Tag Archives: jrpg

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless is out for the Switch, and its pretty cute

The Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless demo for the Nintendo Switch has been out for a few days, but I finally got to play it. I loved every minute of this demo. The art is cute, the voice acting is fantastic, and the gameplay is engaging. I haven’t played any of the Disgaea games before, and I am regretting my life’s decisions. Disgaea is a cute and quirky strategy RPG coming to PlayStation, Steam, and the Nintendo Switch on October 3rd in the US, the 6th in Europe, and the 13th in Australia.

A tyrant rules the Netherworld of Hinomoto. Its once proud warrior people now live under the Hinomoto Code of Destruction. It is up to two unlikely friends to join forces and bring back the Bushido code that was once the staple of this proud civilization. 

You don’t need to have played any of the other games in the series to enjoy the demo, but you are going to want to. The demo does a fantastic job of walking players through the different mechanics and setting up the story as its own entity. I’ve been excited about Disgaea 7 since it was first announced. This is definitely going to be in my cart at launch. If you are a fan of the series or want some extra swag, you might want to check out the special collector’s edition available at the NIS online store. There are two different sets, one with plushies ($159) and one without ($99.99). I’ll leave the details below. You can buy the plushies separately.

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Without Plushies ($99.99)

  • Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless Limited Edition
  • “The Art of War” Hardcover Art Book
  • “Songs of Honor” 2-Disc Original Soundtrack
  • Steelbook
  • Mini Byoubu Art Display
  • “Netherworld Warriors” Yunomi Tea Cup
  • Collector’s Box

With Plushies ($159)

  • Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless Limited Edition
  • “The Art of War” Hardcover Art Book
  • “Songs of Honor” 2-Disc Original Soundtrack
  • Steelbook
  • Mini Byoubu Art Display
  • “Netherworld Warriors” Yunomi Tea Cup
  • Collector’s Box
  • Lil’ Fuji Plush
  • Lil’ Pirilika Plush

The Star Ocean The Second Story gameplay trailer just dropped, and I need to get this in my collection now

The new gameplay trailer for the upcoming Star Ocean: The Second Story R just dropped, and it’s got me hyped for the release. This is a fantastic remaster with a beautiful art style, fun updated and new mechanics, and a story I want to get into. I didn’t get to play Star Ocean when it first came out, so I am excited to get the opportunity on the Nintendo Switch. Star Ocean: The Second Story is coming to the PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Steam on November 2nd at $49.99 MSRP. You can preorder yours today, or try the demo if you need more convincing! 

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Persona 5 Tactica, a cute strategy game coming this November!

Persona 5 Tactica is coming to consoles and PCs on November 17, 2023. The Phantom Thieves find themselves in a strange realm surrounded by Legionnaires. Now they must help the revolutionaries and find a way back home. Do you have what it takes to get the Phantom Thieves back home safely?

I love the art style of this game. If you are a fan of Persona or just want a new strategy game to hop into, this might be worth looking into. It certainly gives me Mario vs. Rabbids vibes, and I love Mario vs. Rabbids. 

Persona 5 Tactica will have a skill tree to unlock for each character, unique combos you can perform, and a reserve unit system that I am dying to try. You are able to change the difficulty after you start the game, which is an amazing feature for people like me who aren’t very good at strategy games but still want to enjoy the experience.

I’ll be picking up a copy when it comes out, but am still deciding which version. I am not convinced the digital deluxe version is worth getting if I am only getting two additional characters.

Preorder your copy today!

Xbox: Regular ($59.99)/ Digital Deluxe Edition ($79.99)


PS5: Regular ($59.99)/ Digital Deluxe Edition ($79.99)


PS4: Regular ($59.99)/ Digital Deluxe Edition ($79.99)


Switch: Regular ($59.99)/ Digital Deluxe Edition Price Not Available


Steam: Regular ($59.99)/ Digital Deluxe Edition ($79.99)


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Game Review: Volcano Princess

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I was sent Volcano Princess as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity but won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.

Volcano Princess is a visual novel life sim for PC. You play as a single father who must raise a daughter in a fantasy world where demons and man are at war. You make the choices that will foster her growth into a functioning adult. How you choose to raise her is up to you, but the choices you make affect her future.

The gameplay loop is simple. Each day you are given a limited amount of action points to spend where you do activities with your daughter that increase her stats. What you choose to do is up to you, but the limits affect your relationship with her and what she grows up being. The game slowly introduces more mechanics as your daughter ages and choices become harder. When she is old enough, there will be a lite dating sim where she can choose from 18 romantic partners and a mini turn-based rpg game. The pacing is fantastic, and the different game mechanics give the game much-needed diversity. Your first playthrough will take about eight hours, but there are more than 50 endings to work toward. 

This game is surprisingly addicting. I stressed over my choices because I needed to be a great father the first time around. I think I was successful, but I already have some ideas for future runs. The amount of choices available is what makes this game so much fun. Eventually, you be forced to think tactically about how you spend time with your daughter. Do you help her through a difficult time at the cost of some important attributes? Do you let her date? Become a writer? An actor? A warrior? It is all up to you, and it is such a wholesome good time.

My biggest tip for new players is to go in as blind as possible. I recommend not looking up a guide unless you want to collect every ending. Even then, I recommend you get some of your own endings first. The story is a little cheesy, but it is a good kind of cheesy worth experiencing at least once. 

I love this game and would buy it if I hadn’t gotten it already. The art is cute, the story is wholesome, and the mechanics are relaxing and fun. That said, it isn’t for everyone. This game is great for players who love life sims and don’t mind visual novels. This game involves a lot of reading and waiting for timers. The timers aren’t long, but it doesn’t make for the most exciting gameplay. The story is fine, but there are noticeable grammatical errors. I didn’t mind the grammatical errors and loved the gameplay, but it is something to think about before you make the purchase. 

Volcano Princess is $10.99 on Steam, and it is totally worth it for what you are getting.

Excellence in Visual Arts: RPG Time: The Legend of Wright

The Independent Games Festival (IGF) awards have just wrapped and it was a pretty impressive lineup of games. I got to try a few of them and was impressed by the unique collection put on display. I will be covering all the games that were nominated, but I will start. I think it is only fair to give these games their own posts because they were all so different and deserving of the same time and attention.

The winner for the Excellence in Visual Art category was the adventure game RPG Time: The Legend of Wright by the publisher, DeskWorks Inc. This quirky little RPG combines a series of genres with its unique hand-drawn art style. The game feels like it happens on top of a desktop as you shift between different game types. It is cool to see this game come to life. I can see why it has already one a lot of awards. If you are looking for something truly unique and quirky, check out RPG Time: The Legend of Wright. You can play this game on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox, and Steam for $29.99. Its on sale on Nintendo for $15.99 till March 31, 2023, and Xbox has it for $16.49 till March 28, 2023. Now might be a great time to pick it up if you have either of those consoles. I’ll be adding this to the games I need to try, and hopefully, come back with a full review soon. 

Game Review: Fire Emblem Engage

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Traditionally, I haven’t been a fan of strategy games, but with age, I find myself coming around. I have never played a Fire Emblem title before, and when I saw the ads for Engage, I thought this would be a great time to start. I loved the art style, and the animation looked very cool. I was not disappointed by this title, and Engage quickly became one of my obsessions. I recommend this game to anyone looking for a new game to play, even if you don’t like the genre.

Fire Emblem Engage is a strategy JRPG for the Nintendo Switch where you play as Alear and her allies as they fight against the evil ancient dragon Sombron and try to stop him from taking over the world. With the help of the spirits of great warriors, you and your allies fight against formidable foes in decisive battles that can change everything. Can you collect all the emblems and defeat Sombron before it is too late?

Images are Screenshots from game

I found the story for this title a bit generic and predictable. It leans heavily on anime tropes, and I found some of the character development a bit lacking. That said, the story is good enough for the casual experience this became for me. It isn’t a bad story, but I have a feeling that there are better stories in the series that I will be exploring in the future.

The gameplay is a bit of a mixed bag. There are elements of the gameplay like the combat that I loved, but there are other elements that felt like they bogged the game down, like the training mini-games. What sets Engage apart from other strategy games I’ve played is its social mechanics You are encouraged to make friends with your allies through a series of activities you complete in-between battles. You can eat, train, and talk with allies to unlock additional backstory and small buffs. This was an interesting concept that quickly became a chore as the stories I sat through stopped being as interesting, and the minigames stopped being fun. I just wanted to beat the next chapter, but I also wanted to make sure I collected all the available buffs. If you like the characters you interact with, this might not feel as much of a chore.

I loved the combat in this game. I played this game on normal difficulty and on casual because I couldn’t handle the permanence of death. There is a mode in this game where death is permanent. Units that die in combat die in the story, and you no longer have access to them. This is a very cool mechanic, but one that I wasn’t ready for at the start of my adventure. I found the normal difficulty challenging enough for my abilities, but the options are available from the start for those of you who need the extra challenge. One thing to note about the normal difficulty is that it is very easy to over-level. I can’t speak for harder difficulties, but you don’t really need to grind much on normal to beat the story. 

So is this game worth it? Yes. Although it has its flaws, it serves as a fantastic introduction to the series. As someone who has never played another Fire Emblem game, I am left wanting more. I went into this title blind without knowing anything about the series, and never felt lost with the lore. The mechanics were easy to pick up, the story is good enough, and the animation is very cool. There are settings in this game to speed up combat by turning off animations, but I left them on because I loved watching the combat. If you are looking for a fun strategy game that isn’t a huge commitment, check out Fire Emblem Engage. 

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Persona 3 Portable & Persona 4 Golden Bundle

This year is looking pretty good for the Nintendo Switch and console gaming in general. I am definitely going to struggle to keep up with my ever-growing backlog of games. I just saw the ad for the Persona 3 Portable & Persona 4 Golden Bundle and I am very excited. I am still busy with Fire Emblem Engage. but I will try to finish it up quickly to attempt to squeeze it in. If you are a fan of these classic titles, you can now get them on each modern console. It looks like they have upgraded the graphics and it looks pretty sick. I haven’t had a chance to play any of the persona games, but this looks like it’s a nice place to start. Grab your copy for the Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch today!

Octopath Traveler 2

I played the first Octopath Traveller and liked it enough to want to play the sequel. It was a cute and relaxing little JRPG with an interesting article. I found the story a bit lacking, but not enough to be turned off by it. 

Take control of unique heroes as you make your way through their stories. You are offered enough choices in your playthrough that the game should stay fresh. Some stories were better than others, but if the sequel is anything like the first, it will be a relaxing journey. I might be busy with Digimon World: Next Order when this game releases, but I plan to pick it up when I need something casual.

Octopath Traveller 2 is set to release on February 24, 2023, on the Nintendo Switch and the Playstation 4 & 5. You can preorder yours today! For those considering a physical copy, try using my affliate links: Switch, PS4, PS5

Square Enix also offers a collectors bundle

Get your copy from the official Square Enix website

OCTOPATH TRAVELER II ART ALBUM

This art book features a collection of package art, world maps, and illustrations depicting eight travelers and their Crossed Path. The pages are specially bound to open flat at 180 degrees, making it very easy to view and appreciate the full-size spreads. The cover has a smooth matte finish with foil stamping giving the book a luxurious feel.

※Size: B5 (182 x 257 mm) / Hard Cover Album Bound / 44 pagesOCTOPATH TRAVELER II –Extended Battle Tracks–

This mini OST includes 24 variations of Extended Battle Tracks, with unique intro melodies for each of the eight protagonists, which play when taking on a strong foe. This is a special CD with song variations not included in the complete soundtrack which will be sold separately.

※These song variations may be sold separately at a later date.OCTOPATH TRAVELER II Travelers Bust Set

A set of bust figures depicting the eight travelers, the protagonists of the title. The striking expressions in their respective gazes foreshadow each of their journeys about to begin. Also the background inside the figure package features a map of the Solistia continent. When displaying this map as a backdrop for the figures, it feels the epic world of OCTOPATH TRAVELER II unfolds right in front of you. Of course, these stylish figures can be displayed on their own as well.

※Approximate Figure Size: W 32 mm x D 24.6 mm x H 76 mm

Tales of Symphonia Remastered

Come February, Bandai is remastering Tales of Symphonia and bringing it to the Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, and Xbox One. I am loving this trend of bringing these classic games to a modern audience because I missed out on a lot of them growing up. Now that I have money but no time, I will try to squeeze in as much as possible.

Tales of Symphonia Remastered is a JRPG that seems to have a decent story and an interesting combat system. Aside from the visual upgrades, the remastered edition is promising co-op modes, 3D animated cut scenes, and a fantastic adventure to set out on. If you are a fan of the original or are looking for a classic JRPG to get into, check out Tales of Symphonia. The game is set to come out on February 17th, 2023. You can preorder your physical copy today, otherwise you will need to wait till launch for digital. For those interested in physical copies, please consider preordering through my affiliate links: Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch.

Bandai also offers a chosen edition that includes the game, a steelcase, and stickers if you would like to spend the extra $10.

Nintendo Switch

PlayStation 4

Xbox One

Fire Emblem Engage

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I just watched the Fire Emblem Engage trailer and it has me pretty excited. I haven’t played any of the previous games in the series, but it seems to exist as its own independent story based on the trailers. The art looks great, the animation is cool, the voice acting is fantastic, and the story seems interesting. I am not sure how I feel about the gameplay, but I have been slowly coming around to the RTS-style gameplay since I started reviewing games. I could always use another JRPG to fill my time.

The game comes out for the Nintendo Switch later this month on January 20. You can preorder your copy today. I am not sure if I will preorder, but I will be playing this game. Stay tunned for the full review. 

Gaming News and Review

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