The past few years have been sour for RPG fans as very few solid releases have made it to store shelves. Cough it up to new technology, lack of innovation, or maybe even just high consumer expectations, but the fact remains that there simply aren’t enough quality RPGs. This fact is even further enhanced when you look at how many memorable story-driven experiences came out in the past two generations. However, Obsidian Entertainment is trying to put a stop to this trend with their recent Fallout: New Vegas, and the soon to be released Dungeon Siege 3. But they’re planning more than just that.

According to Obsidian Entertainment’s website, they’re currently hiring another member for their art department. Better yet, it’s for an unannounced game. Here’s what the introduction of the listing says:

Obsidian Entertainment is looking for a 2D character animator to work on a highly stylized, high profile role playing game.

It also says in regards to experience:

Has previously shipped titles on the PS3 or Xbox 360

The above quote makes it appear that the release will land on consoles, so Obsidian’s roots in PC-exclusive games is probably out of the question. Also, Dungeon Siege 3 is nearing completion, so it’s highly unlikely that they’re working on another addition to the series. Whatever it is, another RPG won’t hurt, and Obsidian has enough talent to ensure that it’s a fun experience.

[Source]

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Both the PSP and PS3 are seeing a tons of new releases this month, and an unusually high number of them are RPGs. Western or Japanese, handheld or big screen, realtime action or turn-based, it seems there’s something for just about everyone coming to PSP and/or PS3 in March.

Sony’s handheld will see releases of several RPGs this month, the first coming on the 8th in the form of Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle. This is the third release for Nippon Ichi and NISA’s grid-free tactical RPG, the first having been for PS2 with a Wii port that followed.

March 15 sees two more PSP RPGs drop with God Eater Burst and Jikandia: The Timeless Land. GEB is Namco Bandai’s answer to Monster Hunter, with a little more RPG flair to it. Hopefully it treats gamers better than the other Monster Hunter-esque PSP RPG to drop recently, Lord of Arcana, which hasn’t been earning much praise in reviews. Anyway, Jikandia was called Jikan de Phantasia in Japan, and is a spiritual sequel to Half-Minute Hero. It allows players to choose their own playtime, then generates a play zone, dungeon, and boss battle for them, which can be cleared within the limit they set for themselves (related note: “jikan” means “time” in Japanese).

The 22nd then sees Square Enix’s newest fighter with a dash of RPGness (and populated by RPG characters), Dissidia Duodecim [0120]: Final Fantasy.

A week after that, two more RPGs land on PSP in the forms of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky and The 3rd Birthday. The PSP saw three other Legend of Heroes games arrive a few years back, which were ports of older games. Developed by Falcom and brought stateside by XSeed Games, Trails in the Sky begins a new trilogy that has been extremely well-received in Japan. Square Enix’s The 3rd Birthday has long-absent heroin Aya Brea back in New York City, battling new monsters and uncovering new mysteries. Whether or not this signals a long term comeback for the Parasite Eve series or not can’t yet be said for sure, but the original PSOne games will soon see PlayStation Network release in North America.

Not to be outdone, the larger, more TV-bound Sony system sees the highly anticipated Dragon Age II ship today. The original Dragon Age won all kinds of awards in 2009 and was widely praised for its storytelling and immersion.

Next Tuesday will give PS3 Ar Tonelico: Qoga and Yakuza 4. The former is Gust’s third entry in the series and first of the current generation, as the first two games appeared on PS2. Series fans can expect yet another hilarious translation by NIS America and the interesting twists on character growth and combat that made the series popular last generation. Arriving in stores the same day will be Yakuza 4. No more putting on the front of a do-gooder, Kazuma’s back and rolling with some of the toughest dudes in Tokyo. Players once again enter the open-ended, sidequest-packed gameplay in which the series specializes, treated to perhaps the most fun take on level grinding to date.

All this comes hot off the PSN being recently blessed with classic PSOne RPGs Saiyuki: Journey West, Xenogears, and Vagrant Story.

It’s a good time to be an RPG fan.

© Knifefight for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us

NIS America put on a press event in San Francisco last night and they had their upcoming RPG Ar tonelico Qoga available to play. After spending some time with the game it’s safe to say that a lot of time and effort was spent bringing the series to the PS3. The graphics looked great, the character leveling system was robust, and the characters were as risque as you should expect from this series.

With that said, here’s the latest trailer for the game:

The game is set to release next month and here are the latest screen shots and character art:

© Louis Edwards for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | No comments | Add to del.icio.us

I’m convinced on this – gaming, in its proper noun form, is a species of life.  It shows characteristics of evolution and adaptable change, something that only a living thing can achieve.  Some games will survive and others will die.  The ones that do survive can only survive if they evolve into a stronger being.  For example, we can study the sound of gaming: from its birth we hear bloops and bleeps; 30 years later, we can be serenaded with the sound of a full orchestra.  In terms of interaction: we used limited keystrokes from a keyboard to move a paddle, and now we involve our whole bodies to have gaming respond to our actions.  You get the picture.  As we can see the tangible progresses in its evolution, there are unfortunately failures as well.  Some of these failures will leave a bitter taste, but given time, perhaps that, too, will evolve out of the system for it to survive.  It must survive.

Ok, enough of the drama.  Simply put, there are good and bad things that we all enjoy, and it’s very subjective.  And for me, the things that I seem to notice are the negatives about it.  It’s not that I don’t enjoy games – I just find it difficult to enjoy my favorite soda with a toothache.  In the end, I’ll just remember it was a painful experience.

Downloadable Content (DLC)

The one thing that has been irking me the most about gaming is this infamous thing known as downloadable content, aka DLC.  I am very, VERY, bitter against it.  Sure, I understand that developers need the extra cash flow to keep up with the ever increasing costs of production, but I thought that’s what the $60 price hike would cover that.  Some DLC can be justified, as it tremendously adds to the playtime of games, but most DLC is just pointless.  Back in the day before consoles were internet friendly, I remember bringing home games from the store and looking at it in awe, wondering what mysteries were hidden inside the shrink-wrapped cardboard box.  Developers, at one time, used to put secrets in games, hidden away gems for gamers to unlock when something unique was achieved (true story).  All additional content was already inside the game and to get it, you would have to be crafty and sometimes play the game to death to unlock the bonus features that came with it.  It was a true reward for the die-hard gamer.  With the advent of DLC, we no longer get cool digital swag for achieving spectacular feats.  Instead, we’ve been gimmicked with “trophies,” which add no inherent value, other than public bragging rights.  Sadly with DLC, if you want unlocked “secrets” for your game, you have to hone the skills of your wallet and show them the money – an evil mafia tactic to frisk the customer for more money.  It’s also more sickening to know that developers are now creating DLC even before a new title has gone gold (a term used to define a game that has been finalized).  Why can’t they put in that extra content as unlockables?!  Where is the fun?!  The only way this for this bully practice to “evolve” out the system is to simply stop buying it.  At $60 a pop for a game, isn’t it expensive enough?  This greed needs to stop.

Rehashed First-Person Shooters

Here is another trend that isn’t so much of an annoyance, but rather boring me to death: FPS.  Yes, there have been some truly awe-inspiring first-person shooters out there that get the job done right (Modern Warfare or Killzone 2, I’m looking at you).  However, it seems that the market is being flooded with FPSs to the point of rehashed material.  After playing so many of them, it starts to feel like a “been there, done that” experience.  And with the steep price of the next-gen titles, I would want to have a unique experience to enjoy, with a broader variety to choose from.  Perhaps, the entertainment medium can only reach so far.  Take a look at Hollywood for example.  They seemed to have run out of fresh ideas to boot the film industry.  As a result, we see remakes of old classics, most of which end up as disasters.  I believe that games have an edge to continue ingenuity though, as movies are a passive experience while gaming involves interactions.  We need more innovative ideas, and not rehashed content, to keep gaming fresh and alive.

Co-Operative Adventure Games

On the multiplayer front, I think we can all agree that the gaming market is severely lacking in hardcore co-operative titles.  I think a huge part of what games fun, is the ability to share an experience with another friend.   Most games that I find memorable, are the ones that allow you to party up with your buddy and explore the world that is set before you to conquer.  That level of interaction can be amazing if done correctly.  Only a few titles on the current consoles have been able to grant me that co-op joy, while the rest are spent in dark solitude of a rehashed FPS.  What I’m hoping to see in the future (hopefully near future) is better focus on co-op experiences, specifically an adventure/RPG title that encourages exploration with a friend, and to make new ones.  Demon Souls almost had it right for me.  They had a co-op mode built into it, but it was limited – you can only do co-op if one character was alive, the other would have to be a spirited “soul.”  And after a boss fight, the “soul” player would be spirited away and the multiplayer session would end.  It would have been better to have had no limitations on the co-op front, and to play side-by-side the whole way through.  I know that some co-op titles are out there and some more are on the way, but there are few that will build that great adventure story that can be reminisced over a camp fire.

Remember that whole evolution spiel I mentioned at the beginning? To tie it together, I really hope that gamers take charge as the consumer and force the industry to evolve in a different direction to keep the business fresh and alive.  How?  Simply vote with your wallet – put money towards the games that really count, not DLC.  If I had my own developer company, there are so many things that I would do differently to cater to the gamer as before in the days prior to DLC.  If the trends in gaming continue to gimmick the gamer as they do with DLC and rehashed ideas, then I firmly believe that gaming will evolve into extinction.

© Razor for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 22 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Dragon Age: Origins was a treat for PlayStation 3 owners when it arrived on shelves less than a year ago. RPGs have been limited this generation and the enthralling fantasy experience within Dragon Age was a breath of fresh air. A sequel was teased shortly thereafter and it looks like BioWare will debut details for the title tomorrow.

Michael McWhertor over at Kotaku has put two and two together and it seems clear that Electronic Arts should be announcing Dragon Age 2 sometime tomorrow. Apparently the official Twitter account for BioWare posted the following earlier today:

2morrow will be a great day for BioWare fans. Just sayin’

When paired together with the fact that EA announced today in a press release that BioWare is currently working on Dragon Age 2, it becomes clear as day. Prepare to hear more about Dragon Age 2 within the next 24-hours.

[Source]

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Propaganda Games have been hard at work on the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned. While many movie-based games have capsized like a cement raft, Pirates of the Caribbean is a fantasy space that has a huge amount of potential.

A fresh new swashbucklin’ trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned has been released. This fascinating action RPG will put you in the pegged-leg of a pirate who is trying to climb the ranks. Will this be one of the first movie-based games to captivate gamers? Only time will tell.

Check out the new trailer below:

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Neptune, the strange but original Japanese game where you play as a video game console brought to life to fight against piracy, is due out this summer in Japan. A big batch of screenshots and artwork has surfaced recently, and you can take a look at them in the gallery after the jump.

Do you know what they're saying?

This game is still slated for the PlayStation 3 and only in Japan. Publishers for other parts of the world have not stepped up to claim this game for porting. Take a peek at the gallery below and let us know what you think!

© Paulmichael Contreras for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Although Final Fantasy XIII took over 5-years to develop, the final product has been met with a wide-variety of opinions. The unprecedented linear gameplay and lack of variety has led many reviewers to dismiss the title as a tried-and-failed attempt for the RPG genre. However, some even believe the title isn’t even really a Role-Playing Game.

Recently, when Strategy Informer interviewed the Writing Director for Bioware, Daniel Erickson, he made the claim that Final Fantasy XIII isn’t technically an RPG. Daniel said the following during the interview:

“Well, before I address the main point I just want to take a slightly more controversial route: You can put a ‘J’ in front of it, but it’s not an RPG. You don’t make any choices, you don’t create a character, you don’t live your character… I don’t know what those are – adventure games maybe? But they’re not RPG’s.”

By his definition, a Role-Playing Game allows for choices, character creation and immersion. By that definition more than half of the RPGs out there including the famously award-winning Final Fantasy VII aren’t really RPGs. Even then, I’m inclined to agree that FFXIII isn’t a standard RPG by definition. While it follows the tale of several characters that you control, grow and fight with, many Action games contain the same elements. That is why if anything Final Fantasy XIII should be labeled an Action-Adventure game. Due to its limited combat gameplay, FFXIII isn’t an Action RPG, and the lack of customization and exploration leads me to say it isn’t an RPG.

What do you think of Final Fantasy XIII? Is it an RPG or an Action game? Were you disappointed with its new style of gameplay direction for the series?

[Source]

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 27 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Bungie’s recent deal with Activision has left many gamers in shock for the past week. While many have been shocked that Activision of all publishers signed the deal, even more have been shocked that Bungie will be bringing their titles to the PlayStation 3 console from here on out. However, their next title might not be anything like Halo and a recent job listing suggests such.

Bungie’s updated job listing includes a position for Writing Lead on their upcoming project. The interesting thing is that within the details listed under the requirements, the site states the following:

Minimum 5 years game industry experience or two, shipped AAA games; branching or non-linear narrative experience a plus

Considering Halo is a highly-linear first-person shooter title coupled with the fact that Bungie have been sitting under one genre for several years, it is reasonable to suggest that Bungie may be creating an RPG or non-linear Action title. Several sites including VG247 and GameSpot are already guessing that the project will be an action RPG that will be unlike anything we’ve seen from Bungie. Whatever the game may be, it’ll be exciting to see what the talented developers over at Bungie can put together on the powerful PlayStation 3 hardware.

[Via]

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Think you’ve heard of every video game plot there is? Think again – the folks over at development/publishing house Compile Heart have come up with a novel idea for an RPG – play on your console as a console. More details on this as well as some magazine scans after the jump.

Titled Neptune, the game will feature a main character of the same name. This character is actually a fictional video game console that can turn into a woman to fight. What could a video game console possibly have to fight? Piracy. In fact, the main antagonist in this game is the goddess Majicon – the Japanese word for DS flash carts.

The game takes place in a universe known as Geimugyokai, or the games industry. Four different goddesses (potentially pictured above) each rule a different planet and are given different colored names – Green Heart, Black Heart, White Heart and Purple Heart. The planets’ names are: Lasdition (PlayStation 3), Rinbox (Xbox 360), Ruwii (Wii), and Platetume (Unknown).

Combat will be in traditional 3D, and Neptune will be able to summon guardian angels from actual games or pictures on the player’s PlayStation 3 console. Various game companies will also be in the game, such as Gust and Nippon Ichi.

PS3 on the left?

Whether this game has more satire like 3D Dot Game Heroes is yet to be seen, but the game releases this summer for the PlayStation 3 in Japan. It appears Compile Heart is searching for publishers in other parts of the world if a port is to be done.

© Paulmichael Contreras for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Square-Enix has a lot on its plate right now–continuing development on FFXIV, the introduction of the Fabula Nova Crystallis trilogy to the western-world with the tauntingly near FFXIII, and possible development of a handheld version of aforementioned title. But now sources say one of these major titles will be absent during this year’s E3…

Final Fantasy Versus 13, at this point, is not going to receive the red carpet treatment during the US’s biggest entertainment gathering. In the latest issue of Famitsu, an interview with Tetsuya Nomura, the game’s director, stated the big possibility that the game will need more time developing before being showcased. Specifically, he mentioned an overhaul of the world map as the main contributing factor, but no other reasons were given.

E3 is still plenty far off, so there may be a chance this will change. Considering the crowds and press present at the convention with Squeenix’s most recent FF installment still fresh in their minds, it’s safe to bet Versus won’t go completely unmentioned, and that SE will try to reinvigorate some excitement using this moment for what they still have in store.

It’s been quite a while since we’ve heard any real new details about Versus–What do you think? Still interested, or can your eyes see only ‘Lightning’?

[Source]

© joinsideke for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us

The producer of RPG epic Final Fantasy XIII, Yoshinori Kitase, has praised the PlayStation 3 hardware which he claims “helped envision” the RPG.

In an interview with the PS Blog, the producer spoke about how the PS3 helped envision FFXIII.

The PS3 is definitely a spectacular machine and the team was really able to realize its visions for the characters and graphics, and at the same time, were able to have big onscreen battles going on. The PS3 hardware was something that really helped envision the game.

When asked about future DLC:

In regard to the rumored cut content, we feel it was taken out of context. There are a lot of ideas that are brought to the table, and then the team takes the best ideas out of those, and the final product is polished that way. There was content that were ‘ideas’ that didn’t make the final content, but the team isn’t looking to release that as downloadable content.

Final Fantasy XIII has a Western release of March 9, 2010.

© Zak Islam for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Sega is coming out and letting North America know that it’s not afraid of Final Fantasy XIII and thinks that its game will sell just fine along side it.  Ok so maybe Sega didn’t actually come out and say that, but what they did do is confirm a daring release date for Resonance of Fate, as it just so happens to fall only one week after FFXIII hits the store shelves.

Resonance of Fate, developed by tri-Ace brings gun combat into a genre which is dominated by the sword and spell and will do this on March 16th in North America.  We are not sure this is such a smart move releasing an RPG just a week after such a hype train is released.  Sega is most likely hoping to ride the wave of that same train and bring people in who quickly want another RPG, but it might have been better off with an April release date, giving people more time to move on.

What do you think?  Is this a smart time to release a new IP onto the world?

© Cameron Teague for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Get with some free RPG action as Rising Star Games has announced you’ll be able to download a playable Half-Minute Hero demo of the game on 4 February, via the PlayStation Network.

The PlayStation Portable RPG title Half-Minute Hero demo boasts a selection of missions from the final game, each showcasing a different type of challenge from the compelling quick-fire RPG.

Martin Defries, managing director, Rising Star Games:

We’re really excited about the release of Half-Minute Hero, truly the most innovative game on the PSP today. Those who can’t wait until launch day should head to the PlayStation Network to download a demo of Half-Minute Hero, which contains three exciting levels from the game.

It has an unrivalled sense of humour, while managing to seriously suck you in with its old-school visuals and absorbing gameplay – as soon as you put it down you’ll be thinking about the next opportunity to level up and be ‘You > Evil’

Check out the game’s fact sheet here. The RPG will hit stores on 12 February 2010, exclusively on PSP.

© Zak Islam for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us

Gearbox Software’s Borderlands released only a few months ago and was quickly met with positive acclaim. However, several issues including bugs and glitches have persisted in the game even after patches. Thankfully, Gearbox Software has fixes for several problems within a new game update.

The version 1.20 patch has officially been released for the PlayStation 3 version of Borderlands. The new patch fixes a variety of problems including the loss of character data after playing on the online network. The patch unfortunately clocks in at 190mb, but the issues that have been resolved make it well worth it.

The 1.20 patch fixes the following:

• Characters that have lost skill points will have them returned the next time they are loaded
• Most instances involving character data loss when playing online should no longer occur
• Item cards now display the intended five lines of text
• Achievements should now unlock properly.
• Players should automatically receive achievements that did not unlock correctly
• Fixed a progression issue in the Find Steele mission – characters affected by this issue should now be able to continue progressing
• Some issues involving external data manipulation of the backpack and character level have been addressed
• The auto-aim option should now fully disable auto-aim properly
• Fixed a bug that kept challenges and achievements from unlocking for the rest of a session after visiting arenas
• Fixed some formatting issues with the server list screen.
• Fixed an issue causing servers
to report the incorrect plot mission.
• Proficiency progress to the next level should no longer be lost when leaving a multiplayer game as a client
• Lilith’s “Silent Resolve” skill now works as intended
• Fixed a bug that allowed Mordecai to spawn multiple Bloodwings
• Mordecai’s “Loaded” skill now increases mag capacity by 20%
• Roland’s “Scattershot” skill has had its spread adjustment corrected, and damage now increases at +5 per level

Borderlands is a multiplatform first-person shooter RPG. Be sure to check out the recently released DLC packs which include new missions, trophies and more.

[Source]

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2010. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us