The RPG'S of 2003: GOOD TIMES COMING!
 	by  Ronald Wartow

The year 2002 was a bonanza for RPG gamers on personal computers and next-generation consoles. RPG gamers could choose from such fantastic, quality titles as Morrowind and Neverwinter Nights for the personal computer, and the innovative Kingdom Hearts and Suikoden III for the Playstation 2, among many others. 

Hold on to your hats! Next year may very well outdo this year’s RPG explosion, not only with sequels to some great games, but new RPG’s with gameplay never previously experienced. XBox and GameCube owners can finally breathe a sign of relief, as those systems will have plenty of RPG‘s to call their own. 

A total of 27 mouthwatering RPG’s stand out - 3 on the Personal Computer, 11 on the Playstation 2, 3 on the Gameboy Advance, 5 on the GameCube, and 5 on the XBox. Some will come to multiple systems. No MMORPG’s, sorry!. 

So, come along with me on a journey to see what any diehard, or even casual, RPG gamers. face in the coming year. Bear in mind, 2003 is just around the corner, and many of the games are scheduled for release early in the year. (Due to the whimsical uncertainty of release dates, they are omitted from this article. Check the many official and unofficial RPG websites for updated information in this regard.) 

There will be more RPG’s released, and announced, in 2003 than are covered here. Frankly, I’m concentrating on the ones that, as of December 2002, both appeal to me personally, and, I anticipate, to have widespread appeal, .
None of this information came first-hand to me. Rather, the information is from official game company press releases and reports, news, RPG website reports, and general online gamer buzz. However, all the editorial comments, historical perspective, and occasional lame attempts at witty sarcasm are mine.
The whole purpose of this exercise is to consolidate lots of information to whet the appetites of all you RPG gamers out there, and .... (Shameless Plug Imminent!) provide fresh material for my website, RPG Legerdemain (rwartow.tripod.com). 
Be sure to visit the RPG developers' websites for these games to get the absolute latest, accurate information. RPG websites that regularly preview upcoming games, and which provided some material used in this article, are Just RPG (just-rpg.com), RPGDot.com, RPGamer.com, RPG Palace (rpgpalace.gamersuplink.com), GameForms.com, Gamers.com, RPGRadar.com, and The Magic Box (the-magicbox.com). 

PERSONAL COMPUTER

Lionheart (Black Isle Studios)

This game will use the development system from the very popular Fallout series in a  fantasy setting. Occurring 400 years after a cataclysm, Lionheart diverges from traditional high fantasy by placing the player in 16th century. 
 
The game will offer complex character development, with limitless, open ended advancement opportunities. Players can focus their character on swordplay, archery, or the forbidden arts of magic - all options are laid before you in a classless and open ended system. Fallout's flexible SPECIAL rules system has been adapted to a real-time fantasy setting including 30 skills, 40 perks, and 15 traits. 

Played from an isometric view, Lionheart will offer high quality graphics, a beautiful, lush and diverse world filled with powerful magical artifacts. Expect involving quests and unique characters. Players will face a mix of strategic and intense combat, clever puzzles and dialog interactions as they play though the intricate storyline, all in a beautifully-drawn world, with thousands of items, 4 player races, over 50 enemies to combat, and more than 30 spells to evolve and grow.

Neverwinter Nights 2 Expansion Packs (Bioware) 

Double your future pleasure with multi-expansion packs for this popular game, that will take players on 40-plus hour quests each. 

Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide’s single player campaign will add features new to Neverwinter Nights, such as additional D&D skills, feats, classes, monsters, weapons and spells. 

Included will be 2 new tile sets, and other assets for use in the Aurora Toolset. This will enable amateur module designers to create completely different worlds, making good use of as new "Wizards," or automated guides. (Almost 2000 modules have been created by the game’s fans, to extend gameplay through the year 2100!) 

Gameplay additions include, new skills, including Tumble and Appraise; new feats, such as Divine Might, Extra Music and Bullheaded; new weapons, such as Holy Water Flasks and Choking Powder; new prestige classes, like Harper Scout; new monsters from the D&D universe, including Medusa, Cockatrice, Sphinx, and Female Fire Giant; and dozens of new spells.

If that were not enough, a currently-untitled second expansion pack, with a new, long single-player campaign, and even more features, is in the works as well.

Tribunal (Bethesda Softworks)
Another game released very late in 2002, Tribunal follows up on Morrowind‘s popularity, and affords RPG‘ers with additional content and features. Most notably, the Tribunal plots and quests can be experienced by any player at any point, whether Morrowind has been completed or not.
A ruthless new king has taken the throne of Morrowind, while an aging god drifts deeper into madness. Into this chaos you are thrust, with deadly assassins close behind you and Morrowind's uncertain future ahead. Your journey will lead you to Mournhold, capital city of Morrowind, to the Clockwork City of Sotha Sil, and through massive, epic-sized dungeons.
Strange and deadly creatures await you in Tribunal, including goblins, lich lords, and the mysterious Fabricants. Powerful new armor and weapons will aid you in your survival, and your adventures will be documented in the improved journal system and an annotatable map. The fate of Morrowind is in your hands yet again.

PLAYSTATION 2

.hack Infection: Episode 1 (Bandai)
Quite an unusual premise. Pronounced "dot hack", it boasts characters drawn by famous Japanese anime designers, an immersive storyline from renowned Japanese storytellers.  The game fuses action-RPG gameplay, and anime.

Just a gander at the plot makes me yearn for this game. A young boy is invited by his schoolmate to play the online game, The World. While playing the game, the two are attacked by an unknown monster. One becomes real-world comatose, but the other continues to play The World believing he'll find a way to revive his stricken friend. Then, things get really complicated. Some buddies set out to discover the relationship between the online game, and many strange events, and uncover a diabolical plot. 

Kingdom Hearts Sequel (Disney/Squaresoft)
Rumors are beginning to circulate that this blockbuster hit is due for a sequel. And, why not? With hundreds of thousands of units sold, a seemingly permanent place on the bestseller charts, and unanimous rave reviews, I, for one salivate at just the thought of a sequel. I would suggest to the developers that you be allowed to play, even minimally, Final Fantasy characters, and, perhaps, tone down on the action aspects, and let me defeat some of those bosses more easily! Where’s turn-based combat when you need it?
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (LucasArts/Bioware) (Also for Personal Computer, XBox, and GameCube)
What a combination! LucasArts and Bioware are making this intriguing, completely original RPG set in the Star Wars universe about 4000 years before Episode I, dominated by an epic struggle between the thousands of Jedi and evil Sith. 
With the Galaxy reeling from a recent conflict with the Dark Lords, the ongoing battle between the Jedi and the Sith rages on. Your actions determine the outcome of this colossal galactic war - and your destiny as a Jedi. Features:

·	Immersive, action-packed Star Wars role playing experience with customizable and evolving playable characters. 
·	Your group, comprised of up to 3 characters, can include humans, droids, Twi'leks, Wookies and more. 
·	Fast paced mini-games -- such as racing swoop bikes, or manning turret guns. 
·	Journey spans 10 different worlds ranging from the familiar to the new. 
·	Locations include Tatooine, Sith world of Korriban, Jedi Academy on Dantooine and Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. 

Unlimited SaGa (Squaresoft)

SaGa Frontier I and II were popular, but unheralded, RPG’s on the venerable Playstation. (I was privileged to cowrite the official Saga Frontier strat guide.) 

This game follows SaGa Frontier's nifty situation by shifting between multiple characters and their journeys to the Seven Wonders of the World. This gives more depth to the game world through showing multiple views of it. Eight characters will be playable. 

Unlimited introduces a number of new systems. Exploration relies on a "Removal Phase," using the field map to generate events and places for the party to go. Each step taken may reveal a new road to take, leading to a variety of different gimmicks, or players may stumble on an event directly. New territory might also include traps, though you can evade damage from them by spinning the trap roulette with enough luck. 

The game disdains the traditional structure of fighting through a dungeon to see an event, instead promising many different ways to meet monsters. Enemies may block several areas of the map at once, including so-called Free Scenarios. Fighting them is the obvious choice, but other skills may be available to deal with the situation. 

Skills will also be necessary to get past obstacles on the world map in an almost Pokémon-like way. If you reach a certain body of water, a character with the "swim" ability will be able to cross. The battle system is also unlike any Square title to date. Known as the Reel System, it relies on a slot machine interface where several reels spin and the player selects when they stop. The different possible results then cause different actions, from multiple hits to status attacks to more exotic and rare choices. 

Breath of Fire V: Dragon Quarter (Capcom)
Combining new visuals and combat styles, the next episode in this enduring series will be upon us soon. Renowned for its innovative gameplay mechanics, this latest incarnation redefines the Breath of Fire role-playing game with a whole new 3D-world look, an engrossing storyline, brand new stylized visuals, innovative gameplay features and a new survival style of game play. 
What would an RPG be without a combat system with a cool acronym? This game is no exception. Get ready for the PETS (Positive Encounter and Tactics System), a revolutionary feature to RPGs in which players can set traps and decoys in the environment before going into battle against monsters. Players can execute linked combos that inflicts heavy damage. 
The SOL (Scenario Overlay System) carries over to a newly restarted game what the player has accomplished up to a certain point. Based on the players previous accomplishments, not only do experience points and items carry over but additional in-game events and dungeons will appear so that players can learn more about the story. 

Xenosaga: Episode 1 (Namco/Monolith)
Despite the urge to say it, Xenosaga: Episode I, already released in Japan, is not a sequel to Xenogears (one of my all-time favorites, and for which I had the pleasure of authoring the official strategy guide for Brady and Squaresoft). 

Xenosaga’s world and story is set to thousands of years far into the future, where humanity has spread across space. The convoluted story of Xenosaga: Episode 1 does not even come close to finishing, for Xenosaga: Episode 2 will be a direct sequel and continue the storyline. Full Motion Videos, one quarter of the game, with some half an hour long.. Those who will not want to sit around and watch will be delighted with the skip option. (Great idea! Listening, Squaresoft?)

The battle system of Xenosaga will be very familiar to those who have played Xenogears. The attacks, magic, and so forth are the same. The only thing gamers should take into consideration is that there is no escape option during battles. 
New twists are “Boosting” and “Events” within the battle system. When you win a battle you can earn Skill Points (SP), Ether Points (EP), and Talent Points (TP). These are used to power up attacks, learn new spells or new skills from certain equipment. 

Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (Enix)
The next in a great, everlasting series that began many years ago. It's been over 4 centuries since 12 heroes saved the universe from evil in Star Ocean The Second Story. 
A single fateful encounter is about to take place. The gods have set forth on a quest to destroy the universe, hurling a deadly meteorite, which collided with an unsuspecting planet, 

Fate Linegod, from Earth, journeys with his family and friend, Sofia Esteed to a protected planet under the control of the Galaxy Federation. Before long, the planet is attacked by unknown alien troops, and much of the planet, including both cities and countryside are destroyed. 

Fate, his family and Sofia flee to refugee facilities with other travelers; however, the group comes under another attack by unknown enemies before reaching a safe haven. Fate finally arrives at the shelter, but his parents have been lost….. Want more? You’ll have to play the game.

Dragon Quest/Warrior VIII (Enix/Level 5)

Japanese media reports that Enix has officially announced Dragon Quest VIII, a game with full 3D, with cartoon-shaded graphics in battle and fields.

Little is known about the game’s details, but it has quite a pedigree. The Dragon Quest (Japan)/Dragon Warrior (US) series began a long time ago, on an NES now far, far gone. This series began way back on the Nintendo Entertainment System with I and II. The III through VI games never made it to these shores. After many years of dormancy, Dragon Quest/Warrior VII was released about 2 years ago to critical acclaim, and rekindled interest in the series. 

Dragon Quest VII caused quite a stir in Japan and the U.S., the first game ever to sell more than 4 million copies, before coming here about a year ago. Enix announced the game will be released in 2004 (OK, it‘s not 2003, but I thought you‘d want to know!).

Final Fantasy X-2 (Squaresoft) 
Many websites, and Japanese press, are reporting that, Squaresoft has scheduled a March 2003 Japan release for this highly anticipated game. No Final Fantasy has even been a direct sequel to a prior Final Fantasy. That all changes with this sequel to the immensely-popular Final Fantasy X. Concentrating especially on Yuna, the engaging Summoner, and featuring many of the same locations, the game will definitely be released here. Details are sketchy, but expect the usual spectacular graphics, engaging gameplay, and engrossing story that have made Squaresoft a legend.
Rumor has it that the prim and proper Yuna is in for the proverbial “new look.“ Early screenshots show a woman closer in dress to Lara Croft than a noble Summoner. That aside, Yuna, X’s Rikku, and another female comprise this game’s protagonists. 
New evil lurks in Spira, and machina dominate the landscape. Forget using Overdrives, Overkill, or the tortuous Sphere Grid. The battle system is set for still-unknown additions, but we do know what will not be reappearing: Overdrive, Overkill, and the convoluted Sphere Grid are all goners. 

Gladius (LucasArts) (Also on the XBox, GameCube)
Built up as a combat RPG, Gladius will attempt to recreate the often-gory gladiator battles of the ancient world. Think the movie Gladiator with RPG elements. Follow the saga of 2 heroes, Ursula and Valens, as they recruit and train a team of warriors to contend in the fiercely competitive gladiator games. The game will support single and multiplayer modes, and is expected to release simultaneously on the 3 next-gen consoles..
Players must develop and manage a school of gladiators who, over time, gain experience, learn new skills, improve their abilities and finally test their might in epic battles, which are turn-based. Players fight with deadly weapons and powerful magic, learn vital combat tactics, and enhance and customize characters. 
Game completion will take in the 40 hour range for each of the game's two story lines. Players will journey across 4 diverse geographical regions. Each land contains a variety of warriors that players must recruit and train. Battles occur throughout the game's 20 arenas and 12 other locations. During fights players have a high level of interaction by way of an arcade style swing meter which enhances the power of attacks. A successful fight will earn victorious players highly coveted certificates and the approval of the Emperor. With each certificate collected, players move one step closer to unlocking the next region. 
Players control a school of gladiators that can come from 16 unique classes, including the powerful Imperial Legionary; the witches of the Galdr class, who can sing magical songs and chants; and the javelin throwing Peltast class. In all, the game offers more than 100 customizable character types, hundreds of skills, and over 400 unique weapons, helmets, shields, and other accessories with which to equip warriors. 
The heroes must fulfill their destinies to keep the world from heading into another disastrous war. They also become immersed in the evil plot to revive the dark god. Once this wicked plan is put into action, the gladiator games cease and the small band of fighters go on a challenging quest to solve the mystery of the dark god an defeat those who would bring him back to the land of the living.
Gladius features a story mode as well as exhibition battles against computer-controlled opponents or up to four players in cooperative mode. Upon finishing the game, the tournament system remains open so players can continue to build up their characters and explore the game's four unique territories.

Dungeons & Dragons Heroes (Infogrames) (Also on the GameCube and XBox)

Get ready for an adventure of epic proportions. Four players at a time can experience this game world. The game will have a decidedly action-oriented flair that will be easy for even a new player to grasp, but will immerse the seasoned D&D® player in an authentic D&D adventure that will give them the same feeling they experienced with the classic tabletop role-playing game.

Anticipated features for the game include the ability to play as one of four distinct hero characters drawn from the main Dungeons & Dragons character classes of Fighter, Wizard, Cleric and Rogue, each with 40-plus combat moves and special abilities unique to their character; authentic D&D Monsters, many drawn directly from the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual; a Skills, Feats and Character Building system inspired by the third edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook; interactive levels spanning multiple environments ranging from a working forge to a magically suspended castle in the sky; and visually stunning spell and magical effects with weapon and magical upgrades appearing on the in-game characters. 

Features:
·	Authentic D&D monsters, many drawn directly from 3rd Edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual, including boss-monsters such as towering iron golems, fire-breathing golden dragons and horrific beholders. 
·	Heroic weapon upgrade system that uses a toggle-based Planar Gem system for adding bonus effects to your weapon, with a permanent Rune Stone upgrade system used to improve your base weapon directly. 
·	Content-rich, interactive levels spanning multiple environments, ranging from a working forge to a magically suspended castle in the sky, each replete with secrets, bonuses and rare items. 

GAMEBOY ADVANCE
Dragon Quest/Warrior Monsters 3: Caravan Heart (Enix)

The third in the series of monster breeding and raising games comes to life through pseudo 3D graphics. The game will include 20 twenty job classes. Little is known about this handheld adventure, but more details may emerge in the future. 

Lunar Legend (Ubisoft)

One of the most revered RPGs of all time is reborn on this handheld system. 

Look for new visuals: all-new character sprites, character animations, and cut scenes have been created, bringing the Lunar saga to life. New Critical Attack System: Each character possesses a new, powerful special ability to decimate foes or heal friends. New quests: Relive the epic Lunar Saga through new quests and adventures. Revamped Battle System, and New trading feature: Trade over 170 different cards with other players via the Game Boy Advance Game Link cable to help completing quests.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (Squaresoft)
Gameboy Advance owners rejoice for one of the great strategy-RPG’s ever comes to your system, in a modified form. Released for the Playstation soon after Final Fantasy VII in 1998, this game combines all the terrific characters/party development/quest features of RPG’s, with a tactical turn-based combat procedure. A great storyline is presented, and over 50 individual missions must be completed before your 50-hour journey ends.
Apparently, this is a whole new game. Gameplay systems that we've heard about include the Judgment System - in which a judge watches over your battles. That one sounds particularly mystifying. The Clan System seems to be a system where you can take tasks, jobs and errands as a member of a clan or guild type organization. Finally, the Legion System is derived from the fact that your characters will have to make and/or discover the world. All of this info is tentative and subject to change, but for now, this does appear to be how the game is shaping up. 

GAMECUBE
Dungeons & Dragons Heroes 
See discussion under Playstation 2, above.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Nintendo)
Nintendo continues to milk its most enduring franchise, beginning on the fledgling NES back in 1987. (That’s 15 years ago. Yikes!)
Young Link mercifully has been living quietly on a tiny island. One day, Link witnesses a huge, menacing bird snatch his younger sister. Thus the game plot behinds, and his lengthy search for his sister comprises the game.

All the typical Zelda elements are here, expanding the N64 Ocarina of Time gameplay. The classic mix of sword-swinging action, perplexing puzzles, and stirring story lines remains intact, and the new cel-shaded graphics enable the characters of Link's world to be lively and expressive personalities. The estimated game completion time is about  40 hours.

Phantasy Star Collection (Sega/THQ)
Another game released in the last part of 2002. Phantasy Star I appeared on the Sega Master System, and Phantasy Star’s II, III, & IV appeared on the Sega Genesis. These games were all terrific, and were groundbreaking when released, for their huge environments, 3D dungeons, and tens of hours required to complete. Now, you lucky GameCube owners get a compilation of the first 3 Phantasy Star products,
Skies of Arcadia Legends (Sega)
Grasp the wheel of your airship and prepare to embark on an adventure of legendary proportions. You are Vyse, a young member of the Blue Rogue pirates. Together with your childhood friend Aika and a mysterious girl named Fina, you are locked in an epic struggle with a powerful enemy nation for the fate of the world.

You must gather your own crew of air pirates and journey through uncharted skies to vanquish the empire from every corner of the map. Along the way, you'll wage battles against savage monsters and evil Pirates as you make a name for yourself on land and in the sky. For the first time you can experience the complete story of the critically acclaimed RPG, with hours of new gameplay containing additional background stories for key characters. Interact with a brilliantly animated cast of characters, monsters, and villains, explore astounding environments, and unravel a dramatic and twisting story line. Skies of Arcadia Legends envelops you in an experience unlike any other. 

·	Experience a full 3D world with a highly imaginative storyline, including new plot details and improved character graphics. 

·	Use over 70 weapons and 36 magical skills to make your party the scourge of the skies. 

·	Explore six enormous virtual lands with landscapes ranging from massive deserts and quaint villages to the cold reaches of outer space. 

·	Customize your own airship and gather up to 22 crew members to help attack or protect against other ships. 

·	Hand-to-hand and ship-to-ship combat featuring spectacular spell effects, amazing special attacks, and an improved battle engine. 

·	New "Wanted" Battles, as well as new characters, ultimate weapons, discoveries, and side quests! 

Summoner: The Prophecy (THQ/Cranky Pants)

A modified Summoner 2 released last year for the PS2. More about the game has been updated than just the name. The game will also feature improved polygon counts on character models and better texturing. The game is also to feature smoother animation, and runs at a slick 60 frames per second. In addition, the audio quality will be slightly better than that of the PS2 version. 

Also, for those wondering how the game will control (considering the PS2 does technically have more buttons on its controller), Cranky Pants Also, for those wondering how the game will control (considering the PS2 does technically have more buttons on its controller), Cranky Pants has mapped all of the controls to the GameCube controller as well. 

XBOX

Dungeons & Dragons Heroes 

Gladius

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

See discussions of the above 3 games under Playstation 2, above.

Metal Dungeon (Xicat International/Panther)

This game emphasizes dungeon exploration using cyborgs. Different cyborgs can be used for different dungeons, and like most games featuring mechs, the cyborgs can be remodeled between dungeon crawls with the new armor and weaponry collected in the dungeons.

In the distant future, man and machine are one. Twisted, robotic cyborgs walk the planet ravaging the land and destroying all that they find. Mankind retreats to metal fortresses, and holds out for the future. Underneath the scorched earth, evil awaits, magic returns to life, and terrible creatures of myth are revived. A group of battle cyborgs must now journey below the surface of the planet, to tame the Metal Dungeon. Game features:
·	Five character types to choose from: Fencer, Striker, Analyzer, Caster and Broader.

·	Ten huge dungeon levels to explore and conquer.

·	Randomly generating dungeons, so you never play the same level twice.

·	Totally customizable advancement system lets you build characters any way you choose.

·	Use chips and implants to enhance your cyborgs by adding spells, abilities and equipment.

·	Create and swap your powerful group of  adventurers, and discover new bodies to 
revive in the grounds below..

Unfortunately, no Japanese release date, or North American release plans exist. But, we’ll cross our fingers!

Black Stone: Magic & Steel (Xicat International)

Another title without much fanfare. As the memory of the Lord of the Underworld Madul faded out, people led a happy and peaceful life. Most people believed that Madul was nothing but a legend; however, some evil warlocks strived to recall the power held by the Lord of the Underworld. Prepare to defend yourself and the people of Zedan against the Black Wizard Madul and his army of the Underworld Wizards. 

Features:

·	Find the Black Stones in nonstop four-player action. 

·	Buy power-up items to increase your character’s effect in combat.

·	Choose one of five character classes: Warrior, Archer, Pirate, Thief and Warlock.

·	Ride massive dinosaurs mounts and tear through your enemies. 

·	26 huge levels to explore.

·	Cast magic, fight goblins, slay dragons, find the Black Stones, and ultimately crush your foes.

Copyright Ronald Wartow 2002. All Rights Reserved.

Permission to post or display this article on any website, or elsewhere, must be obtained from the author at rwartow@yahoo.com.