Platform: PlayStation 2

Developer: Level 5

Publisher: SCEA

Genre: Action RPG

ETA: TBA 2006

Related Links:

Review: Dark Cloud (PS2)

Review: Dark Cloud 2 (PS2)

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After pumping out the two Dark Cloud games and pitching in with Dragon Quest VIII, Level 5 has been slaving away on yet another RPG for the PlayStation 2.  Recently released in Japan , Rogue Galaxy takes place in the distant future where starships soar the cosmos, pirates harass said ships, and there’s plenty of ancient mysteries floating about from races who existed far before we ever had an inkling to navigate the stars.  Take this and toss in a real-time party-based battle system, and you have Rogue Galaxy.

Looking at the game, one will find a return once again to the cel shading style that Level 5 has been honing all throughout this generation.  With Rogue Galaxy this sort of visuals are looking even better than previous efforts from the developer.  What makes it stand out from earlier games are the little details added to all of the characters and environments.  While games like Dark Cloud 2 and Dragon Quest VIII did a decent job of this, it would seem that Level 5 is trying to pull a Spinal Tap and crank things to eleven for what will likely be their last game for the PS2.

As mentioned earlier, the game takes place in a futuristic, sci-fi world.  In it, a huge war is blazing as factions vie for control of the galaxy.  Amidst this chaos, players take control of a lad named Jester Rogue who lives on a backwater planet called Roza.  However, despite the planet being nestled away in the middle of nowhere, one of the powers involved in the ongoing war has taken notice of the rich supply of resources on that world.  As such, they promptly conquer the planet, and enslave its populace.  Luckily for Jester, though, he 

manages to escape and hightail it off the planet right quick.  From there it’s up to players to figure out what they’re going to do with this war brewing.

Of course, this will require smacking around countless bad guys and ruffians.  This is done in a far more seamless, action RPG manner, as opposed to a more traditional style found in various role-playing games.  For instance, when a battle is about to start, the screen doesn’t start flash, shifting into a battle mode.  Instead there’s a brief warning that one’s party is coming under attack, then the enemies show up.  Once push comes to shove, players will find 

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themselves in control of one character in their party, while the computer controls everyone else (one can have up to three other combatants in their group at a time).  That in mind, players will find a far faster paced, visceral experience in Rogue Galaxy.  They can perform combos, jump around, and mix up their attacks quite a bit instead of sifting through menus, confirming their choices, and then stepping out to make a sandwich while the next round in the battle goes on.

In a very short time, Level 5 has established itself as one of the best RPG developers of this generation.  They’ve proven that they can make games that are not only slick from an aesthetic standpoint, but also in terms of gameplay.  We’ve seen great examples of this in the forms of Dark Cloud 2, and Dragon Quest VIII, now it’s looking like they may just be able to do the same with Rogue Galaxy.  It’s already tearing up the charts in Japan , so let’s hope that we see a North American release come sooner than later.

- Mr. Nash

(January 25, 2006)