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Derek Heemsbergen


Favorite Games:
  • Earthbound
  • Xenoblade Chronicles
  • Anything by Falcom!

82 games reviewed
75.9 average score
78 median score
49.4% of games recommended

Derek Heemsbergen's Reviews

A connoisseur of all things RPG, Derek has been writing about video games professionally since 2010. His educational background in linguistics and Japanese coalesced to form a fascination with game localization, a field he recently started working in after publishing research on the topic. He has a deep and abiding love for Japanese developer Nihon Falcom, and his heart is prone to go pitter-patter at the sound of the word "Ys." Aside from his kinda-sorta-almost-all-consuming love of gaming, Derek enjoys staying active, improving his mediocre cooking skills, drinking too much coffee, and covering his body in geeky tattoos. He lives with his partner in Arizona and seeks to expand his family by once again welcoming several ferrets into the fold.
7 / 10.0 - Namco Museum
Aug 2, 2017

A high price point and some subjective duds make Namco Museum a stretch in terms of outright value, but the influence these games had on the industry makes them worth at least a cursory glance in the rearview mirror.

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8 / 10.0 - KAMIKO
Jul 20, 2017

Kamiko's quaint, pick-up-and-play nature makes it a fantastic fit on Nintendo's versatile console.

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Jul 14, 2017

Ever Oasis is a competent blend of simulation and action RPG that revels in its celebration of nature's bounty.

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Jun 30, 2017

Stormblood helps Final Fantasy XIV soar to new heights in storytelling, visuals, and gameplay, inching one of the best MMORPGs ever created even closer to perfection.

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May 24, 2017

The ultimate version of Disgaea 5 goes deeper than ever into strategic minutiae, standing out as a fantastic value in spite of its cringe-worthy humor.

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It might sound strange to call an anniversary repackaging of a decades old title a "must own" for a new system, but Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is just that well produced.

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9.5 / 10.0 - Rakuen
May 23, 2017

Don't be fooled by its unassuming facade: Rakuen is a one-of-a-kind adventure that brings tears and smiles in equal measure.

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A compelling expansion of the Trails universe that sets the stage for further adventures in Zemuria.

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May 10, 2017

Technically messy and relentlessly shallow, The Caligula Effect is one taboo better left unbroken.

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7.5 / 10.0 - Kero Blaster
May 6, 2017

At $10, Kero Blaster is pushing it in terms of justifying its price point, but there's no denying that it's a silly, well-crafted little game that feels good and oozes charisma.

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Apr 30, 2017

Dragon Quest Heroes II is one of the most flexible Warriors games on the market, full of nods to its dual lineage for better and for worse.

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Mar 29, 2017

Episode Gladiolus is worth checking out for its rugged action and blood-pumping music, though its plot points really should've been part of Final Fantasy XV in the first place.

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8 / 10.0 - Voez
Mar 27, 2017

A surprisingly strong contender in the Nintendo Switch launch library, VOEZ is well worth its modest asking price for rhythm fans who need to scratch that IIDX itch.

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Mar 20, 2017

Mass Effect: Andromeda presents plenty of great ideas, but these tend to be either aped too closely from its predecessors or buried under issues that are surmountable yet frustrating all the same.

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The clumsiest Atelier title since Rorona, Atelier Firis lacks the heart, soul, and polish of its predecessors.

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Feb 23, 2017

A dense and impenetrable creature-management simulation that relishes in gut-punching the player every time they make progress.

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Feb 8, 2017

Tales of Berseria is proof that with a more thoughtful approach to design, the series still has what it takes to stand tall among its RPG contemporaries.

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Kingdom Hearts fans - particularly those who can justify the game's astronomical price point of $60 for about five hours of new content - will definitely enjoy their brief time with Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue.

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A technically inferior version of the original Atelier Shallie, but its narrative additions are worth seeking out for hardcore fans.

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As the most content-rich Project DIVA game yet, Future Tone has a bizarre charm that should appeal even to the most vocaloid-averse rhythm game fans.

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