Z Space Blog

Persona 5 released to the world in April of 2017. It was released to an uproar of praise, from critics and players alike. This is despite other heavy-hitters like Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Horizon: Zero Dawn releasing around the same time. Additionally, the shonen anime style is in no short supply these days. However, Atlus is not known for being a slip-shod or lazy developer. Persona 5 marks the second major Persona game to be a hit in the West, but P5 in particular reached a broader audience than past entries, pulling in fans from places like South America! Joker's later appearance in Super Smash Bros Ultimate via DLC practically confirms Persona 5's place in gaming history as one of The Greats.

That said, I am writing this review in 2024, after P5 Royal, P5 Strikers, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, P5 Tactica, and P5 Dancing in Starlight have all come out. Some are side-stories, but some are soft prequels or sequels, so if JRPGs aren't your thing, Persona 5 has a few other genres that it shows up in. This review will focus exclusively on the base Persona 5, for Playstation 3. This means I won't be addressing the new content in Royal, which is a remix or director's cut of sorts.

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Purism is a small company in the hardware space aiming to provide software freedom (via their Debian-based PureOS and coreboot-based Pureboot) while also protecting your privacy and security. One of the key selling points to their hardware are killswitches, which allow you to physically disconnect internal hardware to prevent abuse. The Librem 14 has two such switches: one controlling the webcam and microphone, and the other controlling the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios.

Due to COVID, supply shortages, and other difficulties of the business, Purism has had some trouble meeting their shipping obligations; this delay has caused a number of people to seek refunds or issue chargebacks. Backers for the Librem 5 in particular seem to have rough luck getting their hardware. I was a backer for the OpenPandora back in 2010, and never received a unit, so I understand their frustration when it comes to not getting what you pay for. ¹ I must note, however, that my experience with Purism was better than I anticipated.

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Solar 2 is an open world, macro-physical, sandbox simulation game. Its premise is short and sweet: You are a meager asteroid in the infinity of space. Become the biggest and best thing in the universe! Developed primarily by independent developer Jay Watts, Solar 2 is a game that is relaxing, with a tense undertone that a more self-aware gamer may philosophize about. If you like to kick back and enjoy a relaxing game with neat visuals, Solar 2 is a fine choice. Gamers that always need missions or goals may not appreciate Solar 2 since its mission selection is small and due to being a one-mechanic game, lacks depth in its basic interaction. It makes up for it with its application of physics and concept, however. And who doesn't like an endless virtual universe!?

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Developed by Hitbox Team, Dustforce is an interesting mix of technical input, platforming, and speed. You play as one of four janitors whose job is to clean up the game world and bring cleanliness back. As an old-school gamer, this game still makes me giddy and excited when I play it. If you enjoy technical games that require a lot of skill, high difficulty, and are a perfectionist, Dustforce is a great fit for you. Steer clear if you lack patience!

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Every now and then, a game comes out that looks unassuming, but has a hidden, interesting side that takes you by surprise. This aspect is true of Radiant Historia, a turn-based JRPG for the Nintendo DS developed by Atlus and Headlock Studio. One of the aspects of Radiant Historia that comes out of left field is the time traveling mechanic, which allows you to explore two different paths of history. If you enjoyed Chrono Trigger and enjoy revisiting the same place in different points in recent history, you'll warm up to Radiant Historia. Gamers who don't care for backtracking or subtle time puzzles will want to skip this one.

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