Concept Art for Next Tales of is Cool

Famitsu.com has revealed a sizable haul of concept art for Namco Bandai's next big Tales of title.

The art direction is being handled by illustrator Daigo Okumura (who handled the art for Tales of Symphonia 2), and is very different from what we've come to expect from the Tales of series. But according to Producer Hideo Baba, that is exactly what the studio is going for in this new entry.

We still don't know much about the new game, except that it is slated for debut on PlayStation 3 in Japan.

You can check out the full gallery at Famitsu.com.

Looks promising. I'll keep my fingers crossed for an Xbox 360 version.

Take Your First Look at The Last Story's Main Characters

Nintendo and Mistwalker have been keeping info on their upcoming joint Wii RPG, The Last Story, to a small but steady drip. From the island the game takes place on to how the soldiers dress, every week another drop is delivered.

This week we are finally given a decent look at the hero and heroine of Sakaguchi's latest. Though we still have no names or colours with which to identify them, we are told that the two are separated by a wall. Not necessarily a physical wall, but something that keeps the two apart in someway due to their individual roles and positions in society.

We are told that though the game focuses on the hero's Story, each person he comes in contact with necessarily has his or her own Story with which the hero may be able to touch.

I fell in love with RPGs due to their storytelling, and while a good battle system and nice graphics always enhance any experience, this sort of commitment to storytelling is why I love Sakaguchi's work so much. The Last Story definitely has my attention.

Though that hero guy could use a shirt.

[The Last Story Official Site]

Here is New Concept Art Not from a Mistwalker Project

Take a good look at this picture. I don't think I'm way off base when I say, "this is pretty damn awesome!"

This concept piece was done by Kimihiko Fujisaka (the artist behind Panzer Dragoon, Drakengard, and the recently cancelled Cry On) for Mistwalker, and was recently put up on Mistwalker's official page.

Fujisaka, in a blog entry on the site, states that he is hard at work on the new Mistwalker project (that Sakaguchi mentioned back in December when Cry On's cancellation was announced), but that this particular piece is not for that project.

He goes on to lament the cancellation of Cry On, but assure us that he is going to put everything he has into this currently unnamed project.

So, hold on a minute here. There is a really cool piece of concept art released here, put up on Mistwalker's official site, and you want me to believe that it has nothing to do with Mistwalker's games?

Fine. If that's the way you want to play it.

However, let me just say that I thought it was interesting that the only colour in this piece (besides black and white) is blue. Strikingly so, in fact. I think it's also worth mentioning that this peice has a rather prominant dragon in it.

Just saying.