Peter Tieryas

Radical Dreamers Is A Short But Fun Reunion With Chrono Characters

The visual novel offered satisfying connective tissue between two beloved games

How Ys VIII’s Unique Take On The Apocalypse Made It So Compelling

Ys VIII is one of the best action RPGs of the past generation

World End Syndrome Has A Fascinating Story If You Can Get Past Its Frustrating Game Mechanics

A powerful narrative marred by some odd game mechanics.

The History of Ultima VII, One Of The Greatest RPGs Ever Made

Exploring the history and legacy of Ultima VII: The Black Gate.

Playing Wind Waker With My Daughter Helped Me To See The Game In A Whole New Light

The incredible art made Wind Waker feel like playing a cartoon

Suikoden 3 Has One Of The Best Stories in the Series

Suikoden 3 has one of the best instances I’ve seen of branching narratives

The Story Behind Silent Hill: Downpour And Its Haunting Take On Psychological Horror

An interview with Tomm Hulett, producer and writer on Silent Hill: Downpour

Solaris in Xenogears Is A Disturbing But Fascinating Journey Into Human Nature

Xenogears has one of the most ambitious and complex narratives ever told

Dawn Of Sorrow’s Tactical Soul System Made It One Of The Best Castlevania Games

The tactical soul system empowered gamers with an overwhelming number of play styles

Princess Peach Was The Best Character In Super Mario Bros. 2

It didn't take long for Nintendo's damsel in distress to steal the show

The Unique Artist Behind Bomberman‘s Catchy Beats

June Chikuma has a unique approach to composing video game music

Izuho ‘IPPO’ Numata On Working At Early-’90s Sega And Composing Phantasy Star IV

The Phantasy Star composer talks about how her classic melodies came about.

The Story Behind DuckTales On NES

As a kid, I used to rush home from school so I could catch the latest episode of the Disney cartoon DuckTales. I loved following Scrooge McDuck and his nephews across the world as they charted a path towards gold and glory, and it was always a blast seeing what new caper they’d stumble into.…

Hi Kotaku, as always, it’s been a huge honor getting to be the guest writer for the weekend. I love reading the comments and so many of you share so many awesome things, I always feel I’m learning so much (and also getting some really cool game recommendations). Please have a safe holiday season and…

What Games On Your Backlog Do You Want To Finish This New Year?

I asked this same question last year and looking back on the list of games I hoped to finish, I actually am surprised I got to quite a few of them. That includes Deadly Premonition, Radiant Historia, Pikmin 3, Link Between Worlds, Trace Memory, and No More Heroes. The link between them all is that…

Lost Odyssey’s Ending Felt Like A Bittersweet Farewell To The JRPGs Of Old

I wish I were immortal just so I could play all the games on my backlog. Lost Odyssey for the Xbox 360 is about immortals who’ve lived over a thousand years and they’ve experienced a lot. Maybe too much. Life has taken its toll and the only thing that’s made it bearable is the involuntary…

How The Past Year Got Me Thinking Of Post Apocalyptic Games In A New Light

Almost every day, I go for a walk with my kid. She’s just over two. There’s a strange serenity in the isolation of entire city blocks when there’s so few people out and about. In the first few months of the pandemic, it felt like we were walking through an abandoned city. I’ve lived in…

Peter Tieryas’ Top 5 Games Of 2020

I can’t believe the year is almost over. 2020 has felt interminable. Between work, taking care of my kid, a new book release, various writing assignments, and all that life has thrown at me, my free time has been really limited. I usually only get a chance to play games after my kid falls asleep…

I Didn’t Expect To Like Deadly Premonition So Much

I crashed eight times during my playthrough of Deadly Premonition on the Switch, often at critical moments. In a game with long load screens, this seemed like an unforgivable sin. “So good it’s bad,” was testing my patience, even if I knew coming in that Deadly Premonition was a flawed cult classic. This wasn’t the…

Phantasy Star III Is A Flawed, But Ambitious, Entry Into The Series

Phantasy Star III was a game I wanted to love, especially since its predecessor was a science fiction classic and arguably one of my favorite games on the Sega Genesis. I still remember when I first heard about Phantasy Star III, which released for the Genesis in 1991, I was blown away by the idea…