New games for the anime fan

Not sure if you meant just PS2 JRPG games, but The World Ends With You is a GREAT game for the DS. It's a Square game, which... may or may not mean a lot to the person reading about it. I think it's one of my favorite JRPGs by them, if not my favorite. It's very stylized, the fighting style is fun, and the story is good. Plus it takes awhile to play through (extra missions and stuff to get bonus movies) and once you beat it you can actually replay it. And the replay value on it is pretty good too.

This game is so new that it isn't even out in the US... yet!

Other than Sasha, I really don't know who else here actually has a PS3, but you should be excited for this game anyway.

White Knight Chronicles is really the kind of title I've been waiting to see from Japanese developers, but haven't really (outside of FFXI online and FFXII). Part action RPG, part PvP battler; WKC really has a lovely blend of gaming elements that really gives you a fun, far-from-generic JRPG.

Need proof? Feast your eyes, mortals:

Now for something completely different. Well, almost completely different.

Fat Princess is a PlayStation Network (i.e. PS3 download title) exclusive that looks like a chibi paradise... with the exception of two war-torn factions battling for supremacy.

Basically, it is a capture the flag game with a lot of players feeding cake to the enemy's princess (the flag) that needs to be rescued by the other faction. If anything, it should be admired for the art style, which I love. It is adorable and devilishly twisted!

[3]: More Fat Princess Info

Vanguard Princess is a freeware PC game that was apparently made by an ex Capcom employee. It is cute, and from what I've seen, only has girl characters (also, the name implies such).

You can download it here (WARNING! VERY JAPANESE SITE)

I've called out Disgaea before, but so far I've only mentioned the PlayStation 3 version, explicitly. However, having played a handful of hours of that one and spoke to others about the series, I can feel comfortable telling you all about this one.

Disgaea DS is the perfect tactical RPG for any portable gamer. Disgaea has a very twisted way with humor, and it seems like a great match for anyone that can appreciate anime in whatever form it takes. This game, like others in the series, are filled with dialogue and hand-drawn anime characters. Since it is also about a demon world and how it operates so very differently from our own, it is very refreshing compared to your typical hero story.

Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2

I honestly like the PS3 version a hell of a lot more, but they do had a PS2 one (linked). It is a very simple game, but you get to play as some of your favorite Gundams and slash the crap out of those fodder enemy MSs.

![BlazBlue][1] I'm not sure why I didn't mention this game sooner, but it seems like an anime nerd's fighting game wet-dream

[1]: More BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (Standard Edition) News & Previews

Today, I bring you a fun, Mario Party-like game with RPG elements!

BEHOLD: Dokapon Kingdom (for PS2 and Wii)

I don't know why I forgot about this game, but this is the perfect party game for Sasha to own (seriously, why doesn't she have this already!?)

The Persona series is kind of a big RPG, in a cult sort of way. Most of the original titles are hard to come by, but the latest one shouldn't be that difficult to get.

Persona 4 (PS2)

What a surprise; Ryan is recommending another game from Atlus. He must be a fanboy.

Not really. I feel a lot of these games would appeal to most of you, and Atlus just so happens to be the best company for quirky titles. This one is no exception to that.

My main grounds for recommending it? It is set in a high school and not one of those "you vs. the world" that Final Fantasy holds so dear to their titles.

[3]:

Disgaea 3 (PS3) is from a great, super-quirky series of strategy games. Similar (but far more complex by comparison) to Final Fantasy Tactics, it has gotten some mixed reviews from newcomers, but great reviews from series followers.

Now, I don't have a Total PlayStation review for this game (because we never got a copy from the publisher; hence, no review), and IGN's Ryan Clements didn't put in a good word, but even the consensus from their office is that this game is much better than the give review.

A Second Take from IGN's Daemon Hatfield reads:

Take it from a Disgaea fan: this game is fantastic. I've sunk countless hours into the first two games, the portable versions, and now I'm hooked on part three. Sure, it doesn't take advantage of the PS3's graphical capabilities, but it looks like an attractive PS2 game -- and that's not bad. There's enough depth here to drown in for the rest of the year. Plus, it's got that quirky Disgaea humor, great anime artwork and a catchy soundtrack. Bottom line: if you're a Disgaea fan, you need to own this and if you like strategy games you should at least give it a look.

The game looks old, and the combat system will clearly take some digging and getting used to, but this may be the best game for any strategy fan out there. Of course, there is another, highly-acclaimed, underselling game out there...

An over-the-shoulder strategy title for the PS3, Valkyria Chronicles is another anime-inspired game that you guys should enjoy! Who else doesn't want to play an alternative universe's WWII?

Clements actually has a good video review here. It really says it all!

Valkyria Chronicles at IGN.com

The "Tales" series are a good pick. Vesperia or Symphonia are the latest ones I've heard about. It uses the fight on contact mechanics but when you start fighting it's real-time. There are plenty of side quests and a lot of exploration.

ATTENTION!

What are some 4 player games that you like? Jim and I are trying to set up an Otaku Pride Game-a-thon but we need some ideas for titles. I can, sadly, only think of Wii games, and no matter how good they are, I'd rather play something else.

Here is what I have in mind, thus far:

• TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl
• Left4Dead
• Mario Kart Wii
• Dokapon Kingdom

Any other ideas that can be really easy for some not-so-very-much gamers to pick up and play would be appreciated! They don't necessarily need to be 4 player competitive games, but they do help for interesting wrap-up posts!

Tales of Symphonia, Final Fantasy XII, The World Ends with You.... Are among my favorites.

I just started Tales of Vesperia, it's awesome so far and I have high hopes for that Tales game too.

If you're an anime fan and want an RPG (its kinda linear though) check out Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny for PS2 or Baiten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the lost ocean for the GameCube. Though I never beat either of them, they're more like interactive animes than RPGs, and those types of games bore me.... with one exception.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

(For Nintendo DS)
For those that aren't to keen on beating people up and watching their characters die in video games, and who'd rather play Nintendogs, check out the Phoenix Wright series. I was kidding with what I said before, really, it has something for everyone. In essence, it is a visual storybook with an element of User-failure in it, however, they get more game-like as the games go on, with puzzles to solve and more. Find contradictions and point the right way with your finger of justice. Dont forget shouting OBJECTION, which is so fun to do with your DS Microphone.....

I have a tendency to post about PS3 titles (or some PS2 ones every now and then) but if I find out about more titles for other platforms, I'll be sure to post about them.

Problem is, in part, that Sony has the market on Japanese games still. The other problem is that I write for a PlayStation website.