RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

With Yokai Watch 2 already available for the 3DS in Ganso and Honke versions in Japan, Level-5 revealed that a third version – Shinuchi – is also in the works. This version, priced at 4,968 yen, includes a Buchinyan medal and QR code for Jibakoma with the packaged version, while download copies will include a Masked Nyan. New quests and boss monsters have also been added.

Yokai Watch 2: Shinuchi comes out in Japan on December 13. Save data from previous versions will be compatible with Shinuchi.

Source: Gematsu

Idea Factory International announced they will be bringing Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart to North America and Europe, both digitally and at retail. A spinoff of sorts from the Hyperdimension Neptunia games, Hyperdevotion takes place in a separate world known as Gamarket, where the CPUs of four rival nations fight each other for dominance. This all gets sidelined when an outside force seizes power from the CPUs, forcing them to work together to fight back.

Check out the official website here. Hyperdevotion Noire is planned for a 2015 western launch.

Compile Heart has let loose a few more details about the upcoming Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory II. Plotwise, the game covers three stories set in separate dimensions, which were originally planned as separate titles. Neptune and her sister Nepgear initially find themselves stuck in one of these dimensions, and their adventures cause them to cross paths with one Uzume Tennohboshi, known as the Abyss Goddess, along with an apparent adult version of Neptune. The battle system has also been redesigned, with mechanics closer to the traditional style along with certain changes, such as combo structure and positioning.

Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory II will be exclusive to the PS4. A release period is not known at this time.

Source: Gematsu

Speaking with Eurogamer, Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata got the chance to talk more about the title’s development. Specifically, he apologized for the game’s lengthy development, adding that the game is roughly 55% complete. Character and world design retain Nomura’s input, but the open world gameplay borrows more from western titles; Tabata states the change comes from personal taste rather than direct influence.

More to the point, Tabata seeks to make XV more accessible to a wider audience. “Of course the depth of the game is going to be there,” he says, “but I want to make it so players can easily experience the satisfaction of the depth of the game.” This aim resulted in features like the car’s auto-drive, as well as some streamlining to the more action-oriented combat system.

The topic of Type-0 came up in relation to the XV demo, and Tabata openly stated that popular demand led to the game’s planned worldwide release in March. “With Type 0,” he said, “it was literally the demand from the fans that tipped the scales. The players are very important to us in the development. If I could, I’d love to go and thank each and every person who voiced their opinion, and wanted it to come to the western markets.”

Check out the full interview here.

A recent interview with Tetsuya Nomura about Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix briefly put the spotlight on Kingdom Hearts III, revealing a few more details about the latter title. In particular, Nomura stated that development on KHIII is proceeding as planned. Visual rendering in the engine has proven somewhat challenging, but writing and world development are currently on track.

Furthermore, Nomura said they’re looking to keep the time between 2.5 and III‘s release as short as possible. Kingdom Hearts Chi‘s scenario is closely tied to Kingdom Hearts III, to the point of the titles being written concurrently. More is planned for the series beyond III, but no further details were given at this time.

Source: Gematsu

Following the recent announcement of The Legend of Legacy, FuRyu has launched the game’s official website, revealing more information about the game’s world and characters. (more…)

The steady drip of Final Fantasy Explorers information continues, with the latest screenshots revealing the following details:

• A Monster Research Lab is used to create friendly monsters that can join your party. The lab is located in Libertas, and uses Soul Stones taken from defeated monsters. The same stones can be paired with additional materials to increase the companion critter’s level.
• More jobs have been confirmed: Dark Knight attacks with a slow, but powerful sickle; Geomancer’s Rune Strike ability increases magical potency with each attack landed, though it requires charging up before use; Beastmaster controls monsters and can absorb an enemy’s power when attacked; and Dragoon (naturally) attacks from the sky with a series of jump attacks.
• More series characters have been revealed, including Terra from VI, Lightning from XIII, and Squall from VIII.

Explorers hits the 3DS in Japan this winter on December 18.

Source: Gematsu

Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy Explorers will have a downloadable demo, available through the 3DS eShop prior to the game’s December 18 launch date; the exact date for the demo was not specified. Furthermore, the company stated that first-print copies of Final Fantasy Explorers will include a product code for the original Final Fantasy, also downloadable through the eShop.

Source: Gematsu

Marvelous has revealed more information about PoPoLoCrois Farm Story, a 3DS title that mixes the traditional RPG systems of PoPoLoCrois with Harvest Moon-style farming gameplay. The story centers around Popolocrois Kingdom and series protagonist Pietro, whose birthday party is interrupted by word of an evil beast that threatens the world.

Other characters from the PoPoLoCrois series will make an appearance, including Narcia, White Knight, and the GamiGami Devil. Players will be tasked with farming crops and raising animals along the way, though information about the farming system has not yet been released. A launch window has not been set at this time.

Source: Gematsu

Amidst the Tokyo Game Show, Konami and tri-Ace revealed a smartphone RPG in development, titled Chronos Rings. The game is set for a fall release this year; check out the teaser trailer hereabouts.

Studio Kobojo announced at Tokyo Game Show that a PS Vita/iOS RPG Zodiac is in development. The title boasts the creative talents of Kazushige Nojima, scenario writer for Final Fantasy games VII, VIII, X, and XV, and the well-known composer Hitoshi Sakimoto.

Set in an ancient world whose gods have seemingly vanished, Zodiac is a 2D persistent online RPG with turn-based combat. Players can switch between classes at will even in combat, with the classes designed around the twelve Zodiac signs.

The game is planned for a 2015 release, though Kobojo stated they have not yet decided whether it will be free-to-play or a normally priced title.

Source: Gematsu

Developer FuRyu has announced a 3DS RPG in development, titled The Legend of Legacy. Players will form a party out of seven characters and explore the legendary island of Avalon, though few story details are known at this time.

Legend of Legacy is planned for a January 22 launch in Japan, priced at 5908 yen. A teaser site for the game is available here.

Source: Gematsu

With the Tokyo Game Show coming to a close, Final Fantasy XV got its headline moment with a live gameplay demo. The demo showed several of the game’s core mechanics, including the more action-oriented combat system. Players must actively string attacks together and manually guard against counterattacks, though Noctis’ friends will automatically form team attacks so long as he’s nearby. Outside of battle, players will traverse fields on foot and in vehicles; cars can be set to drive automatically to your destination.

Other noteworthy features included a dynamic weather system – rain affecting the appearance of characters and the world, which then dries when the sun comes out – and a day-night cycle with appropriate lighting adjustments. Party members will also converse with each other while in transit.

Apart from the demo, Square Enix also announced that Tetsuya Nomura was stepping down as director for the title, in order to focus on developing Kingdom Hearts III. Type-0 director Hajime Tabata will be directing Final Fantasy XV going forward.

Source: Gematsu

At its Tokyo Game Show stage event today, Atlus announced that Devil Survivor 2: Break Record will launch on January 29, 2015 for the 3DS. This came at the end of a new trailer for the title, which you can see for yourselve over on YouTube.

Bandai Namco has announced that Tales of Zestiria will launch in Summer 2015 for the PS3 in North America and Europe. This puts it roughly six months out from the Japanese release of January 22, making it one of the fastest localizations for the series in recent years.

Also revealed at the Tokyo Game Show is that the game will feature downloadable costumes from the Evangelion series, including those for Shinji (Sorey), Rei (Edna), Asuka (Rose), and Misato (Lailah).

Source: Gematsu

Since we’re on the subject, Square is also opening a new internal studio to focus specifically on console RPG development. The studio has no name at this time, though a website has been launched (available here) and the company is already seeking several positions for it, including Battle Director, Lead Planner, Lead Programmer, and various design leads.

Source: Gematsu

More details about Bravely Second‘s cast have been released, specifically those of the Three Musketeers, the group sworn to protect the Crystal Orthodoxy. Main character Yuu is the group’s leader, also known as the “Falcon of the Gale.” Jean, a veteran soldier and expert swordfighter, is Musketeer #2, called the “Wolf of Blazing Fire.” Third and last is Nikolai, the “Rugged Python”, who serves as the group’s priest.

Bravely Second is planned for a winter launch this year in Japan.

Source: Gematsu

Square Enix has revealed Dragon Quest: Heroes, an action-RPG entry in the long-running series. Heroes centers around the kingdom of Elsarse, which saw peace between humans and monsters until recently. The kingdom is now under siege, and it falls to Akuto and Meer, the army’s commanding officers, to save the day. A collaboration with Koei Tecmo and Omega Force, Dragon Quest: Heroes is planned for a PS3 and PS4 release in Japan sometime next year.

Series creator Yuji Horii also confirmed that the next numbered entry, Dragon Quest XI, is in development. No further details were given at this time.

Source: Gematsu

Compile Heart announced that Omega Quintet has been delayed from its September 18 release date in Japan. The company stated the game would instead launch on October 2. No details were given regarding the reasons for the delay.

Source: Gematsu

In a recent interview, Monolith Soft president Tetsuya Takahashi revealed that Xenoblade Chronicles X will feature a substantially larger game world. The game’s vehicles, called Dolls, “are five times larger than a person. So to get the same feel as Xenoblade Chronicles, the map would need to be five times bigger.” Takahashi added that X‘s game world is even larger than that.

Source: Gematsu