Ubisoft's new JRPG "Child of Light"

The Far Cry 3 team of Ubisoft Montreal have just announced their new JRPG. It is the latest to run on the UbiArt Framework and, I gotta say, Square Enix can learn a thing or two from this new project.

Take a look at the trailer, and tell me those visuals aren't jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

Together, we are one.

They aren't jaw-droppingly gorgeous. I am not even going to say they are bad, because they are not but I was not blown away. Maybe it is the youtube quality or maybe its is because I do not remember Square putting out any bland looking games as of late. (though as I am not a fan of them, for the most part, I am in no position to say they have not been doing so).

Modified Ura-nage, Torture Rack

They aren't jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

I mean, sure, they're nice. But lovely back- and foregrounds in what seems to be mostly a 2D-centered game is not enough to convince me, sorry. The artstyle isn't all that engaging on its own, and I've never been a big fan of the "quiet and super mysterious" kind of worlds.

It'll be interesting to see where it goes from here, though.

Join us in our quest to play all RPG video games! Moving on to disc 2 of Grandia!

... How the hell is this a JRPG?

Isn't Ubisoft an American company? I know the Far Cry 3 team almost certainly is, anyway.

And even if that's just based on mechanics, this looks far more like a standard platformer with RPG elements.

"It's so hard to be humble, knowing how great I am."

It looks more like a 2D Beat 'em Up with RPG elements. Or a platformer. As for good 2D visuals, Vanillaware's spoiled me too much. These look plain by comparison.

edited 10th Sep '13 3:14:23 PM by lu127

"If you aren't him, then you apparently got your brain from the same discount retailer, so..." - Fighteer

Ubisoft is a French company. Doesn't exclude them from making a game in the JRPG style but the elements that seperate them are up for debate.

...so, does any letter in the acronym "JRPG" actually describe the kind of games they signify?

I have a message from another time...

Hence why I phrased it as a question.

Though I suppose if this game really does have more JRPG elements than the trailer shows, it's a good example of why classifying RPG types by region is utterly stupid.

They are a type of RPG that primarily comes from Japan. But they don't exclusively come from Japan, so calling them JRP Gs is kind of archaic.

Same for "Western RP Gs-" which is also bad because it encompasses like ten different genres.

edited 10th Sep '13 3:29:29 PM by Mukora

"It's so hard to be humble, knowing how great I am."

Part of the trailer actually looks like a turn-based battle system. You even see a menu with a "slash" option. It's just edited so that you can't see the enemies do anything.

Like, it seems that one of the inspirations may have been Valkyrie Profile.

edited 10th Sep '13 3:30:51 PM by Zendervai

Not Three Laws compliant.

And do RP Gs actually fit the description of being games where you play a role?

I mean, I know that games like Mass Effect and Elder Scrolls games do. Not so much Final Fantasy or Paper Mario, to give a few examples.

edited 10th Sep '13 3:36:02 PM by Enlong

I have a message from another time...

It looks decent? I like the style, but not the choice of subject matter. We already have far too many LoTR-inspired games

And, yeah, it's turn-based. Not sure how that's going to work with a single PC

Need more information before I can judge

Lo TR inspired? It's about a flying princess of light who needs to defeat an evil queen of darkness, apparently with the help of a fairy or something. Yes, the LoTR allusions are just pouring off that. Or were you talking about the dragon that pops up at one point?

edited 10th Sep '13 3:57:33 PM by Zendervai

Not Three Laws compliant.

...I was specifically talking about the art design, which reminds me of the LoTR films

Oh, okay. I thought you were talking about the premise and I couldn't figure it out. Sorry!

Not Three Laws compliant.

Well, RPG in and of itself is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to video games as well. The name comes from tabletop RP Gs, obviously which both "JRP Gs" and "Western RP Gs" are inspired by.

The difference is that whereas JRP Gs were inspired by the stat-grinding and level up, western RP Gs, or rather, western RP Gs inspired by the Ultima series and Infinity Engine games, were in turn inspired by the character customization and choice-based gameplay.

RP Gs run a rather large gambit, and they really need to be better categorized.

edited 10th Sep '13 4:04:08 PM by Mukora

"It's so hard to be humble, knowing how great I am."

If they're really making this a JRPG-styled game, having at-will flight will be amazing for exploration. I don't think we have too many games with a fairy-like lead either so that's a plus. I also notice she's having quite a bit of trouble swinging that sword, which is an interesting bit of characterization.

As far as graphics are concerned, it's Ubisoft. Why anyone is expecting Vanillaware quality I have no idea unless they want to argue that the recent 2D Rayman games were also Vanillaware quality. Remember, there's only a single #1 spot in any area.

edited 10th Sep '13 4:30:45 PM by Recon5

I think the visuals really do look great. Reminds me a bit of Okami, which was hailed for its beauty.

Also a good sign that it's coming out for the Wii U.

Digging the art, ambivalent on the gameplay, we need to reclassify RP Gs.

Dopants: He meant what he said and he said what he meant, a Ninety is faithful 100%.

getting rid of the W/J initial is a good start.

then we can merge half the sub-categories because literally the only difference between some of them is country of origin.

edited 10th Sep '13 8:31:34 PM by Tarsen

Well, hey, Ubisoft is French, so, clearly, "JRPG" here means "J'RPG."

*Shields self from French people*

More seriously, I'm glad to hear that the engine powering the newer Rayman games is being used outside of that IP.

edited 10th Sep '13 8:23:19 PM by RocketDude

"Hipsters: the most dangerous gang in the US." - Pacific Mackerel

We only saw a battle segment for a second or two, but it looked turn-based. Maybe Paper Mario esque. Most of the trailer was wasted on pointless running around sections. I suppose if they want to sell the game on the atmosphere that's understandable, but if they want RPG fans to care they would probably emphasize the RPG elements more.

Pointless? If part of the game is exploration, then I'm glad to see the exploration tools at use.

I have a message from another time...

...but we don't see exploration tools either? Just basic walking around, mostly.

IE: Pointful exploration is also a thing, but this wasn't it.

edited 10th Sep '13 9:31:15 PM by Clarste

Several games where exploration is almost the entire point have done well enough. Sure games produced by avant garde devs like thatgamecompany do have (often stellar) endings and creative mechanics but very often the majority of people who play them don't even care if they never see the end or if the gameplay is what 'mainstream' gamers might consider mind-numbingly simple. It's the experience that counts.

This was the announcement trailer. There'll probably be more.

Not Three Laws compliant.