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Japanese retailer spills beans on Tactical Guild
Since it was fleetingly mentioned over two months ago, Success Corp.'s mid-priced strategy RPG Tactical Guide has flown so far under our radar as to be almost undetectable. Fortunately, it didn't elude Siliconera's sharp-eyed Spencer Yip, who spotted the game on the site of retailer Rakuten, where it has been listed for an Japanese release on August 28th.Said listing proved to be a decent source of fresh information on the title, revealing that the game would offer a choice of three heroines, each of whom has a "good" and "normal" ending, 71 quests (and several other sub-quests to complete), a job system (of which little is so far known), and the screens you see in the gallery below.Will it come to the west? We wouldn't bank on it, but at least there's plenty more SRPG goodness planned for not-Japan.%Gallery-24373%
Maybe one has to be immature to enjoy mature content
That title is a quote from the latest entry over at Tobold's blog, concerning the success of Age of Conan. He believes the combat system itself is one of the main draws of the game. While appearing somewhat similar to other MMOs, the combat system seems to make more sense in regards to its speed, intensity and overall enjoyment.Some other points he makes include the content of the game, and the enemies you encounter. LotRO made good use of its license in regards to the mobs, zones and quests, but Tobold feels that in regards to AoC, most of the content could be from any other random fantasy game. In addition to this (hence the interesting title) is how Tobold doesn't believe the mature rating drives sales too much, despite the fact that "Age of Conan nudity" is the top search phrase that leads people to his blog. Hey, that's how we found it!
MMO 2.0 and the next generation of online gaming
Geoff at MMOCrunch wrote an interesting piece on the 'next gen' in online gaming. Specifically, why there is no next gen. He comments on some of the recent successes in the MMO space, namely the subscription numbers of the Big Five MMO's and the smooth release of Age of Conan. He also hails EVE Online's break from typical MMO archetypes as a kind of successful deviance, but one that hasn't truly changed how we play. The forward momentum in the online gaming industry has brought a great deal of fanfare but little true innovation, Geoff asserts. Sure, some MMO's are successful, but it seems they're all a re-hash of what's been done before. A little more polish, a few more features... he laments the fact that "there seems to be very little that is truly pushing the genre towards the next step." He looks to how the web has changed, improved exponentially, while online gaming hasn't kept pace.
North American Tornado confirmed
It looks like GameFly was right once again.We recently reported that the renter/retailer put up a listing for Tornado, which was assumed to be a localized version of the Japanese game sharing the same name. Now according to a blurb in most recent issue of Nintendo Power, the Katamari-like game is indeed confirmed to pop up in North America, although no timeline details were given.Nintendo Power also reveals that Tornado will include some microphone blowing elements, which worries us a little bit. As long as the game doesn't overdo it, though, we can't help but think that this will be a nice addition to the DS library.[Via GoNintendo]%Gallery-25101%
Genmu no Tou: enter the dungeon tentatively
Success's Genmu no Tou to Tsurugi no Okite has gotten us interested in dungeon RPGs like no other, due almost entirely to its visuals. While most dungeon games are bland, Genmu's default look can be likened to a black light poster. The alternate visual scheme, which is retro black-and-white line art, is also amazing. You can play a little trial of the game, if you'd like the full Genmu no Tou experience. The arrow keys move you around, A is your main action button, B cancels, X confirms attacks, and Y turns the map on. You may not be able to read the text, but you can listen to the fantastic music and brute-force your way through some bats. If you like the way it looks, check out a bunch of screens in our gallery. %Gallery-21932% [Via Insert Credit; screens via Inside Games]
DS Fanboy Review: Drone Tactics
It was hard not to look forward to Drone Tactics. Not only are strategy games easy to love on the DS, but anything with giant stompy robots that are also bugs is an attention-grabber. But that's a tough area to break into; the SRPGs in the DS library are just so darned good that any newcomer needs to have something special on offer. Are the insects in Drone Tactics enough of a draw?The answer is, unfortunately, a little more complicated than a simple "yes." At times, Drone Tactics really shines, but it takes a little time and effort to get there.%Gallery-14982%
Metareview: Drone Tactics
Drone Tactics launched a few days ago in the U.S., introducing a novel combination of insects and strategy to our DSes. The game already appeared as one of our suggested alternatives to Advance Wars: Days of Ruin, so how does it stack up against Intelligent Systems' gem? Look! Some people answered that question for us:Game Informer -- 70%: Game Informer's Adam Biessener served up a second opinion on Joe Juba's review, remarking how Atlus' game isn't what it first appears to be: "At first glance, this seems to be yet another piece of kid-friendly shovelware, but there's actually a decent game hiding under the sub-Saturday morning cartoon presentation. The RPG elements in this grid-based battler are thin but well thought out, and the combat itself features several reasonably balanced rock-paper-scissors relationships that make for interesting tactical decisions."Nintendo Power -- 70%: Nintendo Power follows a similar tune, snickering at the story, but praising the core gameplay: "The result is a storyline that will elicit nothing but eye-rolls and nasal snorts from anyone over 12, but the game at the core of Drone Tactics is surprisingly well-made." [June 2008, p.87 -- excerpt found at Metacritic]Games Radar -- 80%: Meanwhile, Games Radar gave Drone Tactics its best review to date, singling out the title's lifespan and customization options as the best bits: "Another high point is the high level of customization the game allows. You choose the paint jobs and decorative emblems. You choose the bugs that go into each battle. You decide the weapons and armor that each bug carries into battle. You even get to put together your own deck of preferred battle cards. The further you go in the story mode, the more your insect army starts to feel uniquely "yours." [...] It'll take you 40-plus hours to finish the story mode. Longer if you try to complete all of the optional badlands missions. That's 40-plus hours worth of awesome battles and addictive customizing."%Gallery-14982%
Tornado might blow over to North America
The comparisons between Tornado and Katamari Damacy are extremely evident, but there's one major difference: Katamari Damacy games are available outside of Japan, whereas Success's title has yet to accomplish that.In fact, Tornado hasn't even released in Japan yet. It was originally scheduled to come out last year, but later become delayed indefinitely. Oddly enough, though, GameFly has a listing for a DS game called Tornado. Can it be the same game? Perhaps -- we hope so, at least. We wouldn't mind having a portable Katamari-like game release in North America for our favorite handheld.Whatever this game is, it's being published by Ignition Entertainment and has a GameFly release date of September '08.[Via Siliconera]
Windy x Windam uses the standard fighting game storyline
Except for the (necessarily) strange aspect ratio, Ninja Studio's Windy x Windam seems as straightforward a 2D fighter as you could get. Completely 2D sprites and backgrounds depict a fighting tournament in which each participant enters for their own personal reasons.Thanks to character profiles, we know a bit more about a few of the non-Izuna characters: Ashley sells flowers on the street (and is fighting for equality in the world or something). Kiriku is a self-taught swordsman who enters the fighting tournament to help his injured sister. Stein is a robot who wants freedom and searches for his creator. (Izuna, of course, is in the tournament for money.)It's a good thing story doesn't matter in fighting games, because Windy x Windam is turning out to be a pastiche of fighting game cliches so far. Oh, maybe it's parody! %Gallery-21768%
More Izuna 2 art than you can shake your fist at
Her games haven't broken any sales records, but everyone seems to like Izuna anyway ... which may go far in explaining why we've seen tons of artwork for Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns, but not a lot in the way of screenshots. Guess that's one way to rope the unbelievers into laying hands on a roguelike, but will the pretty, pretty character portraits make them forget the ass-kickings that came before? We'll see. Besides, you can always get some ass-kickings in yourself with the recently-announced Windy x Windam, eh? Check out the new portraits in our gallery below and start gathering your courage. You'll need it come July.%Gallery-15250%
Touring Genmu no Tou's dungeons
When we recently discussed the two distinct visual styles sported by Genmu no Tou to Tsurugi no Okite, we had to do so using static images. Static images are all well and good, but absolutely fail to show off Genmu no Tou's impressive frame rate. Whether you choose cel-shaded or wireframe graphics, progressing through the death-filled corridors of Success Corp.'s dungeon crawler looks as smooth as butter.We have one request though, Success: next time, let's see some of the game's 80+ monsters.%Gallery-21932%[Via Siliconera]
Izuna 2 screens simulate gameplaying experience
Do you see the tears in this screenshot? This is a message. Don't be fooled by Izuna's pink-haired cuteness -- this girl isn't as easy as she looks. The first title was all about kicking your ass (and having a laugh about it), so we fully expect the same challenge from Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns. The big zero next to the hit points here gives us hope.If, like us, you enjoy a challenge, make your way into the gallery below for the latest screens from the upcoming title.%Gallery-15250%
DS Fanboy Review: Rondo of Swords
Strategy RPGs aren't exactly rare on the DS -- some people might even argue that the genre is too plentiful on Nintendo's handheld (though this writer would beg to differ). Regardless, it's always nice to see something refreshing in an SRPG, which is why I was looking forward to playing Rondo of Swords. Having heard of its unique gameplay system, I wanted to see if this title would force me to think differently and not rely on strategies I was used to.At the same time, though, I was a bit apprehensive. While change can be a good thing if it's implemented correctly, it can often feel forced if it's not. Moreover, one reason that strategy games don't differ at their core is because the formula works. Can throwing away such tried-and-true methods really lead to an enjoyable game? Just mosey on past the break to find out!%Gallery-14108%
Genmu no Tou: pretty however you play it
You can choose to play Success Corp.'s forthcoming Genmu no Tou to Tsurugi no Okite with either stylized, cel-shaded visuals, or have its dungeons depicted in a black-and-white 8-bit wireframe mode. While each graphical style contrasts sharply with the other, they do share at least one thing in common: they're both absolutely gorgeous.Indeed, compared to many of the murkier dungeon crawlers on the DS, both are a genuine breath of fresh air, though we do narrowly prefer the retro 8-bit look right now -- those white, angular lines on jet black backgrounds are just so ... clean.Hop into our new Genmu no Tou gallery to make your own mind up.%Gallery-21932%
Windy x Windam: Fighting Game of the Unemployed Ninja
A poster on the fighting game forum Shoryuken.com found a small blurb and screens about one of the mysterious games on Success Corp.'s summer release list: Windy x Windam. The name certainly didn't provide any clues to the game's content, but it turns out that Windy x Windam is a fighting game based on ... Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja. Windy x Windam is being developed by Izuna's Ninja Studio. We don't know how much experience they have with fighting games -- maybe someone from the company worked on fighting games previously. Their history as Ninja Studio seems to contain only mobile casual games, mobile SRPGs, and Izuna. Maybe it'll be a turn-based fighting game!%Gallery-21768%[Via NeoGAF]
Spend 2 1/2 $10-dollar bills on Touch Detective, Sega Superstars Tennis
You'll have to forgive our convoluted title -- really, it couldn't be helped. If it's not immediately clear, and we very much doubt that it is, GameStop has two great DS online and in-store deals this week: Touch Detective 2 1/2: $9.99, our review Sega Superstars Tennis: $14.99, metareview Which both add up to $25 (provided that you round up)! See what we did there? Two-and-a-half $10 bills? $25? Come on!
Operation Darkness demo on XBL Marketplace
A few months ago the demo for Operation Darkness, one of the first Xbox 360 titles from famed Japanese publisher Atlus, hit the Far East Live Marketplace; last night the same demo has made its way Stateside for Western gamers to take it for a spin.Featuring 4-player online co-op, the strategy RPG is set in an alternate World War II universe where you must do battle with mystical creatures and the many minions of Hitler. That's right, no sugar coating this final boss. Strategy RPG fans tired of their lack of options on the Xbox 360, unless you're an XBLA fiend, should check this one out.
Round Table of Swords
If you haven't picked up Rondo of Swords, you might not have noticed the heavy Arthurian influence on many of the character names. As we were preparing one last set of screens for the Atlus SRPG, we started to notice a few names in the character pictures. Kay, Serdic, Uther, Igraine, Galahad ... there's no ignoring Galahad, even if you're not familiar with the intricacies of the legend and its different versions. So if you're looking for something to do while the battle scenes play again and again and again, keep a copy of The Once and Future King nearby, or maybe something a little lighter, like Gillian Bradshaw's Hawk of May. After playing Rondo of Swords, the characters will seem like old friends.%Gallery-14108%
More creepy crawler machines introduced in Drone Tactics
In the latest batch of Drone Tactics screens, we get to see some new insect mecha. These drones, which are part of the "Black Swarm," include a centipede, cockroach, moth, and spider. From the amount of different units available and their varying strengths and weaknesses, this title is looking just as deep and challenging as Advance Wars. It's still another month before we'll be able to get our hands on this game, but you can bet we're looking forward to it. Which drone do you guys find to be the coolest looking so far?%Gallery-14982%[Via press release]
Cel-shading makes a dungeon slightly less painful
One of the many DS games on the way from Success Corp. is this beautiful dungeon crawler, Genmu no Tou to Tsurugi no Okite. Roguelikes are hot on the DS, and they're an old genre -- why not first-person dungeon crawlers? They're just as ancient. And Etrian Odyssey has proven that people will still subject themselves to the kind of treatment such a game offers. Characters are created through dice rolls, combat is turn- and text-based, and death is assured.Genmu no Tou to Tsurugi no Okite (The Tower of Mist and the Sword of Law) has had more attention put into its graphics than usual, sporting an amazing cel-shaded look. If that's too modern for you, though, you can turn it off and play it in a black-and-white 8-bit mode![Via Siliconera]
