The ruins of the central Atlantic region of the US are open to in-depth exploration, as Bethesda takes a crack at the post-apocalyptic future. Thinking too hard about one’s surroundings may strain neurons to the breaking point. (Fallout 3)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 118: “Can’t We Get Beyond Thunderdome?” appeared first on RPGamer.

Hironobu Sakaguchi, Nobuo Uematsu, and Akira Toriyama got together again to inaugurate Mistwalker as a studio. The results were unfortunately not up to the standard set when they first collaborated, but nevertheless spawned a series. (Blue Dragon)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 117: “The Shadow Knows” appeared first on RPGamer.

Gust makes a long-running, plentiful series that doesn’t adhere to many of the usual RPG stereotypes. Here’s a trilogy of them on the PS3, sporting a love for pie and relatively few instances in which killing things is mandatory. (Atelier Rorona, Totori, Meruru)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 116: “The Secret Ingredient” appeared first on RPGamer.

After the first Fallout, eight decades passed before a new hero had to undertake a quest. That quest involved meeting a number of strange new people in interesting places. Dealing with these people could take place in any number of ways, but the stark effectiveness of blowing them away was a tempting option.

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 115: “Dust in the Wind” appeared first on RPGamer.

It’s Yasumi Matsuno’s vast Ogre world, but the game format for this bunch is rather different than March of the Black Queen. Just because things look more like conventional tactical models doesn’t mean there are no gameplay depths to describe, though. (Tactics Ogre)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 114: “Ogres in My Pocket” appeared first on RPGamer.

Nippon Ichi has made a number of other titles over the years, but a certain series took off in the public imagination and continues to produce fresh entries. Tactical action in the underworld with explosive Prinnies is the subject, and it’s so expansive that this episode sets a new record for our length. (Disgaea)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 113: “Over Level 9000!” appeared first on RPGamer.

An early Yasumi Matsuno title on the SNES remains a complex and rewarding experience, while its direct sequel provides one of the few opportunities we get to discuss something on the N64. Enjoy this discussion of some tactical goodness that doesn’t play by the usual rules. (Ogre Battle)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 112: “You’re a Real Ogre” appeared first on RPGamer.

The world would have been a different place had World War III happened, and the early Fallout titles showed a number of ways that the radiation could have changed things. The level of realism is subject to debate, but the games themselves are pretty entertaining nevertheless.

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 111: “After the Apocalypse” appeared first on RPGamer.

No longer able to contain its use of Marvel characters to just the X-Men, Raven Software went all-out for a grand spectacle with the license. Then three years passed and Activision handed the reins of Marvel characters smashing the forces of supervillains to someone new, with less appealing results. (Marvel Ultimate Alliance)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 110: “Marvel’s Civil War” appeared first on RPGamer.

No matter where or when the action takes place, Link rarely gets a chance to rest. If it’s not sailing or steering a train on the DS, he’s got a showcase Wii title in which to save the day. More reminiscing about a premiere Nintendo series awaits. (The Legend of Zelda, part 4)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 109: “Lean and Green with an Edge That’s Keen” appeared first on RPGamer.