Topic: RPGs and Wii

[LunaticFringe]

I am a huge RPG fan, ever since the original NES.  Obviously, SNES was the zenith of RPGs and Nintendo.  Too many classics to even try to list.  However, we had a serious let down with the N64 and another subsequent letdown with GC.

I mean there have been some note worthy games on each system, but they pale in comparison to what is out there.  I don't want to start a zomg!PS2 has so many RPGs thread by any means.


However, I haven't really kept up with Wii.  In fact, I haven't really played much console games for awhile, i have been addicted to MMORPGs (namely FFXI).  Anyways after two years of FFXI, I started to look back at the next Gen systems.  I have always been a Nintendo Fanboy,  I grew up with the brand.  The Wii has me really excited in terms of what it can do.

However as everyone knows, everything esentially comes down to software, meaning the games themselves.  Consoles' harwarde means nothing if it isn't utilized effectively to produce a fun, entertaining, and appealing game on an overall level.

As RPGs tend to be my main interest,  I had a few questions to those who have been following Wii longer than I have.

1.)  I know their is Zelda (not really RPG, but awesome in its own right, a working Dragon Quest Title, a working Fire Emblem Title, a Crystal Cronicle sequal.  Is there anything else sceduled for this genre of games?

2.)  Obviously somewhere between the switch from SNES to N64 and the rise of Playstation, Nintendo lost a lot, a lot of third party support (especially in the RPG arena).  I know Nintendo has actively worked to ally itself with Sega and Konami, and even repaired relations slightly with SquareEnix.  However, have they done anything at all to bring home some more heavy hitters back to their console?  Hopefully brining back some of the classic named franchises.  Obviously, i'm looking for more RPG companys here, but any info on the old school companys would be awesome.

3.)  I played Golden Sun I and II for Gameboy, and there was always rumors of a Golden Sun game being produced for Gamecube.  With the twilight of the gamecube coming, is there any chance this series could be resurrected or has it been forgotten?

4.)  I know that at launch, there are no online compatible cames (though I wish Wii Sports was, maybe in a future version I guess).  When can we expect some?  Do we know anything about Nintendo's Online strategy in terms of these games?  Will they be pay to play?  If so, to the companies or to Nintendo itself?

5.)  Lastly, I have Phantasy Star Online for Gamecube, and briefly played it online with my broadband modem.  Since Wii is backwards compatible, is there any chance it could still be played online?  Also I saw an advertisement on a Phantasy Star Universe Site that said it would be on all major consoles, but didn't list Wii, gamecube, or even PS3(which sorta makes sense since its on PS2).

6.)  Does anyone know or even can speculate whats in this obscenely expensive gamestop/ebgames preorder bundle?

Anyways, thanks for any information you guys could provide.  Would love the Input.

[IceCold]

1) Fire Emblem 10 - a strategy RPG by Intelligent Systems - is under development - look for it in early 2007

Namco has two projects underway, and it's rumoured that they are RPGs - hopefully a Tales game or one with a similar battle system. Also, a game called "Legend of the River King" has been announced, but I don't know much about it.

2) Nintendo has been patching up its relations with Square for the last few years. Since Crystal Chronicles, it seems like they have a much stronger relation - Nintendo even lent the Mario franchise for Square to make Mario Hoops DS. This is shown by the GBA and especially the DS support. Square is strongly backing the DS, but it is, of course, the market leader. Square's president had some great things to say about Wii, but that hasn't translated to much support appart from DQ and CC.

Namco also is on good terms with Nintendo. They made use of the Mario franchise as well, making both Mario Baseball (GameCube) and Mario Kart Arcade GP, and you can be sure they made a lot of money off that. They were also the strongest RPG publisher for the Cube, giving us Tales of Symphonia and Baten Kaitos. I'm sure they'll show some love for the Wii - like I said, they have two unnamed titles underway.

I think if Wii takes Japan, which it has a very good chance at doing, we'll see many more RPGs flowing in. SE especially are sitting on the fence, and are ready to jump on the bandwagon. With all the PS3's troubles, the astounding success of the DS in Japan (indicative of Nintendo's strategy), and the fact that nearly 10 times as many Wiis as PS3s will be available at launch, Wii is in a good position.

3) One of the first Wii titles revealed was a Camelot Wii project. This was rumoured to be a Golden Sun title, but it was never revealed. Recently, Camelot said that they would be focusing on a PC game, so the Wii game is taking a backseat. It will come out, though.. news at E3 07 maybe?

4) The first two games to take advantage of the WiFi connection will be Batallion Wars 2 (BWii - awesome title) and Super Mario Strikers Charged, which I believe will come in the Spring of 2007. All the first party titles are absolutely FREE to play, and it's likely that the 3rd parties will follow suit. This is what has happened with the DS. We know that there will be a system code, and you have to exchange it in order to have the other person on your friend list. The codes are only really necessary for stuff like voice chat, though. Nintendo is really pushing WiFi as one of the selling points of Wii, so expect the Wii to have a strong online presence.

In the meantime, you'll have to settle for the Virtual Console (download those SNES RPGs) and the Opera Browser (Free to download until June 07), plus all those channels such as the weather and news ones.

5) Unfortunately, you won't be able to play PSO, since there is no extension port on the Wii.

6) You can check out this thread for news and opinions on the EBGames bundle.

And finally, welcome to the forums! Please check-in to the Newbie thread - hope you stick around for a while.  

[BlkPaladin]

Legend of the River King is a "spin-off" of the Harvest Moon series. You fish instead of farm though.  If it is the game I think it is.

Also there are a few "rumored" rpgs in development.

[Hocotate]

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I recall one of the Wii Namco games titles including "Legendia." suggesting some sort of connection to Tales of Legendia. I believe this was on the-magicbox.com a while back.

Anyway, already we can see a stronger RPG lineup is very likely. SE has already announced 2 Wii games and has stated that they will not support Sony to the same extent they did with the PS2. I think it's safe to assume some sort of additional support from SE, aside from these two titles. *crosses fingers* I hope those rumors of DQ9 being Wii exclusive turn out to be true.  I honestly feel that would be the last straw and Wii would take Japan, 100% sure without a doubt.

[couchmonkey]

Figuring out who's going to have the RPGs this time is hard.  PS3 is having too many problems to be a "sure thing" like PS2 was.  Wii looks really promising, but in my opinion Fire Emblem is the only sure bet so far.  

360 has a few Japanese RPGs, but it will probably never be the home for the heavy hitters like Tales, Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, because it just doesn't have enough support in Japan.  It will probably have a decent selection of Western RPGs though and it's got the new PSO.

I have a feeling Wii is going to wind up with the best selection of Japanese RPGs, I really feel Nintendo is poised to take Japan.  But that's all speculation and going purely by the numbers, 360 has the best RPG lineup right now.  Kind of surprising!

[LunaticFringe]

Wow guys, thanks for all the info so far.  It's really been helpful.


So most of the franchised titles are still up in the air?  Icecold said SE wasn't looking to be so tight with Sony as it was with PS2?  That's amazing news!

Like Couchmonkey said Fire Emblem is a lock (also Pokemon), but that's a given.

No one has any idea where some of the major franchises are going?
Final Fantasy post XII
Dragon Warrior
Tales
.Hack
Ogre Battle
Breath of Fire
Star Ocean
Suikoden
Phantasy Star
to name only a few

It seems like its genrally well known that Nintendo is trying to get in good with Konami and Sega.  Also, on the topic of the SE thing.  All their good games are going to Nintendo's handhelds!!!  I mean i appreciate the effort with Crystal Chronicle, but we all know SE is capable of producing much much better?  When do you think Nintendo will stand up to them and say "If you want to keep raking in money hand over fist with our hand helds, you better start producing top notch games for our other consoles!".

Anyways two more questions:

1.) What are the chances of Wii being able to support a MMORPG such as with PS2 and FFXI?  Could these games even go cross-platform as with FFXI on computer, PS2 and Xbox360?  It seems like without a hard drive, this would be impossible.  I thought I read somewhere that the GC had slots for a removable harddrive, but it was never actually produced or utilized.  Any chance we see something like that for the Wii?  Or maybe the 8gig SD card?  Its flash memory right?  Maybe that could be used to store data like updates on a game.

2.) Last question, do you think Nintendo will try to incorporate their handhelds into the Wii?  Some games like Crystal Chronicle used Gameboys as actual controllers.  In many other games, they were used to unlock secrets, etc.  They have been doing this even back to the days of the N64?  If they did decide to go this route, would it be DS + future hanhelds  only?  

[MaryJane]

pokemon battle whateverthehell they're calling it has been confirmed to use DS connectivity.

until the ps3 is dead, that's where those rpg's are going for the most part, FF:CC is Nintendo's, and I have a feeling that's what we're going to hav on all Nintendo systems unless the PS3 dies. Same with Dragon Quest the type we're going to get, is most likely what we're going to be stuck with.

Good to see someone else on the boards who shares my love of anything RPG!

Except I disagree with you on your earlier point with Zelda. (no one's perfect)

[Ceric]

Final Fantasy XIII is suppose to be a PS3 game as announced right this minute.

There has been almost confirmation that DS Wii connection capability.  We are really just waiting for someone to announce it's use to solidify it. (Hopefully as an alt screen to choose attacks in the new Pokemon Arena style game that be cool.)