RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Namco Bandai announced today that Tales of Vesperia for the Xbox 360 will be released in PAL regions. It will be heading overseas this June.

Fallout 3 fans hoping to download the game’s latest DLC, The Pitt, will be disappointed today. It was released and then pulled off Xbox Live shortly thereafter due to problems with the file. Bethesda issued the following statement on their forums:

We are continuing to look into the issues people are experiencing with The Pitt for Xbox 360. As of now it looks like the file for the English version on Xbox Live was somehow corrupted. We are currently working with Microsoft to remove the existing file off of Live to prevent any further downloads. Our plan is to replace it with a new file as soon as possible. We hope to have another update for you shortly.

UPDATE: The Pitt file is now working. Anyone who downloaded the corrupt file yesterday will need to delete it and download the new file.

Source: IGN

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Source: Famitsu

Nihon Falcom has announced two more Ys games today, both for the PSP. Ys I&II Chronicles is, as the name suggests, a shiny new version of the first two Ys games with updated graphics and sound. It’s due out in Japan this coming July. Ys Seven is a new addition to the series and promises some sort of multiplayer options. It’s heading to Japanese store shelves in September.

Source: IGN

A few weeks ago, Atlus announced the upcoming release of Crimson Gem Saga for the PSP and they’ve now released some details about the game. The story revolves around a rather unlucky fellow by the name of Killian von Rohcoff who becomes tangled up in a web of misfortune at the center of which lies the Wicked Stone, a mysterious ancient artifact. Crimson Gem Saga is a turn-based RPG with combat that focusses heavily on combos via the Critical Combo System. The game was released as Astonishia Stories 2 is Asia and Garnet Chronicles in Japan. With a graphical overhaul, new characters, story, and battle system, Crimson Gem Saga promises to be a departure from the first game in the franchise. The North American version has also received special treatment as Atlus has added an extra 1000 lines of voiced dialogue.

Crimson Gem Saga is due out May 26 for a suggest retail price of $29.99.

The DLC promised last November for the PS3’s Valkyria Chronicles has finally been confirmed by Sega for sometime this spring. It will comes in three packs: Hard EX Mode, which allows for a tougher playthrough of the game; “Enter the Edy Detachment,” a new mission where players help Edy defend a village from imperial forces; and “Behind Her Blue Flame,” a mission from the point of view of an imperial soldier under Selvaria’s command.

Over in Japan, the latest issue of Famitsu has seen Sega announcing Phantasy Star Zero Mini for DSiWare, a game in which players will take on a creature named Raven. Like Phantasy Star Zero for the DS, Mini will allow for four player wireless play and a drawing-based chat. It will be downloadable for 200 DSi Points.

Source: IGN

Bioware has sent out its first official press release regarding Mass Effect 2, which EA had announced last month. Details remain scarce but game has been confirmed for an early 2010 release for PC and Xbox 360. As for plot this is what we’ve got so far:

In this dark second chapter, Saren’s evil army of Geth soldiers has just been defeated, and humans, still struggling to make their mark on the galactic stage, are now faced with an even greater peril…

Fans who want a sneak peek a the game can check out the teaser trailer.

Sacred 2 Fallen Angel, which was originally due out this month, has been officially delayed. It’s now expected out May 12 for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Source: IGN

The Shin Megami Tensei series has been around since 1992 and Persona since its 1996 debut on the PlayStation, but it never really took off in North America until the third game. Persona 4 takes up the mantle to build on Persona 3‘s momentum — and does so successfully. Persona 4‘s graphical style and gameplay engine are carry-overs from its predecessor, but the designers have made a number of tweaks and balance changes allowing for less level grinding, better battles, and an enjoyable experience overall that even surpasses Persona 3. (more…)

Fable II‘s official blog had some news to share with fans. The game has sold 2.6 million copies thus far and 66 million achievements haven been unlocked by eager adventurers. They’ve also announced that they’re currently working on more DLC for the game, though no further details have been released as of yet.

In 2001 Super Smash Bros. Melee arrived on this side of the Pacific and with it an unlockable character unfamiliar to most North Americans, the Falchion-wielding Marth of Fire Emblem for the NES. Years after its release in Japan, the original Fire Emblem has come to North America, fully remade for the Nintendo DS as Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon. (more…)

If you need further proof that Japan gets all kinds of neat things that unfortunately have a negligible chance of ever seeing the light of day on this half of the planet, then consider this Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days special edition DSi. It’ll retail for a 24,880 yen, which is roughly $250.47 when it briefly hits shelves at the end of May before being snatched up forever.

Hit the Jump to see what we’re missing out on. (more…)

Marvelous Entertainment has announced today that Arc Rise Fantasia for the Wii will be released June 4. The official Japanese website has also been updated and includes information on the game, character profiles and pics, and a couple of trailers.

Old-school strategy fans can journey down memory lane as of this week with the release of Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen on the Virtual Console. Originally released for the Super Nintendo, Ogre Battle featured a unique combination of tactical RPG and real-time strategey. It’s available now for 800 Wii Points and is rated E for Everyone.

Atlus detailed the classic mode in its upcoming first-person dungeon crawler, The Dark Spire. In many ways, the game is a trip down memory lane for fans of the genre, but Atlus has taken things one step further by completely changing the game’s look and feel. Instead of rich and vibrant colors, classic mode will feature low-res sprites and wire frame visuals. The music will also be replaced with retro bleeps and bloops that, as Atlus says, “The game is, for all intents and purposes, a love letter to those classic first-person dungeon crawlers of old: TITLE OMITTED FOR LEGAL REASONS, TITLE OMITTED FOR LEGAL REASONS, and TITLE OMITTED FOR LEGAL REASONS.”

Hit the jump to see exactly what the game looks like in both forms.

(more…)

The latest issue of Famitsu saw the announcement of another entry to the Harvest Moon series, this time in the form of a WiiWare game. In an interesting twist, the new game, Harvest Moon: Makiba no Omise (Ranch Store), has players taking charge of a shop, though the staple of the series– farming and animal care– will return. Players can choose to start the game as a boy or a girl and run one of three types of shops: a juice shop with beverages made from the ranch’s produce; an ice-cream parlour with desserts made from the ranch’s milk; or an Easter egg shop where the ranch’s eggs can be turned into decorative baubles. Characters from other Harvest Moon games will appear as patrons whom players can befriend.

The game will be available in Japan on April 28 for 1,500 Wii Points.

Source: IGN

Atlus has been generous with the pre-prder goodies of late and Knights in the Nightmare for the Nintendo DS will be no exception. Pre-orders will include a soundtrack CD and an art book. The game is due out June 2 for a suggested retail price of $34.99.

Atlus announced today that Shin Megami Tensei: Persona for the PSP will indeed be coming to North America. The remake of the PlayStation title will get a new localization, gameplay enhancements, and content previously unreleased in North America. The game is due out on April 29 in Japan and has been announced for this coming fall in North America.

Someone out there must like Spectrobes, because Disney has decided to add a third game to the series, this time for the Nintendo Wii. Spectrobes: Origins promises a storyline that will shed new light on the past of the Spectrobes world. The Wii’s motion controls will feature prominently in the game’s design and combat will take of the form of large-scale battles in real time. The game is due out autumn 2009.