Introducing the Enchanting Unicorn Strategy RPG: A Name That Lives Up to its Magic
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| Immersed in Baldur's Gate 3 and Starfield, with a Bounty of RPGs and JRPGs Unveiled in State of Play and Nintendo Direct |
As I approach Act 2 of Baldur's Gate 3 – well, I had to take a break to indulge in one of my favorite book series and also conquer Armored Core 6 three times – I find myself pondering whether to play Starfield on Steam or revisit Game Pass . The RPG unveiled during this week's major gaming events is weighing on me, akin to the guilt of allowing those Act 1 merchants to perish, which haunts my Paladin.
Between the multitude of game announcements in the September 2023 Nintendo Direct and the simultaneous State of Play presentation by Sony, both companies have inundated us with a feast of RPGs and JRPGs, many of which are tantalizingly close to release. It's a delightful conundrum to have, but it leaves me feeling somewhat overwhelmed.
I'm role-playing as a man with an abundance of games but an acute shortage of time.
Perhaps I should kick things off with the most significant and eagerly anticipated titles, but instead, I'm going to continue singing praises for Unicorn Overlord, which stands as my most anticipated RPG from the lot. It's time for a celebration because Vanillaware, the renowned developer for Dragon's Crown, Odin Sphere, and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, has unveiled their next masterpiece. I'll be joining the grand parade in the streets.
Unicorn Overlord is predictably breathtaking, unexpectedly emphasizing strategy in its RPG gameplay, reminiscent of Fire Emblem, Tactics Ogre, and Final Fantasy Tactics. A strategy RPG from the creators of 13 Sentinels, complete with the delightful food minigame from Dragon's Crown, feels almost too good to be true. Maybe the whimsical name is fitting after all; Strategy RPGs, like unicorns, are indeed rare and enchanting. I can hardly wait for March 8, 2024, to arrive.
Alright, let's shift our focus to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Prepare to be astonished—it looks exceptional, and by that, I mean truly exceptional. The second installment of this iconic JRPG's remake is set to grace us in February, promising "nearly 100 hours of adventure" within its significantly expanded open world. Vincent is back! Cloud's riding a Segway! There's one downside, though—this will be a PS5 exclusive until "at least" May 29, 2024, which may be disheartening news, especially for PC gamers. Nevertheless, it provides more time to delve into the other RPGs on the horizon.
The April release date for the highly anticipated Suikoden spiritual successor, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, was a delightful but somewhat anticipated revelation during the Nintendo Direct. More surprising was SaGa Emerald Beyond, the first non-mobile entry in the long-running SaGa franchise since the 2018 release of SaGa: Scarlet Grace, which was once exclusive to the Vita. Emerald Beyond appears to be the epitome of JRPG goodness. As someone with limited knowledge of the series, I'm cautiously optimistic as we approach its launch in 2024.
The Mario double pack also holds promise. Next year, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will finally receive the Switch release it deserves, allowing a new generation to savor one of Nintendo's finest RPGs. Here's an unexpected twist—I might be even more excited for the Super Mario RPG remake, scheduled for November 17, 2023, as it seems to take more creative liberties in modernizing the beloved Super Nintendo classic. Perhaps I'm just a sucker for post-game challenges, and this addition bodes well for a fairly breezy and adorable game.
Let's give an honorable mention to Honkai Star Rail's October 11 PS5 launch. While it doesn't affect me much since I'll continue playing Star Rail alongside Genshin Impact on PC, I wholeheartedly recommend the console port to those who've been waiting to try Hoyo's turn-based JRPG.
Lastly, I've kept the unexpected surprise of Tales of Arise story DLC, Beyond the Dawn, for the end. Tales of Arise was one of my favorite games of 2021, so when it made an appearance at the State of Play, I briefly indulged in the hope that we might get a sequel, despite its producer previously stating that a direct sequel't in the works. While I'm a tad disappointed that it's only DLC, more Tales of Arise is always welcome, and Beyond the Dawn serves as a delightful epilogue after two years of waiting. I enjoyed the base game so much that I might even squeeze Beyond the Dawn into my already overflowing RPG schedule.
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