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[Akai]

They say it feels like a Tales game, as a result.

Mmmm, that sounds good...

"Instead of the Tales series' frantic real-time battling, Arc Rise Fantasia uses an original turn-based system with a dash of strategy-RPG flavor.

Wait a second, that doesn't sound like Tales at all! Still sounds good, though...

They say it's nice to hear Mitsuda working on a disk-based platform again.

So how much of the soundtrack is actually Mitsuda this time around?

 

[jeremy1456]

* Arc Rise Fantasia

- "Now that publishers have had time to feel out what does and doesn't work on Wii, Mizutani (Marvelous Producer) and producer Ryoie Mikage of ImageEpoch expect to see the dearth of Wii RPGs come to an end."

I certainly hope so

 

[donny2112]

* Mario & Luigi RPG 3

- Mario are Luigi are inside Bowser. They can affect Bowser's actions by their work within him. Control Mario and Luigi with A, B, and Bowser with X, Y.
- Ailment sweeping the land causing citizens to balloon in size, so Bowser swallows Mario and Luigi. Hmm, makes sense. :lol
- When playing as Bowser, you can even activate a touch-screen attack to use Goombas against your foes.

* Avalon Code

There's been more written on Avalon Code in previous issues, so I'll skip discussing the story.

- The code of items/enemies can be changed, resulting in changes such as dropping all Goblins HP from 500 to 200 to 50.
- Turn normal items into highly powerful items by changing their codes using secret recipes.
- Dungeons are eschewed in favor of time trials (e.g. solving simple puzzles or fighting through waves of enemies.)
- "Power-ups are rarely found; they're most often earned for juggling foes so high that they actually leave the planet's atmosphere."
- Romantic subplots, fortune-telling, boss battles consistenting of most of your time being spent rewriting the boss's code to make them weaker.
- Coming in February from XSEED and Marvelous USA.

 

[TreIII]

Mmmm, that sounds good...

Wait a second, that doesn't sound like Tales at all! Still sounds good, though...

My guess is that was they felt it was like a Tales game, at least from the POV of how a number of the same people who were involved with such games, came together again to make this one. Even though the game and battle system itself will be quite different, as is to be expected...

Any way, yeah...this sounds great.

* Mario & Luigi RPG 3

- Mario are Luigi are inside Bowser. They can affect Bowser's actions by their work within him. Control Mario and Luigi with A, B, and Bowser with X, Y.
- Ailment sweeping the land causing citizens to balloon in size, so Bowser swallows Mario and Luigi. Hmm, makes sense. :lol
- When playing as Bowser, you can even activate a touch-screen attack to use Goombas against your foes.

Hmm...sounds very interesting.

Too bad they didn't say much about the battle system, did they? I was really hoping that it was either that Bros. Attacks are back, or they and Bros. Items are together in a new sort of system.

 

[John Harker]

Arc Rise sounds awesome!

Keep up the no more random battle games, yippeee

 

[JSnake]

* Mario & Luigi RPG 3

- Mario are Luigi are inside Bowser. They can affect Bowser's actions by their work within him. Control Mario and Luigi with A, B, and Bowser with X, Y.
- Ailment sweeping the land causing citizens to balloon in size, so Bowser swallows Mario and Luigi. Hmm, makes sense. :lol
- When playing as Bowser, you can even activate a touch-screen attack to use Goombas against your foes.

So the entire game takes place inside Bowser's tummy?

 

[Yottamole]

- Debora (third choice as a bride and a spoiled brat bad girl, who can also attack twice per turn) was added to the DS version of the game. "I wanted her to be someone that nobody in their right mind would ever pick! It was the perfect opportunity to torment players just a little bit more."

That's just golden. :lol

 

[donny2112]

Wait a second, that doesn't sound like Tales at all!

I think they're referring mostly to the graphics.

Its world is drenched in bright colors, and its spirited cast is bursting with cheerful camaraderie. Towns and dungeons appear as miniature dioramas on a lush world map across which your hero can run from location to location. ... There's even a version of Tales's trademark skit system (by pressing 2) ... But the similarities to Tales of Symphonia disappear as soon as a battle begins.

So how much of the soundtrack is actually Mitsuda this time around?

The producers are coy about how much of the soundtrack Mitsuda composed personally, but the music in the game's opening hours is very promising, with loose melodies and clear, rich instruments that are highly reminiscent of the much-lauded soundtrack for Chrono Cross.

Too bad they didn't say much about the battle system, did they? I was really hoping that it was either that Bros. Attacks are back, or they and Bros. Items are together in a new sort of system.

Doesn't say. It seems like they're basing their (short) preview on screens from a recent build of the game in Japan as opposed to hands-on time with the title.

So the entire game takes place inside Bowser's tummy?

For Mario & Luigi, it seems like a good portion of it will. You can also control Bowser in the larger world and fight enemies, etc. with him, too, though.

 

[ctalamode]

Are there any release dates or approximations for any of these rpgs? The summaries are great, thanks Donny!

EDIT: Other than for Avalon code...

 

[grandjedi6]

 

[BikoBiko]

DQV sounds like all kinds of awesome to me, just a little more than a month away! Thanks for the summaries!

 

[Fantastical]

http://i43.tinypic.com/2rnyd07.jpg

GAF wins again.

EDIT: There appears to be a mark on somewhere on the map. Any luck finding it?

 

[trinest]

Mario and Luigi 3 is for the DS right?

 

[ThatObviousUser]

Expect that to change a bit in the upcoming remake of the more tactical Dragon Quest VI

 

[ViperVisor]

Indianapolis. Discovery.


Indiana Jones?

 

[Akai]

GAF wins again.

EDIT: There appears to be a mark on somewhere on the map. Any luck finding it?

University of Indianapolis...

 

[TreIII]

Doesn't say. It seems like they're basing their (short) preview on screens from a recent build of the game in Japan as opposed to hands-on time with the title.

For Mario & Luigi, it seems like a good portion of it will. You can also control Bowser in the larger world and fight enemies, etc. with him, too, though.

Hmm, interesting.

Any way, some other details that we've known already that NP doesn't seem to be aware of, is that Bowser originally ate some sort of "Lucky Shroom", that allowed him to suck up everything around him. It's still quite random, but at least we have a bit more reason for why he was able to swallow up Mario, Luigi and Peach when he came back to the castle a second time. :lol

Map

...You live up to your title. :lol

Mario and Luigi 3 is for the DS right?

That's correct.

 

[Fantastical]

Mario and Luigi 3 is for the DS right?

Correct.

 

[Kifimbo]

University of Indianapolis...

Yep this is it.

 

[grandjedi6]

GAF wins again.

EDIT: There appears to be a mark on somewhere on the map. Any luck finding it?

Yeah I saw that. I followed it and it seems to be pointing here:

 

[donny2112]

Are there any release dates or approximations for any of these rpgs?

* Avalon Code's been mentioned already as February.
* Mario & Luigi is listed as 2009.
* Phantasy Star 0 is listed as "Fall."
* Valkyrie Profile: Covenant is March.
* Sands of Destruction is listed as "Summer."
* Dragon Quest V is February 17.
* Didn't see anything for Arc Rise Fantasia.
* Fire Emblem is "early 2009."
* Final Fantasy: Echoes of Time is mentioned as "spring."

The summaries are great, thanks Donny!

EDIT: Other than for Avalon code...

Edit2: Maybe you were referring to the fact that Avalon Code already had a release date mentioned. In that case, replace the below with "You're welcome."

The only thing I didn't discuss was the story, which I know has had articles about it in previous issues. Essentially, the world is going to be destroyed, and it's your job to figure out what is worth keeping. To record those things worth keeping, you store their "code" in your book. In addition to seeing the code, you can also modify the code. Some people try to get your book, too.

Better?

Edit:
Excellent job with the map, grandjedi6!

 

[manueldelalas]

University of Indianapolis...

mmm Indianapolis + University...

 

[Fantastical]

This is a stretch, and I don't think it's it, but it could be LIT since it takes place in a school.

 

[grandjedi6]

This is a stretch, and I don't think it's it, but it could be LIT since it takes place in a school.

Yeah, Nintendo Power's hints tend to be overly obvious. But I can't think of anything a map or the state of Indiana hints at "obviously"

 

[Fantastical]

Yeah, Nintendo Power's hints tend to be overly obvious. But I can't think of anything a map or the state of Indiana hints at "obviously"

The fact that it is specifically the University of Indianapolis is weird...

 

[grandjedi6]

The fact that it is specifically the University of Indianapolis is weird...

Not if you accept the possibility that one the NP staffers is an alumni from there.

 

[D-Pad]

Previews:

* Suikoden: Tierkreis

Anything interesting said here or does GAF just not give a shit?

 

[radcliff]

The fact that they say they made an "exciting discovery" may be an Indiana Jones clue as well.

 

[AniHawk]

mmm Indianapolis + University...

Exclusive Indiana Jones lightsaber game for the DS.

 

[pakkit]

Didn't the Ninja Toaster WiiWare guy say he was still in school? Perhaps Indianapolis University?

 

[Haunted]

Exclusive Indiana Jones

lightsaber game

:O

...

wait what

for the DS

Didn't the Ninja Toaster WiiWare guy say he was still in school? Perhaps Indianapolis University?

 

[ctalamode]

Edit2: Maybe you were referring to the fact that Avalon Code already had a release date mentioned. In that case, replace the below with "You're welcome."

Hah, yeah, that's what I was talking about.

Indianapolis University... hmmmmm...

 

[Ydahs]

* Arc Rise Fantasia

- "Now that publishers have had time to feel out what does and doesn't work on Wii, Mizutani (Marvelous Producer) and producer Ryoie Mikage of ImageEpoch expect to see the dearth of Wii RPGs come to an end."
- Part of the Tales of Symphonia team (game designer, CG director, scenario writer, and main battle programmer - among others) are working on the game. They say it feels like a Tales game, as a result.
- You see the enemies on the field, so no random battles.
- "Instead of the Tales series' frantic real-time battling, Arc Rise Fantasia uses an original turn-based system with a dash of strategy-RPG flavor. In our early version of the game, the battle system is a clear highlight,"
- Battles load quickly. "The trio has a set number of ability points to spend each turn, and you can distribute them however you like - by having your best fighter attack three times, for example, or by having each member attack once."
- The main story will be around 30 hours plus optional side quests.
- The game doesn't use IR or waggle, but some of the optional casino mini-games will.
- They say it's nice to hear Mitsuda working on a disk-based platform again.
- "As proud as the developers are of Arc Rise Fantasia's battle system, soundtrack, and character designs, both men go straight for the storyline when asked to name the team's primary focus. ... The game features a huge supporting cast, dozens of plot threads, and a worldview built around numerous intersections between divinity and technology."
- "the stage is set for a perfect storm of political upheavals, spiritual awakenings, and ecological catastrophe. What more could you ask for from Wii's first original RPG epic?

Sounds awesome! Thanks for the excellent summary.

 

[Mejilan]

Yummy yummy RPGs...

 

[EmCeeGramr]

A next Metal Gear is the adventures of an 80-year-old Indiana Jones working for FOX-HOUND alongside Big Boss, as they race against the Patriots in search of a 4,000 year old Metal Gear built by the pharaohs. He is given the codename, "The Doooog?!."

Spoiler

"Why does it always have to be Snakes?"

 

[demolitiongc1]

Motion whip controls confirmed!

 

[Eteric Rice]

MOAR RPGS PLOX.

 

[Rpgmonkey]

- "The battles remain fast-paced and richly animated, with weapons that can hit entire groups (or the entire battlefield) adding a bit of spice to the otherwise-straightforward, hammer-on-the-attach-button battle system that has long been the series' trademark (Expect that to change a bit in the upcoming remake of the more tactical Dragon Quest VI)"

Hmm, wonder how? Or if it's just a reference to the more strategic class element changing fights up a bit for VI?

 

[Belgand]

Does Classified Information have any codes for Wii Fit? I'm getting my ass kicked in that and I could certainly use an edge.

Hopefully there's a fold-out map for Cooking Mama as well. I keep getting lost on the tamago stage.

 

[kenji]

AWESOME! this is the reason why i was hyped for the new NP
any summary for Suikoden?

 

[0 HP]

world of destruction sounds too good to be true. has anyone seen the anime?

 

[rollingstart]

Arc Rise Fantasia actually took me by surprise when reading the issue. It did look great for a Wii jrpg (or, really, game in general)

 

[charlequin]

Wait a second, that doesn't sound like Tales at all!

There's more to Tales than the battlesystem! We all know that ARF has a very Symphonia-esque visual style, and it sounds like it's also drawing on the Tales series for other aspects like the skit system, the "worldview," the type of story, etc. Hopefully they do draw on some of the more entertaining Tales subsystems (like cooking) and leave out the racism. :lol

 

[Akai]

Hopefully they do draw on some of the more entertaining Tales subsystems (like cooking) and leave out the racism. :lol

Then it REALLY won't be like Tales! :lol

 

[cw_sasuke]

Can`t wait for ARF !!!

 

[vareon]

There's more to Tales than the battlesystem! We all know that ARF has a very Symphonia-esque visual style, and it sounds like it's also drawing on the Tales series for other aspects like the skit system, the "worldview," the type of story, etc. Hopefully they do draw on some of the more entertaining Tales subsystems (like cooking) and leave out the racism. :lol

.....eh? If by "very Symphonia-esque visual style" you mean "anime style", then yes it's similar. Character design and general art direction is very different though.

And did they say ARF will have a skit system? Nice little addition, if so

 

[RobbieNick]

Anyone else surprised at how much better Nintendo Power has become since being taken over by future publishing? It's the only magazine I know of that has it's articles scanned to the internet every month.

 

[grandjedi6]

Anyone else surprised at how much better Nintendo Power has become since being taken over by future publishing? It's the only magazine I know of that has it's articles scanned to the internet every month.

NP has been good ever since they remodeled themselves back in 2006. And the magazine being scanned isn't exactly a postive thing :'/

 

[ivysaur12]

No random battles in Arc Rise Fantasia is the best news I've heard all day.

 

[djtiesto]

Sounds like a great issue, love the RPG focus in this one. Will pick it up.