Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past on the Nintendo 3DS --

Finally, the last item on the pile that gets to be dusted off today: Dragon Quest VII on the Nintendo 3DS. This was the first 3D Dragon Quest I played (might even by the first ever Dragon Quest). There's a new version called, "Dragon Quest VII Reimagined", that's out now on multiple platforms. But if you're looking for a highly portable system, then try playing the game on the Nintendo 3DS.

The game is structured much like a traditional JRPG. There's a threat to the world, and the main character and his friends are the only ones capable of fighting off the evil. The twist is that the hero, with his team, constantly travel back and forth to the past to progress their journey. Along the way, after a day's worth of play, they unlock the job class system (or "vocations" as the series calls them" at Alltrades Abbey.

Dragon Quest VII is the weakest entry of the mainline games I've played -- which excludes DQ I-III, VIII, X, and XI). The dull, slow start is a chore to go through, and the last two-thirds of the game does not make up for it. The characters are fun, and the subplots surrounding the islands and pieces range from inspired to forgettable. I didn't have any issue with finding the pieces, the art design, the music, or any other part of the game; the pacing and the unnecessary parts could have been chopped, although I admit that there is a charm to the slice-of-life atmosphere the subplots give off.

The game is hard to recommend. Players with a 3DS curious to try a Dragon Quest game are better of playing the DS releases (and that includes IX). 

The Walking Cat: A Cat's-Eye-View of the Zombie Apocalypse -- cozy cat strolling through zombies

When I was searching for a post-apocalyptic manga, "The Walking Cat: A Cat's-Eye-View of the Zombie Apocalypse," piqued my interest. No, it wasn't because the title reminded me of a very famous television show; the perspective of animals during a fictitious zombie apocalypse is rarely depicted (not that it would matter anyway if fiction becomes reality).

It has been years since I last read the manga, but what I remember about the plot is that the cat moves from place to place. Thus, his companions also change. A happy ending occurs, but the main character -- the cat -- is forced onto his next adventure.

The manga is a good read, sometimes making you feel good without all the dread and drama of zombie stories too long in the tooth. 

PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo on the Nintendo Switch: A frighteningly good mystery

 Here's another item from the draft pile.

 

When Square Enix discounted their horror mystery visual novel, "PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo", on the Nintendo eShop, I just had to grab it. I love mysteries, reading, good stories, and great characters, and the game delivered on all fronts. Oh, did I mention that the atmosphere is captivating?

The game has one of the stronger starts of any game in my opinion. It was so strong, it set the bar so high for the rest of the game. While I think game never matches that high afterward, it never falls too far. 

It's difficult to talk about a game where the plot carries it, so I'll just say that I was very pleased with it after playing and with the modern visual-novel features.

Now, please excuse me while I add the sequel to my wish list, "PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse".

God Eater 3 on Nintendo Switch: Strategize or button mash your way to victory

Here's a blast from the past:

God Eater 3 on Nintendo Switch. The game itself is already a port, having been previously released on older platforms prior to its debut on the Nintendo console. As I was dusting off my drafts for the blog, I saw this at the very bottom of the pile (and it's a large pile!).

Drawing from my hazy memory of the game, God Eater 3 focuses on a group of humans who had been altered to fight monsters. The protagonist and his friends join Hilda in her traveling ship, finishing various missions. They meet Phym and other characters and use the power of friendship in the climax of the story for a happy ending.

There's nothing wrong with the story -- albeit, the characters don't grow too much from their stereotypical templates. The shine of the game comes from the combat and arsenal of weapons and techniques. The characters are plunged into arena-type maps where they hunt down enemies, small and large. Unfortunately, the monster variety left me bored in long plays.

The difficulty doesn't ramp up, although getting high grades and the last boss got me stumped sometimes. Overall, the game is easily recommendable for players looking for short bursts of fun.