Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Developer: Level-5 Inc.
Platform: PlayStation2
Genre: Role-Playing Game (RPG)
Players: 1 Player
Peripherals: DualShock2 analog controller, Memory Card (8MB)(for PlayStation2)
Launch Date: January 30, 2007
Rating: “T” for Teen
OVERVIEW
From the developers of the critically acclaimed Dark Cloud series, Level-5 once again delivers an unparalleled role-playing game experience with the introduction of Rogue Galaxy™. With its highly anticipated North American release, Rogue Galaxy provides RPG fans with visually stunning backdrops, an immersive storyline with plenty of unexpected twists, and a proprietary combat system that gives the player total control of an epic adventure.
Featuring gameplay with no load times, players will be able to explore the worlds of Rogue Galaxy with seamless transitions. Set in a vast world, this action-RPG allows players to run, jump, swim, climb, and engage in combat real-time, as they explore active environments in a quest to locate a legendary planet. Control up to three characters at a time, each colorfully brought to life within highly detailed environments. In addition to the compelling storyline, gamers will have access to multiple mini-games and be able to generate custom weapons and items by creating their own factory.
STORYLINE
At the far edge of the galaxy on the desert planet Rosa, a young man named Jaster dreams of journeying through space. In a sudden turn of fate, he is recruited to join the crew of space pirate Dorgenark in a race to find a legendary planet that holds the key to the greatest of treasures…eternal life.
However another party, led by the Daytron Corporation, is also searching for the same planet. Jaster and the crew of Dorgenark-Go will have to battle the Daytron Corporation across the vast galaxy as they race to put the pieces of the portal together that will allow them to stake their claim to the treasure.
KEY FEATURES
• Epic 3D Gameplay – More than 100 hours of gameplay are unfolded through six expansive worlds with highly detailed environments and unique, cel-shaded character designs.
• Multiple Playable Characters – Eight playable characters total, with up to three controllable characters on the screen at the same time.
• True action-RPG – Rogue Galaxy brings a real-time combat system that provides players the opportunity to customize attacks and switch between multiple characters in mid-battle.
o Unique ‘Battle Suggestion’ system allows your A.I. controlled allies to recommend specific actions during combat and allows players to issue commands to teammates.
o Utilize close and long-range weapons and execute special attacks unique to each character, as well as team combo attacks.
• Ability to Build Special Weapons and Items – Combine different weapons to synthesize more than 500 new weapons. Player can also manufacture specialized and rare items in the Factory Mode by locating schematics throughout the galaxy.
• Featured Mini-Games and Side Quests – In addition to solving the mysteries of the epic story,
Rogue Galaxy features a number of mini-games and quests to further challenge players.
o Insectron Tournament – Capture, train, and stage battles using Insectron bugs found throughout the various worlds. Over 120 Insectors can be collected in the game, and players will increase rank and earn prizes by advancing through tournaments.
o Rare Item Hunt – Search throughout the galaxy for clues to track down rare items. Locating all items provides players with special prizes.
o Galactic Seven-Star Swords – Follow clues and gather information to collect the set of legendary Seven-Star Swords, considered to be the some of the most powerful weapons in the game.
o Challenge Battles – Players can add an element of difficulty by completing battles under certain conditions. Successful players can earn hunter coins, which help to upgrade a player’s hunter license and open up additional challenges within the game.
• More than eight hours of high-quality cut-scenes and cinematics help to drive the coming-of-age story full of action, adventure, and numerous twists that will keep players guessing until the very end.
Peench's Thoughts
I played Rogue Galaxy for about 2 hours last night on my PS3. It was a little blurry thanks to the HDMI connection (and the upconversion by the TV), but otherwise the cell shading was pretty nice. There were jaggies of course, but nothing that took away from the fun.
The story looks as if it will be VERY developed and deep. There were loads of cut scenes and many of them were pretty long. The game reminded me of all the best things of KOTOR, but with real time fighting.
From an RPG standpoint Rogue Galaxy is very deep. I was able to develop additional abilities and leveled up quite a bit. From what I understand there is a factory aspect that becomes available later that permits gamers to develop their own weapons.
I grabbed some video from fairly early on in the game. The video shows the real time fighting, some of the help tips that show up, the save system and choosing abilities while fighting. All in all very good fun.
The game has a T rating and the lead character does say "dammit" every now and again. Otherwise it might be a really fun game to play with my son. It might be a little more in depth of an RPG for him to handle playing on his own, but aside from the occasional dammit or whatever, it woulda been fun.
This is a brief preview of my thoughts before the game is released. Look for a further in depth review later as the editors here have a chance to play a bit more.
Nice post Peench, I am even more looking forward to this now! The combat sounds like a nice twist to the real time of FFXII. I used to hate Real Time combat in RPGs, but these games are starting to manage it better.
I'm curious on the whole Factory aspect of the game, and how the item combinations will work. Those side quests are going to eat up a ton of time, will see how fun they are..... I never seem to do all the sidequests in these games
I have more info in the press release that I can put up. I'm out of the office today and didn't bring it with me, but I'll post up the info as soon as I can. I played it longer than I thought I would last night. I was pretty tired, but it was very fun and the storyline started sucking me in right from the start. There are loads of cut-scenes tho so those of you who are annoyed by cut-scenes might be... well... annoyed. I couldn't find any way to skip the cut scenes either. Which I guess is good to allow the story to be developed. But there were instances a little later in the game where the cut scenes were probably 5-10 mins long!
Picked up Rogue G this week and having a great time! The storyline is very well written and the atmosphere of the game pulls you right in. About 8 hours into the game now, developing my chars is pretty fun through their upgrade system. The frog that combines weapons is goofy, but fun to toy with. I actually like the graphics, perfect for this style of game. Voice acting not so bad either.
The battle system I'm still getting used to. You basically have control of one of your three chars at a time, and can give commands to him or the other chars. They run off on their own getting killed. hehe. Kinda chaotic fighting real time and trying to shoot off commands to your comrades. Boy do I miss those FFXII Gambits!
Overall, I'd give this game a good 8.5 out of 10. Might even go up if I can master this oddball battle system.
PS2 is still alive and kicking for me, even though I have the Xbox 360 and Wii.
I totally agree with your thoughts Van! I had a blast playing this game despite being designed for the PS2. The graphics are right on for the gameplay. The fighting is a bit funky, but you can tell from my gameplay video that I am a master!! haha.. or as Rhino puts it, a master of button mashing!! haha.
I hope this game gets as much play as it deserves! It is well done in my opinion.
I popped it in for a short little bit, and I must say I was more interested in it than I thought I would be! My thoughts are to come, since I only had the game on for about 15 minutes before I had to leave...
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Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's just too hard to read.
I had the same thing happen to me Jon. When I originally popped Rogue Galaxy in I thought I would play for about 30 mins or so... well 2 hours later I was all pumped up to see what happens next. The story unfolds much like a movie. The cutscenes are very cinematic and give you just enough of the story to keep you going.
Linear Mode
