For the longest time I wondered about why I read Zero no Tsukaima, which might be better than its anime adaptation but is still pretty subpar in just about every aspect. Then I remembered something a friend said: “does it matter whether or not I’m actually playing a game as long as I feel like I am?”

From last season’s Baka to Test to Shokanju to this season’s Angel Beats, the game inspired premises are becoming more and more obvious. Is this just a coincidence? Does the ‘game-like’ story/setting have an appeal of its own? After all, the current generation of anime-fans are also those who grew up playing video games, especially the stylistic classic adventure-party RPGs that range from tabletop D&D (Standard RPG System for Japanese) to Final Fantasy. So I’d say there’s something special in making the viewer feel like they’re immersed in a well-paced game, especially when it not only takes less time, but also saves you from the boredom of grinding and side-questing.
But what makes a story ‘game-like’? Is it just the conceptual similarities like NPCs, recovery exams points, and leveling up? Well, it’s all that and much, much more. The game-like story shares a great deal with both the classic adventure and shounen genres, but to truly give the excitement of playing a RPG yourself, there’s a couple of bases you to cover and balance. Read the rest of this entry »
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My first impression was that this game is just outright ridiculous: premise of steam-powered transforming mechs launching from a secret base beneath a Broadway theater, stereotypical characters as flat as their cardboard cutout presentation, plenty of super-shounen tropes in the story… It’s even got weeaboo culture all over — especially when the opening scenes involve a half-Japanese half-Texan cowboy samurai featured as the main heroine… Wat? ( ̄~ ̄;)
But you know, I love not grinding, or worrying about experience distribution, or maximizing experience gain from every battle. Because in Sakura Wars V, you level up by talking and forging inter-party bonds, visual novel style; kind of like Persona social links, except better since it actually levels you up. So take all of that frustration out and add some fresh inventiveness to each battle (Valkyria Chronicles style, this is by the same dev team) and you have some real Tactical RPG gaming, like hopping between skyscraper roofs destroying artillery or an aerial battles in the New York City subway — yes really.
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Netto first got me thinking when he reported the eroge industry to be in a state of peril, but I’ve been puting it off until this past weekend, when I (finally) finished Persona 4 and got started on my UK version of Agarest Wars. As one might guess, those two games are very much on the topic here.

Tears to Tiara Visual Novel on the PS3 (those graphics aren’t bad at all)
The boundaries between JRPGs and Visual Novels has always been blurred. After all, IGN recently identified the JRPG “talking cardboard cutout” tradition in their Top 10 Ways to Fix JRPGs, and the most recognizable image of Visual Novels has got to be that windowed screenshot of bishoujo character CGs atop a classroom background with dialogue box beneath it. Not to mention, there are Visnov producers like Alice-soft (Rance) and that branch of Leaf/Aquaplus (Tears to Tiara, Utawarerumono) who seems to specialize in importing RPG elements into their Visnovs. But combining JRPG and Visnov elements goes far deeper than just the graphics corner-cutting of presentation or the addition of a basic combat system.
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Since the start of the fall school semester, my friends and I have made Tales of Vesperia as our group gaming project of the season, played weekly Friday with some special event exceptions. We finally beat it last night, as part of our anime club’s finale weekend. This game has definitely made my top favorites list (not to mention Rita, dear Rita), for my experiences in it have been absolutely brilliant.

Score: 9/10
Pros (isn’t this like… almost everything?):
- Excellent cast of characters — stereotypical to start, but charming and well-developed
- Intriguing and well-paced plotline — a fetch quest evolves into a legend, full of revelations and gripping climaxes
- Smooth and exciting battle system — simple, easy to learn, yet with great customization and team-coordination benefits for the skilled player.
- Great visual presentation — Anime-style graphics that we know and love in its best.
- Good world concepts — lacking the usual duo-world, but I was just as amazed when the skies…
Cons (some to follow):
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