Trailer Catch Up

I think I missed posting about a half a dozen RPG trailers this last week. This is me catching up as best as I can.

Watch the trailers that catch your fancy below.

Blue Dragon Plus
Nintendo DS
Mistwalker, feelplus, AQ Interactive, Ignition
February 24, 2009 (North America)



My Comments: Err... I don't know what to say about this. The jury is still out.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii
Square Enix
January 29, 2009 (Japan), March 24, 2009 (North America)



My Comments: At last! A Wii game that looks like a DS game! Now I think it's safe to say that the 7th generation of video games is in full swing! /sarcasm

Shining Force Feather
Nintendo DS
Flight Plan, Sega
February 19, 2009 (Japan)



My Comments: I like the anime scenes. I don't know if it's enough to make me excited for another SRPG on the DS, but it at least doesn't hurt its chances.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope
Xbox 360
tri-Ace, Square Enix
February 19, 2009 (Japan), February 24, 2009 (North America), April 24, 2009 (Europe)



My Comments: It's interesting to see the differences between the Japanese trailers and the North American ones. This trailer is decided trying to come off as more "hardcore" than its Japanese relatives, and actually does a pretty good job at it. Though some of the voice acting may not live up to everyone's standards, "Calnus, Engage!" was a pretty cool line. Especially considering Star Ocean's admitted Star Trek influence.

This is this game's first English trailer that I actually like.

Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume
Nintendo DS
tri-Ace, Square Enix
March 17, 2009 (North America)



My Comments: The CG is cool, and the tag lines are catchy, but it's still pretty clear that people have a hard time making DS games look really interesting. If you didn't know, you might think, "Whoa! I wonder what this is going to be like!" But then you'd see the DS SRPG gameplay and go, "Oh."

What do you guys think?

Square Enix Confirms 2 DS RPGs for North America

In news that should surprise absolutely no one, Square Enix has confirmed that both Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu no Hanayome and Valkyrie Profile: Toga wo Seou Mono will be making the jump to North American DSes early next year.

This brings Square Enix's confirmed 2009 lineup to 4 titles (including Star Ocean: Second Evolution for PSP and Star Ocean: The Last Hope for Xbox 360), all of which drop within the first quarter of the year. A good start.

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride will be available on February 17, 2009, while Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume will be available on March 17, 2009.

Act surprised.

New Valkyrie Profile DS Trailer is Deceptively Cool

I feel a little torn over Valkyrie Profile: Toga wo Seou Mono (The Accused One). On the one hand, I'm sure my love for all things tri-Ace is already well-known among the regular readers of Sword Machine. On the other hand, I'm sure you also know how ho-hum bored I am with SRPGs and handheld games.

So tri-Ace and Square Enix release this new trailer (embedded below), and it is, of course, smoking hot. It's like, "Hey, it's me, Valkyrie Profile! You like me a lot right?" And so I get all nostalgic and excited.



But then I watch the gameplay for the game (below), and I remember that yes, this is still an SRPG, and yes, it is still on DS. And then I get kind of depressed about it.



Valkyrie Profile: Toga wo Seou Mono will be on sale in Japan and breaking my heart on October 30, 2008 on Nintendo DS. There is currently no word on a North American or European release.

Valkyrie Profile DS gets Release Pushed Back, New Gameplay Vids

tri-Ace and Square Enix's upcoming DS SRPG iteration of the Valkyrie Profile series, Toga wo Seou Mono (The Accused One) has been delayed from October 2, 2008 to October 30, 2008 in Japan. No announcement has been made regarding North American or European release.

Square Enix has also released 2 new gameplay trailers that show off the battle system in motion. You can take a look at them below courtesy of GameTrailers.

Next Valkyrie Profile Announcement Coming Soon?

Last week's Famitsu had an article on tri-Ace's upcoming Nintendo DS SRPG, Valkyrie Profile: Toga wo Seou Mono (The Accused One). I won't be translating it in its entirity, but in the Q&A with the producers at the end of the article, Wataru Katou, Sqaure Enix producer for Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, Star Ocean: First Departure, and Star Ocean: Second Evolution, made the following statement (translated from the original Japanese by yours truly):

"In addition to this title (Toga wo Seou Mono), we are working on a very interesting development on another platform. I think we'll be able to announce something soon, so VP fans should expect some good news."

This is quite the interesting little statement. When I first heard this, my initial reaction was "ZOMG! Next Valkyrie Profile on 360!" (Quite a reasonable assumption, considering tri-Ace's current projects). However, after considering that this statement is coming from the Square Enix producer, not the tri-Ace producer, and considering the other projects he has been the producer for, I think that another PSP title is a more realistic expectation.

I would personally like the next VP game on 360, and for it to be Valkyrie Profile 3: Hrist. I want the game's protagonist to be Hrist (she's badass), and for it to tie up Lenneth and Silmeria, and complete the trilogy (preferrably with a happy ending). But I probably shouldn't hope too hard, or I'll be disappointed when they announce something lame, like "Toga wo Seou Mono will be ported to PSP!"

Oh well. Here's hoping anyway.

Valkyrie Profile: Toga wo Seou Mono will be available from Square Enix and tri-Ace on Nintendo DS in Japan on October 2, 2008. Currently there is no word on a North American localization. You can check out the scans for the Famitsu article below.

Valkyries to Alight on DS this October

According to the official website for Valkyrie Profile: Toga wo Seou Mono (The Accused One), the game will be hitting Japanese DSes on October 2nd, 2008.

Toga wo Seou Mono marks tri-Ace's first Nintendo DS project, and their first original release for a handheld system. The story follows the young warrior Wylfred as he seeks revenge on the valkyries for the death of his family, which he blames on them.

Currently no word has been given regarding a North American or European release.

Accused Profiles Now Online

tri-Ace is busy these days. What with Infinite Undiscovery set to hit worldwide in Septemeber, Star Ocean 4 announced for some unknown console, and now a new DS Valkyrie Profile spin-off, the developer is no longer the one-game-at-a-time studio I remember from my youth.

A brand new portal website has just launched on their publisher Square Enix's website for Valkyrie Profile, along with a new flash page for the upcoming Valkyrie Profile: The Accused One. Check it out and let us know what you think.