The Atelier series has always been an oddball in the JRPG genre. While most games focus on saving the world from the likes of egotistical madmen, Atelier games focus on more personal stories. In that vein, Atelier Meruru follows in the footsteps of Rorona and Totori by focusing on the story of a single alchemist; in this case, Merurulince Rede Arls, Princess of Arls. READ MORE
I have 35 hours played on my way to level 50 in Diablo 3, and have only 10 more levels until I hit the cap. I need to farm more before I can beat Diablo on Nightmare, the second of four difficulty levels. The only way to get ahead now is to grind for a long time, or to purchase an item I can’t afford on the auction house. I have bid on a lot of rare weapons that are not the most optimal for a Witch Doctor, but would give me a much-needed boost in damage. I can’t afford to buy any of them outright, but there are so many that it is likely I’ll get one of the half-dozen I’ve bid on. READ MORE
Capcom is attempting something entirely different with Dragon’s Dogma. Similar in some respects to their popular Monster Hunter franchise, this fantasy RPG seems to be Capcom’s take on popular western RPGs such as the Elder Scrolls series. It features an expansive, open world and an interesting take on RPG combat. This is one of the strangest games I have ever played, leading me to wonder if I can actually call this a huge success or a complete failure. Maybe it’s a bit of both. READ MORE
I like Ticket to Ride. It’s one of the first European board games that I ever played, and it turned me on to the hobby to the point that I own several myself and regularly have friends over for dinner and board games. (Last night was Dominion and Pandemic).
Ticket to Ride is successful, I think, because it’s easy to learn, the pieces are neat, and it’s quick to play. READ MORE
Turn-based strategy games tend to be a bit intimidating, with their grids and deep stat systems, and they’re inevitably themed with JRPG tropes or tired old war settings. The Game Bakers’ Squids, originally an iOS title but now ported to PC, has none of those things, and fills the void with marine life and slingshot physics. READ MORE
