Wombat's Corner

Astral Chain kicks ass. There really is no other way to say it. All the differing elements of combat flow together in such a way that it makes the player feel like they’re kicking ass, and that’s such an important thing for an action game like this. First, you have the Legions, the creatures at the end of the eponymous chain which work at your command. You are slowly given access to new and varied Legions over the course of the game, each of which operates in completely different ways and change the approaches you can take towards each new battle. The initial Sword Legion you’re given access to plays wildly different from the later Beast Legion and Arm Legion, and switching between them as need arises becomes a core part of the gameplay. The Astral Chain is another tool in your kit, as well. As skills are unlocked via your Legion, you gain the ability to wrap the chain around enemies and bind them in place, to jump through enemies and deal damage as you do, and even to electrify t...

This review will contain spoilers for Live A Live . I almost immediately bounced off Live A Live as soon as I booted up the game. I chose the Present Day chapter and was caught off-guard by the fighting game-esque setup with Mega Man qualities where the abilities you gain by defeating one boss will be extra powerful against one of the others. I had a level (level 2), but I was not gaining experience by defeating my enemies. Nor was there any exploration element. “How is this a JRPG?” I asked myself. Luckily, the experience only lasted maybe an hour or so, and I was free to choose my next chapter. This time, I chose The Wild West. I almost bounced off the game again. There was more exploration this time, but contained towards the back end of a very short chapter. There was only one real battle against the boss at the end of the chapter (one before it ends with a single hit), and once again, while I had a level (this time 9!) I was not gaining experience. Then the chapter ended, and...

On Your Tail is a tough one for me. I truly enjoy the summer vacation vibes of the game, the town of Borgo Marina is absolutely beautiful, every character design is on point. I could spend hours wandering the streets, knocking on doors, speaking with people. I especially like the companion characters, who you take on strolls about town and who become genuine friends with the main character, Diana. In my time with the game I only really spent a significant amount of time with Paun and Chea, both of whom are introduced to you on the first day, but both are a delight (even if spending time with Chea can be confusing, as she’s angry with you in the story for accusing her of a crime but during hangouts she’s chipper and flirty). They open up to you in pretty natural ways and the friendship feels real. Unfortunately, most of the game is outright bad. The main thrust of the game is the detective role Diana takes on upon her arrival in the village, and while the first couple aren’t too ba...