Derek Heemsbergen
- Earthbound
- Xenoblade Chronicles
- Anything by Falcom!
Derek Heemsbergen's Reviews
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.
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.
Don't be fooled by its unassuming facade: Rakuen is a one-of-a-kind adventure that brings tears and smiles in equal measure.
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.
A slow-paced but charismatic RPG with an incredibly well-crafted world and characters.
A content-rich sci-fi adventure that diverges from its predecessor in unexpected but delightful ways.
A polished cyberpunk graphic adventure with themes other developers rarely handle with this much finesse.
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.
Octopath Traveler is a sublime mélange of classic role-playing sensibilities and modern conveniences that speaks to this RPG aficionado's soul.
Beautifully trim, transcendently polished, and unexpectedly inclusive, Timespinner is among the most capable endeavours to spring from Castlevania's picked-over carcass.
If you've played Trails FC, you need to play Trails SC, period.
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.
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.
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
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.
A compelling expansion of the Trails universe that sets the stage for further adventures in Zemuria.
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.
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.
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.
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.