Ben-DutkaI suppose it's Memorial Day weekend but it's just another Saturday, Sunday, Monday for me. If you honestly think we won't update on Monday…you haven't been here very long.
Square-Enix's "shocking RPG" is our big secret…!
You know how we told you our secret PlayStation 3 exclusive title would likely be announced in July ? And remember the rumor that Square-Enix is going to reveal a "shocking RPG" before E3? …don't you think it all fits together really nicely? Well, it does, because the new exclusive that we've kept secret all this time is… Final Fantasy Tactics 2 . No, really. …okay, it's not. I've long since given up hope on that and this works into my point: I'm starting to give up hope on any new S-E announcements about which I can become excited. It always turns out to be some new portable game (usually for the DS), or some other project that doesn't interest me in the slightest. At this point, I really feel silly every time I fall for one of their supposed "shocking" games, because they almost always turn out to be something their long-time fans don't want . Amazing how that keeps happening.
By the way, sorry for possibly misleading you, but you must've seen it coming…besides, I already said the exclusive has nothing to do with Final Fantasy .
Hmm…my most anticipated sequel…
Although it didn't manage to snag any of our 2009 Game of the Year Awards, inFamous still holds a special place in my heart this generation. It was unbridled fun from start to finish and I'm totally psyched that the sequel might be unmasked very soon . I'm fully expecting it to show up at E3 but in the meantime, I hope we're looking at an example of how a developer sticks to a winning formula. The initial design was great, the gameplay was great, and the control was excellent. So don't mess with any of that, Sucker Punch. Give me a new city, maybe some new skills, a new story, and I'm happy. The idea that every game has to be innovative or unique in some fashion in order for it to be considered "elite" doesn't sit well with me. Most recently, I turn to Uncharted 2 , which didn't really do anything different or revolutionary but remains arguably the best game of the generation (and one of the best ever, too). For the record, if we're talking about sequels, I also really want Dead Space 2 and Dragon Age: Origins 2 .
I'd mention Gran Turismo 5 , but for some reason, I have trouble calling anything beyond a second title a "sequel." I just call them "more installments." Weird, I know.
Personal gaming update
So as some of you have already surmised after reading about that Alpha Protocol developer , I have been playing Obsidian's latest, along with NaturalMotion's Backbreaker . Both reviews are embargoed until the launch dates for each game (both are June 1) so you'll see them right around that time. Actually, one of them is already written; I'll finish the other one tomorrow. Alpha Protocol almost isn't worth talking about and I can't really do that until Tuesday, anyway, so… Same goes for Backbreaker , although I will say it's kinda fun and even original but sports a few glaring flaws. I should also be getting Naughty Bear later in the week, which I'm looking forward to…it just seems like the perfect combination of silly and sadistic. LOL Beyond that, we're sort of starting the summer drought so maybe I can finally have a bit of a break.
I still have to go back and finish Nier and 3D Dot Game Heroes , and then start Red Dead Redemption afresh. With the downtime, I want to turn to upgrading/expanding PSXE again; we've added the User Reviews, which people seem to like, we're giving away a few original game soundtracks to a few great contributors (I have the soundtracks right here in front of me), and I think next, I'm going to push for a podcast (provided Arnold has the time). But we may ask you guys again before deciding on the next site advancement. 🙂
Hey, I know this is off topic, but anyone notice that a lot of celebraties have been dying lately; or is it just me?
Hopper was expected. He'd been suffering for a while now.
Sucks, i never like much of his movies but he was a smart guy and how can we forget the greatest stand off and F U ever in True Romance with him and Christoper Walken.
"No — I'm quotin', it's history, it's written."
Last edited by Jawknee on 5/29/2010 9:53:42 PM
2 summers in a row
Almost scared me there a minute Ben, FFT was never my type of game and I wouldn't have any interest in another one. But you're right, their announcements never make old school Square fans happy or even content. I fully expect FFVersusXIII to go multiplat at E3 actually.
I'm psyched for inFamous 2 as well, I was surprised inFamous didn't make any GOTY lists, that game was just sweet. It made Prototype look like a joke.
Playing: SOIV, RDR, need to make time to finish 3DDot. Waiting on the shelf to get me through the drought: Wet, Nier, X-blades, Fallout 3 expansions.
ahh same here. I just would have rather seen something else be the announcement as oppose to that, though I never tried it but for some reason I think of Fire Emblem when I hear its name… which means I probably would like it.
lol Prototype made Prototype look like a joke.
Lol that's the truth Jawk
Don't say it world, maybe if we keep quiet they won't think about making Versus XIII multiplat. anymore.
aaah, you fooled me. I've given up. Square has just been one disappointment after another. They would have to keep Versus XIII exclusive and blow my mind like Uncharted 2 and God of War III in order to redeem themselves.
Sadly, i have little hope this will happen.
i think my most anticipated sequels are inFamous 2 and Killzone 3.
I'm gonna go ahead and agree with you there as well. I'm incredibly excited about Infamous 2 coming (hopefully) soon.
And I'm hoping I can enjoy Killzone 3 more than I did with KZ 2. I'm not saying it was bad (obviously not), I just didn't have a great time playing it.
I'm all for killzone 3 as long as those jetpacks dont turn into halo jumps. thats the thing that pissed me off with halo online. once they get shot once they just jump away. add to that the regenerating shield, its just gets damn irritating. I'm not that into killzone 3s 3d because i felt like an idiot playing Batman GOTY with those stupid ass cardboard glasses while others watched me play. I dont think having something that actually feels like glasses would make it feel any better.
by the way, i'm pretty torn on whether i want to see those "daughters of henlgan" the guy was babbling about in that oppening speech on killzone 2. hahaha
Last edited by johnld on 5/30/2010 3:36:16 AM
So Kingdom Hearts III is considered related to Final Fantasy because of the cast of characters right?
Not that I really think thats the game anymore, but square better freakin announce it soon!
I would associate the two with one another.
It's a sad state of affairs for me, I love FF characters and can't stand anything Disney. I did try those games but couldn't get over that awful mix.
ah world thats too bad. I admit the game was cheesy at times but nothing too bad. Then again I love anything Disney since I grew up watching every single one of their movies too many times to count.
I can't fight side by side with Goofy, I…just…can't… do it.
Say, we never did get Ben's verdict on if he liked the KH series or not. How bout it Ben?
I need to play an RPG….
Anyone got any recommendations?
Right now Killzone 3 and inFamous 2 are my most anticipated sequels. I'm wondering how amazing Killzone 3 will look in 3D; I bet it's an entirely new experience, almost.
White Knight Chronicles (if you haven't already) or Star Ocean 4 (again if you haven't) are good bets. Record of Agarest War is getting mixed reviews but generally positive, so it might be worth a shot if you like heavily turn based SRPGs with a truckload of Anime fan service.
ha you beat me to it Highlander. lol
I've never played an RPG…
I've been wanting to try White Knight Chronicles but I'm not sure if it'll be great for me since I have no experience with RPGs.
Eternal Sonata was a good one too. Calculator it sounds like you are just going to have to take the plunge and find out if you like em or not. If you aren't into Japanese RPGs there's always Fallout 3, Oblivion, or Dragon Age: Origins.
Get Demons Souls if you are keen for a challenge 8)
@calculator:
'White Knight Chronicles' actually might be a really good place to start.
I think Level-5 make great RPGs for both those who love more traditional entries in the genre and for beginners.
I would suggest starting out with Valkyria Chronicles if your not fully to make the RPG plunge. Valkyria Chronicles is an SRPG which has a nice blend third person controls with first person actions that is still stat based. The game has enough variety too keep you engaged without getting boring and repetitive.
Go download FFVII. $10 will get you one of the best RPGs of all time. Go. Now.
I'd vote for Dragon age: origins as a good place to start because it's not too complicated technically and has a very clear main story to follow. Plus it's a darn good game. 🙂
LOL! An announcement from Square Enix anyone cares about? You need a time warp to go back about 5 years for one of those…
That summer drought will be a good time to catch up and finish games. Definitely a plus. That said, it won't be a long drought, E3 will bring lots of news, and of course there will be the usual rumors of a price cut on the PS3 and a new PSP at the turn of the year or next summer or 2012 or whenever…
I haven't done a reader review lately, mostly because I haven't had much time to play anything. Lack of time is crimping my style in multiple ways.
Last edited by TheHighlander on 5/29/2010 10:09:06 PM
Its kinda odd that we are arent really getting a drought in Japan. We have White Knight Chronicles 2 coming in July and Atelier Totori coming in late June.
inFamous 2 is gonna be great! If they kept everything up to the same standards apart from taking care of the sometimes-slow framerate, random glitches and other issues like enemy variety, this could be a sequel on the level of Uncharted 2. With the cliffhanger they left us with in the original, the storyline could go in many compelling directions…
Last edited by Kowhoho on 5/29/2010 10:14:48 PM
Ben you fooled me with the SE bit. I am not expecting anything great from them.
I hope to hear some news about infamous 2 when E3 gets here. in Famous was one of the best games of 2009. ( It's strange beginning a sentence with a small case letter ).
I've been playing Red Dead Redemption and Modnation Racers. I made a kart in MR that someone evidently complained about. I put pot leaves on the hood and received a notice from the sysadmin saying in the subject line: "Gor-D has commented on your 'Tokin' 2.0' creation". But all the sysadmin wrote in the comment section was "420!!!". So I guess they're okay with it.
That is freaking hilarious… I was reading your comment expecting something bad but that just literally made me laugh out loud. I just picture this pothead as the sysadmin just toking it up and having the munchies.
Good story, keep on tokin then I say.
I deleted it and re-published it with "420!!!" in the kart details.
That is pretty funny that someone would have a problem with that. We are after all talking about a plant that is natural to the earth, and is perfectly legal to enjoy in certain parts of the world. And Mod Racer is a game played 'round the world.
PODCASTS!!!!!!
Thank you Ben
And about Square-Enix new title, I can just think that if it's Wada & co. I'll pass, but if it's Nomura & co. I think it'll turn out good. Besides it's a sequel to something, because Ben said that he saw the title appear on the comments section, and most of the titles that people guessed were PS1 classics' sequels (like xenogears, chrono something, etc.) So it better be something good.
Last edited by hellish_devil on 5/29/2010 10:27:01 PM
I enjoyed InFamous as well and I still need to play it through "infamously" too. It's one of the few games where I felt compelled to do the evil side after having finished it as hero. If I have any suggestions it would be to tighten up the code a bit. I ran into several bugs, including a real insane one where the side mission got so chaotic that the game somehow forgot to complete the mission I completed.. yah, I still don't understand what happened. And one of the times I went through the city asphalt and got stuck UNDER the city. Crappy but funny at the same time.
As for E3 sequels that I hope get revealed. I'm hopeful for Ninja Gaiden 3, Dead or Alive 5, Shenmue 3, Twisted Metal (I think this is the super secret exclusive) a Virtua Fighter follow up, and of course, Infamous 2. We already know about KZ3 and Uncharted 3 is basically a lock.
I'm also real curious if Tomonobo Itagaki will unveil whatever his current project is… hopefully not a silly bizarre game like DOA XVB.
I would welcome both DOA5 and a new DOAXV on the PS3, love me some fighting and some boobage. 🙂
Yep, It's not FF Tactics 2 because its FF7. I know it.
I wouldn't listen too closely to the voices in your head on that one.
Many people want that game but I an't seeing it happening. Sorry.
I'm not seeing anything worth being positive or excited about from SE at this point. They continue to ruin their reputation and lose faith many of their long time fans, including me, had in them.
Ben already posted that the secret game isn't anything FF related.
However you can still hope thats the shocking RPG announcement Square is going on about. I for one say it better be KHIII
@stangman80
let me rephrase that for you. Many people want that so wada wont let it happen. hahaha. maybe if everyone said we didnt want it then it'll be done. Wada is very in touch with the fans, just dont want to make them happy.
Ben, that's a rather self-serving joke, don't you think? Okay, I know that Final Fantasy has a huge legion of followers, and Tactics is likely no exception, but the only FF I've played is Dissidia. Thinking about picking up FFXIII next month if I can find it cheap somwhere.
As far as S-E's 'shocker', well, I'm inclined to think that it'll be the fourth entry in the Fabula Crystallis Nova compilation, Heraesus, or whatever the hell it was. And as for you're secret exclusive, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you are intentionally misleading us and guess at FFVII remake or Twisted Metal. Not that I'd be particularly interested in the latter.
As for my most anticipated sequel. Valkyria Chronicles 2. Playing through the original at a very, very slow rate (bought it three weeks ago and only up to chapter 5). The rest of my time is occupied by Fallout 3: GOTY edition, Red Dead Redemption, work and reading Lolita. Great book. Reviews on the games coming when I get more of a feel for them, or finish them, whichever I prefer.
P.S. Podcast would be cool, but not for me as I have no real internet connection. :'(. Working off a wireless modem.
Until next time, Peace and Law be with you all.
My wireless cable internet serves me pretty well.
Aye, but correct me if I'm wrong, that is still a broadband connection? See I should have clarified that it is actually running off the 3G network, not a cable network. I'm not much of a techhead, so if I'm wrong, I apologise for any misunderstanding on my part in advance.
Peace Mr. Ninja. (Oh yes, I should mention that I've been visiting this site for over two years and only signed up last week. I love the idea of reader reviews.)
Woa, dude, if you've been coming here for awhile you know I don't launch pointless assaults on people, I just thought that your wireless might need some tweaking, but I see you meant a different sort of wireless altogether. The ninja is always at peace until attacked.
Don't worry lad, I didn't consider it an assault. A simple misunderstanding, nothing more. No offence taken and I hope none given. (I seem altogether too polite don't I, in this modern day and age?)
Peace.
FFT is an awesome awesome game, I still play it with SOTN ,Silent Hill 1,Metal Gear ,Resident Evil 2 and FFVII . those games are my fav on the Ps1.
FFT2 would be a day one purchase for me.
Last edited by Oxvial on 5/29/2010 11:57:41 PM
Poor Alpha Protocol … so it's bad eh Ben? That's a shame. The premise sounded really good. I guess that's why we read reviews though. You play the crap so we don't have to.