Noah’s Barks pages relating to video games.
The first entry in the ‘Zero Escape’ series, ‘999’ delivers horrors and thrills behind a puzzle-oriented, visual novel adventure.
Produced by Gunpei Yokoi and developed by Intelligent Systems, ‘Battle Clash’ is the first stand-alone video game to use the Super Scope, the SNES’s proprietary light gun. What first impression will this mecha-battling action game leave?
In issue 51 of Old School Gamer Magazine, discover how homebrew developers turned their dalliances with piracy into professional opportunities—and some even stranger tales.
While ‘Super Castlevania IV’ radically changes series mechanics, ‘Castlevania: Bloodlines’ refines the classic formula. Which prevails?
‘Chrono Cross’ is the love-it-or-hate-it sequel to one of the most acclaimed RPGs of the 16-bit generation. What makes it so controversial?
I’m late to the party with SquareSoft’s classic 16-bit JRPG. Will I still be able to love ‘Chrono Trigger?’
I find it annoying when people compare the Shin Megami Tensei and Pokémon franchises. There are key differences that make this categorization useless for both sides.
Disgaea 4 follows up a controversial third entry. Does it have hope of surpassing its predecessors?
‘Disney Magic in 16-Bits’ is an article for the May 2025 issue of ‘Old School Gamer Magazine.’ I summarize Capcom’s output of Disney-licensed games for the SNES.
EarthBound Name(s): EarthBoundRelease Date(s): August 27, 1994 (JP) / June 5, 1995 (NA) EarthBound Review I recently beat EarthBound for the first time. I’m ready to comment on it. There isn’t much about this game that hasn’t been said a…
For a genre with such a codified formula, perhaps it’s only natural that developers would get a little stir-crazy and take their iconic character designs to new arenas.
Nintendo’s long-exclusive visual novel series receives its first remake for the Super Famicom, ‘Famicom Detective Club Part II.’
‘Final Fantasy VII’ (FF7) defined a console generation, but do those qualities still shine bright today?
The first localized game in the ‘Fire Emblem’ franchise enters the English world with a bang in what is potentially its greatest entry ever.
The oft-called "black sheep" of the ‘Fire Emblem’ series, is ‘Fire Emblem Gaiden’ as bizarre as people say?
‘Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave’ has monopolized my time lately, and I couldn’t help myself from ruminating on the upcoming DLC.
What gives the sequel to ‘Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance,’ ‘Radiant Dawn,’ its controversial reputation?
Taking advantage of the ‘Fire Emblem’ series’ successful debut in English countries, ‘The Sacred Stones’ hurries to shelves. At what cost?
Localized for the first time in this port to the Nintendo DS, what did English countries miss out on with Squaresoft’s strategy RPG game, ‘Front Mission?’ In my opinion: a highly flawed, frustrating game.
I continue ‘G.G Series,’ a Nintendo DS compilation of DSiWare games by covering one of my biggest soft spots: the run-and-gun, ‘Variable Arms.’
LucasArts favorite ‘Grim Fandango’ struggles with technical issues and obtuseness, but can the quality writing underneath save it all?
Cult-favorite developer Treasure adapts the famous anime and manga series ‘Hajime no Ippo’ to the Game Boy Advance. Can they score a KO?
A brief history of JRPG fan translations. We’d be in a duller world without these good Samaritans.
100 levels later, ‘Kid Chameleon’ has succeeded in breaking my psyche. What have I learned from this debacle?
With five animal friends and a slime ball at Kirby’s side, can ‘Kirby’s Dream Land 3’ step out of the shadow of ‘Kirby Super Star?’
The cult-classic series moves to the GBA with ‘Klonoa: Empire of Dreams,’ and in the process becomes a puzzle-platformer. This atmospheric, whimsical adventure is one of the system’s most underappreciated titles.
The predecessor to the cult-popular ‘Disgaea’ series, ‘La Pucelle’ delivers its own brand of irreverent humor and whimsy—and strategy gameplay. (Includes ‘Ragnarok’)
‘Live-A-Live’ is probably my favorite 16-bit RPG, and certainly is one of the most unique. Choose between seven protagonists across different time periods and experience various gameplay gimmicks, narrative stylings, and the consistently remarkable music of Yoko Shimomura.
Perhaps the most forgotten entry in the classic Mega Man series, does 5 really deserve to be a mere footnote?
Inti Creates attempts to return to the ‘Mega Man’ series’s roots in this 8-bit throwback. Can it match the classics?
A landmark game both for the ‘Mega Man’ franchise and platforming games as a whole. ‘Mega Man X’ successfully elevates the classic formula for a new generation with confidence and gusto.
‘Mega Man X2’ competes with one of the best platformers of the generation: its own predecessor. Can it really be even better?
Capcom’s myopic decision to outsource the development of ‘Mega Man X3’ results in a trilogy finisher that’s far weaker than its predecessors.
A contender for my favorite game in the series, ‘Mega Man X4’ takes advantage of its new hardware to make the action more stylish than ever with its detailed sprites—and it’s helped even further by the addition of Zero as…
‘Megami Tensei: The Old Testament’ is an SNES remake of the first two ‘Megami Tensei’ games made for the NES. Can it prove that those are still experiences worth having?
As the Super Scope fails to catch on in the video game market, a sequel to the first standalone Super Scope game, ‘Battle Clash,’ comes in the form of ‘Metal Combat: Falcon’s Revenge.’ Is the rebranding a bad omen?
One part ‘Ninja Gaiden,’ one part ‘Bionic Commando,’ one part… ‘Metal Gear?’ Hudson Soft delivers a sophisticated yet accessible action game that harkens back to the best qualities of its progenitors while creating something unique.
‘Okage: Shadow King’ is a quirky RPG that brings to mind the beloved ‘Mother’ series. Can it step out of its shadow?
As it moves away from its predecessor’s survival horror roots, what awaits the series in ‘Onimusha 2?’
‘PaRappa the Rapper’ is a watershed rhythm game developed by NanaOn-Sha featuring iconic character designs by Rodney Alan Greenblat.
I explore the idea of perfection and objective quality in video game design. Is achieving it even possible?
Significant for its many milestones in pioneering Japanese RPGs, such as an interchangeable battle party, ‘Phantasy Star II’ has some surprises that transcend its vintage.
‘Phantasy Star IV’ is the final entry in the "classic" style of its franchise. What have we lost in the wake of ‘Phantasy Star Online?’
Though not without tedious flaws, ‘Phantom Brave,’ is another twist on Nippon Ichi Software’s successful strategy RPG fundamentals.
Before the term "platform fighter" was ever publicly known, games occasionally took a title shot at the distinct gameplay style of Super Smash Bros.
Join me as I review and reminisce about ‘Pokémon Crystal.’ It’s my first time through the ultimate version of one of my favorite generations of ‘Pokémon!’
Will ‘Pseudoregalia,’ an indie 3D platformer, capture the parkour spirit of ‘Super Mario 64?’ So many have tried and failed.
I’ve been marathoning PlayStation (PSX) and PlayStation 2 (PS2) games, so why not rank them? Commentary included!
My late playthrough of ‘Resident Evil 4’ has led me to the Wii version. How will one of the most influential games of the generation hold up?
‘Shin Megami Tensei II’ is a contender for the most influential game in the franchise, codifying many tropes that have become standard in the series. Why, then, is it one of the most frustrating entries to play?
‘Shin Megami Tensei IV’ is the series’s first numbered entry in over a decade. Is it worth that honor?
Atlus continues their winning streak on the PlayStation 2 with ‘Raidou 2,’ a highly-improved sequel to their action RPG spinoff of the Megami Tensei series.
I own almost every Shin Megami Tensei (SMT) game on the PlayStation 2 (PS2) in near-mint condition (a feat that is probably as hard as anything Indiana Jones had to find) and Nocturne was my last scoop up, right before…
Name(s): Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2 – Innocent SinPlatform(s): PSPDeveloper(s): AtlusPublisher(s): AtlusDirector(s): Shoji MeguroGenre(s): Traditional Turn-Based RPGRelease Date(s): April 14, 2011 (JP) / September 20, 2011 (NA) / November 4, 2011 (EU)Related: Shin Megami Tensei (Franchise) / Persona (Series) I…
Ah, Persona 4. I have a lot to say about it. Persona 3 is one of all-time favorite games, and a contender for my favorite RPG. When a follow-up game was announced, I snatched that shit up faster than the…
This remake of two ‘Shining Force’ Game Gear entries attempts to bring them up to modern production standards. How will it measure up to the Genesis games now?
‘Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya’ is the series’ second title on the Game Gear, but the first and final entry that was localized for English audiences. What strange circumstances led to this outcome?
Can ‘Shovel Knight,’ a retro indie 2D platformer, reach the heights of its inspirations?
