Kasumi Yoshizawa’s story is a case study on how to carefully and respectfully navigate mental health issues in popular culture
Many people believe fiction has the power to influence real life. This idea is tied to mental health — a topic that has gained much more attention in recent times given the ongoing struggles due to COVID-19. According to Checkpoint.org, an overwhelming majority of gamers believe video games can help mental health. Games like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and even Destiny all help people maintain healthy minds through virtual escapes. Persona is no stranger to helping those in need — the characters of these lengthy JRPGs are written to reflect real-world issues.
Part of why video games, or media in…
The ups and downs of wedlock with the whims of a wild, cooperative platformer
Marriage is something I’ve yet to experience, but playing through Hazelight Studios’ It Takes Two provided a spirited (and insightful) glimpse into what to expect when I decide to tie myself down. A year ago, a plane ticket of mine to Canada was rendered useless when COVID-19 beset North America. Just as the fictional couple of Cody and May faced problems in It Takes Two, my relationship, too, was in conflict. …
Give the controversial shooter a chance to prove itself before canceling it
Is it okay to cancel a video game before it reaches the hands of the consumer? Six Days in Fallujah, an upcoming tactical first-person shooter developed by Highwire Games and published by Victura, focuses on one of the United States’ most controversial and recent conflicts: the 2004 invasion of Iraq. Specifically, the game aims to tell the story of a U.S. Marine squadron during their experience in the Second Battle of Fallujah.
Genshin has it all, from tower defense to tantalizing dates
Genshin Impact’s development team, MiHoYo, has been dropping updates on the game non-stop in an effort to keep the popularity ball rolling. Since its release back in 2020, the game has grown exponentially, and it continues to soar throughout the first quarter of 2021.
Just this year, Genshin Impact has seen the release of an abundance of content. From the exceptional cryo archer Ganyu, the unsettled anemo user Xiao, and the trickster pyro user Hu Tao, Genshin continues to rake in revenue while providing players with new quests to complete, minigames to play, and loot to collect. With Genshin Impact’s…
A masterful blend of action and turn-based combat
While I can always appreciate mindless beat-em-up fun, the appeal of Musou-styled games has never outshone turn-based RPGs. Games like the original Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal have always stood out to me for their strategic keystone, so the news of a Dynasty Warriors-Esq spin-off for the Persona 5 series was met with both excitement and concern. Atlus teaming up with Omega Force, the team behind Dynasty Warriors, seemingly ensured the combat of Persona 5 Strikers would match that of Dynasty Warriors. …
The Pokémon Company finally looks forward, with a step back in time
Earlier this month, I ruthlessly ripped apart the mainline series of Pokémon games. I’ve never been happier to say I’m currently eating my words. On February 26th, 2021, the official Pokémon YouTube channel uploaded “Pokémon Presents” for the 25th anniversary of the series, detailing new games releasing within 2021 and onward. As expected, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are getting remakes, dubbed Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, but fans of the pocket monster-catching series needn’t have their patience swayed, for The Pokémon Company has finally taken a step outside of its comfort zone.
The Octopath Traveler-styled tactical JRPG with choice and consequence
The latest Nintendo Direct had a ton of new announcements, but the game that caught my utmost attention was the 2022 release of an oddly titled JRPG, Project Triangle Strategy. The beautifully blended 2D-3D art style gives away that the game is being developed by the same team that did Octopath Traveler, a JRPG which I wrote high praise for earlier this year on SUPERJUMP, so Triangle Strategy is more than exciting for me.
Following the announcement, it was revealed that a “debut demo” for Triangle Strategy would be on the Nintendo Switch eShop after the Direct. …
A bite-sized adventure through “Meowrio’s” cat paradise
Mario games of the Wii U generation were seemingly lost in time due to the Wii U’s lackluster performance, but rereleases for the Nintendo Switch have given a second-life to titles such as Mario Kart 8 and Super Mario Bros. U. The latest (and arguably, most anticipated) addition to the plethora of Mario rereleases is Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.
Bowser’s Fury is a bundled add-on to Super Mario 3D World, thus being dubbed by Nintendo Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury. Nintendo’s redelivery of the game opens up the experience once more to newer Mario fans…
It’s time for the venerable Pokémon series to let go of its ancient formula and move forward
When the Pokémon company coined the catchphrase “Gotta Catch ’Em All,” they weren’t talking about pocket monsters. They were talking about our hearts. Ever since I was young, I’ve always loved the Pokémon franchise. From the anime series to the video games, Pokémon has been something I’ve adored. After the release in 1996, the Pokémon IP has grown tremendously, still triumphing today as a globally known media franchise. One of the most successful games in the series, Pokémon GO, earned over $1 billion in 2020 alone. …
As a physical game connoisseur, I won’t forget GameStop’s strong presence in the days of my youth
Hopefully, you’ve been on the internet these past few days, because if you have, you’ve most definitely heard of the recent surging stock of GameStop ($GME). With some diligent research done by Redditors on r/WallStreetBets, as well as an abundance of media coverage, GameStop’s stock has skyrocketed the past week. The shares jumped to a peak of $468, a staggering 3000% increase, which has made many people a few thousand, hundred-thousand, and even million dollars richer. The logistics of the stock market is something I’m not getting into, but the whole idea is basically a massive battle between filthy rich…
Paul Lombardo
Journalist writing mainly about video games and the stories they tell // Student at the University of Florida
