![Arise Now, Ye Tarnished](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1718929569634-DAU0CU0ZIZTPXTWFX8LT/ELDENRING_21_25120461292d8e6256c8.10110654.jpg)
Arise Now, Ye Tarnished
Elden Ring, 2022’s game of the year, is finally getting its long awaited DLC, Shadow Of The Erdtree. I played the game right when it was released, and it quickly earned a spot on my top 10 list, as well as becoming a cultural phenomenon.
![Wuthering Waves & Mobile Controllers](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1718337946005-H7OLQ48NWS2AG42HGDQW/WutheringWaves_Characters_LaunchDate_KeyVisual.jpg)
Wuthering Waves & Mobile Controllers
After the meteoric rise of Genshin Impact, it stands to reason that games would come along trying to take a piece of the very profitable pie that Genshin Impact has. Wuthering Waves appeared to be just that
![MultiVersus: Bring Back My Beta](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1717123680634-NDHR7O4QIRGAPZ1ENTQO/capsule_616x353.jpg)
MultiVersus: Bring Back My Beta
MultiVersus, after a year long open beta, was taken offline for some major development reworks. On May 28th, MultiVersus relaunched with a proper “full” release. But, after jumping in to play the game once again, I find myself disappointed.
![I'm Good, Actually](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1716507218269-OFBHVTMLYFBQSW98FC1J/image-1.png)
I'm Good, Actually
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes and SaGa: Emerald Beyond, two games that are very much up my alley, released in April, but over a month later, I still haven’t spent very much time with either of them. And that’s okay.
![Old, New Horizons](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1715833696659-XISF50U56K6J13APZG2R/share-fb.jpg)
Old, New Horizons
While I’ve only met with my English club twice, once a brief 15 minute intro, and then the first official meeting, we brainstormed some ideas of what to do. I want to make English club as fun as I can, so I suggested some board and video games.
![Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - Final Thoughts](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1714094102618-B24HB54X29OOJRNFAR8Q/6276d2ae-63cd-43d8-b5b9-d642ff1e9a80_1280x720.jpg)
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - Final Thoughts
Well, somewhere around the 60 hour mark, I managed to finish Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. It’s a huge, quite remarkable game, even if I was left a little cold on the ending. There’s plenty to talk about before we get to the ending though, and I’ll be sure to put a big spoiler warning before diving into this game’s rather controversial ending.
![Mr Hunter’s Otaku Overview](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1712213502646-CS2A834OOPRJIKETBEVJ/1649544952280.jpg)
Mr Hunter’s Otaku Overview
I’ve been bouncing between a lot of media recently, and was finding it hard to zero in on a specific topic for this week. So instead, I thought I’d just do a bit of a scatter shot and mention all the different things I’ve been checking out lately.
![Dragon’s Dogma II Review](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1711671662088-BVTE9FZ8RBIK7KDQC0PK/dragons-dogma-2-capcom-showcase.png)
Dragon’s Dogma II Review
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a weird game. It’s not quite like any other game I’ve played, and that’s both a good thing, and a not so good thing. It’s full of friction it’s ways I like, and some ways I could do without.
![A True Super Saiyan](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1711067002803-S4IJ06Q8ARY0E8M0PLI2/3fc090e85a15f562a7ab6275e837c27f8fd8a3ab-1920x1080.png)
A True Super Saiyan
On March 1st, Akira Toriyama passed away due to an acute subdural hematoma at the age of 68. A private funeral was held by his family who grieved his passing. One week later his death was announced to the world, and the whole world mourned.
![Unicorn Overlord Review](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1710459523975-8WS36WI74SCO3MV15K6U/2x1_NSwitch_UnicornOverlord_image1600w.jpg)
Unicorn Overlord Review
Unicorn Overlord, which isn’t the greatest name, but anything with Unicorn in the title gets points from me, is a tactical role playing game from Vanillaware. Vanillaware games are like a rare treat, coming out only every couple of years, always certain to be interesting, if not outright delicious.
![Demos Are Back, Baby!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1709869678424-YDIVHN12QEFJREQ2WX3G/XboxGamePassKeyArt.0.jpg)
Demos Are Back, Baby!
One pleasant trend with games in 2024, seems to be the return of the demo. After seemingly becoming a thing of the past, or inadequately replaced by timed trials, available only at high tiers of subscription services, like playstation premium, demos seem to be making quite the comeback.
![Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - Review In Progress](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1709273590341-BVGEIJ8IZMQUOWY4UO6H/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-4k-wallpaper--18762.jpg)
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth - Review In Progress
After being rather disappointed with Final Fantasy XVI and really enjoying Final Fantasy VII Remake, I felt a little trepidation about the next entry into this trilogy. Thankfully, the demo went a long way to assuage my fears, and I excitedly picked up a copy at my local book/game store, even if the discs were misprinted here in Japan.
![The Season That Never Comes](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1709186302160-R60E978X8EL2J74E3DSG/sakamichi_no_apollon-11-kaoru-checking_watch-time-waiting-eager-impatient.jpg)
The Season That Never Comes
This winter anime season didn’t have much that grabbed my attention, but there was one unexpected treat, a new season of Blue Exorcist. The first season aired all the way back in 2010, the second season in 2017, and now, in 2024, we get a third.
![The World Ends With You](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1708748543361-EFCYC0GUX3N4NZIQ213Y/maxresdefault.0.jpg)
The World Ends With You
I mentioned this title in the main blog in reference to my adventures in Shibuya, so I thought exploring this title further would be a fun little cross promotion. This will also serve as the first entry in a (hopefully) continuing series of explorations into titles that have been deeply influential to me as a person, a gamer, and a game designer.
![Anime 102](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1707882422812-3KWR0SJWS3SU6INSWBV7/gintama-gintoki-uchitel.jpg)
![Anime Doesn't Need UI](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1706582275731-OMS5Q5ZO7INOXMJEPW7L/605f545335083364d9b8ab8b2e8059df2119594c.jpeg)
Anime Doesn't Need UI
The 2024 anime season seems to be off to a bit of a slow start. Other than continuing anime, not many new series have caught my eye. There was one though that seemed to be fairly heavily promoted, Solo Leveling.
![Granblue Fantasy: Relink Review](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1706768070744-ED6ZC3HQZBG3O5KQ0DVR/mv_bg.png)
Granblue Fantasy: Relink Review
Was going back to school, moving to Japan, working as an English teacher and starting a blog just the longest con to give me a place to write game reviews? Perhaps. Granblue Fantasy is the first game kicking off another stacked year of RPGs, and I was delighted to jump in.
![Anime & Gaming](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1706139660140-INPFT8254S38PIHK6G34/19088287311664350863.jpg)
Anime & Gaming
As this little slice of my blog is dedicated to both gaming and anime, I thought it might be interesting to explore the relationship between the two. I was first introduced to video games as a young kid, and anime followed shortly behind.
![Gaming 101](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1705461684453-97Q0UV1YDTOTUFYB5ZSN/NintendoSwitch_MarioKart8Deluxe_lifestyle_01-59946e17054ad900110a54e6.jpg)
Gaming 101
Hopefully after last week's crash course you’ve all been binging anime, or at least given it a try. Now let’s see if I can tackle the monumental task of turning you all into capital G Gamers.
![Anime 101](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/656529588b421137680469a1/1705455349942-LXYP7T5YF215G195OYIK/steven-kent-lomtong-anime-classroom-lo.jpg)
Anime 101
There’s usually two kinds of people, people who watch a lot of anime, and people who’ve never given it a try. There’s a rare, third breed of people, people who have seen a few titles and enjoyed them, but don’t watch anime regularly. This is an article for people who’ve never given anime a try.