The playbook

A VANGUARD FOR THE FIRST ERA OF 32-BIT RPGS, YOSHITAKA MURAYAMA AND JUNKO KAWANO’S SUIKODEN PROVED THE STRONG FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED BY POPULAR 16-BIT CONSOLE RPGS AND BOLSTERED IT WITH NEW METHODS OF COMBAT, A STRIKING POLITICALLY DRIVEN NARRATIVE, AND AN ARMY’S WORTH OF RECRUITABLE CHARACTERS

OUENDAN WAS ONE OF THE EARLY IMPORT CULT HITS THAT SHOWCASED THE NINTENDO DS’ TECH WITH ITS OWN DUAL FUNCTION OF RHYTHM GAMEPLAY AND STORYTELLING WITH HOT-BLOODED EMOTIONS. WE SPEAK WITH FORMER TEAM MEMBERS OF INIS ON HOW THEY MADE THIS UNIQUE MANGA-INSPIRED CHEERLEADING GAME

The most cultured thug in town gets more than he bargained for.

IN A GAME FILLED WITH HORROR CLICHÉS, THIS ONE NATURALLY BEGINS ON A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT, WHEN A COUPLE OF KIDS ENTER AN ABANDONED MANSION. JOIN US AS WE TOO STEP INSIDE THE SPLATTERHOUSE – AND IF YOU’RE FEELING FAINT, JUST KEEP REPEATING, “IT’S ONLY A VIDEOGAME… ONLY A VIDEOGAME…”

KEITA TELLS A MORE INTIMATE TALE ■ In ...

KEITA TAKAHASHI TALKS US THROUGH HIS JOURNEY FROM ART-SCHOOL ODDBALL TO WORLDWIDE ACCLAIM AS THE CREATOR OF THE PS2 CLASSIC KATAMARI DAMACY. ALONG THE WAY WE DISCUSS GOAT-SHAPED FLOWERPOTS, DESIGNING PLAYGROUNDS, HIS ENDLESS WISH TO MAKE PEOPLE SMILE AND HIS NEW GAME, TO A T