Editor’s note: The RPGs of April? Hell, I’m still caught in the RPGs of March (Final Fantasy 13 and Infinite Space dominating what little free time I have these days). I’m curious about Monster Hunter Tri — I’ve never played any of the Monster Hunter games, and it’s time to see what all of the hubbub’s about. Which of the RPGs of April are on your playlist? -Jason
A wealth of riches await fans of role-playing games these days. RPGs come from most corners of the world and with different styles. This can make it hard for gamers to makes sense of the multitude of games. But take heart! This monthly column breaks down each month’s new RPGs, including gameplay descriptions and word on the street about a game’s quality.
Thank goodness it’s April. March saw a flood of high-profile RPGs, so it’s nice to have a breather month to catch up on the mountain of games from last month. For those with no life who need something new, April has some low-key releases, including Japan’s primary obsession, Square Enix’s latest attempt to woo the West, and a couple of tactical-RPGs.
Most Promising: Monster Hunter Tri (Wii)
Release Date: April 20
It’s interesting to see the games that catch on in Japan that are absolutely ignored over here in the States. Despite the fact that Capcom has released most of the Monster Hunter games over here, they have yet to see a payoff.
Capcom hopes the changes it’s made for Monster Hunter Tri for the Wii entice U.S. gamers. For one thing, they ditched subscription fees altogether for our version. This is a smart decision, given that Monster Hunter has yet to reach a large audience in the States. Capcom also seems to get what Westerners want out of online gaming, as they’ve also included Wii Speak support, a feature absent from the Japanese release. Take all that with the streamlined online interface and Monster Hunter never had a better chance to succeed.
But will U.S. gamer finally flock to Monster Hunter? It’s still a very hard sell. At its heart it’s a hardcore franchise with a great amount of depth. Hardcore Wii games that aren’t made by Nintendo have a hard time selling. Of course, none of this matters as long as the game delivers, which feedback from Japan tells us is indeed the case. Tri preserves the tight systems of previous games while expanding them through new weapons and different environments.
It’s a little difficult to explain the game if you haven’t played it, but the simplest way to describe it is to point at the title of the series: It’s a game about hunting monsters. It is a methodical action game that tasks its players with hunting monsters and harvesting components. It sounds simple and repetitive, but little compares to taking down a monster 20 times your size, especially when you’re in a group. The game’s genius is that it actively encourages cooperation in its design.
The good news is that even if the game isn’t a runaway success, a small, dedicated Monster Hunter community exists that’s more than willing to fill the servers, as evidenced by the massive Monster Hunter Wiki found here. Feel free to browse it and see what you’re in for.
Biggest Risk: Nier (360, PS3)
Release Date: April 27
The marketing surrounding this game in Japan is, frankly, a mess. Two different versions of this game are available over there: one for the 360, Nier Gestalt, and one for the PS3, Nier Replicant. The two games are mechanically identical. Gestalt, which is the version we’re getting in the U.S., features a burly, rugged main character not unlike many Western designs. Replicant features the same main character, but his appearance is completely different, instead looking much more like a stereotypical Final Fantasy character: androgynous with feathery hair. Pair this with the fact that Square has said that this game was specifically meant to appeal to the West and you get the impression that this is a game birthed from demographics.
But the heart of the matter is the pedigree of the developer Cavia. They have a history of both mediocre RPGs and action games, including the Drakengard series and Bullet Witch. The concept itself has the potential to hold the attention of gamers. Nier is an action game with enough RPG elements to make the genre label “action RPG” appropriate. It also features somewhat of a Zelda-like level structure. Previews, however, seem to consider the game to be disappointing, labeling the mechanics as too simple and the graphics as unusually ugly. The only hope this game may have is if the level structure delivers something compelling.
Also this month:
Dawn of Heroes (DS)
Release Date: April 13
Dawn of Heroes could be a pretty shadowy release: It’s received zero coverage. You can’t find previews or advertisements for it anywhere, so there’s no real indication of its quality. The information I was able to gather reveals that it’s a turn-based strategy-RPG that utilizes 3D character models much like the DS remakes of Final Fantasy 3 and Final Fantasy 4. The bad: The visuals look a little bit worse than those games, which were a bit jaggy in the first place. SRPGs, however, are far and few between on the DS, so it might fill a niche that’s fairly barren. You can find a bit more information on the official web site, and it looks like you’ll have to do, as you won’t find any information anywhere else.
Record of Agarest War (PSN,360)
Release Date: April 27
First, a warning: The following link skirts the definition of Not Safe for Work. OK, now watch this trailer. You have just witnessed the big selling point of this strategy-RPG: creepy anime fan service. Of course, the trailer is so over-the-top that it might be tongue-in-cheek; I’ll let you judge for yourself.
The actual game is your standard SRPG fare but with a dating sim element, which puts it in a similar category as Sakura Wars. The big deal with this game is that it is being released exclusively on the PlayStation Network as a download. Given that this is a sprite-based game, this makes a certain amount of sense. Gamers complained about Disgaea 3 being a disc-based game, and perhaps rightfully so. If you can make it more convenient for the consumer and the game doesn’t require physical media, why not make it a download? Of course, for the many people who wish to have a physical copy, a disc-based release is coming to the 360 with some nice extras. So even if the game doesn’t stand out by itself, it has its sales bases covered.
The Rest:
Little else is coming out this month. The only other notable release is a piece of DLC for Mass Effect 2, Kasumi’s Stolen Memory. This release adds female thief Kasumi to the already extensive list of characters as well as a quest centering on her. While not a complete expansion, it’s a small nugget of more Mass Effect 2, so for those who want more and are willing to pay for more, this is for you.