Interview: Jimmy Soga, product manager, Lunar: Silver Star Harmony
Lunar is back. The much-beloved RPG that first wowed gamers on the SEGA CD (and virtually every other console since) has returned in the form of Lunar: Silver Star Harmony, which looks to be the definitive version of the game. While the crew works on the review, we decided to reach out to Jimmy Soga, product manager, XSEED Games to answer some of the questions that have weighed heavily on the minds of Lunar fans.
Review: Legends of Exidia (DS)
One would think that because Legends of Exidia resembles old school console rpgs with its side missions and lots of button mashing, it would be totally epic. Unfortunately, it’s just not epic, just okay. But it does a great job of taking you back to the 2D gaming days where you had hard puzzles to solve and missions to fulfill.
Review: Sands of Destruction (DS)
After spending quite some time with SEGA’s Sands of Destruction for the Nintendo DS, I can give you a verdict: Good, but should be loads better. I found myself saying, “What the hell?!” often actually. That’s exactly what I’ve felt in many spots within the game. While the gameplay value in between the millions of cut-scenes is really solid, there are still too many cinematics and the ending may leave you scratching your head.
Gameloft’s Legends of Exidia looks like Zelda-ish, Epic Fun
If you’re a Nintendo DSi user in the hunt for a solid RPG, Gameloft announced the availability of Legends of Exidia. Available for download from the DSiWare shop, it appears to sport a similar story to Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes; you’re in charge of cleansing the land of demons, preventing the resurrection of their dark lord and rescuing Princess Sofia and the Orb of Spell.
From the YouTube video demoing the gameplay, it looks like a throwback that will remind all you old-school 2D gaming fans a bit of the SNES Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. IGN cites that MSRP on the game is $8; not too shabby.
Record of Agarest War: The Really Naughty Edition prevents gaming dudes from getting lucky
Companies using boobs to sell goods is one of the oldest and most dependable forms of advertising. Depending on your stance on the issue, you’ll either drool over the assets on display, laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation, or wave an angry fist. But when you move the situation to the gamingverse, and replace real world women with anime-style characters, it becomes f’n awesome.
Review: Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes (DS)
Earlier this week I posted my first impressions of Ubisoft’s Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, and after long hours of trial and error I’ve finally beaten the game. If you’re asking yourself if it gets that difficult to beat, the answer is yes.
I’d never expected to encounter such a high difficulty level on a Nintendo DSi game as the handheld seems like a platform best suited towards more causal fare. But don’t get me wrong, it’s quite the entertaining game, and perhaps mixes fun with the brain teaser puzzles better than most.
First Impressions: Might & Magic Clash of Heroes
Sure, Ubisoft’s Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes has been out for a little while now, but this game is worth a look as it contains something special that not many Nintendo DSi games have: replayability.
I’m not done with the game yet as I got it a couple of days ago for review. However, I can tell you that this is quite possibly the best RPG/Turn-Based Strategy game I’ve played in a very long time and it has me quite addicted.
Best 2D Role Playing Game 2009: Pokemon Platinum
The Pokemon series has evolved tremendously from the days of Red and Blue with a long storyline that will keep you entertained and continually coming back for more. The gaming experience is still the same thing that made the originals and all predecessors work so well and appeal to all ages. With more species, gyms, and towns you’ll feel like you bought a whole slew of games instead of just one. The graphics are a bit more polished as well as the sound due to porting to the Nintendo DS(i). If you’re looking for a fun, lasting and unique portable gaming experience then Pokemon Platinum highly deserves your praise.
Classic Dungeon Gives 3D Game Heroes The 2D Treatment
The neo-retro love affair continues, and I couldn’t be happier. Continuing the trend of action-RPGs with distinctive 8-bit feels (see Half-Minute Hero and 3D Dot Heroes), Nippon Ichi Software’s upcoming Classic Dungeon looks to bring the pixels to Japanse PSP games on February 18, 2010. Although it resembles your typical dungeon crawler, it has a rather unique gameplay system.
You place your characters on a chart, with your primary character in a central spot and the other characters in surrounding support sports. The primary character is the one that you control when entering the dungeons.
The support characters grow alongside the primary character, advancing differently and earning different skills depending on the structure of the chart you’re using, their position on the chart, and on job of the primary character. As the primary character explores the dungeons, the support characters will come in for assists, acting as shields if you’re about to incur damage from an enemy or trap.
When not in a dungeon, you’re able to freely swap characters between support and primary roles. Additionally, the game offers a variety of charts, some allowing you to set more support characters, and some giving added effects to certain slots.
Classic Dungeon will also feature a pixel editor, ad hoc multi-player, and a switchable soundtrack that lets you jump between the standard score and the bleeps and bloops version. Plans for a U.S. release has yet to be announced, but if you pray to your 8-bit man-god maybe our prayers will come true.
[Hat tip: Andriasang via Gamesetwatch]
Glory of Heracles: Long-Running Japanese RPG Series Finally Coming to American Shores
It may lack the mantacular Kevin Sorbo, but the Nintendo-published Glory of Heracles may be worth a look when it descends upon the Nintendo DS/DSi on January 18th.
Penned by Kazushige Nojima of Final Fantasy fame, Glory of Heracles is a RPG based on Greek mythology. For those of you that have never seen Clash of the Titans or just happened to attend a really sucky high school, a glossary is included to detail the places and characters that our man-god encounters in his journey.
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