Games

Have you ever had the pleasure of hearing an artist talk in length about their work? Listening while they go on for hours about the tiniest of stuff, explaining how complicated it was to make those little things work within their original vision, how painstakingly hard it was to create a small bit you didn’t even pay proper attention to, …

Close to the Sun is a narrative adventure game that falters when it comes to its most fundamental component: its narrative. With shallow, boring characters and undeveloped themes, the game even commits the modern sin of foregoing a proper conclusion in favor of leaving doors open for a sequel. The story takes place in 1897 in a reality where Nikola …

The following review comments heavily on the events of 358/2 Days. Beware of spoilers, for they’re coming. Kingdom Hearts 2 is a bigger, bolder sequel that goes all out in everything it does, delivering a more complex story and an action-focused combat system. It has its obvious share of faults – at this point, it wouldn’t be Kingdom Hearts without …

AI: The Somnium Files is a fascinating adventure game whose convoluted plot is easily outshone by the quirky characters that inhabit its absurd world – which is a great thing, as the story by itself is a bit shallow and quite, quite repetitive. On a rainy day, a woman called Shoko Nadami is found dead on a merry-go-round with an …

Somehow managing to be even more insane and frenetic than the first one (which is saying a lot) Bayonetta 2 is a unique action game that, with its fascinating heroine and engaging combat system, excels at wowing us with increasingly insane set pieces. The story begins when Bayonetta’s dear friend, Jeanne, is attacked and taken to hell by a demon that …

Experimentation has been a common ethos in The Legend of Zelda series. Whether it’s by introducing the third dimension in Ocarina of Time, changing the structure of exploration in The Wind Waker, or shaping the gameplay according to the peculiarities of each console with Phantom Hourglass and Skyward Sword, Nintendo is always demonstrating a clear desire to evolve the franchise …

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is the sixth and hitherto last game in the series to feature the archaeologist Hershel Layton as the protagonist. It is, however, an uneven game that tries to offer more freedom to the player at the expense of pacing and narrative focus. The story begins when Layton receives a letter from an esteemed professor …

With a fascinating story that, unfortunately, far overstays its welcome, Bravely Default is a good JRPG that tries to revitalize its classic genre by offering a less frustrating gameplay experience. The game opens with a great tragedy in the world of Luxendarc. After a terrible earthquake, the small village of Norende disappears from the map, giving way to a gigantic …

As I write these words, the final preparations to defend my home are being put in place: doors are being barred, windows are being covered with garlic, and precise lines of salt are being drawn in strategic places – they’ll never get me while I’m on the loo. For the truth is that Paper Mario: Color Splash is deeply influenced …

Earthlock is an unpretentious RPG that, unfortunately, fails to leave any sort of mark. The biggest fault lies in the story, which is basically non-existent, with paper-thin characters and a severe lack of tension and thematic purpose. So, even though its combat system is dynamic and engaging, it’s not complex enough to save the game all on its own. It’s …