Take a measured approach to both combat and exploration and Hollow Knight's challenges begin to feel surmountable.
My Quick and Dirty First Impressions of Hollow Knight
What Makes a Good Kingdom Hearts World?
What makes a world enjoyable in Kingdom Hearts? I explore that question in the context of Kingdom Hearts III.
Ikenfell May Be the Best RPG I’ve Played This Year
With a lovable cast and a tone that skillfully moves from lighthearted fun to the frightening consequences of shoving down our most difficult emotions, Ikenfell conveys a compelling narrative that establishes a believable magical world.
First Impressions of Teaming Up with My Child to Play Kingdom Hearts III
I picked up Kingdom Hearts III expecting to play it on my own. But when my child saw some familiar Disney faces, this game became a father/child project that's been a blast to experience as a team.
Ikenfell’s Combat Gets Better With Age
An hour or more in, I was worried that Ikenfell's combat was going to be too simple for my personal preferences, but once the game feels confident that you get the basic concepts it begins to ramp up the complexity in meaningful ways.
How My Brief Flirtation with FE Builder Gave Me a Greater Appreciation for Game Development
I've often read a sentiment from game developers that it is essentially a miracle anytime a video game is shipped. My experience helped me to have a deeper understanding of how true that is, but it also showed me how satisfying it can be to work on a game.
With Pioneers of Olive Town, Story of Seasons Seems to Finally Be Taking Notes from Competitors in the Genre
I expected to try out Pioneers of Olive Town and play another game that was clearly outclassed by Stardew Valley. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by a game that doesn't quite surpass what other farming sims are bringing to the table but at least catches up to them.
Squeenix’s Virtual Tabletop RPG “Voice of Cards” Brings Nothing New to the Table
Voice of Cards attempts to capture the magic of tabletops, but feels like a flash game in its simplicity, both mechanically and narratively.
Honestly I’m Just Making a List of Nintendo Direct Predictions So People Can Laugh at My Expense Next Week
I am happy to announce that I, Ian, the executive producer, creative director, head writer, lead artist, and social media manager of the gaming blog Adventure Rules - the Essential Companion of Heroic Adventurers - will be participating once again in the Content™ that is the Nintendo Direct phenomenon.
Unpacking the Ending of Boyfriend Dungeon
I experienced my first crush in middle school. The subject of my affections was a girl who sat next to me in band class. She was a real catch, let me tell you. She met my incredibly high standards immediately. One, she was cute. Two, she talked to me. I was smitten and I had... Continue Reading →
