My pick this week is actually a manga this time, so don't fret, my fellow otaku. Have a fascination with the mafia? Like me, are you feeling blue now that The Sopranos is over? Reborn might just be your panacea. Tsuna Sawada, your everyday Japanese student underachiever in all respects, finds himself chosen to be the next mafia lord of the Vongola family, and by a baby assassin named Reborn no less. This is the story of his training for the exalted position, and the crazy folks that populate his life.
Well, if you plan to get it on Wii anyway. While plenty of online-happy gameplay is planned for the PS3 and 360 versions of the game, unsurprising problems have arisen on the Nintendo front with no time frame given on a resolution. Red Octane President Kai Huang confirmed recently this by saying,
"There won't be online initially for the Wii, but we are working with Nintendo to see how we can get those features in."
This is where Nintendo really needs to get their crap in order. Online capability is pretty quickly becoming an industry standard for most games, especially the ones where any sort of competition is potential. I understand Nintendo's fears in covering for any abuses of this (especially on the DS, which I can't really go outside without seeing some little kid with one mashed into their face) but I find it very hard to believe that the Wii has such a significantly younger fan base than any other console that it needs all these protective hurdles. The Wii's online options flounder in comparison to the capabilities of the PS3's and 360's, with almost no sense of individualization or achievement apart from the rather meager Mii channel.
There has to be a way to unlock the need for that crazy 12 digit number. Because I'm definitely going to buy this game for my Wii. Please Ninty, let me demolish my unknown and random competition with my amazing guitar skills. Apart from rocking out with my jock out, what harm can that possibly have on the Wii-owning community? Let's leave the protection of children to the parents.
Wii Guitar Hero III gets no online initially [Joystiq]
The PS2 refuses to die, at least in the world of RPGs. For that, be thankful, because after the release of Persona 3 and this upcoming SRPG from Nippon Ichi, Soul Nomad & The World Eaters, you should know that these games are nothing to scoff at. Games for the hardcore gamer, the kind of game that takes a genre to it's ultimate nerdy potential, these are the kind of games that come out at the end of a console's lifespan. Maybe it's because there is no more pressure to make the game an across-the-board success that appeals to all types of gamers, these games appeal to one solid demographic.
Soul Nomad looks like one of those games. This is the kind of SRPG that requires an awful lot of menu traveling, with stat and item management being just as important as the storyline progression. It has the look of a Nippon Ichi game, so think of Soul Nomad as a more complex Disgaea with a less self-aware aesthetic and a tad more action and excitement. You might be wondering right about now what the hell I'm talking about... well, see for yourself. Not only are there english screenshots and game art to look at, but movies as well. That should clear things up.
My only complaint is the font used in the menus, which although clear and simple, kind of makes me feel like an old biddy in a track suit, reading one of those embarrassingly gigantic "large print" books.
Soul Nomad & The World Eaters Media [RPGamer]
Anytime Link is paired with seafaring and swashbuckling, I'm pretty much sold. Which is why Wind Waker is my favorite Zelda game, despite the seeming perfection that was Twilight Princess. Here is the latest look at the stylus-heavy gameplay of Phantom Hourglass, and with each look at the game I'm more and more excited. It still very much has that Zelda feel, although actually controlling the little green guy seems like it will be a new experience akin to the first time you swung that wii-remote and heard the schwing of Link's blade. Um... yeah.
I'm happy to see the boat will have the cannon capability with footage of blowing up rocks, which makes me tremble in anticipation of pillaging booty on the high seas. Wait, why is everything sounding dirty?
Professor Layton is back in a second installment and a subtitle that I can't even begin to decipher, which is rather insulting, considering we haven't even had the original translated yet. It's just as beautifully animated (maybe even more so) with that unique European feel only the Japanese can create. Although there isn't much to see here in regards to gameplay, but there is plenty of storyline. A grand green train seems to play a large part in the story, as well as some new characters. A large-eyed and sensitive looking girl seems to join the heroes, and a debonair blond nobleman seems to be the main villain. And I might be making another translative jump in the dark here, but the end of the trailer seems to have some katakana about a vampire after he evilly yells out Layton's name. What's more excited than a mystery with a pretty boy vampire? Nothing.
It's only a matter of time, when it comes to handheld platforms, that someone makes a game that forces you to use it in a way that hasn't been done before. Frankly, this isn't always successful, but it can have some interesting results. For instance, it was definitely annoying but surprisingly innovative when Kojima forced you to go out in the sun for Boktai. And we all know what game uses the DS in a vertical stance. In fact, most of this kind of thing has been relegated to the DS, until now.
Anata wo Yurusanai (which roughly means "I won't forgive you") has a female detective as a main character, and shockingly, the music is by none other than Nobuo Uematsu! Created by AQ Interactive and due out in Japan in November, you can use the analog stick to hide behind walls as you tail your suspects. Quietly, I'm sure.
Anata wo Yurusanai [Siliconera]
Ok, ok, I know that this is supposed to only be manga or anime that I am obsessed with but this week I'm going to do something a little different. Special things require breaking the rules a little. You see, I can't stop playing Persona 3, which is a problem considering I have absolutely no free time. It's the kind of game that you think about all the time. It seeps into your psyche. Even after you force yourself to put it down you're thinking about what and how you will do the next step. It's genius.
For those of you who are excited about the November releasing 4th game in the Dragon Quest Monsters series, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker, I bring you good tidings. Square-Enix has announced that there will be a special bonus package that will be given to those who preorder the game. Like all the bonuses that came with Dragon Quest VIII, Square-Enix seems to want to ensure that it keeps, pleases, and maybe even captures new fans to the less popular but wonderful other big RPG series.
The bonus will include a DS charm (one can only assume this will be in the form of a slime), keychain (metal slime, anyone?) and map that will double as a screen cleaner. For me, the final item is reason enough. How awesome is a little cloth map that is made of that awesomely soft screen/lens cleaning material? Anyway, the preorder applies only to those who do it through Amazon, Gamestop, and Game Crazy, so make sure you do it in the right place. In fact, the preorder is such new news, that if you call one of these stores they might not even know what you're talking about. Never fear! Square-Enix has guaranteed the items.
It's time for more Final Fantasy Retrospective, and this time around its the story of Final Fantasy X, or as I like to call it, "Final Fantasy Twink Athlete." Although I'm not really into that kind of guy, Tidus was one of the cutest main characters to hit Final Fantasy, and a symbol of the series moving towards more realistic, modern, humanistic and empathic characters. Although I was in complete awe of FFX upon it's release, the retrospective also deals with FFX-2, a game which I won't comment on for fear of hate mail from it's many fans.
If you experienced Spira and know that Sin is a lot more dangerous than lying to your parents, then you owe it to yourself to experience this retrospective of one of the most popular Final Fantasies since VII.
Don't cry, Vegeta. I know that it's rough, but you must be strong. If not for yourself, than for the rest of pitiful humanity! I know that Dragon Quest IX, the shocking DS based sequel to the polished and dearly beloved Dragon Quest series isn't coming out this year in Japan, due to questions of quality, but surely there are other things to look forward to! For instance, the remake of Dragon Quest IV on the DS! That's still planned for this year, at least in Japan! You could be playing it by the holiday season. Yes, I know you've played it before, but at least the graphics will be improved, right? Just think, DQIX will be that much better now! You say you want to play it in English? Oh, well that hasn't even been announced yet, so... There, there. I know it's hard. You can cry on my shoulder all you want, as long as you let me massage your ginormous shoulders and biceps... and don't go Super Saiyan just yet... let's take it slow.
Read My Lips, No New Dragon Quest in '07 [RPGamer]
So I kind of made fun of Disgaea 3 when I first heard about it. Sure, it's a Disgaea game, so it can't be bad, but it was announced for the PS3 and it still kind of looked... the same. Call me a jerk, but I expect some level of graphical improvement when switching a series over to a new console.
And then I saw these amazing japanese scans. And now it all makes sense. The super and combo attacks look much more impressive, the characters are a real treat to behold, and the world is more detailed. Sure, it's not Bioshock graphics, but it's keeping with the Disgaea look and tradition, which is probably the more important decision.
I just love the characters. Main character Mao (*cough* Tse Tung *cough*) looks like the nerdy love child of Laharl and Flonne. Professor Jiya has hilarious facial hair and looks like trouble. Rasp Beryl is a cute kiddie version of Etna with a fondness for the skull motif, and Almaz is sporting the ever popular Laharl like clothing item, the exorbitantly large red scarf. I'm already in love with these characters and I haven't even heard them speak.
Just look at the scans and see for yourself! Just try to tell me you aren't chomping at the bit to play this one. Underworld kookiness, schoolterm highjinks, and adorably mischievous demonkids throwing each other around in full SRPG madness... Score ten points for the PS3!
SCE and Japan Studio have joined dark forces to make this, yet another RPG for the PSP. I know, I know... you're sick of RPGs coming out on the PSP and want more announcements for the newer consoles! Oh wait, that's just that nagging voice in my head, because unlike an awful lot of people, I don't own a PSP. Still, this September release looks pretty promising, and it will be a good thing if they localize it for us.
The online description of Rezel Cross describes it as an "action RPG" but what you can see in the video looks pretty turn-based to me. I like the character design, even if it is a little predictable. Steam punk meets FFVIII meets Arabian Knights? Of particular interest is the blonde Marion, whom looks remarkably like a lesbian I know, and the warrior Zesu, if only because he has ridiculous abs under a skin tight unitard and seems to be wearing a kilt.
Playing with camera angle will be imperative.
Graphics are impressive, great character and monster design, music is solid, storyline seems decent... what's not to love? Anyone know what a "Rezel" is?
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