RPG WORLD

Canaan Online Word

2011-01-17T19:27:00.000-08:00

Developer : Xpec Entertainment

Story :

At first there is god who has many a hidden world in his pocket, one of the worlds is Canaan, and then allocates it to the world's secular god. So gradually people living in the world. But they always suffer because of the conflict in it.

At present four great heroes traveling under orders to find the beast of ancient gods, and with the strength of four animals a remarkable door will be found and opened. A new world, heaven is right, which lies behind these doors. Actually, that heaven is a place where their ancestors lived. Through the door, the suffering can go back into that world. This is a world with beautiful scenery and an easy life, gentle breeze, the sun bright, mysterious forests so inviting and comfortable living, it’s very beautiful. But at a time, the conflict between the two camps is different, they really want a holy city and one of the groups among the camp has decided to leave the city.

Actually, they were tired with the great wars and conflicts; they yearn to live comfortably without conflict forever. Fortunately, in the middle - the middle way, they have discovered a new land. The new land called Canaan, which is one of the worlds inside the pocket gods. At that time there were only Elf tribe, ethnic Berbers, the devil and Dwarf tribe who live there. Seeing this land can be used as a place to live, they changed their minds and live peacefully in this new land. But after generations and generations of conflict ensued. So they plan to return. With this introduction, we have returned to the world that now Canaan.

Canaan King Charles VI and his son died suddenly before the four hero find the beast and then work disrupted. The four heroes have been returned to the city Karugarner with haste - gesa.Mereka hoping to help save the population. When they passed through the Tri-Fork, they were caught and taken to the last channel. Archers Caligar woman disappeared, Evian warrior killed in battle, only with prayer Walhalla Haying witch who has returned to the city Karugarner, but both were arrested after arriving at Karugarner. Finally, with willpower, witch Heyinger get a chance and escaped with pendo Walhallen.

How can this happen?

Who is attacking them?

A rumor spread everywhere. But there is a truth behind this, the four heroes are ambushed by Elder Narfilleis and its members! Unfortunately these rumors turn into reality. Narfilleis is a schemer. He was so eager to have the throne until he uses the occasion when four heroes of travel, and kill the king Charles VI and his son. But he was so frightened by the four heroes because they are so strong, so he plans to kill the four in the Tri-Fork.

The world collapsed again. The nobles were fighting every day about the methods to overcome Narfilleis, in a situation like that how people can feel comfortable. They missed the great king Charles VI. During his reign there are so many things, so people feel safer. He founded the church, bringing trust to them and inspire them with holy purpose. He won their love and admiration. Only a leader like him can unite the entire country, but now, is there a leader who can be trusted? Is there still love? Is there peace? People expect to be able to return to their homes safely and comfortably. The world needs peace, so there is no dispute that tragic. There are many ordinary people who live right than top brass - top brass that his life is not true. Hearing this, many people who volunteered to form a team and looking for animal gods with their own efforts. After efforts - efforts, they finally got permission directly from the nobles, so that the new team can start again. This is one effort that could make the nobles to the population.

Because they have made a decision, they have to follow that goal. Whatever they face, such as violent barbarian tribes, kelompk bloodthirsty demon, or a mockery of the tribe Dwarf and Elf, they must become like a Knight. In the midst of the world, there are areas not yet explored, is still mysterious and dangerous. And this will not be easy. Is this trip will bear fruit one year later? This depends on their actions!

Come join in the thrill of the world challenge Canaan!

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4 Story

2010-09-02T01:14:00.000-07:00

In the world of Iveria, there are multiple territories to be claimed by your Kingdom. More territories owned by your Kingdom will grants you with more places to journey and more treasures to find. At destined time of each and every day, the battle for the territory occupation will break out between two rival kingdoms "Craxion" and "DeFugel". Fight for your kingdom! Slash the heads of your enemy! Claim what is rightfully yours!

Apart from main quests around the truth of three kingdoms, diverse sub-quests, and hidden quests waits you all. Distinctive voice of NPCs will bring you one step closer to the real world of 4Story. Look around! You may run into a quest with smashing rewards

City of villains

2010-02-01T20:22:00.000-08:00

Game name :City of villains
Official site http://www.cityofheroes.com/en.html

Although City of Heroes is one of the better MMORPGs for casual gamers, it has always lacked true PvP against villains. The ability to create your own super hero was nice and all, but it always felt like there was something missing. Here was this game that was supposed to let you live out your comic book fantasies but there was no major villains to go up against. Sure some comic books have heroes pummeling generic bad guys but it gets old.
Like a henchman jumping to answer his master's call, City of Villains swoops in to add the ability for super heroes and super villains to finally go head-to-head. Now heroes and villains can duke it out in PvP zones to see whether good or evil triumphs. The villains may need a little while to catch up to some of the older heroes but the newness of the game and the coolness of playing a baddie will likely enable that gap to be closed rather quickly.

Heroes and Villains can also battle over another much needed addition, bases. Bases are only for Super Groups in City of Villains. City of Heroes Super Groups can have bases as well but the players need to have both City of Heroes and City of Villains. Besides helping with PVP, these bases give a good reason to join a Super Group that didn't really exist before. Thus, bases add a new element that improve the depth of the game.
Another new element are the abilities of the a couple the archetypes that you can choose for your villain, the MasterMind and the Stalker. While the other 3 archetypes play almost identically to their CoH counterparts, the MasterMind and the Stalker add a couple of new interesting twists. Unlike the Scrapper in CoH, a Stalker can turn invisible to all enemies of the same or lesser level. This basically allows you to freely walk where ever you want to without having to fight. A MasterMind is even more fun to play because you can lead your own little army. Your own posse can consist of a wide variety of henchmen including ninjas, zombies, and mercenaries. Can't find a group to play with? Don't worry about it! Bring along a couple of ninjas and just watch them mow down mobs. You can either just command you henchmen to pounce or you can help with a ranged weapon like a bow or a gun.
Nevertheless, do not expect City of Villains to be a completely different game. In fact, CoV basically plays just like CoH but adds more content, new features, and the ability to express your inner evil. This "if-it's-not-broke-don't-fix-it" strategy may disappoint some gamers but it is also a good thing since one of CoH's core strengths was simplicity and having a low learning curve. That said, City of Villains may not reinvent City of Heroes, but it does make a CoH a significantly better MMORPG.

Fiesta Online

2010-01-28T01:29:00.000-08:00

Game name : Fiesta online
Official Site : http://fiesta.outspark.com/?src=OR&kyd=Fiesta:FeatGmBnr:0:10000:0&aff=0

Developer : Outspark

Gameplay :

Fiesta offers 4 classes with unique play styles, each character is fully customable. Dynamic fighting scenarios that include Player vs Player, Battlefield, Instance Dungeon, And kingdom quest.

Fiesta story :

Became and adventurer in the lands of Isya. A new power has risen in the north. The battle between Angels and Demons has begun. Is your heart pure enough to follow the path of Light? Or are you destined fall into the clutches of darkness?

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Star Trek Online Cryptic Studios

2009-11-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

Become part of Star Trek®: The Star Trek universe will appear for the first time in a massively multiplayer online game. Everything from the elegant domes of Starfleet Academy to the ancient temples of Vulcan, from the towers of Qo’noS to the Fire Caves of Bajor, from the mysterious Mutara Nebula to the unexplored voids of deep space, all will be represented in stunning 3-D graphics. Immerse yourself in the future of the Trek universe as it moves into the 25th century: a time of shifting alliances and new discoveries.

Adventure in the Final Frontier: Explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations in an expanding vast universe. Make contact with alien races, discover resources and uncover mysteries that will change the future of the Star Trek universe.

You Are the Captain: Command your own starship as a Federation Captain or a Klingon Warrior. Outfit it with the systems that you need to make your mark in the galaxy. Customize your ship as you see fit. Recruit, train and mold your crew into an elite force for exploration and combat.

Surface, Shipboard and Deep Space Adventures: Command your vessel in thrilling space battles, or beam down to planets with your away team for face-to-face confrontations. Missions will take you and your friends into space, planetside and even inside starships!

Powered by the Cryptic Engine, Star Trek® Online will be developed for both console and PC formats. With customizable ships and characters from the Klingon Empire and United Federation of Planets, ground, space and shipboard gameplay and unique options for player-generated content set in the Star Trek universe, Star Trek Online is the MMOG that allows you to boldly go where no one has gone before!

Alganon Overview

2009-11-19T08:27:00.000-08:00

Alganon is the fantasy MMO offering from the folks over at Quest Online, featuring of traditional fantasy MMORPG trappings like class and race selection, weapons, armor, magic, quests and the like, the game also puts an emphasis on a feature that allows players to advance their characters even while offline.

RPG | Genre:Fantasy | Status:Beta Testing (est.rel 12/01/09) | Publisher:Quest Online
Distribution:Download | Retail Price:n/a | Pay Type:Subscription
Desktop Client | System Req:

D&D 4e is One of the Best RPG Games in 2009

2009-11-19T08:23:00.000-08:00

One of the best RPG games in 2009 is Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition. This pen and paper roleplaying game was actually released in 2008 by Wizards of the Coast. However, it has taken a little bit of time for the gaming community to really grab a hold of the game and embrace. There are still definitely a lot of naysayers for 4th Edition, but I believe this game is a landmark edition that will change how the best RPG games are built from here on out.

One of the spectacular things that Wizards of the Coast did with 4th Edition is that they made it even friendlier towards miniature combat. They made a great move when they combined their game to become very friendly with miniature combat. It brings the best of both worlds to a pen and paper roleplaying game. You get the versatility of a system that can either use miniatures or not use them. This benefits both the players and the company.

Secondly, they made a conscious move towards creating a game that was more similar to MMORPGs. One of the points that has been made is that pen and paper roleplaying games are a "dying" hobby. While I wouldn't necessarily agree with that statement 100%, it is definitely a difficult time for many businesses out there. With regards to even the best RPG games creators, this is no exception. Many hobby stores are having a difficult time staying afloat. Interest seems to be waning in the hobby. A new RPG needs to be able to attract new players. Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition does just that. With its unique rules system and setup the game is somewhat familiar to players that have grown up playing MMORPGs online.

Third, the product quality that Wizards of the Coast is putting out is fantastic. They are putting out great products very frequently. This keeps the hardcore fans satisfied each month with new products. However, these products are not required for anyone to play just the basic game. On top of that, they've committed to coming out with a new setting each year. In the year 2010, the next setting that they will support is Dark Sun. This is very much a fan-favorite pick and shows that the game designers are in tune (at least a little bit) with their fan-base.

There are a lot of older gamers that are really stuck in the past. They don't see D&D 4e as an evolution in gaming. In fact, many of them see it as the anti-Christ. That's okay in my opinion. That is their right to like the previous edition of a game. I personally prefer Star Wars D6 over the D20 or Saga Edition. However, D&D 4e has only grown in popularity since its release. It is causing more people to get into the hobby, not driving them away from it.

Overall, I think Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition is one of the best RPG games available right now, if not the best RPG game for the pen and paper genre. It mixes a familiar game and setting with solid miniature combat rules, fantastic looking products, and a huge fan-base from which to pull players from. If you are a gamer and haven't tried out D&D 4e then you're probably living under a rock or have made up your mind that you hate the game.

Samuel Van Der Wall writes about the best RPG games in pen and paper, console, and PC games. Whether they are good RPG games or bad RPG games, he'll give his honest opinion on them in reviews and articles about this topic.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_Van_Der_Wall

Gates of Andaron

2009-07-29T23:26:00.000-07:00

The two nations of Iberia have splintered into two factions: Derion and Valorian. Fight for disputed territory, besiege castles, and wage all-out warfare against your enemies – or in their defense. Duel your opponent and celebrate your victory. If the battlefield is not your calling, administer the conquered territories… The fate of the Gates of Andaron lies in your hands.

FEATURES

Exciting quests presented by fully rendered audiovisual NPCs provide hours of fun
Instanced dungeons for parties and guilds with risky challenges and rewards await you
Fight directly against other players in daily wars of conquests and receive rewards for your success
Strategic battles between player groups using a real-time strategic command system

Game Site : http://www.gatesofandaron.com

RPG Game Pack - Windows

2009-06-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

Product Description
Over 100 hours of gameplay await you in this timeless RPG compilation. GAME SUMMARY: Gothic 3-You are the nameless hero in Gothic 3, faced with a desperate situation: The orcs have conquered Myrtana and enslaved the human Barbarians of the icy north and a few fearless rebels are the only resistance. You can support their efforts or join the orcish occupation forces ¿ but whatever you do ¿ the destiny of Myrtana is yours to forge! Immerse yourself in the most realistic and fascinating game world possible: Myrtana awakens! Liberation or annihilation ¿ the fate of the world of Gothic lies in your hands! Huge living and breathing environment reacting to the player¿s actions and creating endless choices of interaction. Dungeon Lords-Journey through an enchanted land of ancient castles and dungeons as you engage in real-time tactical combat action against a wide variety of deadly foes. You are the chosen hero, armed with mighty weapons and powerful magic. Non-stop game action and exploration, with something unexpected around every corner! Nail-biting intense real-time 3D combat action featuring an arsenal of attack and defense combo moves. Challenge yourself in the thrilling Single Player Campaign and Multiplayer game sessions.

Product Features

* Gothic 3 -
* Immerse yourself in the most realistic and fascinating game world possible as Myrtana awakens!
* Liberation or annihilation - the fate of the world of Gothic lies in your hands!
* Huge living and breathing environment reacting to the player's actions and creating endless choices of interaction.
* Dungeon Lords -

List Price:	$39.99
Price:	$3.45
You Save:	$36.54 (91%)

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9Dragons Overview

2009-03-02T22:37:00.000-08:00

Developer: Acclaim
Genre: 3D Fantasy
Status: Released
Platforms: PC
Game site: http://9dragons.acclaim.com/entry.jsp?ref=G9-A009-C01-0608

9Dragons is a free to play authentic martial arts MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) from Acclaim Games. Join a martial arts clan and learn their unique fighting style. Develop your skills to become a master of kung fu and fight against rival clans and monsters.

9Dragons is the first authentic martial arts massively multiplayer online role-playing game. That means you shall not be alone in The Land — you shall journey alongside many friends, enemies, teachers and fellow disciples. The Land itself will be constantly evolving around you as new cities, quests, and special events are continuously added and updated. To help you immerse yourself in the true spirit of The Land, our design team has paid meticulous attention to the period authenticity of all the available cities, weapons, moves, costumes and locations used in 9Dragons. With this in mind, we invite you to venture forth

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Valkyrie Sky

2009-03-02T21:43:00.000-08:00

Valkyrie Sky Overview :

Developer: Valkyrie Sky Global
Genre: 3D MMO FPS
Status: Released
Platforms: Windows
Game site: http://www.valkyriesky.net

Valkyrie Sky is a combination of Arcade Shooting and RPG.
This game is constructed as Online RPG to suit the modern trend and maximize the tension and immersion by keeping the basic structures of up sc roll shooting games which made a big hit in the 80's.

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Latest News - Angels Online: Wheel the Fortune Event

2008-07-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

Angels Online (http://ao.igg.com/), an IGG (http://www.igg.com) game, prides itself on its cute characters, rich storylines, and abundance of fancy items. It has attracted many players since it was first released as a closed beta.

In order to return our players' continued support, the AO team will be holding a brand new event called Wheel the Fortune in the AO item mall to offer all players a chance to obtain great rewards.

Wheel the Fortune has been popular with most players because they stand to win superior weapons and equipment and leapfrog the competition and months of hard-work in an instant!

For more information about this event visit: http://ao.igg.com/prize/prize_swf.php

Final Fantasy XIII battle system

2007-03-07T02:49:00.000-08:00

Final Fantasy XIII

Toshirou Tsuchida is a name some may recognize from games such as Front Mission and Final Fantasy X. Now Final Fantasy XIII can be added to the list. Tsuchida has taken charge of the upcoming game's battle system and discussed it in the latest issue of Ge-maga magazine.

When recruited to design the battle system for Final Fantasy X, Tsuchida originally suggested doing away with the traditional ATB (Active Time Battle) system, a mainstay of the Final Fantasy series. In light of this, it is perhaps not surprising that when Square Enix wanted to create an entirely new battle system for Final Fantasy XIII they turned to Tsuchida. Square Enix wanted the game to have a fast-paced battle system much like those in action games, but one which would also allow players to input commands.

In order to merge these requirements - the need for fast-paced action and for player control over these actions - the way commands are inputted has been changed. The ATB system remains intact: time still flows based on player commands; however attacks can be blended together e.g. the player has the option of selecting a slash attack or, instead, a charge-slash combination. The new animation system will then blend player selections into a seamless motion.

The encounter system, too, will be something never before seen in the Final Fantasy series. Though it will not be the traditional random encounter system and will more closely resemble that of Final Fantasy XII, Tsuchida points out that encounters in Final Fantasy XIII will not be as seamless as those of its predecessor. Instead, the game will feature a new way of taking on enemies and players will have some ability to modify battle conditions.

Tsuchida was less than forthcoming when it came to details of the battle system, including the question of how much control players would have of other characters in the party, though he did refer to a "party battle system." He also stressed the need for the party members to remain in-character during battles, which, based on his comments, seems to be a key point. Similarly, he desires to have battles be more tied in to the game's setting and story, so enemies will be more appropriate for the setting. Tsuchida's example describes a scene in which players are moving through an area where military forces are present. The enemies encounters in this areas will match the setting, and characters may even be shot at. Enemies will also change based on the setting and some enemies will not be the typical "monsters" or "fiends" of past games. Foes, whether monsters or not, will also have much more well-defined characters than in past games. Yoshinori Kitase, producer of Final Fantasy XIII, pointed out that, for example, enemy battalions will be made up of individual soldiers, each with his own history and character.

There was also some discussion of the role of the "White Engine" being used to develop Final Fantasy XIII. Developed by Square Enix itself, the engine was originally meant to appear on PlayStation 2 games, but was then moved up for PlayStation 3 development. Its key role is its ability to render animated sequences in real-time, thus allowing for the merging of fast-paced and command-based battles discussed by Tsuchida. Kitase suggested that even though Square Enix has recently licenced the Unreal Engine 3, the White Engine may still be used for future game

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ERAGON

2007-01-24T04:10:00.000-08:00

Eragon is the latest book/movie/video game tie-in from Sierra Games. Based on the upcoming film that was, in turn, a novel by Christopher Paolini (which he impressively started writing at the age of 15), Eragon follows the titular character as he fights through hordes of soldiers and enlists the help of his comrades and Saphira, his dragon, to remove the evil king, Galbatorix, from power and restore the dragon riders to their former glory. While the subject matter that the game draws upon has a huge cult following, the game is yet another unfortunate example of poor gameplay that expects the license to carry the product. Eragon is a derivative and repetitive game that will not likely be much fun to anyone, even those who live and breathe by Paolini’s novels.
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Final Fantasy VII Dirge of Cerberus

2006-12-13T20:30:00.000-08:00

The ultimate masterpiece within the Square Enix roster is an oft-disputed subject, but many RPGamers would have the world believe that Final Fantasy VII deserves that title. Square Enix has definitely picked up on this bounteous fanbase and, consequently, has released numerous spin-offs. Interestingly, none of these titles are "traditional" RPGs. While some, such as Final Fantasy VII: Before Crisis, maintain rather close ties with their RPG roots, others decidedly abandon them. Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus belongs to this latter school, as it follows the enigmatic Vincent Valentine through an action-oriented, almost first-person shooter adventure."Dirge of Cerberus is no RPG. Players can expect plenty of first-person shooting mixed with third-person exploration and combat."Dirge of Cerberus opens with a cinema that immediately follows the closing of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children -- although this fact is only barely evident -- meaning the tale is set several years after the cataclysmic finale of Final Fantasy VII. Following the cinema's conclusion, the game jumps forward a bit and shows players a scene they have come to expect from Final Fantasy titles: an army of evildoers. This particular army, called Deep Ground, is attacking the town of Kalm, where Vincent is visiting per the request of his friend and former comrade Reeve. It appears, much to Vincent's chagrin, that the army was sent there to capture him.As was previously mentioned, Dirge of Cerberus is no RPG. Players can expect plenty of first-person shooting mixed with third-person exploration and combat; that is one can either whack enemies with third-person combo attacks or gun them down from a distance via the game's first-person mode. Originally somewhat of a chore, toggling between the two modes now requires only a tap of the R3 button. Obviously, with the gun-toting Vincent as the main character, the first-person action takes the leading role as far as gameplay goes.From the start Vincent has only his Cerberus firearm, but he possesses the ability to equip three entirely customizable guns at once; obviously, more weapons can be found later in the game. All of them can be upgraded, too, via the acquisition of parts and the iconic "materia." The parts include such items as scopes or barrels, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. A long barrel, for example, will increment the strength of a shot while simultaneously slowing down both Vincent's movement and recoil recovery time. Materia will be used in a way almost identical to that in Final Fantasy VII; that is to say, if a player equips a fire materia, Vincent will gain the ability to shoot fire magic at his foes. Of course, Vincent's guns and magic are assigned to two separate buttons. Also, in initial playthroughs many complained of the difficult movement that accompanied the first-person mode. Square Enix reacted to these sentiments and, quite thankfully, included for the player the ability to adjust viewing speed and orientation to one's preference, along with an adjustable lock-on feature.Furthermore, for the hardcore FPS crowd, Dirge of Cerberus supports both a keyboard and mouse. Players use the left mouse button to initially toggle between third and first-person, then to fire; the right button is used to toggle out of first-person and engage in melee combat. The scroll wheel has two functions: pressing it opens up the configuration menu, and spinning it toggles between armaments. Of course, all this can be altered in the configuration menu, as can the buttons on the Dual Shock.Of course, there is more to Dirge of Cerberus than just shooting. Vincent comes fully equipped with his signature transformation Limit Breaks. The most widly recognized, at least at this stage in the process, is the Galian Beast, whose abilities have been significantly augmented for the North American version -- his transformation time is greater, his attack radius is wider, and his fireballs (counted now as magic instead of bullets) can penetrate shields. Additionally, the resell value of Limits has been reduced from 3000 Gil to 850, and the number of Limit stocks Vincent can keep has been lowered from 5 to 3.For gameplay variety, Square Enix has included several levels wherein the players will control not Vincent, but Cait Sith. Since he lacks any real weapon (sorry, no megaphones this time around), Cait's levels will play more as a stealth game than an action game. Of course, Cait will still have a temporary knockout punch available to him should he find himself in a problematic situation.Fear not, though, for some RPG elements have indeed been included, albeit small ones. Basically, at the end of each stage Vincent can opt to upgrade his stats (hit points, strength, etc.) or receive money, which is used to purchase items or level up weaponry.While this style of gameplay may initially come as a shock to many RPGamers -- especially those in FPSless Japan -- there are reasons to play. The main one, of course, is the franchise the title is based upon. Although Vincent, Yuffie, and Cait Sith play the largest parts in Dirge of Cerberus, the entire cast of Final Fantasy VII will indeed return, be their parts large or small. There's plenty of angsty story to fill in the gaps between the action sequences, too, and it's all presented with full voice acting and often accompanied by Advent Children-esque CG.For those gamers out there that simply wish to witness the story, there is always the option of playing at the normal difficulty setting, instead of hard. The Japanese build included an easy mode as well, but it was removed for North America and exchanged for an extra-hard mode that players unlock once beating the game. This mode allows the player to journey through some 40 different sub-missions, where new weapons, items, and other goodies will be made available. Additionally, the North American version will include more bonus material -- along with the alternate ending and Event Viewer, there will be art and character model galleries and a jukebox music feature.Finally, Dirge of Cerberus also originally included an online multiplayer mode, but this feature was recently shut down in Japan. There has been no news on such a feature for North America, so players can most probably expect only an offline version.Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus will be available in North America on August 15, 2006 at a suggested retail price of $49.99 USD. This game has been rated Teen by the ESRB.

Xenosaga Episode 3

2006-12-13T20:28:00.000-08:00

The Xeno series of games, renowned for their epic, space operatic presentation and cataclysmic storyline, experienced a somewhat jarring piece of drama last year when Soraya Saga -- one of the games' integral event writers -- announced that she was no longer involved with the franchise. Indeed, this occurence was powerful enough to turn an intended hexalogy into a trilogy, for better or worse. Now, in less than a month, North American RPGamers will be able to pick up the third and final installment in the Xeno saga, Xenosaga: Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra.Opening one year after the conclusion of Xenosaga: Episode II: Jenseits von Gut und Boese, Also Sprach Zarathustra delineates a scene most would label as undesirable -- the Zohar is somewhere it ought not be; there is much talk about halting the development of KOS-MOS, thanks to the creation of the crazy-powerful T-elos; and Shion has left Vector to team up with the underground society "Scientia" in an effort to investigate her former employer and resolve the interstellar conflagration. Furthermore, the aformentioned T-elos's egotistic narcissim, and the fact that her power is three times that of KOS-MOS's, has led her to believe that KOS-MOS is entirely obsolete. She now actively hunts down the anthropomorphic weapon, a fact that obviously bodes ill for the blue-haired heroine. All this and more will be presented through 8+ hours of cutscenes -- three hours of which occur in roughly the first four of gameplay. So get a squishy chair or something."The game's greatest changes adjustments...are found within the battle scheme, which should basically be viewed as a fusion of the previous two systems."That all sounds pretty nifty, but it probably doesn't make a lot of sense if you haven't played the series' previous entries, right? No worries; Monolith has included a highly detailed synopsis of the preceeding story points in the "Xeno Bible," which also provides definitions for all the title's terminology, a bio on each character, and a background for every location and weapon located in the game.Another addition is the 60 level, multi-hour, puzzle-based mini-game, originally given the fitting sorbiquet "Xenosaga Puzzle" but now called "Geomix," which players can activate at any time. Players aren't limited to trudging through only what the game provides, either; a built-in map editor allows for the conception of custom stages to help keep things interesting.Dungeon exploration has been slightly recalibrated as well, for players now have the ability lay an enemy-stunning trap at anytime, anywhere -- but only one is allowed on-screen at a time, so some strategy will be required in that regard.The game's greatest changes, though, are found within the battle scheme, which should basically be viewed as a fusion of the previous two systems. To expound, the Zone has been ditched and replaced by the long established concept of hit-or-miss; the Boost gauge still allows for players to gain ground throughout their turns; and the double combos of Jenseits von Gut und Boese have been traded out for a system of character-specific special maneuvers. These maneuvers, available in three levels, which making a total of 21 per character, offer more than eye-candy -- KOS-MOS's Level 1 G-Shot, for example, gives players an experience bonus when used to defeat an enemy. Charging these maneuvers is simple, too, because just about every attack, either from or against an enemy, charges the meter. Then there are the Break meters which, when filled, completely immobilize a target for two turns. Of course, certain characters, such as MOMO, come with attacks aimed specifically at filling an enemy's Break meter; likewise, many enemies will try to do the same to the player. Basic strikes, Techs, and Ethers also make their triumphal return, along with individual upgrade trees. All this, obviously, makes character progression a highly independent and player-controlled experience.As for the manner in which battles play out, the system is fairly basic. Players will encounter an enemy -- visible on-screen before the fight -- and the battle will begin. Turns are determined by the characters' agility stats, and when the player's turn rolls around, eight options are made available. One can either attack, use an item, guard or evade, escape, use Ether, swap out a character, or perform a deathblow if the Boost gauge is charged. Again, fairly standard stuff. Also, a number of attacks fall into one of five catagories: physical, beam, lightning, ice, or fire. Think of these as elements; some enemies are weak to certain types, other are immune, and others will absorb them for a health bonus. Characters can fall under the influence of a number of status effects as well, which include the aformentioned Break; Poison, which rips away 20 percent of a character's health each turn; Damage Reverberation, which inflicts upon the character the same amount of damage they deal; Heat, which forces a character to endure the focus of all their opponents; and a number of stat-reducing or technique-disabling afflictions.The ES machines are also in for another go at it, with three old, er, faces -- Dinah, Asher, and Zebulun -- and one new one included for the mech fan in each of us. The newbie, which belongs to Jin, is a sword-weilding nightmare called Reuben that can cleave through pretty much anything. Speaking of cleaving, the ES machines' attacks come in multiple flavors: some are weak but require little energy, while others are explosive but demand quite a bit of power. This, obviously, forces players to decide between using numerous weak attacks or a few outrageous ones. Although energy is a limited resource, it will slowly regenerate as the battle progresses. Furthermore, if players launch a certain number of successive strikes, they will trigger a co-op or ambush attack, resulting in free strikes on the enemy. There are also Anima gauges for the ES machines, similar to the Boost gauges for regular characters. However, the Anima of an ES must be awakened before a special attack can be used, and the recovery time between gauge refuelings is much greater.A point that will most probably bring a smile to many a face is the reintroduction of shops and money, as well as the return of Segment File sidequests, which are now available in an even greater abundance, the ES machines, and the "swimsuit hunts". Miyuki and Canaan are also fully playable from the start, along with a number of other previously unusable characters. Monolith will even reward faithful fans that haven't been so memory-greedy as to delete their previous save data, because a number of bonuses for Shion will be rewarded to those who upload their Jenseits von Gut und Boese save files.Xenosaga: Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra, the grand finale of the Xeno series, will release in North America on August 29, 2006. It has a suggest retail price of $49.99 USD and an ESRB rating of Teen. Happy Gnosis-busting.

Tales Of Legendia

2006-12-13T20:27:00.000-08:00

The fog is currently swirling around the small boat that Senel and Shirley have been calling home recently. They have been adrift for days, have run out of food, and are at the end of their strength. Just as all hope appears to be lost, an island emerges through the fog at high speed and catches their little boat in giant waves.When the pair wakes up, they are on the shore of the island, which is actually a very large boat named Legacy. This boat is a relic of an ancient civilization, as well as home to a group of villains in search of Shirley, or Merines, as they call her. Merines, as it turns out, is a legendary being capable of controlling this giant ship using only her mind. The villains located here are in search of this being for their own sinister plans. It's up to Senel and friends to uncover the secrets of this ship and to save Shirley.Players take control of quite a few different characters throughout their journies. Senel Coolidge is a young martial artist and master of iron eres. Shirley Fennes is Senel's younger sister that always is trying to protect him. Will Raynard is the first person Senel and Shirley meet on the Legacy. Chloe Valens is a member of a once noble family of knights and strives to uphold the name. Norma Beatty is a young treasure hunter that Senel meets on his journey. Moses is a leader of a group of bandits on the Legacy that continue to make trouble. Jay is a young boy who tends to disappear and reappear without notice. Grune has lost her memory, though she is probably the most fearless member of this motley crew.The battle system of Tales of Legendia, unlike Tales of Symphonia, is more similar to older games in the series. Players control characters on a 2D battle screen and is in real-time, allowing for button combinations to create different combos and chain attacks. Players may also assign eres moves to characters that act as a sort of special attack.Players may switch between each of the eight playable characters to control whomever they would like. Chloe is the sword user in the group and would be more akin to past main characters in other Tales games. Jay uses breakdance-like ninja arts while Will and Norma utilize magic attacks that would be useful for strategic players. Moses is good at long distances using his spears and Senel is, as mentioned before, an iron eres master and a martial artist.Senel also has an added ability of being able to pick up enemies and throw them. Players may choose to pick up stunned enemies and slam them into the ground. As he levels up, Senel will eventually be able to pick up larger enemies to throw. When an enemy is on the ground, players may not damage them, creating what could potentially be awkward pauses in battles.Similar to the Unison bar from Symphonia, the developers have added a Climax bar into the battle system. The bar fills each time the player attacks or is attacked and once the bar is full, a tap of the L1 button activates Climax mode. During this, enemies are stopped in their tracks and players can attack unabated. Tapping L1 again will trigger a finishing move that will cause extra damage."They have been adrift for days, have run out of food, and are at the end of their strength."The world of Legendia might seem like it'd be small considering it's actually just a large ship, however the area is about the same size as in past Tales games. There are quite a few different cities for players to visit and the story to save Shirley and discover the secrets of this ship will take them from one side to the next. Players will soon find themselves trying to find out who created this ship that resembles an island and what its hidden powers entail.The story actually has two parts that the player must traverse to receive a better understanding of the events that take place. After clearing the main scenario, players may then travel through player quests that delve into each of their backgrounds to give a better understanding of them. Players should be able to complete the entire game in about 75 hours.There are two types of eres available for players to use in the game. Iron eres is used by fighters such as Senel and Chloe and utilizes energy inside of the body. Crystal eres is used by characters such as Will and Norma and utitlizes energy outside of the body. The energy particles that are used by eres are called Nerifes, and are found all around the world. There are also high-level skills known as special eres that players will discover in the second half of the game.Defeated enemies in Legendia sometimes drop eres stones, which make up the basis of magic in the game. It's not just enough to know the spell that the character may use, but players must also have enough eres stones to use them. Stocking up on these stones during journeys is something that would probably be recommended.Side quests in this game take a slightly different form than in most roleplaying games. These quests may not be completed until after the main scenario has been completed. For example, using the sorceror's scanner to hunt rare monsters that might look familiar to the player if they're able to locate them. There are also quizzes and arena battles to take place in for players that might be interested in such tasks.The soundtrack for Tales of Legendia was created by Go Shiina and includes orchestration by The New Japan Philharmonic. Also, players will notice some vocal tracks sung in Relares, a language that is found in the world of Legendia and was created solely for it.Namco has scheduled the game for a February 7 release in North America, only five months after the title shipped in Japan. This title will be available at the suggested retail of $49.99 and has been rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB. Gamers looking to pre-order this title at GameStop or EB Games will receive an artbook as an incentive.

Suikoden Tactics

2006-12-13T20:26:00.003-08:00

It was bound to happen some day. With six Suikoden titles already behind them, Konami's think tank of game designers finally decided that it was time to work outside of the box and take the series in a new direction. The end result of this decision was Suikoden Tactics (also known as Rhapsodia), a strategy-based RPG that acts as a companion piece to the previously released Suikoden IV which hit North American retailers in early January.The story in Suikoden Tactics takes place before, during, and after the events in Suikoden IV, so players of the previous game my find themselves getting a whole new perspective on mysteries and conflicts that they thought they had already solved. For those who haven't touched Suikoden IV, this latest story can also be viewed as a standalone about a young, swashbuckling hero named Kyril and his own great quest to save the world. As players advance his character through the game, they will find themselves quickly embroiled in two major conflicts. One is that a terrible horde of monsters is attacking the Island Nations, and no one knows why. The other is a group of magically powerful weapons called Rune Cannons that threaten peace and the very existence of life. Just like in all the previous Suikoden games, Kyril's only hope in saving the day lies in calling together a band of fated warriors to aid him in battle, but if players are looking to hook up with the 108 Stars of Destiny, they're going to find themselves being a little bit disappointed.Stepping out of the traditional RPG realm and into the strategy-based one is not the only new change that Konami introduced to the Suikoden series with Suikoden Tactics. The 108 Stars of Destiny theme has decidedly been left in the dust for a smaller, yet still highly generous cast of 50+ characters, and each will have their own unique personality, background, and way of being recruited. A group of four friends--Andarac, Seneca, Corselia, and Yohn--will act as Kyril's primary allies throughout the game, so if a player finds himself or herself being particularly lousy at finding recruits, solace can be taken in the fact that at least these four will be around to lend a hand.Combat in Suikoden Tactics plays out across isometric 3D grids utilizing a basic turn-based system. A Balloon Icon system shows players whether or not they are able to attack an enemy within a certain area and likewise shows whether or not they are about to be attacked themselves. The status conditions of all the characters on the field will be viewable at the top of the screen by way of a special icon menu, and when planning out their turns, players are be able to see the exact amount of damage done and status effects inflicted on the enemy for each of their attacks before implementing them.As they progress through the game, players will encounter more than twenty different battle scenarios spread out across a series of richly detailed environments. Certain squares on the battlefield will also have elemental (fire, wind, earth, etc...) attributes granted to them that can both aid or hamper their occupants, depending upon whether or not their alignment is weakly or strongly balanced with that of the square's. However, regardless of whether a character is on an advantageous square or not, "Combination Attacks" that utitlize the powers of multiple characters all at once will prove a great way to unleash some devastating damage on the enemy.Aside from the main quest, Suikoden Tactics will also have an array of mini-games, hidden modes, special bosses, rare items, and side quests to keep players entertained. Currently, the game is scheduled for a November 8 release. With a name already familiar to RPG enthusiasts worldwide, Konami's latest addition to the Suikoden Series will definitely turn heads, but will it turn hearts as well?

Final Fantasy XII

2006-12-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

Four years of waiting, several delays, and quite a few changes once hindered Final Fantasy XII from reaching North America, but now the game has been flung to the public to be picked apart and devoured. It has a difficult heritage to uphold, as it will be subjected to far more scrutiny than a non-Final Fantasy title. However, Final Fantasy XII seems to be the most carefully constructed title in the series to date, and it may be strong enough to withstand the pressure.Final Fantasy XII is a story of war, betrayal, rebellion, and freedom -- both political and personal. Set in the fantastic world of Ivalice, Final Fantasy XII is the story of Vaan -- a thieving boy who dreams of becoming a sky pirate -- and Ashe -- a strong-willed princess seeking to claim her throne. Commoner and noble unite in a singular cause of saving the kingdom of Dalmasca from the belligerent Archadian Empire. As the story unfolds, one will question who can be trusted, but loyalties and ulterior motives gradually become clear.Thematically, Final Fantasy XII most resembles Final Fantasy Tactics. It has all the political intrigue and none of the mangled localization. The game borrows elements from other individual Final Fantasy titles, such as the races of Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, along with the traditional series features. Although it does not seem like an extremely original game, it blends the series' tradition with elements that are new to Final Fantasy to create a unique and fresh approach to the main series.Ashe, Penelo, and Fran teach an unfortunate wolf the real meaning of "hits like a girl."The biggest change to the series' tradition is with the battle system. The Active Time system persists, but the separate battlefield notion is gone; instead, the entire world of Ivalice is the battlefield. Combat feels rather loose at first, but once the player has adjusted to the system, it feels quite comfortable, even as it drives one toward efficiency in dispatching swarming monsters. Enemies roam about freely, fighting each other or working together. The player controls whichever character he or she chooses as the leader, and the rest may be controlled by AI commands called Gambits. The player may enter commands, or set Gambits to dictate the characters' actions, whether they are simple or complex. For example, Gambits can make a support character keep fresh Protect, Shell, and Haste on the party, or order a strong melee character to run around smashing everything. They can also make a character cast a negative status spell until the monster is afflicted, then change to another tactic. Not everything can be easily set up, however; a good steal Gambit is hard to find. Gambits can be turned off, but the demands of battle may prove to be too much for some.Character development in Final Fantasy XII depends on the License board, a massive chessboard of skills, spells, augments, and even weapons and armor. Players acquire squares on the License board by spending points accumulated from defeating enemies, and each purchase grants access to adjacent squares. By being choosy with Licenses, players can create specialized characters such as a bow-wielding black mage or a paladin who can both endure and unleash damage.Ivalice is a wonderful world filled with vast beauty, deep treachery, and soaring airships. Lots of airships.Unsurprisingly, Final Fantasy XII has outstanding visuals. But this beauty goes beyond quality in-game graphics and lengthy full-motion video. Each town, dungeon, and field is carefully crafted and lavishly detailed. One may enjoy a spectacular view of a city from a balcony or marvel at hulking, rusted airship wreckage embedded in the ground of the wilderness. Towns are vibrant and filled with life; numerous NPCs fill the streets and shops, each one caught up in his or her activities. Vendors and patrons motion to each other, as if haggling over prices. In a small group of people, one person gestures as he or she tells a story, and the others suddenly burst into laughter. Dockworkers rush around a port, even bumping Vaan aside, as they carry bags and boxes on their shoulders. Dungeons are shadowy, and fields have changing weather.The sound of Final Fantasy XII is nearly perfect. Hitoshi Sakimoto's musical score is bold, epic, and magical; the songs fill the environments, strongly resonating with each one. The remixes of classic Final Fantasy songs are largely on-target, giving fresh sound to familiar tunes. "Kiss Me Goodbye" does not fit in very well as an ending theme for the story, but the song is still lovely. Unfortunately, the rest of the sounds are not as high in quality. While sound effects are quite marvelous -- the harsh clang of a sword hitting a shield, the refreshing rush of a Cure spell -- the voice acting recording is substandard at times. It sounds as though a few of the actors were too close to the microphones or the equipment was faulty. At least the voice acting itself is quite good, with characters of different nations having distinctive accents.Though the game may be completed in 55 hours or so, the sidequests can extend the timer to 100 hours or more. There are plenty of Marks, or notorious monsters, to hunt, Espers to defeat and acquire, and remote locations to explore. Generally, the game is quite easy, aside from adjusting to the battle system, gathering loot to sell for gil, and overcoming some very challenging bosses. Final Fantasy XII forces players to work hard, think creatively, and even struggle with hardships -- a welcome challenge in the series. Even with the new battle system, the interface is still easy to handle, aside from the flashy limit breaks that require twitchy, fast fingers and a dash of luck to be remotely effective.This may be the best Final Fantasy to date. There are a few technical flaws, but the rest of the game overshadows them. Some players may find the new battle system heretical and offensive, but those who accept it will become immersed in the hectic, almost realistic battles. Regardless of whether one likes the battle system, the character designs, or music, Final Fantasy XII is still a solid, well-crafted title.