PixlBit

By the end, the island of Seiren is one you won't want to escape.

At some point in everyone’s life, they’ve wondered what it would be like to find themselves on a deserted island, removed from the comforts that make civilized life so easy. I’d also wager that many have also dreamed of what it would be like to uncover ancient ruins and be the first to gain a glimpse into the past. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA capitalizes on both of these contemplations through the lens of Adol Christin. While serving as crew on the Lombardia, Adol is treated to tales of the mythical and uninhabited isle of Seiren, which is thought to be cursed. Upon passing, in classic fashion, a Kraken attacks the ship and despite Adol’s best efforts, destroys it, thrusting him and the ship’s passengers into an unexpected adventure on Seiren. These circumstances setup the experience, pitting the castaways against the harsh nature of the island, as they struggle to escape back to the life they’ve known. As the adventure kicks off, players are quickly treated to solid action RPG combat, an intriguing story, and an addicting gameplay loop that will keep them coming back for more.

Read more »

“Amnesia? Again?!?”

There’s a special place in hell for JRPG fans.  Their sin?  Playing the same game with the same story over and over without complaining once.  I suppose there are worse crimes than this, but there is a sort of masochistic glee in which JRPG fans partake in their vice.  Perhaps we love grinding and crafting so much that we don’t really care about the story too much – despite our claims that we play these games for the tales they tell.  Perhaps it’s the newness of the dungeons or the shiny equipment that makes the tedium of saving the world over and over remain novel.  But, despite these tropes, this genre seems to continue on, and sometimes even with some of the most loathed archetypes and clichés, JRPGs can rise to heights other genres can’t. 

Read more »

You can have fun with Yoshi’s Story, if you’re willing to find it.

Oh, Yoshi. You’re just so cute. You have got to be the cutest dinosaur (or whatever you are) I’ve ever seen. How Nintendo had the means to fabricate such an enduring and appealing character we’ll never know. After his introduction in Super Mario World, Yoshi became Nintendo’s newest star. A sweet dinosaur that could swallow enemies and turn them into eggs for him to shoot was quite an imaginative concept. Add Yoshi’s elongated tongue which he can pull enemies with, and a saddle so Mario could ride comfortably on his back and you’ve got a favorite as well as powerful character that was more than just a lovable mascot. After a couple of throwaway games for the NES and SNES, in 1995, Nintendo decided to make Yoshi the star of his own game and released Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island. The game was a success and highly praised, proving that Yoshi could be strong enough on his own. At least, it seemed that way.

Read more »

I want to know who thought running into enemies to attack was a good idea.

I get the distinct impression that Nihon Falcom wasn’t too happy with the DS remake of Ys I & II, Legacy of Ys: Books I & II. The two games have been remade once again, this time on the PSP by Nihon Falcom, the original developers of the series. Having played the TurboCD version of the games, as well as the DS remake, I can safely say that this PSP remake is the truest to the original titles; however, its return to form has excised my favorite improvement introduced on the DS: 2D Zelda-like control.

Read more »