The Best of PAX East
These were the best of the games at PAX East 2024.
Author: Barry Irick
How ‘Sea of Stars’ Taught Me That JRPGs Can Be More Than a Story
Sea of Stars showed me exactly what the genre was capable of when combat isn’t taken for granted.
Video Games and What We’re Thankful For in 2023
Each year, the Epilogue staff likes to reflect on what we’re grateful for. Here’s are our highlights from 2023.
The Top 10 Most Wholesome Characters in Gaming
This list features not only those characters that we must protect at all costs, but the most precious cinnamon rolls to ever exist.
Anxiety and Judgement: A Dive into a ‘Psychonauts 2’ World
Psychonauts 2 opens with a statement about empathy and healing, and there is no better example in the game than Compton Boole.
Why I Quit Playing ‘Hades’
I wanted to like Hades. With all of the critical acclaim it has received, and how people I know have put in hundreds of hours into it, I expected more.
Like Night and Day – ‘Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye’ and its Frightening Disparity
The separation between the good and bad parts of Echoes of the Eye is like night and day, leaving me with a feeling of dissatisfaction.
Holding On By A Thread: A Look at ‘Keyword: A Spider’s Thread’
Keyword is a neat little title with a unique gameplay hook, but in its current state it feels a bit undercooked.
The Illusion of Choice: ‘Deltarune’ and the Separation of Player and Character
Deltarune’s Chapter 2 dares the player to try to make meaningful choices while the characters keep the story on track.
‘WarioWare: Get It Together!’ Should Learn From Its Title
Despite its uniqueness, unbalanced gameplay and a focus on offline multiplayer make WarioWare: Get It Together! not worth your time.
Accessibility Gone Wrong: The ‘Axiom Verge 2’ Approach
Axiom Verge 2 has taken some lopsided steps in an attempt to provide accessibility, and in doing so appeals to neither its core fanbase nor newcomers.
Achievement Hunting and Too Much Content
It can be frustrating when a few elusive achievements take up the vast majority of the time. Even worse still is when these last few achievements are not fun.
‘Dark Souls’ and Expert Boss Design
The boss progression of Dark Souls is an incredibly well-crafted one, teaching the player mechanics through the designs of the fights themselves.
Toadally Worth A Play – A ‘Battletoads’ Review
For its sheer variety alone, Battletoads is worth a look, and has enough of a mechanical foundation to keep me wanting more.
How ‘Undertale’ Subverts Expectations
Undertale is a masterclass of subverting expectations. Consistently throughout, Undertale creates scenarios that are both hilarious and unexpected.
Why the ‘Halo’ Trilogy Isn’t That Good
The Halo trilogy is dated and never managed to find its footing. There may be glimpses of brilliance, but they are overshadowed by mountains of monotony.
Is ‘Sunset Overdrive’ Worth Playing?
Despite its shortcomings, it was satisfactory enough in the gameplay department to see what the end of the crazy stylish adventure had in store for me.
Playing the Narrative: ‘Psychonauts’
Psychonauts stands tall as a shining example of ‘playing the narrative’, incorporating gameplay into the narrative of so many unique characters in a way no other game has done before.
Why ‘NieR: Automata’ Isn’t That Good
Overall, my experience with Nier: Automata was a mixture of confusion and frustration. The initial A route was fine until the rest of the game slowly spiraled down afterward, both in terms of gameplay and narrative.
A Fantastical Exploration Adventure – An ‘Outer Wilds’ Review
Outer Wilds was an incredible experience that focuses on the adventure while keeping the destination shrouded in secrecy.
Playing the Narrative: ‘Celeste’
An imposing mountain looms overhead. A young girl has travelled a long way from home, planning to scale this mountain and reach its peak. She climbs not because she wants to, but because she...
Playing the Narrative: ‘Bloodborne’
Beasts run rampant all over the city of Yharnam, terrorizing the populace. The Healing Church, the organization running the town, has recruited some hunters to keep the city safe. Unfortunately for the people of...
Playing the Narrative: ‘La-Mulana’
Arriving in a village outside the ancient ruins of La-Mulana, famed archaeologist Lemeza Kosugi is greeted by an elder, warning him of the dangers inside. The rumors say the ruins are the birthplace of...
Playing the Narrative: ‘Majora’s Mask’
Many video games have distinct differences between the narrative and gameplay elements. Each has a purpose, and sometimes they work at odds with one another. In games such as Bioshock and Uncharted, the player’s...
‘RAD’ – First Impressions
RAD is the latest game from Double Fine, set to release this summer. Described as an ‘action rogue-like,’ RAD tasks the player with delving into an ever-changing apocalyptic world brimming with nuclear fallout. I’ve...
Three and Out – ‘Super Mario Maker 2’
Super Mario Maker 2 presents itself as a bigger, better version of its predecessor. More parts, more themes, online multiplayer, and a story mode are all included, and yet this wealth of content never...
Three and Out – ‘Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled’
In wake of the recent remakes, Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled turbo-boosts on by with a faithful recreation that brings even more than expected. When this remake was first announced, I was a bit...
Three and Out – ‘Nyakuza Metro’
A Hat in Time is one of my favorite releases of 2017. The previous DLC release, Seal the Deal, was an incredible package that incorporated both the cutest thing in gaming as a whole...
Three and Out – ‘Return of the Obra Dinn’
Return of the Obra Dinn is one of the most unique games I have ever experienced. Taking on the role of a claims adjuster of all things, I was tasked with exploring an abandoned...
What the New ‘Cuphead’ Patch Gets Right
Cuphead recently released a new patch (1.2.2), which made some subtle touches and included a few more noticeable additions. This patch coincides with the release of the Switch version, so I decided to take...
Three and Out – ‘Aviary Attorney’
I initially purchased Aviary Attorney due to my love of the Ace Attorney series. I figured it was a game that was narratively-focused like Ace Attorney, but with bird puns and a distinctly vintage...
Three and Out – ‘West of Loathing’
Back in middle school, I came across a browser-based RPG, Kingdom of Loathing. For a brief time, I was hooked by its slapstick humor and simplistic charm, though it fell into obscurity and I...
Three and Out – ‘ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove’
Disclaimer: Thank you to HumaNature studios for being kind enough to provide us with a review copy for this article. When ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove was first announced, I was both...
Three and Out – ‘The Messenger’
I went into The Messenger not completely blind and with vague expectations – I knew that time travel was going to happen eventually. Even so, in a fourth-wall break, the game made itself aware...
‘Cuphead’ and Expert Boss Design
Cuphead is one of those games that seemed to thrive on pure aesthetic alone. The classic cartoon art-style instantly captivated audiences of all ages, while the big band orchestra perfectly encapsulated the bygone era....
Three and Out – ‘Grim Fandango’
LucasArts was a company well known for its interesting and compelling storytelling, and Grim Fandango is no exception to that reputation. This game is presented in a noir style based on the Aztec version of...
Three and Out – ‘Mega Man 11’
After an eight-year long hiatus, Mega Man is back with a brand new entry into the classic franchise. The movement, shooting and level design harkens back to the NES-era. The art style and voice...
Three and Out – ‘Fallout: New Vegas’
War never changes. This is the opening line to Fallout: New Vegas, and it rings true throughout the game. It begins with a unique 1950’s aesthetic in its retro-futuristic style and keeps it consistent...
Epilogue’s Game of January: Demon’s Souls
Every month, Epilogue Gaming will be selecting a new game to analyze, anatomize and explore. These games are chosen by our golden tier Patreon members, who select the titles from a list of games...
How ‘Undertale’ Subverts Expectations
Undertale is a masterclass of subverting expectations. Consistently throughout, Undertale creates scenarios that are both hilarious and unexpected.
How ‘Undertale’ Kills Expectations
Undertale is a masterclass of subverting expectations. Consistently throughout, Undertale creates scenarios that are both depressing and unexpected.
