New RPG on DS Brings Astounding Graphics and More

Gaming Union writes: The Nintendo DS is not at all synonymous with games that have good 3D graphics. Buzzwords like Frames Per Second, Dynamic Lighting, and Draw Distance are seemingly foreign to the DS. However, one new title for the platform coming out this Fall is poised to smash that stereotype; Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is possibly the best looking game to grace the DS to-date, and better yet, it's like Bethesda's Oblivion, but in your pocket.

[mephman]

This game is going to represent a real step-up in graphical quality for the DS..

[somekyle]

hope it makes well for itself in doing so

[mephman]

I'm sure it will do well, once people become aware of it.

[Tony P]

I have to admit, that's a hell of a leap from what I'm used to seeing.

And holy crap it's just as good in motion: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Never thought I'd see a RPG of this calibre (or a WRPG at all) on DS. Big Blue Bubble? They're certainly on my radar now.

Now, IF this is just as long and rich as other DS RPGs... I guess the obligatory question is what's holding back all the other RPG devs from making a game look and play this good?

[SpoonyRedMage]

Tony Id software also have a WRPG on the DS called Orcs and Elves. By all accounts it's not as impressive and is turn based.

"Now, IF this is just as long and rich as other DS RPGs... I guess the obligatory question is what's holding back all the other RPG devs from making a game look and play this good?"

Are you just talking about WRPGs or JRPGs? As you pretty much said there's not many WPRGs, or actual hardcore western games. If you mean JRPGs as well there's a lot of great looking, great playing JRPGs on the DS.

[LazyDevs]

A turd is a turd doesn't matter how you polish it.

[Tony P]

@Spoony: Okay well, I don't call JRPGs RPGs. I kind of hate that. When I say RPGs I'm usually referring to all RPGs W and J and K or w/e.

Though admittedly, I'd have to be talking about JRPGs since WPRGs aren't a hot product and don't exist in any great number on DS. But I hardly wish to point the finger just because of that coincidental statistic. Orcs and Elves I hear was a crap port from mobile. So yeah they might learn a few lessons here if this game has the gameplay to back up the visuals.

But to answer: no, I haven't seen too many DS JRPGs look as good as this in 3D and I've played quite a few on DS. Blood of Bahamut and Phantasy Star Zero come to mind as exceptions, but that's about it. Then you have a game like FFGaiden and it really doesn't come close to looking as good despite the overwhelming amount of experience SE has on DS. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

[SpoonyRedMage]

Well it depends on the style. FF Gaiden looks good in places but not in others(faces look horrible for instance). But if you look at games like DQM: Joker, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, DQIX, Ring of Fates and Echoes of Time(not many people like the chibi style but technically they're rather impressive looking), The Wizard of Oz RPG and as you said Phantasy Star Zero.

Matrix's games seem to divide opinion though, some say they don't look too good and some say look good. But again I think in places they're impressive and in others places they're not.

However I agree this game looks fantastic but I think it will be of a smaller scale than most WRPGs. It looks about the same level as Renegade Kids FPSs.

What would Sonic Chronicles count as though? It's made by Bioware.;)

EDIT: ahh right, i kind of misunderstood. You were saying there's not many as good as this in which case I agree. This is right at the top with just a few others but if you think this time next year we'll probably be saying the same about another game. DS games keep getting better and better...:D

[dragunrising]

Nice find. The game looks great in motion. Its hard to believe a DS game is capable of looking so good. I'm interested in seeing what future DSi titles look like as the hardware's a little faster.

[Tony P]

@Spoony: Right, I forgot about KH358/2 as well.

But yes, I think a lot of devs are maybe too content to settle on 2D stuff or 2D/3D which is ok. But if more devs put out stuff as good looking as this and the other games mentioned, maybe fewer people would be yelling the DS can't do decent 3D. Because let's face it. The majority of mainstream gamers can't see beyond a good screenshot. But despite the difference in style, I think this could be one of those titles that quite noticeably raises the bar for visuals. Makes some noise. That sort of thing.

@blind: Np. I hope we only up from this point too.

[SpoonyRedMage]

Well I don't mind 2D or even a mix(like Blood of Bahamut) but I think part of it is the art style, as I said the DQ games and the Crystal Chronicles games do look quite good, they have nice clean 3D looks but they also have art styles that a lot of people don't like.

On FF Gaiden as well as I said before it's inconsistent in it's quality but the actual quality of the environments including the size are impressive and if you've seen battle footage it looks good and I think much of the horribleness is down to the art style again.

Well there's a lot of stuff coming up that will and as you listed the impressive games they all happen to be recent or upcoming ones. There's KH358/2 Days, Blood of Bahamut, Fighting Fantasy, Dementium 2, Phantasy Star Zero, Okamiden, COP: The Recruit and some others.

[ShawnCollier]

Damn, that's impressive.

[Selyah]

looks quite interesting to say the least

[SpoonyRedMage]

Going to get this game. They've done great work. I think it's funny that people always criticise the DS' graphics but whenever a new game is announced there's comments of "BEST DS GRAPHICS YET!"(not necessarily here).

There's plenty of good, nice looking 3D games on the DS.

[ShapelyChops]

I've got to say I'm impressed with how this looks. As long as the game itself is good I'd say this would be a great buy for any DS owner!

[thedarkvault]

looks smooth for DS. too bad the characters are sprites though...

[Double Toasted]

the DS has MORE good games than the PSP?

[Hisiru]

I don't know if it's true but why do you need to say such a thing?

[Double Toasted]

and....I feel like the PSP being a stronger tech gadget than its rival, should be bringing more blockbuster type games. Valkyria Chronicles is coming, but thats all I can think of right now...oh LBP... and Fat Princess, I heard was in the works. I just think Sony should make PSP versions of most of their PS3 games...Uncharted, Folklore things of that nature.

[Neo Nugget]

.......

:O

All I have to say here.

[Handhelds_FTW]

I hope they add New Game+, or it's lengthy by default so it doesn't end up like The Dark Spire. Great game with fantastic art and soundtrack, but way too short.

[kingdavid]

Who cares about graphics on the ds?

If you bought a ds, you wouldnt be stupid enough to buy it for the graphics.

DS is all about gameplay, and thats why it owns psp.

[na-no-nai]

cuz not all ds should look crap and stuff. but to me ds games are pretty good. tho most of them arent breath-taking
but im looking forward to this game ^_^