George Yang

George is a freelance writer specializing in video games and other entertainment.

Latest Work

Inverse •

'Digimon Survive' review: Dull gameplay holds back a daring story

As I slumped through several hours of tedious exposition and uninteresting tactical gameplay, I asked myself, “when does this get better?” I’m no stranger to the concept of slow burns in video games. I’ve played plenty of Japanese RPGs that promise to “get good” after the first 10-15 hours. Visual novels occupy a similar space — they are very story-heavy and gradually introduce their worlds and characters over the first several hours. Bandai Namco’s Digimon Survive is a mix between a visual no
Digital Trends •

The DioField Chronicle makes real-time strategy feel like a JRPG

Japan isn’t exactly known for real time strategy games. That’s why I was surprised to discover that The DioField Chronicle was a real-time strategy game, and not a turn-based tactics one like the Fire Emblem series. In terms of gameplay, this already sets The DioField Chronicle apart from other similar titles in the genre as Japanese strategy games lean heavily toward turn-based and grid-based tactics. In a hands-on preview, I played around three hours of The DioField Chronicle, which consisted
Tom's Guide •

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 review

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an amazing JRPG, with a deep story and fun gameplay that will keep players engaged for many hours. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the third mainline game in the Xenoblade series. The story is entirely self-contained, and doesn't require any knowledge of the previous games. However, there are plenty of callbacks and references to the previous titles. Not only is the game’s story approachable for newcomers, but it will reward series veterans for their lore knowledge. What's
Digital Trends •

Live A Live Review: Classic RPG saves its best moments for last

The original Live A Live launched on the SNES in 1994 but never left Japan … until now. A new 2D-HD remake, released exclusively on Nintendo Switch, brings the influential RPG to the West for the first time ever. With a cast of different characters, the game tells eight separate stories before bringing all of them together. When it was first released, this storytelling structure was ahead of its time.
NPR •

The best games of 2022 so far, picked by the NPR staff

It didn't take long for 2022 to deliver on a deep roster of long-awaited games, from blockbusters like Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West, to breakout indies like Tunic and Norco. We asked NPR staff and contributors for their favorites so far. The resulting list represents a broad swath of tastes that includes games appropriate for kids ("Kid Friendly"), and for folks who may be new to the hobby ("For New Gamers"). Whether you're interested in story-driven experiences or challenges to your wits and reflexes, there's plenty to love in these 30 games.
Digital Trends •

Nintendo's Kirby-flavored bubble tea, a review

Kung Fu Tea in March announced a collaboration with Nintendo on a Kirby-themed drink upon the release of Kirby and the Forgotten Land earlier this year. Now, it’s finally here and it’s called Kirby’s Fruity Flurry. We may never get to experience what Kirby actually tastes like in real life, so this is as probably as close as we can get to eating the puffball — well, a blended version of him, at least. As a video game reporter, it was my duty to head down to my local Kung Fu Tea and drink a cool
Digital Trends •

Yurukill: The Calumniation Games review: Creative, but disjointed

Yurukill: The Calumniation Games tries to mesh two incredibly niche genres together: visual novel and shoot ‘em up (shmup). By incorporating both, developer Izanagi Games risks narrowing the game’s audience down even further. Half of the game consists of reading through mounds of dialogue between characters to get through the story along with some light puzzle solving. The other half has players commandeering a battleship in classic shmup sections and taking down grotesque enemies.
Polygon •

AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative is the best detective story this year

AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative is a riveting, time-hopping murder mystery from the minute it begins until its closing moments. Written by Kotaro Uchikoshi, who also wrote the excellent Zero Escape trilogy, Nirvana Initiative is just as effective as a singular story as it is a compelling sequel to 2019’s AI: The Somnium Files. It’s a well-paced visual novel wrapped in detective conceits and packed with surprises at every corner.
NPR •

'The Quarry' Review: Summer 2022's Best Horror Game

If you're looking for a summer scare — look no further than The Quarry, a glossy new video game that offers scares as satisfying as any horror movie. It's billed as a spiritual successor to Supermassive Games' 2015 hit, Until Dawn. That game won over audiences with captivating monster lore, a fun cast of characters, and intense moments of terror. After its release, the studio put out several horror titles under its Dark Pictures Anthology series, but none quite hit the high bar that Until Dawn set. However, The Quarry comes incredibly close.
Digital Trends •

The Quarry might just live up to Until Dawn's horror legacy

I absolutely loved Supermassive Games’ 2015 horror title Until Dawn. The interactive drama had intriguing supernatural lore and impeccable pacing that kept me engaged throughout the entire experience. Since then, I’ve been mixed on Supermassive’s output with its Dark Picture Anthology series, hoping that it could recapture the magic I felt with Until Dawn. That’s the direction in which the studio’s upcoming game, The Quarry, seems to be going for me. I went hands-on with The Quarry and played
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George Yang

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