UNDER MY THUMB

MONSTER HUNTER GENERATIONS

(Capcom, 3DS)

Though massively popular in Japan, the action-RPG Monster Hunter franchise that launched on PS2 12 years ago has always attracted more of a cult following in the West. That’s an asset for Generations, which mashes up the past decade of portable Monster Hunter games. The gameplay, while updated to amp up the action and increase customization, is as minimalist as the title — you travel to villages and hunt monsters. But the game, which can be played solo or with up to three other hunters, also requires considerable effort to wrangle its intricate mechanics. The net effect is like watching the Tragically Hip play a small U.S. venue — a fresh experience with the production values of an established arena act.

I AM SETSUNA

(Square Enix / Tokyo RPG Factory, PS4, PS Vita, PC)

JRPGs dominated role-playing games for years before action-hungry Western gamers lost their patience with turn-based combat. But the genre’s charm and sophistication was also lost. That’s why Tokyo RPG Factory’s melancholy I Am Setsuna is such a welcome effort to recapture the magic of publisher Square’s ’90s glory. Setsuna is set in a Narnia-like island where it’s always winter and demons ravage the land every decade unless a maiden is sacrificed. Rather than rescue this damsel, you must help her get to the ritualistic slaughter site safely so she can die for the greater good. So yeah, dark. The top-down art direction is impressive, if repetitive, and the game design and combat are both true to its old-school inspiration. The game proves that while progress is great, Setsuna’s death march makes a strong argument for also looking backward.