Role-Playing

I never played any of the original Landers games, so I'll leave Ben to speak on the merits of this RPG as it pertains to its Landers lineage. What I can talk about is Time Stalkers as an RPG, and more specifically, a Dreamcast RPG. It's obvious that the Dreamcast needs RPGs, but it's really telling when even Sega can't get its hand on one that is really worthwhile.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Mild Animated Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes

Game Description: No dungeon is every the same and nothing is what it seems in the high-fantasy world of Time Stalkers for the Dreamcast. You are Sword, an unlikely hero stolen from his home by powerful magic. It's your task to explore dank catacombs and battle fearsome creatures in a quest to unite with fellow heroes, right what has gone wrong, and return home safely. Time Stalkers will keep you hacking and slashing your way through role-playing adventures of magic and mighty steel.

Time Stalkers is a completely different game—a more traditional RPG rather than an Adventure/RPG. By using the word "traditional," I don't mean to imply that Time Stalkers doesn't try anything new. There are actually several interesting ideas and possibilities floating around in this game.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Blood & Gore, Animated Violence

Koudelka first gained media attention at the 1999 E3 show. Anyone who saw its looping demos admitted that the game showed promise. It sported impressive CG graphics, rich prerendered backgrounds and was made by a collection of developers who once worked at Squaresoft—all the things needed to garner some attention and positive early reviews.

What makes survival horror games so annoying is how exploring and finding items in the prerendered backgrounds almost always proves to be a rigid and awkward experience. Koudelka makes this quality about a thousand times worse by adding random attacks—more typically found in RPGs—to the mix.

Game Description: On Halloween, 1898, a troubled yet determined medium named Koudelka is driven by the spirit of an unknown woman to the ominous Nemeton monastery. Once a place of worship, it evolved into a prison where the sentenced died horrible deaths. There, along with Edward, the adventurer, and James, the bishop, she will discover horror, danger, and adventure in the ruined and haunted abbey. Either they will solve their mysterious quests, or they will die trying.

What I consider to be the main weakness of Vagrant Story is that it wants to be something that its not. Sort of like Quentin Tarentino stretching as an actor or Sylvester Stallone attempting to do comedy.

Game Description: You are the dashing Valendian Knight Ashley Riot in the action-packed role-playing epic Vagrant Story. Venture deep into dark, frightening dungeons and do battle with vile monsters in this lush, stunningly rendered adventure. You'll have to solve mind-twisting puzzles, explore diverse environments, and uncover the details of a plot rich with action and pathos. The design team behind Final Fantasy Tactics has gone all out to ensure a compelling and enthralling sword-swinging experience in Vagrant Story.