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DS releases for the week of February 11th [update]
Of course the biggest news this week for the U.S. is Professor Layton and the Curious Village. Not only was it a hit in Japan, but it's a Nintendo-published game, and that always means news. Many of you are probably getting your Layt on right now. In case you aren't into Layton or are just curious about the rest of the North American releases, the list also contains, well, one other game: an interesting dungeon hack-and-slash that recalls Hudson's Turbografx-16 days. The release list is somewhat more populous in other regions. Europe in particular is getting treated to some worthy releases (found after the break). Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts Professor Layton and the Curious Village Barnyard Blast: Swine of the Night [Update: Amazon says that Barnyard Blast is out this week as well!]
Slowly expand your Revenant Wings army
You can already pick up tiny Vaan, of Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, at the Square Enix store, and soon, you'll be able to add others -- at least, with the Japanese sets. The next round of figures, which includes Ashe and Basch, hits Japan in April, but whether or not they'll make it to the U.S. remains to be seen. The first Japanese trading arts set included Penelo, and she's missing from the non-import version (though available for import, if you need your perky braid fix ... and if you can track her down). If you're really determined to start recreating your crew, you can also shoot for Balthier, who's available in the Final Fantasy Tactics Japanese set -- but the figures that ship with the Japanese sets are randomly selected, so keep your fingers crossed.
Critics' top 10: 2007 vs. kittens
2007 is almost over, and the end of the year brings joyous tidings of List Season. It's the time for taking stock of the last 12 months of gaming, and trying to make sense of it by putting things in numerical order. Join DS Fanboy for our best-ofs, worst-ofs, and other categories-ofs. When determining the best games of the year, it's a good idea to go at it from different angles: by referencing our own history of reviews, obviously, but we must also look to the wider journalism community. Our reviews, while insightful and entertaining, were not comprehensive. We just didn't play everything. In addition, one reviewer's opinion is simply not sufficient data to make definitive conclusions, even if that one reviewer is me. So we turned to everyone else in aggregate to see what they thought of this year's releases. We've gathered the top 10 DS games of 2007 according to their Metacritic ranking. Keep in mind that many of these games tied in Metascore, meaning that if we were to rank the games, there would be fewer than ten positions. It's still sequential, but with a lot of tie scores. We then carefully applied science to these games in order to convert the Metacritic numbers into a rubric we feel more accurately conveys the quality of these games. Head past the post break for Metacritic's top ten DS games of 2007, graded on a scale from adorable kitten video to unbelievably adorable kitten video.
Readers' Choice: The best of 2007
It was a good year for games with titles beginning with the letter "P" -- at least, according to you guys. When asked, you didn't hesitate to rattle off some of your favorite titles of the year, from Phantom Hourglass to Puzzle Quest, and now the time has come to crown the winner. Just to make things interesting, we're allowing you to choose more than one game -- and to vote more than once (though only once per day). So get in there and duke it out, DS fans. There's a title at stake.Tomorrow, we'll take a look at some of the year's other great games, those selections that didn't receive quite as much attention when we asked you to name your favorites, but all the same, games that are deserving of a little extra time in the spotlight. What's your pick for the best game of 2007? Bleach: Blade of Fate Contra 4 Etrian Odyssey Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Picross Pokemon Diamond/Pearl Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Blue Dragon DS nothing to do with cards after all
Remember those vicious rumors regarding Blue Dragon DS being a card-based RPG? Well, looks like they may have been wide of the mark, as a new scan gleaned from the pages of Japanese publication Shonen Jump suggests otherwise. Instead, the magazine describes the game as a "real-time simulation RPG," a label that brings to mind the recently released Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings. Whatever the hell Mistwalker's game is -- and the screens do suggest a kind of real-time strategy/RPG hybrid -- there's certainly no mention of cards. Pleasingly, that March 2008 Japanese release date seems to have held, which surely means we'll have more information on this in the not-too-distant future. Go past the break for the Shonen Jump scan.
Five gifts that PAL gamers should import this Christmas
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Five_gifts_that_PAL_gamers_should_import_this_Christmas'; Gaming sites are inundated with holiday gift guides at the end of the year, listing the best and most popular games that everyone pretty much already has (or knows about). Well, we're not going in for that this year. Our gift guide will help you find the best gifts in categories the other sites won't cover -- because we just made them up. Nintendo's indifference towards PAL regions is infamous, but there's arguably less room for complaining when it comes to the DS. See, the DS is (and we do not use this phrase lightly) an importer's dream. It doesn't faff around with region-specific software, there's a huge library of diverse and interesting NTSC-only titles, and the games themselves are cheap. As in, cheaper than they'll be when they arrive in the UK/Europe/Australia six months from now. Frankly, we can't think of a good reason for you not to import. Which brings us to our latest anti-guide, featuring the five DS-related gifts that PAL regions won't be seeing until 2008 at the earliest -- if ever. All deserve to be imported without hesitation, so read on fellow PAL folk, and prep that credit card!
DS Fanswag: End of the Year Blowout!
It's been a good year, but sadly, like all those other years, it must come to an end. Before we roll out the red carpet for 2008, however, we wanted to give 2007 the send-off it deserves -- and what better way to do that than by offering up huge prize packs for our loyal readers? All you have to do is leave a comment on this very post telling us which DS model(s) you own, between now and December 26. The giveaway closes that night at 11:59 p.m. EST, and we'll announce the winners, chosen in a random drawing, on December 27. You may only enter once per day, and as usual, entries are limited to legal U.S. residents age 18 and older. Please check the official rules for any other questions.But enough of the details -- let's get to the prize packages!DS Fanboy's End of Year Fanswag BlowoutGrand Prize Limited Edition Gold DS Lite + The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (bundle) ($149.99) Nintendo DS headset ($9.99) Custom Robo ($29.99) Dementium ($29.99) Drawn to Life ($29.99) Fullmetal Alchemist: Trading Card Game ($19.99) John Deere: Harvest in the Heartland ($29.99) Mega Man ZX ($29.99) Pokémon Diamond ($34.99) The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night (GBA) ($19.99) Geometry Wars: Galaxies swag Dementium skin Pokémon Diamond stylus Cruise on past the break to see the rest of the prizes!
Revenant Wings flying to PAL regions in February
Two weeks after the game launched stateside, Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings will be hitting PAL territories on February 15th.Despite the odd difficulty spike and occasionally patchy visuals, the game left a favorable impression on us when we reviewed it last week. Not for the first time, we'd strongly advise importing to those outside the U.S. and Japan.[Via press release]
DS Fanboy Review: Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
It's easy to assume that the folks at Square Enix aren't doing anything new these days -- after all, usually when we discuss SE games, we're talking about remakes, or one of the many handheld strategy games they've put out this year. Don't let the repetition fool you, though; even when they're treading familiar ground, Square Enix is working to innovate with all of their games.With Final Fantasy XII, Square Enix took a step outside the box. While the system for improving your characters in the long-running RPG series often differs, from materia to the sphere grid, the basic gameplay has long been at least similar. In the latest installment, however, Square Enix lifted influences from the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI and did away with series staples, like the battle screen, and the result was a Final Fantasy like none before it. Revenant Wings, as a sequel, changes things up as well -- and the result is a fusion of RPG and RTS that, while odd at first, feels completely natural even before the short tutorial is finished.
Metareview: Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Square Enix has been big on the strategy games this year, and Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings is the latest to get the treatment. Taking the spin-off of an RPG in a tactical direction might have been seen as a risk for anyone else, but this isn't just any company -- when they do something, they tend to do it well, and if the scores are any indication, Revenant Wings is just the latest of their greats.1UP -- 80%: It's an RPG. It's strategy. It's something entirely new that is like both of these things, yet not, and the result is a little lightweight. "Lightweight doesn't mean worthless, though. Thanks to some tough (but never unreasonably frustrating) battles, a healthy dose of fan service, and a quality localization, Revenant Wings is a thoroughly enjoyable hybrid. It's hardly the second coming of Final Fantasy XII ... but somehow manages to turn that into a strength anyway."GameZone -- 85%: Risky, but successful. " ... the gamble has ultimately paid off, as the game is a great direction for the series, and fits well on the Nintendo DS. While the controls themselves are a little hard to get used to, the game is a deep and complex handheld game that will keep Final Fantasy fanatics entertained for a long while."GameBrink -- 94%: They checked out the Japanese import, and found a solid, beautiful game. "On the graphics side of things, Square Enix has once again shown what beautiful graphics the DS is capable of with some very beautifully rendered 3D backgrounds from the lush green forests to the bright red heated volcanic caverns. The fun thing is you even get to customise your airship base a little by placing monuments!"%Gallery-4739%
DS releases for the week of November 19th
What's a gamer to do this week, with both Mario Party DS and Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings on the table? Sometimes, we just have to make the tough decisions ... and it looks like Great Auntie Ethel might not be getting a present this year during the holidays.What, you didn't expect us to choose between the games, did you? Baby Pals CSI: Dark Motives Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Godzilla Unleashed John Deere: Harvest in the Heartland Mario Party DS Petz: Hamsterz Life 2 Strawberry Shortcake: The Four Seasons Cake
Revenant Wings soars closer to release
With the release of Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings only a month away, it's safe to say that we're getting excited. Any game that combines our love for all things Final Fantasy with our love of strategy is just aces, and it doesn't hurt when it looks this good. Just how good does it look? You can find out in our updated gallery -- we've added a metric ton of screenshots, as well as some droolworthy artwork that includes franchise favorites Shiva and Ifrit, as well as the principal cast. [Via press release]%Gallery-4739%
Friday Video: Revenant Wings soars out of E3
Screenshot offerings were slim on the Revenant Wings front when it came to E3 media, but this trailer makes up for it, despite the lower quality. Obviously, we're Final Fantasy fans -- could you tell from the flood of FF-themed posts that occasionally inundates the site? -- but this game, along with Ring of Fates, is looking pretty good, even when we try not to be biased.Hey, speaking of, where was Ring of Fates? We could use some new media on that as well ....
Square Enix release dates: RoF due next spring?!
Square Enix spent the morning revealing its lineup of "fresh new faces and timeless classics" that the company plans to exhibit this week at E3, attaching US release dates to its upcoming titles: Heroes of Mana - August 14 Front Mission - October 23 Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker - November 6 Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings - November 20 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates - Spring 2008 We're jumping on our beds with glee over the fact that we'll be receiving Front Mission so early after the localization was announced, but several disappointing details failed to escape our attention -- Final Fantasy Tactics A2: The Sealed Grimoire, It's a Wonderful World, FFIV DS, and Dragon Quest IX's absence; and Ring of Fates' distant date. The multiplayer ARPG and its DS Lite bundle are scheduled to hit Japan this August 23rd. [Via NeoGAF]
DS Daily: Two limited editions enter ...
Ring of Fates vs. Revenant Wings. There can be only one!Oh, we can talk about the games, too. If you want.
Revenant Wings and DQM: Joker get tentative NA dates
If you've been dying to know when Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings would be soaring onto your DS, then take heart: we at least have a release window now. The game is scheduled to make its way to North American gamers this winter. Considering it was just released in Japan, the wait isn't terribly long. Plenty of time to run through Final Fantasy XII again, if you're so inclined! It's been a much longer wait for Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker, which is also slated for later this year, though the game was released last December in Japan. Square Enix wants all our money this holiday season, and with games like these, they just might get it. [Via press release]
Revenant Wings, FF Tactics remake dated for North America
Square Enix has announced release dates for Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings for Nintendo DS and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Lion War for Sony PSP.The Lion War is coming October 2007, according to a press release sent out today. As an added bonus to European gamers, the title will be released simultaneously in both North American and PAL territories. Enhancements from the PlayStation One original include anime-styled cinematics, two character classes (Onion Knight and Dark Knight), the inclusion of FFXII's Balthier, and wireless multiplayer modes, both cooperative and versus.Revenant Wings, which is sitting at the top of the Japanese sales charts after three weeks of availability, is coming this winter to North America.[Via PSP Fanboy]
Revenant Wings 2: Revenant Harder may be coming
We doubt that's going to be the real title, but we never could avoid sequel humor. Apparently, director Motomu Toriyama enjoyed making Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings so much that he'd like to develop a sequel.This is by no means a confirmation or an announcement or any of the other things it'll be labeled on message boards. It's just a casual statement. But a Revenant Wings sequel seems likely, since the sales have been pretty good, and, most importantly, we're talking about Square Enix, who has kind of a thing for sequels.
DS releases for the week of April 23rd
As you may have heard, there's some serious Pokémon action this week, and the sheer magnitude of that spotlight has somewhat dwarfed everything else -- but fear not, there are other games for those who aren't Poké-fans. Note that we're not promising they're good ... we're just saying that they are, in fact, games. We're curious how SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters turns out, definitely, since we've heard mixed reports. Classic Action: Devilish Pokemon Diamond Pokemon Pearl SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters DS Check after the jump to see what's out this week in the rest of the world. Japanese-speaking importers, take note: there is some serious hotness releasing in Japan this week, along with 367 other games.
The Revenant Wings videos just keep coming
Have we not shown enough enthusiasm for Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings? Does Square Enix think that we're not writhing with anticipation over this game? We thought it was pretty clear that we'll be there on day one with our faces pressed to the door, but apparently someone thinks that we still need to be lured in with a bevy of gorgeous videos. Maybe we should play hard to get more often.Jeux France has the latest embedded on their site, as well as some new screens. Go check it out, because every day is a good day for a little Final Fantasy.
