Crispy Gamer News

The developers of Kivi’s Underworld don’t lie when they say that this game is a casual hack and slash game. It is so casual, in fact, that it sheds off the trappings of the genre in favor of grinding through a series of challenging dungeons.. with very little. Instead of doling out weapons and armor, players grind for potions and power-ups that serve as limited time specials that help you weather the perils of each and every area you’ll have to explore. Kivi’s Underworld is like the naked, abandoned brother of Depths of Peril; frugal in its approach, but abundant in challenge, and action, and replayability.

You play as Kivi, or one of his companions, as you get toe-to-toe with the growing threat of dark elf forces, stirring from their slumber, ready to bring about the destruction of the lumen people. You can do this as a fighter, a fire mage or 20 other classes available in the full game.

The demo for Kivi’s Underworld offers way more gameplay than it should, but it gives players willing to look past its rough graphics and simplistic gameplay system enough time to form an impression. For me, this game from the makers of Depths of Peril is more interesting for what it isn’t than what it is.

You can learn more about the game and download a playable demo by checking out the Soldak Entertainment web site.

Blossomsoft’s first game reminds me of the kind of game you would get if it was made in Game Maker; a highly derivative, Eastern themed JRPG with leanings towards Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. It’s not of course, but the Final Fantasy reference is an apt one, because this RPG is all about paying homage to the classics. Of course, it does so almost to a fault; the dialogue reads like a badly localized NES RPG, with silly dialog, a goof protagonist and several rivals dueling for the affection of a princess.

The game’s story is also highly derivative – perhaps unearthed from the musty smelling sarcophagus of some long forgotten JRPG. It opens in a strange land where people live hundreds of years, but never age; where a tower named after that mythological garden in the old testament holds a forbidden fruit, and where partaking of said fruit turns this small island into an empty, decaying husk of its former self.

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At a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horil revealed inadvertently that Dragon Quest X is in the works and is headed to the Nintendo Wii. Japanese blog Gemaga captured these moments and translated them to English which is probably a good thing because my Japanese is a little rusty (READ: non-existent).

Horii: “We’re currently developing Dragon Quest X on Wii.” This was followed by Nintendo president Satoru Iwata taking the stage and adding “Thanks very much for announcing Dragon Quest X on Wii!”

While that is a pretty weak confirmation, it is a confirmation nonetheless. Will Level 5 be developing the game? Will it support the Wii Remote?  Will it make its way to North Ameerica? Will it suck? We’ll keep you posted.

Square Enix announced this week that its PSP Star Ocean title, STAR OCEAN: Second Evolution, has been delayed by about two weeks. Following the exploits of humankind’s journey across the stars, the STAR OCEAN saga comes to life in the completely remastered STAR OCEAN: Second Evolution, exclusively for the PSP system. The new game features a revised game engine, an improved battle system and fully voiced, all-new animated scenes displayed in 16:9 widescreen.

The game was scheduled for release on January 6, 2009. Square Enix did not disclose the reason for the delay. Mark January 20, 2009 on your calendars. More about the game can be found at na.square-enix.com.

Natsume’s Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon for the DS has shipped to retail this week. The Rune Factory series combines the gameplay of Harvest Moon with the fantasy trappings of an action-RPG.

Rune Factory 2 is set several years after the first game after the evil Sechs Empire has been defeated, and the Kingdom of Norad is once again at peace. Things won’t stay that way for long, however, as strange disturbances in the earth warn that a new evil is stirring. It’s up to player to uncover this new threat to the land and bring peace to the kingdom once more. Over the course of the story, players will build and develop a farm, befriend townspeople, raise monsters, take on quests, and find a wife.

In a first for the Rune Factory series, the story of Rune Factory 2 is multigenerational. Players begin the game as Kyle, a strange man who comes to Alvarna Village. Eventually, players will take on the role of Kyle’s child, opening up a whole new adventure.

Rune Factory 2 is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

Atlus U.S.A confirmed plans to bring My World, My Way for the DS to the United States on February 3, 2009. Released in Japan under the name “The World Revolves Around Me,” My World, My Way is a different kind of role-playing game where you can dramatically alter the game play and the environment to change the way the game is played.

For example, you can alter the landscape by using different terrain options to change what kinds of places to explore, what kinds of monsters you will encounter and what kinds of items you can find. Players will also be able to use pouting as a means to get your way to make certain aspects of the game easier; as you pout you earn special points that literally force the world to behave the way you want it to.

The game is all about selfishness and having a strong will because it revolves around a spurned princess on a quest to win the affection of an adventurer. This adventurer doesn’t want a pampered princess, so you must go out and get some life experience as the less than charming Princess Elise.

While the storyline is as pedestrian as you might expect from a JRPG, the actual mechanics sounds like lots of fun. Look for My World, My Way in early 2009.

Namco Bandai Games America’s Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World has shipped to retail stores throughout North America and is available exclusively for Wii. The new Wii role-playing game continues the story of Tales of Symphonia for GameCube, while introducing a new monster collection system that lets players capture, evolve and do battle with more than 200 monsters alongside a cast of new and returning characters. The monsters collection part of the game allows players to nurture, evolve and use up to 3 monsters in battle.

Naturally you can expect some new protagonists, new conflicts and some new friends to help you on your journey. Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World for Wii carries a suggested retail price of $39.99 and is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.