On Your Tail is a bright—too bright—"cozy" game in which you double as detective and vacationer, using the power of your grandmother's chronolens to solve the mysteries plaguing the town of Borgo Marina. Despite its interesting premise, the overall presentation of the game leaves a lot to be desired and it’s difficult to play through thanks to its infuriating mechanics and nauseating visuals.

In On Your Tail, you play as Diana Caproni, an amateur writer whose latest work receives criticism for being dull and by-the-book. To spice up her writing, as well as to get back at her professor, she travels to the seaside haven of Borgo Marina to find inspiration and gain real-world experience. While there, she meets a cast of lively villagers, but finds herself wrapped up in a string of burglaries perpetrated by a mysterious phantom thief. Using the chronolens—a magical device her grandmother gave her that allows her to see how an item or place used to be—she seeks to solve the mystery while befriending the citizens of Borgo Marina. However, there’s more to the phantom thief than meets the eye, and her investigation uncovers a dark secret under the town’s sunny exterior.

While the town’s cast of colorful characters is a selling point for the game, I personally wasn’t a fan. I didn’t dislike them, but I didn’t like them, either. There were a few characters I was interested in. However, needing to deal with them for interrogations or puzzles soured me on them immediately. The story, too, was average as a whole. Memorable Games is an Italian indie studio, and you can see the Italian influences in everything from the dialogue to the very design of Borgo Marina. So if you’re a fan of Italian culture, then you might really enjoy this. Borgo Marina wowed me when I first saw it from a distance. But actually walking through the town was a nightmare that I'll explain later.

The game is a combination between a puzzle game and a “cozy” life simulator. While you can focus on the main story, there’s nothing stopping you from relaxing with all the different activities around town. You can go fishing, work at your part-time jobs, play some mini-games, or hang out with villagers you befriend. For this review, I only played through mini-games for money or to see what they're like, and focused more on the main story. But it was nice to have the option of fishing or cooking when the game started to get frustrating.

And frustrating it got! I have to admit I underestimated On Your Tail. Between its bright colors and anthropomorphized characters, I thought the target demographic was very young children. It technically is for a general audience, but the game isn't the cakewalk I expected. The puzzles can be genuinely difficult, to the point they were more irritating than anything else. It felt less like you have to solve them, and more like you have to brute force your way through them. The more time I spent trying to use deduction, the worse off I was for it.

To collect clues, you have to investigate a crime scene with the chronolens. The chronolens shows you if something changed between the past and present. For example, it'll show you that a map used to be on a car, or that a pew got moved. These are the clues that'll help you later on. But the chronolens can be difficult to use, since the game wants you at a particular angle before it'll register you found a clue. Some differences are so minor I could only find them after expending a joker card for a hint.

After collecting cards, you enter a 3D diorama of the scene. You have to put the cards in order, or combine them with other cards, in order to recreate the crime scene and find the culprit. Failure is part of this procedure, since you might not know the full situation until you play through it once. For example, I didn’t know how long a smoke bomb would last in one mystery, nor did I know how an NPC would move in another. The cards, too, sometimes acted in different ways than I expected, meaning I had to test them in the diorama before I could get to solving the mystery. At times, it involves more guesswork than actual detective work, and because the animations can take a long time even when you fast-forward them, the process feels longer than it should.

Honestly, this mechanic isn't so bad on its own. You could think of collecting the chronolens clues as one half of the investigation, and testing out the diorama and cards as the second half. Interrogations are where I wanted to throw in the towel. During interrogations, you question a villager using various cards. But if they run out of patience from too many wrong answers, you have to try again. The problem is that, since you’re trying to get information from them, you don’t always have all the facts. Like with the dioramas, trying over and over again until you find the right answer feels like the only way to solve these. Lexua in particular ticked me off because all the cards I put together made sense, yet he refused to ever give me answers. It's just such a tedious process.

It really sucks that the mystery adventure aspect of the game, which is arguably the main portion, was so weak. Failure as an inextricable part of the process made it more frustrating than fun. That’s not the kind of deduction game I enjoy. It didn't feel satisfying to solve a mystery. While some did require logic, most of it was just trial and error. The mini-games, too, weren't that fun, either. The best one was the waitress part-time job, outside of the strange lag when you want to grab two of the same dish. A major reason why I didn't have a lot of patience for the quirks in On Your Tail's mechanics is the visuals. The game is terrible to look at.

This isn’t a knock on the character designs. It’s everything else. The colors of the town are extremely bright and saturated, and there’s an exaggerated bloom effect over the entire thing. Even after lowering the sensitivity, the camera moves so fast that I got motion sick within only thirty minutes of play time. When speaking with characters, even adjusting the way I sit can cause the camera to move and jerk about. I needed to close my eyes against the DOF filter during dialogue, as well as how fast the camera shakes if I accidentally move in real life. There’s also some sort of auto-adjust for the camera, because it’ll move on its own even when I’m not doing anything. I’ve turned off any option that might cause that in the settings, so I’m not sure what’s going on there.

The camera inside a building is atrocious, between it moving too fast or catching on a wall and then spinning out of control. A lot of the game requires you to run from one end of the town to another, and Diana’s default running speed is pretty slow. But, if you make her sprint in the game, there are these action lines around that really make it nauseating to look at. I have a high-end PC and graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super), and the game will still lag when I move between districts. The stutter itself isn't an issue. It's that the sudden pause is yet another cause of eye strain in a game that's already rife with it. You see this lag a lot as well since, again, so much of the game is running around town.

As if all that's not enough, the camera has an odd quirk where it'll account for stairs. What I mean is that when you take a step on certain stairs, the camera will jerk up and down with Diana's movements. It's pretty bad when you're running, which you'll likely be doing for the majority of your time in Borgo Marina. Each little issue on its own is tolerable. When they work in tandem, it makes for a miserable experience. If this wasn't for review, I don't think I would've played past the first hour at all. So when merely looking at the game made me want to give up, it's hard to remain patient when its main mechanic forces you to try a puzzle again and again and again. Even remembering this is annoying me, that's how infuriating On Your Tail was to play.

A way I found to combat the motion sickness was to play On Your Tail on a laptop, while having a video playing on a larger screen. I would then focus on the larger screen while having the game in my periphery, outside of puzzles and dialogue. Not having to look at the game straight-on helped a lot. I will give it to Memorable Games, though; the design for Borgo Marina is amazing. I never got lost, despite the number of alleys and tunnels you have to take. I’m not the best at navigating maps in video games. But even when I wasn’t giving the screen my full attention, I could get from point A to point B with minimal help.

I really wanted to like On Your Tail since the idea of the chronolens and the 3D dioramas was so interesting. But between the weirdly difficult mechanics, average story, and horrible visuals, it didn’t provide a cozy experience at all. The camera issues appeared as soon as I booted up the game, and they were there even after an optimization patch came out. So they’re just there to stay, I suppose. If you’re looking for a puzzle game, or want something warm to get away from this dreary winter weather, there are other games on the market that won’t kill your eyes while you play it.

On Your Tail is readily available on the Windows PC. It’ll come out on the Nintendo Switch in February 2025.

The post Review: On Your Tail Frustrated My Eyes and Brain appeared first on Siliconera.

The Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor series holds a unique place in the tactical RPG genre. It blends the intense strategy of grid-based combat with the moral complexity and alignment systems the Shin Megami Tensei franchise is known for. While the series currently consists of only two games, Devil Survivor and Devil Survivor 2, both entries left a lasting impression. They both share complicated gameplay systems, time-sensitive narratives, and emotionally charged decision-making. I think it's time for ATLUS to deliver a third entry. One that builds upon its predecessors while introducing new mechanics and modern quality-of-life features.

The Devil Survivor series took the moral dilemmas and mythological themes of the mainline SMT games and combined them with tactical combat. Unlike the turn-based battles of traditional SMT, Devil Survivor relied on grid-based movement and positioning, emphasizing strategy and careful planning. Battles unfolded in a hybrid system. Once units clashed, they entered a familiar turn-based combat mode akin to mainline SMT games. This is complete with demon summoning and elemental weaknesses. This dual-layered approach gave the series its distinct identity, appealing to fans of both strategy games and traditional JRPGs.

Both games implemented a time-sensitive narrative structure, with events unfolding over a set number of days. Players had to make choices about how to spend their limited time. This includes advancing the main plot, forging bonds with other characters, or preparing for upcoming battles. This mechanic heightened the sense of urgency and added replayability, as nowhere near all of the events could be experienced in a single playthrough. The time mechanics also tied into the series’ multiple endings, which depended on the player’s choices, alignment and available party.

In keeping with SMT tradition, Devil Survivor featured an alignment system that influenced the story’s direction and the protagonist’s ultimate fate. Players’ decisions throughout the game aligned them with Law, Chaos, or Neutral ideologies, each represented by different factions and characters. What set Devil Survivor apart was how these alignments were interwoven with the personal struggles of its cast. The choices were much less abstract. They directly impacted the characters the player had grown attached to over the course of the game.

There's also multiple endings within alignments, something not as common in the mainline series. For example, there are different options even if you take the Chaos route. Some of the endings can be easily missed if you don't follow a specific path.

The cast of the Devil Survivor games is another standout feature. In the first game, players were thrust into a locked-down Tokyo as demons began to overrun the city. The second game deals with themes of societal collapse and prophecy. Each character had their own struggles, motivations, and potential arcs depending on the player’s choices. This focus on interpersonal dynamics made the stakes feel personal, further distinguishing the series from other tactical RPGs.

However, the gaming landscape has evolved significantly since the release of Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker in 2015. A third entry could capitalize on modern advancements in game design while staying true to the series’ core identity. Here’s why we need Devil Survivor 3 and how it could improve upon its predecessors.

While the hybrid battle system of the first two games was innovative. Devil Survivor 3 could take inspiration from modern tactical RPGs to refine and expand its gameplay. Games like Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Triangle Strategy have introduced new ideas to the genre, such as terrain effects, class-specific mechanics, and more dynamic battlefields. Devil Survivor 3 could incorporate these features to make combat even more engaging.

For example, Introduce environmental elements like destructible terrain, hazardous zones, or demon-summoning circles that alter the battlefield dynamically. Also, it could add mechanics that reward teamwork, such as combo attacks or support bonuses for characters with strong relationships. We've seen elements like this in Persona, so they can do it.

The Devil Survivor games were challenging, but their difficulty sometimes bordered on frustrating. A third game could address these issues. Borrowing from Persona 5’s sleek menus, demon fusion and skill inheritance could make things more accessible.

The alignment system is central to the Devil Survivor experience, and a third game could take it even further. Instead of sticking to the traditional Law, Chaos, and Neutral alignments, Devil Survivor 3 could introduce new factions or ideologies, each with its own moral complexities.

Players could manage relationships between multiple competing sides, each with shades of gray. This could help to make alignment a more fluid system that reacts to the player’s choices, rather than locking them into a specific path early on.

Like almost every SMT title, first two games focused on Tokyo. They both also deal with societal collapse. Devil Survivor 3 could explore fresh thematic and narrative territory. The protagonist navigating cultural and ideological clashes as demons threaten to bring about the apocalypse. The narrative could tackle timely issues such as climate change, technology’s impact on humanity, or global inequality, giving the series a modern edge.

The broader SMT franchise has evolved significantly since Devil Survivor 2. A third game could integrate some of the best features from recent entries. For example, the nuanced demon recruitment system from Shin Megami Tensei V. The game could also leverage modern hardware to deliver stunning character designs and atmospheric environments, while retaining the series’ signature art style.

A third entry could also introduce entirely new mechanics to set itself apart. Many of Devil Survivor's modern peers feature some sort of management between battles. Players could manage resources and alliances between human survivors and demon factions, adding a layer of strategic depth.

Then of course they could Include cooperative or competitive multiplayer options. This would let players test their strategies against others or team up for challenging battles. I'm not typically a fan of this sort of thing, but the Pokémon series shows us the demand for this sort of thing.

The Devil Survivor series has always excelled at delivering thought-provoking narratives, intense tactical combat, and morally challenging choices. A third entry could build upon this foundation, incorporating modern gameplay advancements and exploring new thematic territory. By blending the best elements of its predecessors with fresh ideas from the wider world of tactical RPGs, Devil Survivor 3 could reignite the franchise and deliver a truly unforgettable experience. The fans are ready, ATLUS — it’s time to answer the call.

The post I Want a Third Devil Survivor Game appeared first on Siliconera.

The notable dark sheep of the Dragon Quest family is undoubtedly Dragon Quest IX. For one, it featured unique online features that set it apart from the other titles besides Dragon Quest X. In addition, it is one of the only games not available on modern platforms. It is high time for a Dragon Quest IX remake similar to the recent Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.

Perhaps surprisingly to our readers, Dragon Quest IX was my first entry in the series. I don’t look back at it super fondly, as it is actually my least favorite of the ones I’ve played (III, VII, VIII, X, and XI). Even still, there is something special about the experience, especially if you happened to have a Nintendo DS at the time.

You get the player agency of creating your character from scratch and making them whatever you want. You don’t just get to customize companions, which is a nice feature. In addition, emphasized multiplayer heavily. Even though I never had a DS and played this on 3DS, I, fortunately, had the chance to check out the multiplayer before the servers went offline.

The multiplayer is a bit weird but charming in a way. You have options like loaning and receiving other players’ characters to adventure with. If you could find others online at the same time, you could even travel the vast world together in a party of up to four players. It felt novel and thrilling at the time, especially for a turn-based JRPG.

In a way, Dragon Quest IX feels like a progenitor to the very next title: Dragon Quest X. This Japan-exclusive (for now) took the leap to the MMO genre and its predecessor paved the way. As it stands, it still looks unlikely we will get the 10th mainline title in the West, at least in the online version.

As such, it would be wonderful to have Dragon Quest IX as a remaster or full-on remake. Just think of the HD-2D art style but for this overlooked ninth entry. Players could make stunning angelic characters and travel around with other players. Or, it could be fully offline if someone prefers a more traditional adventure.

Releasing it on other platforms like PlayStation and PC, in addition to the expected Nintendo release, would allow for a burgeoning online community. Crossplay functionality would allow this JRPG to do well with a niche but dedicated community and last far longer than its original DS release. It would also fulfill the potential this game had but never fully realized. This was largely due to the limitations of the DS’ online servers.

Admittedly, one of the areas I didn’t like the experience was in the combat and story. The combat feels a bit too simple, even for this series. The same goes for the highly forgettable plot, which is the weakest of the games I’ve played in the series. A remake wouldn’t likely fix all of those issues, but it could help some. For one, the graphics in the HD-2D style would look incredible. Being able to speed up battles or even auto-battle would make combat more enjoyable. Plus, new vocations to choose from would attract newcomers and veterans alike.

But, above all else, we need a Dragon Quest IX remake or at least remaster since it no longer exists on a modern platform. No other Dragon Quest game has this same issue today, except VII. But at least VII has a mobile version in Japan and a worldwide 3DS port. IX has none of those features and has only been available on the Nintendo DS.

With the online focus, Dragon Quest IX runs the risk of being the most forgotten game in the series. It would take a bit more of an effort to remake it because of this, but it would likely be worth it. After all, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake sales were incredible at launch. The work to make this remake would pay off in the end. Here’s hoping we get that Dragon Quest IX remake in the future since it has no modern version and more players should check out its experimental multiplayer focus.

Dragon Quest IX is only available for the Nintendo DS. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is available for Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post Dragon Quest IX Deserves a Proper Remake or Remaster appeared first on Siliconera.

When you think about Pokemon, it’s easy to feel the nostalgia. For so many of us, the series holds a unique place in our childhoods. It’s a franchise that knows exactly how to keep itself alive. Whether it’s introducing features like Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, or Dynamaxing, the formula is constantly being supplemented by gimmicks. But underneath it all, the Pokemon experience stays fundamentally the same, and maybe that should change to embrace what games like it also do.

Game Freak is often too cautious to truly take big leaps with Pokemon. That approach has kept fans coming back, but some of the more innovative takes on monster-catching come from smaller, indie games influenced by Pokemon. These games, such as Cassette Beasts and Monster Crown, give us a fresh look at a genre Pokemon pioneered, but has not truly innovated on in a long time

As a franchise, Pokemon is among the most established. It's a cultural juggernaut not only in gaming but across media. With every new release, Game Freak fine-tunes the well-loved turn-based mechanics and injects a new gimmick. In Generation VI, we had Mega Evolutions, an exciting feature that allowed certain Pokémon to transform mid-battle and become even stronger versions of themselves.

It was wildly popular. Fans loved the additional layers of strategy and the dramatic designs. But by the next generation, Mega Evolutions were gone. Then came Z-Moves and Gigantamaxing, which faded in and out with their respective games. Fans see their favorite features disappear, replaced by something new each time. While this cycle can add flavor to each new game, it sometimes leaves fans wondering if Game Freak cares about their feedback at all.

On one level, it’s understandable why Game Freak takes this approach with Pokemon. No matter what, these games are guaranteed to sell well. Even when Pokemon Scarlet and Violet dropped with performance issues and graphical inconsistencies, they still broke sales records.

It raises the question: why should Game Freak deviate from their tried-and-true formula when they don’t have to? Without the pressure to innovate for survival, they have the luxury to play it safe. It’s only natural, but it also creates a gap that indie games have stepped in to fill.

Games like Cassette Beasts and Monster Crown have innovated in ways Pokemon could, but perhaps never would. Take Cassette Beasts for example. Tts monster fusion system, which lets you merge two creatures to create a more powerful hybrid, offers thrilling tactical depth. Each fusion carries unique abilities and stats, so you’re incentivized to experiment and discover combinations.

Imagine a similar feature in Pokemon—even with a fraction of the possibilities, the concept would have endless strategic applications, but it’s also easy to see why Game Freak wouldn’t attempt it. Pokemon lore emphasizes individuality; fusing Pokémon might seem at odds with its core “gotta catch ‘em all” mantra. Yet, fusions could have been integrated differently, perhaps as temporary team-ups in battle or unique synergies.

Cassette Beasts also succeeds by keeping its world small, with a limited roster compared to Pokemon’s sprawling Pokédex. With nearly 1,000 Pokémon species to consider, every new Pokemon generation runs into the problem of bloat. Scarlet and Violet, even with all it's expansions, is missing over 20% of the full roster. There are so many creatures that it’s no longer even possible for a player to “catch ‘em all” in a single game. Game Freak claims this is a technical limitation of the switch, but me? I don't buy that.

Cassette Beasts and other indies can design smaller, tightly-knit rosters without players feeling like they’re missing out on decades of characters and mechanics. For them, this limited scope is an advantage, allowing deeper exploration of each monster’s role within the world and narrative. Meanwhile, Pokemon’s vast array of creatures, while mostly beloved, might be the very thing holding it back from incorporating fresh ideas.

Another fascinating feature is how indie monster-collecting games handle lore and story. Pokemon Legends: Arceus was a significant step forward in this department, weaving an engaging tale about the origins of Pokémon in a way that was refreshing and new.

Fans embraced it, thrilled by the idea of exploring lore in a more hands-on way. But even then, it was limited in its risks; rather than push the boundaries further. Indie games don’t have this hesitation. Without a massive back catalog, Cassette Beasts can tie its creatures into every layer of the game’s world and narrative, weaving a story that feels deeply interconnected and freeing the player to explore without rigid constraints.

If Pokemon could merge this depth with the mainline games, we might see a shift to more player agency and immersion—exactly what Pokemon Legends: Arceus hinted at but didn’t fully realize.

So, does Game Freak have a responsibility to keep up with these smaller games, or is it enough to just polish up each new entry in the franchise and let the brand’s legacy carry it forward? For many fans, the answer lies somewhere in between. If Pokémon incorporated a mix of its past mechanics and some of these indie innovations, it could retain its wide appeal while adding meaningful depth.

Imagine a world where we could combine the best of every generation. Where Mega Evolutions, regionals, Dynamaxing, and maybe even fusion mechanics could coexist to create a player experience that evolves over time, rather than starting fresh every few years.

What stands in the way of such a vision? Perhaps it’s the franchise’s sheer scale. With so many facets, card games, movies, toys, and shows, the Pokémon games are but one piece of the bigger picture. Its massive appeal means Game Freak doesn’t have to experiment as much. When something like Mega Evolutions fades away, it’s still just as profitable to make a new game without it. Younger fans and longtime players will buy every release regardless.

Game Freak may be unwilling to commit to complex Pokemon mechanics because it doesn’t need to. That leaves us with a franchise whose games are timeless but, at the same time, overall unchanging. It's disappointing that the company who pushed the Gameboy to its limits to include Kanto in Generation II is now not even including every Pokémon in a main game.

To expect massive changes would be a lot, but the franchise still has the potential to introduce smaller, meaningful innovations. Games like Pokemon Legends: Arceus suggest that the franchise might dip into a deeper experience again. Perhaps drawing from the RPGs that keep people hooked not for one generation but for years.

If that happens, Pokemon might yet blend its comforting nostalgia with the inventive spirit of the games it inspired. Games that go beyond “catching them all” as a slogan. Until then, we’ll continue to explore these indie gems and wait patiently, catching what we can.

The post Pokémon Could Learn a Little From Games It Influenced appeared first on Siliconera.

The 30th anniversary of the Tales series is just around the corner and Bandai Namco has already started preparations with the Remastered Project. For those who would like to take a walk down memory lane, or are curious about what other Tales games they can play while waiting for new (or remastered) releases, here is a full list of the mothership Tales titles.

Tales of Phantasia

Release Date: December 15, 1995

Platforms: Super Famicom, PlayStation, GBA, PSP, iOS, mobile devices

The first Tales title takes place in Aselia and follows Cless Albane, who seeks revenge after his hometown is destroyed. He learns that the culprits behind the attack wish to revive a powerful sorcerer king, Dhaos. Using the power of time travel, Cless and his friends travel to the past and future in order to defeat Dhaos for good.

Tales of Destiny

Release Date: December 23, 1997

Platforms: PlayStation

The original Tales of Destiny came out on the PlayStation and the remake came out in 2006 for the PS2. It follows Stahn, who accidentally finds a sentient sword that calls itself Dymlos. He, along with other wielders of speaking swords, fight for the Eye of Atamoni, which is a powerful relic from an ancient war.

Tales of Destiny Remake is one of the best titles in the Tales series for its story—which expands on the original and includes a redemption arc for popular character Leon—and fighting style. Hopefully, Bandai Namco has plans for a remaster so that it can officially release the game to the west.

Tales of Eternia

Release Date: November 30, 2000

Platforms: PlayStation, PSP

Tales of Eternia, released in the west as Tales of Destiny 2, has nothing to do with Tales of Destiny. Instead, it follows Reid Hershel and his friends, who live together in the world of Inferia. One day, they come across a mysterious foreign girl named Meredy and through their interactions with her, learn of a different world called Celestia. They journey together to stop an ages-old conflict between the two worlds.

Tales of Eternia feels like the turning point for the Tales series in that it propelled the series into its initial popularity. It was popular enough for an anime adaptation and a MMO, though the anime was pretty bad (in that it had little to do with the game) and the MMO didn’t last long. The battle system feels a lot more fluid compared to Phantasia and Destiny, and it holds up to newer 2D Tales games too. 

Tales of Destiny 2

Release Date: November 28, 2002

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The actual sequel to Tales of Destiny, Tales of Destiny 2 follows Kyle, who’s the son of Stahn and Rutee from the first game. Due to his parents’ heroic past, he’s also obsessed with becoming a hero. One day, he meets a mysterious girl named Reala and embarks on a journey to become a true hero.

Like the above Tales of Destiny Remake, Tales of Destiny 2 is a fantastic game. It’s got a great story, compelling characters, and a difficult battle system that’s rewarding to master. The meme himself, Barbatos, is also from this game. Considering how much trouble he can give you, it can be a little hard to laugh at the jokes Bandai Namco make at his expense.

Tales of Symphonia

Release Date: August 29, 2003

Platforms: Nintendo GameCube, PS2, PS3, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One

Tales of Symphonia was popular in its native Japan, but it’s what really put the franchise on the map for the western audience. While the west had gotten Phantasia and Eternia, they weren’t exactly selling like hotcakes in the way that Symphonia did. The story follows Lloyd, who joins his friend Colette’s pilgrimage to regenerate the world of Sylvarant.

Tales of Rebirth

Release Date: December 16, 2004

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The story of Tales of Rebirth heavily focuses on racism. It takes place in a world where people wield a magical power called Force after King Ladras, in his final moments, uses his power to unleash the potential in people around his kingdom. Veigue lost power of his Force of Ice and froze his childhood friend Claire in a pillar. Even after he manages to free her with the help of new friends Eugene and Mao, soldiers acting on orders from Karegia Kingdom heiress Agarte take her away. His journey to rescue her from the palace morphs into a battle to end racism.

Tales of Legendia

Release Date: August 25, 2005

Platforms: PS2

Tales of Legendia follows the story of Senel and his surrogate little sister Shirley. Shirley is the Merines, a legendary figure among the Ferines, which is a race of people who can live underwater. Because Shirley is the Merines, many different factions want to capture her to use them for their own schemes.

Compared to previous titles (and its successor Abyss), Tales of Legendia looks and plays in a very weird way. This likely has to do with the fact that the developer, Project MelFes, consists of Tales Studio members, along with developers from the Tekken and Soul Calibur series. It’s the first Tales game with Go Shiina as the composer and the soundtrack is objectively the game’s highest point.

Tales of the Abyss

Release Date: December 15, 2005

Platforms: PS2, Nintendo 3DS

Tales of the Abyss is the eighth mothership title, but it’s the commemorative game for the series’s 10th anniversary. It follows Luke fon Fabre, a pampered noble and swordsman who ends up outside of his comfy mansion after heroine Tear appears to assassinate her brother, who’s also Luke’s teacher. The story heavily focuses on Luke’s personal development as he seeks the meaning of his birth. There is also an anime adaptation for Abyss, which you can watch on YouTube.

Tales of the Tempest

Release Date: October 26, 2006

Platforms: Nintendo DS

Tales of the Tempest follows Caius Qualls, who is a Leymon (essentially a werewolf). After the church takes his guardian prisoner and kill the parents of his childhood friend Rubia, the two of them set out for the capital. The adventure then turns into one to overthrow the church.

Tales of the Tempest is the first Tales game for a handheld console. However, the reception to the game was very mixed, with some places giving it a very positive score and others giving it a very negative one. Points of criticism included the story’s short length, lack of content, unappealing relationship between Caius and Rubia, and more.

Tales of Innocence

Release Date: December 6, 2007

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita

The story of Tales of Innocence follows avatars, human reincarnations of the divine Devalokans who can still use supernatural powers from their past lives. Ruca, a timid boy, is an avatar of the powerful Asura and he awakens to his powers after rescuing fugitive Illia, a fellow avatar. They meet up with other avatars, who then travel to do something about the wars engulfing their world.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

Release Date: June 26, 2008

Platforms: Wii, PS3

Though the sequel of Tales of Symphonia, Dawn of the New World introduces a lot of lore and elements that weren’t in the original game. It follows Emil, a timid boy who survived a massacre that Lloyd from the first game perpetrated. After meeting with Marta, a girl with Ratatosk’s Core on her forehead, the two of them set out on a journey to fix the meteorological problems occurring around the world and escape from Marta’s pursuers.

Tales of Vesperia

Release Date: August 7, 2008

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Windows PC, Xbox One

Tales of Vesperia is a very popular and successful entry in the Tales franchise, selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide. It also has a prequel film, though Flynn in particular is so out-of-character it might as well be fanfiction. The story follows Yuri Lowell, a former soldier who’s now doing odd jobs around his neighborhood. After meeting a noble named Estelle and fleeing from the capital with her, he forms a guild called Brave Vesperia.

Tales of Hearts

Release Date: December 18, 2008

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita, iOS

Tales of Hearts follows Kor Meteor (Shing Meteoryte) who meets siblings Kohaku and Hisui Hearts. A monster infects Kohaku and in an attempt to save her, Kor accidentally destroys her Spiria (her heart and emotions). The three of them set off on a journey to restore Kohaku’s Spiria.

People don’t talk about the CG Movie Edition, but I definitely remember that one. People were comparing the models to the Evil Goddess MOCCOS, an old 2ch meme about the ugly KOS-MOS figure that came with the Xenosaga Episode 2 Premium Box Set.

Tales of Graces

Release Date: December 10, 2009

Platforms: Wii, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Windows PC

Tales of Graces follows the story of Asbel Lhant, who is the future heir of the Lhant village. As a child, he befriends an amnesiac girl named Sophie and the prince of Windsor, Richard. Witnessing Sophie’s death traumatizes him and he runs away from home to become a knight. Seven years later, he reunites with Sophie, setting into motion an adventure that takes him all across the world of Ephinea.

Tales of Xillia

Release Date: September 8, 2011

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia is the first Tales game that combines character designs from Kosuke Fujishima (Phantasia, Symphonia, Abyss) and Mutsumi Inomata (Destiny, Eternia, Rebirth). Like Tales of the Abyss, it’s a celebratory mothership title. In Xillia's case, it was for the 15th anniversary. It follows Jude Mathis, a medical student who encounters Milla Maxwell after she breaks into a military research facility in an attempt to destroy a secret weapon. Now that they’re on the run from the military, Jude and Milla, along with their companions, journey to help Milla with her mission to save the world.

Tales of Xillia 2

Release Date: November 1, 2012

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia 2, like Dawn of the New World, is a sequel of its predecessor while introducing elements and lore that the original game never really mentioned. It takes place a year after Xillia and follows Ludger Will Kresnik, a guy who just wants to cook. It turns out he’s not just a good cook, as he possesses the Chromatus. He and the cast from the first Xillia need to go into parallel worlds—essentially what-if scenarios from the first game—and destroy them to prevent their own world’s destruction. He also has to pay off a huge medical debt. Ah, adult life.

Tales of Zestiria

Release Date: January 22, 2015

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Zestiria was, like Abyss and Xillia, an anniversary title and this time, it was for the 20th anniversary. It draws inspiration from Arthurian legends and it follows the story of Sorey, a young human who can see the mystical spirits Seraphim. He leaves the village of Elysia with his best friend Mikleo and, after forming a pact with the Seraph Lailah, he becomes the Shepherd whose job is to purify the Hellion rampaging throughout Glenwood.

For an anniversary title, Zestiria had its fair share of controversies. Before the game came out, Japanese fans were ticked off about how prominent advertising for Alisha was, yet she was a mere guest party member in the actual game. After it came out, fans seemed split on the story, battle system, and tutorials.

Tales of Berseria

Release Date: August 18, 2016

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Berseria technically serves as the prequel to Tales of Zestiria. However, you don’t have to play Zestiria to understand Berseria. It follows Velvet Crowe, a normal village girl who lost her pregnant sister after a daemon attack. One day, tragedy strikes the village and Velvet comes across her brother-in-law Artorius killing her younger brother Laphicet in a ritual. She transforms into a daemon and Artorius tosses her into jail. Once she wakes, she swears vengeance on the man who used to be her family.

Tales of Arise

Release Date: September 10, 2021

Platforms: PS4, PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

Tales of Arise follows the story of Dahnan slave Alphen, or “Iron Mask,” and a Renan girl named Shionne. A curse on Shionne hurts anyone who touches her but since Alphen can’t feel pain, he’s the only person who can pull a sword from the Master Core she has. Like Rebirth and Eternia, it deals with themes of racism and oppression.

The post All Mothership Titles in the Tales Series in Release Order appeared first on Siliconera.

Nintendo announced via its official Japanese X account that it has updated its guidelines for sharing content from its games on online platforms.

The guideline is available in multiple languages, including English. The original Japanese version has additional update date notes on the newly revised lines on the page, which has been regularly updated since its debut in late 2018. Nintendo made three new revisions to the guidelines on September 2, 2024.

The first revision added a new line to the official guidelines list. It shows Nintendo's right to object to any infringing content and blacklist the offender from sharing content from Nintendo games in the future. The Japanese page added that the company will even use legal measures to enforce its objections.

In the second revision, the company explained the types of shared content it allows and disallows. While Nintendo forbids republishing official trailers and game assets like music or cutscenes, it also discourages players from uploading simple gameplay recordings without any edits or commentaries. The Japanese page added an exception to content produced directly from the Nintendo Switch's Share button feature, which includes videos that can only run for up to 30 seconds.

The third and last revision in this guideline had Nintendo update the list of content that it will deem unlawful or inappropriate at the bottom of the page. Usages of unauthorized methods like third-party emulator software, cheats, and data mining are part of the list. The company also included malicious acts, such as making offensive remarks or griefing another player by impeding their game progress during a multiplayer session.

The Nintendo Game Content Guidelines for Online Video & Image Sharing Platforms appeared first on November 29, 2018, as it replaced the Nintendo Creators Program. The company newly updated the guidelines on September 2, 2024.

The post Nintendo Updates Its Online Media Sharing Guidelines appeared first on Siliconera.

Masahiro Sakurai has revealed on his X account that he has finished recording the final episode for his YouTube channel "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games." However, it will still take quite some time until this episode comes out, as Sakurai still has other regular episodes coming beforehand.

Sakurai's plan to end the video series has been known for quite a while. He first announced it in early January 2024. 2024 will thus be the final year for him to publish new episodes on the channel.

The original Japanese tweet is available to view right below:

And our translation of this tweet is as follows:

I have finished recording the final episode for the channel.
I think it will still take a while until it's published, so until then, please enjoy the regular episodes...

Masahiro Sakurai

Masahiro Sakurai established the YouTube channel in late August 2022. He has since published new episodes simultaneously in Japanese and English. As of June 2024, the channel has a combined total of almost 1.18 million subscribers, with around 580,000 from the English channel and almost 600,000 from the Japanese channel.

The channel has also received acclaim from the gaming industry. In August 2023, Sakurai received two awards at the CEDEC Awards 2023 for running the YouTube channel. The awards in question were the Game Design award and the Visual Arts award.

The "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games" YouTube channel is available in Japanese and English languages, and its final episode will appear sometime in 2024.

The post Masahiro Sakurai Recorded His Final YouTube Channel Episode appeared first on Siliconera.

Vanillaware has been something of an darling among consumers for upwards of a decade now. And who can blame anyone that gravitates towards what this studio puts out? With unique visuals and an interesting catalogue of games, we've created a list of what we think are some of the best Vanillaware has to offer. And feel free to let us know what you think and other titles you'd recommend in the comments!

I am divided between Muramasa: The Demon Blade and Odin Sphere (the Leifthrasir re-release in particular). While both are excellent and unique games, in terms of both gameplay and tone, I have to go with Muramasa. The environments and vistas in that game are especially stunning. It's a real shame that Muramasa is currently trapped on the Wii and PS Vita. Maybe if it appeared on modern platforms and PCs, more people could play it? Hey, Vanillaware? — Daniel

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a work of art, both from the actual classic Vanillaware visual standpoint and the incredible storytelling as well. The massive cast of playable characters are all memorable with some poignant moments and shocks throughout. I will admit the combat is forgettable and the ending was really disappointing for me, but I still think fondly about this game quite often. — Cody

For me, the answer is pretty cut and dry. I loved playing Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow of Mystara, so naturally my favorite Vanillaware game has to be Dragon's Crown. It's a great 80's-esque side scrolling beat'em up, only made better by Vanillaware's signature painterly art style that lends itself so well to the atmosphere of the game. I'm personally a huge fan of the character designs in Dragon's Crown because I'm a big "sword and sorcery" fan, but outside of the impressive visuals I'm a sucker for co-op. So being able to dungeon crawl with friends meant I dedicated around one-hundred or so hours to this simple but exciting title. — Kazuma

Listen, I'm going to come here and be the weird one. I liked Kumatanchi on the DS, and I still die a little inside every time I think about how I let someone borrow it and didn't go full bounty hunter on them to get it back. (It is going for $200 on eBay, last I checked.) It's a fun life sim about a bear-girl hybrid named Kuma-tan. You look after her at the zoo, ensuring she's well cared for so she performs well, while also seeing her interact with the other people-animals there. It's not an artistic achievement like 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, but I consider it one of the best Vanillaware games. -- Jenni

The post Which Vanillaware Games Do You Like Best and Recommend? appeared first on Siliconera.

There is no better time than the present to be a visual novel and adventure game fan. The genre has experienced a sort of renaissance within the last decade, with plenty of new and creative titles like the AI: The Somnium Files series or Paranormasight keeping things fresh, and timeless classics like Famicom Detective Club or Type-Moon’s legendary Fate/stay night receiving their first ever English release. However, among the genre's vast catalog, I am sorely missing Kyle Hyde’s Hotel Dusk: Room 215 and Last Window: The Secret of Cape West.

For those unfamiliar, the Kyle Hyde series of games are two investigation titles developed by the now defunct King and released in 2007 and 2010, respectively, for the Nintendo DS. The series focuses on jack of all trades and former NYPD detective Kyle Hyde, a man whose job is to snoop around buildings, bother the inhabitants of apartments, and fulfill the mysterious and hyper-specific contracts that his employer sends him. Nothing shady and mysterious, surely.

The main attraction of the series was its paperback novel aesthetic and gameplay style. To play the games you needed to hold the DS console sideways like a book. You would control Kyle and explore environments with the touchscreen. Characters would occupy a different screen each during dialogue, lending an air of tension and confrontation to the delicate verbal clashes and questionings. The Last Window sequel even included an in-game novel retelling the game's story.

This novel approach (pun intended) wasn’t just a fun gimmick, as it made for two very charming and unique titles in the Nintendo DS catalog. And I don't think that the gimmick would necessarily translate poorly into modern platforms. Undeniably, the games would require a lot of work to update them to modern standards, but we have a perfect example of how to revise a series like Hotel Dusk and Last Window. Also developed by Cing, the Another Code games just received a remake in the form of Another Code: Recollection for the Nintendo Switch, and I never thought the games would ever see the light of day again.

The new remake offers a jump in graphical fidelity accompanied by an unavoidable change in style, as well as the gameplay being adapted to suit the Switch. However, developer Arc System Works was able to accurately retain the tone and feel of the series thanks to the company housing many former Cing staff members, including designer, artist, and Kyle Hyde series director Taisuke Kanasaki.

The remake even includes a small nod to the detective that wasn’t present in the original, and that I won't spoil for those looking to jump into the remakes (and you definitely should.) Seeing folks at Arc System Works still remember the detective fills me with nostalgia, and makes me want to play as Kyle Hyde once again, maybe even see his story continued.

Among dedicated fans of Cing's catalog, Kyle Hyde also received some renewed attention back in the summer of 2023, thanks to data miners discovering some of the original actors that served as models for the rotoscoped character animations in Hotel Dusk: Room 215 and Last Window: The Secret of Cape West.

Over a decade after its last detective adventure, it is clear that Kyle Hyde persists in the minds of its original creators and the minds of fans. And with Arc System Works and Nintendo willing to give another chance to the Another Code series, there is no better time than the present for Kyle Hyde to return.

Another Code: Recollection is now available for the Nintendo Switch.

The post It’s the Perfect Time for Hotel Dusk and Last Window to Return appeared first on Siliconera.

We've gotten to spend quite a bit of time with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomnow that it's been around for a week. Granted, given it is a game that could take dozens or hundreds of hours to really master, we might not be sure how we feel about it. Not to mention so many other past installments have offered us all sorts of adventures over the year. So this week, we decided it might be a good idea for us all to share what we like best about some of our favorite The Legend of Zelda games.

One of the greatest things about the The Legend of Zelda series is that there is a game for everyone in it. For me, it also happens to be the first one I ever played as a kid. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a fantastic game, whether you play the original Game Boy version, the Game Boy Color port, or the 2019 Switch remake. There is no wrong way of experiencing one of Link's most interesting adventures. To top it all of, the soundtrack of Link's Awakening is one of the most beautiful ones I've ever heard in a video game. — Daniel

I'd say The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap is probably the game I liked best. There are so many silly elements, and it all feels so lighthearted. There can be a lot of darkness in Hyrule, but tempering that with a cap that lets me turn super teeny and see the world from a whole new perspective is pretty great. -- Jenni

I always enjoy The Legend of Zelda games, but there’s only one that has truly stuck with me on a deeper level. The series rarely does much for me narrative-wise, but Majora’s Mask is a huge exception to this. It’s basically a horror game in disguise, with its Groundhog Day premise and angry moon hanging in the sky. The stories of everyone in Clock Town and the surrounding areas of Termina are so simple yet so heart-wrenching. There’s something deeply troubled about that world that makes me desperately want to be its hero. Plus the Song of Healing is one of the best music pieces in the entire series. - Leigh

Before, I would have said one of the Oracle games. Oracle of Ages was the first The Legend of Zelda game I ever played and completed! And I loved it to death. But after the years, there's one game that has grown on me in ways I almost didn't expect, and that's The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. With an incredible cast of characters and a gorgeous score, this more low fantasy version of Hyrule embodies the dusk the game itself references within its very title. It's moody, dark, but not without a glimmer of hope lingering on the horizon. Even to this day I'd love for Nintendo make something of a sequel for it, just to see Midna one more time. (Also the Ganondorf design and fight in Twilight Princess is unparalleled.) -- Kazuma

While I have yet to meet a The Legend of Zelda game I don't like, the one I always go back to is Majora's Mask. The darker, more somber tone to quite literally every aspect is both a nice change of pace and incredibly well done. It puts an emphasis on exploring the world and completing side quests that's great for making you want to play more as well as for replay value. And frankly, I'm a big fan of the three-day cycle. It gives the game a sense of urgency while adding to the darker themes. Plus the Fierce Deity is unbelievably cool and I will probably cry like a baby if it's ever brought back. -- Adam

The post Which The Legend of Zelda Game Do You Like Best? appeared first on Siliconera.

The Legend of Zelda timeline is complex. It’s an attempt to connect nearly forty years of games together, many of which were designed as standalone titles. This results in branching timelines, uncertain placements and even an acknowledgement from Nintendo that much of it is open to fan interpretation.

But with Tears of the Kingdom just around the corner, now is a great time to look back on the Legend of Zelda timeline so far. Where does everything fit within the timeline? How essential is it to understand the whole thing?

It’s got a straightforward start. Skyward Sword kicks things off, with its story acting as an origin story for Hyrule itself. The Minish Cap follows this, with Four Swords as its direct follow-up as they both feature the same villain, Vaati. Then Ocarina of Time happens.

Here’s how this timeline looks:

• Skyward Sword
• The Minish Cap
• Four Swords
• Ocarina of Time

Child Timeline

Ocarina of Time complicates everything. Because of the time travel shenanigans central to its story, this game splits the timeline in three.

The first branch of the Legend of Zelda timeline is the Child Timeline, after Link defeats Ganon and is sent back to his childhood. Majora’s Mask is set up as the obvious sequel to this. Twilight Princess follows years later, made explicit in Ganondorf’s backstory in that game.

According to Nintendo, Four Swords Adventures follows this, although it’s not entirely clear why. It's a largely standalone game.

Here is this timeline:

• Majora’s Mask
• Twilight Princess
• Four Swords Adventures

Adult Timeline

Link returning to childhood created a separate Adult Timeline. In this branch, the Hero disappeared, Ganon returned, and Hyrule was flooded. This is the most straightforward branch because The Wind Waker spells these events out in its intro. Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks are its obvious sequels. And that’s the entire branch.

Here's this timeline:

• The Wind Waker
• Phantom Hourglass
• Spirit Tracks

Fallen Hero Timeline

Finally, if you ever got a Game Over in Ocarina of Time, you canonically kicked off the Fallen Hero Timeline. Well done.

This one’s a messier one as Nintendo seem to use this as a place to put games created before the timeline concept. It starts with A Link to the Past, which is followed by is direct sequel Link’s Awakening. After this is the duo of Oracle games, Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. However, while Nintendo officially place them this way round now, the Hyrule Historia art book originally had them flipped.

A Link Between Worlds is a direct sequel to A Link to the Past, set years later in the same world. Tri Force Heroes is confirmed to be a direct follow-up to that, so these two games logically come next. This branch then ends with the first Legend of Zelda and its direct sequel.

This is how that timeline looks:

• A Link to the Past
• Link’s Awakening
• Oracle of Seasons / Oracle of Ages
• A Link Between Worlds
• Tri Force Heroes
• The Legend of Zelda
• Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Breath of the Wild

The last time Nintendo published the official Legend of Zelda timeline was the year before Breath of the Wild released. However, series producer Eiji Aonuma has confirmed its placement. It’s set centuries after all the other games, with all those stories fading into myth.

It’s likely this was done to give the series a fresh start, moving away from the complicated split timeline. It’s been left up to player interpretation which of the timelines it follows. Some fans theorize it may somehow be a convergence point for all three.

This brings us up to date. This leaves us with Tears of the Kingdom, which is soon to be released. However, its placement on the timeline is easy. It’s a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild, so it logically sits just after it.

However, it isn’t essential to understand the full Legend of Zelda timeline to enjoy the series. You can jump into any entry without needing to understand what happened in any other game. Most of the games don’t directly reference the timeline, especially with earlier entries made without a timeline in mind. It’s just a fun and interesting way of linking all the games together.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releases for the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023.

The post Here’s the Full Legend of Zelda Timeline appeared first on Siliconera.

The Rune Factory games can get a bit odd, what with the fact that there are both numbered and unnumbered entries. People might wonder if certain titles are optional or if it is necessary to play them in a certain order. Especially since there are some recurring characters who pop up in multiple installments. The thing is that they are largely like the Final Fantasy series, in that you don’t have to play the Rune Factory games in any particular order. However, there are some guest characters that appear and might make playing certain ones in order more desirable.

What are the Rune Factory games?

It's honestly very simple. This is a Story of Seasons/Bokujou no Monogatari spin-off series. So there's still the farming and daily life elements from those simulations. That also means you can develop relationships with characters. However, this is paired with action-RPG elements and dungeon-crawling, which can also be done alongside love interests in some entries.

Which Rune Factory games you should absolutely play in order?

Guess what? There are only two that really feel like they need to be played one after the other. These are the original Rune Factory on the DS and Rune Factory Frontier for the Wii. This is because the first game introduces the protagonist Raguna and heroine Mist. The follow-up is a direct sequel in which Raguna sets up a new homestead in Trampoli while searching for a missing Mist and gets caught up in an endeavor to protect that town.

What if I do want to play mainline entries in order?

Well, in that case, following the numbered entries one-by-one works. Especially since you’ll see Rune Factory 2’s Barrett and Rune Factory 3’s Raven in Rune Factory 4, as an example of “guest” characters. Not to mention 4’s Doug and Margaret show up in 5.

1. Rune Factory (DS)
2. Rune Factory 2 (DS)
3. Rune Factory 3 (DS) or Rune Factory Special (Switch, PC): Since the Special version involves additional features like the Hell difficulty and Newlywed mode, people might want to go with that one.
4. Rune Factory 4 (3DS) or Rune Factory 4 Special (PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC): Again, the Special version adds a new difficulty option and Newlywed mode, it might be the preferred one for a newcomer.
5. Rune Factory 5 (Switch, PC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69rjJZexlPY&ab_channel=Natsume_Inc

Is there any Rune Factory game that doesn’t require any possible tie-ins to other entries?

Yup! That would be Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny. This is a self-contained story involving different characters, new elements like controlling both the male and female protagonists Aden and Sonja, and dealing with sunken islands. It’s available on the PS3 and Wii, though the Wii version is regarded as the better of the two.

The post How to Get into the Rune Factory Games appeared first on Siliconera.

Bandai Namco added four new Tales of soundtracks to various streaming sites. You’ll be able to listen to the OSTs for Tales of Rebirth, Tales of the Tempest, Tales of Legendia, and Tales of Innocence. Streaming services where you can listen to the tracks, along with the ones of other Tales games, include Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

Motoi Sakuraba was the composer for the Tales of Rebirth and Tales of the Tempest soundtracks. Shinji Tamura helped him with Tales of Rebirth. Sakuraba has had a long history of working on the Tales series, composing for the majority of the mainline titles. He worked on the very first entry, Tales of Phantasia, and was also the composer for the 2021 release Tales of Arise. Outside of Tales, you can hear Sakuraba’s music in Golden Sun, One Piece Odyssey, and Valkyrie Elysium.

As for the other two games, Kazuhiro Nakamura was the composer for Tales of Innocence and Go Shiina composed for Tales of Legendia. Nakamura also worked on Tekken 6, as well as played instruments for various The Idolm@ster CDs. As for Go Shiina, he collaborated with Yuki Kajiura on Demon Slayer, as well as worked with Sakuraba on Tales of Zestiria.

The four new Tales of soundtracks are available from Bandai Namco’s official accounts on music streaming sites.

The post Bandai Namco Officially Streams 4 More Tales of Soundtracks appeared first on Siliconera.

Masahiro Sakurai talked about his time working on Meteos, providing background information on its development. Released on his YouTube channel, Sakurai’s video sees him cover the origins of the game, early concepts and his thoughts on the final product.

The video is the latest in Sakurai’s Game Concepts series, where he looks back on the development of his previous titles including the Kirby and Smash Bros franchises. This latest episode represents the first time the series has strayed from his more famous works.

Meteos was a puzzle game released in 2005 for the Nintendo DS, produced by Tetsuya Mizuguchi of Q Entertainment, who personally approached Sakurai to design a falling block game. In his video, Sakurai described how he viewed this request as a challenge due to his poor skills at the genre, and shared a rough concept made in PowerPoint showing his desire to have blocks take off like rockets when matched correctly.

Sakurai’s video also went into further depth regarding his regrets on balancing the final product, but also how pleased he was with how the different planets offered up unique challenges for the player. His next video in the series will talk about an obscure LCD game he worked on, Sodatete: Kouchuu Ouja Mushiking.

The full video can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snHecpmPeJs

Meteos is available for the Nintendo DS.

The post Masahiro Sakurai Talks Meteos Development in Latest Video appeared first on Siliconera.

Grilla is without a doubt one of the most important resources in Harvestella, mostly because that's the equivalent to your standard JRPG currency in the whimsical RPG-farming simulator hybrid. In order to reap the rewards of your harvest, you will need Grilla to buy seeds, upgrades to your humble farm, and even craft better weapons for your excursions into the world at large. This guide will be outlining some ways to consistently and quickly rake in Grilla in Harvestella.

That said, there are a few avenues to acquire Grilla so don't feel locked in to any one method. And make sure to dedicate time to whatever method works best for you!

Farming and Fishing

Perhaps the most straightforward way of obtaining Grilla is through farming and fishing. Farming is extremely straightforward, but there's a little more to it when min-maxing your profits. Crops will change mostly every season, so make sure to plan according for the upcoming harvest. For example, Carrops can be grown during Spring and Summer, but not in any other season. They also take only one day to grow, which can yield quick profits. But to truly benefit from your harvest, considering buying Cucumbles and every season's equivalent. Cucumbles may cost more, with each seed at 370 Grilla, but the crop can be harvested repeatedly for 200 Grilla a pop. And with each season lasting 30 days, you can quickly recoup the costs and have consistent profit coming in from your crops.

The next method is fishing. You can obtain a fishing pole by purchasing Fishing Knowledge from the General Store for 800 Grilla. Grabbing this early on is ideal, since you can fish in a plethora of locations throughout the world. Your farm, for example, has a single fishing spot that can be used every day which makes for a great way to quickly make Grilla while exploring or just wanting to pass time. It also eats up a small amount of stamina, so it's perfect for those who have just started the game and don't have access to their kitchen yet.

Cooking

At a costly 2,000 Grilla investment, you can unlock cooking in Harvestella. It only takes a day after purchasing your kitchen for it to become accessible in your house, but it's more than worth it. Outside of providing a way to make filling food items that will help regenerate stamina, you can sell those cooked dishes for a pretty penny. It isn't the most profitable way to make a quick buck, but if you have access to ingredients on hand, you can quickly make food and sell them alongside your usual choice of crops or fish.

Just remember that cooking meals does make time pass a fair amount if you're whipping up more than one dish. So if you're looking to make the most out of your time farming and fishing will be your best bet.

Exploration

Dungeons and other areas are available to explore in Harvestella. These areas not only allow you to sometimes pick up valuable cooking ingredients and random seed drops, but enemies can drop items that can be sold for Grilla. This isn't as consistent as farming for example, but is all part of min-maxing since you'll want to head out and fight monsters while you're waiting for your crops to yield valuable produce. So don't forget to leave your farm and explore the great yonder if you have the time!

Harvestella is available for Nintendo Switch and Windows PC.

The post How to Quickly Earn Grilla in Harvestella appeared first on Siliconera.