Western & Japanese RPGs

 http://penny-arcade.com/patv/episode/western-japanese-rpgs-part-3
Please watch the series in the Link above before reading my thoughts below. 

Wow this series started off with a bang, I thought they were going to play it equal and show some real truth. But slowly it started to add in concepts that I don't follow. Starting with Abnegation. I don't know the last time I played an RPG, Western or Japanese, when I wanted to turn my brain off. Sure, I play these games to release stress, but if I'm so stressed after work that I need to turn my brain off. The last thing I want to do is play a game and screw up on a boss / dungeon ect because my brain is off.  Second there is the "Menus based combat" argument. Sure in the 80s and early 90s it might not have been as engaging as action or shooting games, but it gave a lot more options to your combat than those games had. Also now it boils down to more strategy. I don't want to say that JRPG gamers (or RPG gamers in general) are more intelligent than other gamers.  But it does take quit a bit more thought and time to decide what you want to do within a menus as you plan your moves/equip items/ ect than it does to mash buttons (no offense to the tales games). Though I agree that many JRPGs have fallen short because they are aiming (IMO) Moe crap or overly cinematic stories with no actual substance or deep and provocative story telling. But when they claim that "DQIX" and Dark Souls are games that should be "given money" for I cringe. Those games are more Western based in much of their execution than other games. Their stories are almost non-existent, which is the opposite of why I play many JRPGs, and the opposite of why this show says JRPG were superiors. Aren't there plenty of games (many of them overlooked) that have great stories that weren't mentioned and aren't "WRPG" styled/inspired?  Games that come to mind are Radiant Historia, Nier, Shin Megami strange Journey, Resonance of Fate, ect. These are "newer" JRPGs that have a solid and deep story, why not give them some money?  Long story short, this started off awesome but ended up missing the mark completely. At least in my opinion.

幻想水滸伝 紡がれし百年の時 プロモーションムービー Gensou Suikoden "The weaving of hundred years time" for PsVITA

A new trailer for the new Suikoden game for Playstation Vita.  Much more of the story and action can be seen. I can't wait!
プレイステーション・ヴィータの新しい水滸伝のトレーラ。　最もの話とアクションが現れる。超楽しそう！発売を待てないよ！

Phone Dating

According to Famitsu.com Dating Sims are coming to the Android Phone OS. Of course this will probably be Japan only. But it is still interesting...now people can get arouse anywhere they are at.
They list popular titles like Kanon, CLANNAD, and AIR.



source: http://www.famitsu.com/news/201111/30006183.html

Eye on Japan 24: Final Fantasy XIII-2 game play

Here is a very shaky CAM taken video with around twelve minutes of gameplay footage of Final Fantasy XIII-2. I'm my opinion, it doesn't look half bad.

Eye on Japan 7: End of Zone of the Enders? NEVER!

Hey guys. Taking a break from just talking about RPGs to give general Japanese gaming news.

Hideo Kojima uploaded a few pictures today. A few pictures that show that Z.O.E is still on his mind. One of these pictures is a large Anubis statue. We aren't sure about the price. But unveiling this might mean a bit more. Especially since he also had a note with something mentioning an HD version (maybe meaning the figure as a joke). No price tag or sale date for the figure has been announced but I'm sure it will be expensive.

Source:http://yfrog.com/kg69799455j

In other news Namco Bandai released a new trailer for Soul Caliber V. I'm sure all the rest of you Soul Caliber fans will be doing the same as I and comparing this to the previous game. It looks good though. Every time a Soul Caliber is released I long for the Dreamcast .......SIGH!

The Action RPG for the hardcore only Darksouls comes out this next month, and if the newest trailer has anything to say about it, it will be an awesome game!

Lastly for all of you who want to get your action fix here is some gameplay videos from Capcoms new DMC (Devil May Cry reboot). Though I have my doubts about this game because of the whitewashing the series is undergoing. It could have some potential.

Thanks again guys. As always I'll keep posting news as I see it with my Eye on Japan.

-Otaku Guru Zaciroth