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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.
Jul 5, 2019

Shadowbringers is more than just a masterful arc in a beloved tale; it's one of the best Final Fantasy stories ever realized, showcasing an MMORPG at the apex of its craft.

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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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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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Mar 19, 2018

One of the best JRPGs released in ages, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is as charming as it is intricate, full of expressive characters and addictive gameplay systems that mesh together in perfect harmony.

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A slow-paced but charismatic RPG with an incredibly well-crafted world and characters.

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Dec 18, 2015

A content-rich sci-fi adventure that diverges from its predecessor in unexpected but delightful ways.

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Oct 13, 2015

A polished cyberpunk graphic adventure with themes other developers rarely handle with this much finesse.

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Dragon Quest XI's strength lies not in defying conventions, but in refining the concepts its predecessors pioneered to the absolute apex of what a Dragon Quest game can be.

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Jul 19, 2018

Octopath Traveler is a sublime mélange of classic role-playing sensibilities and modern conveniences that speaks to this RPG aficionado's soul.

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9 / 10.0 - Timespinner
Sep 28, 2018

Beautifully trim, transcendently polished, and unexpectedly inclusive, Timespinner is among the most capable endeavours to spring from Castlevania's picked-over carcass.

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If you've played Trails FC, you need to play Trails SC, period.

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Trails of Cold Steel II continues in the series' tradition of lengthy, narratively expansive JRPGs that will have fans up late theorizing about their favorite characters.

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You could do better within the Ys series, but it's still near the top of the pack as far as retro-styled action RPGs go.

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Jun 24, 2016

Idol enthusiasts will ascend to J-pop nirvana, while the rest of us will find TMS to be a perfect appetizer to tide us over until Persona 5

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If you like traditional JRPGs but Trails in the Sky was a little too dated for you, Cold Steel is exactly what you've been looking for.

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

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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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8.5 / 10.0 - Gotta Protectors
Oct 25, 2016

Gotta Protectors is a frenetic and charming celebration of retro Japanese games that rises above its low-fidelity presentation to deliver one seriously addictive experience.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Steins;Gate 0
Dec 27, 2016

Steins;Gate 0 is one of the best stories the visual novel genre has to offer, and stands as a worthy sequel to its critically-acclaimed predecessor.

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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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