RPG Land: Recent Episodes
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Cadash to these games.
Arcade Archives released Cadash this past week, an arcade side-scrolling action game with stats. An action RPG, if you will. It’s one of the earliest examples, and still holds up after all these years. It’s also freaking unforgiving.
Starfield and Sea of Stars also saw recent releases. Starfield is an open-world (universe?) from the makers of Fallout and Elder Scrolls. Sea of Stars is a retro RPG inspired by SNES and early PSX titles.
Rune Factory 3 Special will release September 5. A re-release of Rune Factory 3 in the vein of the previous Rune Factory re-releases.
Same day release is also Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten.
The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails hits September 19. It may or may not be connected to the main Legends of Heroes: Trails games, but in terms of gameplay it’s more in line with Falcom’s action RPG titles like Ys.
Fate/Samurai Remnant rounds out the month. This is another entry in the ever-expanding Fate series of visual novels/RPGs.
It’s going to be a scorcher of a week where I am. Hope you’ve got A/C and a good game to weather it out.
Puzzle Quest III is a naughty thief of time. Haven’t completed Final Fantasy XVI or even started Trails into Reverie because connecting gems into rows triggers the happy juice. August is light on the releases. I was reminded recently Summer has historically been light on video games in general, and began to wonder if release […]
This month, we close out a long-running video game chapter with some Reverie. July 7th is the release of The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie. The game is a capstone for the Crossbell duology of Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure; the entire Cold Steel arc; and a branch into the future Kuro […]
A Diablo Armament of titles in June.
My first memory of hearing about the Diablo series involves an acquaintance just burning through mouse after mouse as they clicked attack in the first game. Now, 26 years later; Diablo IV is hitting every system it can so players can presumably mash their controllers just as fervently. That’s a thing we do now in RPGs, right? Mash controllers?
Mercenaries Blaze: Dawn of the Twin Dragons has a physical PS4 release on June 16th. This title is a strategy RPG in the vein of Tactics Ogre.
June 20th’s Miasma Chronicles bills itself as a stealth/tactical hybrid. Upgrade skills as the protagonist navigates a post-apocalyptic wasteland for this PS5/Xbox X title.
June 22nd sees the release of two sequels: Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story 2 and Final Fantasy XVI. One of these is June’s other biggest title with Diablo IV*. Both titles are for the PS5.
A physical edition of Front Mission 1st hits the Switch the following week on the 27th. The game was previously made available for download on the Switch, with a digital PS4/5 edition coming soon.
A copy of FFXVI is on its way to me, but early July the next Trails game is released; closing out the previous 9 games in the series with the conclusion of the Crossbell arc. I’m currently at the end of Trails from Azure, so I’m really looking forward to finishing up the story. It’s a rarity for me to make a Final Fantasy title wait, but them’s the breaks.
- if you think it’s Valthirian Arc; you’re adorable.
Will the re-releases have you in Tears?
Digital releases of The Final Fantasy: Pixel Remasters hit PS4 and Switch last month. I downloaded them after some waffling and am having the kind of fun I had last year playing through the titles like I did the Castlevania series. There’s something honestly appealing to do a deep dive into a series and see how it has changed over time.
Dokapon Kingdom: Connect hits the Switch on May 9th. This is a re-release with online functionality of the Wii and PS2 game.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox lands on the PS5 this day as well. It’s a fun game, and utilizes the party system introduced in Ys VII. The exploration is very well-done. It’s the last game to use this system before Ys X: Nordics switches up gameplay a bit.
RPG-adjacent title Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releases May 12th. Zelda II was an RPG, right?
May 23rd sees the release of Monster Menu for PS4/5 and Switch. A survival-based cooking RPG; the game puts players into dungeon where they must eat monsters or die of starvation.
The Caligula Effect: Overdose closes out the month on May 30th for the PS5. This is a another re-release making its way to a modern console.
A lot of re-releases this month. Monster Menu and Tears of the Kingdom are the new titles, and the latter uses the Breath of the Wild engine. This isn’t a bad thing for people who may have missed these games earlier (and Breath of the Wild is an awesome game), but the coming months may have more for RPG fans looking for new releases.
Like my PS5, I am about to enter rest mode in 10 minutes.
It’s not the game releases; it’s the Daylight Savings. I ain’t saving anything. I’m just beat.
April 4th sees the release of GrimGrimoire Once Again, VanillaWare’s first RTS game originally out for the PS2.
Megaman Battle Network Legacy Collection is a collection of all the MMBN games released for the DS. The games are fast-paced in terms of combat, combining grid-based battles with stat-boosting items. It’s an odd blend, but it works. It will be available for the PS4 and Switch on April 14th.
Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp is a Switch port of the the first two GBA Advance Wars titles, available on April 18th. The GBA titles tend to be on the pricey side, so this rerelease is welcome.
Yeah, there’s a lot of rereleases this month.
Dead Island 2 is not a port. It is a first person action RPG a la the first Dead Island. I don’t think this one is pretending to be thoughtful. Small history note – the original title had a very well thought out trailer. None of that made it to the game, which is noise and partying and general mediocrity. Here’s hoping the sequel succeeds upon its release April 21st.
Three titles hit April 25th: Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord, Trinity Trigger, and Afterimage.
Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord is a strategy RPG sequel to Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force ~~Chunibyo Adventure Edition~~. Okay, the original game is a bit extra but not quite middle schooler syndrome. Anywhom same characters; new adventure
Trinity Trigger is the title I have the most interest in this month. Sadly, full docket this year for gaming. It seems to be geared to hit that early to late aughts PS2/Wii vibe with its art direction. The battle system is supposed to be fast-paced. It will be interesting to see the game’s progress.
Afterimage is a side-scrolling open-world action RPG. This title has completely passed under my radar, but it will be available on all systems.
The last release of the month is Demon Gaze EXTRA, an upgrade port of the original. Demon Gaze EXTRA is a Wizardry-style game, with first person exploration and turn-based battles in a dungeon crawling environment. DS players might recognize the style as Etrian Odyssey.
Hopefully there is something for players to enjoy this month new or old. In the meantime, I’m go crash.
It’s Blue, Baby.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure launched this past week and it’s my go-to title for the rest of the month. The Crossbell games in the Trails series have been at odds with a release for over a decade due to Sky‘s late blossoming and subsequent localization issues in the West. There is no entity to blame here – it’s just how the series played out. Moving on to Cold Steel and that series’ graphical style being more in line with modern consoles probably generated a lot more interest in previous games.
Anyway it’s out and apparently getting great reviews. I started Azure late because Fatal Frame and its controls were being clunky on main.
A physical edition of Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising hit consoles on March 10th. A surprisingly fun quest-driven game for me last year; and an easy recommendation for those looking forward to Eiyuden Chronicle.
Record of Agarest War was also re-released for the Switch. I remember the original game and it’s uh… surprisingly comfortable mousepad for the aesthetic.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key hits Switch and PS4/5. The Ryza games have been a rather large boon for the Atelier series, which was already an expansive item creation-focused RPG. One day I’ll sit down with another title in the series. Until then, Ryza’s outfit can adorn characters in Maiden of Black Water.
A physical copy of Sword of the Necromancer is out that week as well. The game has been available for download as of this column.
The last day of March has the release of Action RPG Asterigos: Curse of the Stars Deluxe Edition for Xbone and PS5.
Game-wise, this year has a lot going on with the recent release of Octopath Traveler II, the future releases of Trails into Reverie (which will also finish up the remaining storylines from Sky, the Crossbell games, and the Cold Steel games) and Final Fantasy XVI, along with some others will keep me busy for awhile. I hope it’s the same for the rest of you.
Holy crap, this sounds like an actual ass-destroying soundtrack. I can hear boss fights, chase scenes, and plot twists all through this.
That is all.
February offers some paths for players to take their journey on – at least eight, I’d say.
The month starts off on Valentine’s Day, with first-person dungeon crawler Labyrinth of Galleria on Switch, PS4, and PS5.
While not exactly an RPG, The next Theatryhthm; subtitled Final Bar Line hits the Switch and PS4 on the 16th.
The next day is a re-release of Tales of Symphonia. It’s one of the better Tales games in the long-running series. It releases on the Switch, PS4, and Xbox Series X.
Digimon World: Next Order is available February 22 for the Switch. This title looks to be more in line with previous Digimon games than Survive.
Octopath Traveler II arrives on the 24th for Switch, PS4 and PS5. A sequel to an incredible title on Switch (and later PC), it’s good the next one is available on more systems.
The month closes out with dungeon crawler void tRrLM2(); //Void Terrarium 2* on the Switch and PS4. I had to copy/paste that title. Just like the first time.
That’s a lot more games in February than I expected. Hope players find a good match.
Happy New Year. January might have releases for a lot of players to Engage.
First up, with a January 13 release date; is Dungeon Munchies on several systems. This is an action RPG about killing and eating monsters. This genre has been popular of late. Probably because it’s practical and a possible outcome in even today’s world. And kinda dark since most horror movies are all “humans are the real monsters.”
One Piece Odyssey also release the same day for multiple systems, and is a RPG set in the One Piece universe. Not trying to stretch imaginations, Luffy is the main character of this title, and must rejoin his crew after being separated.
January 20 is the release of Fire Emblem Engage. The title makes me think players are finally just going to marry the characters (to each other, right?) for stat bonuses – but that’s already happened in previous games. So it’s probably about fighting.
The next two games are scheduled for release on January 24, and are polar opposites.
Neptunia – Sisters VS Sisters (not to be confused with Sisters V Sisters; the legal case about gaming rights within the multiverse) hits PS4 and PS5 consoles. The title embraces being an anime game. Players know what they are getting into with a Neptunia title. Personally – and this describe my experience with most NISA and/or Idea Factory games – I remember buying the first one because curiosity and it looked cute, and now there’s an abundance of titles and I’m lost.
Speaking of being lost, Forspoken hits the PS5. Players take on the role of Frey who has been forcibly transported to another world and is trying to get back to hers. The game uses a more realistic engine as opposed to the majority of the isekai genre. A demo is available to see if layers like it.
The month ends with physical releases of Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising on the PS4, PS5, and Switch. I played through this last year and had quite a bit of fun with it.
That’s not a bad January, and a lot of titles for different folks.
Crisis Core! with an exclamation point sounds like a cartoon puzzle game with jelly drops.
Or a late 90s anime. Instead, it’s the prequel to a late 90s RPG with a huge late 90s anime aesthetic.
But before that, Adventure Academia: The Fractured Continent hits shelves on December 9 for the PS4 and Switch.
Also December 9 is Dragon Quest Treasures for the Switch. Uncertain if it will be a sleeper hit, but a lot of the recent DQ games have been smashing to play.
December 13 sees the release of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion. Some fans may remember this was a PSP game directed by Nomura. Now it’s a PS4/PS5/Switch title meant to fit into the FFVII Remake narrative ~~and eventually become Kingdom Hearts~~ for those wanting more lore. And to make those dollars.
I don’t expect Dead Island 2 to hold its December 31 release date, but if it does there’s another action RPG for the zombie enthusiast in us all.
December 31 is typically a placeholder release date. A lot of companies use it so it looks good when the game gets moved forward, or retail locations use it as a way to garner pre-orders.
Here’s hoping you all enjoy whatever you are playing. For me, it’s still Trails from Zero.
Fall’s colors are Scarlet and Violet this month. Yep – new Pokemon release. Gotta Catch Them Thousand-Strong All. 9th Dawn III sees a physical release on the Switch November 1. Harvestella – which has a demo available now – releases November 4 on the Switch and Steam. Additionally, the Switch versions of MegaDimension Neptunia VII […]
It’s not really a festival; I’m just drinking. A port of Nier: Automata hits the Switch on October 6. This is because the goal of a Nier game is to inflict itself on as many people a possible. It’s also a fun game, and the Switch version is supposed to be top-notch. October 21 is […]
Action, Real-time Strategy, Turn-Based, and Tabletop-inspired RPGs this month? A veritable buffet. Action RPG Steel Rising hits the week of August 8 for the PS5 and Xbox X. Set in an alternate history where the French Revolution involves robot soldiers, players take on a special prototype to save the day by choosing their preferred playstyle […]
Maidens, Fairies, and Hackers; oh my! A series which has been popping up on my feed lately is Sword & Fairy, a long-running Chinese RPG series. The latest game is Sword & Fairy: Together Forever; which was released August 4th for PS4 and PS5. The Fallen Legion games are being released as a double pack […]
Looks like the end of July is when the fireworks start. One of the things about being a gamer for several years decades a long time is the lure of games ‘missed’ in the past due to a lack of localization or rarity. The current state of gaming is very mixed. Quite a few of […]
Summer heats up physically, but are the releases also hot? Seriously, are they? I’m not sure. I am like, so far behind on my backlog. The month’s release begin about midway through with the release of Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong which was supposed to release at the end of May. Then it’s Hero Must […]
Yep, we’re still cracking. A physical version of Relayer for the PS4 and PS5 should also be available this month, if it hasn’t already seen release. This is an odd release, because there does not appear to be a lot of advertising for the game. Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong hits consoles at the end […]
The unknown edition. Chrono Cross was a huge release earlier this month, with a version of the PSX game released on current consoles. The game featured the Radical Dreamers visual novel – the first time it was released outside of Japan – and a some remixed tracks. Reports show the original music is not present, […]
March – also known as ‘the wake of Elden Ring‘. Story time: Demon’s Souls and Dragon Age: Origins were released close to one another. I snagged Demon’s Souls because of its snazzy packaging and genuine like for the trailers, but I was really looking forward to Dragon Age. Sadly, Dragon Age turned out to be […]
I was under the impression Arceus would be a ‘quiet’ release. I was wrong. Sometimes I like being wrong. My exposure has been a lot of people enjoying the game. That’s awesome. Genuinely enjoying RPGs is fun, and quite honestly; an experience which gets more rare as you either get older or start seeing patterns […]
It’s a quiet month at the beginning of time. New Year and all. One of Nintendo’s biggest franchises gets another entry in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. It’s the 28th of this month, and that’s all you’ll get from me. I stay away from the Pokemon series because the urge to collect them all is strong. Across […]
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker was released December 3rd and is partially why this column updated December 12th. It’s not often I no-life a game anymore – which is weird because current events mean I don’t go anywhere and ergo have no life – but I was logged in 18 hours a day for this experience […]