Pokemon Conquest is a Pokemon spin-off game, a game that uses different gameplay mechanics from the normal games that were released during the 5th generation. The game is effectively a tactical role playing game which functions similarly to a chess board. Conquest is generally a different experience compared to the average Pokemon games since it also draws from traditional Japanese lore and designs. 

One thing that draws players in is the unique gameplay and visual design compared to the normal games. The grid based battle system and large map makes gameplay and battling a fresh experience and the different moves of each pokemon allows for hundreds of different ways to play. The game also includes traditional japanese influences which spice up the game as it is something that is less commonly seen in western games. The game also still maintains many things about what makes pokemon great in the pokemon themselves and how they interact and battle with others.

While the game is solid overall, there still are many issues with the game as a whole. One major complaint is the post game after the main story. While the main story is still hours of content, much of what happens after the main story is effectively the same thing but from the perspectives of different characters. This devalues the game for me as not having much to look forward to after is a disappointment given the potential of a game like this. Another complaint is the general access and pool of pokemon. The way pokemon level up and their upwards potential is based on the characters as well, meaning that each character is limited to a specific pokemon which and inhibit the potential of teambuilding and gameplay as you would need to obtain hard to get characters just to use 1 singular pokemon at the maximum potential.

Overall, I would rate the game a 7/10. I would recommend it if you enjoy rpg games and Pokemon, although the many fundamental issues and inherent lack of a post game make it hard to justify over the other great games out there. 

-Benjamin L.

Of the many free games released this year, Genshin Impact is easily among the top of them. The game combines amazing gameplay mechanics from great games such as Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and with modern art and storytelling. The art and animations are a major boon for this game, as the environment and characters created all look amazing and gameplay is smooth. The plethora of different areas and characters to fight with or against offers various ways to play the game for different people so there is certainly a character that suits everyone’s playstyle.

Every character in the game is unique and appeals to a large audience. There are many
different characters with different abilities and weapons for players to pick up. Combat with each character is fresh and you can use up to 4 characters on a team and combine their skills. The characters are also well designed in conjunction with the world and storytelling, making the aesthetic of the game top tier compared to many free games. Summoning in this game is also very exciting and is very accessible without spending money.

In terms of issues with the game, some people may not like the longer games that require constant investment over a period of time. For newer players to these types of games
progression may feel too slow. The price of summoning for new characters and premium
content is also a bane for many players.

Overall, the game is still great for all players, even those that don’t spend. I would rate it a 9/10 as sometimes the game feels like it isn’t complete. However, updates for the story are rolling out and the game is still constantly being developed so I look forward to what comes and would highly recommend it.

-Benjamin L.

Fire Emblem Fates is a trilogy of Fire emblem games that was released throughout 2016. Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest was the second of two that were initially released. The games are a tactical RPG that focuses around managing characters and attacks, similar to a chess board. Birthright and Conquest differ in story and the routes you choose. Conquest is the latter version that is not only harder, but provides a different focus on deceit and lies.

One major thing that conquest has going for it is the large cast of likeable characters. Unlike Birthright, Conquest’s characters contain varying amounts of personality while also bringing back likeable characters from other games and versions. While character development itself is lacking, the characters are fleshed out enough to create an entertaining atmosphere regardless of the situation. The mood and tone of this version reflects the main themes of the story. The dark and gloomy environment further builds upon the game and the story is significantly more engaging than Birthright.

Regardless of the idea that Conquest is better and more detailed than Birthright, the game still has some major issues. Unlike Birthright, conquest is designed to be much harder and limits options in order to prevent over-leveling. As a result, while the game isn’t inherently much harder, the difficulty scaling increases exponentially so early game mistakes can make a large difference in the late game. The game in general is not as beginner friendly when compared to Birthright, although this is partially mitigated by how it is the second game of the story. Another complaint is that in order to fully understand the second game, you have to also play the third version in Revelations. Without playing that game, the ending feels somewhat empty and confusing as a result, thus making the game as a whole less satisfying to complete.

Overall, even with the various complaints, I would rate it an 8/10 and think it is still worth playing. The game is still entertaining and gives a good measure for the modern fire emblem games. Unlike the other two, the story progresses at a reasonable rate and it doesn’t feel as clustered. The game, while not my first choice for a modern Fire Emblem game, is still worth the time and money put into it.

-Benjamin L.

Fire Emblem Fates is a trilogy of Fire Emblem games that was released throughout 2016. Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright was the first of two that were initially released. The games are a tactical RPG that focuses around managing characters and attacks, similar to a chess board. Birthright and Conquest differ in story and the routes you choose. Birthright is meant to be the first version played and builds upon the main character’s direct family.

The game overall follows the general JRPG formula, with interesting characters. The characters, in general throughout the 3 versions, are a major focus. Birthright contains many strong and likeable characters. The royal family of this side is based on traditional japanese designs along with the rest of the world. The game is very visually appealing as a result. Gameplay in this game is also generally good. Maps, on the hardest difficulty, are still thought provoking and unique so the games don’t feel as repetitive. The game is a good entry point when compared to the other two versions as it does a good job giving context behind every point in the overarching story between the three.

Some complaints of the game include the ineffective usage of many other characters and the difficulty of the game on anything past the hardest modes. While the main characters of the story are fleshed out and compelling, the majority of other characters in this version are simply there as a unit. There is very little character development and as a result, there is little emotional connection to said characters throughout the story. The difficulty is also not up to par with the expectations of playing a JRPG. Being the first of three, the game is meant to be easy but I feel that even on normal difficulties, the game holds your hand too much and there is barely a challenge whatsoever.

Overall, I like the characters and world building that Birthright provides but I think that the game is not as worth when compared to the other two. The lack of actual development and character growth is noticeable and is much less engaging than conquest and the third version, revelations. I would rate this version of the game a 6/10 as it still has many likable features of modern Fire Emblem games but is lacking overall as a JRPG. 

-Benjamin L.

Arboria, developed by Dreamplant, is a dark, 3D RPG game. The player follows their customizable alien-like character, who explores different dungeons and prisons.  In the prisons, there are different monsters and enemies that you must face, such as flying bugs and corrupted animals. To help you on the quests, your character is able to customize their gear, such as different weapons, armor, and abilities.

The first thing that I realized about Arboria was the graphics. This game has a very dark and rouge-lite type graphics. This makes the game much darker, as well as scarier. I do believe that these graphics make the game slower, as well as not exciting. I do believe that was the point of the graphics, but I believe that they could have been a little bit more exciting or vibrant.

I did enjoy the large and various maps and dungeons. Each dungeon had different enemies and layouts. With each dungeon, players could unlock different weapons. For example, the player starts off with a battle-ax, but I was able to unlock a symbiote sword that attached to the body of my character. This wide variety of weapons was very interesting, and I was always excited to unlock a new weapon.

Another very interesting and new aspect of Arboria was the respawning system. When your character died, the player had to restart all over, losing all of their gear. This makes players be much more careful with how they play the game. On top of that, when each player dies, the gods get angrier. This will mean that the next character they play will have less trench, speed, etc. FOr example, My first character died after a couple of dungeons. When I respawned, I got a message saying that my second character will be punished for making the gods angry. In turn, my character had less speed. I found this system very nice, especially because it made all of the players much more cautious about how they play.

Overall, I really enjoyed Arboria, developed by Dreamplant. This well developed, exciting RPG game is definitely a new up and coming game. With new systems such as the limited respawns and angering god affects, Arboria has a lot of potential. I really enjoyed all of the different dungeons and maps, as well as the wide variety of weapons. All in All, I would definitely recommend Arboria to any gamer that is interested in a new and upcoming RPG.