My 2022-2023 in STG

With 2023 coming to a close, I wanted to give an update on how my STG journey has been going. I’ll also try to touch on some other aspects of the genre that have been receiving discussion as of late. It’s been a while since I updated this blog, as it was an incredibly 2023! I finished my Ph.D., moved off campus, and finally started my career.... Read more 26 Nov 2023 - 25 minute read

An Aside: Difficulty in STGs

Given the discourse surrounding Mark_MSX’s above video concerning STG difficulty, I felt compelled to also throw in my own two cents. I’ve embedded it below for reference: To provide a bit of context and summarize the contents of the video, Mark argues that difficulty is a defining characteristic of the STG genre, and it is moreover one of th... Read more 13 Jan 2023 - 4 minute read

A Recipe for Success - Chill Vibes and Good Times with Atelier Ryza 1 & 2

Ryza’s two adventures deliver polished experiences that help elevate the Atelier series beyond its niche foundation. Despite it now having been a while since I’ve finished both titles, I wanted give some of my thoughts on Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout and Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy. Having prio... Read more 19 Mar 2022 - 9 minute read

Shmup/STG Controller Options for Switch

Read on to learn about optimal Switch-style shmupping! My recent interest in the arcade shooting game genre (abbreviated as STG or Shmup) has led me to investigate the variety of control options available for the Nintendo Switch. The Switch has received a host of high-profile STG/Shmup releases over the past few years, so it seemed like a nat... Read more 16 Jan 2022 - 7 minute read

13 Sentinels - The Sci-Fi Adventure Game Handbook

Having just finished 13 Sentinels, and with the announcement of a Switch port, I wanted to dedicate a post to share my thoughts on the game. As the delivery of the game’s well-composed story is crucial to the player experience, I will be mindful of discussing spoilers for the game. However, caution is still advised if you want to experience the... Read more 09 Jan 2022 - 7 minute read

JRPG Miscellany - Dynamic Party Membership

This is the first part in a series of posts I wanted to make discussing miscellaneous aspects of JRPGs that I think are cool and warrant pointing out, but rarely rise to a level of importance for online discourse in and of themselves. The topic for the present post concerns the dynamics of JRPG party composition. It is not an understatement... Read more 24 Dec 2021 - 15 minute read

The Story of Shin Megami Tensei V

Having just completed Shin Megami Tensei V, I wanted to write down some of my thoughts on the game’s narrative while the experience was still fresh. There will be minor spoilers and a discussion of the ending in this post. If asked for my impressions on the narrative of Shin Megami Tensei V, I would describe it as not unlike an epic poem, ak... Read more 12 Dec 2021 - 5 minute read

Thoughts on Ys IX (Spoiler Warning!)

It is one of life’s cruel ironies that Ys series hasn’t yet seen the light of mainstream success, despite its groundbreaking role in shaping the modern day JRPG. In recent years, Falcom’s former flagship franchise (after the Kiseki series, and sorry for the alliteration) has slowly begun to edge closer to the limelight, given a host of developm... Read more 15 Aug 2021 - 10 minute read

The FlipGrip

On my quest to find the best way to play arcade-style games in TATE (vertical oriented) mode, I came across the FlipGrip, which is a product that was advertised to deliver exactly that. It was the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign, and is now available at retail from sites like FanGamer (where I got mine). It seemed like an interesting... Read more 10 May 2021 - 3 minute read

RetroBit Sega Genesis 8-Button Arcade Pad, Clear Blue

For the past several years, I have been hunting for a reliable d-pad control option for the Nintendo Switch, as the current officially licensed offerings leave a lot to be desired. There are many great games on the platform that really need a digital input method to work, and the separate buttons on a Joycon really are the bottom-of-the barrel ... Read more 27 Apr 2021 - 5 minute read