4LOG Likes: RPG Hidden Gems
Hey guys, welcome to the very first installment of a new feature on the site called “4LOG Likes”, a monthly segment where the 4LOG crew highlight some of their favorite hidden gems from a particular genre or console. Today, we’re going to suggest some of our favorite RPGs that we think you’d really enjoy:
Garrett: Live-A-Live (1994, Squaresoft, SNES, JPN Only)
It’s hard to deny that Squaresoft dominated the RPG market in the 90′s, giving us great SNES classics like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, and Super Mario RPG. However, many US gamers may not know of a particular gem that never made it overseas called Live-A-Live. The game’s main hook was that it allowed you to choose one of several different scenarios taking place in different time periods. You could play through a dialogue-free scenario as a caveman battling dinosaurs, or a pro-wrestler who learns new moves from his enemies, or an anime inspired near-future scenario involving psychic youths who pilot giant mechas, just to name a few. Each story was really unique and had different ways of playing through them, with just a very tiny bit of continuity that tied the stories together. Near the end of the game, a really cool plot twist happens that brings all of the previous heroes together to fight a common foe. Unfortunately the entire game is in Japanese, that is, unless you choose to download an English-patched rom. Totally worth it, in my opinion. Don’t miss out on this one.
Persona 4 Arena Review: The Ultimate Fighting Game In Mayonaka Arena
Every once in a while in the realm of video games, there comes a moment that makes you say, “…Huh?”. For me, that moment was when I heard that my favorite RPG, Persona 4, was going to be made into a 2D fighter. How in the hell was ATLUS planning on translating a deep RPG all about social interaction and monster collecting/breeding into a one-on-one fighter? However, when I saw that Arc System Works, the developer behind Guilty Gear and BlazBlue, would be working on the title, my worries were immediately quelled. The result of their team-up has brought us Persona 4 Arena, a 2D fighter that shares DNA with both Arc System Works games and the Persona series, while also giving us quite possibly the best fighter of 2012.
Persona 4 Arena is a complete package, containing 13 unique characters, several game modes, and hours upon hours of content.
Video Game Music of the Week: Persona 3
When it comes to RPGs, Persona 3 has one of the craziest, most diverse soundtracks around.
Game: Persona 3 (PS2-2006 [JP])
Persona 3 is arguably the greatest JRPG about highschool students simulating suicide in order to summon monsters. In my opinion, the Shin Megami Tensei series as a whole has surpassed the Final Fantasy games in terms of gameplay, story, and music. The music for most of the SMT games has been composed by Shoji Meguro, who has also taken over as director for several titles. However, this week we are simply focusing on the soundtrack for Persona 3. Take a listen to the game’s opening track “Burn My Dread”:
More music after the jump! Continue reading
Final Fantasy VII Coming To PC Via Digital Download?
Could we see Final Fantasy VII on Steam in the near future?
It seems fans of the SquareEnix classic Final Fantasy VII may be getting their wish… sort of. The website finalfantasyviipc.com (taken down, yet saved via Google chace) was recently registered by SquareEnix, hinting at a PC re-release of the beloved RPG. While it isn’t the HD remake extravaganza that most fans have hoped for, it is a step in the right direction as the game could be given a small HD makeover. Continue reading
Let’s Play Dungeon Defenders (Series EV Gameplay)
In today’s Let’s Play video, I show off the newest DLC character for Dungeon Defenders: Series EV! Overall, this new character is one of most unique, versatile, and fun classes to play as. Check it out:
The Series EV DLC is available now on Steam for $3.99.
FUS-RO-DON’T! Make an Elder Scrolls MMO
The Elder Scrolls Needs no MMO
I need to find a dragonborn.
There’s an important message that needs to be shouted, and it needs to be controlled, so that its simple yet effective argument will, hopefully, echo through the skies of Maryland and call the attention of Bethesda Softworks. It is said the pen is mightier than the sword, but a properly channeled thu’um (dragon shout) can break them both with three simple words of power. I’ll have to settle for the pen. Until the prophecy of the Elder Scrolls becomes true, I don’t think that a dragonborn is going to be found. From this point on I may as well also dispense with the overdone and confused Elder Scrolls puns and get on with what needs to be said.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Review
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a welcome new franchise in the world of Western RPGs.
The world of high-fantasy RPGs seems to go by a certain set of rules. You are almost guaranteed that there will be elves and dwarves living alongside humans. Bandits, wolves, and otherworldly demons attempt to kill you at every turn. Magic is reserved for scholars and practitioners of the arcane. These rules are especially true in Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, the latest game from 38 Studios, Big Huge Games, and EA. Drawing upon inspiration from other famous fantasy RPGs, Amalur manages to bring together the best (and some of the worst) aspects of other well-known games in order to become its own unique thing.
Kingdoms of Amalur begins with, strangely enough, your character being dead.
Borderlands 2 Trailer Reveals New Classes And More
Gearbox Studios has just released an amazing trailer for the upcoming Borderlands 2, showing off the game’s new characters in action. On top of that we get to see some of the game’s new environments, enemies, vehicles, and guns, as well as a little taste of the story. This sequel looks to keep everything fresh while still feeling very familiar. Most importantly, however, is that a release date of September 18th is prominently shown near the end of the trailer. It’s going to be a long several months, but judging from the trailer it’s going to be well worth the wait. Sound off in the comments and let up know what you think!
