{"id":7276,"date":"2010-08-26T00:18:00","date_gmt":"2010-08-25T22:18:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T22:00:00","slug":"13-upcoming-rpgs-to-get-excited-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/features\/7276-13-upcoming-rpgs-to-get-excited-about","title":{"rendered":"13 Upcoming RPGs to get excited about"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the purpose of this article, I decided to stick with traditional RPGs, steering clear of the MMO market.  <\/p>\n

Diablo III – PC<\/strong><\/p>\n

Action RPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – Late 2011<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em>Blizzard Entertainment<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em>Blizzard Entertainment – The Masters PC gaming. They surely have the Midas Touch, and without doubt Diablo III will shine when it eventually comes out. <\/p>\n

Diablo games can be summed up with the following description; gather endless loot, kill hideously deformed baddies,  level up, rinse and repeat. Sure it’s simple, but it ridiculously addictive. <\/p>\n

Set in the gothic themed world of Sanctuary, the land is once again overrun with demons and their ilk. It will be your job to go forth and carve your way through the evil hordes. <\/p>\n

Some new classes make an appearance, such as the Witch Doctor. Some old faces make a return, like the Barbarian, and the Monk from Diablo’s expansion, Hellfire.<\/p>\n

Hopefully it is going to be even better than its predecessor Diablo II, which is still discussed and played avidly by thousands a decade later. <\/p>\n

\"Diablo<\/p>\n

Fallout: New Vegas – PC, Xbox, PS3<\/strong><\/p>\n

First Person RPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – October 29 2010<\/em><\/p>\n

Obsidian Entertainment<\/em><\/p>\n

Fallout: New Vegas is likely to be more of an in-depth affair compared to Fallout 3 due to the fact that Obsidian is known for making very complex and interesting RPG’s. However there is also a downside; Obsidian is infamous for making buggy games. Let’s hope that Bethesda’s involvement means a little more quality control.<\/p>\n

\"Fallout<\/p>\n

Taking place three years after Fallout 3, the game is set in Nevada and the Mojave Desert. New to the game will be a weapon modification and crafting system,  a gathering system  similar to that used in the Elder Scrolls games, and a robust companion system which will allow for more tactical variety.<\/p>\n

Interestingly a Hardcore Mode is making an appearance for all the masochists out there (hopefully making the game hellishly challenging). Some features include the need to eat, sleep and drink to avoid death. Sign me up!<\/p>\n

Deus Ex: Human Revolution – PC, Xbox, PS3<\/strong><\/p>\n

First Person RPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – February 2011 <\/em><\/p>\n

Eidos Montreal<\/em><\/p>\n

Human Revolution is set 25 years before the events in the original Deus Ex. Unlike the first two games where nanotech augmentations were mainstay, in Human Revolution biomechanical augmentations will instead be used (think Bionic Man). <\/p>\n

\"Deus<\/p>\n

Set in a cyberpunk universe you will play as Adam Jensen, a private security officer who is in the employ of a company which specializes in biomechanical augmentations. Over the course of the game you will visit cities including Montreal and Shanghai taking down intelligent enemies who will react to subtle player choices. Using a combination of social and stealth skills you could even forgo killing all enemies, besides the mission critical characters.<\/p>\n

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings – PC, (Xbox and PS3 possibly to follow)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Action RPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – Early 2011<\/em><\/p>\n

CD Projekt RED STUDIO<\/em><\/p>\n

Firstly, I have got to state I loved The Witcher to bits. The setting was dark, gritty and mature, and one’s actions often carried heavy consequences.<\/p>\n

The Witcher 2 will once again follow the exploits of Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher of renown, who is now entangled in an assassination conspiracy. Two new villains are introduced; the first being an elf spy named Lorveth, and the second a mysterious man known only as Kingslayer.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Needless to say many creatures of the night will be maimed and rendered limb from limb in Geralt’s task of unraveling the conspiracy. The Witcher 2 is also sporting a new combat system which is to be more fluid,  and far more bloody. This should be a great game for the more hardcore RPG fans.<\/p>\n

Final Fantasy Versus XIII – PS3<\/strong><\/p>\n

Japanese Action RPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – TBA (likely early 2011)<\/em><\/p>\n

Square Enix<\/em><\/p>\n

Not much is known about Final Fantasy Versus XIII as it is largely being kept under wraps.<\/p>\n

The game’s protagonist is known as Noctis Lucis Caelum (what a mouthful), who is the last successor and heir ruling an isolated city containing a crystal which grants power. <\/p>\n

\"Final<\/p>\n

The gameplay itself will be akin to games like Kingdom Hearts and also mix in some third-person shooter elements. But don’t let the Kingdom Hearts reference put you off. The game is set to be a very dark, ominous affair. The world is a dichotomy of advanced technology as well as medieval locales.<\/p>\n

Making a return is the World Map which has been missing from the franchise for quite some time. Final Fantasy Versus XIII is planned to be a traditional, unlike the recent minimalist action offered in Final Fantasy XIII.<\/p>\n

Tales of Graces F – PS3<\/strong><\/p>\n

Japanese RPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – Late 2010<\/em><\/p>\n

Namco Bandai<\/em><\/p>\n

The ‘Tales of’ series is very popular in Japan, and for good reason. Heading to the PlayStation 3, Tales of Graces F will be an enhanced version of the Wii title by the same name (minus the F). Tales of Graces F will have improved graphics over its Wii counterpart and contain a vast amount of new content. <\/p>\n

\"Tales<\/p>\n

You play as Asbel Lhant, the eldest son to a feudal lord. After the death of someone dear to Asbel, he enlists in a knight’s academy in order to gain the strength to protect those around him. However, his father dies a few years later and he is forced to give up on his dream of becoming a knight. Instead he takes over his father’s role as the feudal lord.<\/p>\n

The battle system for the other ‘Tales of’ titles are all in real-time. They require a degree of finesse to master and they evolve over the course of the game. Unlike many games using similar real-time systems, the ‘Tales of’ games always seem more involved and meaty. <\/p>\n

Sadly this game may or may not get an English translation, which is a huge shame. Other games in the series I have played are fantastic on all levels. Fans of great JRPG’s should hold their thumbs for this one!<\/p>\n

Other RPGs to keep an eye on<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arcania: Gothic 4 – PC, Xbox, PS3<\/strong><\/p>\n

Traditional RPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – October 12 2010 for PC and Xbox. 2011 for the PS3 version.<\/em><\/p>\n

Two Worlds II – PC, Xbox, PS3<\/strong><\/p>\n

Traditional RPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – September 17 2010<\/em><\/p>\n

Dragon Age II – PC, Xbox, PS3<\/strong><\/p>\n

Traditional RPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – March 11 2011<\/em><\/p>\n

Torchlight 2 – PC<\/strong><\/p>\n

Action RPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – 2011<\/em><\/p>\n

White Knight Chronicles 2 – PS3<\/strong><\/p>\n

JRPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – 2011<\/em><\/p>\n

Ar Tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel – PS3<\/strong><\/p>\n

JRPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – 2011<\/em><\/p>\n

Super Dimensional Game Neptune – PS3<\/strong><\/p>\n

JRPG<\/em><\/p>\n

Release Date – Late 2010 \/ Early 2011<\/em><\/p>\n

Have any RPGs to add to the list?<\/a> << Share your views in the forums<\/p>\n

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