A minimalist aesthetic

Lion Quest was first developed with a minimalist cube aesthetic and it was using this art style that it originally went through Steam Greenlight. Back in the day, this was a voting system through which indie developers could get their game published on Steam.

The feedback I received here prompted me to develop the art further. This was around May 2015 and a few things had happened all at once. The game was 'Greenlit', meaning I was now officially working towards a Steam release. But I'd also been planning a handheld version for the PlayStation Vita and this had to be cancelled when it was announced that PSM (PlayStation Mobile – the pathway towards publishing an indie game on the Vita) was being shut down.

Learning to code

I made Lion Quest in Unity, and it was my first time programming in C#. A lot of design decisions were based around the fact that I didn't really know what I was doing. For instance, the title and level select were made as playable levels to circumnavigate the fact that I didn't know how to make menus. Ironically, over the two year dev cycle I figured menus out, so the released version of Lion Quest does also have menus for Lion Quest versus, arcade mode etc. Many effects work using off-screen contraptions that, aside from a trigger for activation, don't run any extra code, but instead operate as as sort-of invisible Rube Goldberg machine that leverages the same physics and gravity system used by the player. It's not the most optimised way of doing things for sure, but does give these effects a fairly unique cadence.

Lion Quest gets a story

New Year's Eve 2015. I showed the game to a friend who's sadly no longer with us. His feedback was clear, he wanted the game to have a story. In my mind I was pretty much done with Lion Quest but that conversation resulted in another 6 months work going into the game. I spent this time making a series of smaller levels that bookend the game. These are the five level tutorial and also the final section once you enter the red portal. Although I also added some dialogue at other points throughout the game, there's a lot more story at the start and end, and this is why. Being developed last is also why I think these levels are slightly better designed than those found in the middle section.

Post-Launch

Lion Quest has received a whole load of updates since its original release. This includes an improved camera and more responsive controls that make the moment-to-moment gameplay better now than when the game first launched. The Animal Maker was also added, making it possible to create a custom character.

The Future

Lion Quest received a 3D sequel called Lion Quest Infinity back in 2021. Meanwhile the 2D spirit of Lion Quest lives on in a new game I'm making called The Wizard of Gloss. It's a faster-paced game and it includes combat, upgrades, grind rails and a whole load of other things that I had no idea how to make ten years ago. Thematically I'm trying something new, but the game's design aesthetic still reveals the Lion Quest DNA underneath.

Find out more about The Wizard of Gloss by visiting its Steam page.

DRACULA'S CAVE presents The Wizard of Gloss – a PSX-inspired metroidvania with horror elements. Grab your wand and prepare for a bloodbath.

Uncover the dark secrets of an interconnected satanic labyrinth. Explore a sprawling, occult waterpark full of hidden treasures and dangerous beasts. All this and more, The Wizard of Gloss includes fast-paced combat, a deep upgrades system, grind rails, water slides and a whole load of other cool things.

Coming soon for PC, Mac and Linux, right now is the perfect time to add the game to your wishlist…

Perfect 1000, 2000, whatever

Two models, no definitive winner... until now! Over the years I've gone back-and-forth between the original PS Vita "Phat" (1000) and it's slimmer, slightly younger cousin (The PS Vita 2000). The slim has improved ergonomics and is lighter, but the trade off is that the original's OLED display was replaced by a lower-quality LCD panel.

In the years since I originally purchased these devices, we've been spoiled by improvements in screen technology, and the legacy handhelds that have stood the test of time best are the miracle-variants the didn't just use the cheapest, lowest quality displays available. Every now and then I'll pick up the PS Vita 2000 and be impressed by how lightweight and comfortable to hold it is. But the screen has aged badly and in a side-by-side comparison, the 1000 is the clear winner.

The fact that this thing shipped with an OLED display back in 2012 was pretty revolutionary, but the device was bigger and bulkier than the PSP as a result. This was at the tail-end of a run where smaller equalled better in the world of technology, as charted by the evolution of devices such as the iPod and PSP (essentially these devices got smaller and smaller until they were 'too small').

So at the time the Vita felt pretty massive, but in retrospect it's tiny. The modern relevance of the device is really quite simple – there isn't another handheld available at this size, at this build-quality, that also has a not-terrible screen. The Steam Deck and Switch 2 are great, but they're also four or five times bigger than the Vita.

Ports, ports, ports!

Over the years I've heard the PS Vita being criticised for having an 'inferior' library of games compared to the PSP. This is distorting the facts somewhat. What's true is that Sony tried out 'portable' versions of many of their franchises on the PSP, and then subsequently gave up on this practice pretty quickly after the Vita launched. It did however receive a lot of ports for games also available on other platforms, including PlayStation 2 classics such as Final Fantasy X and Odin Sphere. The PSP got Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (a brand new game!), where as the PlayStation Vita got ports of Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3. It's only a raw deal until you consider the fact that both Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 are better than Peace Walker.

Even the console's definitive 'system seller'; Persona 4, was originally a PS2 game, albeit an enhanced one with new content. This is the version that was subsequently ported to Steam, and other games such as Gravity Rush were remastered for PS4. So if it didn't start out as a port, it probably became one, and little is left in terms of Vita exclusives (The PSP meanwhile has lots of games that remain locked to the platform and mostly for good reason. Still, I'm holding out hope for HD remakes of Infected, Death Jr. and Coded Arms).

But looking at the Vita's library this way is somewhat missing the point. No one complains that Steam Deck only has non-exclusive games that can be played on PC. The PS Vita is the best and most portable way to play certain games. The device's incredible form-factor even means that in some cases it's worth overlooking the increased load times and performance issues.

A good example of this would be Resident Evil Revelations 2. And just to be clear, the performance and load times here are not good. But the game is a lo-fi, B-movie horror experience that, on PS Vita at least, feels great.

Today the game can also be played on Steam Deck, but the increased resolution and frame rate don't actually make it look better. In fact they have the opposite effect and highlight how unfavourably the game compares to the Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes, as well as all the other legitimately-good mainline Resident Evil games that run well on Deck. But revisiting it on Vita made me appreciate its low-budget aesthetic as offering something different, rather than something inferior, to the other games in the series.

Anyway, the most exciting thing about the PS Vita is that its library of ports has kept on growing. There are loads of newer Steam games, PC classics and android black-magic conversions to discover if you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty. There's also a few more ambitious ports that run so badly they can't really be considered playable, so look out for those too.

This more recent offering is really where the Vita now distinguishes itself from the Nintendo 3DS; its main rival from back in the day. The 3DS has been regaining popularity recently, but if you've already played the headline games then I wouldn't personally consider it a great system to revisit. The screen quality is notably horrible, it's resolution is Wii-like (low) and the UI feels dated and slow. If however, you stopped playing PS Vita games back in 2017 like most normal people did, you'll probably be very pleasantly surprised by how the console holds up, and by the number of new and 'unofficial' games released since.

The worst thing about the Vita

Speaking of ports, you know what the worst thing about the Vita is? It's the propriety charging port. The console is very, very portable, but having to carry around an extra charger for it is a total hassle.

Fortunately, if you don't mind doing some expert-level soldering, it's possible to swap this out for a modern USB-C port. I honestly can't recommend this upgrade enough, it's changed my life.

The other worst thing are the Vita memory cards. These are essentially low-quality micro-SD cards that were made in a slightly-different shape so they could only fit inside a Vita. They were expensive when they came out, and remain over-priced to this day. Enter SD2Vita, an adapter that lets you use a regular micro-SD card. Not only does this mean big savings, but also the potential to increase the available storage beyond 64gb – the maximum size of the official cards.

There is a catch however; the adapter connects through the game-card slot and you'll need to 'modify' your console software a bit for the device to recognise this as the storage location.

PSP, PSX, PSV, and you

The PS Vita natively plays PSP games, and in turn it runs PS1 games sort-of-natively using a version of the same official emulator that the PSP did. The problem is that the PS Vita is much bigger than the PSP and the screen is a higher resolution, which means that although PSP games run great performance-wise, they usually end up looking blurry and low-res, with weirdly large UI elements.

Playing around with the scaling settings can improve things a bit, but in a side-by-side comparison the PSP Go wins every time. What about PS1 games? I'd play them on a PS1, or maybe a PSP Go. Some PS1 games are actually really, really good on PSP, but others simply require too many shoulder buttons or analog sticks to work properly.

Some practical advice on not overdoing it

The PS Vita handles a large volume of content better than other handhelds such as the PSP or 3DS. But it's still easy to get overwhelmed if you load it up with too many games (trust me). You should ask yourself, do you really need all 3 versions of Persona Dancing? What about that fan-translation of game X? Maybe there's a good reason why it wasn't officially localised, have you thought about that?*

*One notable exception to this is Chaos Rings III: Prequel Trilogy, which is one of my favourite games on the Vita. It's a really weird one though, as English-language versions of the individual games were released on iOS and Android (although most have since been de-listed). The version on Vita really is the definitive compilation and even though it has the word 'trilogy' in the title, it actually includes all FOUR games in the series.

Currently I have about 80gb of games on my Vita, which as far as collections go, is concise-ish. I wanted to consolidate further, but this would have involved deleting the Metal Gear Solid Collection and Persona 4. Even though I've completed both several times, and am not actively playing either at the moment, it's nice to have them there. Just incase.

I've played a lot of games on the PS Vita, and I've also deleted a lot of games. What have I learned? Less is more. Having to manage too many bubbles gets annoying. What's the best thing I've got on my Vita that you probably don't already have installed? That would be easy; RVGL. You're welcome.

My logic was to wait until 3 major titles were released for the system. I remember being initially impressed by the original Nintendo Switch, but in first 6 months of the console's lifecycle there weren't enough games to play. After completing Breath of the Wild it was a long wait until Mario Odyssey came out.

Of course Nintendo has always been focused on quality over quantity, and the Switch 2's first-party line-up represent the pinnacle of highly refined, premium gaming. Graphically, things might be starting to plateau a bit (the increase in visual fidelity Mario Kart World offers over Mario Kart 8 is perhaps a little disappointing when the 10 year gap between the two games is considered) but the software as a whole is reaching a new standard in so many ways. Donkey Kong Bananza stands out as a game of exceptional detail and polish. The Legend of Zelda has been elevated to the same level, with the game's performance finally doing its incredible art style justice.

The hardware itself a pleasant surprise; I didn't even think I wanted a Switch 2. I wanted the games, so in an ideal (but imaginary) world, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza would have released on Steam and I'd have played them on the Steam Deck.

But here we are in the real world and I can't help but admit that the Switch 2 is a nice console to hold, and satisfying to use. It doesn't feel like a children's toy at-all, but rather a high-end handheld gaming system that can compete with the best of them. I hate to admit it, but it feels less like a giant slab of plastic than the Steam Deck does.

As well as the new first-party exclusives, I've been playing a fair bit of Mario Odyssey, which looks and runs great thanks to an update that optimises it for the Switch 2 hardware. The amount of other games that have received performance patches is however disappointingly small. As Switch 1 games ran docked in 1080p, the update required to make them run at 1080p on the Switch 2's handheld display is theoretically pretty small. But few games have been updated, and most will still run at an upscaled 720p.

When announced, the Switch 2 looked like an uninspired hardware upgrade and not the type of 'revolution' Nintendo is typically know for. It invites compassion to the original Switch, but this ends up highlighting the many ways in which it's an improvement. Imagine if back in 2007 Nintendo had released the GameCube 2 instead of the Wii. It would have been great.

Storage Woes

The PSP Go has 16gb of internal storage and a slot for a M2 memory card. These proprietary cards were only used in a few Sony devices from the era and as such they are difficult to come by at a reasonable price. Worse still, the largest size produced was only 16gb, giving the console a theoretical max total storage of 32gb.

But fear not, a micro SD card adapter is available on Etsy. This connects into the M2 slot and then wraps around into the console, with a ribbon cable perfectly folded to allow for the micro SD card sit in a nice open space below the battery.

In theory. Room inside a device this small comes at a premium, and modification to PSP Go's shell, insides, and the adapter itself are required in order to make it sit flush.

Creating the needed space is a mix of snipping (which can be performed with a small pair of pliers) and sanding (to file down the inner side of the case). This allows for the adapter to fit, but results in a bulge in the back of the case that doesn't look particularly great. Using an electric drill sander it's possible to free up a bit more room, and crucial millimetres can be shaved off the SD card adapter itself. Theoretically the plastic shell could be removed and the SD card glued directly to the pins on the ribbon cable, but that's above my pay grade. It's not really a requirement either, as trimming it down a bit is all that's needed for it to properly fit.

The PSP wasn't designed to be used with high-capacity memory cards and as such the menus can become very slow if too much content is present. Because of this I've opted for a 64gb card, which is a practical balance between speed and storage.

At first the connection to the M2 slot seemed a bit temperamental and I had to open up the console a couple of times and adjust the taping of the ribbon cable, which needs to be held in a taught position. Achieving this is a little awkward as the cable is ever so slightly too long, and it must be stretched at a diagonal angle to compensate for this.

I have two PSP Go consoles and initially my plan was to install a micro SD adapter in both. This second console is the pearl white variant in pristine condition and in the end I decide not to go ahead based on the amount of DIY involved, as well as the slightly temperamental nature of the adapter itself.

I'm less precious about my black PSP Go, which frequently lives outside its case and likes to go travelling with me. Here it works perfectly; it's a practical upgrade that allows for an extensive library of PSP and PS1 games to be loaded onto the console and taken on the go. There's no denying that the console now lives up to the portability its name implies.

Battery Burdens

I would say that the single biggest issue with the PSP Go is its battery life, which only lasts around 2 hours.

One option to resolve this is to install a PS Vita battery, which provides significantly more charge. However it's also physically bigger and requires a custom back panel that effectively doubles the depth of the console.

I continued to search for a better solution and came across this nice looking battery on AliExpress that I figured was worth a try.

It's the same size as the OEM battery, although there's a couple of extra wires that need cramming into the console. Alongside the SD card adapter it now feels like the inside of the device is really stuffed full of enhancements. But with everything in place the PSP Go now runs for around 4 hours on a single charge, a clear improvement over the original battery.

Ergonomic Challenges

I use the PSP Go quite a bit and my hands have adjusted to its slightly cramped shape. Still, there's no denying that for long play sessions, or for certain shoulder-button heavy games, things can get a bit uncomfortable.

Is there a better way to play? Perhaps, the PSP Go supports Bluetooth, and it's possible to connect a PS3 DualShock 3 controller. I think it was originally envisioned to be paired alongside the console's docking station (used for playing PSP games on the TV, sort-of like a proto Switch), but it works in handheld mode too. All that's needed is a controller mount to attach the two together! I found this nice looking one on AliExpress.

Oh, and a PS3 is needed too as the controller has a non-standard bluetooth pairing protocol. The controller can technically be linked using a PC, but the process is more involved than you'd probably expect. If you don't want to mess around with your computer's driver signatures then the easier, and officially supported, method is to connect both the controller and PSP Go to the PS3 by USB and then follow the pairing process within the PS3 menus.

With everything connected I immediately ran into an issue. The controller mount is designed for a phone and presses down on the top of the device, exactly where the volume buttons sit. This results in either the volume up or volume down button being permanently pressed, effectively meaning that the console can only be used at minimum or maximum volume (and you can't choose which!).

To solve this, I found a small bit of plastic and glued it to the top of the mount. The volume buttons now sit comfortably within the gap created by the plastic. The PSP Go still needs to be removed from the mount in order to access these buttons and change the volume, but at least it stays at the desired level once set.

The resulting device is something I'd be far too ashamed to ever play in public, but in the privacy of a home environment it's a comfortable and fun way to play PSP games.

So what even is Lion Quest Infinity?

Lion Quest Infinity started out as a sequel to the original Lion Quest game I released back in 2016, but as a ground-up reinvention of the series in 3D it quickly moved beyond this. There are certainly throwbacks and Easter eggs to be discovered for players of the original, but the focus is on a brand-new story and it's not your typical sequel. In Lion Quest Infinity, Jethro the Lion steals a magic grandfather clock and sets in motion an epic adventure that takes him and friends across the universe and through time and space.

But that's not all. Lion Quest is a fantasy adventure by night but your days are spent in the real world, working an office job. This new element gives an unexpected twist to the genre, with plenty of surprises in store for players.

Thanks for reading and please do check out the game on Steam. I hope you enjoy your trip to the Lion Quest Universe.

Travel through space and time to find out! Oh, and visit the real world too, where you get to work an office job.

Lion Quest Infinity takes the series into full 3D for a brand-new adventure and we've even got the trailer to prove it:

An experience you are guaranteed not to have had until you've played this game!

Wishlist the game today and please look forward to its release in 2021!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1384530

In other news the promo game supporting this release – Sloth Tales – is available from today. This is a standalone 2D platformer starring your new friend Jimmy the Sloth. It's on Steam and it's very, very free!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1435980

So what even is Sloth Tales?

Sloth Tales is a platforming game where you help Jimmy the Sloth search for his his biological father. I made it as a prologue to Lion Quest Infinity, but the idea here was to create a more traditional game in the platforming genre.

The game has an open-ended design where the levels can be played through in any order. A small amount of the content is randomised to ensures no two Sloth Tales are exactly the same.

Sloth Tales is about half an hour long (maybe longer if you don’t like to be rushed) and features classic platforming action very much rooted in the style of the original Lion Quest. But with a sloth.

Sloth Tales on Windows, Mac and Linux (Steam): https://store.steampowered.com/app/1435980

Sloth Tales on iPhone and iPad (App Store): https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/sloth-tales/id1596368020

After several years creating and releasing videogames, I'm pleased to announce that the first software release from Dracula's Cave. For the first time we're doing a product relating to my other love – one I haven't talked about so much on here – the guitar.

This project was born out of my own desire for more informative guitar reference material; I'm a left-handed guitar player which means all chord and fretboard diagrams need to be mirrored. When I couldn’t find left-handed fretboard tuned half-a-step-down I decided to create my own. Then I tuned back to E and had to update my diagram. Then I wanted to share it with a friend who's a right handed bass player and... well you get the idea.

So I started work on a fully interactive diagram. From here every other feature followed. With the addition of the keyboard, as well at the option to exclude notes, it became clear that the tool would be equally valuable to right handed players, as well as anyone looking to transcribe between piano and guitar.

The end package is AudioTheory Guitars, which is now available either directly or through Steam:

https://audiotheory.co/

1. Persona 4: Golden

An innovative JRPG where you play as a group of high-schoolers who solve mysteries. If you only ever play one game on the Vita then you should play Persona 4 Golden. Full review.

Originally released on PlayStation 2, the 'Golden' enhancement on Vita includes many improvements that ensure it's the definitive version of this RPG classic.

Buy Persona 4: Golden (eBay)

2. Metal Gear Solid HD Collection

You might be thinking that the 'best games on PlayStation Vita' list would also work if you did a find-and-replace on the word 'Vita' and swapped it to 'PlayStation 2'.

But here's the thing, Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3 are two of the best games ever made, and the Vita is in my opinion the absolute best way to enjoy them. Not only do you have the cinematic quality and attention to detail associated with two of the PS2's biggest releases, but the crisp fidelity and enhanced controls afforded by the PlayStation Vita. Oh, and thanks to the sleep button you've finally got a handy way to pause those thirty minute cutscenes.

Buy Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (eBay)

3. Muramasa: Rebirth

See, there's also a Wii game on the list. Specifically an obscure Wii classic that had an *ahem* 'rebirth' on the PlayStation Vita. The main enhancements to Vanillaware's classic comes in the form of DLC, and I'd highly recommend the four 'Genroku Legends' that collectively almost double the total amount of content offered by the game. Otherwise, the draw to Muramasa remains intact – intense hack and slash combat combined with a stunning art direction that truly makes the most of the Vita's impressive screen.

Buy Muramasa: Rebirth (eBay)

4. Steins;Gate

A visual novel that tells the story of a mad scientist who uses his microwave to send text messages back in time. You have some control over his phone, giving a limited degree of interactivity, but for the most part your PS Vita will be transformed into a rather excellent book. Steins;Gate is all about story, and it delivers a great story.

Buy Steins;Gate (eBay)

5. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

Whilst frequently placed in the visual novel category, Danganronpa has enough exploration and requirement for player input to earn a position in the 'game' section over the 'book' section in the library. If the library had a game section.

Your main goal is to solve murders after you're thrust into a deadly survival game ran by an evil bear. There's a fun mix of finding clues, piecing together evidence and chatting with your fellow captives, although the experience is really driven by the high-stakes drama of the plot.

The game now has two sequels that are also available on PS Vita.

Buy Danganronpa (eBay)

6. Wipeout 2048

The first Western game on our list is a title deserving of several awards including 'Best Launch Game for the Vita', 'Best Racing Game for the Vita, and err, 'Best Wipeout game for the Vita'. Okay, that last one was a given, but following on from two excellent titles for PSP, Sony's handheld wouldn't have been quite the same without a Wipeout game.

2048 is notable for being set nearer in the future than previous games in the series. As a result the tracks have a less abstract feel to them, and a couple are even 'prequels' to courses found in the later titles.

Buy Wipeout 2048 (eBay)

7. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X

Alongside the visual novel, the music rhythm genre really had a chance to shine on the Vita. Out of these games Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X stands out as the best. In this game you have to press buttons quickly in time with the music, and to be honest with you I'm still wondering exactly what it is about this process that's so damn fun. Maybe it's simply the amazing music, either that or it's the option to dress up the characters and take photos of them? Keep up the good work Japan.

Buy Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X (eBay)

8. Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir

Pronounced Leef-thrahss-eer if you were wondering, Odin Sphere is not only another enhanced release of a PlayStation 2 game, but another updated version of a Vanillaware classic. Released in 2007 for PS2, and 2016 for Vita, part of what makes Odin Sphere the best-kept secret for both consoles is how unbelievably late it arrived to the party. As well as new content the game's mechanics have been reworked to further refine the experience.

Buy Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir (eBay)

9. Ys: Memories of Celceta

Of all the RPGs on this list, none have a less-epic premise than Ys: Memories of Celceta. In this game you are tasked with mapping out a forest in and regaining your memories because you have amnesia. Looking past this and you'll find one of the best Ys games there is – an immensely fun and fast paced action RPG where you charge across a forest and smash anything in your path to bits with a sword.

Buy Ys: Memories of Celceta (eBay)

10. Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Back when the Vita first launched many of Sony's biggest names made their was to the handheld in one format or another, with varying degrees of success. Uncharted: Golden Abyss stands out as one of the more accomplished endeavours and whilst it didn't quite match the cinematic highs of Uncharted 2 or 3, it's still a pleasant game that captures a lot of what makes the original Uncharted game great in its own right.

Buy Uncharted: Golden Abyss (eBay)

11. Persona 4: Dancing All Night

If the 'dancing' genre itself doesn't convince you then I'm sure that the fact this game is specifically designed for people who already LOVE Persona 4 will. All the hit songs, all your fave characters and even a story that isn't half bad. I know you don't believe me on this, so play Persona 4 Dancing All Night and prepare to be proved wrong.

Following on from this TWO more (oh yes that's right) Persona dancing games are available on the Vita.

Buy Persona 4: Dancing All Night (eBay)

12. Tearaway

If one game did actually deliver on the console-quality-on-a-handheld promise then it would be Tearaway – a 3D platformer notable for including mechanics based around the Vita's gimmicky features and making them seem, well, not too gimmicky.

Aside from this it featured a unique art direction and attention to detail in its level design that would have felt more at home on the PS4, where it was subsequently ported.

Buy Tearaway (eBay)

13. Gravity Rush

Another game that didn't really get the recognition it deserved until it was ported onto the more popular PS4. Which is a shame really, as Gravity Rush did a great job of implementing open world game design in a way that feels specifically tailored for the handheld (even though ironically the game was initially developed for the PS3).

This is coupled with a unique gravity-modifying mechanic that ensures exploring the game's world is a lot of fun. Plus its subtle use of the PS Vita's gyroscope for precision aiming works... surprisingly well.

Buy Gravity Rush (eBay)

14. VA-11 HALL-A

The newest game on the list – VA-11 HALL-A (pronounced Valhalla if you were wondering) is a story driven game where you play as a bartender.  This is one of many great indie games available on the Vita including Shovel Knight, Undertale and Fez, however whilst these are equally enjoyable on other platforms, VA-11 HALL-A gets a special mention because of how much better suited it is to the handheld over a desktop computer.

Buy VA-11 HALL-A (eBay)

15. Final Fantasy X/X2 HD

The PS Vita is an excellent option for playing two of the best 3D entries in the Final Fantasy series – X and its direct sequel X2 (ten two... still love that name). Yes, these games have been ported left right and center since their original release on PS2, but again feel better than ever in a portable format.

Buy Final Fantasy X/X2 HD (eBay)

I can only imagine that unravelling the game’s web of branching pathways back in the early 2000s (before the internet got good) was a laborious and equally mind-blowing process. Even now the obscurity of the title meant I found myself trawling through ten year old articles on GameFAQs trying to work out what else had missed/ how much of the game I needed to replay in order to un-miss it.

2018 may have been my first successful attempt at making it through The Sense of Justice, but it's not the first time I've crossed paths with the title. Back in 2004 I bought an import PlayStation 2 and the Growlanser Generations double pack (which also includes Growlanser III: The Dual Darkness) because I liked its shiny cover (this is the genuine reason). This time I went all out and purchased the Deluxe Edition which comes with a watch.

As the game was only released on a region-locked NTSC disc, and as the poor sales of the region-locked disc not only resulted in the lack of a PAL release but the closing of Working Designs – the American Publisher – I think it's safe to say that I'm one of only a few people in England who played the game near to its release.

After a ten year absence this also means I have some serious nostalgia for the game. Admittedly this wont be true for most people, but I do think that Growlanser II stands on its own merit. In fact when I loaded up the game I was initially surprised by how its graphical and technical quality didn’t quite match up to what I’d remembered. About twenty minutes after this I was hooked thanks to its interesting story and strong tactics mechanics.

Growlanser itself is a spin off from the Langrisser series, which is perhaps even more obscure due to its limited release outside of Japan. Needless to say, by the time developers Career Soft got to this point they were well-verses in the turn based strategy genre. Growlanser II adds some well-conceived RPG components into the mix however remains fundamentally a strategy game – and one that relies heavily on smart tactics.

The main story missions are based around unique objectives that frequently extend beyond the simple goal of killing off all enemies. Each premise is interwoven into the game’s story, ensuring a cohesive experience with relevant missions that are fun and challenging.

Meanwhile there’s a small amount of grinding to be done between missions, however the random battles resolve an issue I found in Langrisser IV where my party levelled unevenly and became too reliant on one character. Battles take place when walking around points on the map – here more than anywhere it's evident that Growlanser II doesn't fully commit to the RPG genre. Exploring the kingdoms of Rolandia and Burnstein is essentially done through a menu.

Whilst this might be off-putting for anyone who's played Growlanser III and now has a taste for adventure, for me the focused nature of the game works really well. Outside of battle you're gearing up for the next battle, which in itself is a satisfying process thanks to the game's smart ring system. Although deceptively simple, this is a fascinating system that's made all the more astounding by how easy it is to get to grips with.

Characters are equipped with a ring that provides stat boots. Each ring also has up to three gem slots and each slot has a different level. Gems up to that level can be equipped in the slots. The main reason you'll end up agonising over ring and gem combinations is the drastic effects different gems can have on your character's abilities. These go far beyond the stat bonuses you'd apply in most games – for instance you may find yourself deciding between a gem the nullifies all magic cast on a character or one that allows the character to attack multiple times per go.

Then there's the story – a rambling epic about war and a guy called Wein Cruise - yes, that's his actual name. This is characterised by the zany humour of Working Designs and the story is direct, funny and engrossing in a way that's so simple it would be easy to take for granted – if not for the fact that so rarely does a game succeed in instantly drawing the player into its world. Further in and the story remains compelling thanks to unsuspecting plot twists and branching pathways that lead to one of multiple endings.

Growlanser II: The Sense of Justics is a fascinating and obscure game and it’s perhaps appropriate that it has an equally obscure title. Somewhere between Career Soft's smart mechanics, Satoshi Urushihara's imaginative character design and Victor Ireland's unique approach to localisation a sweet spot is found. There’s not a single thing I’d change about it.

10/10

This started a couple of weeks ago when I decided that the next game I wanted to play through was Kirby’s Dreamland 3. This was a Super Nintendo game that came out in 1997, making it the last first-party game for the system. It never saw a PAL release and the 2009 Wii Virtual Console version was the first time it was officially made available in Europe.

Many of the console’s best titles not actually getting released isn’t the only problem with PAL – these games run at 50hz and their NTSC counterparts run at 60hz. Aside from a few exceptions (where the game was specifically optimised), PAL Super Nintendo tiles don’t compensate for the different refresh rate and as a result run around 17% slower than they should. Unless you’re getting your ass kicked by Contra III (sorry, ‘Super Probotector’), you probably won’t appreciate the slowdown.

There’s a few ways around this such as modding your system, but the solution I went with was to buy a Japanese ‘Super Famicom’. I purchased this on eBay as a unit-only for the bargain price of £21.89 including postage. Aside from the logo on the front the system looks identical to the PAL Super Nintendo, but it runs Japanese games and it runs them at 60hz. It also requires different cables, and notably is NOT compatible with with a standard SNES power supply. If you were to use one, my understanding is that it would break both your console and the power supply. The good news is that the Super Famicom can be correctly powered using a UK Mega Drive power cable. I retrieved this whilst looking for the Wii.

Finally the Super Famicom also requires its own RGB SCART cable, I’ve already wrote fairly extensively about the benefits of this type of connection so for this post I’ll keep it short and say that RBG SCARTs are great and give a much better picture than the stock AV cable. I bought one for the Super Famicom for £5.99.

Anyway, the North American release of Kirby’s Dreamland 3 is now extremely expensive. Fortunately the Japanese version is only a fraction of the price and as an added bonus is entirely in English. I purchased it for £13.57 and that even included the manual (okay this part's not in English). At the same time I grabbed a copy of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, because this one is also much cheaper in Japan.

Meanwhile the Nintendo Wii was nowhere to be found and the race was on to see which version of Kirby’s Dreamland 3 I’d get my hands on first. In the end the Super Famicom game arrived from Japan a full two days before the Wii finally showed up.

The Experiment:

The CRT I’m using is a Sony PVM, which gives an excellent picture quality for retro games (this is also something I’ve covered in more detail separately). It accepts input in the form of BNC connectors and I then use an RGB SCART to BNC cable followed by an RGB SCART adapter to connect multiple consoles at the same time via RGB SCART. This is the first time the Nintendo Wii will be hooked up to the PVM and I’ve bought a couple more adapters to allow it to work using component video output.

This particular PVM doesn't support 480p progressive scan, which is essentially the biggest advantage component gives over other cable types, however specifically for the Wii Virtual Console this isn’t an issue. Outputting these games in their native 240p resolution in fact requires the Wii to be running in 480i.

The RGB SCART adapter can be used as a pass-through for the component signal (including audio), meaning everything can be connected at the same time. This requires a SCART to component lead and then some female to female RCA joiners to connect the two together. For good measure I also added in component adapter; the more consoles that can be hooked up simultaneously (currently 9) the better.

With everything connected, Kirby's Dreamland 3 can run on both Super Famicom and Wii Virtual Console at the same time. The two can then be swapped between using the selector switch on the RBG SCART adapter. Below you can see the difference in picture quality:

Kirby's Dreamland 3 on Super Famicom Kirby's Dreamland 3 on Nintendo Wii

Okay, I do realise that this is really a comparison between component and RGB SCART rather than SNES and Wii. The component image is sharper and the pixels create a more jagged edge around Kirby. Side-by-side this gives the effect of appearing clearer and more in-focus than on the Super Famicom, but there’s a softness to the original that’s easy on the eyes and works particularly well when the game is in motion. Specifically for Kirby this complements the game’s hand-drawn art style.

The colours are noticeably more vivid on Super Famicom, and this is due to the cables. RGB SCART has three colour channels whilst component only has two. Kirby himself is a brighter shade of pink and overall the colour really stands out. Meanwhile there is a slight audio hiss – something I’ve noticed on every Super Nintendo I’ve owned. I believe it’s down to interference between the audio and video output, with the amount of hiss corresponding to the amount of white on screen (more white = more hiss). It’s not always noticeable when the game is playing, but it is easy to hear when compared to the Nintendo Wii where you have zero audio interference.

This isn't the only giveaway that the Super Famciom is fifteen years older than the Wii; when compared side by side the Wii loads up the game with an unsettling level of reliability. The Super Famciom is powered on by flicking a lever-like switch and then there’s a moment of anticipation when you wait to see if the game boots – a process that even the tiniest spec of dust will interrupt. The Wii powers on without fail, first presenting a health and safety message before loading into the sterile Wii menu that includes useless features such as the ‘Weather Channel’.

Still, the Virtual Console library is substantial and the Wii has an incredibly large selection of retro games for one single system. The games run at their native resolution and even better you can get a SNES style classic controller – the very device I’ve been using for my tests (for accuracy). These were originally Club Nintendo items that were rather hard to come by, but they’re now the same controllers used by the SNES classic and are a little more obtainable.

Paired with an authentic input device the overall experience is really quite good, but there’s still nothing that beats the original console. Not only does the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom hold up as my favourite way to play SNES games, but comes with all the fun of using and maintaining an old videogames console. It’s simply not as good when you don’t have to blow on the cartridge.

Lion Quest Versus Expanded includes the following cool features:

-   6 zen-inducing maps optimised for local multiplayer.

-   New worlds including the dimension-shifting Enigma 2.0, Looper – the VS map that doubles up as a working drum machine, and M1: Quest – a crossover with the visual novel game made by Dracula’s Cave.

-   Lion Quest mechanics rebuilt from the ground up to allow for more precise platforming, all new visual effects and game-changing powerups.

-   8 single-player tournaments, traditional platforming made un-traditional in Lion Quest Delta, unconventional Special Games and a plethora of unlocks to keep you busy.

• Introducing: Jimmy the Sloth. If there’s one thing that was missing from the original Lion Quest, it was a Sloth.

You can check out LQVE: Lion Quest Versus Expanded on Steam here.

As far as sequels go, NieR Automata triggers a fair few warning flags – a different developer, different characters and a lengthy time gap from the release of the original. Yet all of this ends up working in its favour, and Platinum Games deserve credit for creating a title that both stands on its own whilst also invoking the feel of the original game.

In this regard NieR Automata draws an odd comparison to Transformers Devastation – the way Platinum Games interpreted the Transformers universe is certainly not dissimilar to their take on NieR. The overall experience is a pretty fair split between the satisfying action mechanics the studio is known for, and the experimental game design components that make the original Nier one of last generation’s most intriguing and original games. All of this is held together by a surprisingly compelling story, and whilst it lacks an overall driving force this is overshadowed by the fact that NieR Automata does an astounding job of delivering its narrative through the channels provided by the game's mechanics. As part of this the game even works in elements such as saving and upgrades directly into the story. Meanwhile the characters, setting and atmosphere feel perfectly crafted, and Keiichi Okabe returns to complement all this with a selection of stunning musical compositions.

The graphics on the other hand deliver stylistically, but are let down by a few technical faults. Whilst the landscapes make for some stunning screenshots, NieR Automata hasn't been optimised particularly well and notably on PC – the platform I played through the game on – numerous issues remain fixed only unofficially as part of Kaldaien's FAR (Fix Automata Resolution) mod. Even then the game still has awful pop-in when anti-aliasing is turned on.

At times the performance issues were detrimental to my enjoyment of the game, but it was always something I tried to overlook due to everything else it does right. With Platinum Games at the helm, NieR Automata is a fundamentally better action game than the original NieR , and when the open world isn't 'popping-in' that bit is also pretty great too. Fighting giant robots comes to a head during a couple of epic set pieces, and these cinematic encounters also stand out as highlights.

Otherwise there's a lot of surprising and, dare I say it, thought provoking encounters I'm reluctant to divulge here from not wanting to ruin the surprise. NieR Automata brings back the ethos of the original in the way that it experiments with both genre and traditional game components, and combining this with the game's varied world means that it manages to deliver unexpected and satisfying moments throughout the main story. Overall it's everything a sequel should be – it improves fundamental elements from the first game, keeps many of the ideas that made it great, and still somehow manages to feel original.

9/10

For players of the original Lion Quest there's also good news – version 1.20 will go live on Steam this week and this features numerous improvements to the game including a new dynamic camera tracking system. This was originally developed for LQVE, but I ended up liking it so much that I couldn't resist configuring it for the first game also.

The total offering of the Omega Collection is three separate content packs; Wipeout HD, the ‘HD Fury’ expansion, and Wipeout 2048 – the 2012 PS Vita game. The HD/Fury campaigns were also released as DLC for on Vita, adding in the content from the 'HD' PS3 remaster, which itself was based on Wipeout Pure and Wipeout Pulse for the PSP. Phew.

This does indeed mean that a large amount of the content here has been released three times previously. Oh, Wipeout Pulse also got ported to the PS2, so four times – let’s not forget that one. As someone who’s played through all of these games I have mixed feelings about the same tracks being repeatedly recycled, and whilst it's surprisingly fun to look out for the minute differences in Omega Collection, it's also a shame that there's nothing new beyond this.

The Omega Collection is primarily a graphical and audio enhancement over the original titles. The game now supports 4K output, essentially the star new feature as the PS3 version of the game already ran at 1080p/60fps. New visual effects have been added to the HD/Fury content, which now looks distinctly more vibrant and saturated than it did on PS3. I think this is an improvement, but it's debatable.

2048 is a different situation entirely. Struggling to keep a steady 30fps on Vita, the remastered tracks fare a lot better on PS4, and the performance increase is substantial enough to make the content here feel fresh. Structurally however, 2048 feels a little weird when placed side-by-side with the PS3 campaigns. The track offering for HD/Fury is extremely strong; it's a greatest-hits collection of the two PSP games and each course has a unique visual identity. In Wipeout 2048 every track shares the same near-future aesthetic. The courses are still well designed and they look amazing, but they're all very similar to each other.

Meanwhile the improved sound design is one of the game’s strongest components. Striking audio and visual aesthetic has been a key component of the Wipeout games since the days of The Designers Republic, and it’s fantastic to hear the series sounding as good as it’s ever done. The soundtrack blends together old favourites with some well-chosen new additions, and the sound effects are infectious, immersive and maybe even a little hypnotic. The mechanics themselves further encourage a zen-like state, but it’s those soothing and robotic voices – y’know, the ones that go ‘ROCKETS, MISSILE, MINES… Autopilot Engaged’ – that induce the Wipeout-trance. I’d have loved to see new games types, events and even a campaign structured around unifying the content into a single, consistent experience. Or some of the extra PSP tracks given the HD treatment. Or new tracks entirely, although perhaps that's asking too much? Wipeout: Omega Collection repackages an existing experience and it gets away with doing this because the foundation it's based on is really very solid. It's great to know that Wipeout remains a classic, and Sony's most enduring racing series isn't quite dead yet.

8/10

Optional: why not accompany this article with a little music to set the mood?

1. Persona 4

For a while the Velvet Room felt oddly familiar, and then one day I realised that this was because it's essentially The Black Lodge from Twin Peaks plus a slight hue adjustment in PhotoShop. The similarities go beyond mere athletics too, with both serving similar purposes to the narrative and both being governed by some equally strange hosts.

The comparison is particularly obvious in the first two games, and there are thematic links that carry across the entire series, but I've singled out Persona 4 as the single most similar title. Y'know, the one where the new kid in a small town investigates a series of murders with a supernatural twist.

Buy Persona 4 (eBay)

2. Deadly Premonition

If you had to rename one of the games on this list to 'Twin Peaks: The Videogame', this would be the one. Deadly Premonition copies many of the key elements of the show almost exactly, from characters to setting to narrative.

It's hard to say if Deadly Premonition is actually any good as a game however – is bad enough to be considered good or just plain bad? Still, it's perhaps the only title that really captures the downright strangeness of Twin Peaks, along with its jarring mix of horror and comedy.

Buy Deadly Premonition (eBay)

3. Life is Strange

Life is Strange is an excellent game with just enough Twin Peaks influence to group them together as recommendations, without the game feeling like a derivative work or dodgy rip-off. It's got the small town and it's got the murder, but unlike, say Deadly Premonition they didn't have to stick a handlebar moustache on anyone to make them look a bit less like Harry Truman.

Aside from some comparable locations and a  tonne of thematic similarities, Dontnod added in a whole bunch of silly references to hammer home the message that they all really love Twin Peaks.

Buy Life is Strange (eBay)

4. Virginia

A game about the police investigation into a small town murder in the early 90s. Virginia not only has the exact premise of Twin Peaks, but its distinct audio and visual aesthetics is reminiscent of the show too.

The comparisons extend into the cinematic style of Fire Walk With Me, with Virginia demonstrating the two step process required to achieve this look. Reflect-y red thing? Check. Don't forget to italicise the all-caps.

5. Alan Wake

Did you know that there was a live action mini-series called 'Bright Falls' that serves as a prequel to Alan Wake? The theme song to Bright Falls is uncannily similar to the theme of Twin Peaks, and the show itself is surprisingly not terrible. Meanwhile Alan Wake is one of the most widely known games to draw heavy inspiration from Twin Peaks, although aside from its supernatural themes and small-town setting there are some other notable influences at play too, and this game would feel equally at home on a similar list for Stephen King inspired games.

Buy Alan Wake (eBay)

Having said that, Alan Wake does have it's very own Log... I mean 'Lamp' Lady. Bonus: Mizzurna Falls

There's one extra game for the list and that's Mizzurna Falls, which receives the bonus spot as it's never been released outside of Japan. If you can speak Japanese, or don't mind not being able to read any of the text, then not only does this game capture the small town murder vibe we all love Twin Peaks for, but is also a very interesting example of an early open world game that paved the way for the likes of Shenmue. That or Deadly Premonition, if Deadly Premonition had PlayStation 1 quality graphics as opposed to PlayStation 2 quality graphics.

I believe a fan translation for Mizzurna Falls is in the works, and whilst the full script is available online, the text hasn't yet been injected into the game to allow it to (finally) be enjoyed in English.

Buy Mizzurna Falls (eBay)

In sharp contrast to the Wii U's cheap plastic GamePad, the Nintendo Switch has a far more premium feel. The base unit not only looks great, but the image quality on the 6.2" LCD screen is razor-sharp. Whilst there's been a lot of discussion regarding resolutions recently (usually simplified to 720p = bad, 1080p = good), 720p on such a small screen delivers a very crisp image. In terms of pixel density the screen is approximately 240ppi, which is ever so slightly sharper than the (smaller) PS Vita screen at 220ppi. In more simple terms this means that when you're using it to play The Legend of Zelda, which is one of only a handful of things you currently can do with the Switch, it looks absolutely fantastic.

Of course you can also hook the game up to your television and enjoy a more traditional home console experience; the Switch easily slides into the included dock and make the transition from portable mode seamlessly. Still, Nintendo pushing the console as a hybrid capable of delivering on both fronts is perhaps a little misleading. The dock itself is nothing more than a plastic stand you can connect a couple of cables to, and when the Switch sits inside it – just about sticking out of the top – it doesn't look like a home console at-all. It looks like a handheld console sitting in a plastic stand.

This aesthetic is something I'm sure many people won't be bothered by; it may be a little bizarre looking but it's small and does work as expected. The other area where you'd perhaps expect a compromise is the controllers, and whilst snapping the Joy-Cons out of the screen and into the grip makes a nice sounding noise, the resulting device looks quite odd. Still, as anyone familiar with some of history's stranger controllers (I'm looking at you SEGA Saturn 3D Control Pad) will know, the weird shape doesn't effect how comfortable it is to use. The only real downside to the device is that by home console standards the analogue sticks are a little small and the triggers lack depth. That and an issue with the left Joy-Con occasionally losing sync, which has so far caused Link to run off a ledge and to his death exactly once.

Although flawed if you view the Switch primarily as a home console, by handheld standards the controller configuration is highly comprehensive. It has clickable analogue sticks and four shoulder buttons, so the main features lacking from the PS Vita. Sony's device was the last (notable) time a handheld attempted to deliver home console quality gaming, and it came up short on multiple accounts (although was actually a really amazing system in other areas). However the Switch definitely feels like it has the enhancements required to succeed where the Vita failed. Most notably, as the system has the same power and functionality in both TV and handheld mode, it's as a handheld it impresses the most. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an all-round fantastic looking game with an excellent art direction, but as a portable game it's truly stunning. Oh, and what if you want to play a game other than Zelda? In that case it might not be worth getting a Switch just yet. Nintendo consoles have a long history of launching with few games and this is no exception. Breath of the Wild is really good though. Better than Pilotwings on 3DS and New Super Mario Bros. U on Wii U. It single-handily makes for the best launch line-up Nintendo has had in over a decade.

Aside from games the system is relatively bare-bones and I love it. The UI is simple, clean and incredibly fast. The focus is on games and not online streaming services I'm not subscribed to. It's refreshing to purchase a device that doesn't bother with a sub-par internet browser or any other functionality that's completely pointless unless you don't own a smartphone. It's been a while since Nintendo, or anyone else for that matter, has made a system where classic offline gaming is the focus. At the same time its flagship title is full of modern enhancements that bring one of Nintendo's most loved series back to the forefront of videogame innovation. There's also a new Mario game on the horizon, that's exciting too.

One final note, there's no Virtual Console yet either. Good. Like I'd want to pay £5 for a NES rom, again.

When M wakes up in an abandoned hotel he has no memory of how he got there. In the bedside draw he finds a list with three names and a gun with three bullets, but what he does with this information is up to you. Embark on a violence-soaked post-apocalyptic adventure where the answers to your questions come at a price. How far will you go to discover the truth?

...

Update August 2017: Since originally writing this post, M1 has become available on Steam. Even better still, game purchases made through itch.io also come with a Steam key. For a full fact sheet on the game M1 now has its own page on Dracula's Cave (here), and what follows in this article are some (slightly updated) thoughts first written back when the game launched on itch.

Releasing M1 is a strange experience for me. The truth is that I can't play the game for more than five minutes without wanting to add things or make tiny little changes, and this is the main reason that it's never seen the light of day – even though almost all of the assets were completed back in 2012. Recently I've come to realise that I'm never going to be fully happy with M1, but it's an interesting game and one I'd like people to enjoy.

...

Oh, and before you shout 'Why should I play a game that's FIVE years old?' here's a list of the new 2017-y features and improvements:

–All art and assets lovingly re-sized for high definition

–New menus and all-new title screen. You'll have to look at this every time you want to play the game so hopefully there's some benefit to this.

–Serious legibility improvements. You'll never have to endure the pixely mess of a font M1 once used.

–Improved scene transitions, working sound effects, mountains of rewritten dialogue, entirely new conversations and countless other enhancements.

–Steam integration including cloud saves and achievements.

...

A Few Final Odd Thoughts

M1 feels exactly like the style of game I remember wanting to make five years ago, and it's been a somewhat strange experience to finish (or attempt to finish) it now, especially when I contrast it with the different ideas I want to explore with games going forward. Still, there's always a chance that I'll revisit it someday – my programming knowledge was limited back in 2012 and the game's status as an extremely simple visual novel reflects this. I'd love to add in a tonne of more advanced mechanics, but doing so would essentially require remaking the game from the ground up. Whilst I won't say this will never happen, it certainly won't be any time soon. It's already taken years to get to this point.

Please enjoy M1 for what it is, and I will try and do the same.

More so than with the previous entries, the fourth and last Persona 3 movie is strictly a continuation of the events that have preceded it. It's perhaps the weakest of the four movies, but this can be attributed to the way that game's story splits into four. Winter of Rebirth follows directly on from Falling Down – the time for developing the supporting characters is over, it's the end of the world (as we know it) and all that's left is for the characters to wallow in misery and wait for the final battle against a giant demon.

And whilst the sombre tone sort-of works during this downbeat section of the game, it makes for a surprisingly depressing movie. Most of the first half is spent watching the characters trying to decide if they should take Ryoji up on his odd offer to wipe their memories so they can spend their last month alive unaware of the impending apocalypse. Because y'know, aside from summoning the demon that will bring about said apocalypse, Ryoji is a kind-of-alright guy.

His proposition is the catalyst that sets in motion the game's final section, but the timeline he lays out for the protagonist relies heavily on the calendar system mechanic through which the story unfolds. Translating this into a compelling movie narrative is the film's biggest challenge, and although the result is a valiant effort, consolidating the game's plot into key scenes and skipping a bunch of days in between them means that the entire set-up barely makes sense and isn't particularly compelling.

The decision itself is placed solely in the hands of Makoto, which again makes sense in the game – where you can sign up for the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ending – but now the feeling is predominantly a complete loss of purpose for the supporting cast. They've already learned about the importance of friendship, everyone from the last two movies is still dead, and there's nothing they can do but anticipate the final battle in which they will offer moderate assistance. Junpei starts fighting and Yukari stops eating, reducing their characters to little more than gender stereotypes. Meanwhile Apathy Syndrome has now taken over almost the entire NPC population, and people who all look the same parade the streets like the persona-less zombies that they have become. As you can probably guess, the film chooses the path of the true ending, in which the cast wait out a second month of misery in anticipation of the apocalypse, but the fun times they would have had living in ignorance are also covered in a 'flash sideways', not dissimilar to those found in the 6th series of LOST.

Aside from this there's another interlude to the bleakness when Elisabeth leaves the Velvet Room and is given the tour of Port Island by Makoto. This light-hearted scene stands out as one of the movie's most enjoyable, not only because of its contrast, but also because it gives some much needed exposure to one of the series' most underrated characters. Otherwise this is truly a movie about Makoto, and to be fair there's a whole bunch of reasons why this works. As a blank slate in the game, this is the one area in which the movies have been able to expand on the source material in a satisfying way, and here is where the pay-off is most evident. Ultimately, Winter of Rebirth is more-or-less of the same standard as the previous three films. Now the series has concluded it's perhaps most relevant to view the entity as a whole, and in this regard it's a fantastic tetralogy that I'd highly recommend to Persona 3 fans. The final movie has the same impressive production, stunning visuals, and loving attention to detail that's defined the adaptation, but there's simply no escaping the fact that when spitting the narrative into four this is the part that comes up short.

7/10

And the rest:

Persona 3: The Movie #1 Spring of Birth

Persona 3: The Movie #2 Midsummer Knight's Dream

Persona 3: The Movie #3 Falling Down