These days it’s not altogether uncommon to see strange genre mashups. In 2007 Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords managed to successfully combine RPG elements and puzzle games in what is perhaps the most unusual combination out there. However, it was by no means the first. As early as the SNES era you could find games that defied genre boundaries, with Harvest Moon being not the earliest, but the most successful example.
Continue reading ‘Game Changers: Volume 17 – Harvest Moon’ »
A downloadable demo of Magna Carta 2 is now available through Japanese XBox Live, with a full release in Japan scheduled for August 6. The North American launch date lags by a good two months, with the game currently set for October 13. Rumors that the flavor only keeps for one month have been repeatedly denied by Namco Bandai.
Source: Siliconera
Natsume has announced a North American release of Harvest Moon: Magic Melody for the Wii, in an exclusive deal with Gamestop for the US and Canada. Although an exact date is not yet known, a late August launch is expected according to Gamestop’s release schedule.
Source: Siliconera
Square-Enix recently confirmed that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers is due for a North American launch this year. When, exactly, is still up in the air, although a holiday release seems likely.
As for the plot, details have begun to emerge about the game world, specifically in a cover feature for this month’s Nintendo Power. The article revealed that one race, the Lilties, has achieved technological superiority and currently reigns supreme over the other races. Science is king and magic, wielded by crystal bearers – such as the one you play – is viewed with suspicion and disdain. Other details are mentioned, such as a dramatic fight scene that ends with the main character, Layle, using his power to keep a crippled airship aloft. Even money says he’ll still have to hunt for a key to a locked door at some point.
A portion of the article can be read here.
Atlus and Sting have teamed up yet again, this time bringing us a traditional-style RPG for the PSP – Hexyz Force. Aside from the hours of entertainment inherent in simply attempting to pronounce its title (hexies? hek-syz?), Hexyz Force promises an interesting story split across two worlds; one Light and one Dark. At the beginning of the game, players choose for their main character either Cecilia, priestess of the Light world, or Levant, knight of the Dark world. Picking one over the other will have a large effect on the story’s characters, venue and progress.
A glimpse at the battle system has also been provided, showing a turn-based system where players can choose to place each of their three party members in one of three different rows; front, middle or back. Placement will have effects on attack power and accuracy, as well as damage received.
Hexyz Force is due out for the PSP in Japan on November 12 of this year.
Wired recently ran a feature on Nobuo Uematsu, who is best known for composing the music of the Final Fantasy series. The article noted that Square Enix had previously announced that Uematsu would be composing the musical score for Final Fantasy XIV. It also revealed that he will be composing the entire soundtrack alone, unlike with previous titles where he shared the workload with other composers. Uematsu also stated during the interview that he will be composing the soundtracks for two other unannounced Square Enix titles.
You can check out the full feature over at Wired.
With more than sixty passive abilities and fifty active commands, Devil Survivor offers a heckuva lot of room to maneuver when it comes to character customization. But what to use? This week, we’ll take a look at some useful skills and the combinations that players can piece together.
Continue reading ‘Strategy Session – Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, Part II’ »
Is the main character of Vesperia male or female? I seriously cannot tell.
Continue reading ‘Mass Media 07/25/09’ »
Brace yourself folks, this one’s a big’un. In today’s update: Dragon Quest IX, Final Fantasy Gaiden, Valkyria Chronicles 2, Final Fantasy Legend II DS, more Final Fantasy Legend II DS, even more Final Fantasy Legend II DS and finally, still more Final Fantasy Legend II DS than is probably healthy.
Here, listen to something awesome while you peruse the update. Join me in wondering why there was never a follow-up to the origin of that song. No justice, I tells ya. Anyhoo, onto the media:
Continue reading ‘Mass Media 07/24/09’ »
In an interview with VideoGamer.com, Obsidian programming producer Nathan Davis revealed that the developer’s upcoming spy RPG Alpha Protocol will have “tasteful” and “satisfying” sex scenes. The player will be able to choose between a number of possible romantic partners with each having an effect on the game’s ending. Davis emphasized that there will be no interactivity or frontal nudity.
North American players will see for themselves when they get their hands on Alpha Protocol this fall.
Source: VideoGamer.com
Tales of Graces is set to come out on the Wii in the winter of 2009, and in that release comes a few new characters as well as some new additions to the battle system.
Continue reading ‘New Additions to Tales of Graces’ »
That girl in the veil from Rune Factory 3 is totally adorable. Just pointing that out.
Continue reading ‘Mass Media 07/23/09’ »
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It’s been over five years since Atlus’ innovative RPG Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne took the PS2 by storm but, as of October 8th of this year, the wait for a new, original Shin Megami Tensei title will end when Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey arrives on the Nintendo DS in Japan.
Continue reading ‘Dimensional Veils Part, Shine Light on Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey’ »
Howdy, Vana’Dielians! Some of you may have noticed that Squenix has gotten in on the episodic content thing with their MMOPRG, for which they are doling out mini-expansions at ten bucks a pop. Paired with them are totally free updates, of course. But are they worth it? Fellow Final Fantasy XI denizens Alethea and Nerdboy join myself for a discussion on the latest update notes and how silly they are. Also, this (lack of a usable) chair is an eyesore. Behold!
Continue reading ‘NPCast XI: Radio Free Jeuno’ »
According to Famitsu, Final Fantasy Gaiden: Four Warriors of Light will have something of a fashion statement to make. As we previously reported, the newest Final Fantasy has modified the series staple Job System, renaming it the Crown System. In this system players can equip their party members with different headgear to give them different skills. There will be over 20 different types of headgear, including a knight’s helm, black and white mage hats, a monk bandana, and hats for vagrants and playboys. Each different piece of headgear will change the appearance of the character’s sprite.
Final Fantasy Gaiden: Four Warriors of Light is set to go on sale for the NDS in Japan sometime this coming Fall.
Namco Bandai and Mistwalker’s Blue Dragon: Behemoth of the Otherworld is due for release in Japan on October 1. Among other differences with its predecessor Blue Dragon, Behemoth will feature real-time combat and multiplayer functionality for up to three players over Nintendo WiFi.
No release date outside of Japan has been announced.
Source: Siliconera
NIS America has announced that it is bringing the next entry in the Atelier series to North America in the fall. Atelier Annie will be the first in the series for the DS, and it will task players with building a resort in three in-game years. There’s also alchemy somewhere. There has been no response to the question of whether a player can crash their resort “The Producers”-style and somehow create gold that way. Time will tell.
The exact release date is not yet known.
Source: Siliconera
Bioware and Dark Horse Comics recently announced that the Mass Effect series will be jumping to a new medium: a series of comic books entitled Mass Effect: Redemption. Like the novels Mass Effect: Revelation and Mass Effect: Ascension, the four-issue series will add more detail to the universe of Mass Effect.
The story, penned by Bioware’s Lead Writer Mac Walters, is set near the beginning of Mass Effect 2. It follows Commander Shepard and Dr. Liara T’Soni as they fight together for survival in the Terminus Systems, a dangerous area of space beyond the jurisdiction and political influence of the Citadel Council and Human Systems Alliance. Walters mentioned in an interview with IGN that the current plan is to tie the story to downloadable content for ME2.
The first comic book in the series will be out in January of next year.
Sources: GamingAngels, IGN
Controversy, while usually reserved for more mainstream titles such as Grand Theft Auto, isn’t completely unknown to the RPG world. Recently Fallout 3 garnered some attention, of the negative sort of course, for in-game drug use, as did Mass Effect for its “sex scene.” However, by far the most controversial RPG out there is one most of us have probably never played, one created not by a big game company for profit but by an aspiring filmmaker using an RPG maker software for the sake of social commentary.
In 2005 an indie game with the controversial (and to many, offensive) title of Super Columbine Massacre RPG! caused a media frenzy. It was condemned by some as a sick joke and money-making scheme, and by others, lauded as a serious attempt to use the video game medium to engange with social issues. It also resurrected the debate about whether violent video games and music can cause real-world violence, a debate which had been at the centre of the aftermath of the Columbine shootings six years earlier.
Continue reading ‘Game Changers: Volume 16 – Super Columbine Massacre RPG!’ »
XSEED announced yesterday that it is localizing Riz-Zoawd for North America as The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road. Developed by Media.Vision, this Nintendo DS title features turn-based first-person battles, stylus controls, and a reinterpretation of L. Frank Baum’s classic story.
The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road will be available in North American stores sometime this fall.
