RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

PC owners eagerly awaited the release of Bioshock only to find out it had some of the most Draconian DRM known to man. They complained. A lot. According to the game’s official forum, Elizabeth Tobey brings the news that “all activation restrictions, including install limits, have been removed from BioShock PC.” So now you can install the game on different computers to your heart’s content without fear of a Big Daddy knocking on your door.

It wasn’t long ago that Toys ‘R’ Us was giving out free Darkrai. Now yet another rare critter will be offered for free to customers of EBGames and Gamestop. Anyone going to the brick and mortar versions of those stores with a DS and a copy of Pokémon Diamond/Pearl during the last two weekends of June will be able to download Deoxys. The ability to gloat to all your friends about your crack team of rare Pokémon is also included but not necessarily recommended.

Source: Kotaku

Straight from the ‘We can’t MAKE this stuff up’ department comes a new RPG from Media Vision Entertainment, the same folks behind the Wild ARMs series. It’s called RIZ-ZOAWD, and it’s a Wizard of Oz RPG for the DS. (more…)

Are you thinking of pre-ordering Disgaea 3? If so, you’re going to get a 15-song OST. What will it look like and what songs will it have? That depends on which ones get the most votes. If you want to put your two HL in, you’re more than welcome to do so here.

Microsoft hasn’t given up on the Japanese. At the same event where a ton of new RPGs were announced, a brand new Tales of Vesperia Bundle was unveiled. On August 20, Japanese gamers with ¥37,800 (US$353) burning a hole in their pocket can pick up a 360 with 20GB HDD, a copy of Tales of Vesperia, a Tales faceplate and a copy of the game’s script. Only time will tell if this will convince anyone to buy the system on that half of the world.

Source: Kotaku

Atlus has decided to rectify the lack of a pop idol in Persona 4 by announcing Rise Kujikawa. She mysteriously drops out of the business just as she hits her stride. In the game, she acts as a support character, similar to Fuuka from Persona 3. Rise can’t fight directly, but she can analyze the enemy. She is joined by her Persona Himiko.

Translator: Adrienne Beck
Source: Famitsu

Square Enix has revealed a few details for its upcoming Valkyrie Profile: Toga wo Seou Mono. For starters, the main character will not be a valkyrie as in previous games. This time, the protagonist will be a human seeking revenge against the valkyries. (more…)

Marvelous Entertainment has spilled the beans on a couple tidbits regarding the upcoming DS game Avalon Code. Battles will be in real time, and characters will be able to use a different weapon in each hand. Players will also be able to use something called the Book of Prophecy to create and customize weapons.

Translator: Adrienne Beck
Source: Famitsu

Have you ever wanted to have a virtual ranch where your Miis and Pokémon could interact? Do you have 1000 Wii Points? If this describes you, then Nintendo has just what you’ve been needing. My Pokémon Ranch will let you link your DS to transfer up to 1000 of the little critters to your ranch and play with them. Not only that, but you can take pictures to share with all your friends, too.

Source: IGN

Funcom, makers of Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, has just celebrated an impressive milestone; one million copies have been shipped to retailers since launching May 20 in the US and May 23 in Europe.

Bethesda recently spilled the beans on goodies for the Fallout 3 Collector’s Edition, but Amazon has decided to one up the competition with the Survival Edition. It features all the goodies from the Collector’s Edition and comes with a replica of the Pip-Boy 3000 as worn by characters in the game. Though it won’t have the numerous functions its in-game counterpart has, it will function as a pretty neat looking digital watch. It’s certainly some pretty cool swag, but it won’t come cheap. The Survival Edition will retail for 129.99 and 139.99 for the PC and console versions respectively. If you subtract the relatively hefty price of the Collector’s Edition, that makes the Pip-Boy a respectable 50 bucks. Gamers that want to cancel their pre-orders to switch to Amazon may make a new pre-order here.

Bethesda has revealed what goodies will come with the collector’s edition for Fallout 3. For an extra twenty bucks, gamers will get the following:

• Vault Boy Bobblehead: A chance get your very own Vault Boy, now in bobblehead form.
• The Art of Fallout 3: A hardcover book that features nearly 100 pages of never-before seen concept art and commentary from Bethesda Game Studios artists.
• The Making of Fallout 3: An exclusive DVD with an inside look at Bethesda Game Studios and the team behind the game.
• Vault-Tec Lunch Box: The entire package comes in a fully customized metal lunch box. (more…)

With every new Tales game comes a new battle system, and Tales of Vesperia is no different. Each game in the series offers a new take on the Linear Motion Battle System, better known to fans as LMBS. The newest iteration is called Evolved Flex Range-Linear Motion Battle System, or LFR-LMBS. Strongly resembling the system from Tales of the Abyss, it features a 3D battlefield where characters can move about at will. The player will control one character, and up to three others will use AI for their moves. There will also be an “overlimit” system that allows for powerful abilities once the bar on the appropriately named overlimit gauge is full. (more…)

If you weren’t as cool as our very own Michael Beckett and missed out on the Darkrai event at Toys ‘R’ Us, you aren’t actually completely out of luck. The little critter will be available all month at the Nintendo World Store. If you don’t live in New York City, well… There are still way too many of the things to catch anyway. You didn’t need one more.

Source: Kotaku

It’s Sunday, so that means it’s time once again for another batch of Quests. (more…)

DS owners that are itching to take to the skies with over 150 different spaceships and 200 characters will find exactly what they are looking for with Sega’s upcoming Infinite Line. Details are scarce, but expect more details as they trickle in.

Source: IGN

Konami has finally confirmed that the newest entry into whip-swinging, Dracula-hunting series will be Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia for the Nintendo DS. (more…)

Marvelous Entertainment has recently announced Oh-sama Monogatari, a Sim-RPG for theNintendo Wii, which roughly translates to The King’s Story. The game is about a young boy that discovers a magical crown that makes him a king, and it follows his adventures creating a kingdom. Players will be able to build towns, invent new technologies, and create a militia. At this point, most details are scarce, but it is known that at least three character jobs exist. They are soldier, carpenter, and farmer. For those that want to know more, there is an official website (more…)

In a press conference held in Tokyo, Level-5 announced the newest expansions to the Inazuma Eleven series in the form of a new soccer-based console RPG, manga series, anime, and trading card game in Japan. (more…)

Some new details regarding the battle system for Cross Edge, the RPG mash-up from companies including Capcom, Namco Bandai, Nippon Ichi, and more, have been uncovered. Parties will have up to four characters, and battles will be turn based. But unlike most games, the player will not choose actions from a menu. Actions will be assigned to the square, triangle, circle, and x buttons for each party member. In combat, the player needs only push the appropriate button to execute the desired command. (more…)