Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the classic 2006 RPG, is due to release on February 2. Between 2013 and 2016, AIC ASTA and A-1 Pictures released four animated films on Persona 3. The question is: are they worth watching before Reload's release?

For many, myself included, seeing your favorite franchises adapted into a new form is thrilling. So when I heard there were four full-length animated films based on Persona 3, I knew I had to watch them. It's too good to be true! Well, in a way, it kind of is.

Spoiler alert for Persona 3 and the films.

What are the Persona 3 movies?

Let's give a bit of context here. The Persona 3 films, under the banner Persona 3: The Movie, were mostly made by A-1 Pictures (with AIC ASTA doing #1). A-1 also tackled the animated scenes in Persona 4, so they've worked with Atlus in the past.

The films came out over four years, starting in 2013 and ending in 2016. They launched theatrically in Japan, and while they never made it to the West in terms of dubbing, you can buy them subtitled off Amazon Prime for around $5 each.

In honor of Persona 3: Reload's release, I decided to watch all four films and collect my findings here for you all to see. I'll talk about how the films adapt the source material and make it better, or in some cases worse.

For Better

As someone who played Persona 3 Portable, which had no animated cutscenes, the movies made up for that. Seeing the events of Persona 3 done justice through the great animation by AIC ASTA and A-1 Pictures is satisfying. The style is consistent with the original game and outmatched the animated cutscenes in-game, in my opinion. The fight scenes are also given a one-up, feeling just as snappy and rewarding.

The films also give Makoto Yuki, the once-silent protagonist, a full voice and lines. This helps speed things up story-wise and gives him more of a personality and arc. His character development throughout the four films is pretty good and goes deep into the themes of life and death. Furthermore, Yuki's humanization in Persona 3: The Movie #3. Falling Down with Ryoji creates some great moments of friendship the game never had, if I remember correctly.

From the start, you can tell the films were made by Persona 3 fans. Throughout the four films, you'll see cameos from Social Links like Akinari and Chihiro, as well as Makoto using fan-favorite Personas like Jack Frost and Thoth.

The S.E.E.S members also have their moments in the spotlight and translate well onto the screen. Junpei is still that lovable goofball, and Akihiko punches anything and everything near him. We even get an "I've been waiting for this", which is a must for any Persona 3 title.

For Worse

The story of Persona 3 is a long one. I mean, the game takes at least 88 hours to beat, and that's just sticking to the narrative. While the base story remains, small character moments and events are shaved to their bare bones or cut entirely. Even still, it hurts characters that didn't get much time in the original, like Shinji and Jin.

While what it adds is good, it doesn't elevate things as much as they could've. For example, the concept of Personas turning on their users is glanced over, being resolved the same way for both afflicted characters.

Another thing that felt off was the unchanged ending. I know some people didn't like the pacing of the ending and the events that transpire. And, while I was confused and surprised, it felt right. Persona 3: The Movie #4: Winter of Rebirth didn't change that, and it's a missed opportunity.

On that note, the pacing was quick and went too fast. This problem came up a lot, as events happen and end within minutes and get pushed to the side. The game had this issue, and to see that adapted doesn't suit the films well.

I do want to point out that each film has a different director. While the visions for them didn't change much from each version, it feels like there wasn't a lot of wiggle room to explore. For example, Persona 3: The Movie #1. Spring of Birth covered the beginning up to Fuuka's entrance, while Persona 3: The Movie #2. Midsummer Knight's Dream gave us the rest of the S.E.E.S squad and villains.

Each film was an hour and a half, give or take. I'm unsure if the plan was always four films, but deep down, I feel like adding a bit more time to each would help smooth the pacing and make them unique.

Consensus

The Persona 3 films are solid showings of the game's narrative. They stay true to the source material and add small yet welcoming changes. That said, condensing the story and translating its pacing problems to the screen hurt the films, especially the last two. As a fan of Persona 3 and its characters, it's great to see them as lively as they were in the game.

So, it begs the question: should you watch Persona 3: The Movie and its sequels before Persona 3 Reload? Personally, I would steer clear of them if Reload is your first. The game looks to correct some of the original's errors and the story flows much better with gameplay. If you're a returning Persona 3 player, the films would help refresh your memory of the story and characters. Plus, it gives some fun moments that fans will enjoy.

Overall, they act as mementos of the original. Whether they'll age well come Persona 3 Reload's release remains to be seen. 

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The Umbrella Academy meets Gekkoukan High. With Persona 3 Reload launching next week, Atlus West's YouTube released an out-of-the-blue live-action commercial with Aidan Gallagher.

Persona 3 Reload is an RPG/life sim where you take on the role of Makoto Yuki, a recent transfer to Gekkoukan High. He then becomes a member of the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (S.E.E.S) and takes on the many levels of Tartarus during the elusive Dark Hour at midnight.

The almost minute-and-a-half-long trailer, titled "Seal Your Fate", features The Umbrella Academy actor casually taking a stroll through the halls of Gekkoukan High and Tartarus and, of course, monologuing about time. Aidan becomes an in-game character at some points, ending off with slaying a Shadow himself. It's a weird mix and a pretty odd presentation, but seeing it go mainstream is cool, to say the least.

School Days

To be honest, Aiden doesn't strike me as protagonist Makoto, but weirdly Tatsuya of Persona 2 fame. I'm not the only one who thinks so, as YouTube comments repeat the protagonist's name due to his long brown hair and demeanor. Maybe when they adapt Persona into a live-action film, Aidan will take on the role. Though, Atlus would need to acknowledge the original Personas to do that, so who knows?

As I mentioned before, the commercial is a bit weird. It's just Aiden walking in a straight line talking about life. I know that time is linear but maybe the ad shouldn't have been? Still, as a fan of the franchise, it's exciting to see it feel a bit more mainstream.

Celebrities in video game ads aren't new. Just recently, Succession star Brian Cox talked about complicated family lore for Tekken 8. Last year, The Office's Rainn Wilson did a spin on the classic sitcom for Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon. While simplistic, I do like that Persona can join those ranks. Perhaps they'll do this again for other Atlus titles? Maybe Kit Harrington for Unicorn Overlord? Or Timothee Chalamet for Metaphor: ReFantazio? Too much?

Persona 3 Reload launches on February 2 to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Game Pass. If you're interested, check out our latest preview of the game.

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Game Pass subscribers have had plenty to celebrate in January. The service saw some heavy hitters arrive in the first half of the month, including Assassin's Creed Valhalla and the Resident Evil 2 remake. But it's not done yet. More games are coming to Game Pass to round out January.

For fans of psychological horror, one such game is already available to download. Those Who Remain, a story-driven horror game, is now on Game Pass — as of January 16. The game did earn some rather mixed reviews when it launched in 2020 but now sits with a 'Mostly Positive' rating on Steam.

All the games coming to and leaving Game Pass in January 2024

Three games are heading to the service this week. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank and F1 23 are coming to Game Pass on January 18 for console and PC, with the former also available on the Cloud. Yep, after committing some tax evasion, I guess Turnip Boy needs to find a quick method to turn around some cash. I do wish the guy finds something less illegal to do in the future. On January 19 comes Palworld, the Pokémon-esque open-world adventure where your captured beasts can wield guns. Hell yes.

Microsoft included a few notable updates coming to the games this month. First, Dead By Daylight will receive Alan Wake content on January 30. Turbo Golf Racing's 'Pet Pack' and Naraka: Bladepoint's Season 11 Bundle are both available now.

Finally, we have a couple of games leaving the service on January 31. Get your final missions for Hitman: World of Assassination complete before the end of the month, because Agent 47 is on the next plane out of here. F1 2021 is also leaving EA Play.

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If there's one thing that makes Persona games special, it’s their ability to make typically banal moments in RPGs feel enthralling.

Back in August, I had the chance to demo Persona 3 Reload. During that session, I got to check out the game's dungeon crawling and one of the early boss fights, both of which impressed me. But one piece of Persona 3 Reload I didn’t get to test was its social systems, which is arguably what makes a modern Persona game... well, Persona. Turn-based combat is fun and all, but spending time with your virtual friends and eating ramen at night just ties the whole experience together.

Fortunately, this was the exact part of Persona 3 Reload I got to try out at another recent event held by Sega/Atlus. Loading a save file in what seemed to be the early-to-mid game, I had an hour to do basically whatever I wanted in Tatsumi Port Island. The experience was mostly what I expected, which I mean in the most enthusiastic way possible. But it's the stuff I didn't expect that really caught my attention.

Explore the space

Hanging out with the bros

Promote Theurgy

Feeling the time melt away

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Persona 3 Reload, a remake of 2006's Persona 3, just released its animated opening ahead of its February release. Not only does it look fantastic, but it pays homage to the game's original theme "Burn My Dread" in a pretty inventive way.

Mixing in the blue/white palette of the original, Persona 3 Reload’s opening movie gives us a taste of what to expect come February 2nd. The two-minute animation introduces us fully to the new song “Full Moon Full Life” sung by Azumi Takahashi and Lotus Juice. There are some subtle nods to the original 2006 phenomenon that long-time fans will adore.

A Way of Life

If you’re like me and watched the opening more times than Akihiko says “I’ve been waiting for this!” (spoiler alert: it’s a ton), you’ll pick up on an audio Easter egg. Sure, there's the not-so-subtle usage of “Burn My Dread” and “Want to be Close” when the protagonist is flipping through his songs. However, the reference is in “Full Moon Full Life” itself. The beat of the song has a striking resemblance to the beginning notes of “Burn My Dread”. It’s a cool homage to the original banger of an opening. 

Persona 3 Reload’s opening visuals look phenomenal. I was a bit scared of how it would translate given the abstract tone of the original openings. However, it worked great and crafted some beautiful shots. It might just be me, but seeing Mitsuru riding her motorcycle like a badass got me 10x more hyped. Plus, the Akihiko/Shinjiro/Ken transitions were super smooth. A favorite shot of mine was with Thanatos and the moon, as it felt pretty iconic given the symbolism behind the two.

Our very own Timothy Monbleau got to play Persona 3 Reload in August and said the game felt “polished to an absolute shine.” As one of my personal RPGs to look out for, Persona 3 Reload looks to be a force to be reckoned with. P3 Reload launches on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on February 2, 2024.

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There are some solid additions for Xbox Game Pass subscribers to enjoy as we kick off 2024. With the headliners of the month being Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Resident Evil 2.

One title, Close to the Sun, is out now for Game Pass owners. The rest will be spread out through the rest of January. Close to the Sun is a first-person adventure game from 2019 that has a bit of a Bioshock feel to it. It earned a 75 on Metacritic upon release, with critics coming away impressed for the most part with its atmosphere and story.

Following that is Hell Let Loose, which arrives January 4. It's a World War 2 shooter that touts 50 v. 50 battles on large-scale maps. It's a game that demands teamwork, but with a Metascore of 84, it's said to be pretty fun for those who take the time to learn the ropes.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla (the Viking one) comes to subscribers on January 9. Destructoid gave it an "Okay" when it hit in 2020. Also on January 9, there's Figment from Bedtime Digital Games. The indie action-adventure game was received pretty favorably back in 2018.

The line-up continues with Super Mega Baseball 4 arriving on January 11 via EA Play. It's an arcadey alternative to MLB The Show that gets steadily stronger with each iteration. We Happy Few makes a return to Game Pass on January 11, too. But that's also the same day Resident Evil 2 arrives, and if you haven't played, you're going to want to. Chris Carter considered it "superb" when Capcom released it in 2019.

Finally, Those Who Remain arrives on January 16. It's a horror title that earned middling reviews when it launched. And with Resident Evil 2 in the mix this month, it's probably a skip.

Alongside new additions, there are also games that are being pulled from the Xbox Game Pass library. And this month is no exception with some big boys being removed from the subscription service. Grand Theft Auto V leaves Game Pass on January 5. And on January 15, players lose access to both Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden.

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Fate/Samurai Remnant, the latest entry in the Fate franchise, will receive the first of three DLCs soon, and it will arrive in February 2024.

Titled Record’s Fragment: Keian Command Championship, details on what to expect are still sparse. The trailer depicts Gilgamesh the King of Heroes announcing that he has seized control of the fates of several characters from the base game. He then announces the start of the Keian Command Championship.

Two more DLCs are on the way, but they've yet to be named or receive a release date, although they are to launch in 2024. Each of the DLCs will bring additional scenarios, new Servants, stages, and more. If you want access to all the extra content, a Season Pass is available which also comes with the Hallowed Relic Sword Mountings bonus.

I enjoyed my time with Fate/Samurai Remnant, so the DLC piques my interest. Perhaps the only downside is that it comes during a time that already promises to be packed with enticing titles like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Persona 3 Reload.

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While PlayStation and Nintendo reaped the awards with their games, Xbox players might have been the true winners in terms of savings. According to TrueAchievements, after calculating the cost of each new game on Xbox Game Pass, the total amounted to nearly $9000.

With big releases like Starfield and Hi-Fi Rush, there was no shortage of new games for subscribers to dig into. Clearly, Xbox Game Pass was committed to being the best gaming service, bringing in huge third-party titles and inventive indies. As for the savings, the exact amounts are listed below:

• $8763/US
• £7695/UK
• CA$11425/Canada
• A$13392/Australia
• €8879/Europe
• R$36898/ Brazil

Xbox Lives To Serve

I’ve been an Xbox Game Pass subscriber for a good while. To be honest, I reaped some of the benefits, especially early in the year with the releases of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden. Without an Xbox Series X though, I did miss out on some grand additions like Dead Space and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. I don’t think my poor Xbox One can even cloud-stream Starfield without becoming a portable grill. 

Regardless, many Xbox players did get to dig into some amazing games with the service compared to rival PlayStation Plus. Indies like Cocoon and Sea of Stars were powerhouses, while hotly-anticipated titles such as Lies of P and Persona 5 Tactica brought the house down.

Next year doesn’t seem to let up, either. Game Pass subscribers can get their hands on Persona 3 Reload (one of my most anticipated RPGs) in February, while exclusives such as Avowed, Towerborne, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will join the service later in the year. This, of course, doesn’t account for the many that will be announced later on, especially in future events (though not E3 anymore). 

If you're already an Xbox player, you probably know just how big a value Game Pass is if you checked your Spotify Wrapped-esque year-in-review from Xbox. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes both PC and Console access, costs $16.99/month and has a fairly substantial catalog. It's worth keeping in mind, though, that while $9000 worth of games does seem like a good deal, 2023 was also the year some users saw Microsoft raise the price of the service.

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Our most anticipated games for 2024

Eric Van Allen: Metaphor: ReFantazio

I already won big last year, with my most anticipated game turning out to be the thunderous hit of the year. Not that this is a competition or anything. But I think we're in a particularly good era for role-playing games, and of all the good RPGs already on deck for 2024, Metaphor is the next one I have my eye on.

We've been in a real good spot for high fantasy lately, so this SMT take on the genre already had me intrigued there. Then it roped me in with incredible menus and art. Now, in a recent dev video, the team has highlighted a cool hybrid of action and turn-based combat, as well as a time management system that's very reminiscent of Persona. (Fitting, as Metaphor's got some big Persona names on staff, including director Katsura Hashino and character artist Shigenori Soejima.)

Odd name aside, Metaphor: ReFantazio looks primed to be a Persona-caliber hit in the RPG space next year. Even against the likes of a new Like a Dragon and Vanillaware tackling tactics, I know this is the one I'm extremely eager to dig into.

Zoey Handley: Chicken Police: Into the Hive

Each year, it's easier for me to pick a known quantity for most anticipated, rather than one I'm hoping lives up to its ambition. I picked Pikmin 4 for 2023, which came and went. It's great, truly. I very much enjoyed it. But then I moved on. It didn't leave a lasting itch. So, while Hollywood Animals looks great on paper right now, Chicken Police: Into the Hive feels like a safer bet.

I loved 2020's Chicken Police: Paint it Red. The noir photomanipulation aesthetic gives it a unique look and feel; it's the passion behind the narrative that still sticks with me. There's a lot of love behind the world and characters, and you can feel that craft throughout. It makes the odd misstep, but earnestness is often more valuable than lawlessness.

This carried through to the recent small prologue game, Zipp's Cafe, which has only made me more excited about Chicken Police: Into the Hive. I don't know if it's going to be polished, impactful, or innovative, but I'm almost certain that it will be exactly what I want.

Timothy Monbleau: Visions of Mana

Picking a most anticipated game for 2024 was honestly really tough, since there are a lot of promising RPGs on the horizon that are right in my wheelhouse. In 2023, I had the chance to try out Persona 3 Reload, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Dragon’s Dogma 2. And frankly, I’m looking forward to all of those.

However, I often find that my most anticipated game isn’t necessarily the one I think will be a slam dunk, but the one I just want to be good the most. And from what we know of 2024, nothing compares to Visions of Mana on that front. It’s Square Enix’s first all-new console Mana game in well over a decade, and the little we’ve seen so far looks appealing. I love the vibes and the designs so far, and if the gameplay can continue the upward trend of quality we’ve seen between the Secret of Mana and Trials of Mana remakes, this could turn out to be a real hit.

Also… if I’m being honest, I really wanted to put Ys X here. However, I can’t exactly do that without any guarantee that it'll actually come out in English next year. So I’m also kind of picking Visions of Mana because it’s the most similar-looking title to Falcom’s flagship series that’s on my radar right now. I’m not saying that’s a good reason to pick Visions of Mana as my most anticipated game, but it undoubtedly is a reason.

Steven Mills: Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth

Wow, 2023 was an amazing year for games but 2024 is already looking like it's going to be just as good, especially for RPG lovers. It was hard not to join Eric here and go with Metaphor: ReFantazio. I'm a huge fan of the SMT formula, but Metaphor's setting has me even more interested.

But after much back-and-forth, I went with Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. Being able to explore the world of Gaia on current-gen systems is going to be a blast. Cosmo Canyon? Costa del Sol?! The Gold Saucer?!?! As great as Final Fantasy VII Remake was, it feels like it's going to end up being an appetizer compared to what Rebirth has in store. More importantly, it looks like the narrative will feature even more mystery and chaos in the story we all know from our childhoods, and I'm all for it.

I'm also very excited about the upcoming Factorio expansion, Factorio: Space Age. I have over 1,000 hours in the base game and still find myself going back in with various mod packs. The expansion looks as though it will expand on the base game with another 60-100 hours of content while also building upon the core systems that are already there. As I said, 2024 looks like it's gonna be a great year.

Smangaliso Simelane: Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2

Hellblade: Senua’s Saga is a project that tries to do something a little different from your average game. It attempts to depict psychosis, but in a way that is authentic and utilizes different senses. The result is a work of art that is sometimes overwhelming but never sacrifices authenticity.

I love Hellblade, but it is rough around the edges. It features puzzles that are frustrating to solve, and the combat leaves much to be desired. Well, we have a sequel on the way and it looks like we’re going from an experimental AA game to a fully-fledged AAA title set to outshine its predecessor.

We haven’t seen much of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2’s combat and gameplay yet, but the visuals are stunning. This is Ninja Theory’s chance to improve and fully flesh out the innovative ideas introduced in Hellblade. My hopes are high that we’ve got something special on the way.

Andrea Shearon: Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

Endwalker put a nice bowtie on some of Final Fantasy XIV's biggest threads, bringing one of the realm's biggest battles to a close and bookending some of our earliest beginnings, harkening all the way back to A Realm Reborn's theme song, "Answers." Now, it's time to start fresh with a new expansion in Dawntrail.

In a year where I backed off my usual FFXIV routine, it's nice to look forward to another big adventure with Dawntrail's breezy summer ambitions. As more of a hermit, swamp creature kind of gal, version 7.0's summer vacation-style episode wasn't my cup of tea at first, but it's grown on me. If anything, I've learned to trust the process when it comes to XIV, and at some point, it'll deliver on the emotional turmoil and extensional crisis story beats I crave.

Though a journey focused on Meracydia is my dream, I'm excited for what's to come in Tural. Dawntrail era updates include major improvements to FFXIV visuals, new glamour features, two DPS jobs, and the return of one of my Endwalker favorites, Erenville. Throw in a couple of dragon cameos and more awkward Estinien moments, and I promise I won't complain again until 8.0.

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It has been a good year for the Nintendo Switch. The hybrid console received critically acclaimed exclusives like Pikmin 4, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Super Mario RPG. Recently, Nintendo revealed the top 30 most downloaded games on Japan's eShop in 2023.

The list doesn't come with too many surprises, although if you haven't been paying attention, it may be unexpected to see Pikmin 4 clinching third place. It didn't cause too much of a splash in the West, but Famitsu lists reveal that it has been selling well in Japan. It may also be a shock to see that Tears of the Kingdom isn't in the number one spot and sits in second place instead.

That's because Suika Game takes first place, a game that has accumulated over 5 million downloads worldwide. The whole top 30 list looks like this:

1. Suika Game
2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
3. Pikmin 4
4. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
5. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince
6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
7. Splatoon 3
8. Overcooked 2
9. Super Mario RPG
10. Fire Emblem Engage
11. Monster Hunter Rise
12. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
13. Pokémon Violet
14. Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection Vol. 2
15. Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
16. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
17. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
18. Minecraft
19. Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection Vol. 1
20. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
21. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
22. Human: Fall Flat
23. Persona 4 Golden
24. Among Us
25. Momotaro Dentetsu World: Chikyuu wa Kibou de Mawatteru
26. Pikmin 2
27. Pokémon Scarlet
28. Nintendo Switch Sports
29. Pikmin 1
30. Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban

The usual suspects also make an appearance. Pokemon has Pokemon Violet at number thirteen while Scarlet sits at number twenty-seven. The indomitable Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sits in sixth place and Super Mario Bros. Wonder appears nearby in fourth place.

Next year has the potential to be another phenomenal year for Nintendo. Princess Peach: Showtime! arrives in March, and you can also look forward to Tomb Raider I-III Remastered and Mario vs. Donkey Kong.

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To be perfectly honest, sitting down and thinking about my favorite games of 2023 has been a surreal experience. When I look back on my corresponding list I wrote in 2022, I feel like the person who wrote that is a fundamentally different person than who I am today.

At the time, I was still recovering from some rough life experiences and wasn’t playing a lot of new games. My list of candidates was so sparse that I had to include Jimothy Donbleau’s Quest for Game of the Year, which is totally real and not just something I mocked up in RPG Maker. Look, I’ve always had an overwhelming passion for video games. Once upon a time, I was here as a community member of Destructoid talking about my story of playing Final Fantasy II (IV) before I could even read. But it was always something I treated as my hobby and not my work.

The dark side of the industry

Now let’s talk about video games

Timothy Monbleau’s favorite disaster of 2023: The Last of Us on PC

#10: Astlibra Revision

#9: The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails

#8: Final Fantasy VII Remake

#7: Rakuen Deluxe Edition

#6: Blasphemous 2

#5: Super Mario RPG

#4: Terranigma

Anyone who has followed me this year knows I’ve spent a lot of time discussing this nearly 30 year old RPG. I wrote a whole passionate write-up about it back in May, and I even ranked it as one of the top three best SNES games ever made. Given how much I’ve already said about it, I’m going to let you in on my dirty secret that partially influenced why I’m so enthusiastic about it.

This year was the first time I’d ever finished Terranigma.

Don’t get me wrong, I played Terranigma a lot when I was younger. However, given the game’s Europe exclusivity, let’s just say I had a rough time trying to beat it with a keyboard two decades ago. My main motivation for playing it this year is that I wanted to rank Illusion of Gaia on my best SNES games list. However, I needed to see if Quintet’s subsequent game was more worthy of the spot.

I was not prepared for how hard Terranigma’s themes would strike right through my soul. Shortly after I finished the game, my girlfriend called me while she drove home from work. I was doing my best to engage in our usual small talk, but she could tell there was something different about me.

She asked me about it, and I just started bawling, and we spent the rest of our call talking about Terranigma. The ending didn’t even have those big emotional moments that I was expecting it would. But everything Terranigma was about, and everything it had built up to, just sunk in. I was so profoundly sad and so happy to be alive all at the same time, and I couldn’t believe something that powerful was hidden in an SNES game all this time. A week hasn’t gone by since where I haven’t thought about Ark’s journey in one way or another.

I gave myself the rule about prioritizing newer games in my rankings here because Terranigma was, hands down, the game that impacted me the most this year. It’s easily in my top 10 games of all time and stands as a testament to the reasons we create and share art with each other. I’m almost three decades late to the party, but you did it Quintet. You created a masterpiece, and I’ll never, ever forget it.

#3: Final Fantasy XVI

Final Fantasy XVI is somehow both a critical darling and a surprisingly divisive game, and I can understand both sides. I don’t necessarily agree with every take on its gameplay or story I’ve read, but I do get the points of view. Personally, Final Fantasy XVI really resonated with me, and I felt it was the kind of story I needed this year.

As I discussed back when I was ranking Final Fantasy games, the series likes to explore the concept of hope amid hopeless circumstances. And despite how edgy Final Fantasy XVI is, I felt this spirit was intact. This particularly struck me early in Clive’s journey, when he is getting to know his mentor figure Cid. Clive explains his desire for revenge, which makes Cid rather bluntly respond with:

“Fate. You’re content to be its slave then.”

Many RPGs explore the concept of fate, but usually from an external perspective. For example, for the characters in Final Fantasy XIII, their fate of becoming l’Cie is forced on them, and the game’s theme involves breaking free of that fate. But in Final Fantasy XVI, fate is anything that takes our agency away from us. Whether it’s the destruction of your home or a desire for revenge that clouds your judgment, we’re constantly struggling with forces that threaten to take or redirect our freedom.

That depiction of fate has really struck me since it’s something that I struggle with daily. And I’ll venture a guess that many of you have your own "fates" you're battling too. Reframing fate in those terms has, weirdly, been mentally grounding for me. Whenever I feel myself staring too deep into that void, feeling hopeless as the world around us just seems weirder and dumber with each passing day, I try to remember Cid’s words. I don’t want to be a slave to fate. No matter how futile that may seem, it’s something I want to fight against.

I also like the part where Clive gets the big laser beam move and can go pew pew on his enemies. Good game, I hope to have a drink with Ben Starr someday.

#2: Super Mario Bros. Wonder

#1: Octopath Traveler 2

Octopath Traveler 2 is one of those games where I couldn’t even comprehend how special it was until it was over. I went into it expecting more of the original Octopath Traveler, which I liked but did not love (similar to Chris Carter’s take). But if Octopath Traveler was a love letter to golden age SNES/PSX RPGs, Octopath Traveler 2 is a perfect encapsulation of them.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most fun RPG worlds I’ve ever explored. There are secrets and bosses around nearly every corner, rewarding every ounce of curiosity you have. At the same time, it never feels like you’re just cutting through filler content either. Octopath Traveler 2 is immaculately paced, always tantalizing your senses with story objectives and rare treasures to pursue.

Similarly, the game’s combat mechanics offer a wonderful level of depth. Random encounters never gave me that usual feeling of tedium, since I felt consistently engaged in figuring out ways to dispatch foes faster and faster. Octopath Traveler 2 does a fantastic job of offering rich levels of party customization, yet it never bogs the player down with them. I was constantly getting huge “aha!” moments whenever I discovered different synergies with my skills and equipment. This did eventually make the game feel easy, but I also felt like I’d earned it. Even after spending nearly 100 hours with the game, I was fiddling with my team and experimenting with new ideas.

The segmented story has grown on me in retrospect too. While I initially didn’t like how separated each character’s tale was, that structure felt so real to me this year. Our paths often cross with friends and comrades, but ultimately, we’re all the heroes of our own stories. We all have our dreams we’re reaching for, and those goals may create temporary friendships of convenience.

But that’s not to say that those practical relationships can’t become meaningful. It’s human to want to make connections where we can, and we see the characters in Octopath Traveler 2 do that too. Hikari’s mission to lead Ku will naturally diverge from Agnea’s aspiration to become a star. But that doesn’t mean that, for a brief time, they can't share a story together. People often come and go in our lives, and seemingly lifelong friendships may become fleeting over time. But those memories, however temporary, are important. And by the end of Octopath Traveler 2, that’s the sense I got from these eight unlikely, but ultimately relatable allies.

There’s no telling where our paths in life will take us. But if we only look ahead at where we want to be, we might miss the adventure we can have now. And in the case of Octopath Traveler 2, there are few adventures I’ll ever look back on as fondly. Here’s to what 2024 may bring, and may Team Asano rest easy knowing they’ve created such a special, captivating game.

#0: Jimothy Donbleau’s Quest for Game of the Year 2: We’re All Content

That crazy bastard did it again, Jimothy Donbleau wins Game of the Year 2023!!!

The post Timothy Monbleau’s 10 favorite games of 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

It's the time of year, folks. The Steam Winter Sale for 2023 is now live, offering some hefty discounts on thousands of games on the Steam store. For me, it's usually when I pick up titles I didn't have a chance to play throughout the year but definitely wanted to at some point. After all, not often is there a better discount than what we see with the Steam Winter Sale, at least anytime soon.

Some great deals

With so many titles on sale at once, usually, you can find games of every genre heavily discounted. This includes new releases and even those that have been out for some time. Here's a handful of great deals I've found while briefly looking over the sale:

• Civilization VI — $5.99 (90% off)
• Stellaris — $11.99 (70% off)
• Total War: Warhammer III— $29.99 (50% off)
• Starfield — $48.99 (30% off)
• Street Fighter 6 — $39.59 (34% off)
• Mortal Kombat 1 — $34.99 (50% off)
• Remnant 2 — $29.99 (40% off)
• Star Wars: Jedi Survivor — $34.99 (50% off)
• Battle Bit Remastered — $8.99 (40% off)
• Dave the Diver — $15.99 (20% off)
• Persona 5 Royal — $29.99 (50% off)
• Diablo 4 — $41.99 (40% off)
• Anno 1800 — $14.99 (75% off)
• Elden Ring — $35.99 (40% off)
• Risk of Rain Returns — $12.74 (15% off)
• Code Vein — $11.99 (80% off)
• Tactics Ogre Reborn — $24.99 (50% off)
• Baldur's Gate 3 — $53.99 (10% off)
• Monster Hunter: World — $9.89 (67% off)
• Octopath Traveler 2 — $41.99 (30% off)
• Nier: Automata YoRHa Edition — $15.99 (60% off)
• Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade — $34.99 (50% off)
• Against the Storm — $19.49 (35% off)
• Pioneers of Pagonia — $25.49 (15% off)
• Red Dead Redemption 2 — $19.79 (67% off)
• Slay the Princess — $16.19 (10% off)
• Crusader Kings 3 — $24.99 (50% off)

There are so many more I could've included here, there really are some good deals as usual during the Steam Winter Sale. If you login to Steam you'll see some recommendations of titles partaking in the sale that may have more of an interest to you using Steam's super secret algorithm. Let us know if you spot any awesome deals!

The post The Steam Winter Sale 2023 is now live appeared first on Destructoid.

Iam8bit has announced that they’re adding the soundtracks of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden to their catalog of vinyl albums. They will be available for preorder on December 14 at 9am PST.

If you’re already deeply invested in owning the series’ soundtracks pressed in vinyl, your soul will feel incomplete without these two. Both the Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden albums appear to be supplemental single LP albums, containing only music unique to their versions of the game. The bulk of the tunes are already on the Persona 3 and Persona 4 vinyl releases, both of which weighed in on four discs.

With that in mind, if you’re looking for the most enduring songs from the two games, you’d probably be better off with the vanilla versions. Persona 4 Golden, for example, doesn’t include Heartbeat, Heartbreak, a song that has been playing on a loop inside my skull for about a decade.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like these two albums are going to fit in the Persona 25th Anniversary Slipcase. They will have to sit cold and alone beyond the embracing walls of the rest of the collection. On the positive, their covers are done by Drew Wise, a longtime contributor with Iam8bit and the artist who did all the 25th Anniversary covers. The Persona 3 Portable cover is even a mirror of the vanilla Persona 3 cover, but features the version’s exclusive female protagonist instead.

Both the Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden vinyl will be up for preorder on December 14, 2023 at 9am PST. Both albums will run you $31.99 American greenbacks.

The post Finish your Persona vinyl collection with iam8bit’s Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden Soundtracks appeared first on Destructoid.

The Game Awards 2023 have come to a close, and it was another night filled with trophies and trailers. Even before the show started, there was a sheer glut of game reveals to watch.

With all the news, reveals, speeches, and more, it can be hard to keep up with it all. So we've put together a list of every major reveal from The Game Awards 2023, so you can catch back up on the news you missed or remember that neat-looking game you forgot the name of.

Here's all the headlines from the night.

Everything shown during The Game Awards 2023 pre-show

• Josef Fares and Hazelight's origins return in a new form, as Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is getting a remake developed by Avantgarden. Expect to struggle balancing dual-stick efforts with all the tears flowing on February 28, 2024.
• Daniel Mullins, the dev behind Inscryption, revealed the next project for the studio: Pony Island 2: Panda Circus. Suffice to say, I can't wait for this one. It looks just as mechanically eerie as the original Pony Island that put me onto this studio.

• Color Gray Games, hot off The Case of the Golden Idol, has another mystery around the golden statue in The Rise of the Golden Idol. Quite a few surprises to kick this show off, and it's welcome!
• We've got one more surprise in a new game from Finji and Sweet Baby: a third-person action/adventure game with some ghostly vibes called Usual June. That's set for 2025.
• The Odd Gentlemen have an accessible music journey in Harmonium: The Musical. There's some really neat ideas here, from the great tunes to use of sign language throughout.
• From the makers of Dead Cells comes Windblown, headed for PC early access in 2024. It seems like a co-op action brawler with a ton of character. It'll be interesting to see how this turns out.
• The violet hyper-rhythm game Thumper gets a follow-up in Thrasher, a new but equally surreal and aggressive-looking game, in 2024. Heck yes.
• World of Goo goos again with The World of Goo 2. Our own Timothy Monbleau says he'll only play it if it's on WiiWare, and I gotta say, I agree with him.

• We close out the pre-show with a new look at Metaphor: ReFantazio, the new RPG from the makers of Persona 3 through 5. It's got a lot of new gameplay footage and a new release window of Fall 2024, and also looks fantastic. On to the show!

Everything shown during The Game Awards 2023

• Exodus is the debut sci-fi time-bending game from Archetype Entertainment. It's from a team of BioWare veterans, and will apparently have Matthew McConaughey in it. No word on a release timeline yet.
• God of War Ragnarok gets some DLC, Valhalla, for free on December 12. Seems like a good reason to pick the axe back up and go back to warrin'.
• Big Walk is a new game from the Goose Game studio House House, and it's a cooperative adventure. Given their proclivity for immediately engaging mayhem, I'm intrigued. That's targeting 2025.
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is getting a demo on January 11. I was pleasantly surprised by the demo at SGF 2023, and I think you should have this on your radar as we head into the new year.
• Senua's Saga: Hellblade II shows up with a new trailer and now targets 2024 for a launch. It's been a long road for this Xbox game, but hopefully it sticks the landing as well as the first did.

• Ikumi Nakamura takes the stage again to show what her studio, Unseen, has been up to. It's called Kemuri, and though we didn't get to see much, it looks fantastic just from the slice here. I'm keen to see where this goes.
• Moon Studios, the makers of the Ori series, debut a new action RPG dubbed No Rest For The Wicked. It's a different vibe from Ori, but after the excellence that was that duology, this could be one to watch.
• Sega has thrown the kitchen sink at retro-heads everywhere, announcing a ton of new games in beloved series like Shinobi, Golden Axe, Crazy Taxi, and Jet Set Radio. Surprise!
• Remember there's a new Budokai game on the way? Well, it's called Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, and it looks like some classic Budokai action. No release window for this yet.
• Supermassive Games' Dead By Daylight crossover game is called The Casting of Frank Stone, and it looks positively creepy. Get excited for your actions to have horrible, horrible consequences in 2024.

• Bah gawd, that's the Mana font! Square Enix is back with a new entry in the series, dubbed Visions of Mana. Rather than read my words, which would be positively enthused for this development, read up resident Mana fan Timothy's take on it here. That's set for 2024.
• Team Ninja's Rise of Ronin sets a date for March 22, 2024. Which is exciting, but heads into a stacked Q1 2024, and directly against a release date for Dragon's Dogma 2. March is going to be a good one for action RPG fans, I guess.
• Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele take the stage to show off OD. I'm still not really sure what it is. There were famous people and faces, and then screaming. Sure!
• Jurassic Park Survival asks, could you really survive Jurassic Park? I'm really not sure why people keep trying to, when the evidence doesn't support their success. But you can still try in Survival, when it arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
• Black Myth: Wukong also appeared, to lock in a launch date of August 20, 2024. It still looks like a giant, electrifying action game, though recent reports about the studio might have shifted the tone around it.
• Warframe is queueing up some new content with Whispers in the Walls, which features two Game Award-nominated voice talents in Ben starr and Neil Newbon. Is there any better reason to check Warframe out than that? Whispers arrives on December 13.

• Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a colorful, gorgeous-looking new Metroidvania under the EA Originals label, and looks like it's worth keeping an eye on when it lands on April 23, 2024.
• Don't Nod and the team behind Life is Strange are back with more angst and emotions in Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. It ticks plenty of boxes fans of the Strange series probably dig, so hopefully it comes together just as well for late 2024.
• The First Berzerker: Khazan is an action RPG in the DNF universe. I'm still not sure what all that entails, but it seems neat for those who dig DNF / Dungeon & Fighter. It's headed to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
• We get some new Final Fantasy VII Rebirth footage amid an orchestra presentation, and it still looks fantastic. I think that's our first peek at Cid? Anyways, that's set to carry on with the remake trilogy in February. Also, Apex Legends gets a crossover with FF7 on January 9.
• We get a brief tease of Honkai Star Rail's new area and characters, as well as some new monsters coming to Monster Hunter Now.
• Blink and you'll miss it, but Skull and Bones finally arrives on February 16, 2024. For real. Seriously, this time.

• In a match made in vampire heaven, Arkane Lyon is crafting Marvel's Blade, putting their own spin on the vampire hunter as Marvel pushes further into video games. Not many details were shown, but this does seem like a fantastic proposition.
• Lightspeed LA's Steve C. Martin is here to talk about a new project, The Last Sentinel. Not much info for now, but it looks pretty neat.
• Nexon's The First Descendant promises some sci-fi battles and eerie robot designs in summer 2024.
• Zenless Zone Zero will arrive in 2024. That's it, that's all we know.
• For the mecha sickos, Mecha Break looks like a fun indulgence in crafting, flying, and scrapping. All those lasers and missiles certainly seem like a good time. A closed alpha test is on the way for that.
• Warhammer 40K Space Marine 2 arrives on September 9, 2024. So if you've been eager to stomp on some tyranids and wield a chainsaw sword, that will be the date to do it, and not a second sooner.
• The creators of GTFO announce a new chapter coming to the game, as well as a new game. It's another heist project, called Den of Wolves. Not much info, but looks neat.
• There's another extraction shooter on the way too, in Exoborne. More is coming in 2024 on that, though the extraction genre is definitely starting to feel crowded.
• Matt Mercer takes the stage to present Asgard's Wrath 2, a sequel to Asgard's Wrath. It's a VR game that's got some fantasy vibes, and it arrives on December 15, 2023.
• We get a quick look at the Fallout TV show again, and more importantly, Walton Goggins.
• Palia heads to Nintendo Switch, for free, on December 14.

• Light No Fire is the next big project from No Man's Sky team Hello Games, and it's no less ambitious, attempting to create a massive singular world. I respect this team's drive to keep chasing massive, titanic goals. No release date or window yet, though.
• RTS project Stormgate wants to bring back the glory days of StarCraft, and i say we let them try. The team is targeting a summer 2024 launch, and is currently on Kickstarter.
• Elphelt Valentine is the next combatant to enter the ring in Guilty Gear Strive, trading the bridal gown for idol attire. Plus, Strive is getting a three-on-three team battle mode. Sounds interesting. Elphelt is out on December 8, while team battles hit sometime next year in 2024.
• Final Fantasy XVI is getting two pieces of DLC. One, Echoes of the Fallen, shadow-drops tonight. The other, The Rising Tide, arrives sometime in spring 2024.
• Remedy, while accepting the award for Best Game Direction, announces that New Game Plus is coming to Alan Wake 2 on December 11. Love a good podium surprise!
• The Finals from Embark joins the shadow-drop train, as the new shooter is out tonight. Boot that up if you're looking for a post-Game Awards hang-out game with pals, I suppose.
• For one final announcement at The Game Awards 2023, Capcom takes the stage to reveal Monster Hunter Wilds, a new entry in the legendary Monster Hunter series that arrives in 2025. I already love the chocobo-like bird you ride around everywhere, plus all the giant monster fighting.

• But just because the show's over, doesn't mean the drops don't stop. GOTY award winner Baldur's Gate 3 stealthily dropped for Xbox Series X|S after the show ended. Man, imagine if they hadn't won? That would've been awkward.

Those are all the big highlights from The Game Awards 2023. Let us know what some of your favorites were down below!

The post Everything shown at The Game Awards 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Persona series has been molded from RPG into many, many other genres, especially Persona 5. Dungeon crawling, dancing, though sadly no brawling; and now, with Persona 5 Tactica, it’s time for some turn-based tactics.

As I mentioned in my review-in-progress, there’s really no shortage of extra content for those who don’t want to leave the world of Persona 5. And if you want more Persona 5—more hijinks, gags, and general time spent with the Phantom Thieves—then Tactica can certainly accommodate that.

On top of that, it’s a solid tactics game that even has some interesting ideas. Persona 5 Tactica is lighthearted, fun, and even hits some solid notes near the end with its stance on fighting for your beliefs. But it also falters, often enough to note where this could have been a more rewarding tactical experience.

Persona 5 Tactica (PC, Switch [reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Sega
Released: November 16, 2023
MSRP: $59.99

At the start of Persona 5 Tactica, we catch the Phantom Thieves recuperating from a recent excursion in Leblanc, before they’re suddenly pulled into another dimension, a “Kingdom.” While it somewhat acts like the Metaverse of Persona 5, it’s slightly different; here, a tyrannical ruler named Marie lords over her subjects. A rebel corps of adorable hat-guys resist, led by the seemingly human but enigmatic Erina; and soon, the gang also finds Diet member Toshiro Kasukabe trapped here, too.

Starting with just Joker and Morgana, the duo teams up with Erina and the rebels to save the other Phantom Thieves, who have been enchanted (or maybe just brain-controlled) by Marie’s magic. And then, after rebuilding the crew, it’s time to start a revolution.

You say you want a revolution?

This theme carries through the lengthy first Kingdom and onto subsequent sections, as the Phantom Thieves’ excursion doesn’t end with just one big bad. I won’t go deep into where Persona 5 Tactica goes, but it does stay focused on ideas of power and relative peace. Essentially, how a tyrannical rule can feel so oppressive that any resistance is seen as too costly, and either submission or apathy is preferable to fighting back.

It’s heartening, really, to see Persona 5 Tactica challenge those ideas, much like its Phantom Thieves did in the original game. It may feel like many of the same notes, about changing hearts and fighting for a better future, but its revolutionary ideals still feel stirring in Tactica. Newcomers Erina and Toshiro are welcome focal points, and their eventual twists and turns are pretty good.

On the other hand, don’t expect too much story on the Phantom Thieves’ side. Some of the crew, like Haru and Futaba, end up getting a little extra spotlight as their own struggles line up with the new characters’. But others, like Makoto or Yusuke, are just kind of there. Most of the Persona 5 crew is here to interact and hang out, tossing around jokes, but not necessarily taking any huge steps on their own personal journeys. Tactica is very much focused on Erina and Toshiro.

It’s told well, though the style-swapping between visual novel-like text segments, 3D-animated cutscenes, and fully 2D animated cutscenes does feel a bit odd at times. I’m not the biggest fan of the general “look” the Phantom Thieves have in P5 Tactica, but it wasn’t particularly egregious either. 

The traditional P5 style is much more prevalent in the menus and UI, which includes some gorgeous transition effects and a Velvet Room abbreviation that reads, “V. Room.” You know, like a car. What? It makes me laugh.

Squaring up

When it comes to tactics, Persona 5 Tactica has some pretty interesting ideas. In broad strokes, this will feel familiar to any turn-based strategy fan, but especially those who have played games like the Mario + Rabbid series. You take your turn, moving your three deployed characters on the grid and attacking using a variety of abilities, then the enemy moves.

Individual units have a variety of skills available, including risky but potentially strong melee strikes, standard gun attacks, and of course, using magic through their Personas. In this game, Joker’s Wild Card status extends to all the Phantom Thieves (after clearing a certain mission), so everyone can equip a second Persona to expand their magic repertoire and bump their stats.

Most of your actions will focus around a central concept: setting up the One More. If an enemy is outside of cover, or otherwise vulnerable, then not only will a hit score full damage but it will also knock them down and give the attacker another turn. (This can work against you too, by the way.) Setting up chain reactions, where one unit can ping-pong between targets dishing out damage and zipping across the map, is crucial.

It’s also important for setting up the Triple Threat Attack, the reward for all your tactical planning. If a unit is on a One More turn, lines extend from each Phantom Thief, forming a triangle between your trio; if the triangle sits over a downed enemy, then it lights up with fire for a Triple Threat. The Thieves commence the all-out attack, damaging the downed foe and everyone else caught in the area.

Triangle strategy

The Triple Threat sounds more complex than it is. Really, it’s the combination of this move and the One More that makes Persona 5 Tactica’s strategy feel rewarding. It can feel a bit awkward at first, as you have to think several moves ahead with everyone. One unit needs to tee things up, and then you have to determine how you’re going to angle your triangle position from there.

Often, it pushed me to make some risky plays. I like how freeform it feels, while also eventually forcing you to plant three stakes in the ground and cash out as best you can. There were maps where, thanks to some smart moves and careful planning, I cleared it at two turns lower than the par goal for extra rewards. Other times, I messed up an angle somewhere, and was left to watch my units get blasted about by Legionnaires.

The enemy units do enough to make Tactica tough, too. From support units to giant, hulking brutes, and some especially annoying shielded foes, there’s a good variety on display. I felt like enemy design hit its peak with ninja units that would force-swap places with a unit after being attacked. It could put my units way out of position, but also be used as a way to cleverly navigate the map or set up big Triple Threat hits.

Nowhere is this enjoyable aspect of the strategy more evident than the Quests, Persona 5 Tactica’s optional levels that, at their best, feel like puzzle boxes. Some of my favorite missions in P5T weren’t big fights against bosses or frantic holdouts against overwhelming odds, but Quests with simple but head-scratching objectives. “Get to the target in one turn” or “clear all enemies in two turns” maps felt like little chess puzzles that I loved carefully looking over.

The bummer is those rewarding little strategy puzzles aren’t what makes up the whole of Tactica. The middle of the game is where most of my favorite tactical bouts happened; the early run of missions are heavy on tutorials, and are at least an easy on-ramp for tactics newcomers. The endgame felt almost a bit too easy, and to get into why, I’ll need to delve even deeper into the mechanics of Tactica. Specifically, its stats and guns.

A demonic arsenal

Lavenza and the Velvet Room return, mostly doing what you’d expect: facilitating demon fusion and compendium management. Making good Personas for your party to hold is worthwhile, for the stats and for the additional skills or passives they offer. But there’s another option that unlocks a decent way into the game: fusing weapons from demons.

Guns play a significant role in Persona 5 Tactica, way more than I ever felt they did in Persona 5, and initially you just have a shop for upgrading them. Each character has their own fire type too, ranging from basic pistols for Joker and Makoto to Haru’s grenade launcher, Ann’s submachine gun, and Ryuji’s shotgun. Fusing weapons adds even more properties, from changing up the range and spread of the gun to adding elemental effects and, of course, adding damage.

I haven’t really mentioned the Skills system yet, where you spend reward GP from missions and Quests to upgrade each Phantom Thief individually. Really, they’re fairly straightforward; I was hoping for some more options to customize and define playstyles for each character, but they’re all meant to upgrade what they already do. Each upgrade path felt similar for characters. Bump up their magic, give them extra movement squares and range, and unlock their signature skill.

Basically, there are a lot of avenues for upgrading your characters. And by the campaign's end, I felt like my characters were borderline overpowered. Granted, I had finished each Quest and been utilizing the systems put in front of me to eke out the most power I could. But in exchange, the difficulty (I was on Normal) didn’t feel like it could keep pace. Heck, there were some enemies who I couldn’t knock into a downed state, because one attack to knock them out of cover and another to start the One More would take them out completely. Making Triple Threats happen became its own challenge.

In some ways, this is nice. I could see this being a very approachable strategy game for those who don’t spend a ton of time playing them. But I do wish some of the endgame stages felt like they either challenged me more, or offered greater rewards for more strategic play.

Steal your heart

Persona 5 Tactica is, by all means, a solid tactics game. It’s enjoyable, has some fresh ideas, and certainly has its own flair and character. But it also made me just a bit more aware of how this is yet another Persona 5 spin-off.

The story with Erina and Toshiro is good, but it feels like a Saturday morning excursion for the P5 gang. This is more Persona 5, but a frozen-in-time distillation of the vibes and good times with the gang, rather than a substantive addition to any of those characters’ stories. And we’ve had a lot of “more Persona 5.”

I’m not sure I’d recommend this to everyone, but for those who want this kind of mash-up anyways, I think they’re already on board. If you’re new to tactics games, Tactica might even be a nice on-ramp towards other options that get a little more in-depth.

So if the idea of a tactics game starring the Phantom Thieves, clocking in at a neat 30ish hours, sounds appealing, then Persona 5 Tactica is for you. It’s not as deep or compelling as other options, but it’s got the style and characters you like. The ending wraps up nicely too, even if getting there is a bit drawn out at the start. I’m happy I spent some time in the tactical Kingdoms of Persona 5 Tactica myself. But I also think I’m ready for a new crew to get the spotlight.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Persona 5 Tactica appeared first on Destructoid.

It's really going down now. The Japanese channel for Atlus, atlustube, released a taste of the 'reloaded' versions of classic Persona 3 songs alongside some new music tracks for Persona 3 Reload.

Released to promote the Limited Edition of Persona 3 Reload, Atlus previews some of its two-disc soundtrack. The video showcases returning classics like Mass Destruction, When the Moon's Reaching Out Stars, and Living with Determination.

Meanwhile, samples for new songs exclusive to Persona 3 Reload are also heard, including It's Going Down Now and Color Your Night. Both sound phenomenal and fit right into the themes of the game.

Changing Seasons

As many have noticed, the original singer for Persona 3, Yumi Kawamura, is absent. Instead, promising newcomer Azumi Takahashi is taking over. Returning to rap is Lotus Juice to put some fresh and familiar spins on the title's already fantastic soundtrack.

If you want to know all of the songs Persona 3 Reload has, you're in luck! The full list of songs for the 2024 RPG remake is in the YouTube video description. Some titles are in Japanese, but once it's translated into English, we'll update them.

Many songs are the same as the original but will likely have some small changes to them. Updated vocal tracks, like Want To Be Close and Master of Shadow, now have -Reload- on them. Curiously, the opening theme for the game has a name: Full Moon Full Life. No preview has been given for it, but if it's anything like the rest, it's going to be a banger. Take a look at the list below:

【Disc１収録楽曲】

• Full Moon Full Life
• 全ての人の魂の詩
• この不思議な感覚
• Want To Be Close -Reload-
• Troubled
• Crisis
• シャドウ
• 避けられぬ戦い
• やすらぎ -Reload-
• When The Moon's Reaching Out Stars -Reload-
• 巌戸台分寮 -Reload-
• The Voice Someone Calls
• tartarus_0d01
• Mass Destruction -Reload-
• 戦いのあと
• Color Your Night
• Deep Breath Deep Breath -Reload-
• Master of Shadow -Reload-
• ポロニアンモール -Reload-
• The Meaning of Armbands
• tartarus_0d02
• 嫌な予感
• Fearful Experience
• Calamity
• 試験中…
• Everyone loves 1989
• Joy
• tartarus_0d03
• 深層心理 -Reload-
• It’s Going Down Now
• The Path is Open
• The Path Was Closed

【Disc２ 収録楽曲】

• Changing Seasons -Reload-
• Basement
• Master of Tartarus -Reload-
• これでいいんだ…
• Living With Determination
• tartarus_0d04
• 京都
• Afternoon Break
• 時価ネットたなか -Reload-
• tartarus_0d05
• 10年前の記憶 -追想-
• 10年前の記憶 -対峙-
• Mistic
• 心の力
• 街の記憶
• 学園の記憶
• Living With Determination -巌戸台分寮アレンジ-
• tartarus_0d06
• 暗闇より出でしもの
• 全ての人の魂の戦い
• Nyx
• 決意
• Burn My Dread -Last Battle Reload-
• 絆
• 私が守るから -Reload-
• キミの記憶 -Reload-
• キミの記憶 -Reload Instrumental-
• Full Moon Full Life -Opening Movie version-

Our very own Timothy Monbleau got to play Persona 3 Reload in August and called the game "faithful to its origins yet modernized." As one of my RPGs to look out for, Persona 3 Reload looks to be a force to be reckoned with. The game launches on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on February 2, 2024.

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The Phantom Thieves strike again as 2020's Persona 5 Strikers has sold over two million copies worldwide, adding yet another sales milestone to the fifth game's growing list.

According to Persona Central, producer Daisuke Kaneda announced the sales milestone in a blog post. "P5S has sold over 2 million copies worldwide," wrote Daisuke, according to the translation. "I couldn't be happier. I would like to thank so many people for their support. Thank you very much." He goes on to bring up the upcoming Persona 5 Tactica, which launches next week.

Stealing the world's hearts

A spinoff to 2017's masterclass RPG Persona 5, Strikers (also known as Scramble in Japan) puts a Dynasty Warriors spin on the gameplay. Trading in turn-based combat for hack-and-slash, the game takes place after the events of Persona 5. This time, the Phantom Thieves take a road trip across Japan to investigate a country-wide epidemic. They are joined by newcomers Sophie, an AI, and Zenkechi, a detective.

Our 8.5/10 review from managing editor Chris Carter praises the spin-off, citing its accessible gameplay and overall Persona feeling. Co-developed by Omega Force (Dynasty Warriors), it retains the original charm and adds just a bit more to make it worthwhile. Plus, the Musou gameplay makes for fun large-scale battles and satisfying wins.

The Persona 5 series of titles, including the original, Royal, Dancing in Starlight, and Strikers, have amassed over 8.3 million sales as of last December. As a franchise fan, it's great to see how well-known the fifth game has become. Well, some may be attributed to the protagonist Joker's inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Still, with the upcoming release of Persona 5 Tactica, the Phantom Thieves have never been more popular. In China, Persona 5 will receive a mobile gacha game called Persona 5: The Phantom X in the future. If you are over the P5 hype, Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the original 2006 RPG, is releasing on February 2, 2024.

Persona 5 Strikers is available on PC, PS4, and Switch. The newest spin-off, Persona 5 Tactica, will be released for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S consoles on November 17.

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Nothing is more versatile than the timeless greats of the role-playing genre. RPGs transport us to different worlds, giving us the chance to explore and shape a journey on our own terms.

2023 gave us some noteworthy adventures, with the likes of Baldur's Gate 3 and Final Fantasy XVI immediately coming to mind. That said, one can only wonder what 2024 has in store for the genre. So, as we celebrate the titans of this year and look to the next, I've rounded up 10 RPGs that I would definitely keep watch on in 2024.

#1: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku/SEGA)

Release Date: January 26 (Trailer)
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

Ichiban and the gang are off to the United States. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a turn-based action RPG picking up where Yakuza: Like a Dragon leaves off. Next year's follow-up sends Ichiban on a dangerous journey to Hawaii to find his mother. Luckily, Kiryu Kazuma, the series' main protagonist, is still here to help as he reckons with his cancer diagnosis.

This one looks as wild as the series is large. I mean, you can ride a dolphin to your own Animal Crossing island, for goodness sake! If you're still on the fence, the upcoming Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Lost His Name comes with a demo to try out. It looks like Infinite Wealth maintains what the series does best: striking a balance between seriousness and fun that you can't help but enjoy.

#2: Persona 3 Reload (Atlus)

Release Date: February 2 (Trailer)
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S (Xbox Game Pass)

Shin Megami Tensei is a staple of the genre, which extends to its spinoff series, Persona. However, we haven't seen it brought to the new generation of consoles. This is where Persona 3 Reload comes in. As a remake of the 2006 PlayStation 2 game, it looks like everything that made the original great. From its turn-based gameplay to the life simulation, Reload takes old P3 staples and modernizes them, including refreshing the cast.

As someone who played Portable on Xbox Game Pass, I can't wait to see how the world really feels instead of text blocks and pointers. Regardless, Persona 3 Reload is shaping up to be the next big RPG that fans and newcomers alike can enjoy.

#3: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (Square Enix)

Release Date: February 29 (Trailer)
Platforms: PS5

It's no secret that Final Fantasy VII is one of the best games of all time. Check any list of the best RPGs, and you're sure to find it in there. So, of course, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, is among the most anticipated.

Taking place after Remake, Cloud and the AVALANCHE gang are out of Midgar and ready to stop Sephiroth. As a huge lover of Remake, believe me when I say Rebirth is high on my want list. The gameplay looks spectacular, still utilizing open combat, and its vast landscapes are exciting. Plus, Cloud can ride a segway. What more could you ask for? While Final Fantasy VII Rebirth may chart its own path with the story, I'm 100% along for the journey.

#4: Unicorn Overlord (Vanillaware/Atlus)

Release Date: March 8 (Trailer)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S

The creators behind 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim are back with a medieval take on the tactical RPG. Unicorn Overlord is set to be Vanillaware's biggest game yet, and it's easy to see why. Story-wise, we follow Alain as he reclaims his rightful place on the throne with the help of the mystical Unicorn Ring. The gameplay feels reminiscent of Fire Emblem and other strategy games, not to mention a beautiful 2D art style. Perhaps Unicorn Overlord might be a sleeper hit, much like 13 Sentinels was in 2019. However, there's a reason Vanillaware is among the masters of the genre.

#5: Avowed (Obsidian/Xbox)

Release Date: TBA (Trailer)
Platforms: PC and Xbox Series X/S (Xbox Game Pass)

Tired of Skyrim? You may want to keep an eye on this one. Avowed is a first-person action RPG from the team behind The Outer Worlds and Pillars of Eternity. You play as an envoy holding the power to change the course of the Living Lands forever. The game takes place in Eora, which is also where Pillars of Eternity is, so fans of it will feel right at home. Already masters of their craft at open-world narratives, Obsidian bringing that classic Elder Scrolls flair to players way before Elder Scrolls 6 is a bit of a power move.

#6: Black Myth: Wukong (Game Science)

Release Date: Summer 2024 (Trailer)
Platforms: PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S

The Journey to the West is becoming a Souls-like RPG. Black Myth: Wukong, with its beautiful graphics and AAA quality, is actually from indie Chinese studio Game Science. Announced in 2020, the game shot to popularity due to its stunning visuals, and for good reason.

The gameplay looks similar to your typical FromSoftware game but is filled to the brim with Chinese mythology. You play as Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, as he fights a number of vicious foes. Being that he's one of the most powerful warriors, it won't be a walk in the park. With Elden Ring starring as the belle of the ball for peak combat, it might be time for Black Myth: Wukong to usurp it from the throne.

#7: Hades II (Supergiant Games)

Release Date: TBA (Full) Q2 2024 (Trailer)
Platforms: Consoles (unknown) and PC

It's a good day in Hell: 2020's best indie game is getting a sequel. Revealed at last year's Game Awards, Hades II is a rogue-like RPG that follows Zagreus' sister Melinoë. As Princess of the Underworld, you'll use your dark magic to destroy the forces of the Titan of Time. Fans of the original will be pleased to know that the gameplay and mechanics will remain the same.

Is more Hades a bad thing? No, no, it isn't. You know it's something special when this is Supergiant Games' only sequel. It's the same team that made Bastion and Transistor, yet they gave Hades another game. If the studio is confident enough to do another game, it must mean it's got something really special.

#8: Metaphor: ReFantazio (Studio Zero/Atlus)

Release Date: TBA (Trailer)
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S

The creators of Persona 3, 4, and 5 are venturing into new territories with Metaphor: ReFantazio. From the trailer shown in June's Xbox Games Showcase, the game looks like a mix of open-world and turn-based combat, much like its spiritual successors. Metaphor marks the first original game Studio Zero has made since its establishment in 2016. Story details are a bit vague at the moment, but its medieval and fantasy-inspired setting feels reminiscent of Final Fantasy XV and Treasure Planet (especially with the floating skateboard).

#9: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo)

Release Date: TBA (Trailer)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch

Ready to return to the world of Paper Mario? 20 years after its release, a revival of The Thousand-Year Door is making its way to Nintendo Switch. It's unclear if this is a remake or remaster, but the story seems to remain intact, as Mario must save Peach from the alien group X-Nauts and find a long-lost treasure.

I've never gotten the chance to play the classic, yet when it was revealed, I still held a strange sense of nostalgia. Just looking at the bright colors, crafty art direction, and playful aesthetic put me right back into the GameCube's heyday. The 2004 original was lauded by critics when it launched, so hopefully, this one is just as good of a time.

#10: Rise of the Ronin (Team Ninja/PlayStation)

Release Date: TBA (Trailer)
Platforms: PS5

While Ghost of Tsushima 2 is in development, another swordsperson enters the arena. This time, though, we've got guns. Rise of the Ronin, announced in 2022, is an action RPG set during the end of the Edo period. As a ronin, you'll carefully choose alliances and live the life of a freelance samurai. Developer Team Ninja created titles like Nioh and Ninja Gaiden, so the team knows how to craft a good action game. There's not much on the Edo adventure out there yet, but from what we've seen, Rise of the Ronin looks to fill that sword-swinging fantasy niche perfectly.

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We’re a lot closer to living in the future that RoboCop predicted than we are to the one in The Terminator. Sure, some smart, rich people say that we have to watch out for AI killing us all, but I’m pretty sure they’re just trying to make their new tech seem more impressive. All we’ve seen it do is put together some bad prose, resurrect dead celebrities, and give us pictures that invariably look uncomfortably off. Humans can’t build a printer that can reliably put ink on a page, and we don’t need a machine’s help to wipe ourselves out of existence. We’ve got that covered.

RoboCop basically thought we’d flush ourselves down the toilet with our own greed. We’d gradually become less and less human the more we pursue our own hedonism. Profit and status before people were one of its big themes. It was extrapolating on a trend, and 35 years later, it’s only gotten more accurate.

Speaking of profit, in 1992, Dark Horse published a comic book miniseries that combined the two extremely marketable cyborgs above. RoboCop Versus The Terminator was a concept every kid in the schoolyard dreamed about, bringing together two protagonists from their favorite R-Rated movies. While a movie based on the concept never materialized, there was a game released for popular consoles at the time. Three games, actually, as the SNES, Game Boy, and Genesis/Mega Drive versions were all different. You lucky duck, I’m going to look at all of them.

The Comics

But first, let’s talk about the comics. If the stories I’ve heard are accurate, Dark Horse was about to lose the RoboCop license, so they decided to go out with a bang by creating a dream crossover. They tapped Frank Miller to write it.

While Miller is perhaps best known for The Dark Knight Returns and Sin City, he actually had a hand in writing the screenplay for RoboCop 2 and RoboCop 3. Unfortunately for him, the studio and director made significant changes to his scripts, to the point that the experience was so sour for him that he stopped working with Hollywood. However, he also dipped his toes into RoboCop comics, which resulted in a nine-issue adaptation of his original RoboCop 2 screenplay and RoboCop Versus The Terminator.

I’m pretty ambivalent toward Frank Miller. I could take or leave him. I enjoyed Sin City, but I haven’t found anything else by him that I appreciate quite as much. However, RoboCop Versus The Terminator isn’t great. Alex Murphy is turned into Miller’s favorite type of protagonist – a violently efficient hero with an overt death wish – and the whole time paradox card gets pulled in some of the worst ways. Like, once the timeline is altered, everything really slowly begins to change, and everyone is completely aware of it. So, there’s this really awful back-and-forth between the good guy team and Skynet.

When the plot was selected to be adapted into a game, most of that was swept aside. The idea is the same: RoboCop is used to give self-awareness to Skynet. He’s not exactly happy with that, so he, uh… Well, he tries to stop it, but it’s more complicated than that.

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

The Genesis version of RoboCop Versus The Terminator was done in-house by Virgin Games. It sure is a RoboCop game. It’s a pretty basic sidescroller, with a bit of run-and-gun mixed in. You can hold the shoot button down and just keep firing, which is a pretty good strategy. Beyond the obligatory appearances of ED-209 and, you know, Terminators, RoboCain shows up for some reason.

There are ten levels, five in the near future and five in the future of the future. Some of them have objectives like destroying all the things or rescuing some people, but I’m not sure how necessary those are. In stage 3, I’m pretty sure I didn’t destroy all the cameras but was still able to fight the boss. I lost, so maybe they’re stronger if you don’t destroy everything? But during the rematch, it didn’t seem weaker. I just came packing a bigger gun.

There isn’t a lot to say about RoboCop Versus The Terminator on Genesis. It’s an extremely routine game that I have no strong feelings about. It’s not terrible, but it isn’t good, either. In fact, that’s exactly why I’m covering the three versions here, since otherwise, I’d quickly run out of things to say. 

I will say this, though: the soundtrack sucks. Most of the tracks just seem like directionless Genesis noodling, and it all blended together for me. This is probably because it’s focused on one track that has the word “Terminator” repeated in it for some reason.

Super Nintendo

This one’s my favorite of the bunch for a number of reasons, but it’s still pretty mundane. The Super Nintendo version is the closest to the comics, with its cutscenes being presented in panel-style facsimiles of what’s in the comics. The comic has a woman from the future initially trying to kill RoboCop before he can be plugged into Skynet, and unlike the other versions, this is actually reflected in the gameplay, with Flo taking shots at you as a silhouette from the background.

The first level is visually strong, in general, and it includes an actual lighting effect where Murphy’s sprite is gradually illuminated as he approaches light sources. I’ve never seen anything quite like it in a 16-bit game. I also give this one props for being the only version that has RoboCop making a “thud thud” sound as he walks. I feel that’s key to his “forklift on legs” persona.

Beyond that, however, this is another routine sidescroller. Well, that is aside from a first-person vehicular Mode-7 section. It’s also really easy for most of the game, then when you go to the future’s future, someone realized that kids shouldn’t be able to beat this during a rental period. Then, the enemy placement goes from bad to malicious, and the levels get confusing. 

Still, it’s not awful. I even would have thought that this version was the flagship of the group if it weren’t for the fact that Interplay developed it while Virgin just used their own studio for the Genesis one. That version even got ported to the Game Gear and Sega Master System.

GameBoy

I thought the Game Boy version would be funnier to cover since I expected it would be a completely slapdash port. It is, but it’s also a fairly capable slapdash port. I’m not saying it’s good. It just doesn’t have any of those specific issues that are fun to rant about or bang on.

It’s short, sure. Definitely. The level design is weak, it looks kind of dumb, I can’t tell what some of the enemies are, it’s extremely easy, and it has no narrative exposition at all. A lot of the mechanics, such as the weapon switching and pole hanging, are still present, they’re just scaled back. If I played it as a kid, I wouldn’t be angry that I got tricked into buying it, I’d mostly just be annoyed that I completed it before the car trip was over.

Oh, and spoiler alert, but the end boss is, like, a flying brain. It doesn’t make sense, but at least it’s memorable. I don’t even remember what Skynet was depicted as in the comic, which is concerning because I just finished reading it this morning. I think it was just a... input slot or something.

Which failed the hardest?

Out of all the adaptations of RoboCop Versus The Terminator, the one that was most fun to analyze was the comic. Considering my profession and what this column is even about, that’s pretty disappointing. Going into this project, I figured that the comic would be surprisingly good, while the games would be complete butt. Instead, all of them are just kind of mediocre, with the comic failing in the most interesting ways.

There were supposedly talks of bringing the concept of RoboCop Versus The Terminator to film but nothing ever came of it. Really, if it did happen, I’d hope that a different plot was developed, which would be a funny way to piss off Frank Miller again. Really, though, RoboCop Versus The Terminator happened at the height of both franchises’ popularity and is one of the most ‘90s concepts imaginable. If they did something like it now, it would probably be more kitschy than impressive. I'd be okay with that.

For previous Weekly Kusoge, check this link!

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Every so often, I think of how crazy Sega's Dreamcast era was. It came out with a huge bang, then fizzled so hard that Sega got out of the console game completely. Given that I still play my Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega CD, and Dreamcast in my spare time, it's like it never died: but it did! That's why it's so amazing to me that the Sonic franchise has not only endured but is constantly debuting on a system run by its former competitor, Nintendo. All that to say: Sonic Superstars is the main eShop game coming out this week, and will be out on October 17.

Beyond that, Fotnite, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Overwatch 2, Fall Guys, and Apex Legends are all running Halloween events, which you can read about below:

• Fortnite–During Fortnitemares 2023, it’s time to call in a vampire hunter – you! Match the stakes of Kado Thorne’s threat with the new Wood Stake Shotgun. Don’t stop at just vampire hunting – jump into the Horde Rush limited-time experience, complete quests for in-game rewards and more! Fortnitemares 2023 runs until Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. ET.
• Disney Dreamlight Valley–Prepare for plenty of frights and delights in this season’s new Haunted Holiday Star Path! Trick and treat yourself to various items and cosmetics inspired by Disney’s Hocus Pocus, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and Disneyland’s The Haunted Mansion. Additionally, from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, the seasonal candy event is returning to the Valley! Search your Plaza for colorful candy buckets to unlock Dreamlight duties and prizes.
• Overwatch 2–Starting Oct. 10, team up with Pharah as she leads the forces of light against Moira and her allies of darkness. Defeat powerful bosses and level up your hero in the new Trials of Sanctuary game mode. Travel to a tropical paradise with the new Samoa map, try out Sombra’s new ability kit and look out for Roadhog’s rework later in the season. Explore seasonal cosmetics in the shop or earn them with the Battle Pass!
• Fall Guys–On Oct. 17, the Trick or Yeet Fame Pass will help pack the Blunderdome with fanciful, fearsome fancy dress. Highlights include the gnawsome Bat-Tastic Costume for bitey Beans and the Buff Guy Costume that adds insta-muscles without the workout. Scary never looked cuter than the Bad Beast or Pawly Repaired Costumes.
• Apex Legends–Until Oct. 31, embrace your dark side in Tricks N’ Treats Trios, where you’ll find candy that boosts your EVO level and Ultimate charge, plus Copycat Kits that grant extra Legend abilities. Drop into After Dark versions of Olympus, Kings Canyon and World’s Edge. Unlock 24 limited-time items before the event ends and automatically receive Revenant’s Prestige Skin “Apex Nightmare.”

What's on the Switch eShop the week of October 12, 2023?

• A Boy and His Blob: Retro Collection – Available Oct. 17
• Alphadia I & II
• Ancient Relics – Egypt
• Arcade Archives DARIUS II
• Astebros
• Asterix & Obelix: Heroes
• Ball laB II – Available Oct. 18
• Big Vehicle Simulator Games Bundle – Truck Farming Flight Construction Bus Ship
• Block Buster Billy
• Break the Glass Cup: Breaking Physics Puzzle
• Car Games Bundle – Racing Driving School Police Drag Drift Taxi
• Chemically Bonded – Available Oct. 13
• Company of Heroes Collection
• Cook, Serve, Delicious!
• Dark American Horror Stories
• Dateless Love - Love Story Behind the Restoration -
• Dementium: The Ward
• Dino Ranch – Ride to the Rescue
• Dwerve
• Eventide 3: Legacy of Legends
• Haunted House
• Ironsmith Medieval Simulator
• Kingdom Eighties – Available Oct. 16
• Kittengumi: The Sakabato’s Thief – Available Oct. 13
• Learn Words – Use Syllables
• Lost Dream: Overgrown
• NOISZ re:||COLLECTION G
• Persona Collection
• Pixel Game Maker Series Ninja Runner
• Re.Surs
• River City: Rival Showdown
• Sakura Alien – Available Oct. 13
• Saltsea Chronicles
• Shadows of Truth
• Skull Island: Rise of Kong – Available Oct. 17
• Slots Casino Game
• Speediest – Car Racing Formula & Auto Sport
• Submersible Simulator – Discover the Titanic into Ocean – Available Oct. 13
• subpar pool
• Taxi Driver Simulator 2024 – Available Oct. 14
• The Grinch: Christmas Adventures – Available Oct. 13
• The Meaning of Dreams
• TRANSFORMERS: EARTHSPARK – Expedition – Available Oct. 13
• TRAPPED in The Tricky Prison
• Traumatarium – Available Oct. 13
• Turbo Dash Kart Racing
• Vlad Circus: Descend into Madness – Available Oct. 17
• Whitestone – Available Oct. 13
• Z Escape – Available Oct. 13
• Zombie Defense – Available Oct. 13
• Zombie Raft – Available Oct. 13

If you missed last week’s edition, here it is. For those who are interested, sales are going on for all platforms.

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Next month, the holiday season will be in full swing, and there are many November 2023 games to look out for. From a classic returning to a new Call of Duty approaching physical and digital stores, you better prepare your wallet.

After a busy September and October, I wonder if we'll get a chance to check out any of these titles. Nevertheless, here are all of the most anticipated November 2023 games.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) - PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Sledgehammer Games, Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Beenox, Raven Software, High Moon Studios, Demonware
Price: $69.99
Release Date: November 10
Trailer

Likely the last game in the series solely under Activision, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 lets us play as Captain Price and the rest of Task Force 141 seeking Vladimir Makarov. All of the maps from 2009's Modern Warfare 2 have been modernized for this game, and there are some new maps to explore as well. There are 12 6v6 maps to tackle too.

Hopefully, with so many developers behind the game's belt, we'll have a unique vision behind this installment. There should be some standout maps that land like Call of Duty Black Ops' Nuketown and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2's Terminal with so much talent behind this title.

The zombies mode lets you team up with other squads for the first time. The Steam listing says the game will have the "largest Call of Duty zombies map ever." We'll see if bigger means better when the game releases on November 10.

Persona 5 Tactica - PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC

Publisher: Atlus
Developer: P-Studio
Price: $59.99
Release Date: November 16
Trailer

The Persona 5 spinoffs continue, and this time it's a strategy RPG with an all-new storyline in the series. There's also a strange new ally called Erina who helps you take down the Legionnaires. In this new realm, you must learn the strategy RPG mechanics of the game and survive.

It would be cool if Persona 5 Tactica reaches the incredible heights of the strategy-RPG Fire Emblem: Three Houses. That Nintendo game has an impactful story, engaging game design, and loveable characters. We've known the Phantom Thieves for a very long time, so it will be interesting to see how they grow.

This new take on the series might be daunting, but if you're an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you can check this game out at no extra cost on day one of its release. I can't wait to "Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There" for one of the most anticipated November 2023 games.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - PS4, PS5, PC, Switch

Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix and Gemdrops
Price: $49.99
Release Date: November 2
Trailer

Square Enix continues to blend stunning 2D pixel art into colorful 3D environments in this remaster of Star Ocean: The Second Story R. The 2.5D aesthetic from past games like Octopath Traveler 2 is back in Star Ocean: The Second Story R. Only this time, it's in an action-RPG format.

The visuals look pretty. You'll see the pixel art lit up in some stunning lighting, and there are unique settings they'll explore. The story's intriguing as there are two protagonists. Depending on who you choose, the story and party members will change. There's also a relationship system and various endings to find.

If you want to find out more, there's a demo you can try out now on PC, PS4, PS5, and Switch.

Super Mario RPG - Switch

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $59.99
Release Date: November 17
Trailer

A Super Mario RPG remake is finally on the way for the Nintendo Switch. It will feature long-beloved characters like Geno and Mallow in the game as we're reunited with this classic RPG.

The visuals truly pop on screen. It brings that classic look but revitalizes it for a 2023 audience. There are also spectacular Triple Moves that have all three members of the team working together in one attack. The turn-based combat returns in full force, but the game will need you to land the hits with your button presses. It will be a "Happy Adventure, Delightful Adventure" indeed.

It will feature newly remastered music by the game's original composer Yoko Shimomura. However, you can switch back to the old version of the soundtrack at any time.

The game also lets you battle the bosses once more with a much harder difficulty. I can't wait to "Beware the Forest's Mushrooms" and play this cherished RPG for the first time!

WarioWare: Move It! - Switch

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Price: $49.99
Release Date: November 3
Trailer

One of the most memorable Wii games, at least for me, is WarioWare: Smooth Moves, and Move It feels like it is a successor to that. With the motion controls of the Joy-con, we'll be following 200 whacky mini-games that last a matter of seconds. You'll have to complete a chain of them to be successful. Of course, you'll be going through motions like wiggling out of rope and shaking a dog's hand.

The IR sensor, which tracks your hand movements for a few mini-games, is also present. It will show your hand on-screen, and you'll have to point out a certain number of fingers to succeed.

These mini-games, including a reference to Super Mario 64's iconic slide level, seem thrilling to play and will keep us on our toes. There's also going to be two-player co-op and a four-player Party Mode. It's one of the most anticipated November 2023 games just from how entertaining and wild the game looks.

Honorable Mentions

• PowerWash Simulator VR (Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3) – November 2
• RoboCop: Rogue City (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 2
• The Talos Principle 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 2
• Thirsty Suitors (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - November 2
• EA Sports WRC (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 3
• Ebenezer and the Invisible World (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - November 3
• Warcraft Rumble (Android, iOS) - November 3
• Football Manager 2024 (PC, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - November 6
• The Invincible (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 6
• Typecast (PC) - November 7
• Beyond Sunset (PC) - November 8
• While The Iron's Hot (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 8
• Cuisineer (PC) - November 9
• Dungeons 4 (PC) - November 9
• Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 9
• Spells & Secrets (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 9
• Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 9
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 14
• Assassin's Creed Nexus VR (Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3) - November 16
• Flashback 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 16
• Bluey: The Videogame (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 17
• Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 17
• Tiger Blade (PSVR 2) - November 17
• Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (PS4, PS5, PC) - November 30

The post Most anticipated games – November 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

On Tuesday, Atlus uploaded a gameplay video for Persona 5 Tactica detailing the remaining members of the Phantom Thieves.

In the trailer, we see the abilities of Ryuji, Ann, Yusuke, Makoto, Haru, and Futaba. Each uses their signature Persona and has their own advantages on the battlefield. For example, Ryuji can use Shock attacks via his Persona, Captain Kidd. He can also use his shotgun to hit multiple targets in one area. Ryuji's signature move, Brigantine Blitzkrieg, stuns all enemies in a straight line, even those behind cover.

Meanwhile, Makoto and her Persona, Johanna, are strongest up close and personal. Her ability, Full Throttle, lets her charge her motorcycle into enemies within a straight line and knock them out of cover.

It's Showtime!

Tactica, a strategy title, follows Persona 5's Phantom Thieves as they are transported into an alternate war-riddled world. They join forces with the Rebel Corps, led by Erina, as they take down the regime of Legionnaires. Revealed in June (and leaked the day prior), this is the third Persona 5 spinoff title, following Persona 5: Dancing in Spotlight and Persona 5 Strikers. The gameplay is reminiscent of typical tactical games like Mario & Rabbids: Kingdom Battle and XCOM 2, as players will use cover and various weapons/powers to defeat their enemies.

Persona 5 Tactica is shaping up to be a strong and unique title for the series. Updates for the game are pretty frequent on Atlus West's YouTube account. Trailers, usually labeled under the banner of Sergeant Morgana's Marvelous Tactical Training, have been coming out weekly. Our very own Timothy Monbleau went hands-on with the title in August, which he cites as an interesting take on the franchise, harkening back to its Devil Summoner roots

Those who pre-order the game get access to two familiar Personas, Orpheus Picaro (Persona 3) and Izanagi Picaro (Persona 4). The Digital Deluxe version includes more Personas, weapons, and the Repaint Your Heart Challenge Pack. Phantom Thieves Akechi and Kasumi will be playable in the pack, though no gameplay of them has been shown.

Persona 5 Tactica will launch on Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch on November 17th, 2023, and will be a day-one Xbox Game Pass game.

The post Persona 5 Tactica showcases more Phantom Thieves in new trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

After revealing the release date for Persona 3 Reload in August, Atlus is back to begin a series of character trailers. Get ready for regular doses of the remake, starting with the key to the RPG's cast. The protagonist is in the spotlight first, and you can sample Aleks Le's voice acting in the video below. 

Persona 3's protagonist was previously voiced by Akira Ishida (Kaworu in Evangelion) in Japanese and Yuri Lowenthal (Peter Parker in Insomniac's Spider-Man games) in English. New VA Aleks Le has pulled in some big roles over the years, including Zenitsu in the Demon Slayer anime and Luke in Street Fighter 6. He leads a full refresh of the English voice cast behind the original.

It's Tartarus time

We still have a few months to go until the launch of Persona 3 Reload, so look for a bunch of these to follow shortly after. Atlus said it will be unveiling new character trailers every week on the Atlus West YouTube channel. Persona 3 is a fan-favorite that could definitely do with a touch-up, so it should be fun to see how everything develops as we get closer to release.

We'll find out how the changes shake out when Persona 3 Reload launches on February 2, 2024. In addition to Game Pass, the remake will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and PC. You can check out our hands-on impressions for more on what to expect in the meantime.

The post Persona 3 Reload hero kicks off weeks of character trailers appeared first on Destructoid.

There are quite a few gaming award ceremonies to keep track of, and The Golden Joystick Awards is one of the most prestigious. It's also one of the few events where winners are determined by the votes of gamers around the world.

This year's TGJA ceremony will take place on Friday, November 10, in Royal Lancaster London. It's the 41st TGJA event, and with the nominees revealed, voting is now open!

The Golden Joystick Awards 2023 at a glance

The headliners this year are Baldur's Gate 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom which both received four nominations. Anyone who's been paying attention to the gaming world won't be too surprised by this. Larian Studios' game has received unanimous critical acclaim and is considered one of the best CRPGs of all time. Tears of the Kingdom turned heads by achieving the incredible feat of surpassing its predecessor which was already considered a masterpiece.

There are other titles that stand out in the list of nominations. Street Fighter 6, Dave the Diver, and Hi-Fi Rush received three nominations each. Bethesda's latest game and quite possibly Xbox's biggest game this year, Starfield, also received three nominations.

It's a big year for VR gaming thanks to the launch of Sony's PS VR2 and the upcoming Quest 3 from Meta. Plenty of high-quality games are up against each other, including Horizon: Call of the Mountain and Synapse. The PS VR2 has also been nominated in the Best Gaming Hardware category.

All The Golden Joystick Awards 2023 Nominees

Nominees are chosen by TGJA's judging panel, and all nominated games were released between November 23, 2022 and September 29, 2023 (with some exceptions, such as the nominees of the Still Playing category). It appears that this year will be one filled with some pretty tight competition due to the astounding number of major titles released. Regardless of what platform you're looking at, it's possible to find at least a couple of titles and studios that are worthy of awards.

Here's the full list of nominees:

Best Audio

• Stray Gods
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
• Starfield
• The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
• Final Fantasy XVI

Best Storytelling

• Baldur's Gate 3
• The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
• Armored Core VI: Fires Of Rubicon
• Oxenfree II: Lost Signals
• PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Best Game Community

• Final Fantasy XIV
• Warframe
• Baldur's Gate 3
• Deep Rock Galactic
• Dreams
• The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Best Game Expansion

• Power Wash Simulator DLC
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom
• The Case of the Golden Idol Mysteries: The Lemurian Vampire and Spider of Lanka
• Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania
• A Little to the Left: Cupboards & Drawers

Best Gaming Hardware

• PlayStation VR2
• Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Headset
• Alienware 34 AW3423DWF
• Nitro Deck
• ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96
• Samsung 990 PRO

Best Indie Game

• Dave the Diver
• Pizza Tower
• Dredge
• Cocoon
• Viewfinder
• Sea of Stars

Best Multiplayer Game

• Exoprimal
• Diablo IV
• Street Fighter 6
• Remnant II
• Mortal Kombat 1
• We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip

Best Visual Design

• Baldur's Gate 3
• Starfield
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Viewfinder
• Lies Of P
• Street Fighter 6

Nintendo Game of the Year

• Pikmin 4
• The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
• Fire Emblem Engage
• Metroid Prime Remastered
• Octopath Traveller II
• Fae Farm

PC Game of the Year

• Baldur's Gate 3
• Diablo IV
• Dave the Diver
• Tchia
• System Shock
• Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew

PlayStation Game of the Year

• Final Fantasy XVI
• Resident Evil 4 Remake
• Street Fighter 6
• Humanity
• Armored Core VI: Fires Of Rubicon
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Xbox Game of the Year

• Starfield
• Chants of Sennaar
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Planet of Lana
• Dead Space
• Pentiment

Still Playing Award

• No Man's Sky
• Genshin Impact
• The Sims 4
• Fortnite
• Naraka: Bladepoint
• GTA: Online
• Warframe
• Valorant
• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive / Counter-Strike 2
• Apex Legends
• Dota 2
• Call of Duty

Studio of the Year

• Larian Studios
• Digital Eclipse
• Nintendo EPD
• Mimimi Games
• Remedy Entertainment
• CD Projekt Red

Best Game Trailer

• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty - Official Cinematic Trailer
• Alan Wake 2 - The Dark Place Gameplay Trailer
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Official Trailer #3
• Baby Steps Reveal Trailer
• Mortal Kombat 1 - Official It's In Our Blood Trailer
• Dave the Diver - Official Release Month And Accolades Trailer

Most Wanted Game

• Death Stranding 2
• Star Wars Outlaws
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
• Tekken 8
• Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
• Hades II
• Fable
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• EVERYWHERE
• Frostpunk 2
• ARK 2
• METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER
• Persona 3 Reload
• Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles
• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
• Pacific Drive
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
• Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin

Best VR Game

• C-Smash VRS
• Horizon: Call of the Mountain
• Synapse
• Vertigo 2 VR
• F1 23 VR
• The Light Brigade

You'll be able to vote until October 20 for most categories. The exceptions are the Ultimate Game of the Year, Best Lead Performer and Best Supporting Performer categories which will be revealed on October 23, and you'll have until October 27 to vote.

To cast your vote, follow this link to Games Radar+ and click "Start Voting." By voting, you get to show support for your favorite games, and you'll receive a free gaming ebook for your troubles, though you'll have to give your email address to claim it.

The post The Golden Joystick Awards nominees revealed – Baldur’s Gate 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom lead the charge appeared first on Destructoid.

It looks like Persona 3 Portable is getting the full Limited Run treatment. Limited Run Games revealed today a handful of special physical editions for Persona 3 Portable. This includes the Persona 3 Portable S.E.E.S. Collector's Edition. In between the standard and S.E.E.S. Editions is a Grimoire Edition as well. All three editions are available on all three platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Pre-orders for all versions will begin on September 29 at 10 a.m. ET via the Limited Run Games store.

Three Editions with different contents

The Standard Edition is priced at $34.99 and includes a region-free version of Persona 3 Portable.

The Grimoire Edition will set you back $69.99 but includes some cool physical goodies. Alongside the physical editions of the game for your chosen platform, you'll also receive a Persona 3 Portable Slipcover that goes with a special edition Grimoire Book Box and a SteelBook case that has some very beautiful artwork on it.

Finally, there is the Collector's S.E.E.S. Edition with a price point of $199.99. This edition, clearly intended for collectors and diehard Persona 3 fans includes everything from the Grimoire Edition as well as a red and black S.E.E.S. Armband, a cool school patch for Gekkoukan Private High School, 11 Character Trading Cards, the Persona 3 Portable official soundtrack, an All Out Attack 3D Shadow Box, and an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity. But, that's not everything. The big item in this collector's edition is a 1:1 Evoker Replica Shadowbox that even lights up.

We do need to talk about the elephant in the room. With pre-orders going through November 12, these Editions certainly won't ship out before the new Persona 3 Reload releases. While not quite as cool, it even has its own collector's Aigis Edition. Even though we know Persona 3 Reload won't feature content from FES or Portable, it does still seem a bit odd for this to be releasing when it is.

But, I have to admit, this is definitely one of the cooler collector's editions I've seen in a while, and it's nice to see the big item be based around such a staple item from the game. I can't deny I'm tempted to spring for the Grimoire Edition at least.

The post Persona 3 Portable is getting a really nice Limited Run edition that includes an Evoker replica appeared first on Destructoid.

The free-to-play My Hero Academia Ultra Rumble is launching on September 28, as announced by publisher Bandai Namco on Thursday. The anime-based battle royale will be available on all major platforms, including the Nintendo Switch.

18 characters, both heroes and villains, will be available at launch. This includes the recent additions of Eijiro Kirishima, Momo Yaoyorozu, and Ibara Shiozaki. You'll unlock these through in-game currency and pulls. Todoroki, fresh from his appearance in Fortnite, is also in this battle royale.

A Twitter (X) follower campaign for My Hero Ultra Rumble

Bandai Namco has also announced a Twitter (X, ugh) follower campaign. If the account gets 10,000 new followers from now until September 27, everyone will get the following as in-game rewards:

• +1,000 followers = 1,000 Agency Points
• +3,000 followers = Three Roll Tickets pulls
• +5,000 followers = 2,500 Hero Crystals
• +7,000 followers = Five Roll Tickets pulls
• +10,000 followers = One character ticket (which is an instant unlock)

My Hero Academia: Ultra Rumble is a 24-player battle royale that has you compete in teams of three. Each character has their own unique moves to bring to the table. For example, Bakugo has his explosive fists, while Yaoyorozu can summon ranged cannon fire.

You can mix and match heroes and villains to create the best team. Like many other battle royale games, there are costumes to unlock too.

For example, the first Mission Event will give Uraraka a red and orange look while Tsuyu has a stealthy black and purple design. There will be three events per season that have you "[completing] objectives to earn limited-time rewards," according to the game's official Twitter account.

Additional outfits can also be retrieved by using Roll Tickets and Hero Crystals. My Hero Academia Ultra Rumble hopes to leave a mark during this busy gaming season.

Animes and RPGs are such a great power couple, however, so hopefully one day My Hero Academia will receive a roleplaying game inspired by the Persona series in the future. That's simply a wish though.

The post F2P My Hero Academia battle royale Ultra Rumble arrives next week appeared first on Destructoid.

Earlier today, I reported that The Legend of Heroes: Kuro no Kiseki was finally getting an English localization. Titled Trails through Daybreak, I picked out a talking point from the NISA announcement stream that Trails through Daybreak would be the start of a new story arc, and therefore serve as a decent entry point for new fans. Little did I know that I stepped on a landmine with this comment.

Falcom’s The Legend of Heroes series has become an absolute monster of a work. Technically speaking, The Legend of Heroes dates back to the 80s with Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes. We got this one in English on the Turbografx CD, which is something I’ve been dying to talk about. But to get back on track, what modern gamers usually refer to as “The Legend of Heroes” is actually a bit more specific. They are more specifically referring to the “Kiseki” subseries within the greater Legend of Heroes brand, which has localized into what we now know as the “Trails” series. Previous Legend of Heroes games are disconnected from the Trails story.

This, of course, is not to be confused with Namco’s Tales series, which… okay, I’m starting to see how weird this all sounds for people not into RPGs.

Setting a new Trail

Starting with The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo began what he would literally call his “life’s work.” The Trails series spans a huge world, telling interconnected stories that weave together one of the biggest tales in RPG history. The series started on the PC, which is currently the easiest platform to play the Trails series from start to finish. However, the games have appeared on platforms ranging from the PSP all the way to the PlayStation 5.

While Falcom has clearly spun an impressive world, trying to actually experience this massive tale feels overwhelming. It’s hard enough to find time for one 50+ hour RPG, so how is any adult going to carve out the time for ten of them just to catch up? This is why I originally latched onto that comment about how Trails through Daybreak might serve as a good starting point. As a reminder, I too am functionally new to this series.

I’ve since spent the rest of the day talking with fans of the Trails series. While Trails through Daybreak may be playable on its own terms, you’d maybe miss out on why fans actually love these games to begin with. Let’s untangle all these threads and give those curious about the Trails games something of a primer to help them get started.

In what order should you play The Legend of Heroes: Trails series?

Again, only focusing on the games within the immediate Trails story, a current, perfect playthrough of the saga so far looks like this.

• 1: Trails in the Sky
• 2: Trails in the Sky: Second Chapter
• 3: Trails in the Sky the 3^rd
• 4: Trails from Zero
• 5: Trails to Azure
• 6: Trails of Cold Steel 1
• 7: Trails of Cold Steel 2
• 8: Trails of Cold Steel 3
• 9: Trails of Cold Steel 4
• 10: Trails into Reverie
• 11: Trails through Daybreak

For reference, this is the order these games originally came out in Japan. The English release order got a bit jumbled, as for a while we skipped over Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure. But rest assured, the above order will present you each story the way Falcom intended.

For simplicity’s sake, I have not counted spinoffs in this list, even though I thought The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails was great. But obviously, playing all these games is easier said than done. By adding up hour counts on HowLongToBeat.com, preparing for Trails through Daybreak by playing all the preceding games would take about 485.5 hours. And that’s only counting main story playthroughs, as completionist runs would basically double that. This puts catching up with the Trails series roughly on par with watching the entirety of One Piece, if not a bit longer.

So, naturally, this is when most people would start looking at cutting corners. What games aren’t so essential, or what stories can you enjoy in isolation?

The best starting points in the Trails series

Since I don’t know the Trails series firsthand, I sought out comments from other fans about what starting points, if any, would work best. This led me to our own Cody Perez, who has played through all the mainline games. His comment follows:

I would say Trails in the Sky, Trails from Zero, and Trails of Cold Steel are the best starting points. Sky for seeing the start of the Zemurian saga, Zero for its introduction which feels built for newcomers, and Cold Steel for its more broad appeal to fans of other games like Persona.

- Destructoid's Cody Perez

Following that advice, the biggest cut corner here would be to start with Trails of Cold Steel. This would bring your hour count down to a more conservative 276 hours, which uh… okay, that’s still a lot of hours. Given the circumstances, the idea of just entering right into Trails through Daybreak starts sounding even more enticing. But here's why fans might advise you against that.

The problem with starting with Trails through Daybreak

After talking with other fans about using Trails through Daybreak as a starting point, we concluded that starting here would be kind of like watching a Marvel movie halfway through the saga. Would you get the broad strokes of the story and enjoy it in isolation? Absolutely.

However, the appeal here is the slow burn of world building that has accumulated over almost twenty years. Stories will often have references and callbacks that reward longtime fans, which uniquely separates Trails for most other RPG series. Sure, any Avengers movie works on its own, but they wouldn’t feel nearly as special without the stories preceding them. That’s the gist of the Trails series.

So, was it wrong to suggest that you could start with Trails through Daybreak? Not necessarily. But getting that full experience absolutely does require familiarity with everything that built up to this arc, which many fans are passionate about.

Judge your time and make your call

In short, to immerse yourself in the community surrounding these games and get the full experience, start with Trails in the Sky. However, I’m of the mind that there’s no right or wrong way to play games like this, as long as you’re well informed. During my research, I found posts from people who started with Trails of Cold Steel 3 - a game most would say is not a good place to start – who said they enjoyed their time. Fun and value is all subjective, so no one can make that call but you.

However, I do very well understand why fans advocate for starting the series from the beginning. You can only experience something for the first time once, after all. So insisting that someone get that optimal experience right off the bat makes sense. It does make me sad that, realistically, I’ll probably only find time to play Trails through Daybreak without the preceding titles at best. But not everyone is in my boat, and there’s no harm in taking these longer stories slow. People are playing Final Fantasy XIV from start to Endwalker all the time, and that isn’t too terribly dissimilar in terms of time commitment.

It’s not the end of the world if you can’t start from the beginning, but that is the best case scenario if you can. Otherwise, just play the games that catch your eye and hope for the best. All I know is, the moment someone invents a time vacuum that strictly exists to play all the games in your backlog, I’m gonna go nuts with this series. Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes for the Turbografx CD is calling my name.

The post How do you start The Legend of Heroes: Trails series? appeared first on Destructoid.

Tokyo Game Show 2023 is just around the corner, and it looks like Atlus is already aiming to impress. Notably, a new trailer for Persona 3 Reload has debuted, including an English dubbed version for those of us across the pond.

Any new footage is a treat for Persona fans. However, what makes this trailer unique is its focus on the Persona rival team Strega. While they did appear in the original version of Persona 3, their emphasis here hints at some surprises for even seasoned fans of the series. Also, perhaps more importantly, we can see Elizabeth climbing up a descending escalator. I hope she finally turns the Velvet Room into a nightclub too.

Strega people, ah oh ahhhhhh

For added context, the trailer coincides with a new blog post with more details and images for fans to peruse. Through this, we can see Persona 3 Reload will include new story content, including “A new episode focusing on Strega.”

For Persona fans, this is pretty big news. There has been quite a bit of unrest over the confirmed cut content from Persona 3 Reload, which includes The Answer campaign and the Female Protagonist route from Persona 3 Portable. So the confirmation of all-new story content at least softens the blow a bit there. This means longtime Persona fans will have reason to check out this remake beyond the prettier graphics.

Truthfully, this lines up with what I hoped to see when I demoed Persona 3 Reload last month. I had already observed some lines and mechanics not present in the original game, so I’m glad to see Atlus is going further in that direction. Additionally, the blog post also briefly details the new Shift battle mechanic, which I also got to see. It looks like it is indeed Persona 5’s Baton Pass without the added stat buffs. Taking a look at the fan reaction to this, it seems like there was much rejoicing.

Given what we’ve seen so far, who knows what else is hiding in Persona 3 Reload? We’ll see how it all shakes out as we get closer to the launch of the game on February 2, 2024 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

The post New Persona 3 Reload trailer shows off new content involving Strega appeared first on Destructoid.

It's time once again to check out a bunch of streams and showcases, as trailers abound at the Tokyo Game Show 2023. The event is being held in-person and online over the next few days, and there's sure to be news on all kinds of games as we near the fall season.

Arguably, the TGS festivities have already begun. Sony and Nintendo aired both their big showcases ahead of the big event, and RGG Studio came out swinging with a release date for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

If you're worried the trailer salvo is already spent, though, don't be. Big names like Square Enix, HoYoverse, Sega, Atlus, Level-5, Capcom, and more are still on the docket.

The schedule and games shown at the Tokyo Game Show 2023

The 2023 lineup includes all those names, plus a few smaller ones you may not recognize. We're likely to hear news about Level-5's remaining 2023 titles, whatever HoYoverse may be putting together, and even Koei Tecmo's upcoming Fate/Samurai Remnant.

Plus, a few extra trailers and dates are likely to trickle out throughout the week. This is the last real time for big game news before the fall season gets underway. A speak-now-or-forever-hold-your-streams, if you will.

So let's take a look at the schedule ahead for the days to come and spotlight some streams to look out for. All times will be converted to US time zones, PT and ET.

Wednesday, September 20

• Arc System Works [9:50 p.m. ET/6:50 p.m. PT]: The fighting game studio will host several streams during Tokyo Game Show 2023, starting with this first stream here. Expect some news on the new Under Night In-Birth entry, as well as Guilty Gear Strive.
• Keynote Speech [10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT]: The opening keynote for the show, with guests Pierre Loup Griffais and Erik Peterson of Valve, Capcom's William Yagi-Bacon, Bandai Namco's Katsuhiro Harada. - YouTube/Twitch
• Bandai Namco [N/A]: Bandai Namco is set to air stage shows and reveals throughout the week, so we'll just put their info up here at the top. Check out their YouTube channel for premiere times in your time zone.

Thursday, September 21

• Microsoft Japan [5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT]: No firm details on what's being shown, outside the latest information from creators mainly based in Japan and other parts of Asia. - YouTube/Twitch
• 505 Games [6 a.m. ET/3 a.m. PT]: The publisher is bringing some updates on Crime Boss: Rockay City, Miasma Chronicles, The Magical Mixture Mills, and Ghostrunner 2. - YouTube/Twitch
• Sega/Atlus [7 a.m. ET/4 a.m. PT]: Sega and Atlus team up with some info about Sonic Superstars, Persona 5 Tactica, and more. The company also plans on streaming throughout the week, showing off its games. - YouTube/Twitch
• Level-5 [8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT]: A potentially noteworthy stream for Tokyo Game Show 2023, as Level-5 is set to talk about Inazuma Eleven, Decapolice, Fantasy Life i, and Megaton Musashi. - YouTube/Twitch
• Koei Tecmo [9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT]: Fate/Samurai Remnant takes the stage, with the latest gameplay footage and trailers as well as the voice actors behind the action. - YouTube/Twitch
• Capcom [10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT]: Anyone awaiting Dragon's Dogma 2 will want to catch this stream, as it will feature a presentation by Director Hideaki Itsuno. Additionally, expect to see footage of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy, Street Fighter 6, Resident Evil 4, and Exoprimal. Capcom's also set to host several streams throughout the week on their own channels. - YouTube/Twitch
• Yu Suzuki talks Air Twister [10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT]: Want to see the creator of Shenmue talk about Air Twister? You can do just that, here, in this stream. - YouTube

Friday, September 22

• Koei Tecmo [5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT]: We're due to hear more about the new Atelier game, some Wo-Long: Fallen Dynasty DLC Content Volume 2 info, and more here. - YouTube
• HoYoverse [6 a.m. ET/3 a.m. ET]: Learn new info about HoYoverse's stable of games. Zenless Zone Zero is certainly a hopeful. - YouTube
• Square Enix [8 a.m. ET/5 a.m. PT]: Square's Eiko Kano, Kenta Sakai, and Masayuki Kibe visit booths and play anticipated titles. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is set to appear here, as well as Foamstars. Keep in mind, Square is also hosting a large stage full of events with more gameplay, and you can find the full schedule for that here. - YouTube/Twitch

The post Tokyo Game Show 2023: Where to watch and what to look out for appeared first on Destructoid.

Larian Studios' seminal Baldur's Gate 3 launched over a month ago, and despite other solid releases being sprinkled after, I keep returning to Faerun. It captured my imagination in a way I haven't felt in games since I was a kid.

I wondered why this was until I thought about how it handles romance. When I shipped Karlach and Lae'zel together, I compared Baldur's Gate 3 to dating sims rather than other RPGs and everything clicked. This is a fantastic RPG, but more importantly, it's an awesome dating sim.

[caption id="attachment_399696" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Treating Baldur's Gate 3 like an epic otome

There was a time in my life when I loved playing visual novels. I still play them to an extent, but not nearly to the degree I played them as a kid. This was when I was most into anime and collecting weird games, with various otome being the most prominent.

For anyone unfamiliar, otome is just the name for dating sims that cater to a predominantly female audience. Above any action game or RPG I played, otome felt like a power fantasy, since several attractive and successful guys wanted my character's attention. The stories also interested a teenage me, so explaining why I enjoyed these games was convenient.

More than anything, I found them comfortable to play, like a warm blanket with cocoa. The individual stories had plenty of twists and turns, but the structure was predictable. Myself and the guy whose route I'm choosing will probably go through hell, but unless I messed up badly, things would turn out fine.

This mentality returned in Baldur's Gate 3 because, while the game's story was fantastic, everyone was also really hot. Just as I fell hard for Hakuoki's depiction of Souji Okita and Hajime Saito, the likes of Shadowheart and Lae'zel stole my heart. My tastes may have changed over time, but coming to this realization brought me back to those days.

Now, a valid question is how dating sims actually compare to Baldur's Gate 3. Many BioWare RPGs have affection gauges, and recent Fire Emblem titles have many romance options. However, there are key differences; the main one being how a romantic arc is structured.

[caption id="attachment_403901" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Destructoid[/caption]

How many ways can this end?!

Romance in many games gets introduced fairly late into a playthrough. The Dragon Age games do a great job of letting players flirt with others in a non-commital way while the Persona titles feel abrupt by introducing romance at the end of certain social links. Regardless, romantic connections will likely not form before the game's latter half.

Baldur's Gate 3 operates differently, as most romantic arcs start as soon as the first act, with speedrunning categories forming to see how fast someone can smash with their newfound companions. The relationship starts in various ways depending on the individual and what they are looking for. Astarion and Lae'zel start as hookups before forming something deeper, while Shadowheart and Wyll have a more emotional base before becoming physical.

How romantic moments are peppered throughout the game can be compared to many dating sims. I'll use Piofiore: Fated Memories as an example because I recently played it. Assuming I want to get with mafia boss Dante Falzone, my choices need to cater toward spending time with him and having good chemistry. Since dating sims are about dictating the story's direction, the best give each character multiple endings. Piofiore has six potential love interests, but a staggering 38 endings in total.

This means many scenes can play out incredibly different, depending on how protagonist Lili acts and responds. Not every ending is happy either, so it helps to think about each decision before things go horribly wrong. Still, the biggest parallels between it and Baldur's Gate 3 happened when exclusive scenes with a chosen love interest happen a couple of hours into the game.

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Baldur's Gate 3 sometimes won't let you have a happily ever after

Baldur's Gate 3 works similarly to Piofiore, giving many characters multiple endings within their romance. I'll use Lae'zel as an example, since I'm most aware of the numerous directions her romance goes. Her route has numerous conclusions, testing her loyalty towards the player, the githyanki, and the truths she's learned over the course of Baldur's Gate 3.

From what I gathered, each character's arc has at least one point where there's a deviation, and that would influence the romance. Returning to Lae'zel, not all of her outcomes see her stay with the player. Looking at her from a dating sim perspective doesn't make her unique, since most routes only have one good ending. They are all bittersweet, since Lae'zel's entire arc revolves around her devotions and loyalties, and one may eventually have to bend or break for another.

Something funny is that I haven't reached a definitively happy ending in Baldur's Gate 3. Both playthroughs ended with tragic breakups due to my choices.

Baldur's Gate 3 can be seen as a dating sim if you want to look at it that way. It places more attention on romance than most RPGs, but that's only one of its draws. There's an incredible world and a fantastic combat system alongside the amazing cast of mostly romanceable companions. Recommending another RPG after finishing Baldur's Gate 3 is probably ideal, but there are plenty of great dating sims if you want that romantic focus.

Love stories are hard to pull off, and Baldur's Gate 3 executes them brilliantly. Some of its most heart-wrenching moments come from how a romance plays out, elevating the story to be more personal. It's an approach that won't work for many games, but how Baldur's Gate 3 handles romance helps make it special.

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