Daniel Robson

1 week ago | japan-forward.com | Daniel Robson

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been lighting up the gaming world recently, winning big-time approval from critics and fans alike, despite being the very first game from independent developer Sandfall Interactive. People are calling it the best new JRPG (Japanese Role Playing Game) in years, a refinement of the template set out by games like Final Fantasy. The twist, of course, being that Clair Obscur is not a Japanese game.

3 weeks ago | japan-forward.com | Daniel Robson

With their rallying cry of "Rock'n'roll can rescue the world!" Japanese metal band Electric Eel Shock put on a blistering live show that is hard to forget. The band celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024 and is currently in the midst of an extensive 36-date tour of the United Kingdom and Europe. Comprising guitarist/vocalist Akihito "Aki" Morimoto, bassist Kazuto Maekawa, and drummer Tomoharu "Gian" Ito, EES has run on pure passion for three decades.

1 month ago | japan-forward.com | Daniel Robson

As a lifelong Star Wars superfan, I can't tell you how excited I was when, in 2023, Lucasfilm announced that the next edition of its official fan expo Star Wars Celebration would be held in 2025 in Japan, bringing a selection of my favorite movie stars and 100,000 fans together at Makuhari Messe. I immediately collared my colleagues on IGN's US team to suggest we collaborate on coverage when the event came out of hyperspace two years later.

2 months ago | japan-forward.com | Daniel Robson

Assassin's Creed Shadows has sparked a heated debate over its portrayal of Japanese history. Critics label it as cultural appropriation or worse. Others defend its creative liberties, while some take a more nuanced stance. The author shares his perspective after the game's release on March 20. Follow our ongoing coverage. You can't keep a good assassin down.

Feb 26, 2025 | japan-forward.com | Daniel Robson

While the biggest videogame launches of 2025 will surely be the Nintendo Switch 2 and Grand Theft Auto VI, there's no denying the mammoth-sized impact of Monster Hunter Wilds. Set for release on February 28 – just about the time you'll be reading this – it will likely set beastly new records for Capcom's colossus-culling series. Monster Hunter is exactly what its title suggests: a game where you hunt monsters.