Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization. 

Fire Emblem: Fates

Those familiar with Fire Emblem will find the next 3DS entry very familiar and just as beautiful as the previous one. An amazing voice cast and tons of characters that resonate with the player await their Fates in this epic saga.

It’s been sort of sad to see how all major game development in Japan has winded down, shifting away from consoles and handhelds to mobiles and tablets over the last few years. The company that has been most representative of this trend has been Square Enix, that has tried, with very little success, to get its feet wet in the smartphone gaming scene.

That little success might be exactly why it is switching back to consoles so enthusiastically recently- after Final Fantasy Type 0 HD, Final Fantasy XV, Dragon Quest Heroes, and Kingdom Hearts 3, it appears Square Enix has more in the pipeline for the Xbox One and/or PlayStation 4- and they will be letting us know exactly what later this year.

Speaking to Japanese publication Nikkei, the CEO of Square Enix Yosuke Matsuda had this to say.

“At the moment, we have major titles such as Dragon Quest Heroes and Final Fantasy Type-0 HD. In 2015, I believe we will offer a vast number of high-end games in both the domestic market and overseas. Now that we’ve already announced Final Fantasy XV, we will also reveal  information on [another] JRPG. I believe we have a bit of a surprise in store for this year.”

“I can’t say much for now, but it’s a JRPG for consoles,” he added. “Also, our western studios have the latest Tomb Raider title with Rise of the Tomb Raider, Just Cause 3, and many other titles that I believe we can have high expectations of. For now, we’re preparing all kinds of things for E3.”

So that means that it is definitively a Japan developed RPG for the home consoles. As to what this might be…

Could Dragon Quest XI possibly be returning to consoles?

[Thanks for the translation, Siliconera]

Following the lives of two young and very adventurous ladies, set in a world that’s buried beneath the sands of the Dusk Sea. The tale of tragedy and depression that one would expect from such a scenario is in itself all but buried, and this is down to its amazing characters and the journey that the player embarks upon.

Starting off at a fairly slow pace and presenting its first two characters under the impression that players are familiar with the lore, there’s no real background information given on the game’s main characters or any useful dialogue being spoken on who they are, other than their mission at hand in reference to the game’s main story.

"Starting off at a fairly slow pace and presenting it's first two characters under the impression that players are familiar with the lore. "

While this sounds like a bad idea at first, one that over-estimates its reputation and awareness, it actually works in delivering an interesting prologue towards the rest of the game. After this brief introduction ends and the game fools you in to believing that these are the only two characters that players will be embodying, an interesting turn of events take place as the player is given control of an additional character.

Just like the two characters prior, the player is given little information on who she is other than her main goal within the game’s story. The game sets itself up nicely here and it delivers a stunning introductory cut-scene, before giving the player a choice of which character’s story they would prefer to experience.

The first choice on-hand follows Shallistera, a young Alchemist Princess journeying across the Dusk Sea in search of help so that she may save her village and restore water to her people. The second choice being offered to the player and arguably one that’s less interesting is the story of Shallotte.

"The game sets itself up nicely here and it delivers a stunning introductory cut-scene, before giving the player a choice of which character's story they would prefer to experience."

Sweeping the streets of Stellard and taking up mundane tasks in order to get by, Shallotte is a self taught Alchemist who has big dreams of being rich and famous, so that she can support herself and her mother, as well as proving to the people of Stellard that there’s more to who she is other than being the town’s street sweeper.

Something which stood out to me after deciding on my choice of character and entering the game was its unique difficulty setting. The game does well in catering its difficulty setting in two key ways. The first is game balancing and this ties in to enemy health points, experience gains, and character bonuses.

The second of which is general tolerance the JRPG genre itself. By simplifying how the game actually plays and delivers its hints and tutorial systems within its easiest difficulty setting. This eliminates any doubts that players may have about the game being to intense for their liking. The same can be applied in reverse order for those looking to gain the full experience of the game by playing on its most difficult setting.

As the two main characters of the game make use of alchemy for their basis of combat tactics and skill progression, item crafting plays an important role within the majority of the game’s mechanics. Star fruit, gunpowder, supplements, shelbani flour, and so on all serve as materials and items that can be combined in a variety of different ways, that each produce different side-effects and benefits towards the character’s attacks, health, and strength.

"The first is game balancing and this ties in to enemy health points, experience gains, and character bonuses."

Where materials and items can be acquired by traversing the game’s small environments and by defeating enemies, players will also come across NPCs in villages and towns selling alternative items that will not be found elsewhere in the game. Only in JRPGs will you find people selling milk, herbs, water, and trash in the same shop. No seriously, people are selling actual trash from the bin. While I would love to say “One man’s trash is an Alchemist’s….” No I really can’t do it, it’s just trash.

While there’s certainly a lot more to cover, something of which the game could do a better job in explaining. As the player is most likely going to come across more materials than knowledge on what to actually do with them, even on the lowest of difficulty players may still feel overwhelmed. It’s simple enough to just ignore these crafting elements but in some cases it’s something of a requirement, should the player actually wish to progress their character’s stats and actually push forward through the game.

Mission structure in the game works on a basis of traveling to a given location displayed on a map, exploring the divided sandboxes within the area, and complete the task that’s been assigned to the character. As these missions largely involve searching for a particular item or person, defeating the enemies that inhabit these areas, and crafting new items and skills from what the player has discovered.

" Only in JRPGs will you find people selling milk, herbs, water, and trash in the same shop."

Even with the game’s importance on storytelling the missions themselves don’t do much in reflecting its theme and tone. At times it just felt like scavenge and craft even though there’s a lot more to it, and as good as the characters are at portraying the overall importance of these missions and how it references to the larger goals at hand, in all honesty, gameplay feels and plays like fetch quests.

Given Shallistera’s missions in the game which consist of running errands in exchange for help towards her primary goal, there’s a slight sense of irony overlooking the entire game. That’s not to say it’s not enjoyable but as to how well this can sustain the player’s interest in the hopes that the game will diversify itself is another question entirely.

Where missions do diversify themselves come in the form of side missions, these revolve around the character’s feelings and personality towards the game’s NPCs and narrative. These are divided in to body, mind, skill, and person. Thankfully these can be of worthwhile and they do well to tie-in to the main game. It’s just a shame the primary missions don’t do much in the way of standing out or being all that different from one another.

"Where missions do diversify themselves come in the form of side missions, these revolve around the character's feelings and personality towards the games NPCs and narrative. "

Players looking to make the most of the game’s alchemy mechanics, through the use of crafting items and becoming familiar with the game’s combat system will be the ones who hold no quarrels with the game’s repetitive mission structure when engaging in its narrative. Thankfully the game’s combat system is quite enjoyable regardless, as are the enemies that the player will encounter.

Working on a system of turn-based combat, players engage in battle as a party and interact using four key mechanics. Attack, defend, special skill, and run. Each being self-explanatory to their actions, damage count and player health is based on the characters own progression and side effects which come from carrying different crafts of alchemy and items.

Should players do well in battle by inflicting enough damage on to their opponents, a special group attack will be available that allows all members of the player’s party to attack as a unit. While the combat system could be improved in explaining itself in terms of how the system exactly functions, and how certain battle conditions are met, battles can prove to be enjoyable and satisfying. Assuming the player wins the given battle of course.

" Thankfully the game's combat system is quite enjoyable regardless, as are the enemies that the player will encounter."

Much like the rest of the game Atelier Shallie plays host to a visual style that captures both its charm and bubbly nature. Although the game’s world is small in scope, the division among such areas feels truly unnecessary, its illustrative style of colorful anime characters succeed in giving life to its world and making it feel like there’s something worth exploring, something there that’s more than meets the eye.

Due to the replayability of the game being given from its overlapping narrative that is told from the perspective of two different and interesting protagonists, there’s certainly a great deal of content here for players looking for an entertaining and long-lasting journey. One that serves in delivering both solid gameplay mechanics and a quantifiable amount of choices for players wanting to make the most of what the game has to offer.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation3.

Man, with all of this hype, the PlayStation Experience Event that Sony has planned for early December better be worth it.

At this point, we already know the developers who will be participating in the event. We know some of the games they plan on showing off. These games range from first party to third party, indie to AAA, western to Japanese, and cover the full range of genres. Now, an insider is adding fuel to the fire of the hype, and telling us that PlayStation 4 JRPG will also be present at the event.

Industry insider Tidux has been known to make at least some correct assessments in the past, and, relating to JRPGs and the PlayStation Experience, he said, rather cryptically, ‘All good things come to he who waits.’

Of course, this could mean any number of things- we might be getting a better look at any one of the multitude of JRPGs already announced for the system (Final Fantasy XV, Ys, Kingdom Hearts 3, Persona 5); then again, we might just be seeing something altogether new. What could it possibly be? Would it be the revival of an old franchise, or an altogether new one? Could we, perhaps, be seeing the triumphant return of Dragon Quest to PlayStation with Dragon Quest XI announced for PS4?

We’ll see. Stay tuned to GamingBolt for all coverage.

While the world is currently enamoured with the reveal of Sony’s Cloud computing service for the PlayStation 4, dubbed PlayStation Now, don’t expect every single developer to hop on the bandwagon immediately. One such developer is Creative Intelligence Arts Inc., which is currently developing Project Phoenix for the PC, PS4 and PS Vita.

When we spoke to director Hiroaki Yura about utilizing features such as Cloud computing on the console, he replied, “Cloud computing is a bit of a touchy subject due to DRM issues. We recognize the convenience of having things like saved files to the cloud to make it easier to access your saved games on all your devices. Because this debate is still raging internally within our development team, we will let people know once we’ve come to a decision.”

Yura also quashed any expectations of Phoenix using the DualShock 4’s special features, such as the touchscreen, at this point. “There are no plans for making use of the DualShock’s 4 touchscreen since we want to focus on providing a solid game experience first and foremost. Again, things may change once we get our hands on our PS4 devkits.”

As of now, both decisions are currently pending and who knows? We may see Project Phoenix utilize both when it finally comes out. What are your thoughts on the game and on PlayStation Now? Let us know in the comments below.

Industry insider Ahsan Rasheed (better known as thuway on popular gaming forum NeoGaf) believes that the PlayStation 4 will gain 66 to 70 percent of market share when all is said and done, occupying two-thirds of the market over its competitor, the Xbox One.

However, it’s not all good news at Sony according to the man. “I’ve heard folks at Sony are both excited and afraid of the PS4’s momentum. Things are being read carefully, and lids are being sealed.” He continued, “It’s scary how much momentum Sony has going forward. I expect PS4 to gain 66-70% market share once the dust settles.”

But that’s not all. Sony is apparently working on a Japanese RPG for the PlayStation 4. Details are vague though. “I heard something about Sony’s internal JRPG on PS4, but it’s vague, and I’ll leave it up to the original source to break it. He’s around.”

What are your thoughts on these developments? As of now, Sony is expanding its influence around the globe with the PS4 set to launch in India and Japan in January and February respectively. It’s also sold more than 2.1 million units worldwide as of December, first week. How much further could it go? We’ll need to wait and find out but the Xbox One certainly has its work cut out for it.

Ubisoft is working on Child of Light, a gorgeous 2D sidescroller that is made on the same engine as Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends, and is inspired by classic JRPGs like Final Fantasy VI. The aim is to make it look like a ‘living painting.’

The game will allegedly be a 2D sidescroller, but it will have battles inspired by classic JRPGs. It is apparently being developed by the creative director for Far Cry 3.

The debut of this game is not for another two weeks, sadly, but we do have some concept art (above), along with a nice, short Vine video that you can check here.

No platforms have been announced for Child of Light yet naturally, though it is reasonable to expect Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC versions at the very least. Given that it is on the Rayman engine, which is optimized for Wii U, it might be coming to Nintendo’s struggling system too; a PlayStation Vita version might not be out of the question either.

Finally, if it comes to Wii U, there remains a possibility that it also hits Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

We’ll have details for you either way in a couple of weeks so stay tuned.

If you enjoy a game, it is well scored. End of story. If you don’t agree with such a review, it’s probably because your tastes are a little different to the reviewer in question. Time and Eternity presents a particular issue then for, though it mechanically falters at various points, I had an immensely enjoyable time playing through it.

I enjoyed Imageepoch’s recent JRPG because it appeals to every one of my bizarre and esoteric interests. So here’s what you need to know about me: I love JRPGs, have a soft-spot for hugely clichéd anime and am more than willing to forgive technical flaws if a game has ambition. Time and Eternity plays up all three of these things, with ridiculous plot threads wrapped around a cool real time battle system and topped off with an innovative animation style that merges 3D rendered backgrounds with lavish 2D sprites.

Set in a pseudo-medieval kingdom, Time and Eternity sees princess Toki preparing for her wedding. On the big day though, assassins attack killing her almost husband in the ensuing melee. Toki is able to fend off the rest of the attackers thanks to Towa, the other half of her split personality that has more gall than the dainty princess we are initially introduced to. The plot becomes even more ridiculous when it turns out every member of the royal family can control time, so Toki/Towa go back in time to prevent the assassins from attacking her wedding in the first place.

"Many will disagree, but Time and Eternity's stereotypical character roster and over the top fan service all add up to give the feeling that the writers new exactly what they were doing when they penned this "so bad it's good" plot. "

As if the ridiculous meter wasn’t already full, the spirit of the husband travels back with her, but accidentally gets misplaced inside the body of Toki’s pet dragon. What ensues is an absurd love story between a princess with a serious mental illness and a dragon with a human’s soul, and this is seen by the other characters as totally acceptable. It’s one of the stupidest premises for a game ever, and that is why it is so brilliant.

Many will disagree, but Time and Eternity’s stereotypical character roster and over the top fan service all add up to give the feeling that the writers new exactly what they were doing when they penned this “so bad it’s good” plot. Think of films like The Room, Birdemic and Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus and you’re in the right ball park. I’m sure some may feel I’m covering for weak writing with my analysis, but the inclusion of a transformation scene when Toki and Towa switch personalities is too extreme in its presentation to be anything but a self aware reference to some of the stranger idiosyncrasies of anime.

Adding to the anime fan pleasing is the visuals. Many said the cel-shading boom in the mid-2000s was creating games that looked like anime, but Time and Eternity is the closest a game has ever come to capturing such delicate animations. Beautifully crafted 2D sprites are layered upon 3D backgrounds for a unique effect. It isn’t without flaws, of course.

"Speaking of battles, Time and Eternity's battle system does a good job of silencing the usual hate people level at RPGs."

The 3D environments look like something out of an N64 game, and the character animations tend to be repeated in story sequences where they don’t feel relevant. I understand drawing so many frames must have been demanding, but it still seems cheap. This is made all the worse by Toki and Towa’s animations being identical. Whilst I’m sure this saved a huge chunk of development time, the dainty animations for Toki just don’t seem right when performed by the more aggressive and energetic character of Towa.

The sound likewise is a mixed bag, and often in ways you wouldn’t expect. English and Japanese audio with subtitles are available and, as you may have guessed, the English voice cast is disgracefully bad. Switching to the Japanese audio is a better choice but, whilst the acting is much better, there is still some really low quality voice recording going on at Imageepoch. Though the majority of the soundtrack is fairly forgettable, Yuzo Koshiro of Streets of Rage, Sonic and Shenmue soundtrack fame lends a cracking battle theme.

Speaking of battles, Time and Eternity’s battle system does a good job of silencing the usual hate people level at RPGs. Players control Toki or Towa in a one on one fight against an enemy, using a combination of basic attacks, special skills and guards/dodges to get the jump on their foe. All this takes place in real time, lending battles a real sense of speed.

"Grind is one word I would certainly use to describe Time and Eternity but, much like the rest of its RPG elements, the grind is wrapped in a very user-friendly shell. "

The roster of skills becomes a boon later on, particularly as you learn to manage the “gifts” that grant Toki and Towa new skills. Battles do become undeniably repetitive though. The problem comes in the enemy AI, which uses the same attack patterns every time you face them, rather than adapting to the player’s fighting style.

This repetition is alleviated by Toki’s split personality. Rather than being merely a plot device, the multiple personality disorder of the heroine means that she changes back and forth every time you level up. Subtle differences between the two characters keep you on your toes accordingly, with Toki’s long range proficiency making for a different game to Towa’s more aggressive melee skills. Though monotony can definitely set in due to the high encounter rate, Time and Eternity manages to hit a pretty good rhythm that alleviates much of the grind.

Grind is one word I would certainly use to describe Time and Eternity but, much like the rest of its RPG elements, the grind is wrapped in a very user-friendly shell. Maps are clear and concise, albeit often sparse in content. Likewise, side-quests, though repetitive and of the basic fetch quest variety, are plentiful and concise.

"Time and Eternity stands toe to toe with many of the RPG greats in some ways. Fresh combat ideas, a massive amount of content and beautiful visuals are but some of the areas where it excels, but the next Final Fantasy 7 this is not. "

Level ups also come quickly, resulting in a gameplay experience that, though sometimes lacking in variety, has a swift and satisfying pace. There is no doubt Time and Eternity has issues with repetition, most notably in the later game, but there is usually always something to look forward to. Whether it be a level up and the chance to switch character, or the undercooked but rewarding dating sim elements that see you balancing the dragon’s affection between Toki and Towa, there’s a lot to love here.

Time and Eternity stands toe to toe with many of the RPG greats in some ways. Fresh combat ideas, a massive amount of content and beautiful visuals are but some of the areas where it excels, but the next Final Fantasy 7 this is not. It has all the trappings of a game that should reinvent the genre for a new audience.

Battles are first and fun, and there’s not a hint of angst or world saving anywhere in Time and Eternity’s hilarious script. Still, it taps into a series of anime and JRPG tropes that many will misunderstand, and even more will just find alienating or annoying. If you’re anything like me though (an angsty gamer with a passion for RPGs and cheesy anime romantic comedies), Time and Eternity deserves your attention. Where its mechanics fail, its ambition stays strong and righteous, and we really need more games doing that sort of thing at the moment.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 3.

A new project called Soul Saga has just recently reached one of its stretch goals that will allow the developers release the game for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Wii U. Originally, the game was coming to PC, but now it’s also coming to Sony’s next-generation console, their handheld PlayStation Vita and the Nintendo’s Wii U.

Soul Saga is inspired by games like Breath of Fire and Final Fantasy in order to create a new and memorable Japanese role-playing game experience. Many fans have been craving for a new JRPG game for a while now.

Pledging $25 bucks or so will grant the supporters a digital copy of the game on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PC, Linux and even Mac which is in my opinion a sweet deal.

Check out Soul Saga’s Kickstarter page right here and let us know what you think of the game in the comments below.

Check back on GamingBolt for more updates and news on Soul Saga.

Namco Bandai has officially announced the Limited Edition of Tales of Xillia.

The Limited Edition of Tales of Xillia will include 2 Downloadable Content Costumes, Special Limited Edition Packaging, Tales of Xilla itself, Soundtrack CD and an Art-book with Character Profiles. The Limited Edition will only cost $59.99, those who pre-order the regular edition will automatically be bumped up to the limited edition.

Tales of Xillia has been out in Japan for quite a while now since 2011 and now North America and Canada are finally getting the Japanese RPG treat on August 6th 2013.

Let us know if you’re looking forward to playing Tales of Xillia later this summer on your PlayStation 3 in the comments below.

Check back on GamingBolt for more updates and our review of the game in the coming months.