TGS 2009: Sony Officially Announces Shiro Kishi Monogatari Sequel

Dark Cloud? Nah. Rogue Galaxy. Psh. Sony's new favourite proprietary JRPG is Shiro Kishi Monogatari (White Knight Chronicles). How do we know that? Because Sony just went on record to officially announce the game's sequel, before the first one hits international shores.

Titled Shiro Kishi Monogatari: Hikari to Yami no Kakusei (White Knight Chronicles: Awakening of Light and Darkness), the sequel will also be developed by Level 5, but no further details on the title have been revealed yet.

Since I haven't played the first one yet, I have a hard time getting excited for a sequel, but I think that Sony is trying to keep their positive momentum they have going right now. Can't really blame them for that.

More details on Shiro Kishi Monogatari 2 as they are revealed.

[RPGFan]

TGS 2009: New Trailer and Release Date for Crystal Bearers

If Final Fantasy XIII is looking to fill your need for a moody techno-punk melodrama, then Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers is hoping to satisfy the younger, more energetic side of you that just wants to mess around and have some fun.

Despite its horrendous title (3 titles in one!), Crystal Bearers is looking more and more like a breath of fresh air for the FF series. It promises humour, a stuck up hero, motion controls, and girls in bikinis (no lie). Check out the trailer below and see if Crystal Bearers is your jive or not.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers will be available for Nintendo Wii on November 12, 2009 in Japan (2 full weeks earlier than originally announced), and on December 26, 2009 in North America (that's Boxing Day up here in Canada ;P).

TGS 2009: Final Fantasy XIV Trailer to Fill Your MMO Needs

Sometimes you want to play video games with other people. That's cool. I can understand that.

Sometimes, however, you want to play video games with other people that you don't know and can't see. This is a concept I have a harder time understanding, but with something like half the world's population playing World of Warcraft, odds are good that you do.

And Square Enix would like a(nother) piece of that pie, thank you.

So watch the trailer for their newest MMO entry, Final Fantasy XIV, and get excited to hang out with people you don't actually know!

Final Fantasy XIV will be available for PC and PlayStation 3 sometime next year.

TGS 2009: Sony Announces FFXIII-Themed PS3

As I'm sure you're aware, Square Enix's hyped-to-the-point-of-redundancy Final Fantasy XIII will be coming to both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in North America and Europe. But it currently remains a PS3 exclusive in its home country of Japan.

As you are also aware, Sony loves them some Final Fantasy. The love it more than their own IPs. So, in a move that should surprise roughly no one, Sony took some time during their presser last night to announce a limited Final Fantasy XIII-themed PlayStation 3. Astounding!

The cleverly named PlayStation 3 Final Fantasy XIII Lightning Edition will be a white coloured PS3 slim with a light pink drawing of FFXIII's heroine, Lightning on the top. The system will contain a 250GB HDD and come bundled with a copy of the game.

The new bundle will be available on the same day as the game launches in Japan on December 17, 2009, and will retail for ￥41,600 (roughly $420 USD). A little pricy if you ask me, but I doubt that will stop any hardcore Final Fantasy enthusiasts.

[Famitsu]

TGS 2009: End of Eternity gets a New Trailer, Still No Release Date

tri-Ace have been keeping themselves busy since 7th gen started, and are getting ready to unload their 3rd HD RPG, End of Eternity.

For the forgetful, EoE follows the exploits of three mercenaries, Zephyr, Reanbell, and Vashyron, within the last surviving human city on (actually 'above') Earth: Basel. Though we still don't know much about everything going on behind the scenes, a young woman know only as Subject #20 appears to have a significant role in the fate of what is left of the world.

EoE is currently playable on the show floor of TGS, and Sega has also given us a new trailer for the game, which you can conveniently watch below. Enjoy!

End of Eternity is still without a solid release date, with Sega mentioning a Japanese release of 'This Winter' and and North American release of 'Next Spring.' It will be available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

RPGs of the Week: In Time for TGS Edition

Hello hello!

I'm finally back from getting married (that sounds a little weird, I'm still married, just not getting married any more). I have discovered that nobody tells you how much work is involved in getting married. It's like it's a huge deal or something. Geez.

Anyways, apart from a post-marriage cold, it looks like I'm back to the old routine (along with several personal changes). What that means for this blog, however, is a return to more regular updates (hopefully)! (hopeful) Huzzah!

And just in time for that ever-elusive Tokyo Game Show! Bonus!

Anyhow, check out what RPGs are coming out this week (September 21 - 25, 2009) around the world:

North America
Aion: Tower of Eternity – NCSoft – PC
Battle of the Millennium: Episode 1 – Aldorlea – PC
Dungeon Fighter Online – Neople, Nexon – PC
Fallen Earth – Fallen Earth, Icarus – PC
GhostX – JCE – PC
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona – Atlus – PSP

Japan
Dungeon Explorer: Meiyaku no Tobira (The Best) – Hudson – PSP

Europe
Aion: Tower of Eternity – NCSoft – PC
Cross Edge – Compile Heart, Koei – PlayStation 3
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 – Vicarious Visions, Activision – Nintendo DS
Steal Princess – Climax, Rising Star – Nintendo DS
Two Worlds II: The Temptation – Reality Pump, SouthPeak – PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Simple browsing of the above titles will reveal that this week is heavily MMO-oriented, with online games far outweighing the traditional offerings.

Notable non-MMO entries into this week's lineup include the PSP remake of the original Persona, the first installation of an indie episodic title called Battle of the Millennium, and (supposedly) the European release of Two Worlds II (which is highly suspect of being not at all true).

Also notable is the obvious lack of Japanese releases this week. And it's not just in RPGs, either. In fact, almost nothing new is hitting Japanese shelves this week, presumably due to TGS opening on Thursday (Wednesday night in North America time).

Anything looking worth it to you this week?

RPGs of the Week: Demonic Blade Edition

Well, the summer is now officially over. Welcome to September. School starts for many, and for everyone else, work continues as usual. What September also brings, though, is new life into weekly new releases of video games! Huzzah!

Check out what's hitting shelves during the this, the first week of September (August 31 - September 5, 2009):

North America
Muramasa: The Demon Blade - Vanillaware, Ignition - Nintendo Wii

Japan
Ousama Monogatari - Cing, Marvelous - Nintendo Wii
Trusty Bell: Chopin no Yume Reprise (The Best) - Tri-Crescendo, Namco Bandai - PlayStation 3

Europe
(none)

Ah, finally! Vanillaware's latest hand-drawn action-RPG hits North American Wiis this week! What more can I say, except do yourself a favour and give it a spin. Your eyes will thank you.

Japan gets Little King's Story (finally), and a budget reprint of the PS3 port of Eternal Sonata.

Europe, unfortunately, is left out this week.

What's looking sweet to you this week? (I'll give you a hint: it starts with "Muramasa") ;)