RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

XSEED just launched the official website for the PSP-bound Ys Seven, located here. Apart from the usual menagerie of background info, preorder links, and collector’s edition extras – CD soundtrack, 60-page art book, and cloth map – the site lists the game’s release date as August 17.  The standard and downloadable versions will cost $29.99, while the CE will retail for $49.99.

As the North American release of Ys Seven draws closer, the developers have launched a promotion-slash-contest for fans to submit their names as possible in-game quest characters.  From now until June 11, anyone who joins the Ys fangroup on Facebook will have their name entered in the drawing; a total of 14 names will be picked at random.

Further details, such as legal requirements for participants, can be found on the official Ys Series Facebook page.

Coming straight from XSEED is the announcement of a partnership with Japan-based developer/publisher Nihon Falcom, with the intent of bringing the latest three installments in the Ys series to the PSP.  The ports of the titles in question – Ys Seven, Ys: The Oath of Felghana, and Ys I & II Chronicles – will see a US release, though no date has been announced.

The deal also allows XSEED to release the next three chapters in Falcom’s Legend of Heroes series, the Trails in the Sky trilogy.  As with the above Ys games, release dates are not yet known, though the titles will be brought to the PSP for North America.

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’ »

The complete soundtrack to Ys Online: Call of Solum has been released for free. It’s available for download through the official website, courtesy of the online portal Key to Play.

In Wild Arms 5 there is a shop that lets you exchange experience levels for items and equipment. It’s run by the vampire chick from 2, who refers to it as exchanging your life force for items. The lesson here is that Wild Arms 2 always comes back to bite you. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 08/08/09’ »

In my spare time now I am alternating between Fallout 3 and Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness. Try and figure that one out. Continue reading ‘Not So Mass Media 08/05/09’ »

Y’know, I’m not much of a Japanophile. Not really. I’d like to visit the place, trying to learn to speak the language, maybe watch an anime or two – they keep breaking my heart, but I keep giving them chances, it’s like some sick relationship that just won’t die. But I can say with a straight face that Vocaloid is one of the best things they’ve ever made.

Seriously, Miku can de-angst the most hardened man in time. Oh, you might balk at it initially, but she finds a way in. She finds a way.

But enough about me, let’s talk media. In today’s update: Disgaea 3 DLC, Summon Night: Tear’s Crown, Ys Seven, Princess Antiphona’s Hymn: Angel’s Score Op.A, and Blood of Bahamut. Observe: Continue reading ‘Mass Media 08/02/09’ »

Falcom Japan has already announced that they have plans for some new and interesting things for Ys Seven, the newest installment of their flagship series, Ys.  Now they have finally divulged some details on the biggest addition: the party system.  Up to three different characters can be in  the party at any one time, one of which will be player-controlled.  The other two will operate on AI.  Players will be able to switch between controlling any one of the three characters at any time.  With the addition of party members comes the addition of different kinds of attacks.  Each character’s weapon will specialize in either slicing, striking or piercing attacks.  Accordingly, enemies will be weaker or stronger to these different attacks.

Along with the party details comes the introduction of three new sub-characters who will be key players in Adel’s journey.  First is Kymarl, the wise king of Altago.  Hearing rumors of Adel’s adventures, he does what’s within his considerable power to help Adel out.  Also introduced are Elk’s grandmother Fatima and Mustafa’s ailing younger sister Crshe.  The official site says she is the victim of fevers, but it seems obvious the poor girl also has a vowel problem.

Ys Seven is due out on the PSP in Japan on September 17.

Source:  Dengeki

Hold up there folks, this day ain’t over yet! More media than you can handle, if your computer was assembled in 1996: Cross Edge, Summon Night X, and Ys Seven. Check it out: Continue reading ‘Mass Media 07/09/09 – Part 2’ »

You’re better off not knowing the lengths it took me to get these up. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 07/02/09’ »

I’m nowhere near as witty as Karl, so just pretend I said something funny here. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 06/19/09 – Part 2!’ »

This update brought to you in part by boat waiting times and death by lamiaea. Lamias? Whatever the plural term is for angry vaguely-female snake things. I ramble. In this update: Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord, Ys Online: Call of Solum, Mega Man Star Force 3, and Lunar: Harmony of the Silver Star. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 06/10/09’ »

Yes, I’m doing something on the main page. Don’t look so shocked. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 05/27/09’ »

After implementing some changes, Nihon Falcom has re-opened the beta of Ys Online: Call of Solum. The game now has PvP, crafting, weapon enchantment, and an increased level cap. It’s also available to Europeans for the first time.

Old beta players can still access their characters. New players can apply for a beta key at the official site, so if you missed out on this before, you have another chance.

Man, I don’t know if I want to live in a world where Duke Nukem Forever is truly no more. It was like Schödinger’s Cat in game form, only we now know for certain that there never was a cat in the first place, and they were just showing us pictures of other cats. Of course we kinda knew all along that something was up but were going with it anyway because it made for good joke fodder, and who knows? Maybe there really was a cat in there the whole time and it’d be a really awesome cat. A cat with attitude and strippers. Oh well. Another hallmark of our pasttime gone by the wayside.

Anyway, here’s some completely unrelated media for you: Knights in the Nightmare, Blood of Bahamut, Ys Seven, Inazuma Eleven 2, and Trinity Universe. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 05/10/09’ »

Heya guys! Don’t mind me, just dropping off some media. Gotta do something to take my mind off the fact that Liberty-Effing-Prime returns in Broken Steel. Gotta go through the motions of posting pictures trying not to squeal with girlish glee over the fact that Fallout 3′s post-ending content will have a giant American robot tearing the Enclave a new one.

May has never seemed so far away. Anyway, we got us some A Witch’s Tale, Fallout 3: Broken Steel, Harvest Moon: Makiba no Omise, Harvest Moon: Welcome to the Wind Bazaar, Magna Carta 2, Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga, and Ys Online: Call of Solum. Care for a gander? Continue reading ‘Mass Media 04/21/09’ »

Gather ’round y’all, we got a lot to go through today. Atlus is dominating the media for today, and we bet they can dominate it for the week too. All they have to do is stay focused and stop wearing pants. NIS America’s gonna try to put a stop to their fun, though. The three of you familiar with Get Your War On should appreciate that previous bit. Anyway, on to the media: A Witch’s Tale, Ys Online: Call of Solum, Dokapon Journey, Devil Summoner 2, Crimson Gem Saga, Knights in the Nightmare, Class of Heroes, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, Dissidia Cross Edge, and Phantom Brave Wii. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 04/08/09’ »

Today we have a trickle of information about the races and classes avilable in the upcoming Ys Online: Call of Solum. The game will feature three main races for players to choose from. Continue reading ‘Call of Solum Doles Out Details’ »

Y’know, I just watched the video for Psychobilly Freakout a few minutes ago, and I wanted to somehow incorporate it in this update. Alas, I don’t know how. But Reverend Horton Heat is awesome; this, few can deny. Anyway, some screens and drawings for you people! Diablo III, Dragon Quest IX, Final Fantasy XIII, Infinite Space, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, A Witch’s Tale, Ys I & II Chronicles, Ys Online: Call of Solum, and Ys Seven. Continue reading ‘Mass Screenshots, Artwork 04/01/09’ »