RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Final Fantasy XIII has been a long time coming, and there’s little doubt that some people are going in with certain expectations. The fact that it’s also the first main series Final Fantasy game for the current generation likely only adds to this. To the extent that it’s possible, one has to put that aside and focus on the game for what it is rather than thinking about the rest of the series. Final Fantasy XIII is rather unlike anything else in the series anyway. Of course, it certainly has its fair share of staples such as chocobos, cactuars, and tonberries in the game, but the gameplay emphasis is very different. Exploration is all but ignored for the most part, and dungeons are the game’s clear focus. Towns are almost non-existent and functionally replaced by shops that can be accessed from save points while inns are rendered obsolete by auto-healing. Bits of story are delivered at very specific intervals, and the pace is carefully controlled to a large degree by a number of design decisions such as most dungeons being purposely linear. Continue reading ‘Final Fantasy XIII – Staff Import Review’ »

With the worldwide launch of Final Fantasy XIII drawing ever closer, Square Enix announced through the game’s Skynet Facebook page that a special 360 bundle will be released with the game. Along with the game and 360 console, the Special Edition bundle will include a 250gig hard drive engraved with the Final Fantasy XIII name, an exclusive faceplate designed by Tetsuya Nomura, two wireless controllers, and exclusive downloadable avatar items.

The bundle is available for preorder now, and will be available in stores along with the standard retail version on March 9.

Deciding that standing still while playing videogames is for chumps, Square Enix announced via press release that a bus tour featuring the North American version of Final Fantasy XIII will be coming through San Francisco and surrounding areas this week. Running January 13-16, the tour will hit locations to be revealed through the @PlayFFXIII Twitter site.

The full press release can be read here.

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’ »

RandomNPC is proud to present a trip into Roku’s subconscious. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 12/13/09’ »

Tongue-eating parasite? That’s the craziest f#?king thing I’ve ever heard. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 12/08/09’ »

Feel good! Continue reading ‘Mass Media 12/03/09’ »

Why does a puzzle game have art? Continue reading ‘Mass Media 12/02/09’ »

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’ »

Ain’t no stopping Jimmy Hopkins. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 11/17/09’ »

Today, Square Enix revealed the North American release date for Final Fantasy XIII via a shiny new trailer on the official site. The game will arrive here on March 9, 2010.

The trailer also revealed that the theme song for the game will be “My Hands” by Leona Lewis.

Hexys Force just got infinitely more disturbing. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 11/05/09’ »

Final Fantasy XIII’s Japanese website has just been updated with artwork for two new summons. Brynhildr, a giant, firey warrior/mecha-thing, doubles as Sazh’s ride, while recurring summon Bahamut morphs into a bipedal mount for Oerba.

When asked where they procured the green acid and whether they have any to share, Square-Enix spokespeople did not reply.

The Penguins’ Chris Kunitz had three assists last night, prompting color man Bob Errey to write the following on the screen.

How it got past S&P is beyond me, but it led to an awesome photoshop. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 10/29/09’ »

In a fresh interview with Tetsuya Nomura and Motomu Toriyama, Famitsu dug up a few interesting tidbits about Final Fantasy XIII’s development, on topics ranging from character design to load times. Some of the more noteworthy bits include: Continue reading ‘Final Fantasy XIII: Character Changes and Tech Specs’ »

I like Fallout 3: The Pitt’s attention to detail. To Wit: The Monongahela River is brown. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 10/03/09’ »

I took time away from Fallout 3: Broken Steel to do this update. You’d better appreciate it. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 09/30/09’ »

When I married Mrs. Right I didn’t know her first name was Always. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 09/12/09’ »

The Pittsburgh Penguins meet President Obama.

That has nothing to do with this update, I just couldn’t think of anything clever to put here. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 09/11/09’ »

Square Enix’s PR rep Klee Kuo tweeted this morning that the Japanese release date for Final Fantasy XIII is December 17, 2009. The announcement was just made at the Final Fantasy XIII Premiere Party in Tokyo.

Square Enix also announced that there will be a special FFXIII/Slim PS3 bundle in Japan. No further details were announced, but more should be revealed at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show. Yoichi Wada also stated that Square Enix is aiming to release Final Fantasy XIII in North America sometime in the spring of 2010.

Source: Kotaku