RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

If Light Yagami was a military strategist, he’d be Shu.

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 03/03/13’ »

Amidst the buildup for E3, Final Fantasy director Shinji Hashimoto announced that Square Enix is preparing to develop a Final Fantasy for PlayStation 4. Naturally, few details were given at this time; Hashimoto indicated the company would reveal more at E3 this year.

Source: Gematsu

Speaking of setting matters right, Square Enix plans to launch Final Fantasy XIV for PC and PS3 this summer. The game went into beta testing on the 25th, and for the curious, the offical benchmark has been released and is available here.

Source: Gematsu

NIS America has announced that Time and Eternity will see a release in North America and Europe. Imageepoch’s time-travelling RPG centers around a princess whose wedding goes afoul when assassins kill her would-be husband. To set matters right, she reveals the secound soul hiding within her, which allows her to travel back in time and find John Connor before the T-1000 stop the assassination.

Time and Eternity hits US and EU PS3s this summer.

Source: Gematsu

Not to be outdone, NIS America announced a release window for Disgaea D2 in North America and Europe. Laharl and company will make their return this fall, under the full title of Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness.

Source: Gematsu

Square Enix has revealed that the Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix will launch in North America and Europe this fall.

Source: Gematsu

In a recent interiew, Blizzard production director John Hight indicated that Diablo III will have some form of offline play. This was mentioned in the context of multiplayer, with Hight saying that “You can have four people on the same screen—no split-screen, we just zoom the camera out. Or if you’re offline.” As a reminder, the PC version requires a constant connection, largely for the Real Money Auction House.

Hight also said the PS3 version was further along than the PS4, given the team has only just been introduced to the PS4’s controller.

Source: Eurogamer

Nippon Ichi has announced that Zillions of Enemy X: Zetsukai no Crusade, a card-based RPG, will hit Japanese stores on May 23 priced at 7,140 yen.

Source: Gematsu

The much-talked-about beta test of Final Fantasy XIV: Let’s Try This Again will begin on February 25 according to Square Enix. The playable area will be limited to Gridania and its surroundings, with limited storyline quests, sidequests, and a level 30 instanced dungeon among the content to be tested.

Source: Gematsu

With the North American release of Etrian Odyssey IV a known quantity (February 26), Nintendo of Europe confirmed the game would hit European markets this spring. No specific date was given, however.

Source: Gematsu

Square Enix has announced that, having released on the Wii back in August, Dragon Quest X will make its Wii U debut starting March 30. Priced at 6980 yen, the title will be available in both retail and download versions, and both will include 20 days of free play. A beta test is planned for March 6, and players will be able to transition their beta characters to the full version.

Source: Gematsu

Valhalla Knights 3 will launch on Japanese Vitas starting May 23. No specifics were given on a worldwide release, though prior announcements indicated a fall 2013 release for North America.

Source: Gematsu

With the US release mere weeks ago, Fire Emblem: Awakening will reportedly hit European markets on April 19. Keenly aware of the delay, Nintendo of Europe head Satoru Shibata said both he and the company “sincerely apologise” for the extra time taken. As recompense, Nintendo will be releasing a unique Fire Emblem 3DS XL bundle in Europe, which includes Awakening in the package.

Source: Eurogamer

As long as we’re talking portable releases, Nintendo released a chunk of 3DS news, among which was the existence of a new Mario and Luigi RPG. Formally titled Mario and Luigi: Dream Team, the game reportedly takes place in Luigi’s dreams, and will launch sometime this summer.

Source: Eurogamer

After more than a year of basically no information, the Vita HD release of Final Fantasy X is officially back on the table. At the Japan-based Vita Heaven event, Square Enix released a small dollop of game footage, which appeared to be a render of the characters in battle. See for yourself via the YouTubes.

Sour apple sake!

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 02/16/13’ »

Speaking on BioWare’s forums, community manager Chris Priestly discouraged referring to the next Mass Effect game as Mass Effect 4. “We have already said that the Commander Shepard trilogy is over and that the next game will not feature him/her,” he wrote. “The game does not have to come after. Or before. Or off to the side. Or with characters you know.”

Clarifying those remarks, BioWare Montreal’s Yanick Roy stated that “Thinking of the next Mass Effect game as Mass Effect 4 would imply a certain linearity, a straight evolution of the gameplay and story of the first three games.” According to Roy, there may be some recognition of choices made in prior games, but if so it would not be the thrust of the new story. Details about that story, he added may be several months away.

You’ll forgive me for tagging it Mass Effect 4 for lack of anything else to call it.

Source: Eurogamer

With Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity due out March 24, Nintendo has clarified a few points regarding the game’s DLC. For starters, content will encompass new dungeons, items, and Pokemon, all to be released on a regular basis following launch day. In an interesting twist, the first batch of content – the Poke Forest dungeon – will be free to download until April 30. Three other dungeons will be available at launch, with more content planned for April.

Also, Gates to Infinity will offer local multiplayer in the form of Companion Mode, allowing players to explore dungeons, collect items, and gain experience together. Said items and experience then carry over to the game’s single player (Hero Mode).

Source: Gematsu

Speaking of bringing things over, Aksys Games has announced that the Vita-bound Muramasa Rebirth – known as Oboro Muramasa in Japan – will be localized for a North American release. As an updated release of Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Rebirth features, among other things, DLC character scenarios and a significant relocalization effort. No release date was announced.

Source: Gematsu

XSEED is looking to have a busy 2013, having announced several games to be localized this year in addition to the already-revealed Pandora’s Tower. These include: Rune Factory 4, Valhalla Knights 3, Ys: Memories of Celceta, and Ys I & II Chronicles+.

Rune Factory 4 hits North American 3DSs this Summer. Valhalla Knights 3 and Ys: Memories touch down on US Vitas in Fall. And Steam users can serve the Newell with Ys I & II Chronicles+ starting February 14.

Source: Gematsu