December Community Game-Along: Yoko Shimomura

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All of a sudden, here we are at the last Community Game-Along of 2015! For this occasion, I wanted to do something a little special… So, for the first time ever, this month’s theme is a video game composer! I’d like to highlight Yoko Shimomura, a Japanese composer who is most famous for her work on the Kingdom Hearts series, but you’ve probably heard her melodies in one of the many games on her resume. If you’d like to learn more about her amazing career, check out the Shimomura episode of the M-Disk Playlist podcast I guested on a few months ago!

If you’d like to participate in the December Game-Along, just play a game featuring music composed by Yoko Shimomura (it can even be just one track, we’re flexible here at Chic Pixel). It wouldn’t be a Game-Along without social media integration, so use #ShimomuraMonth to share your experiences with others! Some folks have already been posting their favorite tracks and game recommendations, so be sure to join in – photos of games featuring Shimomura’s music, let’s plays of your chosen title… there are countless ways to participate! If you can’t decide what to play, here are a few titles worth checking out that aren’t Kingdom Hearts:

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (Nintendo 3DS) – Let’s start with something topical! Yoko Shimomura has done the music in all of the Mario & Luigi games, with Paper Jam being the latest entry in the series. Well, it just so happens to be releasing in December in Japan in Europe! Sorry, North America, but you’ll have to wait until January for this one. If you’re itchin’ to play a Mario & Luigi game in the meantime, you can get some of them on the Wii U’s virtual console, or try the previous entry on the 3DS, Dream Team Bros.

Radiant Historia (Nintendo DS) – For a recent but more traditional JRPG, try Radiant Historia. Though it went largely under the radar when it was originally released, it’s extremely well regarded and will definitely scratch any RPG itches you might have. I still haven’t had a chance to boot up my copy, so I can’t say much more than that, but I don’t think it’d disappoint!

Parasite Eve (PSone) – Though still an RPG (Shimomura’s forte), Parasite Eve was unique for taking aspects of horror titles such as Resident Evil and transforming traditional role-playing game mechanics. The creepy cool soundtrack is also one of my personal favorites! If you’ve played the first game in the series and would like to check out the others, keep in mind that Shimomura did not compose II, but did return for the less stellar 3rd Birthday on PSP.

Legend of Mana (PSone) – Though Legend of Mana has not been received as favorably as previous titles in the series, many point to it as one of Yoko Shimomura’s strongest soundtracks. This also happens to be the game I’ll be trying out this month, since I’ve never played it! Wouldn’t it be fun to join in a playthrough with your pal Anne?

Of course there are many more possibilities, and there’s definitely nothing wrong with celebrating with a little Kingdom Hearts goodness! What will you be playing this month?

November Community Game-Along: Natsume

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As always, a new month has completely snuck up on me! I was so busy enjoying everyone’s kusoge playthroughs for October that I completely forgot to announce November’s Game-Along theme. Luckily, I think this month will be pretty laid back for us busy folk, because November is all about Natsume games.

Not that “laid back” is a bad thing, but Natsume is by far most famous for Harvest Moon (now published by XSEED as Story of Seasons), and you can’t get much more laid back than that. So grab a Natsume game and start sharing your experiences on social media with #NatsumeMonth! In the interest of making this as accessible as possible, both titles developed and published by Natsume are eligible for this month’s Game-Along. Here are just a few notable items they have in their roster:

October Community Game-Along: Kusoge

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Ah October, a time of pumpkin spice lattes and spooky decor! This used to be my favorite time of year when I lived in a country that actually celebrated these things, but now I have to satisfy myself with shrimp on the barbie or some other appropriately Aussie thing whenever the holiday season rolls around.

But I digress! October would be the perfect time to do another horror-themed Community Game-Along like I did last year, but I thought it would be fun to shake things up with a different kind of horror this time. That horror is… kusoge! Literally “shit game” in Japanese, kusoge can range from unplayable garbage to diamond-in-the-rough titles that have some unpolished aspects but shine in other areas.

April 2015 is Yuji Naka Month!

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If there’s one classic game series that I know next to nothing about, it’d be Sonic. But while my actual experience with the games may be lacking, I am more than aware of the impact they’ve had on the game industry and the icon the blue blur has become over the years… Even if some of his more recent adventures have been less than well received.

Thus, in an attempt to spice up the themes for the 2015 Community Game-Alongs, I’ve decided to dedicate April to the former head of the Sonic Team and lead programmer for Sonic the Hedgehog, Yuji Naka! His latest title, Rodea the Sky Solider, has finally come out in Japan for 3DS, Wii U, and, oddly enough, the Wii, after reportedly being completed all the way back in 2011. And if that isn’t cause for celebration, I don’t know what is! Unfortunately, my powers are not omnipotent, so I did not foresee NIS America announcing the North American and European release for this September. Unfortunately, those of you without a Japanese system will just have to play a different Yuji Naka title this month. But don’t worry, there’s more than enough to choose from!

Celebrating the Second Annual MonMonth!

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The Monster Hunter Community Game-Along is back! First held last March for Monster Hunter’s 10th anniversary, this Game-Along was by far one of the most popular themes of the year, and effectively got more than one person (including myself) completely and utterly obsessed with the series! How could I do another year of Community Game-Alongs and not include it?!

What’s more, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate just launched in English last month, meaning a good number of you are probably already playing a Monster Hunter game! Let #MonMonth be an opportunity to go online with fellow hunters, or just swap tips and achievements using the hashtag… You can also add your name and friend code to the Monster Hunter Google Doc master list and make some new hunting pals!

If you’re someone who’s never been able to get into the series, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is by far the best place to start. But, if you’re not interested in Monster Hunter, MonMonth is about all Monster Hunter-like games, so there might be another title in the genre that strikes your fancy.

Head over to the original Monster Hunter Community Game-Along post for some alternative game suggestions. For folks who like to import, you may want to try God Eater 2: Rage Burst, which also released last month.

I hope to play Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate with some of you in the upcoming weeks!

February 2015 is From Software Month!

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Happy February! Due to some release date announcements I’ve decided to shuffle around the Community Game-Along schedule slightly, making this the month to celebrate all games developed by From Software. I dub thee… Frombruary!

From Software is best well known for their recent success with the Souls series, comprising of Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, and Dark Souls II. With their upcoming game, Bloodborne, releasing worldwide late March, now is a great time to replay some old favorites or check out a new game or two from this iconic Japanese developer!

This month, we’ll be using #Frombruary to chronicle our various journeys on social media, but, as always, you are more than welcome (and heartily encouraged!) to write long form blog posts, post gameplay videos, or even just show of your From Software game collection using the hashtag. The only rule of the Community Game-Along is to pick a game that fits the theme, play it, and share your experiences, so feel free to do so in whatever way you wish!

As always, here are a few game suggestions to get you started:

Armored Core series (various systems) – If you’re a fan of From Software, there are probably three names you’re very familiar with: Demon’s Souls, King’s Field, and Armored Core. While I’d highly suggest tracking down a King’s Field game if you’re a fan of Souls and want to continue the “hardcore RPG” theme, they’re rather difficult to get hold of, so instead I’ll suggest their other major series, Armored Core. For fans of mecha, Armored Core is a must try, though it has a very heavy tactical bent and is notoriously tough to get into (much like FromSoft’s other titles…). The most recent title in the series is Armored Core: Verdict Day and is available on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but it’s worth noting that the more recent games have a very strong multiplayer focus.

Enchanted Arms (PS3, Xbox 360) – From Software has also released a few non-King’s Field RPGs such as Evergrace, Eternal Ring, and Enchanted Arms. Aside from all starting with the letter “e,” these games came out early in their console’s life cycle and can generally be found relatively easily and cheaply. Enchanted Arms may be the easiest to play nowadays, considering it was released on last-gen systems, which is why I’m including it on the list.

The sci-fi/fantasy RPG received lukewarm reviews but certainly has its fans, and while the art style may turn some off, it has a character with a pizza for a head in it, so it can’t be all that bad.

The Adventures of Cookie & Cream (PS2, DS) – Cookie & Cream might be the oddest game in From Software’s library, simply because it’s so different from their other titles. The multiplayer action/adventure titles features two adorable rabbits that can be controlled separately by two players using the same controller if so desired. Not only that, but the Japanese box art is brilliant! Don’t you agree?

If you don’t have a PS2 on hand, there is a port available on the DS, as well as a downloadable version on PSN for PS3. Even if you don’t have a friend to rope into playing with you, you can still play both Cookie and Cream in the single player story mode, so there’s no reason not to try this one out!

Echo Night (PSone, PS2) – If you’re looking for a bit of a spook, the Echo Night series might be more up your alley. While unfortunately none of the games in the series are available digitally, their unique take on first person survival horror where the player has absolutely no weapons makes it an absolute must for fans of the genre. I wish I had more to say about this series, but unfortunately I don’t know all that much about it, so suffice it to say you should pick one up and let everyone know how it is!

Normally I have a game in mind for each month well before they’ve started, but I must admit that I’m not much of a FromSoft connoisseur. Imagine my surprise when I found out they also developed Monster Hunter Nikki: Poka Poka Airou Mura! I’ve been meaning to give my copy a go, and what better excuse than to play it for this month’s theme?

Let us know what you’ll be playing for Frombruary in the comments!

January 2015 is Rhythm Month!

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Happy New Year, everyone! As you probably saw in my previous post, the monthly Community Game-Alongs are continuing into 2015, and we’re ringing in the new year with rhythm games! Even if you don’t have a rhythmic bone in your body, it’s hard not to enjoy the likes of Dance Dance Revolution, Samba de Amigo, Rhythm Heaven, Just Dance, or Groove Coaster. And no matter what kind of music you enjoy, there’s a rhythm game for nearly everyone!

Thanks to Marcus of Pixel Pacas for the lovely photo of some of the rhythm games
in his collection!

To participate in the rhythm game Community Game-Along, all you have to do is a pick up a rhythm game, play it, and share your experiences! I love to see long-form reviews or impressions either in written, podcast, or video form, but as always, you can also use #RhythmMonth to share your rhythm game playthroughs with other participants on social media. Whether it’s a rhythm game you’re going back to for the first time in years, or a new one you’ve only just picked up, I want to hear your impressions!

There are so many different kinds of rhythm games out there that it’s hard to even know where to go with recommendations, but here are a few titles to get you started:

Vib Ribbon (PSone, PSN) – Who would have thought that in 2014 we would finally see cult PSone hit Vib Ribbon release in North America? After unintentionally teasing the game at E3 (apparently someone forgot it was only released in Europe!), Sony actually responded to fan demand and released the game on PSN for Vita and PS3 in October.

With its deceptively simple gameplay and unique music and art direction, Vib Ribbon is definitely a must-play if you’re one of the many North Americans who never had a chance to experience it before now. You can even use the CD reader function on the PS3 version to create unique levels out of your own tunes!

Rhythm Heaven series (GBA, DS, Wii) – I will never stop championing the Rhythm Heaven series, which consists of three amazing rhythm games that never quite got the attention they deserved. While Rhythm Tengoku for GBA was never released in English, rhythm games are one of the few game genres that are extremely easy to import, making it a great title to pick up if you’re looking to try out a game in Japanese.

Some folks ultimately prefer the simple one button gameplay of Rhythm Heaven Fever on the Wii, but the portability of the DS version makes it another great pick, even with the tap-flick mechanic. Which version you like best is ultimately up to personal preference, though, as each game has its strengths, making any one of them a great place to start.

DJ Max Technika Tune (Vita) – DJ Max Technika Tune is one Vita rhythm game that I think has been sorely overlooked, and the fact that physical copies are extremely difficult to find doesn’t help matters (though it’s also available on PSN). If you’re a DJ Max fan, picking this one up should be a no-brainer, but for those unfamiliar with the series, the touch controls on the Vita make it a hectic and fun twist on the rhythm formula. Unlike many rhythm games that originate in Japan and thus feature Japanese music, the DJ Max series showcases mostly Korean tracks, making it a great pick for K-pop fans.

[An honorable overlooked Vita rhythm game mention goes to Magical Beat, an awesome, bite-sized rhythm puzzle game by the folks who do Guilty Gear and BlazBlue!]

Love Live! School Idol Festival (iOS, Android) – I’ll admit, I’m not even exactly sure what Love Live! is. I know it’s an anime and multiple games about an idol group comprised of high school girls, but that’s about the extent of my knowledge. Regardless of my feelings on the franchise, it’s massively popular in Japan, and is gaining even more popularity abroad with the launch of the smartphone game. And apparently, it has a pretty decent rhythm component! So, since I know probably 80% of the people reading this already play it daily, this is your reminder that it totally qualifies for Rhythm Month. If you haven’t checked it out already, the game is completely free to play, so it wouldn’t hurt to give it a whirl.

This month I’ll be dividing my time between the aforementioned Love Live! (I need to know why everyone on Twitter is playing it!), Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd, and some Japanese PSP games such as Pop’n Music Portable 2 and Uta no Prince-sama Music 2. Hopefully I’ll be able to churn out at least one or two write-ups this month, since I was very negligent on that front towards the end of last year! What will you be playing?