11.04.05 - 2:34 PM
Atlus has announced that they will be releasing Steambot Chronicles, known as Poncotsu Roman Daikatsugeki Bumpy Trot in Japan, and Metal Saga, both for the PlayStation 2. Steambot Chronicles is developed by old-school developer irem, while Metal Saga is the first game by upstart Crea-Tech.
Steambot Chronicles is a non-linear adventure/RPG where players take the role of Vanilla Bean as he does almost whatever he wants. "Steambot Chronicles' non-linear gameplay gives you the freedom to do whatever you want; start a band, help the townspeople, or join a gang of bandits and terrorize them - all with customizable mechs and the industrial revolution!" says Tomm Hulett, Localization Writer for Atlus USA.
Steambot Chronicles' self-described "sandbox gameplay" seems akin to games like Black and White and Fable, where you're free to do what you want to complete your missions.
Following with the linearity of Steambot Chronicles is Metal Saga, a wide-open RPG which features several different endings. "Metal Saga is a non-linear RPG in which the user is in full control of how they play the game." said Yu Namba, Project Lead at Atlus USA. "You can spend time hunting down outlaws, collecting items, modding tanks, exploring the vast wilderness, or playing a wide variety of mini games, or instead devote yourself to unlocking any one of the many different endings."
Metal Saga's story focuses on humanity's creation of a supercomputer named Noah, crafted to save the world from pollution. Noah, being the brilliant computer it is, decides to get rid of the cause: humanity. In a matter of days, humanity is shattered, and only few survivors could form towns. Eventually, Noah was destroyed by a great hunter - those who wandered the wasteland. His offspring and creations still exist, and one day, a young man, son of a great hunter, makes his journey into the unknown.
Atlus has also opened the website for Magna Carta: Tears of Blood, slated for release on November 15. Expect a review of the game, rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB, on the release date!
Update (11.04.05, 10:31PM EST): Included are links to the galleries for the two announced games, below!
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| John McCarroll |