Mistwalker’s Hironobu Sakaguchi, who oversaw the Final Fantasy series up through X-2, has been around the role-playing block enough times to know what he likes about the genre and what issues could stand to be addressed. Having worked on Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, he’s come to the conclusion that the increased focus on visuals often results in too much attention being diverted from the game’s core.

During an Iwata Asks roundtable originally held in 2010 but only recently translated into English, the Gooch described to the Nintendo CEO his process during the development of The Last Story. In regards to moving from HD consoles down to the Wii: “We had to consider how we should convey the story to the players under such restrictions. Now that high-quality graphics rule supreme, you can reproduce what you want to communicate visually, but at the same time, I don’t know how to put this, but there’s an element that’s slightly excessive about it all…”

Instead, the Gooch welcomed the opportunity to return to the building blocks and craft a stronger, richer experience because of the shift in focus. He wanted to make sure the game itself was structurally sound, so his team spent a year and a half on a prototype that consisted of just square blocks for characters, a process that he last used on Final Fantasy VII. Since he didn’t have to worry as much about the hardware’s graphical pipeline, he was free to experiment more than he would have otherwise.

None of this, of course, is to say that visuals aren’t important: “I was really averse to allowing the quality of the graphics to drop just because we were working on Wii, which doesn’t have HD graphics. I do really think that, in the end, what we’ve created can hold its own against other hardware.” Merely, the team was able to approach The Last Story from an angle that they wouldn’t have been able to had this been another project for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

He continues, “There’s a tendency for developers to allow all their energy to be diverted into maintaining the high quality of the graphics.” His sentiments are similar to some that Jim Sterling has mentioned before and which I share as well. While working with high-end consoles can provide ample opportunities, it’s very easy to get lost in the details. Final Fantasy XIII, for instance, was criticized for limiting the scale and scope typical of the Final Fantasy name in exchange for fantastic visuals. It’s a simple matter of economics — if money is being funneled in one direction, it’s not going elsewhere. A fine balance needs to be struck, and sometimes, working with “less capable” hardware might be the ticket to help a team refocus its priorities.

The Last Story launches in Europe on February 24. At that point, English-speaking gamers will be able to find out for themselves if Sakaguchi and Mistwalker succeeded in their experiment. If the extremely warm reception of Xenoblade Chronicles is any indication, The Last Story might just pull it off yet.

Also, make sure to read the full interview. Iwata Asks is always good for some juicy tidbits.

Iwata Asks: The Last Story [Nintendo via BeefJack]

source Destructoid

Oh, Brian Provinciano! Pretending like you are so hard at work when you are actually chilling in Cancún, smoking expensive Cuban cigars. How dare you string us along!

I’m kidding, of course (maybe), but the wait to play Brian’s take on the open-world crime adventure never gets any easier. He’s just released a new teaser that ends with a big fat date of February 20. What could that mean? Will he finally announce a release date? New characters or levels? Platform additions or cancellations? It’s all up in the air!

Retro City Rampage 2012 Teaser Trailer [Vimeo]

source Destructoid

Activision enjoyed incredible success with Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure this past holiday, and the company is planning on building upon it one year later with a sequel, Skylanders Giants. By bringing a huge, destructive take on a title that’s already a favorite among kids, Giants aims to put a fresh new spin on the game with larger-than-life (literally) characters.

In the original Skylanders, players were quite limited in what they could do on each level, be it taking down enemies or traversing new planes. With the Giants awake, that is all changed.

Skylanders Giants (Xbox 360 [previewed], PlayStation 3, Wii)
Developer: Toys for Bob
Publisher: Activision
Release date: Fall 2012

Eight new Giants figures will join the Skylanders universe when Giants releases this fall, though every previous character from Spyro’s Adventure will be playable in the new installment, upgrades and all.

At yesterday’s reveal event in New York, Activision only showed one Giant, “Tree Rex.” During the demo, the player came to a point where he was surrounded by enemies, and jokingly said that that’s where the brute force of the Giants comes into play. He was right. Instantly, the game had changed, and what were once-formidable foes quickly became little more than pesky ants. The ground shook as the Giant traversed the level, and every rock and boulder in his path soon became a weapon.

The Giants are able to destroy certain parts of the environment, such as a nearby castle that didn’t stand for much longer once it was in Tree Rex’s view. But the destruction is more than just a visual effect; it can also be used to find new passages and hidden objects. One such example was the Giant plunging into a weakening patch of concrete, and after making contact he plummeted roughly twenty feet into the grounds of the castle. Getting out was easy as pie, too; all he had to do was smash through a few walls.

The world of Skylanders sees a bunch of floating islands adjacent to one another, and a time came in the demo when the Giant needed to get to another island. Said island had a chain attached to the bottom of it, so using what was called “Feat of Strength,” the Giant pulled on the chain, bringing the previously distant island only a footstep away.

That was where the demo ended, but Activision made its goal perfectly clear: We got the cutesy Skylanders characters last year, but this year is all about brute force and destruction.

source Destructoid

Kenner’s range of amazing Aliens toys was, scientifically, the greatest thing about the nineties. These action figures took the idea of Xenomorphs inheriting genetic traits from their hosts — as seen in Alien 3 — and ran with it, designing Aliens with ludicrous physical properties loosely based on animals. The great irony is that, for something that jumped the shark so hard, there was never a Shark Alien.

There was a Bull Alien, however. And a Panther Alien. And, my personal favorite, the Killer Crab Alien. Not just a regular crab, my friends, but a killer one. That’s scary, isn’t it?

Oh yeah, and I’ve made some of these toys hold videogames for a few minutes, because that justifies a vapid list article, doesn’t it?

Gorilla Alien holding NeverDead

You’ve noticed that I’ve not reviewed NeverDead yet. How can I, with this bloody lummox holding it and stopping me from being able to play it because he is definitely alive and that is the joke? Gorilla Alien is good for holding videogames because his arms move back and forth to create a gripping motion. This allows you to place the edge of a case between his hands and he’ll gently hold the sides, like a loving mother would hold a babe in its swaddling clothes.

Gorilla Alien can also spit water from its squeezy rubber head, but do not do this to your videogames, as they will become damp and could take anywhere between two to three minutes to completely dry — unless you hold it over a hot toaster or Bunsen burner.

King Alien (Deluxe Alien Leader) holding Rayman Origins

Rayman Origins is a brilliant game that did not receive much marketing, so what better figure to hold it than a brilliant Alien toy that did not receive much marketing? King Alien (Deluxe Alien Leader) was featured on TV once, but still many fans do not realize it exists. Hopefully, this feature can give King Alien (Deluxe Alien Leader) the spotlight and respect he deserves.

As with the Gorilla, King Alien (Deluxe Alien Leader) can hold figures in place thanks to his obligatory dynamic action. His ornate head features mandibles that open and snap shut — this is a very exciting action, but be careful! The mandibles are sharp and you risk doing superficial damage to your game cases, unless the cases are plastic or harder than thin paper. Thank God most of them are!

King Alien (Deluxe Alien Leader) also spits water, but I don’t need to warn you again, do I? Good.

Flying Alien Queen holding Rhythm Heaven Fever

Look out guys, it’s the Flying Alien Queen! She is so scary and enthralling, with realistic grasping talons and wings that actually flap! She cuts quite the courtly figure, standing next to the fantastic Rhythm Heaven Fever.

In this photograph, I have placed the game against one of the Queen’s sprawling wings, using her atrophied arm to secure it in position. This is an excellent display piece that anybody can create, for use in the home, office, or at a church function. It is sure to be a talking piece, as the local ombudsman notices the stark contrast between beast and music. That’s quite a powerful and evocative thing, isn’t it? Yes, it is.

Killer Crab Alien holding Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow

Hey, it says “Dawn of Sorrow,” not “Prawn of Sorrow” like you think it does, Killer Crab Alien (sea joke)! By far one of the best action figures ever created, there is nothing about Killer Crab Alien that isn’t great. From the gorgeous red-and-black color scheme to the multiple points of articulation and sleek bodily design, Killer Crab Alien has it all. Also, the mental image of a Facehugger on a crab is funny.

Our crab friend is perfectly designed for holding small artifacts in its frontal pincers. Here, it is holding Dawn of Sorrow like a newspaper, which is a satirical statement on how the corporate news media peddles grief in order to manipulate the emotions of the common man (or the woman ones).

FACT: Killer Crab Alien features two spring-loaded parasites that fire when the spines in the back are depressed. Always carry Killer Crab Alien when out at night, as it is excellent for fending off attackers.

I was going to try and put the game in the end of its tail, but it kept falling out so I gave up.

Panther Alien holding Resident Evil: Revelations

Panther Alien was very cool looking, and when you pressed on its back, a little stingray thing shot out of it. There’ll be none of that fucking shit today, though! Here, we see Panther Alien holding Resident Evil: Revelations, which Capcom spelled wrong on the box for a fun joke. Panther Alien reminds me of golden lions in a Chinese palace, so it is very stylish and impressive to have one holding your classic 3DS games.

Mantis Alien holding Enslaved

Literally nobody in the world bought Enslaved, but that’s okay because it means there are more copies for Mantis Alien to enjoy (though, in all honesty, he really only needs the one). Mantis is another figure to sport the “grip” attack motion, but the long range of his claws and the tight pinching motion makes him a superior choice for those who want an ideal forward-facing videogame centerpiece.

I have chosen Enslaved to showcase Mantis’ gripping potential because the lush green color scheme complements the toy’s own verdant pigmentation. The two items blend into one another, creating a natural yet emotionally fulfilling display that is sure to impress your friends and entertain some animals.

Bull Alien holding Final Fantasy XIII-2

I think that Final Fantasy XIII was a load of bull, so here’s a load of Bull (Alien) to carry the sequel on its back like a big bloody crucifix!

At first glance, the Bull Alien (which is the first Kenner Alien I ever owned) is poorly designed for holding videogames, almost as if Kenner didn’t plan for such an eventuality (which is unlikely). Fortunately, by positioning the tail behind the game case, one can get a compelling diorama that maximizes the videogame-holding potential of the figure while showing off the game itself in a new and daring light. Bravo!

Scorpion Alien holding Kirby Mass Attack

While Kenner would bring out a regular Alien Warrior, such a vanilla role was fulfilled by Scorpion Alien for most consumers. By far the most normal looking of the standard figures, the fact that its main action was an exploding torso confirmed that it was designed as a regular drone but had to have an animal associated with it.

The choice of Scorpion was probably regretted later when they designed Killer Crab.

In any case, one can stick a DS cartridge between Scorpion Alien’s fingers to have him hold it. It looks so adorable and your daughters will want to keep it. She can’t have it though, because these are collectors’ items (probably).

Queen Alien holding Time Crisis: Razing Storm

The Flying Queen was cool, but there’s nothing like a classic, and that’s what this Queen figure most certainly is. She is also holding a classic game, Time Crisis: Razing Storm, which I definitely meant to fish out of the bottom of a storage box and didn’t think was a different game until it was too late and I had to just make do with what I’d gotten.

Anyway, the game is propped neatly up against her extended tail, which can be swung in a whipping motion. This is a large display, so make sure you’ve cleared plenty of room on your kitchen countertop or car hood before erecting it.

So there you go. I have more than nine figures, but couldn’t be bothered to do any more.

source Destructoid

Activision has today revealed a follow-up to last year’s surprisingly enjoyable Skylanders, continuing the idea of toys that can be scanned into an active videogame world. Skylanders Giants is an all-new game that will introduce a new batch of “giant” Skylanders that are more than twice the size of the original figures. 

There will be eight new figures, and some will feature new “light technology” that will see them light up when placed near the “Portal of Power” peripheral. Eight new regular sized Skylanders will also be introduced, and Giants will be compatible with all the toys already released for last year’s title. 

In terms of the game itself, Giants promises wider worlds, with new challenges and battle modes. The titular giants will also have gameplay and abilities that reflect their large size. 

I really liked Skylanders, so I’m eager to see how this one fares. Hopefully the gimmick hasn’t worn thin already!

source Destructoid

For as much as some of us passionately argue over minor issues, game companies sure do like having us vote on things. Nintendo is allowing you to decide what the reversible box art for Xenoblade Chronicles‘ North American release should be, assuming you aren’t allergic to Facebook.

I’m fond of the first image — the one with the party gazing off into the distance. It reminds me of the concept art for an SNES-era role-playing game. Almost reminiscent of something you’d come across in a strategy guide. I also have a weakness for star-filled skies, so the fourth image makes this a tough call.

What box art did you vote for?

[Via Tiny Cartridge]

source Destructoid

The idea of a new Xbox that refuses to play used games may sound like a problematic, consumer-unfriendly, potentially suicidal idea to reasonable people who are capable of long-term thought, but some people are right behind it. Volition design director Jameson Durall, for example, thinks it’s fantastic. 

“Personally I think this would be a fantastic change for our business and even though the consumers would be up in arms about it at first … they will grow to understand why and that it won’t kill them,” he wrote in a blog. “It does have it’s faults that would have to ironed out, like game rental. I’m a fan of rental companies because they have to buy copies of the game to be able to rent them out and if someone likes the game, there is a chance they would purchase it for themselves.

“Another issue would be with simply lending the game to a friend, but maybe they could implement something similar to what Amazon is doing with their Kindle Books lending policy. The license of the game could be transferred for a set time to another Gamertag and the original owner won’t be able to play during that time. Seems like it could work.

“In the end, I fully believe that we have to do something about these issues or our industry is going to fall apart. People often don’t understand the cost that goes into creating these huge experiences that we put on the shelves for only $60. They also don’t seem to realize how much they are hurting us when they buy a used game and how pirating a copy is just plain stealing.”

I love how his “solutions” to the MANY faults with this idea are ones that make previously simple acts far more complicated and inconvenient to consumers. Want to borrow a game? Transfer a license to your system! Want to rent one? Sign up for Microsoft’s exclusive rental service! You’ll get used to this new waste of your damn time, kids!

Of course, that’s the answer to everything, isn’t it? When you want more consumers to buy your products, make enjoying those products as inconvenient as possible, because that’s got such a proven fucking track record of success, doesn’t it?

Shit on your consumers, make them jump through hoops, and answer the criticism by saying, “Ah, you’ll get used to it, it’s not going to kill you.” That seems to the game industry’s M.O. right now, it’s an absolutely terrible slope to start slipping down. 

If this industry dies, it won’t be due to piracy, nor will it be to used games. Just ask the businesses that started to fail, pissed off their customers trying to fix themselves, and then died overnight. Oh wait, you can’t, because they’re dead. THAT’s what will kill this industry, if it falls. Not GameStop, and certainly not you or I. 

It’s when I hear these “solutions” to combating used games by making life tougher for every consumer, that I start to worry about this industry’s doom.

source Destructoid

Now, I’m not a super-huge fan of Bush. I don’t even know if those exist anymore. If so, it is probably one of those things beautiful to behold on account of their scarcity, like finding a unicorn in a forest glade on a dewy morn. All that said, Sixteen Stone is a damn fine piece of grungy pop-rock and, next week, three of the more popular tracks from the album will be hitting the Rock Band store.

You too can rock out like it’s 1994 all over again with “Comedown,” “Machinehead” and “Everything Zen” when they release on February 7 individually or as part of “Bush Pack 01″ for a slight discount. You guys probably know how this works by now. 

source Destructoid

Did you know that Rhythm Heaven Fever was getting a special edition? Neither did I. Then I got this box in the mail this morning. I’m pretty sure that this special edition won’t be sold in stores, but if Nintendo decides to change its mind on that, they’re sure to make a killing when the game hits stores on February 13th.

Check out the video and you’ll understand what I mean.

source Destructoid

The eShop is keeping up its momentum with another very promising game, Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword ($6.99). You might know it by a slightly different name, but it should look familiar. I’ll be blind buying it the second I can break away from Zen Pinball 3D.

Also out today is GO Series: Undead Storm ($1.99) for DSiWare and the eShop. WiiWare has another Carmen Sandiego game with a humorously long title, Carmen Sandiego Adventures in Math: The Great Gateway Grab (600 Wii Points), and 3DS owners can download a video for “Drown in the Now” by The Crystal Method beginning tomorrow. Huh?

source Destructoid