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Folklore producer admits his favorite battle, US/UK demo plans
In a recent interview with PSU, Folklore producer Eric Fong talked not only about some interesting details regarding the game, but also gave his own personal take on design choices as well as his favorite moments. It's an interesting read, so we'll summarize the best points below for fun. The two characters, Ellen and Keats, view the same events from different perspectives, but eventually end up working together towards the same resolution. We're sort of sad to hear this -- we wanted branching storylines, but so long as it wraps up well, we won't complain. Fong's favorite battle is against the Fleshrum. We've no idea what that means, but now when we play the game and get to that boss battle, we'll squeal in delight knowing it's going to be a lot of fun. When asked about the use of Blu-ray, Fong declared proudly: "Blu-ray allows us to provide a high-def audio and video experience without cutting corners or inconveniencing users with disc swaps." In addition to those funky points, Fong tells us that there is a US and UK version of the demo planned to hit the PS Store, but he didn't say whether it would be before or after the October 9th release of the game. Either way, Folklore is one of the PS Fanboy's most anticipated games, so we're ready to grab us some souls.[Thanks, Justin!]
Hands-on: Folklore
The English language version of Folklore (known as FolksSoul elsewhere) is getting prepared for its upcoming US release. For those unfamiliar, the game is an intriguing adventure game where a girl named Ellen must travel to the netherworld to find out the truth behind her mother's mysterious disappearance. Ellen will be able to collect the spirits (known as Id) from the creatures in the game (Folks). When a Folk is weakened, its Id becomes exposed, allowing players to shake the Sixaxis controller and capture the Folk's soul. Once an Id is captured, it can be used in battle as a summon for Ellen to master.Each Folk can be upgraded by capturing more Id from each monster, or by accomplishing certain tasks. Each creature has five levels to attain, and as the beast continues to grow stronger, Ellen's abilities with the Folk will increase as well. For example, with one creature, Ellen might be able to do a two-hit combo, but when fully leveled up, she'll be able to do a five-hit combo.Ellen isn't the only one to traverse through the Faery World: a reporter by the name of Keats is also an integral part of the story. Unlike Ellen, Keats is like a brawler of sorts. His journey provides a unique look on the events of the story. Between each chapter, you'll be able to change characters, and the producer notes that you will not get the complete story if you only play as one character. Although Keats is usually one step behind Ellen, they're both working towards the same resolution.%Gallery-3196%
Joystiq impressions: Folklore (PS3)
The English language version of Folklore (known as FolksSoul elsewhere) is getting prepared for its upcoming US release. For those unfamiliar, the game is an intriguing adventure game where a girl named Ellen must travel to the netherworld to find out the truth behind her mother's mysterious disappearance. Ellen will be able to collect the spirits (known as Id) from the creatures in the game (Folks). When a Folk is weakened, its Id becomes exposed, allowing players to shake the Sixaxis controller and capture the Folk's soul. Once an Id is captured, it can be used in battle as a summon for Ellen to master.Each Folk can be upgraded by capturing more Id from each monster, or by accomplishing certain tasks. Each creature has five levels to attain, and as the beast continues to grow stronger, Ellen's abilities with the Folk will increase as well. For example, with one creature, Ellen might be able to do a two-hit combo, but when fully leveled up, she'll be able to do a five-hit combo.Ellen isn't the only one to traverse through the Faery World: a reporter by the name of Keats is also an integral part of the story. Unlike Ellen, Keats is like a brawler of sorts. His journey provides a unique look on the events of the story. Between each chapter, you'll be able to change characters, and the producer notes that you will not get the complete story if you only play as one character. Although Keats is usually one step behind Ellen, they're both working towards the same resolution.%Gallery-3178%
PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 25
PSP Fanboy offers the latest and greatest movie and game trailers, formatted for the PSP in this new weekly feature. Check it out every Saturday. PSP owners can download files wirelessly via m.pspfanboy.com.Instructions: Save all movie and thumbnail files to the VIDEO folder. These high resolution 480x272 videos require firmware 3.30 or above. (Note: OE custom firmware will also play these videos.)New for PSP: Get selected videos delivered automatically to your PSP via our new RSS feed. Folklore [PS3]Download MP4 (24.2MB) | Download JPG The following videos are featured after the break: Call of Duty 4 (PS3, 360), Lair (PS3), Mercenaries 2 (PS3, 360), Motorstorm (PS3), Super Stardust HD (PS3), Transformers: The Game (All)
New Folklore screens and video, new grabbing technique, new everything! [update 1]
Sure, the game launched in Japan to rather confusing reception (supposedly selling only 7,000 copies its first day, but proclaimed sold out in numerous locations), but we still love to see new information surface about the game. We don't know if it's a system-seller, but we do know the game is sporting some incredibly stylish art direction and positively stunning visuals. A third movie was released, detailing a new level, new summons, and a new way to grab the soul of boss monsters. If you just can't get enough of this game, feel free to look over the recently updated official website for some more art, screenshots, monsters, and game details. If you can read Japanese, of course.[Update: fixed the first week supposition to first day. In that light, not all too shabby, really.]
Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of June 18th
It's that time again. Time to look over the coming week's offerings and either laugh or cry. Or both. The releases for this week are as follows. US Games No new releases EU Games Armoured Core 4 Asian Games FolksSoul Def Jam Icon Interesting stuff. The Japanese have had two potentially excellent games released in the last two weeks. While we know that Ninja Gaiden Sigma includes English text and voices, we're not yet certain about FolksSoul. We have our suspicions and will keep you informed as soon as we find out. Don't forget, your PS3 just loves playing games from any country. Seriously. Loves it. So if there's something on the list you fancy, then don't be put off by its region. Release dates are in a constant flux, so be sure to call ahead before wasting a trip to the shops.
Would you like some Folklore art and such?
Also known as FolksSoul in Japan, Game Republic's PS3 exclusive title Folklore has been jamming the internet full of hype-cookies ever since an impressive demo was released on the Japanese PS Store. Following that path, Game Republic has updated its site to give you a glimpse of some game artwork, demons, and of course, Ellen's many different outfits.Since the site is in Japanese, we'll help you out and guide you along. After you hit the main page, the brackets appearing under Ellen that say [6/07] are the new additions. The first link takes you to the character pages, where you can scope out some pretty neat outfits for the main heroine, or a couple demo shots of Keats. The second link takes you to some character and location art -- all of which is worth a gander. The third link sends you to demon artwork, showing you some of the things you'll encounter in your quest. We're very excited for this game and every piece of art just shows how much effort was put into this. They really want to erase Genji from our minds.
This week's crazy Japanese ads
The Japanese sure have crazy advertisements. Our favorite this week? The ad for FolksSoul (aka Folklore). The newly released demo highlights the title's unique SIXAXIS controls, where shaking your control can suck the soul out of a monster. But, what happens when that concept becomes too real? Check out this commercial, and a strange Ninja Gaiden Sigma ad, after the cut.
Get Folklore demo from Japan's PlayStation Store
If you're looking to put your PlayStation 3 to good use this weekend, may we suggest starting up a Japanese PlayStation Network account and downloading the Japanese demo of FolksSoul (aka: Folklore), the action-RPG that first popped up on our radar at Sony's recent Gamer's Day event. Though the game isn't due to be released in the States until the fall, the Japanese release is scheduled for later this month and PS3 Fanboy's already taken the demo for a spin -- twice in fact. They don't hesitate to recommend we do the same. Any 'stiqers try it? %Gallery-3178%
New Folklore demo is great - let us tell you why
Those lucky Japanese will be getting their release of FolksSoul (FolkLore, to us English speakers) in three weeks. Because of this, the Japanese PlayStation store has been updated with a new demo of the game. We've played it. Twice. You should too. Click here if you need help setting up a Japanese PSN account. Got it all set up, and started downloading? Then read on after the jump to find out exactly what you'll be playing once that gigabyte demo lands on your PS3.
FolksSoul demo coming this Friday
Make a Japanese PSN account. Now. If you haven't, you're going to continue missing out on all the free demos the Japanese gamer crowd get. It's not tough -- sign up for one in your own language, make notes about what information goes on each page, then make a Japanese one. Why are we insisting you do this? So you can test drive FolksSoul along with us this Friday when a demo hits the Japanese PS Store.Also known as Folklore in the US, the game had kept a very low key until Gamer's Day, when a new trailer and multiple screens made an entrance and blew a lot of people away. Sure, it's absolutely a Japanese game -- lacking muscular men with big shiny guns, but it does look incredibly fun to play. So that's why we're telling you about the demo. It's rumored to be over an entire gigabyte, so make sure you've got something else to do. Try it out, then decide if it's for you or not!
PSP Fanboy Theatre: Volume 21
PSP Fanboy offers the latest and greatest movie and game trailers, formatted for the PSP in this new weekly feature. Check it out every Saturday. PSP owners can download files wirelessly via m.pspfanboy.com.Instructions: Save all movie and thumbnail files to the VIDEO folder. These high resolution 480x272 videos require firmware 3.30 or above. (Note: OE custom firmware will also play these videos.)New for PSP: Get selected videos delivered automatically to your PSP via our new RSS feed. Pirates of the Caribbean 3Download MP4 (17.3MB) | Download JPG The following videos are featured after the break: Folklore (PS3), The Kingdom, Paris Je T'aime, The Solomon Brothers.
New Folklore trailer continues to say "pah!" to drab colors
Not only does the above trailer give us a fantastic glimpse into the story behind the most mysterious Monster Kingdom Folkssoul Folklore, but it gives us an insane Japanese intro song! The trailer is long -- a bit over three and a half minutes, but it shows off lots of footage we've never seen.Personally, I'm not sold on the voice acting yet, but it could be a lot worse. What I am sold on, however, are the graphics, gameplay, and artistic direction the game is taking. Some of the other Netherworld-like creatures speaking to the main characters seem like designs ripped right out of the minds of Jim Henson and Neil Gaiman -- imagine a mix between the classic Labyrinth and the oddly satisfying Mirrormask. I'm pumped. This game is a must buy, if you're into the Japanese side of gaming.[Thanks a lot, UltimaMasamune!]
Folklore journeys from the Netherworld to PlayStation 3
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation_3/Folklore_dark_fantasy_adventure_announced_for_PS3'; Calm down folks. We said Folklore, not folk music. Arlo Guthrie's Jam Sessions is not a new exclusive title on the PlayStation 3. Not yet, anyhow.Sony surprised us by announcing this title yesterday, and it's been flying completely under our radar. Developed by Tokyo's Game Republic under game creator Yoshiki Okamoto, executive producer of Onimusha, Devil May Cry and Resident Evil, Folklore is a dark fantasy adventure inspired by Western fairy tales.You can play the game as occult journalist Keats, or folk story enthusiast Ellen, both of whom have specific backstories, and extremely different methods of attack. As you journey into the fantastic Netherworld to solve a murder, you encounter over 100 different fantasy creatures. Although they were inspired by Western fairy tales, each one has been originally designed for this came.Adding a twist with the Sixaxis controller is the ability to literally tear the powers out of the creatures you defeat by flicking your wrists. Your own skills develop with each power you collect, and the game promises over 40 hours of gameplay with seven different realms to explore. %Gallery-3178%
Folklore offers a podcast
Folklore.org is the great site created by original Macintosh team member Andy Hertzfeld. It's a priceless collection of stories from the very early days at Apple as told by the Macintosh team. Derek Warren has launched Macintosh Folkore Radio, in which he reads stories of "...how the Macintosh came to be." You can subscribe to the podcast in iTunes here.[Via Cult of Mac]
