Category Archives: games

2012 Year in Review: My 5 Favorite Games

I’ve never been that fond of Game of the Year lists; I find that the vast majority of gamers and gaming outlets tend to focus on the same popular titles that, in all honesty, I have absolutely no interest in. On the other hand, some people out there do have good taste, as is evident by Journey receiving a slew of GotY praise, so not all hope is lost… and I can definitely understand the appeal of rounding up one’s favorite games from any given year for the sake of comparison, so to that end I’ll be joining the bandwagon (albiet rather late) by naming my five favorite games of 2012. But don’t expect any Walking Dead or Mass Effect 3… This is Chic Pixel, after all!

A quick caveat before I continue: This list, of course, only contains games I’ve actually played. There are probably many more titles I’d probably consider including if I’d had the opportunity to play them over the course of the year! 

Also, I have to give props to Tiny Cartridge for inspiring me to add silly gifs (when available) for my picks. I take no credit for the idea! 

Pandora’s Tower
I really hesitated putting this on my list since it only came out in Japan and PAL territories, but it was by far one of my favorite games of the year, so I’ll make an exception. The story, which really only focuses on three characters and centers around the relationship between the protagonist Aeron and his cursed love interest Elena, is a breath of fresh air from epic RPGs spanning continents and have dozens of people to keep track of. Gameplay, while occasionally hair-pullingly frustrating (particularly the boss battles), makes great use of the Wii’s motion controls for Aeron’s chain-whip weapon, which is both used to fight enemies and traverse through the environments. Add in the fact that there are even some mild dating sim elements that had me raising Aeron and Elena’s affection levels in order to unlock a variety of endings, and I can confidently say that Pandora’s Tower will go down as one of my favorite action-RPGs of this generation.

This gif never gets old (source)

Style Savvy: Trendsetters
Oh, Style Savvy: Trendsetters. I may have only started playing this game mid-December, but it quickly rose to the top of the 2012 release pile. Who ever thought a fashion game could be so fun? Style Savvy: Trendsetters is a beautifully polished game with a wide range of customization options that will delight any aspiring fashionista or fashion-conscious nerd (that would be me), but it also injects a healthy amount of shop management into the mix to keep prolonged gameplay compelling. Not only that, but the localization is surprisingly good, and I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion! Style Savvy: Trendsetters may not be an epic RPG or artsy social commentary, but it’s chock full of content and by far one of the most fun games I played all year. Really, what’s more satisfying than convincing a customer to buy a horribly ugly outfit that just about breaks their budget? (What? That’s how it’s meant to be played, right?)

Journey
When I first played Journey for review earlier this year, I started out very skeptical. Early reviews applauded it as this mind-blowing experience, but when I got to the part about it being only two hours long, I just couldn’t believe it. How could a two-hour game change anyone’s life? Well, after giving the game a go, I can definitively say it has not changed my life in any way, but it has definitely opened my eyes to the impact a succinct, purpose-driven experience can be. Countless articles have been written about Journey already, so I don’t feel the need to ramble on about this particular pick, but suffice it to say I’ve played through the game three times, got my white cloak and first platinum trophy (okay, it’s not that hard), and cried every single time I’ve reached the summit of the mountain with a companion. Sure, I may be an over-emotional sap at heart, but I think the fact that Journey remains such a compelling, thought-provoking experience even after multiple playthroughs truly speaks to the beauty of the game.

No spoilers here, I just couldn’t resist using this gif

Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward
I was late to the game when it came to 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, but when I finally played it, it immediately became one of my favorite DS titles. The gripping storyline and intriguing characters kept me right on the edge of my seat all the way to the end, so when I heard there was going to be a sequel, I couldn’t be more excited. Though sequels don’t always improve on the established formula, Virtue’s Last Reward fixes all of the issues I had with the first game while maintaining the same suspenseful story and interesting dialogue that made 999 such a joy to play –– in fact, I may even like Virtue’s Last Reward‘s story more than 999‘s! I certainly wouldn’t complain if we saw more entries in the series (I believe they’re already working on a 3rd game), as I’m confident Chunsoft will be able to up the ante even further in future installments.

Tokyo Jungle 
Tokyo Jungle is, by far, the strangest game I played all year. If you’d told me two years ago that I’d be playing a game in 2012 that involved all manner of animal from Pomeranian to dinosaur running around the streets of a post-apocalyptic Tokyo killing and being killed, I would’ve called you crazy, but I’m happy to say that’s exactly what Tokyo Jungle delivers. It’s certainly not the most polished game on this list, but it wins major points for originality and downright awesomeness of concept, as well as being the most engaging multiplayer game I played in 2012. There’re few things more fun than taking down horses with cats and trying to outrun lions with a troop of beagles, and while the survival mode and its roguelike elements may have gotten slightly repetitive had I played it alone, being able to team up with my husband was an absolute blast. The fact that games like this are still being made gives me hope that there will always be a place for weird and whacky titles alongside the Call of Dutys and Halos of the world.

And with that, I can say I’ve officially brought 2012 to an end! Though I can’t speak for the more “mainstream” crowd, fans of the niche and odd really had a great selection of titles over the course of the year. Of course, if my “12 Games I Still Need to Play from 2012” list is any indication, there’s still a lot left for me to play! Thanks for sticking with me and putting up with my weirdness over the course of the year, and here’s to a grand new year filled with blogging, video games, and manga! (hopefully a little more manga)

Feel free to weigh in on what you think of my picks from 2012, but keep in mind that I am Very Serious about this topic and will not accept any opinions that are different from my own! Just kidding.

Chic Pixel’s 2nd Annual Holiday Giveaway

In honor of the holiday season, I have some exciting news! I have not one, but two awesome prizes to give away to my readers! All you have to do is comment on this post and let me know which prize you’d like to go in the drawing for:

1) A copy of Puyo Puyo!! 20th Anniversary 
This is a Japanese game, so all text is in Japanese, but it should be relatively straightforward if you’re familiar with Puyo Puyo or don’t mind fumbling around until you get the hang of things. Remember, it’s playable on all DS and 3DS models regardless of region (3DS is only region-locked for 3DS games). I absolutely love the Puyo Puyo games and this one is chock-full of content! (not to mention it’s drop-dead adorable)

2) A copy of Manga: An Anthology of Global and Cultural Perspectives
This is a great book for anyone interested in manga from a more academic perspective. Essays cover a wide range of subjects from Osamu Tezuka to Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, but my personal favorite is a piece titled “The ‘Beautiful Boy’ in Japanese Girl’s Manga” by the wonderful Mark McLelland. Please be considerate of others who may wish to use this resource for academic purposes when choosing this option!

The giveaway will be open until January 4th at 9 pm EST, which may sound like a long time, but I’ll be away on vacation until then and won’t be able to send out the prizes any sooner. Sorry!

For an additional entry, tweet about the contest and leave a comment here with a link to your tweet so I know you’ve done so! Participation is open to anyone in the world.

Best of luck to everyone who enters!

Let’s Fish! Hooked On-inspired fishing game musings

Not sure how useful that knee band-aid is going to be

I’m probably not the first person to say that they never expected a moe fishing game to get localized, and I probably won’t be the last, but I’d like you all to take a moment to ponder with me the implications of a moe fishing game coming out in North America over all of the other possible titles that could be in the process of being translated right now.

Okay, I’m being overly dramatic, but I have to say I was completely floored by this announcement. Let’s Fish! Hooked On (or Let’s Try Bass Fishing: Fish on NEXT as it is known in Japan) takes an interesting approach to the world of fishing games by combining sickeningly cute character designs by a famous Japanese artist with “realistic fishing action.” Subsequently, it’s also the first full-fledged fishing game for the PS Vita. I imagine the front and back touch controls could work very well in a fishing game, if implemented correctly.

So, does all this mean I’m actually interested in picking up Let’s Fish! Hooked On? Well, aside from the fact that I think the phrase “hooked on” is genius and whoever came up with it should get a raise, I’d have to say intersection of two niches has me morbidly curious. Actually, the first thing that went through my mind while reading the announcement was, “Now wouldn’t that be a hilarious title to blog about!” I’m not exactly sure I should be judging my gaming purchases on how funny they’ll be to read about after I gruel through the process of actually playing them, but I’m sure there is some degree of fun to be had in Let’s Fish! Hooked On. Actually, the developers did take a second to think of possible female fans. After all, one of the four playable characters is a guy:

Well, that isn’t exactly what I was hoping for. 

More than anything, thinking about Let’s Fish! Hooked On has got me wondering if it’s time I jumped into the world of fishing games. Fishing Resort, which was released on the Wii late last year by XSEED Games, is another fishing game that caught my eye recently. It largely went under gamer’s radars due to the fact that not many people care about fishing games to begin with, and the Wii was pronounced a barren wasteland of shovelware long before it came out.

Not only is the art style more to my tastes than Let’s Fish! Hooked On (can you tell I’m trying to see how many times I can fit that name into this post?), but I haven’t heard a negative opinion of Fishing Resort yet. Also, it has ice fishing.

My dad, once an avid fisherman, took me ice fishing long ago.
It was, for the most part, cold and boring. I think I’d much
rather think about ice fishing than actually go ice fishing. 

The moral of the story is that I’m now this close to buying a copy of Fishing Resort. It may not be game of the year material, but it certainly looks like fun.

And since I’m on the topic of fishing games, I can’t not mention the Legend of the River King series. I’ve been debating whether or not to buy a copy of River King: Mystic Valley (DS) for ages now, and my recent interest in fishing games has brought me back to “should I buy it, or should I not” land. The indecision is killing me!

So: fishing games. Love ’em, hate ’em, or ambivalent towards ’em? If I only bought one fishing game, Let’s Fish! Hooked On, Fishing Resort, or River King: Mystic Valley, which would you recommend?

Add Sakura Samurai to the list of “games with weird name changes”

I’ve always wondered what goes into the localization and adaptation of game titles for different regions, and the recent news surrounding Sakura Samurai‘s European release has me scratching my head once again. The 3DS eShop title will not be coming to Europe under the name Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword, but Hana Samurai: Art of the Sword.

This leads to a number of questions. Is that why the game has taken so long to come out? (it’s been out since February in the US) The most logical conclusion is that “sakura samurai” has already been trademarked in Europe and it took a long time to negotiate a new name with the creators/publisher/etc. I can only imagine how that meeting went down.

“Hey guys, so “sakura samurai” is taken. We’ve gotta change it to something else.”

“How about another random Japanese word?”

“No, wait, I know! Sakura is a flower, right? So let’s just use the Japanese word for flower!”

Hands were shook, meeting adjourned. Okay, if it really went as well as the scenario in my head, then I wouldn’t expect it to have taken so long. By the way, sakura means “cherry blossom” and hana means “flower.” From what I’m aware, “sakura” is a much more recognizable word for English speakers, whereas I don’t think “hana”is anywhere near as commonly known. And why didn’t they go for another Japanese flower term, rather than the actual word for “flower”? The world probably will never know.

I always love an excuse to post a picture of a kappa!

Now, how about the game’s logo? The North American logo (at the top of the post) features the kanji for “sakura” and “samurai” above the corresponding English. Will they be changing it to the kanji for “hana” for the European release? I’ll be very disappointed if they don’t, though they may figure not that many people will notice.

Of course, I’ll admit I haven’t played the game, so there is the possibility that there is meaning behind the name “hana samurai” that I’m missing. Anyone who has played the title who thinks they have additional insight to add, feel free to post your thoughts in the comments!

Now’s a perfect opportunity to share your favorite game name changes, so have at it! My recent favorite is Fortune Street, which was changed to Boom Street in Europe and Australia. No, I have no idea, either.

I don’t care how bad the Vision of Escaflowne game is, I must have it

The Vision of Escaflowne is, without a doubt, my favorite anime of all time. Dating back to 1996, the series tells the story of a high school girl named Hitomi who is transported to the world of Gaea and finds herself an instrumental figure in war where men fight with superpowered mechs known as Guymelefs. Though the premise may sound similar to countless other anime, its beautiful soundtrack, compelling cast of characters, and mix of action with an art style and emotional depth typical to shōjo series make it, in my opinion, a true masterpiece. Not only is it rare to see an series created as an anime first and then adapted to manga (Escaflowne actually got both a shōjo and a shonen manga, which shows how diverse its viewership was), but Escaflowne was markedly more popular internationally than it was in Japan, making it somewhat of an oddity.

Perhaps it’s that last point that spelled disaster for the series’ video game adaptation. Whatever the reason, the Escaflowne game looks about as bad as it gets –– not only does it condense the 26 episode series into a measly 2.5 hour game, but the graphics are atrocious! See for yourself:
Drab colors, blasé textures… Hardly fitting for one
of the most artistically-inspired anime of the 90’s!
Of course, it should be evident from the title that I haven’t actually played the Escaflowne video game, nor do I own it. It’s been on my “most wanted” list for many a year now, and though a copy generally won’t set you back more than $30, I have yet to add it to my collection. Luckily, blog posts like these give some insight into what the game is actually like, which is enough to make any fan of the anime downright depressed. 
The game reportedly plays a lot like an adventure/visual novel – there is an abundance of text, some voiced dialogue, walking around, and a few mech battles thrown in for good measure. Apparently, the battles aren’t even that much fun. The only plus I can see is that at only 2.5 hours total, it would be easy to get all of the multiple endings if you had the stomach to subject yourself to the entirety of the experience more than once. 
But when all’s said and done, no amount of bad mouthing the game will deter me from my eventual purchase. Why? Just look at this limited edition set:
source
I’d say the box art and that rare tarot edition (modeled after Hitomi’s set) is more than enough to justify the price tag, don’t you? Of course, I’d be tickled pink if the game itself was actually enjoyable, but I doubt I’ll find many redeeming qualities in it outside of seeing how it condenses 26 twenty minute episodes into 2.5 hours. 
For the curious, here’s a video of the first eight minutes of the The Vision of Escaflowne game:
Has there ever been a game you knew wasn’t going to be very good, but you bought anyway? 

My Most Wanted Japanese 3DS Titles

All this talk about Japanese 3DS’s has gotten me thinking about Japanese 3DS games. As we all know, Nintendo decided to break the hearts of millions of fans around the globe by making the 3DS region-locked, meaning the system can only play games from the same “region.” Since the major regions are, as always, PAL (Europe and Australia), NTSC-J (Japan), and NTSC-U or C (North America and pretty much everywhere else, usually includes China), that means there are many Japanese games that are going unplayed by this NTSC-U 3DS-owning gal.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that there aren’t really that many Japanese 3DS games I’m itching to have. But as someone who may or may not find themselves in possession of a Japanese 3DS in the near future, I began to wonder what I’d theoretically buy if the situation presented itself. So, without further ado: my most wanted Japanese 3DS titles!

New Love Plus

A male-oriented dating sim on my list of most wanted 3DS games?!  Yeah, I know, you probably think I’ve gone crazy. But when did I ever say I had anything against bishojo dating sims? Sure, I’d much prefer an otome game full of male characters to pursue, but I like the genre enough to want to pick up New Love Plus, even though it wasn’t exactly made with me in mind. I wouldn’t say this is at the very top of my list, but it’s definitely a unique experience that can’t be had anywhere else. That, and I never did play the original! I’d probably play this one in the name of “research.”

Taiko Drum Master: The Little Dragon and the Mysterious Orb

Ah, Taiko Drum Master. My mom bought me a Japanese PlayStation 2 for Christmas one year, along with a copy of the original Taiko Drum Master and two taiko controllers… I have many a fine memory sitting cross-legged on the living room floor, banging two plastic taiko sticks to some semblance of a beat.

Well, handheld Taiko Drum Master titles may not have the same charm as their arcade, or even home console, counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they don’t pack a punch! Reliable sources tell me the DS versions were quite good, and that this new 3DS installment, with a new story mode, does not disappoint. Of course my saying “reliable sources” reveals that, yes, I have never played a handheld Taiko Drum Master game. That’s definitely something I’d like to rectify!

Nazo Waku Yakata: Oto no Ma ni Ma ni

Does anyone even remember this game? If you do, it’s probably because of the flack Capcom got for releasing a paid demo for the title on the Japanese eShop. But even though Nazo Waku Yakata came out a whole year ago, I can barely find a peep about it anywhere. I’m assuming this means it was pretty lackluster, but the game’s emphasis on sound, unique art style, and whacky gameplay that makes use of a wide variety of the 3DS’s features make it seem like a great choice for someone with a new Japanese 3DS. I wonder if it’s worth the 20 or so dollars used copies are going for on Amazon.jp these days? I’m going to answer my own question: since the above image is actually an in-game screenshot, I’d have to say “yes”!

Rune Factory 4

I think I can safely say that Rune Factory 4 is my most-wanted 3DS title. Of course, we’ve seen every other Rune Factory game come out in English so far, but Natsume has yet to utter a peep about the possibility of localizing Rune Factory 4. I’ve made it pretty clear in previous posts that the male suitors and Harvest Moon-esque elements in this installment really appeal to me –– so much so that I’d purchase this game in a heartbeat if I had a Japanese 3DS, even with the possibility of a future English release. Is that a guy with cat ears and a peacock-feather fan? I’m so there.

So, what Japanese 3DS games are you itching to add to your collection? I bet you’re all going to say Bravely Default: Flying Fairy –– I would’ve, too, but I thought I’d shake things up by limiting myself to  only titles that are out right now. Hurrah for self-imposed, nonsensical rules!

Square Enix’s Otome Break: Otome or bishoujo?

Now here’s a Square Enix title that may come as a bit of a surprise: The company is set to release an iOS/Andriod title called Otome Break, which is described by the official site as being an “android girl raising simulation.” Basically, players spend their time communicating with one of three android high school girls, slowly unveiling their individual stories and hopefully steering them towards becoming a true “otome,” or “maiden.” The title is set to release in Japan this August.

One of the characters is literally named Otome. Is Square Enix grasping
at straws? 

I’m not really interested in discussing the merits of this title per say, but rather who the intended audience of this title is meant to be. Many western sites who have offered coverage on Otome Break have called it an “otome game,” which I personally feel is a little misleading. As mentioned above, the word otome literally means “maiden” in Japanese, but is also used to refer to a whole subgenre of visual novel/dating sim games aimed at a female audience (you can a more in-depth analysis Otome Game Primer). On the flip side, similar titles that are created with a predominantly male audience in mind are called bishōjo (lit. “beautiful woman”) games.

The “otome” in Otome Break is clearly referring to “maiden,” given the premise of the game. Three young android girls want to discover what it means to be a real lady, and it’s your job to teach them how… Sounds pretty obviously bishōjo to me.

That said, there are many otome games that appeal to their female audience’s interest in being an older sister or motherly-type figure. In fact, we can trace “raising simulators” back to titles like Princess Maker, where it’s the job of an ambiguous protagonist to raise a young princess into a capable adult woman.

It’s your job to shape this girl into whatever kind of woman you want her to be.

Now, it’s almost universally accepted that the Princess Maker games are bishōjo titles aimed at a male audience. Granted, there are many female gamers that play Princess Maker, as I’m sure there are both men and women who play more traditional bishōjo titles such as Tokimeki Memorial, but it’s worth noting in this comparison to Otome Break that the “raising sim” subgenre has had, to my knowledge, a predominately bishōjo bent to it. 


Another point that is worth considering in raising sim titles is how the player character is framed within the narrative. In Princess Maker, the player is acting as a parental figure for the young girl, which allows both men and women to play the game from a relatively equal standpoint, even if it has aspects that make it bishōjo. Otome Break‘s official website, however, explicitly states that the protagonist is a classmate of the three young android girls, making it clear that the player is meant to feel more of a brother/sister-type connection with the girls, rather than a maternal/paternal one. Would this make it easier or more difficult for women to connect with the narrative? I’m not entirely sure. 


Considering that I’m not currently living in Japan and am as such not exposed to promotional materials to Otome Break out in the wild, I can’t really say definitively whether or not Square Enix is taking a proactive stance on the bishōjo vs. otome categorization or not (this would be made very clear by where they chose to advertise the title). The promotional materials released online have so far been relatively vague, but I stand with my initial impression that this is bishōjo and not otome. Case in point:



This is an image taken from the official website. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I consider these relatively highly sexualized representations of young girls. Not only is the angle a worm’s eye view, giving the perfect almost-panty shot, but the gal in the center’s clothes are literally sticking to her skin in a way that not only accentuates her breasts, but her crotch, as well. Can anyone honestly argue that this image was drawn in such a way as to attract a predominantly female audience?

It’s worth mentioning that I’m not intending to rule out the possibility that this is a yuri, or female/female, title, but I would be very surprised if that was the angle Square Enix is going for –– even if this is Japan we’re talking about, I don’t think a big name like Square Enix would knowingly advertise a title with overt lesbian themes (note: there are both otome and bishōjo titles that feature female/female romantic relationships, so even yuri alone wouldn’t necessarily settle the debate of what subgenre Otome Break falls into). 


In the end, it doesn’t really matter what Otome Break calls itself, as long as it’s an interesting and fun game for those who choose to pick it up come August. But the fact that some people have chosen to argue that this title must be otome just because it may instill some feeling of sisterhood seems a little far-fetched to me given the promotional materials available outside of Japan. 


Otome, bishōjo… who cares?! Do you think Otome Break has any appeal, or is it some kooky thing made for purely Japanese audiences?