Atelier Totori is a somewhat different kind of Japanese RPG. While most RPG protagonists are roaming the world trying to prevent its destruction, Totori is roaming the countryside simply looking for her mother. While others are plotting the downfall of the government, Totori is licensed by the government to explore the world. READ MORE
This week, we’re talking about a Japanese take on Plants vs. Zombies and a take on the Match-3 genre.
Samurai BloodShow: les vagues blanches, les nuages rouges (Universal): While we’re certainly not in need of another standard tower defense game, we haven’t really seen a proliferation of the brand of defense created by PopCap with its Plants vs. Zombies. Sega’s here to help, though! Samurai BloodShow, while familiar in mechanics, takes a few interesting turns. READ MORE
Everyone does Top 10 Games lists. The problem with those? Usually, they’re full of games that earn a place because of nostalgia or industry significance. Here at Snackbar Games, we like being a little more practical: if you’re looking to just have fun, what games should you pick up a controller and play today? Our new series, Best To Play Now, explores these games that hold up better than the rest. In our inaugural installment, we’re looking at the venerable Nintendo Entertainment System. READ MORE
Just last year, we remember bemoaning the disappearance of the co-op dungeon-crawler. Crazy, huh? Since then, we’ve seen quite a few attempts at the genre crop up. Generally, though, these have followed the Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance mold, focusing on character progression, looting and atmosphere. Crimson Alliance went the other direction, looking to revitalize a style we haven’t seen since Gauntlet: Dark Legacy. READ MORE
The majority of the games that I cover here — indeed, nearly all of them — are intended for the dedicated board gamer. There are usually a lot of rules, varying paths to victory, and plenty of strategic options; everything else is “just a filler” or perhaps “a party game”. They come from publishing companies unfamiliar to anyone not already invested in the hobby, and tend to only be found at specialized retailers. But sometimes a game from a more “mainstream,” traditionally toy-making company catches our attention and provides some throwback enjoyment. While often these are just spin-offs of older, established brands (such as Sorry! Sliders, Yahtzee Free-For-All or any number of variants on Risk), sometimes a genuinely unique title will emerge. Stomple, from Spin Master, is one such new arrival. READ MORE
