RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Fantasy just can’t get away from elves, as a rule, and Dragon Age: Origins is no exception. The latest video from Bioware depicts the elven mercenary Zevran, a talented swordsman who inexplicably sounds like Antonio Banderas. The video depicts an encounter in which Zevran, coated in blood and lying on the ground, gives the lowdown on his occupation and signs on with the group; presumably in the aftermath of some battle, as blood splatters also cover the hero and some of his entourage. The trailer can be found here.

Bioware also revealed another in-game region known as the Korcari Wilds: a cold, ominous forest far from civilization, where superstitious locals speak of witches stealing their children and rely on the guidance of tribal shamans. A short video on Bioware’s website elaborates, suggesting that something called the Dark Spawn have infested the area.

Following their official statement regarding the leaked video of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, CD Projekt Red have answered several questions posed about the content of said video. In particular: (more…)

Just wrapping up some media, doing a little housekeeping, trying not to get sucked into trolling Youtube for more Hatsune Miku insanity. Lord knows that juice song is pretty much etched into my skull. Anyway, behold some pretty, pretty Atelier Lina screens and art: (more…)

A new trailer for Mass Effect 2 has revealed another recruitable character: a powerful, snarky, aggressively antisocial biotic dubbed Subject Zero. Apart from showing her destroying enemies left and right, the trailer drops several hints about her backstory, suggesting a history of gang violence, biotic experimentation, and other things straight from the not-so-sunny side of the Mass Effect universe. The video also suggests S0 is a possible love interest for male Shepard, and by ‘suggests’ one can take to mean ‘pretty much confirms.’

The trailer can be viewed here. Bioware staff could not be reached to ask whether the trailer could be improved by pairing it with the Hawaii Five-O theme.

Everyone’s favorite niche-cornering company that starts with the letter ‘A’ has seen fit to throw in some freebies with the Japanese Persona 3 Portable Deluxe pack. It’s been revealed that the pack will include a t-shirt, table calendar, and PSP-sized jacket character art, and it will be available starting November 11 for 8495 yen.

The pack is available for purchase through EBTen.jp.

Translation: Adrienne Beck

Square Enix has just announced that Dragon Quest: Wars, an upcoming turn-based strategy title employing monsters from the Dragon Quest series, will be available for download through Nintendo’s DSiWare service in October of this year. The game will employ the DSi’s wireless network and Wi-Fi connection, allowing up to four teams to build a party of monsters and battle in the same arena.

While a launch day was not specified, the company stated the title will be available for 500 DSi points.

A new entry to the Disgaea series, under the title of Disgaea Infinite, is coming soon to a Playstation Network near you. Sony lists it as a PS3 title, while the latest Famitsu refers to it as a PSP game. There has been no clarification as to which is the case, however it will debut at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show.

Source: Destructoid

I miss everything that is good and pure in life while flying. Things like a good night’s sleep and Talk Like a Pirate Day. Ah well. Today’s media: Disgaea Infinite, WiZman’s World, Inazuma Eleven 2, and Zettai Hero Kaizou Keikaku, whatever the heck that means. Observe! (more…)

Square Enix has launched new downloadable content for Final Fantasy IV: The After Years. Available through WiiWare for 800 Nintendo funbucks, The Crystals follows Rydia and Edge as they try to put the band back together, presumably on a mission from God. Meanwhile, Cecil “confronts Kain, Rosa, and Ceodore inside his castle” as the world is thrown into dire peril.

There is no word as to whether said peril will be easily dispatched by using a glitch to duplicate Excaliburs and having Edge throw them every turn.

With a sequel already in development, Valkyria Chronicles still has more content up its proverbial sleeves. Sega recently announced that it intends to launch downloadable content for the strategy RPG in the form of new missions. Entitled Challenges from Team Edy, this content will be available in winter of 2009.

No price has been set for the DLC.

Source: Kotaku

Never one to walk away from a gamble, Square Enix have announced the upcoming 360 RPG NieR Gestalt will be released in 2010. Details are scarce, although screenshots suggest a stylistic mix of God of War and Devil May Cry, with machines and modern-day settings amidst various demons.

Source: Famitsu
Translation: Adrienne Beck

With virtual Alaska, Pittsburgh, Point Lookout, and a better endgame behind it, Fallout 3 has set its sights a bit higher – literally – with its latest DLC. Putting a big twist on a previously unmarked encounter, Mothership Zeta is essentially a lengthy, linear shoot-em-up quest in the vein of Operation: Anchorage. While the setting is novel and it contains some memorable setpieces, it’s crippled by balance issues, overlong segments, and, of all things, plot holes. For all its atmosphere, Zeta can’t shake the feeling of wasted potential. (more…)

Let the outtakes commence! Fresh from our last Radio Free Jeuno and Better Know a Dev Team podcasts, we’ve got a pile of audio goofs and silly antics that didn’t quite make the cut. Nerdboy once again instructs us on the proper way to spell tri-Ace, we find out why people ever bother singing in the first place, and good times are had by all. Enjoy!

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Fresh media for y’all, ’cause you’re all dying for it, I know. In today’s update: 3D Dot Game Heroes, Summon Night X: Tears Crown, Dragon Quest IX, La Pucelle Ragnarok, and Final Fantasy Legend II DS. I’m told Final Fantasy Legend II DS is actually part of the SaGa series, but m’eh. When Squenix, proud owners of Eidos, decide to finance 30 Deus Ex sequels and spinoffs, then I’ll make the effort to be more precise with their nomenclature.

‘Nomenclature’ is a funny word. It’s pretentious, but it’s fun to say. Go ahead, try it. While you’re at it, here’s the media: (more…)

More information has emerged regarding the cast of Valkyria Chronicles 2 and how they’ll go about waging “politics by other means.” (more…)

In a recent Famitsu interview, Tetsuya Nomura revealed a few more details about the upcoming Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. Among other things, the game is to be chronologically the first in the Kingdom Hearts timeline, and the three main characters – Terra, Aqua, and Ventus – will each experience different events and encounters throughout the game. Additionally, Birth by Sleep will keep track of which commands and skills players seem to favor, and the character’s fighting style will adjust accordingly.

Nomura stated that Birth by Sleep is “not likely” to be released before Final Fantasy XIII.

Source: RPG Land

Nippon Ichi have announced that their strategy RPG La Pucelle Tactics is being ported to the PSP. Dubbed La Pucelle Ragnarok, the port will feature improvements to the interface, such as being able to skip battle animations. Additional voice acting and a new scenario featuring bonus bosses from the Disgaea series have been confirmed.

La Pucelle Ragnarok will be released in Japan on November 26. A North American release has not been confirmed.

Source: Siliconera

In this episode: Roy Brown is the man. I wish I could rewind time back to E3 so I could shake someone at Bethesda’s hand for introducing me to this golden-voiced king amongst men. That and ask them to de-nerf Colonel Autumn’s laser pistol. Oh well… there’s always mods, I guess.

To the task at hand. Today’s media includes and is limited to: Dragon Quest IX, Elemental Hunters, Hexys Force, Phantasy Star Portable 2, Resonance of Fate, Rune Factory 3, Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, and Valkyria Chronicles 2: The Gallia Royal Military Academy. Get it while it’s hot, people! (more…)

In yet another episode of “Europe Gets Things Later,” Microsoft is bringing a Game of the Year version of Fable II to Europe. The bundle includes the add-ons Knothole Island and See the Future, and is due for a September 18 release.

At-launch price is set at €64.99/£39.99. In a related episode of “Europe Pays More,” a quick foray into Yahoo’s currency converter suggests the US before-tax equivalent would either be $92.92 or $65.04, respectively.

Source: Eurogamer

Square Enix’s upcoming Final Fantasy Gaiden: Four Warriors of Light does away with traditional magic points to fuel spellcasting in combat, opting instead for an action point-based system. Spells are tiered so that more powerful or area-of-effect spells cost more AP than basic, single-target ones. Points also carry over from battle to battle, meaning a player can stock up in one fight and spend them all in the next.

Additionally, battle commands are set by the player beforehand. Counting the standard fight, item, and store (defend/charge AP) commands, a player can equip up to six skills accessible via the touch screen.

Final Fantasy Gaiden is due out in Japan on October 29.