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A delay for Dokapon
Dokapon Journey is just so cute that it couldn't even make its forthcoming release date. At least, that's our first guess. They might have just been low on insults. Whatever the reason, the Japanese release for both the DS title and the Wii's Dokapon Kingdom has been bumped to late next month. We would moan and complain about the possibility of the delay affecting the US release, but -- oh, that's right. There isn't one. Only the Wii game is scheduled for localization.Bitter? Us? Maybe. If you need us, we'll be scribbling "Buttface" on all Atlus materials until we get an announcement about the DS game. We won't even mind if it takes a while to get here. See? We're nice. %Gallery-20125%
We keep dreaming of Knights in the Nightmare
Knights in the Nightmare is one of the more confusing games being released this year, but the latest trailer (which Sting ever-so-kindly dubbed in English) reveals a lot about the story and gameplay. The tie-in factor is something called "the wisp," which attacks enemies. You control the wisp with your stylus to kill baddies, and also issue orders to your allies in this real-time strategy game.Some things still remain unexplained -- for example, what are enemy slots and the enemy matrix elements that we're told to master? That doesn't change the fact that this title looks more and more interesting every time new media pops up, though. We've already added it to our possible imports list, which might hurt our wallets when the game releases in September. Gallery: Knights in the Nightmare [Via GoNintendo]
Baroque sale won't leave you broke
It's hard enough to convince gamers to buy a roguelike, but asking them to pay $39.99 for a dressed-up remake of a Sega Saturn dungeon crawl? Fuhgeddaboudit!If pricing has been that barrier keeping you from exploring Baroque's Neuro Tower dungeons, look to Amazon for a deal-of-the-day discount. The online retailer has slashed $14 off Baroque, bringing it down to $25.99. That makes this Sting-developed, Atlus-published title eligible for free shipping!Make sure to read our review for Baroque first to get an idea of what you're jumping into! It's not a game for everyone!%Gallery-11716%[Via CAG]
Knights in the Nightmare is just as confusing in videos
Sting's Knights in the Nightmare has managed to catch our attention with its pretty visuals and unique-sounding gameplay, which you can get a small taste of in the video above. Even so, we still don't feel like we've grasped how exactly this "turn-based RTS" works.If you thought the screens needed more explanation, the gameplay footage embedded after the break might just confuse you even more. Knights in the Nightmare screams chaos like no other, although we find it all rather intriguing. Assuming you can get the gameplay figured out, the language barrier won't even be too much of an issue for those hoping to import. The heapings of English voices and texts in the two videos should soothe the fears of all the non-Japanese speaking Sting lovers out there. You'll have to wait a few months, though, since the release date was pushed back to September 25th.Check past the break to get a taste of the baffling gameplay. Gallery: Knights in the Nightmare
Atlus hates friendship, announces Dokapon Kingdom
Last week, Atlus sent out a cryptic, humorous "apology" letter from "Player 4," asking forgiveness in advance for humiliating other players in some unannounced game. As it turns out, the teaser was for a localized version of Sting's Dokapon Kingdom, announced today for Wii and PS2. Dokapon Kingdom is a four-player board game/RPG that emphasizes shifting alliances and betrayals between its players, being dubbed a "friendship-destroying party game."The Dokapon Kingdom website features wallpaper, a description of the game's story (in which monsters attack and heroes vie to save the kingdom and earn money from the king), and introductions to three of Dokapon's venal characters.Dokapon is scheduled for an October 14th release, for $40. After the post break, we've got a trailer and a larger version of the image used in the boxart.%Gallery-20121%
Atlus apologizes in advance for an upcoming game
Atlus sent out this cryptic note of apology in an email yesterday. The note, from "Player 4," asks Player 1's forgiveness for infractions ranging from "Changing your name to Buttface," "Convincing players 2 and 3 to gang up on you," and "Sending a Robo-Assassin to terminate you." The image in the email links out to a teaser page that promises a new game announcement this Tuesday at 10 AM Pacific.NeoGAF's duckroll suspects that the game in question is Sting's Dokapon Journey, which just happens to be a multiplayer RPG-style game that includes name-changing options. It could also be the Wii Dokapon Kingdom game. Our guess? Both. We'd like to apologize for hiding the full apology card after the post break, and then compelling you to click. It was either that or putting a really tall image on the front page and apologizing for that.%Gallery-20125%
Knights in a Box with Yggdra Union
Sting is offering a special limited-edition package of their DS strategy game Knights in the Nightmare that honors the game's history, and (sort of) serves fans of the Dept. Heaven series to which the game belongs. We say "sort of" because the Knights in the Nightmare Dept. Heaven Episodes Series Special Pack includes the new DS game (Episode IV in the Dept. Heaven series) and the Game Boy Advance Yggdra Union (Episode II). There has yet to be an Episode III, and Episode I (Riviera: the Promised Land) isn't included.If you're a fan of Sting's series of tactical RPGs, chances are you have Yggdra Union. And if you're willing to pay 8,190 yen ($79) for a new DS strategy game, you're already a fan. Which means a bunch of Japanese collectors are going to end up with extra copies of Yggdra Union that will never come out of the package.
Knights in the What is Going on Here
It has been over a month since we heard anything new on Knights in the Nightmare, Sting's "turn-based RTS", but the Riviera developer has made up for that lull with official site updates, new screenshots, and a release date for Japan -- July 17, 2008.As with Sting's last handheld strategy title, Yggdra Union, these images are packed with gorgeous sprites and tons of visual data and effects. We have no idea what is going on in half of these screens. What does "touch the box to be defeated enemy" even mean? Hit the gallery below for more beautiful but confusing grabs from the game.%Gallery-21499%[Via NeoGAF]
Wii Fanboy Review: Baroque
I'll be frank -- when I first started Baroque, I hated it. Being thrown into such a strange and ugly world with the barest of backstories was completely disorienting. I had no idea where to go or what to do, and didn't have the luxury of taking my time to explore because my vitality meter was plummeting from the get-go. One character (known as the Coffin Man) kept yelling "goddamnit!" at me, and when I finally got to the place where I was supposed to be, it wasn't long before I died.If I hadn't been reviewing this game, I probably would have quit right there. But, since it's (clearly) considered bad form to write a review after only twenty minutes of playtime, I trekked on -- and I'm extremely glad that I did. Once I delved deeper into the world of Baroque, I realized that first impressions aren't always the best impressions.Now that you've kindly read through my personal aside, let's move on to the actual review, shall we?%Gallery-11716%
Europe gets Baroque
We're impressed with Rising Star, who have been bringing a lot of niche games to Europe. The most recent one on the publisher's list is Baroque, which will be hitting the continent on June 27th. We're sure that Rising Star is hoping that the game will sell decently, but after seeing how it was received in Japan, the company might be a little worried. Of course, it can't do any worse than that ... can it?In any case, we're sure that at least some of you folks in Europe will be glad to get the chance to play Sting's hardcore roguelike on your Wiis. Gallery: Baroque [Via press release]
Take a trip to Dokapon Kingdom
Usually our irrational love for hybrid games is sated on the DS, but not the Wii. In the instance of Dokapon Kingdom, though, gamers (with Japanese or modded Wiis, at least) can experience a quirky mix on Nintendo's non-portable system, too.So, what particular combination does Dokapon consist of, you ask? Simply enough, this title is a board-game meets RPG. From what we can tell, the Wii version is actually a port of the PS2 game that was released last November, but it's probably safe for us to assume that most of you never played it the first time around. Should you be interested, the game releases in Japan this June. If you don't have a Wii capable of playing Japanese games and are worried that Datel's Freeloader might not work, though, you can look into the non-port DS version of Dokapon instead.In any case, we've made a gallery of Dokapon Kingdom for your viewing pleasure (aren't we just the greatest?), and also posted some Famitsu screens that can be seen beyond the break.%Gallery-20121%
Dokapon Journey! Make Friends and Fight and View Screenshots!
Though Dokapon's title immediately invites comparisons to similarly named releases, like Patapon, Pokemon, Goemon, or any other Something-mon games, this board-game/RPG hybrid has little to do with pocket monsters, rhythm tactics, or mystical ninjas. As you can see from the the new batch of screenshots we've dropped into the gallery below, however, Dokapon's art direction is just as cute as its superficial contemporaries.Developer Sting has launched its official Japanese site for Dokapon Journey! Nakayoku Kenkashite (Make Friends and Fight!), posting previews of the game's RPG-styled combat, board-game movement, and adorable sprites. Will this have a chance in hell of ever seeing an English localization? Maybe! Atlus had no argument against publishing Sting's two previous handheld SRPGs, Riviera and Yggdra Union, in the states. Dokapon Journey! could be next on the list!Expect Dokapon Journey! to ship to stores in Japan this June 27th.See also: Take a trip to Dokapon Kingdom (Wii)%Gallery-20125%[Via GAME Watch]
The best board game/RPG hybrid you've never heard of
Dokapon games seem to alternate between two different genres: dungeon crawlers mixed with Pokemon-style combat, like the Dokapon Game Boy Advance game released in the U.S., and board games mixed with Pokemon-style combat, like this new DS game, Dokapon Journey! Nakayoku Kenkashite (Make Friends and Fight!)Players compete against each other to defeat monsters around the town and earn money. They can also fight one another and steal their junk in what has been hilariously labeled a "friendship-destroying game."New additions for the DS game include extremely silly minigame-based money-earning methods, including scratch-off lottery tickets and some kind of exercycle game.
Additions to your Baroque flipbook
We've gotten a peek at so many screens from Baroque that we're ready to hijack someone's posh color printer and start making our own little flipbook. We hear that if you turn the pages at just the right speed, you can see Creepy Bastards and Emo Mummies in full motion. Sure, we could pick up the manga, but we're shooting for creativity here. Try not to stifle the process.In other news, we have seen a gushing floodwater of media from this title. Go ahead -- check it out in the updated gallery.%Gallery-11716%[Via press release]
New Baroque screens blazing forth
Atlus doesn't want you to forget about Baroque, and we don't, either. Clichés like amnesia and world-saving aside, the dark RPG sounds -- and looks -- really fascinating, and we can only hope it delivers. For now, however, we're delivering up some new screenshots, courtesy of Atlus, showing off some battle footage, as well as the support character, the Baroquemonger. Despite his onscreen discussion about customers, he does not ask, "What are you buying?" We're sad.We've added a ton of character images for you to check out, too. The artistic design for Baroque is really setting a high standard -- we can't wait to see the final product!%Gallery-11716%[Via press release]
Anything but a bad dream with Knights in the Nightmare
IGN has a rather lengthy preview up for Knights in the Nightmare, a "turn-based RTS" coming from Sting. Up until we saw this preview, we were all in the same boat, left to ogle a lone scan for the game.Sting's "real-time RTS" isn't so much an contradiction in and of itself, but is actually near-real-time. Players will handle defending and attacking enemy units through the touch-screen, allowing for groups of up to 40 units to be controlled at once. With a clock going continuously for each turn, players will have to act fast in order to make sure their actions are finished before the time runs out. Once the clock hits zero, you can rearm your squad and get ready for the next encounter.The game isn't all fighting, though, as you'll be able to affect the stats of your units through upgrades. What kind of upgrades available depend on the unit's equipment and alignment. Units may also build up their "rage" in standby mode, which will fill a charge gauge that can unleash special attacks.As for the rest of the preview, there are a few plot points that have been revealed, but for the sake of keeping this as spoiler free as possible, we won't go into detail. For that information, hit up the "Read" link below.
A few Baroque screens to darken your day
Baroque may have experienced a few delays, but it's still on the way, as evidenced by the screens in our spiffy new gallery. Or perhaps we should say new-ish, because we've seen a couple of them before in blurry, muddied forms, and now they're crisp, clean, and much more attractive. We're happy to be reminded of this title, and happier still that it was pushed back so as not to compete with Super Smash Bros. Brawl; after all, we want more RPGs on the Wii, not fewer, and if Baroque does well, it might help developers to realize that there are more than just casual gamers among the Wii's audience.%Gallery-11716%[Via press release]
Four new PSN games for Japan
It took forever to translate the names of these new Japanese PSN games, but we finally got them. Recently hitting the PlayStation Network over in the land of the rising sun are four PlayStation classics: Ide Yosuke no Mahjong Kyoshitsu, Baroque Syndrome, Wai Wai Bowling, and Um Jammer Lammy.Three out of the four games were not released outside Japan; the only one that was seen in the west was Um Jammer Lammy -- a rhythm game spin-off of PaRappa the Rapper. The Ide Yosuke game is yet another Mahjong game, while Wai Wai Bowling is, um, bowling. Lastly, Baroque Syndrome is a prequel to the PS1 RPG Baroque (which is also available on the PSN, at the same time ported to the PS2).While there's really only one or two titles that are worth getting on that list, it still is quite annoying that the Japanese PS1 game library is way better than ours. When will our library start flooding with more and more PS1 games?
Knights in the Nightmare of a really complicated game
Sting's new RPG Knights in the Nightmare has a lot going on -- so much that we might need some incorporeal wisp to inhabit us and play the game in our stead. Part of the issue, however, is Sting's confusing description of the game. It follows the same flow as most tactical RPGs, but it's described as a five-stage process. Each round of combat begins with some sort of setup -- a scene that relates the battle to the story. Then the "tactics" phase begins and you arrange your soldiers strategically. After that, the battle begins, and you control your knights in a turn-based system. When the battle has ended, another story scene plays. Then a "setup" phase in which you manage and level up your characters. In addition to using items, you can transfer abilities between characters via a "Transoul" system.
Knights in the Nightmare: Sting's new 'turn-based RTS'
No, we don't know what that means either, but according to the GAFfers who posted the latest scans from Famitsu, that's the genre for Sting's Knights in the Nightmare. You may know Sting as the developers (three times over) of Baroque, soon to be released on the Wii by Atlus. This new game is much less creepy, and much more cutesy.Knights in the Nightmare puts the player into the ephemeral, energy-based shoes of a "wisp" who gives commands to knights in battle by occupying them. You'll have to "program" the knights to protect the wisp from from attacking demons. According to the quick translation, the "turn-based real-time" aspect means that there are offensive and defensive turns that run in real-time, which we can only assume means something like the Active Time Battle system. Sting is planning to release this strategy game some time this year. The full scan is after the break!
