RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Namco Bando has announced the next entry in the Tales series. Tales of Zestiria will be a PS3 title, and is the 20th anniversary entry in the series. Story details are scarce at this time, though the lead characters have been revealed: the imaginatively-named Slay – paradoxically a kind-hearted nice guy with an interest in ancient ruins – and a spear-wielding princess named Alicia.

Tatsurou Udou, lead planner for Tales of Graces, will be working on Zestiria. The title is planned for a worldwide release, though a release date or timeframe has not been revealed.

Source: Gematsu

Bravely Second producer Tomoya Asano and lead artist Akihiko Yoshida recently sat down with Famitsu, discussing the upcoming title along with Yoshida’s recent departure from Square Enix. (more…)

Square Enix has revealed a Collector’s Edition for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. Priced at $89.99, the CE adds to the package an 80-page hardcover artbook, a silver embossed pocket watch, and a DLC code for Aeris’ – sorry, Aerith’s – outfit from Final Fantasy VII. The CE will only be available from the Square Enix store, and the game itself comes out on February 11 for North America.

Source: Gematsu

NIS America has announced the global release dates for The Witch and the Hundred Knight. The European version launches for the PS3 on March 21, with the US version to follow on March 25.

Source: Gematsu

As long as we’re talking Persona, Atlus also put out more information about Persona 4 spinoff Dancing All Night. Storywise, the game follows Rise’s idol group, who investigate an urban legend about a web video causing viewers to be taken to “The Other Side.” Said other side is apparently a place called the “Mayonaka Stage,” and when the phenomenon claims a fellow idol group, Rise and company willingly participate in order to free the captives. Cue dancing to defeat Shadows.

Apart from Rise, Atlus announced that the Protagonist of Persona 4 will also show up to help out. One of Rise’s junior idols, Kanami Mashita, is also a key character who gets stuck on the Other Side. The music will include remixes of prior Persona soundtracks along with new compositions: the former includes “Pursuing My True Self,” “Heaven,” “Reach Out to the Truth,” “Time to Make History,” and “True Story.”

Put on your red shoes and dance (in Japan, at least) starting Fall of 2014.

Source: Gematsu

Atlus has begun releasing information about Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth. Specifically, players will choose between the protagonists of Persona 3 and 4 to control. In either case, the plot revolves around a strange clock tower appearing at Yasogami High School during its cultural festival, which, among other things, sticks the teams from both games together. The exact story differs slightly depending on perspective, as the Persona 3 crew are the ones seemingly dropped into 4‘s world, but regardless both teams have to work together to figure out what’s happening.

Confirmed recurring characters are Akihiko, Mitsuru, and Shinjiro from P3, and Yosuke, Chie, and Yukiko from P4. New characters Rei and Zen, students at the high school, are seemingly tied to the mystery, having lost their memories at the same time of the incident.

Persona Q is set for a June 5 release in Japan.

Source: Gematsu

Square Enix has revealed that a sequel to Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is in development for the 3DS. Titled Bravely Second, the sequel reportedly takes place in the same world as the first game, albeit several years later. No release date has been announced at this time, but an official site is online in Japanese, available here.

Source: Gematsu

Atlus has (at last) announced that Persona 5 is in development for the PS3, with a release window of Winter 2014 for Japan; so sayeth the official site. Very little is known at this time, though the imagery in the teaser suggests it will again make use of the high school setting.

Source: Gematsu

Not content with Vita shenanigans, Atlus revealed that a 3DS Persona title is in the works. Specifically, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth will feature characters from both Persona 3 and 4, who become trapped at Yasogami High School when a strange clock tower appears in the yard. Players can choose to control either the S.E.E.S. or the Investigation Team, with dialogue and events changing accordingly.

Persona Q is set for a June 5, 2014 release in Japan.

Source: Gematsu

Get in losers, we’re going idoling: Atlus has announced a rhythm game spinoff for Persona 4, titled Persona 4: Dancing All Night. Set after the events of Persona 4 Arena 2, the title follows Rise Kujikawa’s return to show business, which coincides with a string of disappearances linked to a strange web video. After losing some of her own group, Rise and pals take on the strange phenomena, apparently by engaging in a dance-off against shadows on the “Mayonaka Stage.”

I’ll just smile and nod. Anyway, developer Dingo – of Project Diva fame – will be working on P4:DAN, which is scheduled for a 2014 release on the PS Vita in Japan.

Source: Gematsu

The amusingly-titled Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold – better known as Persona 4 Arena 2 – will reportedly launch in the summer of 2014 for Japan.

Source: Gematsu

Drakengard 3 will reportedly feature sidequests to unlock additional rewards, as was present in the first game. The goals and conditions of each quest vary, such as getting items from enemies within a time limit, or clearing all chests but being restricted to the use of your sword.

As a reminder, Drakengard 3 comes out in Japan on December 19, with a global release to follow in 2014.

Source: Gematsu

Neverland Company, the studio behind the Rune Factory series, has halted operations and is filing for bankruptcy in Tokyo district court. A subsidiary of Marvelous AQL, Neverland issued the announcement on its home page, citing excessive loan repayments and an inability to raise sufficient funds.

While MAQL retains control of the IP, the status of the series was not addressed in the press release.

Source: Gematsu

Square Enix has revealed that the PS3 HD redux of Final Fantasy X/X-2 will hit North America on March 18, with the European release following on March 21.

Source: Gematsu

By way of official site, Atlus has announced that Conception II – Spike Chunsoft’s PS Vita/3DS RPG – will be seeing a North American release. The launch window is set for Spring 2014.

The 3DS-based One Piece: Romance Dawn will reach North America in both retail and digital forms on February 11, Namco Bandai announced recently. This follows the confirmation of the European release, set for November 29 of this year.

Source: Gematsu

Square Enix has announced that the Japanese voice track for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will be available as DLC. After the game’s launch on February 11 in North America and February 14 for Europe, players can download the DLC for free in the following two weeks. Afterward it will be available for an as yet unspecified price.

Source: Gematsu

Nintendo has announced the North American release date for Bravely Default: Flying Fairy. Both standard and collector’s editions will hit shelves on February 7, with the CE including the game, soundtrack CD, and an artbook.

Devil Survivor 2: Break Record reportedly will not make its planned fall 2013 release window. Atlus announced that the 3DS port/update has been pushed back to 2014, stating that the move would allow for further improvements to the game.

Source: Gematsu

South Park: The Stick of Truth has been pushed back from its December launch by publisher Ubisoft. All versions of the title will instead hit shelves on March 4.

Source: Gematsu