Roundtable #2: Mom’s Basement and the Mysterious RPG

For those that cannot read or clearly make out the text: “Next month’s cover story is an RPG so fantastic, so engrossing, so epic, and so hush-hush that we’d have to erase your memories if we told you what it is. In fact, maybe we already did. Role-playing fans, get ready for a big one.”

Shvitzel: Obviously, there’s a lot that could come out of this. We could see a long wanted sequel, something not that great, or merely an epic game that has yet to be localized. What are your thoughts?

Jonny the Pie King: Personally, I think of a few games that come to mind when I hear this. The first one is the Mother franchise, which its followers have so eagerly awaited a sequel to hit US shores.

Smeags: Well, it has been a long time since Nintendo Power has had an exclusive (I think it was the showing of Portrait of Ruin) so I think that this will indeed be a big one. However, right now I’m not seeing anything earth shattering. What I would like to see? Well, Bioware’s Sonic RPG is enough for me, but what would really tickle my fancy would be another Paper Mario. But Jonny’s could be spot on with Earthbound (Mother).

LinxAwakening: Well Jonny, the only problem I have with this being a Mother game is the fact that it has taken so long for it to happen. It seems that if Nintendo wanted to bring this game to the Americas they would have done it a lot sooner. But I have to say it is really about time. I haven’t really ever been much of an RPG player, but I know enough to say that Nintendo has been lacking in this area for a while.

Jonny the Pie King: Good point Linx, but there are several reasons why it could be Mother. For one, rumors have been floating around IGN that a classic franchise is returning. Surfergirl has reported in her blog that Mother will finally be localized, and well, this certainly would fit those reports.

Shvitzel: I really think that we could see some sort of all-encompassing Earthbound cartridge show up on the DS that features Mothers 1, 2, and 3. Following on the heels could be announcements of a Mother 4 for Wii since Mother 3 did start off as an N64 game, if I recall correctly.

LinxAwakening: Well here is something to consider. We don’t even know where this RPG is coming from. For all we could know, it could be a Virtual Console game. That would definitely be a return of the classics, but to me that isn’t something amazing. So, let me first just say that if this has anything to do with Golden Sun I will be the happiest man alive. Oh and don’t forget that ever since the Wii came out, Camelot has had a RPG in the words apparently.

Jonny the Pie King: I will say that Golden Sun is another good possibility. Camelot has shown great interest in creating another game in the franchise, and they’ve started Wii development with their new game, Wii Love Golf.

Smeags: Well Jonny, right now I really don’t see a Golden Sun game being announced from Camelot. They’re finishing up We Love Golf and I’d be surprised to see them go with another Wii exclusive before seeing how well Golf does.

Shvitzel: I’m with Smeags; Golden Sun is virtually out I think. In an interview a few months ago, Camelot confirmed that they were not working on a Golden Sun game. They’ve been busy with Wii Love Golf and Nintendo HAS given them the go ahead for another Golden Sun game, but it isn’t something they are reportedly pursuing right now. So, I’d love it if it’s true, but I highly doubt it.

Jonny the Pie King: Forgetting the Game Informer interview Shvitzel? Camelot had said that they feel they MUST make a new Golden Sun game, and that was as recent as a few months ago.

Shvitzel: Same interview that says they aren’t working on one Jonny. And given development times and that interview coming out only in October, I doubt that NP would be ready to reveal such a game to the public already.

Jonny the Pie King: Very true. Perhaps if it isn’t Golden Sun and Camelot, it could potentially be Monolith Soft finally getting a stab at the RPG genre with their new relationship with Nintendo. Multiple projects would explain why Disaster hasn’t been released yet, and Nintendo Power could be referring to the little known DS RPG, Soma Bringer, by Monolith Soft.

Smeags: Well you guys know a lot more about this than I do, especially concerning things like Mother and Golden Sun. However, seeing the success of Super Paper Mario, I’m thinking that Mario may have another RPG adventure coming sooner than we think. However, seeing the way NP has covered this, I’m thinking that this exclusive is going to be a straight up RPG. So, my longing for Paper Bowser continues.

Shvitzel: Now, I initially didn’t consider this game as an option when reading this news. But the more I think about it, it seems like this game could definitely be what the blurb is alluding to. Some people may or may not remember a Vanillaware-developed title called Oboro Muramasa Youtouden that has been revealed in Japan, but nothing has been revealed about it for months. Now, people have said that a hint may be hidden in the blurb, and the more likely one deals with memories being erased. Now, Oboro features an amnesiac main character who is searching for his memories. What initially reminded me of this was also the fact that a more recent Nintendo Power alluded to a ninja game being developed for a Nintendo console that Nintendo Power couldn’t talk much on yet.

Jonny the Pie King: Fantastic idea there! I had forgotten all about NP referring to another Ninja game, and Vanillaware is famous for RPGs; perhaps they are referring to Oboro Muramasa Youtouden. On the other hand, how likely is it that Nintendo Power has an exclusive on a JRPG that might not even make it to the US though?

Smeags: OK, well now you guys are getting into areas that I’m just clueless about (yes readers, I am a RPG noob).

Shvitzel: Sorry about that Smeags. But why don’t you share some ideas about other RPGs you’d like to see return? How would you feel about a Super Mario RPG showing up?

Smeags: Well, as you already know I’m really excited to see Bioware handling the blue blur. I’m confident that Sonic will make a great impression. But in all honesty, I’m seeing the commercial successes of Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi and I’m wondering when we will see these iconic stars return. You know, we do complain about how the Mario franchise is being milked but I’m still seeing innovation and artistry in those two franchises.

LinxAwakening: Oh man, I would love to see a console Mario & Luigi! To tell you the truth, I simply feel it is way too early for another Paper Mario. We recently received Paper Mario for the Virtual Console, and Super Paper Mario came out fairly recently too. To me, adding in another Paper Mario, while it might be true to its roots again, would be too much for the series. Mario & Luigi on the other hand is a face we haven’t seen for a while, and bringing it to the Wii might be just the opportunity that Nintendo needs to bring back one of the funniest franchises I’ve played in a while.

Shvitzel: Milking of the Mario franchise is a whole different subject, but I agree, I think Nintendo fans take those two franchises for granted amongst complains of Mario losing his platforming roots. Nintendo hit on something amazing with those two titles. They are funny, amazing stories, everything a Nintendo fan can dream about. At the same time, I 100% agree with Linx that we’ve gotten a lot of Paper Mario recently and it feels too soon for a new entry into the franchise. Mario and Luigi showed up earlier on the DS and I could see a new entry sometime soon, and my god, a console version would be….mind-blowing. It just doesn’t feel right for this time though. I think it may be too soon for that franchise too, or Mario in general, so I feel like it’s something outside of that realm.

LinxAwakening: Who knows?! We could be seeing Retro’s first entry outside of Metroid. Too bad that’s probably a huge stretch! But yeah Shvitzel, I do think we are dealing with something outside of Nintendo’s usual.

Jonny the Pie King: Sure the games were great, and funny, but I have to agree with Linx here. I don’t see Nintendo Power hyping up a Mario RPG (unless it’s another Super Mario RPG…). Nintendo Power does still have roots with Nintendo even after getting moved to FutureUS, and Retro Studios’ new project could very well be the RPG they’re talking about.

Smeags: Gonna agree with you on that one. Merely tooting the ol’ horn back there. But whatever it is, I think Nintendo fans are going to be extremely impressed. Add another one to the hype list fellas.

LinxAwakening: Exactly, if anything because it might be something that gets us AWAY from Nintendo. I’m not going to be the first or the last person to tell you, but there is only so much Nintendo one can handle. I’d be excited for anything really!

Shvitzel: This is the best kind of hype, guys. We have no idea what it is, but we love games so much we all have our dreams. Sure, some will be disappointed. But I think that this game will be sure to please a lot. I know I can’t wait for my NP and I have yet to start on the one with this blurb in it!

Jonny the Pie King: Well, I say we can only wait and see. In another 6 weeks or so we’ll find out what this mysterious game is. Hopefully it turns out to be a great moment when we crack open that mail box and find the game of our dreams (hopefully) sitting right on the cover.

And we’re done with roundtable number two! We went about making this one in a significantly different manner, so we’d appreciate some comments about what you thought of the conversation, how it flowed, etc.

Also, we realize that we basically focused on four possible options, but it should be clear that there are hundreds of games that could come out of this. Of course there are IPs, from discussed developers or others, and we didn’t even get a chance to mention Square Enix. But the conversation flowed well and dwindled at the end, so we decided to leave it as is.

Stay tuned for more from Mom’s Basement!