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 Video Games for the Otaku (Post-Christmas 2008 Edition)
Written by David Rasmussen
Well, Christmas has come and gone, but you know what that means in a tanking economy-- sales! Here, ML staffer David Rasmussen discusses some Japanese-import games of import.
David speaks:
Of course, this list could go on for pages if I just tried to put down a list of what Manga and Anime series have video game adaptations out there you could (or should not) be wasting your precious money on. But since it's so close to Christmas we'll focus on what Blockbusters (the people who need to ease up on their restrictions so I can rent games to review from them again) think is good for the friendly neighborhood Otaku... oh, P.S., there isn't one Game Boy Advance game listed in this damn thing, Blockbusters, don't list what you didn't put in recommendations-wise (or sales wise since the GBA went past gen tech some time ago-- odd since you can still play GBA games on your DS)...
Animal Crossing : City Folk
Consoles : For the Nintendo Wii
Yeah, like you weren't going to pick up the 24/7/365 addiction if you hadn't already been won over by either the past GameCube version or the DS Wild World.
This is more a companion to Wild World, by the way, than the original (only Japan got the "upgrade" to the original Game Cube version in Animal Crossing 2). Taking a lot of its cues from Wild World, with new stuff (like the new City area, and new shops and the return of a few things (Chip returns to take the reins of the fishing tournaments for instance, though they used a new voice talent for his character -- in fact that voice talent replaces the one that did the voices of the grumpy characters like Octavian, Chow and so on).
Basically if you played Wild World, you know what you're getting into with City Folk since a lot of it is the same as before, since it's the same world (which was necessary to allow the interaction between the two games, though not to the great degree that it should have had ala The Sims : Bustin Out for the GameCube slash Game Boy Advance). Wiimote/nunchuk controls are easy to master (nunchuk covers movement, wiimote everything else) and once you get the hang of your new "life" you should have no problem forging ahead through the game and your many days, weeks and months you'll have to spend with your friends (both virtual and real as this game offers online gameplay and realtime communications with far away players using Nintendo peripheral gimmick #10751431 (aka the Wii Speak)). Mind you, you need to pass Friend Codes (and if you understood how much this game could be used for evil then you know why all the precautions were needed with the whole Friend Codes thing), otherwise once you make "friends" (which is once again odd since the game demands you make friends BEFORE you can visit them, which may sound like putting the carriage before the horse and all but again it's necessary) you'll be able to play with them in real time (and communicate in real time) with the Wii Speak (of course you could still just text the old-fashioned way, but that's so long!!)
Of course, if you are not into long-term-investment games then you probably won't be checking into your village any time soon. Too bad. For an all ages friendly game of "life" that lives by a real time clock (I can't think of any other game that is played in real time like Animal Crossing) this is worth having.
Recommendations: If you don't mind the all-ages fare, and want to just find something to play that lets you kick back and relax with your "pals"? This is a good recommendation. Try it.
Eternal Sonata
Consoles : Sony PlayStation 3
Well, the game is done up Anime style graphics-wise, so let's just say it's another game that has the Otaku as its main audience.
About to kick the big concert hall, legendary composer Chopin ends up going Anime when his spirit travels to the world of hot chicks with a bit larger than normal eyes. Yeah! Go Chopin! ...Anyway, from there, it's something about a story of good and evil, love and betrayal (and probably characters with amnesia, cute sidekick characters, and endless random battles).
Recommendations : ...Well, it's for the PS3, though there's more than enough great RPG style games for the PS3 (like Fallout 3 for instance)... but since this is the visually Otakuized RPG maybe, that'll mean something... maybe. Otherwise, go get Fallout 3 like everyone else already.
Naruto : Clash of Ninja Revolution 2
Consoles : Nintendo Wii
For those of us who own a Wii instead of a PS3, we have our own Naruto game. Probably nowhere near as spiffy as the PS3 version, this game boasts wiimote slash nunchuk control of your characters as you play through 1 to 4 multiplayer action... and not much else. Well, I guess I'll just go ahead and say it...
Recommendations : Naruto fans only need apply (BELIEVE I-- oh, wait, I've seen Naruto from time to time and it looks like they've almost completely weened Naruto off of the bad habit of shrieking "BELIEVE IT" ...so I'll stop teasing him about it then)... oh, wait, maybe you might still buy this game since MK vs. DCU didn't make the cut onto the Wii and you might want something to soften the blow of the neglect you are probably feeling... or not if you were jubilant when you heard the news that Mortal Kombat: Armageddon was the last game of the series (which obviously it was not). Anyway, I'm abit iffy about this Wiimote waving you'll probably have to do to play this game, so rent before buying.
Pokemon Diamond or Pearl
Handheld : Nintendo DS
Yeah, it's a bit old in the tooth now after so much time, but this latest incarnation of the over 100+ hour gameplay RPG style Pokemon game (that you've known since Blue slash Red slash Pikachu Yellow from the old Game Boy days) is available, and you might as well stick to the classics.
Recommendations : Over 100+ hours of gameplay and steady reliable gameplay? You can't beat that, no. Of course if you've played all the incarnations of Poke'mon from Red/Blue to the GBA versions then maybe you're tired of it... don't see how, but maybe you're tired of it... nah. Can't see that happening.
Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World
Consoles : For the Nintendo Wii
Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Sure, you were burned pretty badly with Dragon Quest for the Wii when it came out, and the DS versions were so fun too (where the hell did the Wii version go so wrong when we were having so much fun with Monsters: Joker and later the re-release of DQIV!!)... But I heard on good authority this game will make you forget all about misgivings past about RPG franchises of so-so popularity making the journey to the Wii. Promising over 100 hours of gameplay to keep you questing all day and night long, you are promised a world that retains the same level of dramatic storytelling as the award winning original, endearing characters, and an action packed battle system along with game elements that are exclusive to the Wii (I.e. wiimote sensitive gaming)! And really, isn't that what we always wanted for the Wii, a RPG that didn't insult our intelligence or make us regret buying it?!? Yeah, I know you wanted that just as much as I did! Admit it!
Recommendations: Remember the GameCube version? I did (I played it and it was fine), now enjoy this new Wii version and remember what it is about this game you loved so much from before!
The World Ends With You
Publisher : Square Enix
Handheld : Nintendo DS
Yeah, like you are so not playing the many many games of Square Enix. You know you are, I know you are, let's not beat around the bush. RPGs are not RPGs if at least half if not more of your favorites aren't Square Soft/Enix games. So with that out of the way, let's look at one of Square Enix's most recent innovative original fares that have captured your attention, and gaming time, The World Ends With You for the Nintendo DS.
You play as a headphone-wearing punk dude with a major chip on his shoulder as far as the world at large (which is a bit of an original thing since you usually end up playing as overtly socially conscious do-gooders out to save the world). Apparently people in general are not your strong suit, and you would rather if the whole world would just go away... so then you wake up in the middle of Shibuya district and suddenly the world just isn't paying attention to you anymore because apparently somebody went away and it wasn't the world at large.
It seems you have suddenly found yourself in a vicious cycle game called the Reaper Games, where strange humans called "Reapers" are making you and your new cute female companion (with her own backstory and troubles she's not too willing to share so quickly) have got to complete a daily task or be erased. You have seven days to play... then the game goes on and on and on (I heard someone say once they've went a few weeks worth of gameplay on this one though I have to admit I stopped before reaching the end of the first week review wise)... This is a physical RPG (using the stylus to hand out attacks and move yourself through the world) that is innovative in so many ways you can't believe how much this game brings you! It makes all past RPGs on the DS pale in comparison!
At first it seems like a typical hack and slash RPG set in the modern world, but once you start pounding down days you begin to open greater and greater depths of innovation that this game delivers (forget the fact the story is fresh and new, the writing is well done, the game is beautiful and the gameplay is solid).
First off, powers are handled not through magic but psyches unleashed through the use of strange little pins of many variations and powers. As you build power through use of your pins you can either max them out or cause them to evolve into new more powerful pins... and evolution doesn't always have to take place via gameplay (once you play enough of the game you gain an ability to gain PP in the pins you're presently using through the amount of time you DON'T play this game! The longer you are not playing the more PP you earn [so if you are planning to not play for a long time put in all the pins that need to be upgraded and you'll get them all upgraded when you go back to playing however long later you go back to it]).
The whole setting offers a ton of innovation! Creatures are no longer random encounters, the monsters (nicknamed "Noise") now must be sought out by yourself (though you still have some staged fights from time to time) using your first pin to seek them out (which also allows you to tap the thoughts of people around you that you can no longer interact with except sometimes through a
specific power of suggestion which you learn during gameplay). This is good since it means you can pick fights for yourself and not have it thrust on you anymore.
Upgrades are no longer simple armor and weapons. Pins of varying types have a great deal of offensive/defensive/healing or restorative powers (and sometimes pins serve a dual offensive/defensive ability, like this shield pin which inflicts damage on enemies trying to physically attack you, or a pin that allows you to manipulate physical objects as weapons against the Noise). You do have clothes to buy, and mixing and matching is important as style is as important as functionality in what you wear.
Food can be "eaten" or "drunk" to upgrade you, but you can only consume so much nutrition (or junk food in many cases) to upgrade, so you have to play abit of mix and match on that as well as you try to get the most use out of your food intake a day.
As I said above, style is important in this game (apparently you won't be let slid on just slapping on any old thing like you might have in past RPGs). Certain upgrade clothes (several types) have advantages in certain areas while others have disadvantages, this is all through a "brand" system where such and such brands of clothes are in style and others are not (which dictate the advantages and disadvantages said clothes imbues in you).
Darn, and I'm such a fashion disaster, no sense of style at all.
Then there's pin slammer, the multiplayer game that should bring back fond (or not so fond in some cases) memories of that Anime where everyone used spinning discs to battle... remember that one? I wish I didn't. This is actually fun, though I have only played practice with an AI opponent as I never really found real people playing this game to play against.. And considering how much time has passed since this game's release, I wonder if anyone can really find any real human opponents to play against. Darn.
Add a shop you can open up to service other players, the game itself (and its involving intense story with shocking twists and turns that'll keep you riveted throughout the game) and all the bells and whistles of fresh new original gameplay that is something you've never seen before (either on the DS or other handhelds like the PSP) and you got yourself Square Enix's best handheld game to date (of course now you have a ton of new RPGs to sink your teeth into these days, but this is one of those special games you should go out of your way to check out if you haven't done so already).
Going on a long trip (or stuck in long delays waiting to get somewhere over the holidays)? Here's a game that will be a great constant companion with you for the long haul. Something you'll find yourself going back to again and again throughout your trip, and well worth a spot in your traveling case when you take your next trip (and take your DS with you). An A for the fun enjoyable innovative RPG that smells of something fresh.
Next time: more video game stuff from David
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