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.

The original PlayStation hosted a great variety of titles that don’t come up in conversation much nowadays, and among them are some interesting tactical items. Working Designs and Atlus had hands in bringing all of these intriguing games across the Pacific, though their merits vary. (Vanguard Bandits, Kartia, Brigandine, Hoshigami)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 108: “Coins, Robots, Knights and Phantoms” appeared first on RPGamer.

There was a long break after Suikoden III, and the results did not seem to warrant confidence in the series’ future. The Island Nations and their struggle with the Kooluk Empire are the subject of this fairly restrained Suikoden episode.

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 107: “Tactical Stars of Destiny” appeared first on RPGamer.

The Persona series has been in the news a lot lately, but enthusiasm for the first entry seems relatively lacking. An analysis of both the original PlayStation and the PSP renditions seems warranted to determine why, and it can be found right here.

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 106: “Ingmar Bergman’s Persona” appeared first on RPGamer.

Was it really necessary to extend the Shining series into the action RPG realm? Regardless of how little clamor there was for such a thing, Sega kept at it for years. Analyzing the mostly-misbegotten results is on our agenda this time. (Shining Wisdom, Shining Soul, Shining Tears, Shining Force Neo, Shining Force EXA, Shining Wind)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 105: “All That Glitters Is Not Shining” appeared first on RPGamer.

When it comes to licensed games, the X-Men have been stuck in some real stinkers over the years. A few broke the curse of adapting a famous Marvel property though, and the thrill of smashing the scenery with mutant powers is enough to make them worth investigating. (X-Men Legends)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 104: “I’m the Juggernaut, Bitch!” appeared first on RPGamer.

Konami and tactical RPGs may not go together much, but one series managed it for a little while. It’s bloody good fun to dissect in spurts, too. (Vandal Hearts)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 103: “Violent Vandalism” appeared first on RPGamer.

There once was a title on the PS1 that involved saving the world from nasty things lurking in the mist. Doing so was mostly accomplished through martial arts prowess, a mechanic that carried over to its sequel, and was then abandoned in the years afterward. (Legend of Legaia)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 102: “Leeartha… Leterra… Legaia!” appeared first on RPGamer.

Much was promised by Peter Molyneux when it came to a series that took huge quantities of money and time to create. His promises were definitely worth their weight in gold, as this discussion makes clear. (Fable)

The post RPG Backtrack – Episode 101: “Aesop’s Something or Other” appeared first on RPGamer.