The Epic Column 9.23.07
Posted by Nathan Grayson on 09.23.2007
It's the inaugural edition of 411's RPG column! This week, we discuss giant keys, outer space, and dead composers. You know you want to read it.
I'm Nathan Grayson, and I'll be your host for this particular column all about the magical world of rocket propelled gren…er, role-playing games. So first off, let's get introductions out of the way. I'm a die-hard RPG gamer, although I actually missed the "golden age" of Super NES RPGs, but have since rectified that mistake. Nationality doesn't matter – both Japanese and Western-style RPGs are a-okay in my book. I've even had my life taken-over by a few MMORPGs (the horror!), but just recently kicked my two-and-a-half year WOW addiction. Even now, however, I can still feel WOW calling to me on cold nights with promises of warmth and love – but I know better. Lastly, a controversial statement: I don't like Final Fantasy VII for many reasons that I will surely discuss at a later date. Also, I love Final Fantasy XII. Yeah, I'm that kind of Final Fantasy fan. My favorite Bioware RPG is KOTOR, but I haven't played much of Baldur's Gate – I know, I need to. And there you have it; that's my RPG alterna-life in a nutshell.
The column is going to be fairly freeform – some weeks (like this one), it'll consist of a somewhat in-depth weekly release list, and a look at all the latest news involving angst-ridden storylines and stat-based combat. Other weeks, it could be a discussion about anything from genre trends to the eye-cancer-curing beauty that is Nobuo Uematsu's moustache (ok, not really, but you get the idea). Needless to say, this is only the first installment in a series, so bear with me while I figure out what works well and what doesn't. And no, subsequent columns aren't going to have this much exposition, although I suppose it would be fitting considering the genre being discussed…
New items are available in the shop Eternal Sonata
A game about an admittedly incredible composer -- how could that be fun? What's that? It was made in Japan, and they turned it into a fantasy RPG? Weird, but ok – and it's about a fictional dream Chopin had while wasting away on his deathbed? That could be interesting.
And it is.
Not only that, the game is incredibly attractive, with a cel-shaded art style that tops all others. Consensus among the gaming press is that it's beautiful, charming, and has a fast-paced battle system, but it's also very linear and sort of short for a JPRG. Even so, if you're, well, dying to have a JRPG on your Xbox360, Eternal Sonata's the game to beat.
Digimon: Dawn and Digimon Dusk
While these are two separate games, they're listed together because they're only slightly less similar than two simultaneously released Pokemon installments. Basically, each version focuses on certain types of Digimon but lacks others. Thus, when you put them both together, they paint the full picture. Other than that, the main game progression differs slightly between the two.
As for the games themselves, they're apparently quite similar to their recently-released prequel. It's still a monster collecting/battling game with a decent combat system and colorful creatures for players to brutally humiliate in battle. In fact, according to IGN, the only big change to the gameplay actually hurts the proceedings more than it helps – the main game now advances along a quest system takes all the "oomph" out of the plot. It's difficult to speak of gaming press' consensus on this one since IGN is the only credible source that cared enough to write a subjective analysis of the game that will surely be decried by Digi-fans. Unless you're so dedicated to this series that you wish these games received midnight launches, stick with Pokemon for your legalized cockfighting needs.
Things that happened while you were out saving the world
New Kingdom Hearts Titles
Ok, I have a confession to make: I love Kingdom Hearts. I love its convoluted plot. I love its sometimes lame characters (that's not a shot at Disney, but at Tetsuya "Zippers" Nomura's original creations for the series). And of course, I love its melding of two disparate universes into a debatably cohesive whole. With all that said, it's pretty obvious that I'm excited about the new Kingdom Hearts titles announced at the Tokyo Game Show this week. Let's run down the list:
Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days (DS) seems to be about Roxas and his adventures prior to Kingdom Hearts II when he was still with Organization XIII. The battle system is similar to that of the PS2 Kingdom Hearts, but with a cooperative twist. Oh yeah, it's very pretty.
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (PSP) is another prequel, but this one focuses on a new character who many have been comparing to Zack of FFVII and Crisis Core fame. It's also the game alluded to in the secret trailer that can only be unlocked in Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix.
Kingdom Hearts: Coded (Cell phone) probably isn't leaving the crowded metropolis that is Japan, but it's tantalizing nonetheless. The game takes place in a virtual version of the first Kingdom Hearts, and grants Sora "debug" powers. With their help, Sora can do things like walk through walls, and make them blow up (!) according to Joystiq.
Mass Effect: Ambition and Controversy
Since everyone and their wacky talking cat sidekicks have already discussed the subject to death, I'm sure you won't mind if I don't spend too much time on the alleged nudity that will be in Mass Effect (Xbox360). Put simply, there's going to be a quick sex scene in Mass Effect, and nudity will be involved. Suffice it to say, Jack Thompson will proclaim it the seventy-billionth coming of Satan, and no one will care.
Of more real importance is Bioware's proclamation that they will do everything in their power to make sure Mass Effect's entire trilogy appears on the Xbox360, as opposed to its successor. Unfortunately, their hopes are misplaced. As Dr. Greg Zeschuk, co-founder of Bioware said in an interview with CVG, "That's one of the reasons we cross our fingers and hope that this console cycle lasts a long time, because we've created a great suit of tools and tech that allow us to build stuff." Despite Sony's claims to the contrary, however; it's doubtful that this console cycle will be on the cutting edge any longer than the others. Sony and Microsoft could very well make their consoles last for 10 years, but both of them will have new consoles on the market long before the Xbox360 and PS3 blow out the candles on their respective ten year birthday cakes. They'll have to regardless of whether the Wii forces them to change to a more casual-friendly strategy, or their "bigger, better" strategy pays off in the end.
TGS Hands-on Previews Wired's Chris Kohler enjoyed Dragon Quest IV's (DS) retro-ness, even in light of Final Fantasy IV's (DS) upgrade to the 32-bit era.
Meanwhile, 1up's Garnett Lee remains quite optimistic about White Night Story (PS3). Hopefully it's great, or else my purchase of a PS3 will have been for naught.
Also from 1up, Alice Liang doesn't seem too overtly excited about Lost Odyssey (Xbox360), but she doesn't really knock the game, either.
And lastly, on 1up, freelancer Emily Balistrieri was able to play Oopona, one of the few RPGs on the Wii, and now I'm interested to see how the game turns out.
And that's all for this week. Make sure to tell me how terrible this article was – I want to improve it as much as possible.
