then, let’s spend some time with Maria Osawa!

Continue reading Waifu Wednesday: Maria Osawa →