Valkyria Chronicles: Another PS3 Exclusive RPG on the Horizon

A while back I posted an article about the upcoming PS3 exclusive game White Knight Chronicles.  To my surprise, many PS3 gamers had no idea it was even under development, much less coming sometime soon.   And now, another under the radar PS3 exclusive is about to get PS3 owners excited again: Valkyria Chronicles (VC) or if you prefer the full name, Valkyrie of the Battlefield: Gallian Chronicles.  Developed by Sega and already released in Japan, VC is a tactical RPG that features a unique turn-based battle system called BLiTZ (Battle of Live Tactical Zones).  Essentially, each turn you will begin with a “command view” of the battlefield.  Players may then select individual units to issue commands in an “action mode”.  This mode functions in real time and you can even aim your weapons to take headshots, bodyshots etc.  It is an interesting blend of strategy and rpg elements when you see the game in action.

Easily the most hyped aspect of VC is the unique cell-shaded graphics that are powered by the all-new CANVAS engine.  Best described as a “living watercolor,” the visuals of VC look flex the power of the PS3’s cell processor.  To truly appreciate the CANVAS engine the game must be seen in motion.  Have a look at the videos below.  The second video and commentary is courtesy of Videogame Central.

Though unconfirmed, internet speculation has VC coming to North America in November 2008 as it is currently being localized.

It seems that the PS3 is slowly coming around with even more solid RPGs to get excited about.  It will be interesting to see if the PS3 can regain RPG supremacy over its rivals…but even if it never reaches the lofty heights set by the PS2, Sony gamers may console themselves that quality RPGs are on the way.

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Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness Review

Fans of Penny Arcade have long known that this game was coming…but has anybody else noticed? Released on Xbox Live Arcade and the PC, Penny Arcade Adventures Episode 1: On the Rain-slick Precipice of Darkness (Darkness from here on) manages to create a game that will delight fans of the comics and will make RPG fans stand up (or likely sit down) and take notice. The game follows the exploits of Gabe and Tycho as they try to uncover the mysteries of giant robots, mimes, clowns and hobos. On first glance, the games story seems preposterous…but for Penny Arcade it works. The developers have done an admirable job of creating a world and atmosphere that really let the unique humour of Penny Arcade shine through. While the humour may not be for everyone, for those that enjoy it, Darkness manages to make you laugh, which is the point isn’t it?

Many gamers will end up mistaking Darkness for an adventure game. Even those who download the demo may not get far enough into the story to realize that Darkness is in fact an RPG, and a very good one at that. RPG fans should take notice. The battle system in Darkness utilizes real time mechanics but adds a turn based flavour (Final Fantasy fans may yawn at this point…but there’s more). As you select commands for your group you are also responsible for blocking enemy attacks, which actually is a game in itself. Timing a block takes practice and it will keep you on your toes throughout the game. Like any good RPG, each character has a special attack that charges over time and can be unleashed after completing a successful mini-game. In action, the battle mode is at the same time frenetic but also very strategic. It needs to be experienced to be truly appreciated.

Technically, Darkness looks and runs great. The cartoonish animations and comic panel approach give the game an authentic comic book feel that works incredibly well. Add in some Mass Effectesque dialogue trees and the game does well to immerse you into its crazy world and ridiculous story. Darkness is easily one of the best looking XBLA games to-date.

Of course, there is some bad with the good. The cost of entry for Darkness is a bit high at $20, making it the most expensive stand-alone XBLA title so far. This wouldn’t be so much of a problem if the game was a bit longer…most gamers will be finished with Darkness after 7-9 hours. Unfortunately, Darkness doesn’t lend itself to multiple playthroughs, so once you are done, you likely won’t be replaying it. In addition, despite being relatively short the game still manages to require a fair amount of backtracking which may turn off some gamers.

The Good:

+ Fantastic battle mode mechanics
+ Refreshing humour (if you like Penny Arcade especially)
+ Graphics and presentation are great

The Bad:

- A bit short at 7-9 hours of gameplay
- Some backtracking
- High cost of entry

The Verdict: BUY IT

Penny Arcade’s first game manages to overcome a high price tag with a game that will win over RPG fans and Penny Arcade enthusiasts alike. For those who are on the fence, at the very least you should try the demo. For me, I’m already looking forward to the next episode. Let’s just hope they don’t make us wait too long.

If you want to see the game in action, check out a clip here:

White Knight Chronicles: The Biggest PS3 Exclusive that Nobody is Talking About

Much is made of the oft hyped and upcoming juggernaut’s that are Metal Gear Solid 4, Resistance 2, Final Fantasy XIII, Little Big Planet and to a lesser extent Killzone 2. All have huge hype surrounding them, and they are all exclusive to the PS3. However, lost in the crowd seems to be Level 5’s latest title White Knight Chronicles.

White Knight Chronicles is an RPG that follows the story of Lenard, a boy that finds an ancient artifact that allows him to transform into a 7 meter tall White Knight. Though details of the story are still being closely guarded by Level 5, as reported by Famitsu the game will run at about 50 to 60 hours to complete. Whether that is just the main story or takes into account side quests remains to be seen.

Enough talk though. I think this game is going to deliver for RPG fans in a major way when it releases in late 2008.

Don’t believe me? Check out some of the videos below for gameplay, a trailer and an interview with the creators themselves. This game is going to deliver for starved Sony RPG fans.

White Knight Chronicles (PS3 – TGS 2008 Trailer) – Gameplay footage of Level-5’s Sony PS3 RPG. White Knight Chronicles (AKA White Knight Story) is developed by Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. TGS 08: White Knight Chronicles impressions – White Knight Chronicles has changed a lot since we played it at Tokyo Game Show last year. Our conclusion at the time was that the game would be a gorgeous JRPG with an intriguing, customizable battle system; an exciting prospect for … new white knight chronicles screens – it appears that the finest day for the white knight is still ahead. while white knight chronicles will be hitting japan on christmas day, there’s still no word on when the elves from the toy shop are going to bring it to the states or … The Great PS3 Trophy Debate – Loading Fetching blurbs now… please stand by …. Evil 5 Street Fighter IV White Knight Chronicles Yakuza 3 Hope other games will follow the trend . … white knight chronicles playstation 3 screenshots – 24 playstation 3 screenshots posted, from level 5. Jonas Brothers – SOS (Music Video) – Jonas Brothers – SOSUploaded by JonasBrothers-Official tags: Music. White Knight Chronicles: Wizard, Skills & Rewards – The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu has a 4-page report on Shirokishi Monogatari: Inishie no Kodou (aka White Knight Chronicles), where three important elements were revealed. The head of Wizard, a mysterious organization that kidnapped … White Knight Chronicles to run in native 1080p – The latest issue of Dengeki has some new details on the Level -5’s PS3 exclusive White Knight Chronicles. No doubt the biggest news will be that the game will have some Monster Hunter like gameplay. If true Sony officially will have a … [tsubaki] square-enix stabs fans in the back – firstly, today is my birthday. i officially turn 21. secondly, square-enix stabs sony and ps fans in the back by announcing today at e3 that final fantasy xiii will also be available for the xcrap360. noooooooooooo. …