A deep cut from Final Fantasy Tactics. Here's hoping the remaster gets announced at Tokyo Game Show next week.
Ashtear
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It has to do with how the statute is written (I used to do comparative international IP policy research and analysis). Japanese works are given fairly wide latitude in creative sectors based on artistic intent. For example, you'll see knockoff brands all the time in anime or manga, but the intent is clearly world building (or parody), not appropriation for promotional use. That artistic intent standard is used in the courts. This is why all the side-by-side comparisons people here probably saw on Twitter when Palworld came out was more of an ethnocentric American approach. Plus, copyright infringement is frequently incidental and not the result of large investment (unlike patents), so, in a country that prefers to handle domestic disputes informally, these incidents are less likely to go to court.
As a country that more recently entered the world stage based on manufacturing, patent protection is simply going to be taken more seriously as part of the culture. And yes--while I don't have numbers--patent litigation does seem to get thrown out often when it comes to video games, at least the high-profile stuff, anyway. Here's an example between Koei Tecmo and Capcom since I was already on Variety.
Ashtear
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Similar visual design happens all the time in Japanese media and there's rarely litigation over it. Patent lawsuits are much more common in Japan.
Games
Ashtear
2 days ago
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No editorializing was done here. That's the title provided by the metadata, which is the easier option Lemmy provides when posting links.
Ashtear
3 days ago
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I don't know where you're hearing retailers don't enforce ratings. Yes, it happens uncommonly, but the FTC previously found ratings compliance was higher among video game retailers than at the box office, and not much has changed in the culture since then. I've worked at multiple retailers that sold video games, and the training for video games enforcement was always taken just as seriously as with alcohol sales.
Being the largest entertainment industry in the world now, video game publishers are serious about this stuff. Developers also still take steps to avoid a Hot Coffee situation from occurring again.
Ashtear
3 days ago
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It doesn't have to be jaded. As with the original quote I riffed off of, these particular Skinner boxes don't have to always be pure evil and can provide net-positive outcomes, as long as we're clear-eyed about the consequences of participating. The latter part is what I'm trying to drive home here. Consumer behavior psychology is part of every major live-service game.
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4 days ago
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Even if you do find the cabinet in the lavatory, the probability calculations for a simple use case are ridiculously complicated. It does reek a bit of "minimum compliance required by law."
On the plus side, Hoyo (at least in Star Rail) doesn't bombard the player in-game with pop-ups or the like. A zero-spend player that just wants to poke around in the story or the game world isn't going to be harassed. Instead, it's earnest marketing, by way of letting the player use characters on trial, featuring them in the story, or high-quality video productions published outside the game. They make as much money as they do because their production values on that stuff are among the best in the business.
As far as running a digital goods casino (where you don't own the goods), I've seen far worse. I still don't think we're doing as much as we should to protect those with addictions to gambling or FOMO from these products, however.
Ashtear
4 days ago
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Come on. We both know that legitimizing the RMT system increased the number of gold buyers and normalized the process. Not only does it now capture the players who were both a) squeamish about paying unproven third parties and b) had no recourse if they did get scammed, it's also a far more convenient process. We know the gold-for-gear (and other services) market exploded in size because Blizzard was finally forced to make systemic changes to fight/redirect services spam. Service sellers are everywhere, and there was a point they were constantly in your whispers, your mailbox, your chat, your group finder. It's nothing like it was 15-20 years ago.
No, gold buyers are not most players (and no, I don't care that some players are doing it). Most gacha players aren't whales, either. My point is that yes, your game is also chasing the whales right now and will continue to design systems to do so.
Ashtear
4 days ago
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The AO rating is still the kiss-of-death for game content in North America, enforced by retailers. Even still, the ESRB only came about because the political climate at the time was very much "clean up your shit or we'll do it for you."
Ashtear
4 days ago
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This reads like "the only moral Skinner box is my Skinner box."
Also sounds like you haven't played in a while. The addition of real currency to gold trading creates an even more direct pipeline from one's wallet to in-game gear dice rolls. Guilds selling raid gear is even more common now, and with crafting orders, a whale can spend to reroll secondary stats on crafted gear.
With the way Warcraft is throwing currencies at players now, it's clear Blizzard has taken more than a few cues from how gacha and other live-service outfits are doing things these days. Plenty of opportunities for ruinous, addictive behavior.
World of JRPG's
Tokyo Game Show 2024 is in two weeks. Any updates you're looking forward to, or announcements you'd like to see?
Ashtear
6 days ago
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Something like Rune Factory? Or a different approach?
Ashtear
1 week ago
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FSR doesn't use AI hardware. The original comment is overselling it a bit, but something AI-driven like DLSS does offer substantial (if slightly blurry) framerate gains.
Ashtear
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Yeah, after that time I really didn't think consoles would be as much as a midrange PC. And yet, here we are. Feels like Sony's back to late PS2 era levels of hubris now.
Ashtear
2 weeks ago
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This is 100% an "it's just not for you" situation. I mean, it's not really my thing either, but it's literally the best selling game ever in Japan. That's not just the pandemic.
Ashtear
2 weeks ago
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Coincidentally, loot drama that wouldn't have been possible in retail WoW is exactly why I stopped playing Classic a few months after launch.
Ashtear
2 weeks ago
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Hrm, kind of an odd mix of classics and recent releases that aren't going to be remembered five years from now. That said, I'm just glad Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is on here. It's a wonderful hidden gem that barely gets talked about. I don't even like puzzle games much, but the gorgeous pixel art and soundtrack helped me get really into it.
I'm also reminded that I need to get back to Citizen Sleeper. Was very surprised by it when I tried it (before I got sucked into Honkai: Star Rail).
Casual Conversation
Another odd aspect of gaming culture
Ashtear
2 weeks ago
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With today's news that a licensed song is being removed in a future update of Alan Wake, I'm reminded that television shows have also been getting similar "updates" for a little while now. The staggered release schedule of television shows makes it the only medium off the top of my head that does anything similar. Pilot shows were generally unpolished products, often followed up by recasting or other major changes. Abrupt cancellations also could mean unfinished stories (no, I'm not still bitter about Stargate Universe).
Game development is an iterative process, so as soon as I first started seeing open beta testing come about as a part of digital distribution decades ago, I figured it was only a matter of time before profiteering got us to where we are now.
RetroGaming
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 1st Remake Coming To Switch in 2025 | Retro Gaming News 24/7
Ashtear
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They were that style of sprite derived from prerendered 3D art that was popular in the late 90's/early 2000's.
It's unfortunately looking like ports of this game are going to come later.
RetroGaming
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 1st Remake Coming To Switch in 2025 | Retro Gaming News 24/7
Ashtear
2 weeks ago
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Calling out the Jenis Academy stretch would be bold in the fandom, lol. I mostly agree with you though, I think that whole chapter was a low point for the series.
Sky SC in particular has some brutal pacing, so it'd be reassuring for the future remake if they shuffled up this game a bit.
World of JRPG's
What JRPG’s will you play on September. What games did you finish last month?
Ashtear
3 weeks ago
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Didn't finish any last month! Been playing other stuff.
I've been (very) slowly nibbling away at Chrono Trigger in Japanese. Probably will do some more of that this month.
There aren't any new releases I have my eye on until Metaphor: ReFantazio. My shortlist right now is Live A Live, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, and Atelier Ayesha if anyone has any strong arguments for/against any of them.
Games
Civilization 7 dev on Ages system and series shakeup: "It's going to be the hardest thing for fans to get adjusted to"
Ashtear
3 weeks ago
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I'd just settle for competent AI at any difficulty. I only ever had a few runs in Civ6 because the AI consistently fell apart in late game. Conversely, it's why I had over 1000 hours in Civ5. Yes, it cheated, but once I started to ignore that, it was really satisfying to climb the difficulty ladder and still feel challenged even into the late eras most of the time.
www.ggrecon.com
Games
Final Fantasy Creator Reveals Which Entry He Thinks Is 'Most Complete', and It's Not Final Fantasy 7
Ashtear
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Between this and weighing in on what defines Final Fantasy (in the original interview), Sakaguchi sure didn't shy away from the controversial topics in the fandom.
“I understand and know that this is a very widely debated topic, but I really think it has turned into something that has a different meaning for everyone,” says Sakaguchi. “If I had to give some kind of core ingredient, I would say it’s the story and world. These two are a must for any Final Fantasy and the common denominator across all of them. The world setting needs to contain some kind of thematic element that is loosely tied to current events. I think the world itself needs to have some kind of thematic backbone or message that gives a different perspective, or a thought-provoking prompt for players.”
Video Game Music
Uncharted Waters - Dance on the Cape of Good Hope [Yoko Kanno]
Ashtear
3 weeks ago
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I'm a simple person, I see Yoko Kanno, I upvote.
Patient Gamers
Interesting to see how dead the MMORPG genre has become. Are there still players around?
Ashtear
3 weeks ago
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I haven't seen a lot of chatter around live-service games in Patient Gamers communities in general over the years, but from what I can tell, very little of the Warcraft community made it over to Lemmy. I can think of a couple possible explanations for that.
First, because everyone uses Discord for voice chat over WoW anyway, with the Reddit exodus last year, Discord was always a more natural fit for discussion. Second, /r/wow has increasingly become a place for discussion around the game among former players, especially after Shadowlands. Seeking out a new space on Lemmy and actually participating in the necessary, proactive contributions to grow a community requires more enthusiasm than I think the jaded players have.
It certainly feels like there are fewer MMO players, but I'm not sure. I think we can be certain that younger players are being captured by different forms of live-service games though (shooters, various gacha) rather than traditional MMOs.
Ashtear
3 weeks ago
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I don't think I realized just how distinct Jennifer English's voice is, sheesh.
This looks great, I just have the same concern I always have on turn-based systems with timing mechanics added in: how am I going to feel about the system in hour 20? If not great, is there an option to automate it?
Reddit
Ashtear
3 weeks ago
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Images in particular have been very slow for me lately.
World of JRPG's
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Announcement Trailer
Ashtear
3 weeks ago
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Between this and Immortal Life, I guess Eastern-flavor farming games are on the menu for me!
Ashtear
4 weeks ago
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This community, !gaming@lemmy.world, and !games@sh.itjust.works are the most active for general discussion, although both the /c/games communities are heavier on news than discussion.
That game's old enough for discussion on !patientgamers@sh.itjust.works, which is semi-active and much more discussion-oriented.
Technology
Why are so many leaders in tech evil?
Ashtear
4 weeks ago
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Newell also has overseen Valve as one of the pioneers of the most predatory monetization in the video game industry (lootboxes, etc.).
There are no saints at this level.
Ashtear
4 weeks ago
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Although the demo showed me this was more of a puzzle game than a strategy game (not big on that), the writing was so great and I love the aesthetic and the world concept. Should be a lot of fun.
World of JRPG's
FINAL FANTASY XVI available on PC September 17th
Ashtear
4 weeks ago
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Yes, most Square Enix and Atlus games launch with Denuvo these days.
Ashtear
1 month ago
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Thank you! Looking forward to it.
Ashtear
1 month ago
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Didn't even see the UI. Effectively an in-game cinematic trailer.
Hope there's more forthcoming soon. Civ's gotten to a point where I have to know if there's enough to chew on in the vanilla game if I'm going to buy in early.
Ashtear
1 month ago
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It's all over my RSS feeds, so it's certainly being covered now.
There's been some (not exactly scientific) indications that the vast majority of the userbase is in China so it remains to be seen if it was actually a success in the West or not.
Ashtear
1 month ago
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Also confirmed by SI.com (which I didn't know had video games writing, and it's surprisingly good as it turns out). GI dot biz published a recap yesterday.
It's been long enough that the publisher would have put out a statement by now if it was false.
Fediverse
Ashtear
1 month ago
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And I’d like to block users with consistent negative behaviours.
This is where I'm at it with it. Votes are already public to those who really want to see them and that cat's not going back in the bag. Anyone that goes out of their way to inject it into the conversation is showing their ass and adding a (likely extra) level of toxicity that blocking would fix.
RetroGaming
What's the oldest game anyone here has played in 2024?
Ashtear
1 month ago
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The Cloudy Mountain one is more like classic Intellivision stuff. I think that one was well-received at the time, but I actually don't often hear much chatter about Treasure of Tarmin. Tarmin being a first-person dungeon crawler gives it some legs since it's an inherently "classic" style, although calling the graphics and controls dated would be a huge understatement.
Players are absolutely going to need the game manual, and even then some item use cases will have to be figured out.
RetroGaming
What's the oldest game anyone here has played in 2024?
Ashtear
1 month ago
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I still play Treasure of Tarmin (Intellivision, 1983) on my phone from time to time. I don't think the core gameplay loop would be entirely out of place in a small roguelite game today.
Hoping the upcoming Civ7 menu theme is another hit.
Technology
Justice Department considering push for historic break up of Google after landmark antitrust ruling: report
Ashtear
1 month ago
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In the short term? Possibly.
In the long term, it opens up space for competition, which is better for end users, advertisers, small business, and more.
Technology
Justice Department considering push for historic break up of Google after landmark antitrust ruling: report
Technology
Justice Department considering push for historic break up of Google after landmark antitrust ruling: report
Ashtear
1 month ago
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Just spinning off Android would shake up map software. It's how they get traffic and other data.
www.windowscentral.com
www.gematsu.com
www.gematsu.com
I'm hearing the marketing for this one is on the spoilery side (as is frequently the case with Falcom), so beware.
We were having a chat about retro box art on my Discord server, so I was browsing some Famicom box art today. I don't have a ton of NES (North America) ones I like, [as it's a lot of this kind of thing](https://i.imgur.com/sSGXM2X.jpeg), but there are a bunch of Japan ones I like. The post link is for Destiny of an Emperor 「天地を喰らう」. I also like the original Zelda box art, very satisfying shade of green:  What are some NES/Famicom boxes you like?
Xenoblade Chronicles has been one of the broadly popular JRPG series as of late, particularly within my own social circles. I have heard mostly good things about the games, and some vocal criticisms about the second game in particular. After finally picking up a Switch last year, I have now made my way through most of the series. Before trying Xenoblade myself, I had a mixed history with Xeno series creator Tetsuya Takahashi. He’s had quite a career, having worked on games in the Ys, Final Fantasy, SaGa, Mana, and Chrono series. Xenogears was his first project as a director, and I knew next to nothing about the game when I picked it up at release in 1998. It surprised me in a lot of ways, being my first real dip into the mecha genre, accompanied by a truly massive and thought-provoking script (both big changes from the SNES’s smaller scripts and censorship). My continuing experience with Xeno was less successful. Xenosaga’s move to a more cinematic style gave it a plodding pace, packed with jargon and word salad. I also didn’t connect with most of the trilogy’s characters, I found most of the gameplay boring, and I’d somehow missed the memo that Xenosaga was a reboot and not directly connected to Xenogears, souring me on the experience in general. I didn’t have a lot of success with Xenoblade Chronicles for a while. I came to the first game late in 2017, spurred by positive word-of-mouth that had resurfaced after the announcement of XC2. While I got along with the characters better than I did in Xenosaga and enjoyed the excellent setting, I ultimately had to make an effort to avoid the game’s numerous sidequests. Being an MMO player, they would have felt dated to me even back at the game’s release in 2010, and their supporting elements in the UI were extremely basic. The game’s saving grace for me would be the gameplay, a fun romp with a squad that I enjoyed tinkering with. My experience with Xeno changed with XC2. I had a rough start at first when I picked the game up last year, not really sure what to make of the main character and light-hearted tone of the game, a huge departure from the previous games in the series. But when the conversations with Pyra started, a deep hook set in. I immediately connected with this character, someone that seemed eminently competent but had a pensive demeanor, hinting at a darkness within. After I learned more about this character as her whole story unfolded in both XC2 and its DLC Torna, Pyra became my favorite character in the series. For the first time in 25 years, Xeno was finally starting to hit some of those same emotional notes it did for me in Xenogears. Hitting on that nostalgia also led to me thinking about interesting similarities between Fei from Xenogears and Pyra and Mythra. In hindsight, making those connections across the series seems to be half the fun. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Future Redeemed are packed with little (and not-so-little) nods to much of past Xeno. I had a good time with this aspect of XC3, and in some ways it picked up where XC2 left off with getting me to be interested in this cast and world. I also really enjoyed the gameplay, seeing the results of refinements to the UI in particular that were sorely needed, culminating in my being thrilled at controlling A and seeing her flip around the battlefield in the DLC. An impressive achievement, considering I almost always hate playing healers in this type of gameplay! I know fans of Xenoblade Chronicles have strong opinions about their favorites, but there were things that I loved (the setting in XC1, the cast in 2, the gameplay and Xeno callbacks in 3), and there were things that drove me nuts in each of the games. I’ve given up on the stories getting some much-needed pruning (every Xeno game and DLC I’ve played has padding or spots that just don’t work), so I can roll with that. I also don’t know if I’ll ever get to XCX or Future Connected. Xeno isn’t exactly my top ongoing series at the moment, but I’m still interested in what Takahashi is cooking up next. Any thoughts on Xenoblade Chronicles? Or the Xeno series at large?
Game Information -------------------- **Game Title**: Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes **Platforms**: - Xbox Series X/S (Apr 23, 2024) - PlayStation 5 (Apr 23, 2024) - Nintendo Switch (Apr 23, 2024) - PC (Apr 23, 2024) - Xbox One (Apr 23, 2024) - PlayStation 4 (Apr 23, 2024) **Trailers**: - [Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Pre-launch Trailer (ESRB)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45hd-3SeU9A) - [Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Pre-Order Trailer (ESRB)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wavXUqxDgn8) **Developer**: Rabbit & Bear Studios **Publisher**: 505 Games **Review Aggregator**: **[OpenCritic - 76 average - 58% recommended - 34 reviews](https://opencritic.com/game/16605/eiyuden-chronicles-hundred-heroes)** Critic Reviews ------------- **[CGMagazine](https://opencritic.com/outlet/82/cgmagazine)** - [Justin Wood](https://opencritic.com/critic/8041/justin-wood) - [8 / 10](https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/game/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a worthy spiritual successor to Suikoden. Outside of some combat tweaks there is a lot to love here. ------------- **[COGconnected](https://opencritic.com/outlet/94/cogconnected)** - [James Paley](https://opencritic.com/critic/2831/james-paley) - [75 / 100](https://cogconnected.com/review/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review/) >As far as homages go, Hundred Heroes is an exceptional one. That old-school sensibility is captured perfectly, almost to its detriment. The sprite art is exceptional, the voice work is fantastic, and the character designs are excellent. I wish the pacing was more modern, though. And I’d be fine with an updated approach to inventory management. But all that is what makes this such a faithful successor to the Suikoden series. Well, that and the establishment of your own kingdom full of heroes. If you’re looking for the next Suikoden game, this is it! Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a worthy ascendant to the Suikoden throne. ------------- **[Cerealkillerz](https://opencritic.com/outlet/465/cerealkillerz)** - *German* - [8.3 / 10](https://cerealkillerz.org/review-eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-fest-fuer-suikoden-fans/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes offers excellent content, especially for fans of JRPGs from the 90s, looks great and also keeps you engaged in the long term with the many characters that can be found. Only the story sometimes suffers from pacing issues and the current objective is not always completely clear. But that doesn't stop the title from being a great new start for an almost forgotten series. ------------- **[Checkpoint Gaming](https://opencritic.com/outlet/563/checkpoint-gaming)** - [David McNamara](https://opencritic.com/critic/6998/david-mcnamara) - [7 / 10](https://checkpointgaming.net/reviews/2024/04/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review-the-jrpg-never-left/) >Despite boldly declaring "the JRPG is back" and then doing absolutely nothing new with the genre, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a decent, traditional JRPG that will tickle anyone who adored the classic PlayStation titles of the late nineties. Its modern affordances in visual design and voice acting bring this nostalgic adventure into the present day, but it is let down by sluggish, repetitive combat and some missed opportunities when it comes to utilising its massive roster of characters. Fans of Suikoden will likely already have this pre-ordered - for everyone else, check this out if you're looking for a nostalgic romp and don't mind a few speed bumps along the way. ------------- **[Digital Trends](https://opencritic.com/outlet/124/digital-trends)** - [George Yang](https://opencritic.com/critic/7294/george-yang) - [3 / 5 ](https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-hero-review-nintendo-switch/) >As a Suikoden successor, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is faithful to a fault. ------------- **[GAMES.CH](https://opencritic.com/outlet/762/games-ch)** - [Benjamin Braun](https://opencritic.com/critic/4867/benjamin-braun) - *German* - [75%](https://www.games.ch/eiyuden-chronicle/test/review-lVt/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes mainly delivers what the developers promised. It's a mostly very classical JRPG experience with beautiful graphics and great music. But while fans of the 90's JRPGs might get anything they love about these classics here, they also get nearly everything, that they might hate about them. ------------- **[GameBlast](https://opencritic.com/outlet/797/gameblast)** - [Victor Vitório](https://opencritic.com/critic/9556/victor-vit-rio) - *Portuguese* - [7.5 / 10](https://www.gameblast.com.br/2024/04/eiyuden-chronicle-hundread-heroes-analise-review.html) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was clearly made with dedication to deliver an epic experience about assembling a resistance army in the midst of an inglorious war. The narrative cannot give importance to such a vast cast, but, overall, it does a good job with what it has at hand, telling an engaging, well-written and well-voiced story. Translation does not follow the same level and several systems seem to be too close to the old productions on which they are based, missing the chance to modernize to allow for more efficient management. The end result is a good JRPG that suffers from limitations, which can still be resolved with changes here and there to systems, options and menus, bringing with it the potential to really shine in its environment. ------------- **[GameGrin](https://opencritic.com/outlet/436/gamegrin)** - [Alana Dunitz](https://opencritic.com/critic/7498/alana-dunitz) - [9 / 10](https://www.gamegrin.com/reviews/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is for fans of turn-based RPGs. It's challenging, has great heroes, and a deep story. It will pull you in! ------------- **[GameLuster](https://opencritic.com/outlet/681/gameluster)** - [Nirav Gandhi](https://opencritic.com/critic/7034/nirav-gandhi) - [9 / 10](https://gameluster.com/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review-the-j-in-jrpg-stands-for-jaw-dropping/) >I am shocked to my core; as a great lover of RPGs, this is one of the best ever. It's a must play for any genre fan out there. ------------- **[Gamer Guides](https://opencritic.com/outlet/733/gamer-guides)** - [Ben Chard](https://opencritic.com/critic/5325/ben-chard) - [80 / 100](https://www.gamerguides.com/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes/review) >Eiyuden Chronicle is a fantastic first entry from Rabbit & Bear Studios in an attempt to bring back Suikoden. A by-the-numbers plot holds it back from truly achieving greatness, but a strong cast and exciting base building makes this a must-have for all fans of classic JRPGs. ------------- **[Gamers Heroes](https://opencritic.com/outlet/467/gamers-heroes)** - [Johnny Hurricane](https://opencritic.com/critic/6599/johnny-hurricane) - [85 / 100](https://www.gamersheroes.com/honest-game-reviews/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review/) >Eiyuden Chonricle: Hundred Heroes is exactly what Suikoden fans have been asking for. Fans of old-school JRPGs or games about recurring characters shouldn’t hesitate to check it out. ------------- **[Gamersky](https://opencritic.com/outlet/597/gamersky)** - *Chinese* - [7.5 / 10](https://www.gamersky.com/news/202404/1735033.shtml) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is sure to satisfy long-awaited fans of the series, but whether it will win over casual gamers is another story. It boasts a quality script and a large, unique ensemble cast, but its dated design and lack of side-quest guidance will detract significantly from your experience. ------------- **[God is a Geek](https://opencritic.com/outlet/111/god-is-a-geek)** - [Mick Fraser](https://opencritic.com/critic/572/mick-fraser) - [9.5 / 10](https://www.godisageek.com/reviews/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a truly memorable experience that absolutely will stick with you when it's over. ------------- **[Hobby Consolas](https://opencritic.com/outlet/499/hobby-consolas)** - [David Rodriguez](https://opencritic.com/critic/1004/david-rodriguez) - *Spanish* - [82 / 100](https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reviews/analisis-eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-ps5-ps4-nintendo-switch-xbox-series-xs-xbox-one-pc-1380644) >Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes is a great journey back to the golden age of the JRPG and a tribute to all the good things Suikoden gave us. With nostalgia as its flag, this game manages to overcome its lack of innovation to deliver a great adventure that will take you back to simpler times. ------------- **[IGN](https://opencritic.com/outlet/56/ign)** - [Jess Reyes](https://opencritic.com/critic/8573/jess-reyes) - [7 / 10](https://www.ign.com/articles/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review) >One you get past its slow start, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes mostly succeeds in weaving the stories of multiple countries and characters together into a sprawling epic. ------------- **[IGN Korea](https://opencritic.com/outlet/809/ign-korea)** - [Jieun Koo](https://opencritic.com/critic/10414/jieun-koo) - *Korean* - [10 / 10](https://kr.ign.com/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes/12943/review/baegyeongungjeon-ribyu) >Another great title with immersive classic JRPG roots. Players will be busy with their hearts being engulfed with a tsunami of emotions when the game’s protagonists with all differences in races, culture and relationships eventually come together as one to share an ultimate goal. Players must build cities and defend against waves of invasions which brings enough motivation to show that even heroes still need everyone’s support to grow and be strong. Truly motivating once the players understand that maintaining positive relationships with other adventurers is key to advance forward in their journey. The 2.5D-esque graphics paired with dynamic action camera work is surely eye-candy and the sound design that focuses on epic 1-on-1 duels will be music to every gamers’ ears. ------------- **[INVEN](https://opencritic.com/outlet/805/inven)** - [Kwangseok Park](https://opencritic.com/critic/8135/kwangseok-park) - *Korean* - [8.5 / 10](https://www.inven.co.kr/webzine/news/?news=294847) >A love letter to classic JRPG fans' would be the perfect description for this game. It's filled with various elements that evoke nostalgia for JRPG enthusiasts. However, despite its efforts to recreate the nostalgia of the past, maybe the absence of convenience feaures was too much. ------------- **[Infinite Start](https://opencritic.com/outlet/825/infinite-start)** - [Mark Fajardo](https://opencritic.com/critic/4910/mark-fajardo) - [8.5 / 10](https://infinitestart.com/2024/04/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review-a-legendary-rpg-reborn/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a heartfelt homage to the Suikoden games, seamlessly blending nostalgia with fresh experiences. While it effectively captures the essence of Suikoden, offering familiar storytelling and visuals that resonate deeply with fans, the presence of bugs and occasional performance issues may detract from the overall enjoyment. Nevertheless, these minor setbacks do not overshadow the game's true strength—its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia while delivering a new and captivating adventure. With its rich narrative and familiar gameplay elements, Eiyuden Chronicle feels like a true Suikoden game with a new title, making it a must-play for fans of the beloved series. ------------- **[Kakuchopurei](https://opencritic.com/outlet/788/kakuchopurei)** - [Jonathan Leo](https://opencritic.com/critic/7505/jonathan-leo) - [90 / 100](https://www.kakuchopurei.com/2024/04/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review-kkp/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes perfectly captures the zeitgeist period of Japanese role-playing games of the late 90s, faults and all. [...] Players who yearn for the days of an epic fantasy story with solid turn-based combat & dungeon puzzle shenanigans most immersive will find a lot to love in this heartfelt tribute from the late Yoshitaka Murayama and his team Rabbit & Bear Studios. ------------- **[LadiesGamers.com](https://opencritic.com/outlet/734/ladiesgamers-com)** - [Margaret David ](https://opencritic.com/critic/10415/margaret-david-) - [Loved](https://ladiesgamers.com/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review/) >It won’t take long to fall in love with Nowa and his initial teammates on the Watch, and the bittersweet story beats come achingly fast in the first act of the game. Those who played the prologue game, Eiyuden Chronicles Rising, won’t have to wait long to meet some familiar faces and learn the answers to some of the questions left hanging there. From there, the journey is a comfortably familiar but emotional one, where power-hungry villains separate friends and family under the banner of a war that threatens to grow out of control. > >It’s a beefy game, too, with backers who already got their copy claiming that they’re clocking 60 hours on a fast-paced playthrough, and I’m suggesting that around 80 is going to be a fair hour count for most players. Chock full of stuff to do, things to explore, and characters to meet and collect; for some of us, this is the game we wanted when we were teens and still enjoying our last free summers. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a fantastic JRPG, wearing its old-school quirks like a badge of pride, with even its deliberate annoyances feeling like a wool flannel shirt. I can safely say it’s a terrific game and one its backers will welcome home with delight. ------------- **[Niche Gamer](https://opencritic.com/outlet/298/niche-gamer)** - [Fingal Belmont](https://opencritic.com/critic/6865/fingal-belmont) - [9 / 10](https://nichegamer.com/reviews/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes perfectly captures everything it set out to achieve. While the “love letter to JRPGs” phrase gets thrown around a lot these days, and sometimes makes me cringe despite my adoration for the genre, I have to hand it to Rabbit & Bear Studios. They made a promise and delivered with in amazing ways I never thought possible – Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a love letter to classic JRPGs. ------------- **[Nintendo Blast](https://opencritic.com/outlet/774/nintendo-blast)** - [Ivanir Ignacchitti](https://opencritic.com/critic/7341/ivanir-ignacchitti) - *Portuguese* - [6.5 / 10](https://www.nintendoblast.com.br/2024/04/analise-eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-switch-review.html) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is an RPG that actively strives to go against the market's quality of life efforts in pursuit of an old-school ideal. However, the result is a game that closes in on itself and caters only to the most die-hard fans of the genre. It's a shame, because even simple adjustments, like a mission menu and occasional changes to the menu, would be enough to maintain the challenge without the part that is purely inconvenient. ------------- **[Nintendo Life](https://opencritic.com/outlet/136/nintendo-life)** - [Mitch Vogel](https://opencritic.com/critic/924/mitch-vogel) - [6 / 10](https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is the epitome of a flawed gem-the kind of game that does a lot of things right and we're sure will command a dedicated legion of fans, but has legitimate problems that are tough to overlook. The expansive narrative, gorgeous spritework, and addictive combat all help make it an easy recommendation to any classic JRPG fan, but bear in mind that it can feel dated in its design philosophy and that the Switch version has a lot of performance problems, at least at launch. If you can get past those issues, this is an enjoyable and immersive RPG that mostly achieves what it set out to do. ------------- **[NintendoWorldReport](https://opencritic.com/outlet/138/nintendoworldreport)** - [Jordan Rudek](https://opencritic.com/critic/5065/jordan-rudek) - [5 / 10](https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/66949/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-switch-review) >Were I not reviewing the game I would have put it aside after a few hours and never thought about it again. Eiyuden Chronicle comes after scores and scores of excellent and successful turn-based RPGs from which it could draw inspiration. Instead, it neglects so many of the lessons learned throughout the years in favor of outdated, tedious gameplay. ------------- **[Noisy Pixel](https://opencritic.com/outlet/711/noisy-pixel)** - [Azario Lopez](https://opencritic.com/critic/2507/azario-lopez) - [7.5 / 10](https://noisypixel.net/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a beautiful JRPG from beginning to end. It captures the wonder of discovery and adventure in every scene, with an added dose of tension as you navigate the complexities of a nation at war. Still, much of the weight has been removed from the player to the point where it feels like the entire experience is on autopilot and you're simply participating when it wants you to, like in a boss battle or environmental puzzle. That said, if I look at this game through the lens of it being Murayama-san's adventure and not mine, I'm just happy that he allowed me to accompany him on this path. While it's a brilliant showcasing of retro meets modern, there are areas to improve, and I can't wait to see what comes next. ------------- **[One More Game](https://opencritic.com/outlet/811/one-more-game)** - [Vincent Ternida](https://opencritic.com/critic/8412/vincent-ternida) - [7 / 10](https://onemoregame.ph/2024/04/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes pays homage to the beloved Suikoden series, which left an indelible mark as one of the most memorable JRPGs during the PlayStation 1 era. The game’s expansive design and nostalgic elements evoke fond memories for fans. However, nostalgia can be selective, often glossing over past flaws. > >The revival of dated mechanics, including random encounters, fixed savepoints, and lengthy world map treks, hampers the overall pacing. Additionally, new features like gimmicks, war games, and forgettable characters miss the mark. The resulting package falls short of the (unreasonable) highs set by its inspirational source material. ------------- **[PSX Brasil](https://opencritic.com/outlet/514/psx-brasil)** - [Thiago de Alencar Moura](https://opencritic.com/critic/3868/thiago-de-alencar-moura) - *Portuguese* - [85 / 100](https://psxbrasil.com.br/analise/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a beautiful love letter to RPGs. It has an excellent story and characters, a challenging and entertaining combat system, as well as a vast amount of content to explore, all wrapped up in a package with great graphics and soundtrack. It's a must-have title for fans of the genre. ------------- **[Push Square](https://opencritic.com/outlet/25/push-square)** - [Khayl Adam](https://opencritic.com/critic/5874/khayl-adam) - [8 / 10](https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is the true spiritual successor to the Suikoden series, capturing what made those games magical and expanding on the premise a hundred-fold. It tells a well-written and verbose tale of courage and endurance, but adherence to some fairly brutal old-school design precepts means it won't appeal to everyone. ------------- **[RPG Fan](https://opencritic.com/outlet/37/rpg-fan)** - [Zach Wilkerson](https://opencritic.com/critic/5784/zach-wilkerson) - [80%](https://www.rpgfan.com/review/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes/) >Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes might be a poor imitation of the games that came before, but it still has plenty to recommend it. ------------- **[Rock, Paper, Shotgun](https://opencritic.com/outlet/270/rock-paper-shotgun)** - [Ed Thorn](https://opencritic.com/critic/7538/ed-thorn) - [Unscored](https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review) >A turn-based JRPG that accommodates those familiar with Suikoden or those who don't know what a Suikoden is. Embrace the old-school quirks and there's a wonderful journey to be had here. ------------- **[Shacknews](https://opencritic.com/outlet/62/shacknews)** - [Lucas White](https://opencritic.com/critic/3680/lucas-white) - [7 / 10](https://www.shacknews.com/article/139581/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review-score) >Maybe Hundred Heroes doesn't have me ready to run outside screaming about miracles, but I'm plenty satisfied and ready to go back and fill in some old, classic JRPG blind spots. Well, after I replay Tierkreis. ------------- **[Spaziogames](https://opencritic.com/outlet/502/spaziogames)** - [Gianluca Arena](https://opencritic.com/critic/3759/gianluca-arena) - *Italian* - [7 / 10](https://www.spaziogames.it/articoli/eiyuden-chronicles-hundred-heroes-recensione) >Old players who have grown up with the first two episodes of the Suikoden franchise and backers of the Kickstarter campaign will be the most pleased by Eiyuden Chronicles Hundred Heroes, and old school JRPG through and through. >Divisive game design choices aside, what we have here is a solid effort, but also one that looks too much to the past and much less to the future of the genre. ------------- **[TechRaptor](https://opencritic.com/outlet/329/techraptor)** - [Andrew Stretch](https://opencritic.com/critic/2010/andrew-stretch) - [5.5 / 10](https://techraptor.net/gaming/reviews/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-missed-expectations-and-mismanaged-scope) >Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes hits the right notes on paper but in practice, the story is poorly executed, battles are bland, recruitable characters are beyond forgettable, and the game itself is sluggish. The style and audio design do a good job, but not enough to save the overall experience. ------------- **[The Beta Network](https://opencritic.com/outlet/844/the-beta-network)** - [Anthony Culinas](https://opencritic.com/critic/8928/anthony-culinas) - [6 / 10](https://thebetanetwork.net/articles/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review/) >Being a homage to the classic Suikoden series, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes contains a PS1-like nostalgic appeal, a decent story and varied dungeon designs throughout. However, it’s held back by tedious recruitment processes, lacklustre battle systems and pacing issues that drag down the potential level of enjoyment. ------------- **[Wccftech](https://opencritic.com/outlet/304/wccftech)** - [Francesco De Meo](https://opencritic.com/critic/1717/francesco-de-meo) - [8.5 / 10](https://wccftech.com/review/eiyuden-chronicle-hundred-heroes-review-the-last-bow/) >While its premise, story beats and main characters echo Suikoden II a little bit too much, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes manages to stand on its own with a compelling tale, excellent characterization, classic JRPG gameplay and great presentation, which make it easy to look past some of its shortcomings, such as balancing and minor gameplay issues. The world of Allraan may never get into the spotlight again due to the unfortunate departure of its creator, but it is undeniable that it couldn't have been introduced to JRPG fans in a better way. -------------
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Other than a slew of Nintendo titles that maybe hopefully will come down in price (the patient gamers' bane), I have my eye on the next time Divinity: Original Sin 2 goes on sale. A friend who never plays anything other than WoW loved playing Larian's newest with me and I'm trying to get her to pick this up. Pretty sure she'd like it. I was also watching Star Trek: Infinite's progress. I was quite interested in that one at launch but firmly decided to be patient. Naturally, it was discontinued last week. Oof. Are there any games you're currently price watching? Or hoping for bug fixes/more content?
Xenoblade Chronicles has been one of the broadly popular JRPG series as of late, particularly within my own social circles. I have heard mostly good things about the games, and some vocal criticisms about the second game in particular. After finally picking up a Switch last year, I have now made my way through most of the series. Before trying Xenoblade myself, I had a mixed history with Xeno series creator Tetsuya Takahashi. He’s had quite a career, having worked on games in the Ys, Final Fantasy, SaGa, Mana, and Chrono series. Xenogears was his first project as a director, and I knew next to nothing about the game when I picked it up at release in 1998. It surprised me in a lot of ways, being my first real dip into the mecha genre, accompanied by a truly massive and thought-provoking script (both big changes from the SNES’s smaller scripts and censorship). My continuing experience with Xeno was less successful. Xenosaga’s move to a more cinematic style gave it a plodding pace, packed with jargon and word salad. I also didn’t connect with most of the trilogy’s characters, I found most of the gameplay boring, and I’d somehow missed the memo that Xenosaga was a reboot and not directly connected to Xenogears, souring me on the experience in general. I didn’t have a lot of success with Xenoblade Chronicles for a while. I came to the first game late in 2017, spurred by positive word-of-mouth that had resurfaced after the announcement of XC2. While I got along with the characters better than I did in Xenosaga and enjoyed the excellent setting, I ultimately had to make an effort to avoid the game’s numerous sidequests. Being an MMO player, they would have felt dated to me even back at the game’s release in 2010, and their supporting elements in the UI were extremely basic. The game’s saving grace for me would be the gameplay, a fun romp with a squad that I enjoyed tinkering with. My experience with Xeno changed with XC2. I had a rough start at first when I picked the game up last year, not really sure what to make of the main character and light-hearted tone of the game, a huge departure from the previous games in the series. But when the conversations with Pyra started, a deep hook set in. I immediately connected with this character, someone that seemed eminently competent but had a pensive demeanor, hinting at a darkness within. After I learned more about this character as her whole story unfolded in both XC2 and its DLC Torna, Pyra became my favorite character in the series. For the first time in 25 years, Xeno was finally starting to hit some of those same emotional notes it did for me in Xenogears. Hitting on that nostalgia also led to me thinking about interesting similarities between Fei from Xenogears and Pyra and Mythra. In hindsight, making those connections across the series seems to be half the fun. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Future Redeemed are packed with little (and not-so-little) nods to much of past Xeno. I had a good time with this aspect of XC3, and in some ways it picked up where XC2 left off with getting me to be interested in this cast and world. I also really enjoyed the gameplay, seeing the results of refinements to the UI in particular that were sorely needed, culminating in my being thrilled at controlling A and seeing her flip around the battlefield in the DLC. An impressive achievement, considering I almost always hate playing healers in this type of gameplay! I know fans of Xenoblade Chronicles have strong opinions about their favorites, but there were things that I loved (the setting in XC1, the cast in 2, the gameplay and Xeno callbacks in 3), and there were things that drove me nuts in each of the games. I’ve given up on the stories getting some much-needed pruning (every Xeno game and DLC I’ve played has padding or spots that just don’t work), so I can roll with that. I also don’t know if I’ll ever get to XCX or Future Connected. Xeno isn’t exactly my top ongoing series at the moment, but I’m still interested in what Takahashi is cooking up next.
