I'd totally buy the Japanese version of the adorable 3DS SRPG, Ambition of the Slimes, next week if an English release weren't in the works

I'm a sucker for a lot of things when it comes to buying and playing video games. Among them: cuteness, pixels, low-poly environments (think the original Final Fantasy Tactics) and strategy RPGs.

Oh, and slimes. You know, like the little blobs that basically represent Square Enix's Dragon Quest series both here and abroad.

All of the above are front and center in Circle Entertainment's 3DS port of a Japanese mobile game known as Ambition of the Slimes--which of course means I want nothing more than to buy the hell out of it the second it hits that region's eShop next week.



I'm going to do my best to hold off on that, though, thanks to a tweet Circle sent out earlier today that assured Ambition of the Slimes is "already on the way" to both Europe and North America.

How long will it take for this adorable tactical RPG to cross the pond? Sadly, I haven't a clue. As soon as I hear anything in that regard, I'll let you know.

In the meantime, please enjoy the trailer above, which showcases some Japanese footage of the game.

(Via japanesenintendo.com)

I like the 7th Dragon vibe I'm getting from this latest Kinki no Magna (Forbidden Magna) trailer

Admittedly, all that we're really shown in the following trailer--which is the latest released for the upcoming 3DS SRPG that's being made by some of the folks responsible for the Rune Factory series--is one of Kinki no Magna's characters running around a couple of its locales, but that's enough for me to add it to my lengthy "seriously consider picking up a copy should it be localized" list.

I'd be even more serious in my consideration, of course, if someone at Marvelous would leak a bit of footage that shows how the game's battles will play out, but I guess that's just too much to ask at the moment.



I'm pretty sure that day will come soon enough, though, as Kinki no Magna's Japanese release date--Oct. 2, as far as I can tell--is approaching rapidly.

Anyway, as always, here's hoping someone (I'm looking at you, Xseed) decides to bring this sucker to foreign--as in, non-Japanese--shores, and sooner rather than later. Assuming its non-running-around-town gameplay is at all enjoyable, I mean.

The Great Gaymathon Review #28: Final Fantasy Tactics (PlayStation)

Game: Final Fantasy Tactics

Genre: Strategy RPG

Developer: Squaresoft

Publisher: Squaresoft

System: PlayStation

Release date: 1998

Would you believe me if I told you I felt a bit "ho hum" about the PlayStation before I laid eyes on Final Fantasy Tactics? Well, it's the truth. Oh, other games--like Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash and even Ridge Racer--piqued my interest in the system, but none of them prompted me to go out and buy Sony's boxy, gray console like this one did. As for why I found Final Fantasy Tactics more appealing and irresistible than the aforementioned games: Well, I can't remember exactly--it has been 13 years, after all--but I think it had something to do with this title's Final Fantasy V-esque job system. I also recall being intrigued by its big, showy spells and strategic battles. There's more to Final Fantasy Tactics than those three back-of-the-box bullet points, of course--like a complex, convoluted and controversial (thanks to its negative depiction of religion in general and the Roman Catholic Church in particular) plot. Also, there's a bevy of controllable characters, an impressive array of battle locales and a beautiful, as well as memorable, soundtrack (composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata). So, what's wrong with Final Fantasy Tactics? Not much, if you ask me. In fact, I can think of only two things that could turn off the odd gamer: First, it can be confusing at times (thanks to the above-mentioned backstory) and, second, it can be brutally difficult. Don't let those negatives keep you from giving it a go, though, as it's easily one of the best games ever released for the PlayStation--or for any system at all, really, especially if you're a fan of strategy RPGs.

See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

Not sure if want, part trois: Disgaea Infinite

I've long been a fan of Nippon Ichi's Disgaea series--thanks in no small part to the games' humorous dialogue and hugely over-the-top special attacks and effects. 

I'm guessing the former will be present in the recently announced Disgaea Infinite, but I'm not so sure about the latter. After all, this PSP game, which will hit store shelves in the States this May, isn't a strategy RPG but a "visual novel."

What does that mean? Well, according the folks at NIS America, in Disgaea Infinite it means that "players will use 'time traveling' and 'possession' to solve mysteries."

The game begins with the player traveling back in time. "You then possess other characters to gather info/clues," explains an NIS America press release. "By possessing the characters, you can read their minds and see through their eyes. Some characters might be thinking something completely different as they talk to others. By possessing different characters, you will gradually find out who the true culprit is."

I'm still not sure if that sounds marvelous or meh--and this teaser trailer, used to promote the Japanese version of the game that was released late last year, doesn't help matters.

What do all of you think--does this sound brilliant or boring?