Avalon Code

Platform: DS
Release Date: TBA

Have you noticed that more and more games are refusing to give release dates? Just pointing it out.

The game I'd like to bring attention to in this particular blog is Avalon Code. Not too much has been released about the game, but the concept is what I’d like to bring attention to.
I could go on about the gameplay features and cool graphics, but this is a writing blog so I’ll save that to your own research. (But on a side note, the battle system looks awesome!)

So, here’s the story: You play a character that has just been informed that the end of the world is coming. You cannot save it. Instead, you pick out the stuff you want to take with you to the new world that will be created after this one is destroyed.

Reasons why this concept rocks:

1) You get to choose how the story plays out. There are a lot of games out there in which you get to choose your own events, but it doesn’t really have anything to do with the actual storyline. It seems to be totally just for giggles. I am a total The Sims fanatic, but if I set Suzy on fire, the only thing that happens is Billy stops and cries every once in awhile. (The Sims was not made for storylines really, but I’m just using it as an example.)

2) There’s no evil dude trying to take over the universe. (As far as I know.) I’m really sick of this scenario. WHY do bad guys want to rule things for NO real reason? Half of them are so anti-social, it really doesn’t make sense that they’d want to rule and deal with people day in and day out. Most of them seem to want this “world as my slave” deal, which is an interesting goal, but I’m pretty sure that if there was someone trying to do that well placed TNT would do the trick. Sephiroth from Final Fantasy 7 passes, mainly because it makes sense that he would think there’s a universe that belongs to him, because he’s bloody crazy. It’s a low grade, but a C- is still passing.

3) Personalization. Play as a boy or girl. Destroy things you hate. Keep things you like. Mess with the universe. I hate it when a game either goes half in or half out on the immersion. Take Dragon Quest 8. I’m a huge fan of the series, but removing the main character of dialogue to make you feel like you’re part of the game is lame. I’m not a mute. Why am I playing one? How am I supposed to identify to someone who doesn’t say anything?

I think Avalon Code has a cool new angle for a storyline and I’m excited to see whether or not it turns out to be a good game. Check out IGN for more info and screenshots!