The second part is to pimp a just-released game that I think is the best candidate (and thus, one you might want to check into as a possible recommendation to you). Ironically (or not), it's also published by Sega. That game is Resonance of Fate, it's an unconventional RPG, and it's by the same development team that made IMHO the best RPG of the previous generation. This game is getting buried under FF13, and it's a pity since if you were disappointed by FF13, maybe you should try this game instead.
Here is what the Japanese think of these games: D for FF13, S / A for ROF.
EuroGamer has the only western review so far, and it gave a 8/10, which is the same thing it gave FF13. But actually read the reviews and FF13 reads as a 7 at best, and ROF as a 9 at worst. (This is not only my opinion but shared by everyone in the comments.) Reading both is a very interesting exercise into how reviewers give scores based on the name of the game and name of the publisher. I want to quote the end of the ROF review here:
To me, that first paragraph reads like "sometimes this is the best JRPG of the generation, and the other times it's even better!"At times you'll have no doubts that this is the best JRPG of the generation, a fast-paced, interesting and creative detour from a stagnant mainstream. At other moments, usually when facing the tenth Game Over screen during a difficult boss battle, you'll wonder whether the game suffers from poor balance, born from its developer's stubborn insistence on novelty for the sake of it.
Either way, by the end of the adventure you'll be certain that Resonance of Fate's approach is a one-time affair, unlikely to inspire any copycats. Its ideas are simply too leftfield, and too fully realised to be closely imitated.
Nevertheless, this is a hugely interesting game, as fascinating as it is frequently frustrating, as engaging as it is eccentric and, for those who are hooked by its quirky charms, it will provide one of the most inspired approaches to the JRPG seen in a decade.
For those that didn't bother reading the review, here are some random selling points for me:
- fucking awesome and actually challenging battle system based on positioning and execution (subtract 1-2 review points out of 10 for difficulty since publisher's name is not Atlus)
- awesome dystopian setting and focus on a small group of three people vs the system just like Breath of Fire 5
- a JRPG with guns and no magic (omg I know) and the main character is actually like 30 years old
- the ability to customize your guns with all sorts of hilarious and crazy shit
- the ability to customize almost every aspect of your characters' outfits and have them reflected everywhere (what is this, a WRPG?)
- day / night system, these always rule
- lots of optional sidequests and shit, nonlinear overworld exploration
- music by Motoi Sakuraba plus Kohei Tanaka, who does lots of anime stuff I've never watched but is highly regarded... but also composed Xardion, which (I kid you not) is one of my favorite game soundtracks of all fucking time
- available for both PS3 and 360 (on one disc for both versions!! sweet that means low cutscenes), both versions essentially identical so get what you prefer
- soft save anywhere! soft, not hard, so noobs will still cry
- published by Sega and not Square Enix because head developer said (to paraphrase) "we went with Sega because this is too awesome/unconventional for SE and they are pussies who wouldn't let us try this"
- I dunno what else because I haven't even played it yet (more in a sec) and I don't follow gaming news so that Eurogamer review is basically all I know!
- edit: oh yeah, doesn't matter to me but there is full Japanese vocal track included as an option, although the English VA is supposed to be really good
I wasn't going to include the ROF part of this post, but after my experience buying this game yesterday (I am on spring break so I won't get a chance to play until I return to my apartment), I figured "wow, maybe this game really is going to go under the radar." (I still underestimate the influence of having SE on your cover I guess.)
This story isn't interesting but it is demonstrative. I went to the local Gamestop and asked for the game. The guy said "Residents of Fate? Is that even a game?" which I thought was awesome but an easily offendable and serious customer might be upset at, lol. This dude might be fired some day. Anyway, he couldn't find it, even after getting another guy to help and look it up, because in fact there was none. So they called the nearest Gamestop in the next town, and after finding out they had exactly one copy available, I went and got it there. I've had to jump through more hoops to get a newly released game before, but that's usually a game like a niche 2d shooter like Heavenly Guardian or something. This is a game by the people who made Star Ocean 3 (which sold a bajillion copies in the west) and published by the people who make Sonic. But maybe Sega is the new Atlus.
