Operation Backlog Completion 2026
May 152024
 

I’ve been looking forward to the Switch port of Tokyo Xanadu eX+ ever since it was announced that it would be coming west this summer.

See, Tokyo Xanadu eX+ is a game I was trying to play but never stuck with, and I think I’d be much more inclined to stick with it if I had it on the Switch instead of PC.

Something about this style of JRPG just feels better to me when I play it on consoles, and I love being able to just pick up the Switch to play whenever I feel like it.

The Switch port is also supposed to have an improved localization, so that’s another reason to potentially wait.

I don’t think we’ve seen any direct comparisons of the localizations yet, but the lead editor responded to a question about it, saying that they focused on consistency, lore accuracy, and characterization.

After previously being announced for June, it has now been confirmed for July 25, with a new release date announcement trailer. I don’t mind the delay, since that will give me more time to play my other in-progress games.

I’m looking forward to restarting Tokyo Xanadu eX+ when it comes to the Switch in July. In the meantime, I’ve got plenty of other games to play (including other Falcom games). Are you planning to play Tokyo Xanadu?

May 132024
 

Remember the fun April Fools’ Day joke from the Reynatis developers this year, in which they jokingly announced a collaboration with The World Ends With You?

Turns out it’s not just an April Fools’ Day joke after all!

Last week, it was officially announced that Reynatis will include a side story featuring Shoka and other characters from The World Ends With You.

From the details that have been revealed, it looks like the Reynatis cast will become part of the Reapers’ Game in this side story.

I was already planning to get Reynatis, but if I wasn’t, I would be now. Heck, I was excited enough when I thought it was an April Fools’ joke. An actual collaboration isn’t something I thought TWEWY would get.

In addition to the trailer, they also recently tweeted combat footage against Noise enemies.

The combat in that clip also looks a lot smoother than in their previous trailers, so that’s a good sign. On paper, Reynatis sounds like a game meant for me, exactly the sort of thing I’ll love. Not all of FuRyu’s games have been so well-received, however, so I worry it won’t live up to its potential. Still, I’m going to get it.

Reynatis will be out in Japan on July 25 and in the west on September 27. A Limited Edition is also available. Are you planning to pick up Reynatis? How do you feel about the TWEWY collaboration?

May 102024
 

In 2022, we discussed The Haunted Island, a Frog Detective Game, a silly little adventure game about a frog detective solving a mystery.

A few months later, our first mystery game celebration included a look at Frog Detective 2: The Case of the Invisible Wizard, which was a bit longer and more grounded, but still another wacky adventure.

Now it’s finally time to talk about Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County.

In this third entry in the series, Frog Detective goes to Cowboy County to help Lobster Cop with a new case. Like its predecessors, it’s a simple adventure game where you’ll talk to characters, learn their requests, and then solve other characters’ requests to get what you need to help them. It’s an easy, straightforward formula without too much challenge, but it works.

Oh, and this time you get a scooter to get around town faster.

The humor is quite goofy as always, but there’s actually a bit more of a narrative thread this time. For as silly as these games are, I actually got excited to see how things would progress. This is the longest Frog Detective game so far, taking me an hour and a half to complete.

It’s a fun, lighthearted adventure game with plenty of humor, although it lacks the extreme absurdity of the first game. Still, if you enjoyed the first two, you’ll likely enjoy this one as well. Now, its store description calls it “the third and final game in the Frog Detective series.” That made me a bit disappointed at first, because I’d like to see this series continue. I’d love another Frog Detective game, or even a spin-off.

However, Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County brings together loose ends from the previous two games and resolves things in way that feels fitting for a finale. If this is the end of the Frog Detective series, it’s a satisfying one.