Record Of The Lodoss War (Dreamcast) GUTTED
Record of Lodoss War is best known to long time anime fans as a Japanese high fantasy series that is often mistaken as fodder to capitalize on Japan’s obsession with dragons and elves that was partially stemmed from the intense popularity of the DragonQuest franchise. What many people, even some older anime fans that got their start on Robotech in the 80’s, probably aren’t aware of is that Lodoss War didn’t originate as an anime or manga series, or even novels. Believe it or not, the series originated as a transcript of actual Dungeons & Dragons sessions that were published in a popular computer magazine. The printed log of some group of computer programmers’ and novelists’ D&D campaign grew to become its own traditional RPG series, and would venture out into other mediums. To put it short, Lodoss War’s origins were that of the truest form of RPG; the kind that requires some dice and paper.
Shepherd’s Crossing (PS2): GUTTED!
Shepherd’s Crossing puts you in the role of a traveler who is convinced by large-eyed young lass named Claire into settling down as a farmer in the township of (guess what?) Shepherd’s Crossing. What follows in objective may sound a bit familiar to longtime fans of odd Japanese games that sound awful in theory but somehow work; plant your crops, tend to your livestock, and maintain and protect your farm from pests. The premise sounds almost identical to the Harvest Moon series of games. Upon closer examination, it appears game developer Success had something much more casual in mind. While half of Harvest Moon draws influence from Japanese RPG titles by consisting of side-quests, optional interactions, events and yakking it up with the townsfolk, Shepherd’s Crossing’s focus is almost entirely on maintaining your farm, with some JRPG-inspired elements. Absent are such bells and whistles like upgrading your tools, exploring the town and woods, and dating the locals. A good 80% of gameplay takes place on your farm, w
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