Random JRPG News Thread

[lightbane]

So I've beaten LiEat. Parts 2 & 3 are essentially just more of the same. Final verdict: a competently done children's game / walking sim pretending to be an RPG; not worth the full price.

Two major negative points are linearity and lack of any sort of challenge.

So, it's like the japanese edition of Dear Esther and the like?

 

[aweigh]

dear esther's magnificent Cavern level makes up for any of its other shortcomings...

simulating a person walking through those caverns in chapter 3 of dear esther with the surround sound cranked up to max is probably one of the most intense and, yes i'll say it, IMMERSIVE experiences i've ever had. it absolutely felt like i was freaking right in there. it was great. too bad the rest of the chapters lack that intensity and focus of design.

also helps that the cavern chapter is the one with the least amount of narrated dialog and conveys its story through gameplay instead of narration. the entire game would've benefitted from cutting out 90% of the narration.

still... that cave chapter. it's right up there in my opinion as one of the best designed video game levels ever made.

 

[Septaryeth]

Apparently this is a game in some long-running franchise in Taiwan.

Never heard of this series before. I would have translated the title as something like "Secret of the Sword of the Yellow Emperor: Gate of the Firmament"

You might have taken the name of the series too literally.
Just Xuan-Yuan Sword: Gate of the Firmament would do, or to be more poetic, Xuan-Yuan: Gate of the Firmament. I don't think the Yellow Emperor is mentioned at all in later titles.

This one is a spin off of the main title, though I don't believe it'll require knowledge from the main game except for few nods and easter eggs.
Long story short, I believe Xuan-Yuan sword is a treasure from another realm, a spirit realm if you will, like many other treasures fallen to ancient China.
But the spin offs (they have at least one spin off for each main title and reuse the resources) like this one rarely talk about them. It's usually more about the people and countries.

Graphic and animation performance beside, most TW rpgs have shitty level designs, super linear, JRPG-combat, heavy-handed plot and often cringe-worthy dialogues.
The story is sometimes a hit or miss. Xuan-Yuan is known to be have the best stories among all TW rpgs, but to be honest the bar isn't that high to begin with.
From what I understand most TW game developers now focus on mobile games, MMOs, or just quit and sell their company to China corps.
Which is a shame... because the spin off from the third game was really interesting and I wouldn't mind supporting it on Steam.

 

[Hobo Elf]

I bought the Gate of Firmament and played it for about 3 hours so my impressions are based on that time frame. Oh, and right off the bat, when you turn the game on the title screen calls the game Xuan-Yuan Sword, so I dunno why they excluded that from the Steam page. Maybe they thought it'd be too long. Moving on, I'll just say that the game is an interesting curiosity at best for us westerners who haven't played any oriental RPGs. The combat mechanics are okay, but the game is so easy that they don't matter. All you need is to use your Q combo to beat everything. Spells and support skills don't seem to be needed at all. This is a story heavy game with lots of talking. Unfortunately the translation is, to put it kindly, shit. It's perfectly understandable what the characters are saying so you can follow the plot, but it's riddled with spelling mistakes and the translation comes off as very clumsy so I had a hard time getting myself invested in the plot and characters. So, yeah, buy it if you're curious, but I'm reluctant to recommend a game that can't pull itself with its plot or gameplay. I myself refunded the game as it's unlikely that the game would keep me interested.

Lots of people on the steam forums are comparing this game to Final Fantasy saying that it's the chinese equivalent of that, but I'd say that budget and gameplay wise it's closer to Neptunia, in quality.

 

[Siveon]

Well, there goes my interest. And probably the developer's interest as well, since I can't honestly believe this would sell well.

 

[Avellion]

Etrian Odyssey 5 has some tidbits shown.

The announced classes are: Fencer, Dragoon, Cestus, Reaper, Necromancer, Warlock, Herbalist, Sherman, Hero, Masurao, Hound

Character creation has been redone: 4 Races, Gender, Customizeable colors for skin, hair and eyes, 40 voices to choose from.

http://blog.hokanko-alt.com/archives/47968865.html

 

[lightbane]

Jesus, they don't stop releasing EOs one after another, do they? At least they tend to be good. Incidentally, the same webpage mentions a new Digimon World game incoming: DW: Next 0rder. Unfortunately, there's no mention if it will be released outside of Japan, for not to mention it is for the PSVita

 

[Avellion]

Here are some more details.

Fencer → Skillfully wield pointed swords
Dragoon → Boast of defense as tough as a dragon
Cestus → Clear through battles with their tempered fists
Reaper → Fell enemies with sickles that bring death
Necromancer → Summoners that command the spirits of the dead
Warlock → Sages skilled in elemental attacks
Herbalist → Masters of healing with herbs
Shaman → Use mysterious powers to save their allies
Masurao → Warriors that weld four swords
Hound → Hunters that command falcons and dogs

• The director mentioned something about wanting to do Tabletop inspired events going on in the dungeons.
  
• The game is approximately 60% finished.
• Japanese release date at 8/4.
• The full game might have more classes than those listed.

Very interested in seeing if the tabletop inspired events come through and how they will impact the gameplay.

Jesus, they don't stop releasing EOs one after another, do they? At least they tend to be good. Incidentally, the same webpage mentions a new Digimon World game incoming: DW: Next 0rder. Unfortunately, there's no mention if it will be released outside of Japan, for not to mention it is for the PSVita

Since most other entries have, I am optimistic. Game will probably get released 9 months after in the US.

 

[Archibald]

Are these digimon games actually good or is it more of a guilty pleasure thing?

 

[HotSnack]

Nichegamer also reported on the Famitsu article of EO5:

Spoiler

http://nichegamer.com/2016/03/etrian-odyssey-v-launches-august-4-in-japan-new-details/

This week’s Famitsu (via Hachima Kikou, Famitsu) has revealed the release date for Etrian Odyssey V: End of the Long Myth.

The Nintendo 3DS game will launch in Japan on August 4th, and it will cost 6,480 yen. Atlus is set to host a Niconico broadcast, which will unveil the first trailer of the game on March 5th, at 21:00 Japan time.

Some new details for the game have been revealed, namely that character designs are being handled by series mainstay Yuji Himukai, and its story will take place in a mysterious land named Arcadia. The game will see various classes return, and will also have more character creation options.

Various bits of information have come from an interview with game director Shigeo Komori. Voices are being added to the game, however you can also choose to play without voices (more on that later).

The hound class is named after the pets it makes use of. With new classes being added to the game, you can make an entirely new character from what has been seen in previous games. Sub-classes made previous entries easier to create a party with no faults – the team is focusing on making this harder in Etrian Odyssey V.

The character customization has been enhanced to the point where you can even have your characters eyes be different colors (heterochromia), as well as seeing an emphasis on freedom and dungeon exploration.

The table-top RPG feeling of the dungeon exploration has been improved, alongside the icons, controls, and map on your bottom 3DS screen.

The four confirmed races thusfar include:

• Arslan (Similar to a Human)
• Brani (Similar to a Dwarf)
• Cerian (Similar to a Beast)
• Lunaria (Similar to an Elf)

The first ten classes have been confirmed as well:

• Cestus (Arslan)
• Dragoon (Arslan)
• Fencer (Arslan)
• Hound (Cerian)
• Herbalist (Brani)
• Necromancer (Lunaria)
• Reaper (Arslan)
• Shaman (Brani)
• Warrior (Cerian)
• Warlock (Lunaria)

You can choose from a multitude of voice actors for your characters, including Akira Ishida, Kaori Nazuka, Yoko Hikasa, and more. There are 22 in total.

Finally, development on the game is roughly 60% complete.

Interestingly it looks like the "pet" classes of EO3 are back, and they are looking into making it harder to make a party that can cover all bases (my inner power gamer is going to get stressed out over that one).

Edit: Mindless speculation on my part:
Fencer → Skillfully wield pointed swords - A finesse fighter? Sounds like he might be like the buccaneer class in that he will specialise in chasing attacks or debilitate the enemy.
Dragoon → Boast of defense as tough as a dragon - Standard tank class, but will probably wield a gun and can fight in the back row. I hope they do something interesting with this class, as I usually find them too lacklustre in the other EO games.
Cestus → Clear through battles with their tempered fists - sounds like the Monk minus the healing.
Reaper → Fell enemies with sickles that bring death - Sounds like the class that can inflict and exploit binds or status effects.
Necromancer → Summoners that command the spirits of the dead - Pet user. Since there looks to be 3 pet classes, I would hazard a guess and say this was will have a grab-bag of offensive summon types and maybe even circle effects.
Warlock → Sages skilled in elemental attacks - Your standard mage. Nothing new but you will probably have one on your team becauses mages are always useful.
Herbalist → Masters of healing with herbs - Healer. Will probably wield clubs and be an ok frontliner if necessary.
Shaman → Use mysterious powers to save their allies - This will be the unorthodox healer to the more safer but more boring Herbalist. Will probably summon pets to create healing effects.
Masurao → Warriors that weld four swords - Does this mean you can equip all 4 items slots with swords? Looks to be the glass-cannon/berserker class.
Hound → Hunters that command falcons and dogs - Pets will probably produce various debilities like the Shaman class.

I'm playing through EO3 right now, so seeing all this has gotten me pretty excited. :D

 

[lightbane]

Are these digimon games actually good or is it more of a guilty pleasure thing?

Depends. I read Cyber-Sleuth (the latest one, released for PS4) has good reviews and its intended audience are the mature fans. It also seems to play like a mix of Shin Megami Tensei (complete with evolutions, devolutions, fusions and such) with Persona and Digimon. Unfortunately, since I lack a PS4 personally I can't say much else about it

The DS ones were... Okay. They suffered from an high random encounter rate, but thankfully I had access to cheat codes ease this particular issue. Lastly, the Next Order one seems to be like the original Digimon World 1 (as in, you have a virtual pet to take care of), but with two critters at once. It also features an adult Hiro (the hero from the original game) as one of the NPCs.

 

[Hobo Elf]

Here are some more details.

Fencer → Skillfully wield pointed swords
Dragoon → Boast of defense as tough as a dragon
Cestus → Clear through battles with their tempered fists
Reaper → Fell enemies with sickles that bring death
Necromancer → Summoners that command the spirits of the dead
Warlock → Sages skilled in elemental attacks
Herbalist → Masters of healing with herbs
Shaman → Use mysterious powers to save their allies
Masurao → Warriors that weld four swords
Hound → Hunters that command falcons and dogs

• The director mentioned something about wanting to do Tabletop inspired events going on in the dungeons.
  
• The game is approximately 60% finished.
• Japanese release date at 8/4.
• The full game might have more classes than those listed.

Very interested in seeing if the tabletop inspired events come through and how they will impact the gameplay.

Dis gon b gud. Can't wait to make a party of 5 loli Necromancers.

Are these digimon games actually good or is it more of a guilty pleasure thing?

Depends. I read Cyber-Sleuth (the latest one, released for PS4) has good reviews and its intended audience are the mature fans. It also seems to play like a mix of Shin Megami Tensei (complete with evolutions, devolutions, fusions and such) with Persona and Digimon. Unfortunately, since I lack a PS4 personally I can't say much else about it

The DS ones were... Okay. They suffered from an high random encounter rate, but thankfully I had access to cheat codes ease this particular issue. Lastly, the Next Order one seems to be like the original Digimon World 1 (as in, you have a virtual pet to take care of), but with two critters at once. It also features an adult Hiro (the hero from the original game) as one of the NPCs.

I would not fret it too much over Cyber Sleuth. The game was garbage. There was nothing SMT about it except perhaps on a superficial level. The only reason it's getting attention is because Digifags are starved for any kind of Digimon game at all. I hardly ever trade in my games, but I'm probably gonna trade in my Cyber Sleuth next friday when Stella Glow gets released in Europe.

 

[HotSnack]

Stranger of Sword City to offer a selection of portraits:



And portraits:



To suit the player's (lack of) tastes.



Jokes aside, it's not a bad idea.

 

[amdus]

Steam page for "htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary" is up http://store.steampowered.com/app/368640/, game is scheduled to be released on March 14th 2016.

Also in other news, BlazBlue: Chronophantasma Extend http://store.steampowered.com/app/388750/ and XBlaze Code: Embryo http://store.steampowered.com/app/421610/ got released on Steam.

 

[LESS T_T]

Debonosu Works, which released Kagura Douchuuki last year, planning to release another DesuDesu on Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=635910942



Looks like a mix of dungeon delving and Tales-like side-scrolling action combat.

 

[Hobo Elf]

New Etrian Odyssey 5 trailer is out



Surprising amount of customization they are giving to your characters this time. Even individual eyes can be colored for heterocrhomia. You can also choose a voice for adventurers, which seems to be more than the standard grunt. Let's hope that this means that Wiz8-like party banter is going to be a feature.

 

[HotSnack]

From the character portraits it looks like the hound is a mixture of EO's Shaman and Survivalist/Sniper class i.e. the DnD Ranger. This is pretty cool, and reinforces my impression that this class will specialise in inflicting binds.

Also, the drawf race are called bronies.

 

[CryptRat]

Blessed Ones: The Magic Wolves, currently in early access on Steam, looks cool.

They used a home engine, it has party assembling (but not creation) and 6 classes each with different skills to choose from. Judging by the available player's opinions the monsters use skills and the game is hard.
They're talking about the skill system here (but not really about the actual skills).
They're considering adding a Humble Store Widget directly on their site when the game is released.
Unfortunately the game seems to be far from completion.

 

[Septaryeth]

The combat mechanics are okay, but the game is so easy that they don't matter. All you need is to use your Q combo to beat everything. Spells and support skills don't seem to be needed at all.

Well, there goes my interest. And probably the developer's interest as well, since I can't honestly believe this would sell well.

They kind of deserved it. Apparently the international version is literally the version of the original.

[Food for thought for first timers] Why do they remove some features?
tl, dr; there are less amount of crafting, less use of weaker attacks that offer special status, there used to be 2 guardians sharing the same cool down, now they no longer stand by on the field, and the special effects offered by their skills, such as daze from Pangu, are removed.

Upon further inquiry, a friend of mine explained the second point.
The original has a different gauge for martial art, which is Chi. And these martial arts will change stats and offer different statuses on the players.
Since the devs removed the effects and Chi altogether, there is no point of using martial arts since the other type of attack is simply stronger.
In short, they removed half of the features from the original combat.

Here is a vid on the original, I have no idea what's going on but there sure are a lot more micromangement happening.

 

[Hobo Elf]

The combat mechanics are okay, but the game is so easy that they don't matter. All you need is to use your Q combo to beat everything. Spells and support skills don't seem to be needed at all.

Well, there goes my interest. And probably the developer's interest as well, since I can't honestly believe this would sell well.

They kind of deserved it. Apparently the international version is literally the version of the original.

[Food for thought for first timers] Why do they remove some features?
tl, dr; there are less amount of crafting, less use of weaker attacks that offer special status, there used to be 2 guardians sharing the same cool down, now they no longer stand by on the field, and the special effects offered by their skills, such as daze from Pangu, are removed.

Upon further inquiry, a friend of mine explained the second point.
The original has a different gauge for martial art, which is Chi. And these martial arts will change stats and offer different statuses on the players.
Since the devs removed the effects and Chi altogether, there is no point of using martial arts since the other type of attack is simply stronger.
In short, they removed half of the features from the original combat.

Here is a vid on the original, I have no idea what's going on but there sure are a lot more micromangement happening.

I'm not sure which is worse. The game I played was boring and without any challenge, but this doesn't look any better either. Frantic clicking and cycling through your party members as the cooldowns run out. Like playing an MMO alone and controlling all the characters in your party. I guess the game is just flat out shit no matter what.

 

[LESS T_T]

Way of Samurai 3 is coming to Steam: http://blog.ghostlight.uk.com/post/way-of-the-samurai-3-is-coming-to-steam

 

[Rahdulan]

Excellent. Now you won't even need a last-gen console to experience the entire series. Although I can't help but wonder why are they going at it in reverse?

Also, it would be nice if it was the Plus version but I doubt it.

 

[Archibald]

Maybe they expect that newer title's will sell better and create bigger fanbase for older titles?

 

[Hobo Elf]

I liked Way of the Samurai 3 a lot more than 4 so that's excellent news. I might even buy this one.

 

[Jacob]

I liked Way of the Samurai 3 a lot more than 4 so that's excellent news. I might even buy this one.

Care to explain more? I've only played 4 so far and it was my favorite game in 2015. Is it actually better or simply your preference? Which game of the series do you think is the best?