RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

US versus Canada for the gold? Sign me up! Continue reading ‘Mass Media 02/27/10’ »

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

Mass does not do this update justice. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 12/29/09’ »

Namco Bandai has pushed back the release date for .hack//Link, the latest and supposedly final installment in the series. The launch currently stands at March 4, however a demo is available through the Japanese Playstation Store.

This would’ve been the ultimate viral marketing campaign if they’d managed to release an actual MMO back in ‘07. And somehow surpassed the popularity of World of Warcraft by about ten million people.

Source: Siliconera

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’ »

At the Tokyo Game Show, Namco-Bandai announced .hack//Link, an action-RPG slated to be the final entry in the popular media-crossing series.  Details on the game itself are scarce as of yet, but it has been mentioned that it will be “a culmination of all 23 titles in the .hack series.”  Over 130 characters will make appearances, with up to 33 becoming party members, in a story that will span 14 years of time.

.hack//Link is set for a February 2010 release on the PSP.

Source: Famitsu

WiZman’s World! WiZman’s World! Party time! Excellent! Continue reading ‘Mass Media 09/13/09’ »

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’ »

Final Fantasy is the biggest-selling RPG franchise so it’s a foregone conclusion that when it branched out into other mediums it would be a huge success, right? Well I think we all remember one of its first attempts, the computer animated movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within in 2001. It bombed at the box office, leaving Square (at the time) with a net loss of some 94 million dollars. Yeah… oops. It wasn’t that it was a terrible movie. I wouldn’t say that it was great either, but it wasn’t horrible; however Square failed spectacularly in two ways: a) they didn’t realize the limited appeal of the movie to the general population, and b) they made the movie different enough from the Final Fantasy games that it also had limited appeal to the core audience of the games. It might be fair to say that it tried to be all things to all people and in doing so managed to satisfy none. But what Square failed to do with The Sprits Within, .hack would manage one year later and thus become king of financially viable tie-ins. Continue reading ‘Game Changers: Volume 15 – .hack’ »

In today’s update: Shining Force Feather, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time, Disgaea 2 Portable, Suikoden Tierkreis, Dragon Quest V, From the Abyss, Star Ocean Second Evolution, Super Robot Taisen K, .hack//Link, Blazer Drive, and Fragile. Continue reading ‘Mass Screenshots, Artwork, Boxart 01/21/09’ »

A couple of new portable RPGs have been announced for Japan. In the latest issue of Shounen Jump, Square Enix has announced an upcoming DS remake of Final Fantasy Legend II, originally released on the Gameboy in 1990. Details are scarce at present, but the new version will be all in 3D and is due out later this year. Continue reading ‘More Portable Gaming Goodness’ »

Haseo and friends have fought against Tri-Edge, AIDA, and a myriad of other opponents for two volumes now. Along the way, Continue reading ‘.hack//G.U. Vol. 3//Redemption – Staff Review’ »