

Tokyo Xanadu (Vita)
Nihon Falcom is a Japanese video game developer who has been around for decades. Their most well-known series in the US is probably Ys (pronounced ‘ease’) but even then that’s a pretty niche series. Another popular series they made (at least in Japan) was the Xanadu games, which received many sequels and spinoffs. Fans of the NES may have played some of these spinoffs, like Faxanadu or Legacy of the Wizard (yes, really, all those games are related in a way). One thing the Xanadu games have in common is that, well, they don’t have anything in common! None of them are really related in any way (that I’m aware of), and such is the case with the newest in the series: Tokyo Xanadu. In this game you play as a normal Japanese high school boy. You have a part time job and hang out with friends. But one day you discover an alternate dimension filled with dungeons and monsters, and find out that some of your classmates are involved. Now you must juggle school, a part time job, and saving the world with your friends.
Pathfinder 2017 Update (RPG)
The Pathfinder RPG keeps chugging along with recent releases including a remake of the urban-based adventure-path (campaign), the Curse of the Crimson Throne. Other supplements include the Bestiary 6 (with a number of high-level monsters) and the Adventurer’s Guide full of secret and not-so-secret organizations for your world. I’ve also recently found out Paizo has even made the content of well over a dozen of the game’s rules and supplements freely accessible online!
Import Amiibo
As many of you may know, I’m a big fan of collecting Nintendo’s amiibo figures. Most amiibo figures are released in the US and Japan, and some are harder to get than others. I’ve been able to get most of the amiibo figures I own in stores in the US, but I have had to import a few in the past. But did you know that as of this writing, there are some amiibo figures that are only available in Japan? Well I recently imported those so I thought I’d go over them now.
Cary’s Best Games of 2017 SO FAR Awards Show!
Can you believe this year is already half over? What I like to do this time of year is write about the best games of the year so far. Everyone is all excited over recent E3 announcements, and most of the really good titles come out during the Christmas season at the tail end of the year, and the games that come out earlier tend to be forgotten. So this is where those games get their due. Keep in mind that no outside opinions went into the making of this list. It’s just my own picks. And if a game is missing from my list, it either didn’t appeal to me as much, or I just simply haven’t played it yet. Can’t play all the games out there, you know! Luckily I have to say that this year we’ve already gotten way better games than we did at this point last year, so that’s a good thing. Anyway, without further ado, welcome to Cary’s Best Games of 2017 SO FAR Awards Show!
Neighborhorde (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
So we’ve all had this happen to us before. You’re sitting inside with your buddies playing video games and your mom makes you get up and go outside. And that’s exactly what happens in this game. But the outside neighborhood is filled with robots and ninjas and wizards and you must use your imagination to conjure up all sorts of silly weapons to defend yourselves. Neighborhorde is a twin stick couch multiplayer shooter with an emphasis on teamwork. It’s available to download on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Crazy Taxi: Gazillionaire (iOS, Android)
Crazy Taxi is one of the best arcade games ever made, and it’s one of SEGA’s top games overall, too. At least I think so. You drive a taxi and must take customers to their destination as fast as you can, and do crazy stunts along the way for more money! The money grabbing aspect must’ve been the main focus for the newest in the Crazy Taxi series, as Crazy Taxi: Gazillionaire is one of those mobile endless clickers. It’s available for iOS and Android devices, but reviewed on iPad here.
RIME (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
You are a boy who has been shipwrecked on an island filled with mystical ruins. It’s your job to solve the puzzles in these ruins to discover their secrets. Why? Well, you’ve got nothing else better to do, I guess. RIME is a 3-D action adventure puzzle game available for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.
Pokémon: Magikarp Jump! (iOS, Android)
Because of the popularity of Pokémon GO, the Pokémon Company is really embracing the mobile market. Now there is a separate game starring everyone’s favorite Pokémon character. No, it’s not Pikachu or Meowth. Not Snorlax or Mewtwo. Oh wait, did I say favorite? What I meant was this game stars the most useless Pokémon of all: the flopping fish Magikarp! Yup, he has his own game in Magikarp Jump!, a free-to-play downloadable title on mobile devices (but reviewed on iPad here). You’re just going to have to check this one out to believe it!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch)
A timeless multiplayer classic returns with improvements in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch. Race your carts over graphic-rich environments while you release deadly toys to frustrate your opponents, or switch over to battle mode to focus entirely on the combat. One part racing mixed with one part chaotic combat, Mario Kart defined a genre and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a must-buy for gamers interested in multiplayer games on their Switch. It presents all of the best the Mario Kart franchise has to offer.
Guilty Gear Xrd REV2 (PS4)
Guilty Gear is a series of 2-D one-on-one anime-styled fighting games. They feature a wide variety of interesting characters, This new game isn’t really a sequel, but more of an expansion pack of the last game that was released a couple of years ago. You get all the DLC that has been released so far, as well as familiar characters like Baiken and even some new modes! And the announcer yells the name of the game on the title screen, so I finally get to learn how to pronounce “Xrd” (it’s like “Zard” or something).