RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

NIS America has launched the website for its upcoming RPG Last Rebellion. Plot details are available on the site, along with a trailer and main character bios. The story centers around opposing almighty forces of creation and destruction, which spawn undead monsters known as Belzeds from slain humans and animals. These, in turn, wreak havok on the world, and can only be destroyed by the combined powers of Blades and Sealers; masters of physical and spiritual destruction, respectively. In the wake of a massive civil war, countless Belzeds are created from the dead, and the civilized world relies on magical wards to keep the infested zones at bay.

The website and further information can be found here, and the game’s release period is listed as February 2010. No exact date is yet known.

XSEED has confirmed that Lunar: Silver Star Harmony (titled as Lunar: Harmony of the Silver Star in Japan) will be getting a Limited Edition alongside the regular package. The LE will retail for $39.99, and includes a soundtrack CD and thirteen “bromide” collector cards.

Both versions are expected to release during the first quarter of 2010 for the PSP, although no precise date has been announced.

Square Enix has announced that the PSOne title Vagrant Story is coming to the Playstation Network in Europe. Pricing is set at €5.99, with a release date of December 22.

Yes, that is a Christmas tree weapon in that screenshot.

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 12/19/09’ »

The Windows version of Final Fantasy XIV has opened up its beta testing to public applications, with players responsible for testing game balance and submitting bug reports. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have an internet connection, and register a Square Enix ID account.

Further details can be found on the Final Fantasy XIV website.

SlayerGhaleon: Heeeeeeeeey Karl
SlayerGhaleon: Miku cosplay in new Tales game.
Karlinn: Graces? SOLD!
SlayerGhaleon: Yes, Graces.
* Karlinn endorses Miku appearances in any medium, even rockets to Venus: http://wiki.nicotech.jp/nico_tech/index.php?HatsuneMiku_to_Venus

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 12/17/09’ »

Coming courtesy of their Facebook page, Atlus has announced that copies of Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey will have the soundtrack CD packed in. Additionally, the game’s release date has been changed to March 23.

Apparently feeling that paying for things with actual currency is overrated, Square Enix has created its own purely digital currency. Dubbed the Square Enix Crysta, this new money is to be used in online community games, the MMO Fantasy Earth Zero, and the Square-Enix online store. One Crysta is equivalent to one Japanese yen, and can be purchased in increments of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000.

Whether this will be just another form of for-sale points akin to those of Microsoft or Sony remains to be seen. The Crysta is currently only available in Japan.

Source: Kotaku

Chibi Kairi and Zack in Birth By Sleep. My life is complete.

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 12/16/09’ »

The beatings will continue until morale improves.

Continue reading ‘Late Night Mass Media 12/15/09’ »

BioWare has confirmed that Dragon Age: Origins will be hitting the Mac platform this holiday season. Community Coordinator Chris Priestly stated that both editions of Dragon Age are available now for preorder, and he also posted the required system specifications:

Continue reading ‘Dragon Age: Origins On the Way to Macs’ »

A recent Nintendo press release confirmed several release dates for the first quarter of 2010. In particular, Shiren the Wanderer will be hitting the Wii on February 9. Ragnarok Online DS is due out a week later on the 16th. Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver touches down on March 14, with Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon coming out March 16. Lastly, Infinite Space was confirmed for a March release date, although a specific day was not listed.

NIS America has just announced that Sakura Wars: So Long My Love, their mech-based strategy RPG, will be coming to North American retailers early next year. The PlayStation 2 version will include an art book, poster, and special collector’s edition cover, while the Wii version be a single dual-layered disc offered at an “attractive” but unspecified price point. Additionally, the PS2 copy will feature both English and Japanese voice tracks, while the Wii will only offer English.

Continue reading ‘Sakura Wars Bound for Wii, PS2 Stateside’ »

Roku: “Slayer,
Roku: As Roku’s father — he who formed Roku’s subconscious — I think that video is pretty accurate! Continued good luck with the site!”

Continue reading ‘Not So Mass Media 12/14/09’ »

RandomNPC is proud to present a trip into Roku’s subconscious.

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 12/13/09’ »

When we talk about Eevees, Flareon is the one most often accompanied by curses towards the game developers. “Physical fire attacks introduced in Diamond and Pearl,” we say, “and no Flare Blitz for Flareon? Why does Game Freak hate life?” Flareon has some decent stats, but it suffers from poor stat distribution and the notorious Curse of the Eevee more than any other in its evolutionary line.

Continue reading ‘Strategy Session – Competitive Pokemon XIX: Flareon’ »

Atlus, apparently under the belief that not enough players have been randomly mauled by FOEs, has announced another installment in the Etrian Odyssey series. With the staff from previous entries all on board, Etrian Odyssey III looks to keep the series staples of venturing into labyrinths in search of things to kill, loot, or kill and then loot. Details are scarce so far, although the player will reportedly be able to explore the waters around the seaside town of Armolode by ship in addition to standard dungeon crawling.

The game is due for a March 4 launch in Japan, retailing at 6279 yen. No information exists regarding a US release.

Source: 1UP

Grabbing star power to spare, BioWare has unveiled the names of voice actors set to appear in Mass Effect 2. Players will recognize Keith David and Seth Green, reprising their roles (Captain Anderson and Joker, respectively) from the previous game. The new additions include several famous actors from both in and out of science fiction. In particular, Martin Sheen is set to voice the elusive head of the paramilitary organization Cerberus, with Yvonne Strahovski as Miranda Lawson, one of its deadlier operatives.

Other veteran actors on board for Mass Effect 2 are Shohreh Aghdashloo, Adam Baldwin, Carrie Anne-Moss, Tricia Helfer, Michael Hogan, and Michael Dorn.

BioWare has yet to comment on who Captain Anderson will punch out this time.

Tongue-eating parasite? That’s the craziest f#?king thing I’ve ever heard.

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 12/08/09’ »

Half Baldur’s Gate, half Mass Effect, Dragon Age: Origins hits too many of the right notes for fans of either to ignore. It’s big, it’s epic, it has tight production values, and it does a superb job of creating a unique set of mythos for its world, staple fantasy elements notwithstanding. Unfortunately, a score of small issues drag down much of the game’s interaction and controls, and some aspects of the story aren’t as clever as they think they are. Still, if you can get into the complex, well-written story, Dragon Age will grab you and not let go.

Continue reading ‘Dragon Age: Origins – Staff Review’ »