Hiroshima: The Death of theJapanese RPG

What happened to the Japanese RPG? I'm talking the traditional JRPG that sunk its claws into the American gaming scene with Secret of Mana & Final Fantasy VI. You know, those games with the anime-ish chicks with the huge eyes and huger knockers (Tifa anyone?). Those marathon affairs that required dozens upon dozens of level building, and sent one thirstily hunting out rare items on inane and frustrating sidequests.

Is the gaming industry going the way of hip hop? Are the consumers getting younger, more braindead, and in need of an instant fix? I had a file in Chrono Trigger where not only had each of my characters reached level **; but all of their stats had reached the ** category. The beautiful thing about the JRPG, aside from Tifa's rack of course, was the sense of accomplishment at completing the more obscure side quests and events. Like finding the hidden ribbon in the rainbow caves in FFVII. That sh*t wasn't even in the strategy guide!

The Western developed RPG has definately become more of a player here in America and in Europe as well. And with masterpieces like Fable II and Fallout3 leading the charge into 2009, I can certainly understand why. Even the japanese developers have gone in different directions with their RPGs (FFXII anyone?)

People point out the traditional RPG formula as having become stale, and when a game is poorly written that may be the case. But when a game is well crafted and written, playing an RPG is like reading a good novel.

To any of the JRPG fans out there make sure you've checked out Persona 3:FES & Persona 4. I haven't had the opportunity to play Last Remnant, Blue Dragon, or Lost Oddysey but those stand out as traditional RPGs in this new generation of consoles.

Don't give up on the JRPG, it is a genre that should not die.

2008 GotY: Fallout 3

I have a major problem. I can't stop playing Fallout 3. I am sure that I am not the only one with this issue. But, it is rapidly becoming alarming. It's not even like I started a second character. Irulan, the beautiful African-American daughter of James continues to roam the Capital Wasteland doing good wherever she can. Be it donating water to the countless dregs, clearing the various dilapidated structures of the former Greater DC area of Raiders and other forms of filth, or searching for the most obscure unique weapons and armor. The point is that I CANNOT STOP!

For those of you who are so locked into Horde mode in Gears of War 2 that you haven't been outside in several weeks, Fallout 3 is an open world, first person RPG brought to you by the good folks at Bethesda Games. Set in a post-apocalyptic Washington DC the player takes on the role of the wanderer, a young man or woman who has escaped from Vault 101, one of several safehouses that some people were able to escape to and avoid the nuclear apocolypse, who is searching for his/her father. Along the way you will encounter an enormous cast of characters, all of whom have their own slant on what survival and life means in this desolate wasetland.

Anyone who has played Bethesda's Oblivion series is already familiar with the way these games are designed. While the game's main quest will take you to various locations, the world of Fallout 3 is enormous and is to be explored at the player's own pace. There is no need to rush, as things are not going anywhere. Feel like following a trading caravan around the wasteland for a day, enjoy. Wondering where the Potomic River will take you if followed westwards, hop in and go for a heavily radiated dip.

The world that Bethesda has created is insanely immersive. The sound goes a long way towards pulling you in. It's more the lack of sound. The lonely wind whispering into your ears while a cloud of dust is blown up into the air. Or the skittering legs of a giant cockroach approaching you from the back, these are the things that really make the world come alive.

My save file is approaching 135 hours, but I think that I have finally done all that there is to do in the former nation's capital. But, in true Bethesda fashion several updates have been announced with the most recent one having been released several days ago. The first of these downloads, Operation: Anchorage, takes the player through a simulation of the battle to push the invading Chinese forces out of Anchorage, Alaska (trust me it makes sense according to the game's lore).

While it was refreshing to have some new content to devour (I finished it in about 5 hours), this first content add-on did not really convey the "feel" of the Fallout 3 universe. That said, it was entertaining and did provide access to some new neat pieces of gear.

Fallout 3 has already won several game of the year awards, and I would not be surprised to see a Collector's Edition released in 2009 including all of the downloadable content as a way to put the game in the mix for GotY 2009. It is the best RPG available for these current generation consoles, and is one of the greatest crafted video game experiences that I have ever been a part of. While it is not for everyone, it is the type of game that everyone should give a fair chance.