Lets try this thread, 2008. In 2007, we had a similar thread that lasted about 3-4 months, asking what your most-wanted RPGs of the year were.
In the thread, the winner was Mass Effect. 2 million copies later, we can safely say that Mass Effect did indeed win handily. #2, if I remember was Lost Odyssey, followed by Blue Dragon and Eternal Sonata rather close behind eachother. The thread was very good, IMO for predicting the most-desired RPGs of 2007.
Now we have the 2008 edition. This is for X360 owners, or prospective X360 owners primarily. No RPG bashing, or trolling for the Wii/PS3. This isn't a lineup discussion. This is a mere voting game to gauge what the most-wanted RPG is for 2008.
You get 5 votes this time: each vote is weighted for points. Your #1 vote gets 5pts, and #2 gets 4pts and so on ....This is so you have to critically think about which ones you want to give more than 1pt to, and so on.
You get one series of votes for this year....So choose wisely.
The list of tentative 2008 releases, for the year (both Multi and Exclusive) are:
Fable 2 (X360 Exclusive)
Fable 2 is a top-down action/RPG from Lionhead Studios (Black & White, with producer Peter Molenynoux (sp?), creator of many Bullfrog classics). Very similar in style to an adult-oriented Zelda game, the first iteneration sold 2.6 million copies, and was the Xbox's best-selling RPG. Combat was fast, and on-the-fly in F1. F2 promises a bigger, and better length, and tons of additions.
Fallout 3 (X360/PS3/PC)
Fallout 3 is the followup to cult-favorite Fallout Series. Bethsada (Oblivion) bought the Fallout series from nearly-defunct Interplay for the creation of this sequal. It will be a hybrid turn-based/realtime RPG that promises a choose-your-view RPG that can do both FPS, TPS, Isomectric, and Real-Time gameplay in a post-apocalyptic world. Fallout 3 will use a modified Oblivion Engine, so expect a similar look as Oblivion.
Spectral Force 3 (X360 Exclusive)
Spectral Force 3 is a Turn-Based, Isometric Japanese RPG from Idea Factory, translated to English by Atlus (Shin Megami Tensei series). Not much can be said about SF3, outside of the fact that its a strategy RPG from a rather small company. Idea Factory (if my memory serves me alright) is a very small studio, that is not known for ultra-quality titles. However, gameplay videos, and screenshots show that the game is very similar in style to Disgaea.
Operation: Darkness (X360 Exclusive)
Operation: Darkness is a hybrid Strategy RPG/Military Strategy game from Succuess (Sega). O:D focuses on a slightly-altered storyline of World War 2, featuring dragons, zombies and vampires. Although the storyline is odd, the gameplay is standard SRPG fare from a Japanese developer. The action and animations look solid, and although quirkly, looks very polished and nice despite the subject material. It released in Japan last October, to reviews in the mid-70s.
Infinite Undiscovery (X360 Exclusive)
Infinite Undiscovery is a Action RPG from Tri-Ace Studios, a former Enix (now SquareEnix) studio, known for the Star Ocean series. Not much is solidly known about the game, despite almost being finished. Action elements will focus on "situational battles" involving tactical use of characters, and surroundings to give your 3-player party an advantage. The best way to explain screenshots, ect is that it looks like Final Fantasy XII-style gameplay, combined with (possibly) a few ideas from Mass Effect.
Cry-On (X360 Exclusive)
Cry-On is the 3rd original IP from Mistwalker. Not much is known about Cry On, other than that it will be Mistwalker's first Action RPG. It has been in development since (approx) late 2006. The goal (as stated by Sakaguchi) of the game is to "make the player cry ever 15 minutes" through powerful, emotional storytelling. A few conceptual art postings (that look like screenshots) have been posted, sugguesting a very colorful, vivid world that you'll be playing in. It is still (from what I've seen) slated for a 2008 release.
Too Human (X360 Exclusive, yes. I'm considering it an RPG for this discussion)
Too Human is a Hack'N'Slash Action RPG from Silicon Knights (Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem). Although it might be argued it's not a RPG, what once looked like a straight shooter has evolved into something that is defined as "A Action/Adventure game like Devil May Cry, and Diablo". RPG elements include a deep, linear storyline, character classes, customizable weapons, armor, cybernetics, skill tree progession, and item hunting.
For refference: Too Human has been in development for over 10 years, and is FINALLY coming out in May. Too Human is also supposed to have an online component similar to Phantasy Star Online. Players are also to recieve all that, and a bag of chips when purchased.
Tales of Vesperia (X360 and maybe PS3?)
Tales of Vesperia is a Action RPG from Namco, by the same team that made "Tales of Symphonia" and "Tales of Abyss". Newcomers to the Tales franchise must know that Tales is one of the premier Japanese Action RPGs, since Tales of Phantasia in 1994-5. However, from in-game trailer information, it seems that Vesperia will do away with the Linear Motion Battle System, and hybridizing the system into a 3d battle system, featured in Eternal Sonata (made by Namco, but another team). Not much else is known about the game, other than Namco's best RPG team (the Symphonia/Abyss team) is working on this cell-shaded RPG.
Last Remnant (X360/PS3)
Last Remnant is an Action RPG from SquareEnix, using Unreal Engine 3, SE's first venture to use a 3rd party gaming engine. Although details are not fully realized about the game (yet), action will be fast, and in a war-like environment, encompasing entire armies in the span of one battle, like the Dynasty Warriors series. However, SquareEnix is promoting the strong RPG aspects of the game. The exact wording, for the battle system is ""Turn-burst, command-based system using symbol encounters.", according to the developers. You will build a party, comprised of different skill-type players to go into battle in this RPG. There will be no random encounters.
One should also note, this is Square Enix's first multi-platform game for the PS3/X360.
Sacred 2 (PC/X360)
Sacred 2 is an Action RPG being developed by Ascarion Entertainment, developers of the original Sacred game. It is the followup title to Sacred, which sold 1.8m copies on PC, worldwide. Sacred is considered a "Diablo Clone" by many, as it was well-recieved as a strong, worthy clone of concepts developed, and perfected in the Diablo series of games by Blizzard.
Players will be able to select various classes of characters, utilizing a specific set of skills, and weaponry/items to battle in dungeons, and overworlds. Not much is known about the title, although it's been in development on the X360, and PC for about 2 years now. I still expect a 2008 release for the game.
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This is the CURRENT list of RPGs slated for 2008. Magna Carta 2 is an unknown. Am I missing any other RPGs for the 360? Also, some *are* slated for a 08 release in atleast 1 country: Cry-On is slated for an 08 JP release, as far as I know. Operation Darkness and Spectral Force 3 are both US/EU 2008 titles, whereas both were released in JP already.
Current top list as of post #71:
| Name | Pts Added | Pts. Before | Total Pts |
| Fable 2 | 23 | 144 | 167 |
| Fallout 3 | 16 | 99 | 115 |
| Too Human | 27 | 76 | 103 |
| Tales of Vesperia | 9 | 72 | 81 |
| Infinite Undiscovery | 14 | 65 | 79 |
| Last Remnant | 9 | 55 | 64 |
| Cry On | 0 | 37 | 37 |
| Operation: Darkness | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Sacred 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Spectral Force 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
Back from the dead, I'm afraid.
