An embarrassment of gaming riches

There are so many great games that have either just come out, or that are coming out very soon. I have pre-ordered most of them, and in some cases they've already arrived; they're all games that I'm keen to write about in detail on MoeGamer, so I definitely have some interesting things lined up for the next few months!

Here are the games I'm planning on covering in the near future. Let me know if there are any you'd be particularly interested to hear about sooner rather than later!

Rance 5D and VI
I've already set this for next month. I've beaten Rance 5D and am about halfway through Rance VI at present, which means I should be done with it by this time next month, when I'd come to write about it.

Rance is a fascinating series of RPGs that gets pretty much no recognition outside of the existing eroge fanbase, so I'm keen to talk about it in detail and explore its history, its extensive lore and, of course, the games. Expect more Rance in the future, too, when MangaGamer finish working on Sengoku Rance and Rance Quest.

Eiyuu*Senki
This has been out on PS3 for a while, but JAST USA finally released the adults-only PC version today. I have a copy of the rather lovely looking physical edition on the way, so this is very much on the agenda at some point in the near future.

For those unfamiliar, Eiyuu*Senki is a strategy RPG featuring genderbent versions of numerous historical heroes. It sounds like a lot of fun, and is supposed to be a solid game, too. Looking forward to exploring it.

Ys VIII
I've already covered the Ys series up to Memories of Celceta in great detail, but the first completely brand-new Ys title (i.e. not a remake or reimagining of an earlier game) for years is definitely worth exploring as its own thing. I will probably wait until the whole translation controversy is done and dusted with this one, however, since I'm keen to have the best possible experience from the outset.

Nights of Azure 2
I absolutely adored the first Nights of Azure, and am very excited to play its sequel. Not a lot more to say about this at present as I've been deliberately avoiding reading too much about it so I can go in fresh. I hope the music is still in the Castlevania mould.

Blue Reflection
The very concept of this one sounds interesting and arty, so I'm fascinated to take a peek. You take on the role of a young ballet dancer whose career is cut short by an injury, but who obtains magical powers. There's a blend of slice-of-life school days action and supernatural monster fighting RPG action, and some absolutely gorgeous art, so I'm looking forward to this.

Senran Kagura Peach Beach Splash
I always have time for the Senrans, particularly when they're doing something new outside of their usual hack-and-slash remit. Peach Beach Splash sounds like a really fun game, and I'm sure it will be backed up by the same delightful blend of tones and strong characterisation that I've come to love the series for.

Mary Skelter: Nightmares
Dungeon crawlers seem to be having a bit of a renaissance recently, but this one looks particularly interesting with its fairy tale-inspired characters, blood-splattered aesthetic and intriguing-sounding mechanics. This is another title I don't know a lot about as I've been avoiding reading too much on it, so I'm excited to go in "blind" when the time comes.

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Then of course, alongside all these games I have numerous titles on various platforms going right back to the SNES era that are well worth exploring in depth. It's going to be a busy few… years, I think!