RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

It’s as predictable as the incoming tide; whenever there is a Pokemon game in the main series with two versions, there will inevitably be a third version. A remix of sorts which takes elements of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl and combines them to create a more completely fleshed-out game, Pokemon Platinum feels less radical than Pokemon Emerald and Yellow before it, but a lot of that is due to the restrictions the game itself places on its most outlandish and unusual features. On the whole, Pokemon Platinum is a solid title, and does a number of things which are unexpected for a Pokemon game, but it hardly qualifies as an essential purchase for anyone beyond the dedicated Pokemon fan.

Continue reading ‘Pokemon Platinum – Staff Review’ »

Pokemon Platinum has a number of new Pokemon – Formes, new shapes for old critters that only appear under certain circumstances. Perhaps the Pokemon who changed the most with the introduction of Platinum, Shaymin’s new Forme offers it new moves, new strategies, and one of the most unusual side effects Pokemon has ever seen.

Continue reading ‘Strategy Session – Pokemon Platinum, Part II’ »

Rounding out the rest of our post-GDC goodies are some screens and artwork of the following: Aion Tower of Eternity, Growlanser PSP, Class of Heroes, Crimson Gem Saga, and Dragon Quest IX. Check it out:

Continue reading ‘Mass Screenshots, Artwork 03/28/09’ »

Marvelous Entertainment announced today that Japanese gamers will be getting a new release of Valhalla Knights 2. Valhalla Knights 2: Battle Stance for the PSP promises new gameplay elements, but little is known in the way of specifics. It’s due out in Japan on June 25 for 3,990 yen and already has its own teaser site.

Source: IGN

Brand new media for you all, hot off the presses and straight from the Game Developer’s Conference, get it all here folks! Gather ’round for some Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Phantasy Star Zero Mini, Harvest Moon: Makiba no Omise, and My World, My Way PSP. At no extra charge we’re throwing in Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2, Little King’s Story, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord, Disgaea 2 PSP, and – in a move sure to put fanfic authors out of business (or back to work) – Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. Oh, who am I kidding? I… I mean, they are still busy with VII. Anyway…

Continue reading ‘Mass Screenshots, Artwork – 03/26/09’ »

If you need more Fallout 3 action, Bethesda’s got your back. The Pitt is fixed and is ready for download again. Hit the jump for instructions if you already downloaded the corrupt version.

Continue reading ‘The Pitt Back Online’ »

Square Enix had a bevy of news updates today. For starters, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, the previously cellphone-only sequel to Final Fantasy IV, is finally confirmed after its appearance on the ESRB rating widget hinted at its release. The game will be released on WiiWare, but as of yet, no pricing or release date information has been announced. For more information, you can check out the game’s official website.

In other WiiWare news, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord was announced. It will be a sequel to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King, which launched simultaneously with the WiiWare service. It is slated for 2009. The game puts you in the role of the Darklord’s daughter as she attempts to thwart heroes with well-placed traps.

Square Enix also promised that the classic Final Fantasy I will be hitting the Virtual Console in May for Japan and sometime this year for North America.

The 2009 Game Developers Conference is well underway in San Francisco this week and with it there’s news and media galore. Today at Nintendo’s keynote address, Satoru Iwata announced The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for the Nintendo DS. The game’s trailer reveals that the game is graphically similar to The Phantom Hourglass and shows Link riding a train — a train with cannons no less. Spirit Tracks is set to be released later this year.

Source: IGN

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

It’s Tuesday, so it’s time for this week’s shipment of new reasons to be poor. This week, all the action is from Square Enix. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time for Wii and DS. Interestingly enough, the Wii version is a port of its handheld brother, and cross-platform play is possible. Both versions retail for $39.99.

PC gamers that don’t have an Xbox 360 can finally get their hands on The Last Remnant. If having physical discs isn’t your thing, it’ll be available on Steam starting April 9. Either version will set you back $39.99.

In our Odd Couple edition of Mass Media Update, we stuck Puzzle Quest Galactrix and The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf together and took pictures of the results. Sadly, they proved less interesting than the advertisers were counting on. The responsible producers have been sacked. Anyway…

Continue reading ‘Mass Screenshots, Artwork – 03/22/09’ »

NISA has finally confirmed that Cross Edge, the RPG that mixes characters from several other series, will be coming to North America in May with the opening of the game’s official North American site. Right now, the page has a listing of several of the characters with bios including Morrigan and Felicia from DarkStalkers, Etna from Disgaea, and Shurelia from Ar Tonelico. The site also has each of the ladies in two alternate costumes, but there is no information about what the effects of the various costumes will do yet. It is only known that changing costumes will factor into the abilities of each of the heroines. There is also a video that shows Etna changing from her yukata costume to a Prinny suit.

Got a big hearty media update for you all. Part of this balanced breakfast and a good source of calcium (with milk). This time around: Blood of Bahamut, Alpha Protocol, Crimson Gem Saga, Disgaea 2 PSP, Dokapon Journey, Dragon Quest IX, Lord of Vermillion, A Witch’s Tale, and Ys Online: Call of Solum.

Continue reading ‘Mass Screenshots, Artwork, Boxart’ »

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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

If you live in or near New York City and play Pokémon, Nintendo would like to formally invite you to the Pokémon Platinum launch party. The event will kick off at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Nintendo World store in Rockefeller Plaza. Not only will there be fun and games, those at the event will also be able to purchase the game a full day before hits shelves everywhere else in North America. Hit the jump for more details including how you can be one of the lucky few to get an autographed copy of the game or an extremely limited edition Pokémon Platinum Giratina DS.

Continue reading ‘Nintendo Holding Pokemon Platinum Launch Party in NYC’ »

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.

Assorted odds and ends for your perusal, not the least of which is what Fallout 3‘s text looks like in one of those crazy non-English languages. We also have some Arc Rise Fantasia, Disgaea 2 PSP, and Shining Force Feather. Observe:

Continue reading ‘Mass Screenshots, Artwork, Packaging 03/17/09’ »

Final Fantasy XI is getting three new expansion scenarios by Masato Kato. Square Enix will be kicking things off with A Crystalline Prophecy – Ode of Life Blessing later this month. Square Enix describes the expansion thusly:

“One day, a giant crystal appeared in the skies above Jeuno, triggering a series of unexplained happenings across the land. Now, adventurers will set forth to unravel the mysteries of this primordial crystal that holds the secret of Vana’diel’s past.”

Continue reading ‘Final Fantasy XI Getting Three New Expansions’ »