RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Zelda series director Eiji Aonuma spoke recently about the upcoming Link to the Past sequel for 3DS. As with the original game, players will shift between Light and Dark worlds. However, despite the classic top-down perspective, Aonuma said the game will be a “departure” from the usual Zelda fare. In particular, he stated that the staple of finding items to progressively open up the game world “certainly feels different from [the developer's] point of view.”

Additionally, Link will have the ability to jump into the walls as some kind of drawing, ala Phanton Ganon from Ocarina of Time. The game will also make some use of the 3DS’ 3D capabilities, although no further details were available.

Source: Gematsu

Some twenty-odd years since its debut, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past will be getting a direct sequel, as revealed on a recent Nintendo Direct. Though it lacks an international title, it is listed in Japan as A Link to the Past 2 and is not a remake of the original. The game is currently planned for a holiday release on the 3DS.

Source: Gematsu

Along with the other Nintendo Direct announcements, the Big N revealed that the Wii U will be getting two new Zelda games. First is Wind Waker, which will get a high definition upgrade for its re-release. The second, however, is an entirely new title designed specifically for the Wii U. Little is yet known about this second title, as series producer Eiji Aonuma has said that “Since it is a bigger development project, it will take some time before we can make a more concrete announcement.”

Source: Gematsu

Happy New Year, everybody!  Welcome back, time to round up the news as per usual.  Today’s selection should serve as a healthy reminder that not all publicity is good publicity, as the good David Bowie can attest to.  Here’s what went down over break:

• The PS Vita launched in Japan, moving fewer than expected numbers and with several software glitches.  Even straight-up hardware reviews were mixed, like this one from Joystiq.  Sony is probably relieved that’s all they had to worry about.
• BioWare’s co-founder hints that they’re taking cues from open-world games, including Skyrim, for Dragon Age 3.  Oil, meet water.
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 also sold less than anticipated, which was a total surprise to people that have no idea how sequels work.
• A Firefox add-on subverts DNS blockades like the ones proposed by the Stop Online Piracy Act… before the Act is even released.  No prize for second place, Congress!
• Leaked email chains provoke the internet to converge on one Ocean Marketting (typo intentional) and its hilariously awful one-man operation.  The Mayor of Boston is now a meme.
• Nintendo finally unveils the official Legend of Zelda timeline.  All three of them.  That high-pitched collective cry of anguish you’re hearing is the fandom trying to sort this out.
• Star Wars: the Old Republic finally launches, the Big Three “kind of” withdraw their support of SOPA, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Shame, What You Have is Gone Tomorrow’ »

In response to the ongoing problem with Skyward Sword‘s sequence-breaking glitch, Nintendo has launched a program designed to fix save data and correct the problem. The program, listed as the Zelda Data Restoration Channel, is downloadable from the Wii Channel section, and includes instructions on fixing the affected save games.

At present this is for the Japanese version of Skyward Sword only. A US fix is still in development.

Source: Andriasang

Skyward Sword players have reported a game-breaking bug for doing certain events out of sequence, preventing them from finishing and forcing a restart. In response, Nintendo plans to release a program to fix save games accordingly. The program will be downloadable through Wiis connected to the internet, while players unable to connect can send either their SD card or Wii in to have it fixed directly.

The release date for the patch is not yet known. In the meantime the issue can be avoided by sticking to a certain sequence, which can be read in full here.

Source: 1UP

In an interview with Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma, the UK’s Official Nintendo Magazine revealed that future Zelda games will incorporate mechanics like those in Skyward Sword. “I honestly think we cannot go back to button controls now,” says Aonuma, “so I think that these controls will be used in future Zelda titles, too.”

Source: Andriasang

During the week of its release, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword sold close to 200,000 copies in Japan; 194,978 according to market research firm Media Create.  For that same week the nearest competitor was 7th Dragon 2020 at 122,498, followed by Saint Seiya Senki at 66,557.

Source: Andriasang

I am in love with the girl with pink hair. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 11/26/11’ »

In a recent interview, Zelda producer/director Eiji Aonuma commented on the series and its immediate future on the 3DS. Responding to his earlier statement that a Majora’s Mask was being considered, Aonuma stated that Nintendo would like to avoid putting out two remakes back-to-back. He then indicated that the next Zelda on the 3DS would be a new title. While largely unspecified, he did indicate the game would not be a direct sequel to any of the DS Zelda games, though it “takes much of what has been done on previous handhelds.”

Source: 1UP

November is upon us, as is daylight savings time for those of us that practice it for some reason. I, for one, look forward to driving to and from work in perpetual darkness, only occasionally seeing sunlight through the office windows.

Let us proceed with the news, which includes the following:

• Groupon goes public, setting records not seen since Google’s IPO. Of course, it’s only been one day and doubts persist about the company’s long-term growth prospects, but I’m sure it will all work out just fine. (Note: I’m not a financial expert and my opinions should not be construed as advice.)
• Silicon Knights sees substantial layoffs, reaffirming what happens when you fail to make Technoviking: The Game look interesting.
• Richard Garriott warns that Blizzard “needs to watch out for the Zyngas of the world.” Yeah, I’m sure they’re quivering behind the giant forts they’ve constructed purely out of money.
• Grand Theft Auto V finally launches its official trailer, with not a single carjacking or crazy stunt in sight. I’ll bet Pepperidge Farm remembers when GTA games were fun.
• In truly unexpected news, GameStop plans to sell tablet PCs in stores. Preorder yours today for bonus exclusive DLC for Microsoft Office!
• Ultima takes a long, strange trip into BioWare, Spike TV’s VGA includes games that aren’t out yet, we learn the terrible secret of Bro Con, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Groupon to Buy Britannia Manor’ »

Good evening and greetings!  Hope the fall is treating you well so far, and your punt returner didn’t showboat in the end zone, giving the other team good field position to score an answering touchdown.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love Devin Hester as should any red-blooded American male (cryingeagle.jpg) but that touchdown could have been avoided and thus the Bears didn’t beat the spread.  Celebrate after the game, Devin!

That was a sweet return though, wasn’t it?

Ahem.  Anyway, here’s what’s going down this week:

• Square Enix’s CEO catches up to everybody else by admitting the damage FFXIV did to the brand.  I suspect the real issue is who did the damage to FFXIV, and I think Wada knows it.
• Meanwhile, City of Heroes goes free-to-play while The Old Republic reveals its pricing packages, providing an interesting compare/contrast as to who can withstand going F2P and why.
• Activision’s Jamie Berger says paid services like Call of Duty Elite – providing stat tracking, clan management, etc. – will be mandatory in 3-5 years.  Hey, some of us remember when games provided that sort of thing for free.  Don’t get greedy, man.  Well, greedier, anyway.
• CliffyB gives a neat postmortem on Gears of War now that Gears 3 is out, speculating on how giant musclemen with saw-guns fighting evil intelligent bugs could be taken more seriously.
• Shigeru Miyamoto speaks out a bit on Skyward Sword, suggesting it’s one of the most expensive projects the company has worked on.  Well, I guess if you’re gonna send the Wii off…
• I catch up on the Netflix news and correspondingly terrible stock performance, while Joystiq regales us with a story of the fastest-thinking men in the industry.

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Improvised Payment Devices’ »

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will now come in both regular and special limited-edition flavors, with the latter costing $70 to include a gold Wii Remote plus. In addition, both versions from the initial run will contain a bonus music CD, which contains orchestral compositions of songs to be featured on the upcoming anniversary concert tour.

Skyward Sword is set to release on November 20.

Source: 1UP

Nintendo has just announced that Skyward Sword, the latest Wii-bound Zelda title, will launch on November 20. In case you’re wondering, yes, that’s in time for Black Friday.

Source: 1UP

As part of their Zelda 25th Anniversary celebration, Nintendo has announced an unusual fan contest based on flipnote submissions: short Zelda-themed animations made either on paper or with the DSi’s Flipnote Studio. Contest winners will be examined by key Nintendo staffers – Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma were specified – and added to the Zelda anniversary website, which is being set up here.

Submissions must be in by September 9.

Source: 1UP

Evening, folks! Hope you brought your appetite for media, because we have, shall we say, generous portions. In today’s update: Cardboard Troopers, Dai 2 Ji Super Robot Taisen OG, Dragon’s Crown, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Grand Knight’s History, Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk2, Pandora’s Tower, Tales of the Abyss 3DS, Tales of Xillia, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Dig in! Continue reading ‘Mass Media 06/13/11’ »

At Nintendo’s E3 conference today, Shigeru Miyamoto outlined the company’s future plans for The Legend of Zelda series. Alongside the release of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening through the 3DS e-shop, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will hit stores  worldwide next weekend. Nintendo will also be releasing a free download version of The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure over DSi Ware. Finally, Mr. Miyamoto announced that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will be available worldwide this holiday season, along with a golden Zelda-themed Wii Remote. Continue reading ‘Legend of Zelda Gets a Birthday Party’ »

Apart from being a handheld redux, the 3DS version of Ocarina of Time will sport a few extra features.  Past a certain point in the game you’ll gain access to Boss Challenges, which let you revisit any boss encounter, or all of them in one long battle if you’re up to it.  Additionally, puzzles will have discreetly placed “bite-sized videos” to keep players from getting stuck.

Ocarina of Time is set for a June 19 release.

Source: 1UP

Not one to miss out on announcing things, Nintendo revealed this week that the 3DS remake of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is due out on June 19.

Source: 1UP

Valkyria Chronicles is the only game around where a woman gives birth in a tank. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 10/01/10’ »