RPG Archives - Tech-Gaming

Born of Bread review

Robert Allen — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 03:09:27 +0000

Yeast of Eden Sure, there are plenty of role-playing games that deliver epic experiences. But occasionally, it can be refreshing to undertake an adventure without sweeping backstories and complex geopolitics. Instead, Born of Bread adopts a Paper Mario-style approach to tell a pun-filled tale of a curious doughboy and his eccentric entourage. And at about ...

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Cross Blitz (Early Access) review

Robert Allen — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 05:38:01 +0000

Wish deckbuilders had a more substantial storyline? Cross Blitz two modes of play deliver intersecting plots as well as an engaging roguelike mode. As titles like Baten Kaitos, SteamWorld Quest, and Slay the Spire have all demonstrated, card-based battles and light role-playing can complement each other quite well. Although developer Tako Boy Studios claims there ...

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Silent Hope review

Robert Allen — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:50:17 +0000

The foundations for a decent action-driven dungeon crawl are undermined by several glaring balancing blemishes. Although the marketing makes no mention of it, Silent Hope is a spin-off that’s two degrees removed from its source material. Sure, the game lacks the agricultural pursuits that drive the Story of Seasons or Rune Factory franchises. But it’s ...

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The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails review

Robert Allen — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 03:23:08 +0000

Ys-e Does It Entries in Nihon Falcom’s Trails franchises habitually deliver complex storylines brimming with geopolitical intrigue. Since the property is comprised of multiple sub-series, characters routinely appear across successive entries. Some of the enjoyment stems from witnessing protracted character arcs- as protagonists like Rean Schwarzer grow from determined youngsters into battle-tested leaders. But that ...

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Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster review

Robert Allen — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 17:36:35 +0000

Tragically overlooked in the early 2000s, Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster unites two innovative role-playing adventures into one, remarkable, deck-building bundle. Success is never guaranteed in gaming. Despite earning critical acclaim upon its 2003 release, Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean sold poorly in both Japan and the West. But co-developers ...

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Mugen Souls Z (Switch) review

Robert Allen — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:37:09 +0000

The allure of fan-service versus the tedium of inconsequential dialog. Undoubtedly, Mugen Souls had its share of problems. The title was burdened by longwinded conversations and a battle system laden with mechanics which barely enriched the role-playing experience. But if you were able to look past these setbacks, the Compile Heart-developed title provided one of the more ...

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Eternights review

Robert Allen — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 03:35:42 +0000

With humanity on the precipice of extinction, the time is right for romance. Eternights doesn’t just invite comparison. No, the inaugural effort from Seattle-based Studio Sai begs to be likened to the Persona series. Notably, there’s the same gradual sense of apprehension every time the in-game calendar inches toward your next deadline. Similarly, when you’re ...

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Sea of Stars review

Robert Allen — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 03:23:59 +0000

A love letter to the role-playing classics of yesteryear, Sea of Stars incorporates a few modern nuances alongside its warm sense of nostalgia. The first few hours of 2018’s The Messenger felt like a respectful homage to Tecmo’s classic 8-bit action platformer, Ninja Gaiden. But gradually, Quebec City-based developer Sabotage Studio revealed additional inspirations. The ...

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Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles review

Robert Allen — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 22:55:13 +0000

Take the initiative and enjoy this pair of uplifting RPG-musical classics. In most modern role-playing games, geopolitical tensions and world-ending threats are pervasive. But as the rereleases of 1999’s Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess and 2000’s Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom remind us, some turn-of-the-century adventures conveyed carefree whimsy. The release of ...

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Hammerwatch II review

Robert Allen — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 23:58:02 +0000

Bigger isn’t always better 2013’s Hammerwatch was pretty much twin-stick-driven, dungeon-crawling perfection. Building on the basic blueprint of games like Gauntlet and Diablo, players used six traditional fantasy archetypes to eliminate enemies while amassing a fortune in gold. But rather than burdening you with scrutinizing stats, the focus was on straightforward simplicity, as parties of ...

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Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg review

Robert Allen — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 01:16:45 +0000

Marie Remake revisits the inaugural Atelier game, back when synthesis was simpler and your acquaintances demanded compensation. For over a quarter of a century, GUST Corporation has captivated players with its beguiling portrayals of alchemy. Across 24 mainline entries and 17 spin-offs, ingredients have been gathered, before being mixed together in massive cauldrons. But this ...

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The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie review

Robert Allen — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 21:42:19 +0000

Reverie has a demanding requisite, so if you haven’t invested hundreds of hours into the property, enjoyment will be constrained. But those acquainted with Cold Steel and Crossbell can expect a gratifying payoff as well as a preview of the things to come in Calvard. As a work of fiction, Nihon Falcom’s The Legend of ...

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Loop8: Summer of Gods review

Robert Allen — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 21:33:04 +0000

It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine) As Makoto Shinkai and Atlus’ P-Studio have taught us, only strong relational bonds can beat the apocalypse. Much like Weathering with You, Suzume, and most of the Persona series, Loop8: Summer of Gods envisions society hurtling toward imminent deduction. The game’s ...

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Trinity Trigger review

Robert Allen — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:05:45 +0000

With a likable cast, quaint towns to visit, and dungeons that are a joy to explore, Trinity Trigger delivers action role-playing gratification with a minimum of frustration. Fans of the Mana, Ys, and Tales franchises won’t want to miss this adventure. Role-playing had traditionally been a single-player experience, where an individual served as the leader ...

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Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key review

Robert Allen — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 18:32:10 +0000

The concluding chapter of the Secret sub-series offers a vast world for exploration, offering a poignant finale for Ryza. Entries in the Atelier series often open with a similar cutscene. Here, a young, female protagonist attempts to synthesize a basic item. After giving her cauldron a few hopeful stirs, the mixture inadvertently ignites, leaving the ...

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The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure review

Robert Allen — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 01:16:52 +0000

Originally released during an era when accomplished role-playing games didn’t always it out of Japan, The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure demonstrates the durability of the genre. Twelve years on, Lloyd and the Special Support Section’s exploits remain as engaging as ever, proving that most Falcom games age like wine. Once called the “Walkman ...

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Meg’s Monster review

Robert Allen — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 01:45:48 +0000

“If she cries, the whole world dies”, Meg’s Monster warns. Likely, any tears shed will be your own. 2019’s Bear’s Restaurant helped establish Odencat’s ambitions for poignant storytelling. Players who peered past the game’s modest pixel art found a plotline about a restaurant run by a pair of animals. While Bear was responsible for the ...

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Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society review

Robert Allen — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 21:19:31 +0000

Toying with your expectations like a Mimic. Although dungeon crawls are habitually gratifying, they are often gloomy experiences that don’t customarily tamper with convention. As a spiritual successor to 2018’s Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk, Nippon Ichi Software’s Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society merrily snubs those traditions. Instead of seizing control of a ...

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8-Bit Adventures 2 review

Robert Allen — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 01:45:35 +0000

Nostalgia that doesn’t forget the nuances Since its origins in the last 1980s, the console role-playing game has evolved considerably. Habitually, modern efforts deliver sizable casts of nuanced characters, multifaceted combat systems, and symphonic scores. But at their core, even the most sophisticated RPG builds upon the foundations established by seminal titles like Dragon Warrior ...

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Neptunia: Sisters vs Sisters review

Robert Allen — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 17:01:30 +0000

Little sisters trying their best! There’s a problem with a lot of media franchises these days. Instead of telling a comprehensive story laid out across a succession of installments, entries can feel like a meandering string of course corrections. All too often, properties seem less driven by any desire to entertain and more about conforming ...

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