Editor's note: Phew! Just made it…. What's the point in having a monthly breakdown of a laundry list of releases if we don't post it until the second week in? Anyway, Jeremy takes the mounds of press and hype surrounding March's RPG releases and cuts them down to easily digestible — and informational — morsels. -James
Role-playing-game fans live in a wealth of riches these days. The genre receives entries from all corners of the world and with different styles. This can make it hard for gamers to makes sense of the multitude of releases. But take heart! This monthly column breaks down each month's RPG releases, including gameplay descriptions and word on the street about a game's quality.
It seems March is the new November, especially for RPGs. A ton of significant releases are hitting store shelves this month, not the least of which are new entries into two long-running franchises. It certainly is an exciting time to be an RPG fan, so let’s have at it!
The Main Event:
Final Fantasy 13 (PS3/360)
Release Date: March 9
Let’s face it: The release of a new mainline Final Fantasy is essentially a national holiday for JRPG fans. North America’s most beloved and progressive franchise in the genre always attempts to be at the forefront of narrative and gameplay trends, and this entry is no different. Fans are already hotly debating the way the title streamlines many RPG tropes. The game is extremely linear both figuratively and literally. Square has scrapped traditional towns for the most part and have completely excised seemly sacred elements that don’t fit in to the game. While many see this shakeup of traditional JRPG values as blasphemous, it also illustrates how stuck in a rut the genre is. Besides, streamlining worked wonders for Mass Effect 2, so why not here? Add that to what is said to be the most exciting Final Fantasy battle system yet, and we have may have yet another fresh take on the genre from the industry leader. That said, fans haven’t historically taken to drastic changes in the franchise. Final Fantasy 12 was another fresh take on the formula, and that installment polarized fans. Will 13 do the same?
Most Promising:
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (DS)
Release Date: March 23
My fondness of the Shin Megami Tensei series is well documented. The series has garnered a cult following, which is why many fans — myself included — look at each release with the same excitement as a Final Fantasy release. As for this game, it is a throwback to the series’ younger years — it's a first-person dungeon crawl. With the same graphics engine as the Etrian Odyssey series, the game looks to strike a similar chord. Those who have played the series know what to expect: Fun, strategic combat using a large variety of famous mythical demons that you can fuse together in to other, more powerful demons. Add in the thrill of exploration from the Etrian Odyssey games, and you have yourself a recipe for success. If you consider yourself a JRPG fan, you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Biggest Risk:
Resonance of Fate (360/PS3)
Release Date: March 16
Tri-Ace has been off their game lately. They initially made waves with excellent games such as Valkyrie Profile and the first two Star Ocean games, but recently, they’ve been accused of making battle systems that are too similar to each other. As a result, their reputation has sunk to that of B-list JRPG maker. And that isn’t even taking into account the awful audio-visual presentation of Star Ocean: The Last Hope. Resonance of Fate may not change any of that. The combat looks just as fast-paced, but it doesn't seem to set itself apart from any other tri-Ace release to date. At least the art style isn’t as abortive as we’re used to, but depending on the outfits the game provides, the whole thing might fall victim to its own dress-up mechanic. Taken as a whole, it could add up to another disappointing tri-Ace game, but the reality is that we don’t know enough about it yet. Nothing about how it plays in preview sets it apart, but it's possible that it could surprise us. In the meantime, tri-Ace has made a Japanese demo available, so if you have a Japanese 360 or PSN account, you can try for yourself.
Also this month:
Infinite Space (DS)
Release Date: March 16
Platinum Games, on the other hand, have been on a roll. Their first two releases, MadWorld and Bayonetta, were wildly creative and fun action games. Infinite Space is different, however, because it blends the highly-neglected space combat genre with RPG mechanics. The big draw is the immensely customizable nature of everything in the game. It has over 150 ship designs and 150 potential crew members, which all affect your abilities. And while the space combat is the main focus, it's also got a ton of space exploration and a very Gundam-esque storyline. Given its unique nature in the RPG landscape, it certainly fits in with Platinum’s works in other genres. We don’t get many games this original that often, so you may want to snag this rare opportunity.
Sakura Wars: So Long My Love (Wii/PS2)
Release Date: March 23
Remember the Sega Saturn? Shortly after Sega prematurely pulled the plug on North American support for the system, it became an importer’s paradise for those who still wanted to keep their systems active. Sakura Taisen was one of the biggest franchises for the system, and one of the focuses of this import scene. Unfortunately, importing was the only way to play the series, and none of them ever made it outside of Japan. It’s not hard to understand why: Critics lauded its gameplay being a mix of a strategy RPG and a dating game. That last part never used to fly here in the States. But the current market seems much more receptive to that type of game — using similar social mechanics, the PS2 Persona entries did remarkably well. This particular installment — which is actually the fifth in the series — is generally regarded in the lower tier of Sakura Taisen games. Also, NIS America is publishing, which means there is a risk of localization flubs and gameplay bugs. The fact the series is coming over here at all is enough to be worth a look, though.
The Rest:
Two high-profile remakes are due out this month as well. First, we have Lunar: Silver Star Harmony, the newest version of one of the most remade RPGs ever. At least this one seems to do it right: the graphics are completely redone and the battle screens rethought to make the game speedier and more tolerable to modern sensibilities. Unfortunately, long load times between battles threaten to nullify the updates. Still, the game looks to be a quality version that stays true to everything that made Lunar great in the first place.
The other remake, an updated version of Pokemon Gold/Silver for DS, follows the tradition of the previous GBA remake of Blue/Red: It packs enough original content to make it feel like a completely new game. It also helps that it's channeling the most beloved entry in the series. Pokemaniacs are sure to go nuts for it.
Finally, we have Dragon Age: Origins — Awakening, the first full-fledged expansion for the game. All accounts point to it being more of the same bloody-fantasy goodness that the initial game provided. It is also surprisingly lengthy, which is refreshing given that most developers dole out today’s expanded content in smaller add-on packs.
Fans have a rather large selection this month. What are you all getting?