RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Hey-hey-hey, how’s everybody doing out there?  If you’re from Chicago I know the answer: terrible.  Was tempted to go out and break something, but it’s hard to start a good riot in the suburbs, you know what I mean?  Plus it’s rainy out.  I admit, I’m a fair-weather sports fanatic.  But enough about me, you’re here for the news.  Here’s what’s going down:

• Final Fantasy X goes high-def, providing a way to watch the infamous Laughing Scene the way it was meant to be seen.
• Sony’s PS Vita gets some face time, trying to assure people it’s not the size of the battery that counts.  A sizable media SNAFU makes this harder to accept.
• On top of this, word gets out that Sony’s revised TOS thingy has a ‘no-suing’ clause, and a Sony exec comments that the 3DS is not a competing device.  Also, they have more than enough lifeboats for everybody on board.
• Meanwhile, Nintendo announces a slew of 3DS titles, though proclamations of doooooooom follow a stock price drop.  Never mind that the same thing regularly happens to Apple.
• Slate examines the downfall of 3D movie ticket sales, which may explain some of the difficulties Nintendo faces.  Short version: after Avatar, viewers went “Cool, but what else you got?”
• Retail sales are on the decline yet again – gee, I wonder why – advertisements show up in Deus Ex: Human Revolution loading screens, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Seeing Doom Everywhere’ »

Little light on the media lately, what with all eyes on TGS and everything, but we do have some Heroes Phantasia for the anime mashup enthusiast in you. Line up and get it here:

Continue reading ‘Heroes Phantasia Media – 09/15/11’ »

During Sony’s TGS presser, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy X is getting a high-definition facelift on the Vita and PS3. Additionally they revealed other new titles for the Vita, in particular a multiplayer action-RPG called Lord of Apocalypse. Details about both titles are currently scarce, with no release information available.

Source: Eurogamer

In a pre-TGS conference, Nintendo announced several upcoming 3DS titles, among which was a new Fire Emblem. The game has no official title yet, but is expected to release sometime in Spring of 2012.

Source: IGN

Falcom has announced, by way of Famitsu, that a new installment in their Ys series is coming to the PlayStation Vita. Little was revealed apart from the title: Celceta no Jukai.

Source: 1UP

The latest Weekly Shonen Jump has revealed more about the recently announced Dragon Quest X. At present, five races are known to be playable: Ogre, Elf, Dwarf, Pukurip, and Wedi. The game world, Astoldia, is divided into five regions that correspond to each of the races, and these regions in turn surround a strange sixth area.

Footage has apparently shown that humans are also playable, although this was not confirmed. Humans, however, are a major part of the story, and reportedly you’ll be tasked with solving a mystery involving the human world.

Source: Andriasang

At the Citi 2011 Tech Conference, Activision Blizzard COO Thomas Tippl stated that the company is expected to release six “proven property” titles over the next three years. Tippl confirmed that this includes both Starcraft II titles – the Zerg and Protoss campaigns – two World of Warcraft expansions, Diablo III and its own expansion.

Source: 1UP

With the Japanese release drawing closer, Square Enix has revealed that Final Fantasy Type-0 will come in both regular and collector’s editions. The standard version is priced at 7700 yen, with the 12760 for the CE netting you the following: a 24-page postcard book, a three-disc soundtrack, and a specially designed case.

Type-0 is set to release on October 27 in Japan. No US release has been announced.

Source: 1UP

Longtime fans could be forgiven for being wary of Deus Ex: Human Revolution. It’s a prequel to a series that ended rather decisively, the last outing proved somewhat disappointing, and the original’s complexity might not sell in today’s market. Normally that’s a free space and a commercial set to rock music away from bad sequel Bingo. Let’s not kid ourselves, the real issue surrounding Human Revolution has nothing to do with transhumanism or the nature of man. Instead the question is how it holds up after years of anticipation, and more than that how well it stands on its own. Is it a great game in a rich world packed with meaningful choices? Absolutely. Does it surpass Deus Ex? Almost.

Continue reading ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Staff Review’ »

Evening, all! Whether you spent this Sunday in mournful remembrance of 9/11 or calling for the head of your team’s offensive coordinator, we’re glad to have you join us for the news. Here’s what’s going down this week:

• Dragon Quest X makes the jump to MMO superstardom.  Longtime fans outside of Japan go “Yaaay! …wait, what?“
• The Dragon Quest news is such a shock it caused Asian stocks to take a dive, notably Square Enix and Sony.  So argues Nikkei, at least.  Random people on the internet disagree.
• That said, Deus Ex: Human Revolution shipped a tidy number of copies, locking in the eventual development of Human Revolution 2, Human Revolution 2-2, and Nucl3arsnake’s Island Hacking Adventure.
• Dead Island has a major stumble on release, substituting a developer build for the full version in Steam copies.  I take this time to vent about false advertising with the trailer, and the horror game genre in general.
• Gamasutra has a handy breakdown of the year’s biggest publisher flubs.  I say let’s shoot for the moon and take bets on what crazy things can happen before 2012.
• Nintendo turns a corner with the 3DS (at least for the moment), “someone” registers the domain of www.finalfantasyxiii-3.com, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – The Fast Track to Infamy’ »

Arc System Works has announced that a remake is in the works for Renegade, the lesser-known first game in a series that includes Super Dodge Ball and River City Ransom. With the Japanese title of Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun Special, the game has been updated to play more like Ransom, with added RPG mechanics and character building. The original campaign, a co-op mission, and multiplayer battle mode will also be present.

Under development by series creator Yoshihisa Kishimoto, the remake is set to release this winter for ¥4410.

Source: 1UP

Since the recent Dragon Quest press conference, speculation has run rampant over the nature of Dragon Quest X‘s multiplayer aspect. Square Enix’s Japanese support site has just confirmed that the online mode will carry a usage fee, and only the “first few hours” are playable offline. It remains unclear whether this will apply to players outside Japan.

Source: 1UP

Namco Bandai has announced that Nendoroid Generation, a PSP RPG, will be released on February 23 and priced at ¥6280. A special order-only “Nen-gene Tenkomori Box” serves as the limited edition for ¥10480, which includes a set of eight Nendoroid Plus charms.

Source: Andriasang

Via Famitsu is the news that crossover RPG Heroes Phantasia is due to release on January 19 in Japan. The game’s standard edition is priced at ¥6290, while the limited edition, which includes a “special book co-produced by Newtype” and a soundtrack CD, costs ¥9980.

Source: Andriasang

This week’s Famitsu has revealed a few details about Beyond the Labyrinth, tri-Ace and Konami’s upcoming 3DS RPG. Defined as a “3D Dungeon RPG,” the game puts you in charge of a four-person party tasked with escaping the titular labyrinth. The white-girl featured in screenshots, previously thought to be the main character, is but one of these companions.

A map takes up the lower screen, and exploring the dungeon reveals more of the map. Additionally, while there is a formal battle system, monsters will be visible in advance.

Source: Andriasang

Searching for duplicates of Makai Kingdom PSP media is ever so fun, right up there with smashing yourself in the face with a brick. Anyway, it’s media time, and it’s a biggie. In additional to the aforementioned Makai Kingdom PSP, we have 7th Dragon 2020, Dark Souls, Diablo III, Heroes’ Phantasia, Grand Knight’s History, Persona 4: The Golden, and Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena. Dig in!

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 09/07/11’ »

In a press conference last night, Dragon Quest executive producer Yuu Miyake announced the long-awaited Dragon Quest X.  The title will include online multiplayer, giving players the option of teaming up to tackle the game’s quests, though the game can be completed in single player.  You’ll see other players running around the world as you play, though it was not clear how many can be in the same world at once.  Few details were given about the story, although new quests will be added after release as in Dragon Quest IX. Veteran Dragon Quest staffers are at the helm of the project, including Akira Toriyama on character design and Sugiyama Koichi for the music.

Additionally, DQX is being developed for both the Wii and Wii U.  Although the Wii U version will be graphically superior, both versions will access the same world.  With the Wii U itself lacking a concrete launch date, DQX only has a loose release timeframe of 2012.

Source: Andriasang

Finally got to upload this, would’ve had it earlier if not for an inopportune (though easily fixed) network hiccup.  Anyway, hope you’re all enjoying the beautiful Labor Day weekend!  It’s time for the news:

• Famitsu unveiled a cornucopia of Persona news: a Vita port of 4, a fighting game, and a lot of dancing around Persona 5.  So much speculation, so little time.
• Bethesda does the timed exclusivity song-and-dance with Skyrim DLC, setting a new record by doing so before the game launches.  The power of the money hat is strong.
• Zeboyd Games gets a crack at Penny Arcade Adventures: Really Long Subtitle: Episode 3.  Don’t underestimate them; Breath of Death VII is deceptively good.
• Sony plans another head-mounted TV screen monstrosity.  No, Sony, the “3D” part of it doesn’t make it any more likely to succeed than your last attempt.
• Square Enix plans to boost the staff at Eidos Montreal, Doom‘s 17-year ban in Germany is removed, and more!
• Plus, a spotlight on the recent financial workings of Zynga, Groupon, and LinkedIn: fuzzy accounting practices, pending market headaches, and the SEC asking pointed questions like “Why do all these numbers have asterisks by them?” and “Why did your accountant introduce himself with air quotes?”

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Summon Your Accountant’ »

Greetings, all! Sorry to do this on such late notice, but due to company staying later than expected I wasn’t able to record for What Happened This Week and get it edited for tonight. Time is at a premium as always over here, but I’ll have everything uploaded by tomorrow. My apologies for the delay.

Just in case you’re not too busy throwing boxes and trying to bullseye them with the revolver, Eidos recently ran a brief ARG teasing the reveal of DLC for Deus Ex: Human Revolution. With its completion, a proper press release was issued to announce the content: The Missing Link.

Continue reading ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution DLC Announced’ »