RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Gust announced that it is developing Ar no Surge, a companion RPG to its life simulation game Surge Concerto: Ciel no Surge. The RPG is reportedly set in the same universe – which itself has ties to the Ar Tonelico series – but in a different time period. Main character Delta, a trained combatant discharged from his host organization, makes ends meet working in a restaurant and somehow winds up protecting a heroine who fights via song magic.

Ar no Surge hits the PS3 in Japan on January 30 for 7,140 yen. No global release was announced. The presence of a hot tub based team-building mechanic has also not been confirmed.

Source: Gematsu

Via press release, NIS America announced the launch of Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel.  The third entry in the series, Knell is now available for the PS3 at most North American retailers, and Premium Edition packaging includes a collectible art book and soundtrack disc.

NISA has announced that Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel will be released in North America on March 15. There will be a premium edition that includes a soundtrack CD and a hard cover art book. In addition, pre-ordering one of the first 1000 units from NISA’s store will get you a special limited edition Cosmosphere Calendar. Those who are not as fanatical about Reyvateils can opt for the standard version, which includes only the game and none of the swag.

The ESRB recently released its rating for Ar tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel. The third game in a series that has become increasingly suggestive, Ar tonelico Qoga has received an M rating for overt sexual content and language.

The game has nude female characters whose breasts and genitals are covered only by hands or beams of light, female characters wearing only their underwear, and a scene that shows bare buttocks. One scene features a male character verbally coercing a female character to strip, and the installation port scenes have heavy innuendo and moaning. There’s also some swearing; the ESRB description says that “‘sh*t,’ ‘a*shole,’ and ‘b*tch,’ appear in the dialogue.” All ESRB ratings descriptions are censored in this manner, so the game may show the words in their entirety.

At a recent NIS America press event, Souhei Niikawa – best known as the producer of the Disgaea series – announced that the company will from now on limit the number of releases per year.  Niikawa stated the move is intended to allow developers to focus on game quality and customer satisfaction, though the exact limit was not specified.  Three upcoming titles were announced as part of this new policy:

• Cladun: This is an RPG, according to the press release, is an action-adventure built around a retro dungeon crawl.  Bound for the PSP via PlayStation Network, Cladun will feature character creation, randomly generated dungeons, and multiplayer through the PSP’s ad-hoc feature.  The current release timeframe is fall of this year.
• Zettai Hero Keikaku, a strategy RPG centered around creating your own superhero, was simply referred to as Z.H.P. in its own press release.  The Disgaea team will be developing  Z.H.P., which is currently set for a winter launch on the PSP.
• Ar Tonelico 3 got a formal title: Ar Tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel.  Billed as the final installment in the Ar Tonelico series, the PS3 title will have more action-oriented gameplay.  The release window for North America and Europe is spring of 2011.

Niikawa also made mention of the next Disgaea title, bound for the PS3 in Japan.  Few details were given, but he affirmed that more information would available “by the time
Tokyo Game Show comes around.”

This space for rent. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 01/27/10’ »

The Chinese Stealth Armor is the only way to travel in Adams Air Force Base. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 01/14/10’ »

That Ys game is a PSP remake of a PC remake of Ys III. Just pointing that out. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 11/28/09’ »

Shiren the Wanderer 3 remains the title despite the localization, so as not to screw up our tags. Carry on. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 11/25/09’ »

La Pucelle Ragnarok needs an English release date. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 11/20/09’ »

How come when it’s us, it’s an abortion, and when it’s a chicken, it’s an omelet? Continue reading ‘Mass Media 11/11/09’ »

This week’s issue of Famitsu offered the first look at Gust’s upcoming RPG Ar tonelico 3, which will be released in Japan for the PS3 on January 28, 2010.

Continue reading ‘Famitsu Reveals Ar tonelico 3’ »

My opinion on balloon boy. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 10/17/09’ »

Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica is set a year and a half after the events of Ar tonelico: Melody of Elemia. It’s a true sequel, though that does not become apparent until later in the game when references to Melody of Elemia start cropping up. The story centers on Croix, a knight of the Church of Pastalia, and a baffling epidemic that has been crippling many Reyvateils, the world’s magical songstresses. As these things go, he has the choice of pursuing one of two lovely Reyvateils — with a third option opening up later — in a quest to help the goddess or overthrow her.

Continue reading ‘Ar tonelico II: Melody of Metafalica – Staff Review’ »

NISA has good news and bad news for their upcoming release of Ar tonelico 2: Melody of Metafalica.  On the one hand, it comes with the game, a soundtrack and an art book.  But on the other, since there’s been a slight delay, you’re going to have to wait until January 20 to get your hands on it.

NISA has confirmed via press release that more diving, singing, and sword-swinging action will be coming to North American PS2s this December.
Continue reading ‘Ar tonelico 2 Bound for North America’ »

Japan is that country that brought us the idea that several big robots could combine to make a giant robot. Compile Heart’s Agarest Senki staff has taken the idea and applied it to RPGs to form Cross Edge, a PS3 collaboration between Capcom, Namco Bandai, Nippon Ichi, Idea Factory, Gust, and Compile Heart. The team from Compile Heart responsible for Agarest Senki is leading the development. Continue reading ‘Japan Combines Every RPG Ever, Forms Voltron, Taunts English Speakers With Cross Edge’ »