Dream Games: Skies of Arcadia
Dream Games is a new weekly column where we explore a game we'd love to see on the PSP. Feel free to check in, and comment, every week.
Today's edition of Dream Games is more about an idea than a specific game in general. What I want to see is a new, original RPG for the PSP that isn't afraid to stray away from the norm: a game that's refreshingly innovative in a genre inundated with clones. While Monster Kingdom is a fun RPG, there's still more that can be done. Which brings us to ...
Skies of Arcadia
We need the equivalent of Skies of Arcadia from the Dreamcast era. This wasn't a port, a remake, or a sequel: it was a completely new world in a new franchise that explored a pretty fascinating theme: sky pirates. It featured top-notch audio, and a visually appealing world that strayed far from the futuristic environments standardized by Final Fantasy VII in the 32-bit era.
Why PSP?
Our system needs a genre-defining RPG. The original Skies of Arcadia made use of Dreamcast's quirkier accessories, like the VMU. An original PSP RPG would have to take advantage of the system's unique capabilities. Maybe it could use the GPS in a creative Kojima-inspired way? Or, let you import pictures from your Memory Stick (or PSP camera) to use for your in-game avatar? Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure would be a must as well.
Is it possible?
Clearly, companies are interested in making RPGs for our system: but will we ever get a game as beloved as Skies of Arcadia? Hopefully. Or, maybe Sega could give PSP owners a sequel? Pretty please!
