Simply put, the villainess trope consists of a female character who acts as the protagonist of a story which from a different perspective could have them actually be characterised as the antagonist. They are often hated or misunderstood by one or more characters in the story. Unfortunately, as time moved on and more villainess stories are written and released, some authors have forgotten the selling point of a villainess character by just having them inherit the label of one without the personality traits and motives that come with it. And that is why this article means to name some villainesses who live up to the title and should serve as textbook examples of how an actual villainess character should be written.

DISCLAIMER: This list consists of villainesses written as protagonists of their respective manhwa/manga, not those actually written as antagonists.

Remilia from The One Within the Villainess

In no particular order, the first incredible villainess is Remilia from The One Within the Villainess. This is a recognisable manga known for its faultless use of the villainess trope in its characterisation of the protagonist, Remilia. She is a character who became a villainess because she was seeking revenge for the person she loved, Emi. In her eyes, Emi was the only person who truly loved and cared for her and that is why when she sees her be mistreated by the people she had helped in the past, Remilia finds it in herself to get back at them for hurting her.

The One Within the Villainess is one of those manga that nicely switch up the portrayal and motivations of the typical villainess protagonist – which is that she doesn’t act for herself but for someone else. And they do this by almost having Remilia occupy an omniscient narrator position instead of just having her be transmigrated, reborn or isekai’d into a story. She is an original character of that world who so happens to find out what happens to herself in the future and manages to change it for the better.

Roxana from Roxana

Although left discontinued and incomplete, Roxana is a chef’s kiss of a manhwa of the villainess trope. It is one of those manhwas that remain a classic for readers of the trope and a must read for those just starting out in the scene.

You can say the manhwa has a convoluted plot with how many characters and plot points there are involved in the overall premise, but it is that complexity that makes it special. The intricate dynamics of the Agriche family members, and what classifies them as an ‘evil family’ brings into perspective how and why Roxana is the way she is. Her twisted personality makes sense, but we as the readers can still hold her liable for the malicious acts she commits – even though, we can’t help but cheer for her when her plans succeed.

From raising poisonous butterflies to facing murderers for siblings, Roxana showcases how she survives in a world governed by a ‘kill or be killed’ rule.

Celestine from The Flowery Path of Evil

This manga is unique in its depiction of relationships with the leading lady Celestine first being introduced on an altar getting married to a man twice her age. Surprisingly, she takes on the situation with open arms because she in fact loves and prefers older men. The manga almost immediately shows us how Celestine and her husband are a couple so strongly supportive of one another, even when faced with gossips of their involvement in criminal acts and activities – which is true that they are. Nonetheless, Celestine is written as a villainess who holds her head high and uses the political and financial power her husband – the prime minister – to shut down all those who get in the way of her happy life.

The Flowery Path of Evil is honestly more of a wholesome read than anything, but the main reason Celestine is on this list is how she – a girl isekai’d from the 21^st century – is so accepting of some of systems of the era she is in. Such as, medieval torture, slavery, and child marriages.

Lass from I Will Fall With the Emperor

Just like Remilia, Lass is a villainess driven by revenge. Now reborn, Lass was abused by her family, cast away by her country and left to die as a prisoner of war at the hands of her enemy; the once kind, pushover of a princess turned sinister to avenge a version of herself that died in another life.

Lass is an interesting villainess compared to most out there because of how humanised she is. Even though she schemes to bring down her family, burning people alive and conquering countries and taking their resources along the way to do so, she finds the time to build strong friendships and a healthy, romantic relationship with her husband. There are scenes where she gets flustered, laughs, and jokes like any regular person that it has us forgetting the premise of her character – even for a moment.

I Will Fall With the Emperor should be considered underrated because it is a rare manhwa where a villain-villainess couple are the protagonists. So not only can you enjoy a villainess main character but change perspectives to a villain main character.

Sarang Yu from I Dare You

Four words; Puts. Mom. In. Freezer.

Sarang Yu is just insane that it is hard to figure out what she is thinking. And when she explains the reason for her actions in an inner monologue, you find how much sense her strange and sometimes brutal actions mean even though you still think there was a better way for her to handle them.

The manhwa – a modern-day psychological thriller – is still ongoing but the chapters that have already been released all have a gripping effect on its readers. Since its still in its early stages of release, there isn’t too much to reveal besides the main premise of how a group of high schoolers try to gauge Sarang Yu’s sanity by making her complete dares from their made-up ‘Embarrassment Game’. We also figure out Sarang Yu’s living conditions, about her abusive father and, of course, how she keeps her deceased mother in a kimchi freezer.

I Dare You is an interesting addition to the (modern) villainess trope and more so in the psychological horror scene.

Even though only five characters were listed who act like actual villainesses across manga and manhwa, there are obviously a lot more out there. But because the respective manga and manhwas are treated like they are overrated or simply pushed back to make room for more mainstream content, readers are left unsatisfied when they read on villainesses that act preppy and kind than cruel and deceptive. Hopefully this article helps someone out there to finally quench that thirst.

Staff Writer; Fadzai Nyamande

A South African who brings her love for fiction, manga, and storytelling into every piece she creates. Her writing is shaped by imagination, curiosity, and a true appreciation for the worlds stories can build.

Feel free to drop a note at; FadzaiN@AfroGamers.com.

Now, the prices for a tape featuring two episodes were always dicey but you were guaranteed to find something you’d dig. Flipping through it, I noticed a lot of classic mecha series.

Mecha are the anime, manga, and video games involving giant robots that can either be piloted from inside or controlled. Usually, the series are sci-fi in nature but things have been mixed up and new concepts have been explored.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at big three pioneers of mecha anime and manga.

Voltron (1984)

This franchise holds a very legit claim to being the best of the classic mecha franchises. This franchise was just satisfying to watch. It wasn’t overly complex, too violent, or even too lengthy.

I’m not a big fan of monster-of-the-week writing but it worked with Voltron. This was like an animated version of Power Rangers which began airing a few years before Voltron.

Another thing that works for Voltron is that this is mecha in a sci-fantasy setting. It’s like if you mixed Power Rangers with Star Wars when the back story comes into play.

Of course, anime that was broadcast don’t really hit story-wise when you’re ten. You’re just looking at the cool fights, suits, and robots, really.

Robotech (1985)

Now Robotech and Voltron aren’t as old as pioneers such as Mazinger Z or Gigantor but it is one of those series that pioneered mecha in the West.

This was thanks to anime’s best friends during expansion and exposure: dubbing and broadcast television. Dubbing—replacing the audio of exported content with that of the import market—wasn’t that great in the late 80s and into the early 00s.

However, just the idea that this was some new, fresh content in the West was enough for Robotech to catch on. It’s military-focused but it’s also a space opera with half of it being about the protagonist doing his duty and protecting the woman he loves only for it to no be reciprocated.

Of the three mentioned series, Robotech kind of sits in the middle. It’s not as action-heavy and fast-paced as Voltron tends to be but it doesn’t move at a slower pace like our next entry often does.

Also, lore-wise, Robotech isn’t as technical as our third franchise but it explains more than Voltron usually did. Progression-wise, this series moved along well and ran in chronological order.

Which is different from the third and final series on this list.

Gundam (1979)

This is such a hard series to explain. Gundam does a lot. It’s a long-running series which predates Robotech and Voltron by a few years but comes over a decade after Gigantor.

Like Robotech, Gundam is a space opera obsessed with a lot of lore and timeline events. Unfortunately, the franchise is fractured into multiple series taking place in different timelines or even different worlds.

As I said, this is a franchise that is hard to explain. Some of the series are sequels or prequels of others while some are standalone series. Then you have a series like G Gundam which kind of steps away from the slower-paced high drama of the franchise into straight-up shonen territory.

On the one hand, I’d say this is to be expected if a franchise has run as long as Gundam and needs to freshen things up for a while. I don’t know if this was the right direction but I enjoyed it!

For the most part, you could get someone into Voltron or even Robotech. As a matter of fact, Robotech is offered on most streaming platforms and for free on Crackle.

Gundam is a harder series to get people into. It really depends on if you introduce them to the more modern stuff, the late anime boom stuff like Gundam Wing and G Gundam, or take them back to the throwbacks.

It’s a gamble because Gundam’s pace is such that if the series you picked for someone to watch doesn’t stick, it’s going to be hard to suggest more Gundam. At that point, you’re just pushing it.

Bonus Classic Mecha Anime: Gigantor (1963)

Gigantor is pretty much the godfather of modern mecha anime. It’s old school as hell, black and white, and features a super simplistic storyline from episode to episode.

When I first saw it, it was more for historical purposes. Watching the series years later and I don’t care for it, to be honest. This is not a fun series to sit through.

That’s hard for me to say because I’ve sat through and enjoyed Astro Boy which was released around the same time. There’s just something I can’t get into with the original Gigantor.

I will say that this was a big broadcast for me since I heavy into finding the origins of certain genres in music, comics, and animation.

Seeing the birth of so many tropes is why I enjoy watching Kinnikuman and Fist of the North Star so much. Once Toriyama took from those two series to make Dragon Ball manga history was made.

That could be the thing. I went in thinking I’d witness the same thing in Gigantor that was inspire Gundam, Robotech, and Voltron. I guess that would be the case if those series were heavily in the old 1940s Danger Boy and Mystery Lad novels vein like Gigantor.

Staff Writer; M. Swift

This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.

There are many directions some games could’ve taken, even the blockbusters and Greatest Hits. We’re going to look at five odd adventures (good and bad) from the Sega Genesis era. I’ve mainly lived in a PlayStation, Nintendo, and PC household but in the 1990s there were some memorable journeys on the Genesis.

Let’s dive in!

Sonic Spinball (Sega, 1993)

Pinball games on a console used to seem a little lazy to me and that’s mainly as a result of having played Sonic Spinball. It’s not that the game was bad, it was actually a lot of fun. It’s just pinball with a Sonic the Hedgehog theme that worked. I remember thinking that Sega should’ve dropped another Sonic game for the Genesis…only for them to drop them awesome Sonic 3 the following year.

This was the age of quick turnaround for non-sports games. What made this game more odd is that there was no sequel. Just “Here’s some Sonic in the meanwhile.” Alex Kidd Pinball would’ve probably bothered me less because Alex Kidd had long since been shafted and thrown in the vault. If there was no sequel, it would be expected. It’s Alex Kidd.

Unfortunately, Alex Kidd was all stiff (as were many video game characters from the Master System and NES period) and couldn’t ball up and spin like Sonic and Tails could. On that note, Sonic Spinball has mobile gaming potential.

Chuck Rock II: Son of Chuck (Core Design, 1993)

The character Chuck Rock had one game on multiple consoles including the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, and Game Gear. It was also on some Atari consoles (not too unusual) but it was just that 1991 game. There wasn’t a ton of Chuck Rock games, he wasn’t a character who became a promoted star from a long-running franchise. He was just there, saving his girl in a Flintstones-meet-Super Mario sense.

Two years later, Chuck Rock Jr is off to save his father in a Flintstones-meets-Donkey Kong Jr sense. The game was fine as a platformer and had fun enemies and boss battles, it’s just an odd adventure when you hadn’t played the first Chuck Rock. Of course, after playing Chuck Rock II, you’ll find that it makes sense why there was no Chuck Rock III. Besides the studio closing down years later, there was nowhere else to go with the series.

Krusty’s Fun House (Acclaim, 1992)

It’s the 1990s, The Simpsons run the world and it makes sense that there would be games based on The Simpsons on multiple consoles. It’s just odd that we have a game based on Krusty the Clown who is built like Homer Simpson but doesn’t get into the overly involved situations that Homer gets into.

Sure, Homer has a gut and is at home on the couch any day of the week but he’s out and about doing something. Krusty? Not so much. This isn’t to say it was a bad title or that all Simpsons games should feature Bart. This game was fun and there was an Itchy & Scratchy platformer.

To a degree, it’s the idea of a Simpsons puzzle game. This could’ve been any game. It was actually another game that was given the Simpsons coat of paint because why develop something from scratch when you could just re-design the setting and main characters like Super Mario Bros. 2?

Revolution X (Midway, 1994)

Revolution X was an arcade shooter that was ported to the Sega Genesis. It is best known for being the game that features Aerosmith. They’re not playable characters but they are collectible. This is the only outright bad game on the list because it was often dicey when an arcade shooter or even a PC shooter was ported to the Genesis or Super NES.

But that’s to be expected. No, the odd thing here is we’ve got a band shooter. This isn’t a run-n-gun affair. It’s not a DOOM situation either. This is more like Area 51 or House of the Dead. The game is filled with odd design choices. You’ve got women in bikinis but few on the beach, you’re fighting with a hostile group, and Aerosmith has been kidnapped.

I mean at this time, Aerosmith was delivering the goods but I just don’t know about putting the band and a shooter (or any genre together). Then again, it could’ve been an early 1990s Kiss shooting game.

Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool (System Vision, 1992)

Hmm. Both the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo were no stranger to bad mascot games. Every mascot game can’t be Cool Spot but they can aspire to be Global Gladiators. Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool meets the standard set by Global Gladiators. That is to say it’s mediocre at best but no one would say it was a good or great game.

Mechanically, it worked like most mascot or cartoon platformers from this period with the stiff jumping and movement. I remember my dad bringing this game, Krusty’s Fun House, Tecmo Super Bowl, and Klax from a Friday jaunt to the video store.

It was a dreadful haul but this was the one I played the most since the Cheetos Paws was my favorite snack at the time. You don’t have to reserve judgement and no grace is warranted, I also bought the Combo Man comics because I liked the Combo pretzel snacks.

The odd nature of this game comes from the game obviously not being good but Frito-Lay being invested in it because it was part of an advertising run that was supposed to include a Chester Cheetah cartoon. The toon was canceled but we got two Chester Cheetah games.

Again, this one wasn’t good at all. It was a little under mid, didn’t feature anything new or unique, looked like an early Genesis title (which it was) but someone said “Make another. The streets want another.”

I mean, I wanted another Cool Spot and more Taz-Mania games but never mind that. Much like the Geico cavemen only working for commercials and not warranting a whole television show, Chester Cheetah didn’t need ongoing adventures in video game form.

What are some odd games you’ve played that you feel probably shouldn’t exist. Let us know in the comments!

Staff Writer; M. Swift

This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.

It isn’t an underrated game as it and the sequel have both gotten a lot of praise. However, it never got the shine it should’ve gotten. Seriously, this should still be an ongoing series today.

Originally, I wasn’t going to do an article on the game but just in playing the first town of Norune, I’ve found that Toan either grew up around jerks or attracts them.

Let’s just look at the five jerks you’ll run into and rank them from least jerkface to peak jerkface.

Seda

Honestly, Seda isn’t that bad of a guy. He’s just overly aggressive for seemingly no reason at first until you advance in the game and find out why he attacks you and attempts to take your Atlamillia, an orb/gem that allows the main character—Toan—to rebuild the world after the Dark Genie wrecks it.

He’s basically Dr. Freeze from Batman: a guy who does bad in an attempt to save his fiancée and your Atlamillia would allow him to travel back in time to do so.

Oh yeah, he is also the creator of the Dark Genie, so even though he isn’t just evil at heart, he had a role in creating the greatest evil force the world has ever dealt with—thus making your job difficult.

He stays on the list but honestly, he’s the least offensive jerk here by three country miles. Everyone else listed are real pieces of work and three of the next entries are villagers!

Claude

This guy is a villager of Norune whom Toan saves after finding his orb in the dungeon. He’s described as kind-hearted but slothful, preferring to spend his days lazing about and eating. He’s actually a pretty chill guy.

So why is he on the list? After you find all the parts for his house and finish putting it together, he offers you a piece of his cheese—which is just laying out on the table uncovered.

His lack of food safety isn’t the problem here, the cheese looks delicious regardless. No, he makes sure to tell you to only get “one piece of cheese”.

The utter audacity!

Before the player dives into the dungeon to save his fellow villagers, they were all trapped in Atla—orbs that can be opened with your Atlamillia—and so was every house in Norune beside the mayor’s house. If Toan wants all the cheese he should be able to take all of the cheese!

Oh, and before that he rewards you with a bar of soap while he’s in the shower. The nerve of this guy. While I like the character, I was so annoyed by that “one piece of cheese” request that I instantly took the miracle chests around his house moved his house away from the “smell of food” which is his placement request.

Was I being petty? Definitely! However, sometimes the little extra on dialogue in this game float between being a backhanded compliment and just condescending.

Both of those are things you want to avoid doing when someone not only saves you from your imprisonment, not only brings your entire house back, but takes the time to fix it how you like it.

Toan can’t get out of this village soon enough. Claude made it seem like either he thinks Toan has sticky fingers or he’s dealt with cheese thieves before—and that’s an even bigger issue.

It’s not as big an issue as him offering you soap for putting his house back in order but it’s still big if true.

Odd Gaffer

Now, this guy is slick. See, this geezer is the town’s merchant and can’t sell you anything until his cart/stand is completed. Normally, when you complete a villager’s building by putting all parts into the proper slot, you get some reward.

For instance, childhood Paige makes Toan a new pouch that can hold more items as thanks for completing the house that she and her father Pike live in. That’s an awesome reward.

Odd Gaffer rewards you by opening his shop and allowing you spend money—which is hard to come by early on unless you’re selling fishing bait.

What in the blue hell? If a character is a merchant and you manage to save them and get their business open, them offering to do commerce with you is not a reward. It’s them doing their job.

That’s like saving a Burger King worker’s life during a holdup and as a reward they continue serving customers, and allow you to buy a Whopper at full price during business but only after you move up in line!

It made me wonder if the developers Level-5 have ever received a reward. I’m sure they’ve gotten plenty of awards because they deliver the goods on RPGs but half of these rewards don’t seem like worth the effort, honestly.

The Odd Gaffer’s “reward” doesn’t even register. It’s just a continuation of disrupted service.

King Mimic and the Normal Mimics

Actually, this could be two separate entries but they’re the same enemy type. Mimics are monster with large teeth that disguise themselves as treasure chests. They feed on adventurers who simply must open a chest that doesn’t belong to them but is discarded in a cave.

That’s another article for another time, folks. Anyway, these enemies are annoying as hell because they don’t show up on the map as a red dot nor do they pop up on screen. After you run into one mimic, you’re going to be extremely cautious of opening any chests on that floor.

Trust me, I thought my system of only opening chests with the opening facing walls would work until I got surprised by a damn mimic! King Mimics are the same but they’re disguised as the large treasure chests that have the good stuff in them.

Mimics aren’t the hardest thing to fight, they’re just annoying to fight early on because they will block and they’re ambush enemies.

Originally, I was going to add the cave bats to the list because sometimes they might just swoop in and attack. Other times, they will swoop in and poison you. That’s annoying but they have a tell where they will squeak before you get close to them or they close in on you.

Meanwhile, the mimics just get the drop on you and drag you into an annoying, mildly lengthy fight. They’re even worse when you think “I’m just gonna check this chest really quick” and try to run away. You know, get the goods and go without bothering with unnecessary fights.

Only, it’s a mimic and the enemies are closing in on you. It’s all annoying and the King Mimic is even worse. Both of them just kills the innocence of raiding a chest for goods left behind by a failed adventurer.

As bad as the mimics are, they’ve got nothing on the biggest jerkface in Dark Cloud.

The Biggest Jerk in Dark Cloud: The Mayor of Norune

I tend to keep things at least somewhat clean when going into classic and retro games here on AfroGamers but the mayor of Norune goes beyond being a jerk. This guy is an asshole.

The thing about this is that he has a slow-burn heel turn on young Toan—the hero of the game. Initially, it’s just you to in Norune and he sends you—a teenager—into an unusually hostile training cave to rescue everyone.

He’s the leader and adult here but the game wouldn’t have as fun if you were playing as the geezer mayor. So, he does what he can and helps you by replenishing your supplies before you dive into the dungeon.

The Fairy King even tells you that the mayor has tons of items and give you food, water, antidotes, and weapon repair kits as many times as you need. It’s true! He has an endless supply of these things and continues to help you in your quest.

Until Odd Gaffer gets his store back up and running. Then he tells you to buy your supplies from that old scammer. Alright, cool. You’ve got some scratch now. It would’ve been nice if he continued giving you these basic supplies—which he only gives one of each—but no problem.

Then he adds “I can’t rely on me forever.” Hold up, jabroni. The mayor says this—the one who sent a child into a dungeon teeming with enemies with a crappy dagger and enough supplies for one meal.

The meal was just bread and water! Seriously, this guy is peak audacity, folks! I don’t how one small village can have a jerk, a scammer, and Greedy Gus when the population isn’t even that high to start.

That last part from the mayor wasn’t even necessary! He could’ve just left it at asking the player to buy from Odd Gaffer. Nah, he threw in that last part as if he’s doing the dangerous work.

Even a villager noted how lazy the mayor was and that’s telling. I’ve run into main character and NPCs who have annoying dialogue before but the mayor of Norune is a top fiver.

Staff Writer; M. Swift

This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.

Now we’re focusing just on Super Mario and ranking the spinoffs from strongest to pretty damn strong. Will Mario Party and Super Mario RPG make the list this time?

Mario Kart

Listen, Mario Kart is a thing. I’m not even a racing game fan but I will play the hell out of a kart racing game. When Mario Kart 8 dropped on the Switch and Wii U, everyone was on that game—if they had a Switch.

You don’t even have to be great at racing games to enjoy Mario Kart! It’s just a fun racing game where stress mainly comes from getting hit with a shell, missing a turn, or hitting a banana peel.

For the most part, you just stay on track, avoid the other racers, and focus. Yeah, it sounds like I’m coaching here but that’s literally all you have to do to do well in Mario Kart.

The real fun in this game comes from playing with others. When that element comes into play, it kind of reminds me of the enjoyment I got from our next entry.

Mario Party

Yes, this franchise made the list! I can’t say anything else I didn’t already say about Mario Party before. This game was just a blast to play with others. When it debuted on the Nintendo 64, you knew you were in for a good time if everyone brought their controllers.

Thinking back on it, this was the game that showcased what could really be done with the Nintendo 64’s four ports. Yeah, you could play a game with four people—that’s what you’re supposed to do—but Mario Party was the best example of that.

The Dreamcast also launched with four ports but you never really had that fun-for-everyone game to showcase that. That’s probably why so many people I knew with a DC only had one or two controllers instead of multiple ones for others.

Then again both the N64 and DC were meant for others to bring their own controllers to join the fun and not for one person to supply all the controllers.

Super Smash Bros

The first game of the franchise also dropped on the Nintendo 64. That period of Nintendo gaming was very important as far as creating more spinoffs as our next entry will show.

Super Smash Bros is a fighting game franchise featuring mostly Nintendo characters duking it out in one-on-one or fatal four-way fights on platforms and sometimes even moving stages.

It’s where Brawlhalla gets its approach from and it works. This took fighting games outside of the open battle arena and side-scrolling stage by adding in vertical combat and weapons to use.

When I first played Super Smash Bros I was blown away. You just knew this was a franchise that was here to stay and not a throwaway like Mario’s Time Machine or Mario’s Missing.

Mario & Luigi

When the first Mario & Luigi came out, I was excited! While it wasn’t Super Mario RPG or our last entry, it was a Super Mario roleplaying game and I’m all over that!

What was awesome about this and other Mario RPG series is that it added some backstory to the Mushroom Kingdom. You weren’t just thrown into a world where odd construction, unfinished plumbing, unchecked enemies, and flying bullets roamed free.

Yes, that’s the best explanation of the Super Mario platformers that I can give. Instead, Mario & Luigi featured plenty of that but it was all there for a reason. Do you realize how long it took from the first Super Mario Bros until our final entry for goombas and koopa troopas to talk?

Fifteen years. I’m always glad to see an RPG in the franchise.

Paper Mario

Now, Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi are actually interchangeable as far as positioning goes. The main reason that’s fifth on this list is because the third game Super Paper Mario on the Wii didn’t hit like the first two on Nintendo 64 and the Gamecube.

It wasn’t a bad game but it kind of got away from being rooted in RPG territory even though it an RPG at the core. Sometimes even Nintendo falls a bit short with Mario.

However, if you look at it and the games as platforming first, RPG second then those games on the Wii and onward are all incredible games.

The OG Paper Mario and Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door are incredible RPGs and I really wish we saw more in this vein. Hell, more Mario & Luigi would be great as well.

I look at the two series as Nintendo finally running with continuity in their games. Whenever a new Mario game comes out, it’s rarely—if ever—linked to the previous game in that series.

Outside of Metroid, this is a thing with most Nintendo franchises. With these two series, there’s a little building off of the events of the last game before diving into this new adventure. I love it.

Staff Writer; M. Swift

This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.

Just like many other video games, Fallout 76 offers interesting stuff, but there are many up and downs in this game. Some reviewers have already called it a failure, while others are praising what Bethesda has achieved with this game. Let’s have a look at the things that make Fallout 76 worth buying and the things that disappoint.

5 Reasons to buy Fallout 76

Not everybody has the luxury to buy many games. If you’re in the same boat, the first thing you need to know about Fallout 76 is there are a lot of things you can do in the game.

1. Quests

When developers want us to pay a full AAA price for a video game, what we usually expect is a lot of content. Fallout 76 won’t disappoint you if you fall in the same bracket. For every location, there’s a quest, and on each level, there’s something scary waiting to be discovered. Fallout 76 has plenty of quests and the good thing is they are engaging and don’t feel repetitive.

2. New features

During QuakeCon 2018, Bethesda announced many changes that finally came with Fallout 76. The best thing about the game is that despite carrying the core gameplay elements, it features something different and enjoyable. Bethesda has changed respawning and death penalties as well. The S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system is also a positive change in progression and upgradation. The special skills earned upon leveling up are good and since the special system is not designed in a loot-box way, players can enjoy it without having to worry about randomization.

3. Music and soundtrack

The soundtrack in Fallout 76 is a musical treat. There are only a few games that encourage players to enjoy music in a war-ridden world. The same classic taste of music can be enjoyed in Fallout 76. If you already own the game, visit the Forest and there, inside a shelter, you will find some instruments. You can skip this part but those who will spend time playing these instruments will notice the benefits this activity can bring to them.

4. Graphics

Some people have criticized the game for not having “realistic” graphics, but if we look at the series, Fallout has always been the same. It’s a choice of style where we see the same character design and aesthetic from history. There’s a touch of modern design and art, but if you really want that “realistic” feel where you can forget the difference between virtual and real, you’ll surely be disappointed.

Bethesda has done an incredible job in designing the game and since the beginning, Fallout games have followed that trend. The world in Fallout 76 is a lot bigger than what you see in Fallout 4, but you won’t notice its impact on graphics in a negative way.

5. Story and live events

Those who say that Fallout 76 doesn’t have a story are completely wrong. The game features a story which is told via holotapes and collectibles. You will learn about the events and there’s a connection between the present and past which you will learn about as you progress.

There is so much to uncover as there is a multitude of secret content, puzzles, and tricks that can help you progress faster. One major change you will observe is live events that come often and require a group of players to complete the challenge. Sometimes, it’s not only just your group but other players will also get notified about these events.

Reasons to skip Fallout 76

Fallout 76 has potential. The problem is, Bethesda didn’t use that potential in a meaningful way and that’s how they missed a great opportunity.

1. Lack of purpose

The game is big and vast, but the problem with the game is it doesn’t give you a strong reason to keep playing. There’s no single path for the player to follow as the story varies weirdly and everything you hear about story events is only related to the people who are dead.

Lack of human NPCs is one problem, but if we look at the amount of time the game requires players to complete quests, it can’t be justified because the rewards are disappointing. Battles, quests and the map itself feels repetitive. It all feels the same when you play the game just for 2 hours.

2. Lack of single-player campaign

Bethesda decided to take Fallout 76 online without a single-player campaign. This was not only a disappointment for players, but the game also disappoints in terms of gameplay as it lacks a strong online multiplayer foundation. People have always enjoyed Fallout games in different ways, and this time, the developer has taken away most of those elements. This decision not only affects the gameplay in general, those who wanted a single-player campaign in Fallout 76 are not happy for obvious reasons.

Gameplay issues related glitches and stability have been mostly resolved on all the platforms, but the first impression has already put Fallout 76 in a bad spot.

Staff Writer; Jay Baker

Have any Gaming Tips? News? Hit up our Video Games Guru at; JayBaker@AfroGamers.com.

1. Final Fantasy XIV

The massively multiplayer online role-playing game Final Fantasy XIV holds up very well in terms of graphics and gameplay features. You will enjoy the style and if you are looking for the best online multiplayer games, FF XIV delivers everything in extremely high quality. Be its storyline, graphics, in-game features, and content, give it a try and you can spend hundreds of hours playing it online without feeling oppressed. The game is available on PC, PS4, and Mac.

2. Borderlands 2

Borderlands 2 stands up well among its FPS rivals and you can expect the same gameplay in multiplayer and single-player modes. The only thing you should keep in mind is that when you go for multiplayer, the difficulty level goes up significantly. If you have got some serious FPS players in your friend list, expect to see highly challenging battles. The game was released in 2012 but it still one of the best multiplayer games you can play online with random gamers.

3. Warframe

If you don’t want to spend money but still want to play a game that features AAA-quality graphics, fresh content updates, and highly addictive gameplay, Warframe is for you. The game still has a huge player base, so you can easily find people to play the game with. This game is even called the devil’s trap because no matter how hard you try to ignore it, it will bring you back. Warframe is available on PS4, Xbox One, PC. From November 2018, the game will be available on Nintendo Switch.

4. Splatoon 2

If you’re a Nintendo Switch user, Splatoon 2 is one of the best online multiplayer games you can play. The game also supports local play and LAN if you have the right resources. The game takes place two years after the Splatfest final event of the first game. If you have not played the original Splatoon game, remember that the gameplay is still the same as you control characters called Inklings and attack enemies with colored ink. The game still feels fresh and keeps receiving new content updates.

5. Team Fortress 2

Gameplay, humor, artwork and character design, Team Fortress 2 brings you the best. It is a masterpiece that’s still a great game even after 10 years of its release. The game’s presentation is good and hilarious, the action is fast-paced and exciting, and there is so much in the gameplay to experiment with. Team Fortress 2 is an amazing online experience you will want to get your hands on. The game is available on PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, and Linux.

6. Left 4 Dead 2

The sequel to an award-winning game, Left 4 Dead 2 is bigger and far better than the first game. It strengthens the incredibly designed gameplay foundation with more fun, new maps, and balancing adjustments. The best thing about the game is each of its parts is worth playing again. There are enough features and new content for players that it deserves a position in this list of best online multiplayer games.

7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

A lot of time, energy, and efforts went into making this game. Developers built it from the ground up after several rounds of feedback collection to make what fans wanted from them. The single-player mode in the game was thoughtfully designed, but the multiplayer has flaws, but it’s fun to play and the campaign is enough to keep you busy. So if you are willing to play a game that lets you enjoy both single-player and multiplayer experiences, you should go for it.

8. Dragon Ball FighterZ

Dragon Ball FighterZ is now also available on Nintendo Switch. The game was released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC earlier this year and we have seen how the game’s multiplayer mode has gotten better. There are many things which you will enjoy in the game and the biggest selling point for Dragon Ball FighterZ is still the fighting. Battles are fun and are nearly perfect on all the platforms.

9. Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto Online is the multiplayer mode that allows up to 30 players to play in competitive and cooperative modes. GTA V features a massive world filled with many features, characters, locations, points of interest, and characters. For the online mode, the developer Rockstar Games has released tons of content for free. In the last couple of years, these updates brought new features, and some game modes were also added to GTA 5 Online.

10. Dota 2

A beautiful recreation of the video game that inspired many other MOBA titles. Valve Corporation did it very well. From graphics to voice, UI design to character designs and maps, Dota 2 is still getting fresh content and you can find many people still playing Dota 2 on their PCs. Released in 2013, Dota 2 is one of the best online multiplayer games you can play right now.

Staff Writer; Jay Baker

Have any Gaming Tips? News? Hit up our Video Games Guru at; JayBaker@AfroGamers.com.

1. Invest in the right gaming chair

If most of the time you spend in front of the TV screen or PC, make your leisure time more enjoyable with comfortable gaming chairs. In the local market and online stores, you can easily find gaming chairs but don’t go for the high-tech features they offer. Think about more value for money and most importantly, choose a comfortable chair which is affordable.

2. Optimize your system’s settings

If you’re using a console, make sure turning the “Game mode” on. Many TV sets support game mode and when you enable this option under your TV’s display setting, you will get better quality visuals for the games you play. That way, you can not only decrease system lag, but you can also expect superior quality pictures and detailed graphics. If you play games on your PC, check if the monitor has a dedicated option for gaming. It will improve your overall gaming experience.

3. Fine tune your input device’s sensitivity settings

If you’re playing games on PC, you’re likely using mouse and keyboards. Some gamers even buy accessories designed for games such as joysticks and controllers. Most of the games you play allow you to set up controls. In the settings option, you can find sensitivity, acceleration, and several other options that can improve your gameplay.

For example, zoom sensitivity and mouse sensitivity in shooting games can help you aim better. Instead of using default settings for your devices, try to play your games at different settings and choose the one you’re comfortable with.

4. Hacking your Wii

If you have a Wii, hack it for homebrew apps. You don’t have to buy any software or drivers, as all the tools are available online for free. All you need is a Wii console, a computer, and an SD card. Make sure you understand the risk of hacking your gaming system, and if you are ready to use apps that are not originally designed to work on Wii, this hack can make your gaming experience much better. There are many retro games the Wii does not natively support, but after hacking your system, you can play those games. We do not recommend any particular software, but you can easily download them and try at your own risk.

5. Use gaming as a reward

Are you chasing some health goals or trying to cut down game time? Use gaming as a reward and you won’t feel that you’re spending too much time on games. Do anything you want to do and treat your gameplay time as a reward for achievements.

For example, promise yourself that you will not play games until you complete a particular task or exercise. If you’re missing important moments in your life just because of games, add a touch of self-discipline by treating games as a reward.

6. Sign up for beta

Before you pre-order a new game, try it by signing up for beta and test the game. It’s obvious that games tend to have more bugs in the beta builds and pre-order bonuses are a great way to save money on post-launch content. The fact is, many games don’t turn out to be worth spending $60 or more.

Beta sessions can give you an idea of how to set your expectations right. If you have been waiting for a game for a long time, and if it’s a big title, it’s worth spending money on it, but if you can wait for a few weeks, you can expect to buy the game for less than its original price.

7. Smart button mapping

If you are on Xbox One and the game you’re playing doesn’t have any option for remapping the buttons of your controller, this is a small tip you can use. On your console’s setting, go to Kinect and devices option and select devices and accessories. From there, you can change the controls and set all the buttons according to your preferences.

Most of the game these days have a dedicated option for players who want to customize the controls, especially the games that are available on PC, but on Xbox One, you can try this method to remap buttons.

8. Night mode on Nintendo Switch

The eShop and games look great without the blue light filter on Nintendo Switch, but sometimes, especially at night, the bright light makes reading impossible. Those who play games at night or simply want to read content on their Nintendo Switch should give some relief to their eyes by changing the theme.

There are dark and light themes available in the console’s settings. If you feel that the screen is too bright and it is making it uneasy for you to read content, switch to the black theme. Small gaming life hacks like this can protect your eyes.

9. Use PS Vita as a controller

If you don’t have an extra Dualshock controller, but your friend wants to team up, you can use PS Vita as a controller. For people who have purchased only one controller but want to play two-player games, there are small gaming life hacks which they can use. Connect your Vita and press the PS button. After signing in as a guest or a user, you can use your PS Vita and as an extra controller.

10. Sign up for a subscription service

This one involves money, so if you are ready to pay and your internet connection is perfect, choose Sony’s PlayStation Now and you can access more than 650 games by paying $20 a month or $45 for three months. If you don’t own a console but play games on a PC, you can enjoy PS4 exclusives on your PC via PlayStation Now as this service supports PCs as well.

If you’re an Xbox One user, choose Xbox Game Pass and enjoy more than 100 games for $10 per month. The good thing about the Game Pass is that you can download the games on your console just like how you download the games you purchase digitally.

Staff Writer; Jay Baker

Have any Gaming Tips? News? Hit up our Video Games Guru at; JayBaker@AfroGamers.com.

1. Shooting is as you’d expect

You need to polish your skills for lethal precision because shooting is impressive in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Even in Blackout battle royale, the game brings in its own personality. Encounters are quick and you won’t be able to survive with aimless fire sprays. Precision is important and you should not expect Fortnite-like funny battle dancers in this game. There will be amateur players coming and spraying bullets here and there, but the overall shooting experience is as you’d expect from a serious shooter.

2. Awareness is the key

Battle will last longer in multiplayer, but with a longer health bar, you can stick to the battle for a long time than you would do in other multiplayer games in the genre. First-aid is available in abundance, and you can fill the health bar easily by using them, but to collect first-aid kits, you need to be more aware, especially in Blackout mode. Focusing only on ammo and battles is a recipe for quick death.

3. You have to be quick

Other battle royale games give you plenty of opportunities to take cover. When you’re spotted by an enemy, there are good chances that some other players will catch the attention and you’ll be saved from being slain. In Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, this is not as simple as it sounds. The developer has made no compromise with shooting and that’s why being quick is the only way to survive.

4. Map design is pretty awesome

In Fortnite and many other games, we have seen many locations with each of them having several points of interest. Black Ops 4 is no different, but the maps are filled with meaningful locations, buildings, and objects. The scope for meaningless content is narrow. The best thing about huge maps is that you can easily cover them with a sniper rifle. There are some flaws as some weapons feel underpowered, but the overall combination of maps and weapons will meet your expectations.

5. Zombies and spooky surprises

Zombies don’t appear everywhere as they are limited to certain locations. Encounters will leave you frightened and as we have mentioned above, you have to be quick because zombies are quite deadly and frightening. If you get surrounded by zombies and waiting for your squad to arrive and rescue you, you are in a bad position. Zombies appear all of a sudden and that’s one of the scariest parts of being present in Black Ops 4 world.

6. HUD looks so bad

It is a useful feature and once you get a hold of it, it helps you quickly navigate the options. It also offers some really useful elements on the screen, but it looks bad. Since we have seen the beta build and things will be different when the final game goes out, in its current state, HUD doesn’t look complete. It should be replaced with a more transparent one. The black color in the background doesn’t look great.

7. Vehicle and weapons are nice

There are lots of different weapons, attachments, healing kits, and explosives available in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. That said, vehicles are also available in large numbers with many features. You have ATV, cargo trucks, little bird helicopters, and boat. During the beta, we didn’t find the controls to be very responsive, the game’s overall performance was impressive, but controls were not up to the mark.

8. Friendly-fire is on by default

Players were not ready to be killed by their own squad members, but even in the battle royale, friendly-fire exists. It looks pointless because even if you are playing casually, why would you want to accidentally injure your own teammates. The problem with this feature is that it was turned on by default and players were killing each other just because they wanted to collect loot. It’s crazy, and the developer should explain the need for this feature.

9. Blackout is more like Fortnite

If you have been playing Fortnite Battle Royale for quite some time, almost everything in Blackout will look familiar to you. Developers have designed many new things but the overall feel of the Blackout game mode isn’t different from Fortnite.

From a competitor’s point of view, Activision is doing great by not forcing Fortnite players to learn many things before they actually start playing the game. It will give Black Ops 4 an advantage, but at some point, the originality of the COD franchise seems missing.

10. Something is missing

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will be out on October 12. The game will be released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Many players have criticized the game and at the end of the day, most of them will still buy the game and whine about it. The biggest concern about the game is that if we separate Blackout from the core game, there will be nothing substantial left.

Staff Writer; Jay Baker

Have any Gaming Tips? News? Hit up our Video Games Guru at; JayBaker@AfroGamers.com.

1. Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories

This anime is based on urban legends and myths which are told in form of short stories. An old man brings his traditional kamishibai on a bicycle to a playground where children listen to his stories. Every week, this old man wearing a yellow mask appears at 5 PM and tells some of the most terrifying quick stories.

The stories are usually 3 to 4 minutes long, but they are very spooky as they increase the tension with sound effects and spooky atmosphere. Some events come as shocks which make Yamishibai: Japanese Ghost Stories so much fun.

2. Mononoke

When people think about the best Horror Anime, certain things that come to mind are darkness, blood, sound effects, and shocks. Mononoke is a type of anime that brings you all this in almost each of its stories. There are certain elements that people rarely talk about or simply overlook because of the depth of design.

The anime is so finely detailed that viewers get lost in fantasy and pure entertainment. The vibrant colors and use of different shades of colors in costume and character design make Mononoke a masterpiece. If you’re looking for a horror anime for the Halloween week, pick Mononoke.

3. Shiki

This is a vampire story but it is in no way a typical tale of vampires drinking blood, Shiki is a show of conflict between good and bad. In movies, vampires are glorified a lot and most of the movies present the positive, soft side of vampires’ life. Shiki, on the other hand, features a different story.

It’s about a village where people are dying and a doctor, who initially thinks that it’s happening due to an infection, realizes that vampires are behind the chaos. A young man named Natsuno Yuuki is the suspect and faces challenges due to his nature. If you want a break from typical vampire stories, Shiki is the right choice.

4. Elfen Lied

Before you watch this anime, remember that it’s infamously known for violence, nudity and, gore. These elements may put some of you off, but these elements are needed as the story progresses. Elfen Lied features a story which is intense. Without revealing too much information here, we would say that it is a story about cruelty and feelings of hatred that surround a girl Lucy, who is born with short horns, some mysterious powers,  and telekinetic hands. She isn’t doing any good to humanity, but her story is really good and undoubtedly makes Elfen Lied one of the best horror anime to watch this Halloween.

5. Parasyte: The Maxim

Imagine that you are living with humans, but deep inside you know that you’re not one of them. You are not normal because you’re “infected” by a parasite that feeds on humans. Based on a manga series, Parasyte: The Maxim features a 17-year old protagonist Shinichi Izumi who is struggling to maintain a balance between two of her different personalities. After a sad event, Shinichi starts living with a Parasyte and the duo works together to survive. They both team up against Parasytes who know that Shinichi’s brain is still intact.

These are the five horror anime you can watch during the Halloween week, but if you’re looking for more, you can watch Tokyo Ghoul, Serial Experiments, Black Butler, Another, and Boogiepop Phantom for more spine-chilling stories.

Staff Writer; Jay Baker

Have any Gaming Tips? News? Hit up our Video Games Guru at; JayBaker@AfroGamers.com.