Revisiting Kanto: A Closer Look at the Origins of POKEMON (Part 5)

With Pokémon celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year, and the digital releases of Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow, I decided to revisit the games that started a global phenomenon. Each step of the way, I took careful notes on what I encountered, particularly keeping an eye for brilliant or interesting game design choices. I wanted to better know …

Revisiting Kanto: A Closer Look at the Origins of POKEMON (Part 4)

With Pokémon celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year, and the digital releases of Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow, I decided to revisit the games that started a global phenomenon. Each step of the way, I took careful notes on what I encountered, particularly keeping an eye for brilliant or interesting game design choices. I wanted to better know …

Revisiting Kanto: A Closer Look at the Origins of POKEMON (Part 3)

With Pokémon celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year, and the digital releases of Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow, I decided to revisit the games that started a global phenomenon. Each step of the way, I took careful notes on what I encountered, particularly keeping an eye for brilliant or interesting game design choices. I wanted to better know …

Revisiting Kanto: A Closer Look at the Origins of POKEMON (Part 2)

With Pokémon celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year, and the digital releases of Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow, I decided to revisit the games that started a global phenomenon. Each step of the way, I took careful notes on what I encountered, particularly keeping an eye for brilliant or interesting game design choices. I wanted to better know …

Revisiting Kanto: A Closer Look at the Origins of POKEMON (Part 1)

With Pokémon celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year, and the digital releases of Pokémon Red/Blue/Yellow, I decided to revisit the games that started a global phenomenon. Each step of the way, I took careful notes on what I encountered, particularly keeping an eye for brilliant or interesting game design choices. I wanted to better know …

MOTHER 3 And Setting Tone

Back in 2014 I wrote about how odd EarthBound was and applauded HAL Laboratory and the designers there for their willingness to march to the beat of their own drum. This year, I’ve had the chance to play the beloved sequel, Mother 3. And boy, was I in for a surprise. From initial impressions, Mother …

Opinion: Is SKYWARD SWORD Better as a METROID Game?

Does The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword fit in line better with the Metroid series than The Legend of Zelda series? I think it just might. Released as the Wii’s beloved swan song in November 2011, Skyward Sword got a lot of mixed press and mixed criticism. The game certainly wasn’t hated (it has a …

FINAL FANTASY IX’s Brilliant Opening

I’m a come-and-go fan of the FINAL FANTASY series. Generally, any discourse I have about the franchise ends up with a rant. I’ll avoid ranting today. Instead, I’m going to talk about one of my favorite installments and shout out some of its brilliance. ​​ I really like FINAL FANTASY IX. Frankly, I think it’s easily the best entry …

Five Things I Learned from EARTHBOUND

o say Nintendo and HAL Laboratory’s EarthBound is an odd game would probably be an understatement. Seldom do you find games that choose to so boldly march to their own rhythm. EarthBound doesn’t so much throw RPG trends out the window as much as it lampoons them. I’m twenty years late to the party, but here are lessons I …

The Point of Plot in POKEMON X & Y

Pokémon X and Pokémon Y are the arguably the best Pokémon games to date (though I’m sure the upcoming AlphaSapphire and OmegaRuby will happily claim that title soon enough). Why wouldn’t they be, right? They’re the most recent editions in the long-running franchise, so they obviously include the latest and greatest in all aspects. Well, almost all aspects. The mechanics are delicately …