Mistwalker released a new Lost Odyssey trailer today and color us white, it's rather enjoyable. The new trailer doesn't focus on Lost Odyssey's novel qualities or mention anything about the lackluster collector's edition, instead Mistwalker focuses on Lost Odyssey's art, story and epic RPG scale. The trailer's visuals are A+, but we think the background music track ("White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane) is what sells it. Tell us we're wrong if you like, but the latest trailer is a winner in our book. Follow that white rabbit!
Posts with tag Mistwalker
Video: Lost Odyssey follows the white rabbit
Mistwalker released a new Lost Odyssey trailer today and color us white, it's rather enjoyable. The new trailer doesn't focus on Lost Odyssey's novel qualities or mention anything about the lackluster collector's edition, instead Mistwalker focuses on Lost Odyssey's art, story and epic RPG scale. The trailer's visuals are A+, but we think the background music track ("White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane) is what sells it. Tell us we're wrong if you like, but the latest trailer is a winner in our book. Follow that white rabbit!
Lost Odyssey: the best game you'll ever read
Multiplayer has an interesting little preview up for Lost Odyssey, the upcoming RPG from Mistwalker starring an immortal man with amnesia. We've reported before that a significant portion of the game is taken up by flashbacks. The twist is that these flashbacks are actually written short stories for the player to read (if desired). While Multiplayer reports that the game is more or less aimed squarely at Final Fantasy fans, the short stories are apparently an entertaining diversion. It's explained that one of the reasons these stories are so entertaining is that they are significantly different from things tried in other, similar Japanese RPGs. It's not uncommon for games to present unlockable content as an incentive for players to keep on playing, but we're pretty sure that short stories are a first. Fret not if reading isn't your thing, as Multiplayer also takes a look at the rest of the game. You can hit the "read" link to check out the whole preview, or you can let us save you some time: if you like Final Fantasy, it sounds like you'll like Lost Odyssey. Just get ready for a lot of loading.
New Blue Dragon items now on XBLM
Microsoft sends word that a new piece of downloadable content is now available for Blue Dragon. This is the second bit of DLC for the game, the first -- Hard mode - being released last month. This new DLC is entitled "6 Treasures" gives players access to 6 new items that grant special abilities to their characters. One in particular -- the Shuffled Helmet -- creates the most powerful armor in the game when combined with Shuffled Splint and Shuffled Breastplate. Honestly, we haven't delved into the game, so we don't know how useful all these items are, though they will probably be welcome to those endeavoring to complete hard mode. The DLC is available for 200 MS Points. Check out the all 6 of the items contained in the pack after the break.
Video: Opening Lost Odyssey cinematic
Mmm, what's better than pre-rendered Japanese video game opening cinematic sequences that are based on massively in depth RPGs? Answer: not much. Embedded above is one of those movie quality opening cinematic from Mistwalker's Lost Odyssey. And after watching it, we bet you can't contain your urge to want to play the game, rent a horribly translated Japanese movie or at the very least order some Japanese food. Yes sir, it's that enjoyable and now we know why the game comes on four DVDs. Pre-rendered HD video eats last-gen media formats alive.
[Thanks, Chris]
Lost Odyssey's wordy little secret
Looking forward to Lost Odyssey, the next big thing from Mistwalker? Hope you enjoy reading then, because you'll be doing a lot of it according to IGN. Kaim, the game's protagonist, often has flashbacks to moments in his past. Considering he can't die, he's been alive for a very long time, which means he has a long history to look back upon. However, instead of letting the players journey back and actually experience these flashbacks through gameplay, they are played out entirely through text. The flashbacks are actually short stories penned by famed Japanese author Kiyoshi Shigematsu, and Lost Odyssey director Hironobu Sakaguchi decided to let players experience them in their "purest" form. All in all, there are 34 of these flashbacks, each taking 5-10 minutes to read. We have to wonder if these flashbacks are considered gameplay, because Sakaguchi has noted that fully half of Lost Odyssey's 40 hours of gameplay will be taken up by cutscenes.Japanese gamers will find out when the game is released on December 6th, while the rest of us will have to wait until February of next year.
[Via Joystiq]
Lost Odyssey journeys through 4 DVDs
Speaking to IGN in behind-closed-doors meeting at TGS, Hironobu Sakaguchi, head of Mistwalker, intimated that the upcoming RPG Lost Odyssey will span 4 DVDs. Considering Mistwalker's previous title, Blue DragonMass Effect managed to hit retail on 3 DVDs, this isn't exactly surprising. Still, in the dark circles of the internet, the announcement is still likely to spark up the Blu-Ray / DVD debate yet again. Note to 360 defenders: the galaxy-trekking Mass Effect fits quite nicely on one DVD.
In less flame-worthy news, Sakaguchi also announced that Lost Odyssey will ship with multiple language options including English and Japanese, though facial animations will be synced to the English dialogue. Sakaguchi explains that many western movies are shown in Japan and that English lip sync is more or less a sign of gratitude to the support of Mistwalker's western audience.
[Via Evil Avatar]
Mistwalker developing 360 MMO?
Speaking to gaming site TVG at a Paris anime event, Hironobu Sakaguchi apparently revealed that his Mistwalker Studio is currently working on an unannounced MMO title for the Xbox 360. According to Sakaguchi, the new title -- which isn't Blue Dragon 2 or Cry On -- is "50% MMO and 50% RPG." Nothing else is known about the title at this point in time. With both Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey preparing for release this year, we don't expect to hear about any new projects anytime soon. Of course, that doesn't mean we're abandoning hope that we'll hear something at E3 next week.
Blue Dragon demo set for July 20
If you've been on the fence about Blue Dragon, then we have some good news for you. According to Dengeki Online (helpfully translated by Siliconera), an international Blue Dragon demo is slated for July 20. Weighing an impressive 1.1GB, the demo will apparently contain a whopping 2 hours of available gameplay. We hope you've grown accustomed to the English voice-overs though, as Japanese will not be an option in the demo. There may be a few different subtitle options, depending on the language settings of your Xbox. Finally, be sure to grab the demo as soon as you can, as it will fly away from Marketplace on August 3rd, giving just over three weeks to save up for the real thing.[Via Siliconera]
Blue Dragon officially lands on August 28
It was confirmed during GDC this year that Blue Dragon would be hitting the U.S. sometime this August. We've received official word from Microsoft this morning that the game will ship on August 28. Yes, in just 61 days, U.S. games will finally be able to play Mistwalker's first opus. In celebration of Blue Dragon, Microsoft plans to make a fan site kit available from the official Blue Dragon page on Xbox.com (it's not available right now, despite the press release's protestations to the contrary). Xbox.com will also be hosting a feature article about the game, though it still hasn't gone live as of this posting. For those of you still unfamiliar with the game, we suggest you check out the recent preview from Eurogamer.
Eurogamer takes Blue Dragon for a spin
Eurogamer got its hands on the English version of Blue Dragon and took the time to write up some impressions. Overall, the gist of the preview is that Blue Dragon tries to recreate classic Japanese role playing game design without reinventing it. As noted by the preview, everything seems as though it was pulled from classic RPGs and made to mesh with modern console aesthetics. The graphics look like old school 2D characters and worlds come to life, the characters are broadly drawn, and the combat is solidly turn-based. About the only concession the game makes to modern game design (or "progress" as Eurogamer calls it) is that battles are not random. In the end, it seems that Blue Dragon was meant as a nostalgic trip down memory lane with a new coat of paint. The only problem, according to Eurogamer, is that such nostalgia may be in limited supply outside of Japan. We'll find out when Blue Dragon hits North America this August.
Sakaguchi gives tiny Lost Odyssey update
Details on the progress of Lost Odyssey are few and far between these days, so we'll take what we can get. According to IGN, Hironobu Sakaguchi, head of Mistwalker, has given a small update on Lost Odyssey to Japanese gaming magazine, Famitsu. According to Sakaguchi, the game's background music and packaging are complete. Also, an outside development team known as Feel Plus is currently tweaking the wall system and other gameplay systems. Readers will recall that Lost Odyssey uses a system in which soldiers in the front lines must protect the vulnerable but powerful magic users in the rear.Sakaguchi notes that there will be new details revealed in the near future. IGN speculates we may hear more at E3. Considering this is one of Microsoft's biggest projects, we're inclined to agree.
Blue Dragon now available in English, sort of
If you've been waiting for a version of Blue Dragon with English subtitles and you happen to live in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, or Singapore, then you are in luck! Siliconera reports that Microsoft has officially released Blue Dragon to Asian territories outside of Japan. This version of Blue Dragon features Japanese or Korean voice acting and both Chinese and English subtitles. Before you start getting your importing hopes up though, we must inform you that the game is region locked, unlike many Asian Xbox 360 games. However, if you just so happen to have a Japanese Xbox 360, more power to you.The rest of us, unfortunately, will be waiting until the English version's official August release.
[Via Joystiq]
Gallery: Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon 2 could be online
Speaking to Japanese website, Gpara.com, Mistwalker head, Hironobu Sakaguchi, expressed interest in taking the inevitable sequel to Blue Dragon online. Sakaguchi told the website (translated by Eurogamer), "Specifics aren't finalised, but there's a possibility that it will be produced as an online title." Granted, it's possible that something was lost in translation, but it sounds as though Sakaguchi wants to make online functionality central to Blue Dragon 2. Of course, it's just as likely that the online functionality could be limited to simple things like item trading or the Mechat shooting segments. Given the original title's relative success in Japan, adding online functionality could be a good way to get more Japanese gamers on Xbox Live.
American gamers will finally get their shot at Blue Dragon in August.
[Via Joystiq]
Sakaguchi praises Xbox, unimpressed with PS3
Speaking with GameSpot during GDC, Final Fantasy creator and head of Mistwalker Studio, Hironobu Sakaguchi, had some interesting things to say about his recent projects, Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, as well as a few choice thoughts on Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, and game development in general. One nice bit of info: There will be a playable demo of Blue Dragon available on Marketplace before the game ships in August (Sakaguchi hopes for a June or July release for the demo).
Continue reading Sakaguchi praises Xbox, unimpressed with PS3
Fancast Xtra -- Q&A with Hironobu Sakaguchi
During our preview of Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey on Tuesday, we were lucky enough to score a little question and answer time with RPG luminary, Hironobu Sakaguchi (and his translator). We learned a few things about Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, and the differences between them. We learned about the downloadable content in store for Blue Dragon, too. We also got to ask him about what its like to have his own company now (Mistwalker), what's next after Lost Odyssey, the 360's performance in Japan, and Sakaguchi-san's love for Gears of War.
We captured all the audio and now present it for download on MP3 (Fancast subscribers will get it automatically). As an added bonus, we also threw in a bit of the music from Lost Odyssey. Download and enjoy.
