|
|
|
|
Rogue Galaxy
|
| |
|
| |
is a science fiction console role-playing game developed by Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The game was first released in Japan on December 8, 2005, and later in North America on January 30, 2007. The European release was initially expected in 2006 but after a series of postponements it was released in most European countries on 5 September 2007. Release in the UK and some other countries followed on 7 September 2007. A Director's Cut version of the game was also released in Japan on March 15, 2007.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Rogue Galaxy' Start a new discussion about 'Rogue Galaxy' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
is a science fiction console role-playing game developed by Level-5 and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. The game was first released in Japan on December 8, 2005, and later in North America on January 30, 2007. The European release was initially expected in 2006 but after a series of postponements it was released in most European countries on 5 September 2007. Release in the UK and some other countries followed on 7 September 2007. A Director's Cut version of the game was also released in Japan on March 15, 2007. The Director's Cut included all the added features and improvements of the North American and European localizations.
Rogue Galaxy enjoyed immense critical success upon its initial release in Japan, scoring a 36/40 in Famitsu and an 85 average in Dengeki, two of Japan's most popular gaming magazines. Sales were also very strong for an original IP RPG in Japan, with sales totaling over 350,000 units in just three months.
Plot and Setting
Story
The story begins with Jaster Rogue, a young boy who was abandoned on the planet Rosa as a child. He was raised by a Priest named Raul, who is like a father to Jaster. Jaster's long time dream is to travel throughout space as a space pirate. One day a huge beast appears and begins attacking the poor town. Jaster, being his adventurous self, runs after the beast. He is ambushed by a group of smaller beasts and is saved by a man known as the Desert Claw, the best Bounty Hunter in the galaxy. After the battle, Desert Claw spots two pirates from the crew of Space Pirates, Dorgengoa. He gives Jaster his weapon, the Desert Seeker, one of the Legendary Seven-Star Swords, which causes the pirates to mistake him for Desert Claw. They soon help Jaster defeat the boss monster (the Scorching Alchemist: Mark VIII Salamander) that attacked the town. After the battle the two pirates, Simon and Steve, tell Jaster that their Captain, Dorgengoa, wants to hire him as a part of his crew upon the ship the Dorgenark. The next day Jaster decides to leave Rosa to join the pirates. After leaving Rosa, Jaster meets up with the rest of the Dorgenark crew: the captain's daughter, Kisala, a futuristic robot named Steve, a space pirate named Simon, and a mysterious mercenary named Zegram, who agreed to join the crew. While passing the Rose Nebula on their way to Zerard, the Dorgenark is attacked by beasts and is forced to crash on the jungle planet Juraika. After examining the damage of their ship, the crew agree that they must find gather an ingredient for Booster Oil in order to leave the planet and continue to Zerard. As their journey unfolds, the crew meet new friends from different planets such as Lilika, an amazon from Juraika, Jupis, a hacker from the advanced planet Zerard, and Deego, an Ex-Longardian soldier from the mining planet Vedan. Eventually Dorgengoa reveals his true intentions: Finding the legendary phantom planet Eden, said to contain vast amounts of treasure and the Immortal Soul, which grants immortality. On their journey, they discover that artifacts known as the Great Tablets are connected to the planet of Eden.
Along with the Keypieces from ancient kings who ruled specific planets years ago. Secretly, the president of Daytron, Valkog, is also searching for Eden, his true motive is revealed as the story progresses. Jaster and his party search for the 3 relics of the ancient kings: of Zerard, of Vedan, and of Juraika. After finding all three, the relics are returned to Rosa. Upon arriving, the crew are confronted by an artificial human created by Daytron, named Seed. Whose soul purpose is to open the gate to Eden. During the heroic battle, Jaster unleashes a mysterious power that he has been harnessing inside himself, thus defeating Seed. Jaster uses his newly discovered power to open the gate to a labyrinth containing the secrets to Eden. While exploring the Rosa labyrinth, Jaster and Kisala discover that Kisala is actually Princess Irieth of Eden, truly named Le Marrie Glennecia or Mariglenn for short. As the party exits from the ruins, they set eyes on Daytron's president, Valkog, attacking Jaster's town Rosa. Raul, Jaster's foster father, attempts to stop the attacking ship but is severely wound. Jaster runs to his injured guardian, but it is too late. Raul, slowly dying presents an special artifact. The item points him towards the Kuje Desert. While in the Kuje Desert, Jaster and the crew discover the illusionary town of Johannasburg, which was frozen in time and the memories of its inhabitants, changed by a woman named Johanna. The party learns that Johanna placed the spell on the town in order to prevent the villagers from dying of a plague that had spread long ago. Meeting the ghost of Johanna within the town, the party discovers that she is Jaster's mother and also a descendant of an ancient ruler of the galaxy, the Star God. Jaster is forced to fight his mother in order to release his true powers. After proving his worthiness, Jaster and the others run into Desert Claw. Who reveals himself as Jaster's father, Mizel. Mizel tells of how he came to Johannasburg and met Johanna. The two fell in love and Johanna gave birth to Jaster. Shortly after, Johanna died from the plague after having left the protection of Johannasburg. Desert Claw left Jaster with Raul, so that he could be raised and find his own destiny. Mizel knew Jaster would be the one to bring peace to the galaxy and save it. Desert Claws tells the crew to continue to Mariglenn, where they will find the answers to saving the galaxy.
Arrive on Mariglenn, they learn that the planet has been removed from the entire Wilhelser System to encase the ever growing Rune, as well as an evil entity made purely of Rune, known as Mother. Jaster and Kisala find the king, whom his Kisala's father, has become a beast and put him out of his misery. Before perishing, he awakens Kisala's Drigellum, an aura made out of the memories within people's hearts. He tells them they must awaken the other Drigellums inside the hearts of Kisala's friends to craft a sword powerful enough to defeat Mother. When the sword is formed, the group enters Mother's lair where they battle her. Upon being defeated, Mother transforms into her true state, which in response the Star King enters Jaster. The Star King tries to reason with Mother by forgiving the past of when she was a sorceress named Ilzarbella, whe was once along side with the Star King. Mother leaves the Star King no choice and is defeated at the hand of the legendary Drigellum sword. Valkog's ship appears over Mother's lair after the fight. Neededing a new host, the Rune drags the ship along with Valkog and his two assistants Norma and Izeland into the lava. With the power of the Rune the ship transforms them into the Demon Battleship, a new host for the Rune. Kisala's mother appears and gives Jaster the Drigellum of Prayer, making a new sword for him. Jaster and his friends split up abord the Demon Battleship in order to take down the ship's weapons, after the final section of the ship is destroyed, the crew escapes from the lava filled plain. The planet Mariglenn returns to its place amongst the other planets within Wilhelser System. The crew and Jaster then parts with Kisala, who has made the noble decission to become the new Queen of Mariglenn. Jaster, Zegram, Monsha, and Dorgengoa sit aboard the Dorgenark after the rest of their friends had returned home. The group then heads off to claim their "ultimate treasure" on the new Mariglenn: Kisala. The final scene tells that this was the final mission the Dorgengoa Pirates ever pulled off as pirates.
Characters
The main hero of the story and the first playable character. His home planet is the planet Rosa, a planet that is mostly desert and currently under Longardian rule. His dream since he was a boy was to go out into space someday and help change the universe. Jaster lived in the town's church which is run by his adoptive father, Raul. One day, a giant beast breaks through into town and Jaster rushes out to stop it. He meets a mysterious man who helps him until he meets Steve and Simon. Witnessing his battling skills, Steve and Simon mistake him for the legendary hunter "Desert Claw" since they spot him holding one of the legendary Sever-Star Swords. With their help, Jaster slays the beast and is offered a chance to join the Dorgengoa Pirates. He accepts the invitation and joins the crew as they head out into space. He and Kisala are romantically interested in each other. His main weapon is a sword while his sub-weapon is a pistol.
The daughter of the pirate captain, Dorgengoa, and the only female onboard the Dorgengoa when Jaster joins. While she has an innocent appearance to her, Kisala is a tomboy and doesn't mind being around space pirates. Jaster and Kisala meet for the first time when Kisala saves Jaster from desert beasts on Rosa. Most of Kisala's history is unknown until it is discovered that Kisala is the princess of the planet Mariglenn, known widely as "Eden". When Kisala meets Jaster, she too believes that Jaster is Desert Claw, but was uncertain at first since she pictured Desert Claw to be more rugged. She is romantically interested in Jaster. Kisala's main weapons are two twin daggers and her sub-weapon is her high heeled boots.
A bounty hunter who joined forces with Dorgengoa long before Jaster came aboard the crew. Out of all the crew members, Zegram's home planet is never revealed (but a cutscene near the game's end could indicate that it is Zerard). When Jaster joins, Zegram has his doubts that Jaster is really the famous "Desert Claw", but he ignores the facts and starts to bond with Jaster like the other crew members do. While Jaster and friends are often winding up in trouble or need Zegram, he is often seen mysteriously alone communicating with someone. It's revealed later on that Zegram was in leagues with the Daytron company since the start and his actions causes a fight between him and Jaster. But when they meet again on Rosa, Zegram re-joins them just as they are battling Seed for the final time. Zegram's main weapon is a sword while he wields a throwing star as his sub-weapon.
One of the first Dorgengoa crew members to meet Jaster on planet Rosa. Simon's home planet is Zerard and he is seen as a sturdy short man with a mask covering his face. His true identity isn't revealed until near the game's end when it is found out that his real identity is Sho, who was in a major accident that cost him his face. He joined the Dorgengoa Pirates after that, while at the same time leaving his wife and daughter behind. Simon accepts Jaster right away when he is mistaken for the "Desert Claw". He speaks with a heavy Scottish accent. Simon's main weapon is a flamethrower and his sub-weapon is a multi-missile launcher.
Steve is an android robot designed by Dr. Pocacchio from planet Zerard. He is the navigator of the Dorgenark. Steve is first met on planet Rosa along with Simon and joins the party along with him. Like the others, he too believed that Jaster was "Desert Claw" due to him carrying Desert Claw's legendary blade. Steve, out of all of Dr. Pocacchio's inventions, is considered his favorite since Steve was the first android of his kind to care for others as well as his creator. Steve secretly carries a data replica of Mark, his creator's deceased son, which can only be seen when on a virtual transmission with the doctor while in Sleep Mode. Steve's main weapons are his robotic fists and his sub-weapon is two laser robots.
An amazoness from the planet Juraika, Lilika is the only other female crew member to join. She meets Jaster, Kisala and Zegram when their ship crash lands on Juraika after engine trouble. Although no one from Juraika will listen to outsiders, Lilika sees Jaster and his friends differently and helps them get into Burkaqua Village. She is the only crew member to have a little sister, who lost her sight after a vicious beast attacked and killed their mother long ago. When Lilika must sacrifice her sister to the Star God, she discovers that their "god" is really the same monstrous beast that attacked them when they were children. Lilika joins Jaster and Kisala in killing the beast and is "banished" from the village for "interfering with the ritual of the Star God". In truth, the chief sent her out in hopes of her learning what path their people should take. Finally free, she joins the Dorgengoa Pirates after the ship repairs are complete. Her main weapon is her bow and arrows while her sub-weapon is a hatchet. However, her bow uses her sub-weapon ammo.
Jupis is the only playable character who is first fought as a boss in the Starship Factory on Zerard. Jupis is a lizard-like alien known as a Granshee. A while ago, he was a great scientist and genius who devoted his entire work to science when working for Daytron. His assistant, Tony, got him involved in an accident while working on a theory that could revolutionize time/space energy. But his data was lost when coffee was spilled on the system and Jupis took his entire frustration out on Tony. He was then fired and went slightly insane. He later takes over the Starship Factory and gains control of all of the machines within the factory. It was only through the combined efforts of Jaster, Lilika and Steve that he is finally defeated, even when fighting with his giant robot Johnny. He tries to make his escape when the police come in to capture Jupis. With nowhere to go, Jupis escapes aboard the Dorgenark and becomes a crew member. Jupis' main weapon is a spear while his sub-weapon is a disk launcher.
The final playable character to be recruited to the team. Deego comes from the planet Vedan, which is a large industrial mine planet. Deego is an ex-military man and he looks like a well muscled boxer dog with an robotic arm. He retired from the Longardian army and is usually seen hanging out at Angela's Bar, owned by his friend, Angela. His other friend, Gale, had joined up with the Morarty Family, a crime organization that controls all of the city of Myna. After Angela's bar is burned down by Junia, the son of Zax Morarty and lackey of Gale, Deego joins Jaster and Kisala's party in order to punish Gale. They manage to reach the bottom floor of the mines, where Deego confronts Gale in a final showdown. After the battle, he discovers that Angela is trying to leave Myna. He manages to catch her and reveals how he really feels about her (she wanted to leave so Deego could learn to stand on his own two feet again). With Angela remaining in Myna and his friendship restored with Gale, Deego joins the Dorgenark crew. His main weapon is a giant axe while his sub-weapon is an arm-mounted machine-gun.
Gameplay
The game's engine features a continuous environment with no load time and battles taking place in the overworld in real time. The graphics bear a resemblance to other Level-5 RPGs, most notably Dragon Quest VIII and Dark Cloud 2/Dark Chronicle.
Travel
The game includes a travel system which is used to relocate to another planet. In order to advance to further levels or planets, the use of the battleship is needed. At anytime, the player can return to the ship and use the "map screen" to travel to the other planets that are a part of the game. Using the teleporter will offer easy return to the ship.
Combat
Groups of enemies randomly appear while the player roams around the environments. The player has the ability to run out of the battle zone to escape from the battle at anytime. Combat is handled very much like in a Western RPG; enemies roam the playing field and there is no transition between battle and exploring the game world. The player controls a single character, but can change the other party members attack patterns using the team command function. In addition, the player can switch between characters and access their skills on the fly. The game is paused when the ability and item windows are opened during battle. Each character has a certain amount of points they can use until they cannot perform an action until the bar replenishes. This is represented by a blue bar at the top of the character icon. At the start of a randomized battle, the names and amounts of the enemies appear in the middle of the screen. When every enemy is killed, a window will pop up showing the player how much character and weapon experience was gained, what items were collected and how much currency was received for the battle.
Attacks
Tech Attacks: These are team based attacks in which two or more team members combine their abilities into one devastating attack. They are unlocked on the Revelation Flow for each character and are unique for each one with various requirements for who must be present within the active party to be enabled in combat (á la Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross).
Burning Strike: In the Japanese release, these special attacks would occur at random, but this was changed in the U.S. release so that the player may activate them manually by collecting enough Burning Chips dropped by foes during combat to fill a special gauge. Once filled, the player may activate this ability at which point they must follow a series of prompts onscreen to string together attacks in order to generate a great deal of damage to a targeted enemy.
Special Conditions: Several enemies are immune to damage unless made vulnerable through various means; some must first have their barriers destroyed by one of Jaster's guns. Others can only be harmed at very specific points to deliver any damage. Others must be jumped on to lower their guard. Still others must have their guard broken through the use of a strong attack. Players must be aware of this, as such enemies are invulnerable to even the strongest attacks in the game until made otherwise.
Throwing Enemies: The player can throw an enemy into another enemy to cause damage. Various obstacles and items also appear within the combat area for the player to use in like fashion in most instances.
Dungeon Exploration
Keeping in tradition with Level-5's Dark Cloud series, some areas contain puzzles. These can range from the mundane fetching of a key that matches the lock to more exotic, such as freezing a waterfall and then using created platforms in order to climb it. Unlike Dark Cloud and Dark Chronicle, the dungeons are not randomized. There are many different enemies that can be encountered in a dungeon. There are also treasure chests scattered around the worlds, wielding treasures, booby traps or may be a strong enemy called a Mimic.
Many of the puzzles encountered involve "Thinking Circles" - areas with a question mark where the player directs the characters, is informed of a situation there, and then attempts to select the right item from the inventory to address the situation. Doing so unlocks other parts of the dungeon, summons important bosses, and so forth.
Dungeons in Rogue Galaxy are notably long affairs, and may have odd and specialized enemies in them requiring the player to determine the best way to deal with them.
Insectron Tournament
The Insectron Tournament is a completely optional mini-game (which is the perpetual successor to Dark Cloud's fishing aspect) where the player pits up a team of his collected and trained bugs against opponents in a chess-like board, turn-based combat. Bugs can be acquired in each of the worlds by setting up traps and using food items as bait. Some are more powerful than others. The insect system is almost identical to the fish tank system found in Dark Chronicle, however there is a longer time period in which insects mature. In order to increase the attributes and level of the bugs, food and other items must be used. Each match costs a bit of money to participate in. The battle system during a match is set up some what like a chess game. Experience is gained when your team of insectrons are victorious and special items are given if all the competitor in the ranking are defeated. Though optional, it is a good idea to obtain these items, as they will assist the player in their adventure.
The Factory
At a certain point early in the game, the player's characters get access to a reconfigurable factory. This Factory is a sort of successor to the Dark Cloud series' Georama gameplay. They then are able to find blueprints by talking to NPCs in the game (who have orange or blue icons over their heads). Using the blueprints, the player can set up factory equipment and raw materials to make new items. Upon completion of the item, the party gets a "sample" and the item will be available in certain stores in the game.
The factory layout is essentially a 2D flow-puzzle where the player lays out equipment and conveyor belts, hooks up power cables, and attempts to make sure the right materials are processed properly, and combined at the right time in the manufacturing process. Consideration of the materials used, how they are processed, and the time it takes is required for success. However, the materials used are not lost if the player sets the assembly incorrectly.
Weapon Synthesis
The game also features a Weapon Synthesis system similar to the Dark Cloud series, albeit in a simplified form, which can be used to create powerful and effective weapons.
All weapons gain EXP from battles until they reach a level where they are "Maxed" and can be synthesized along with another similar weapon to create an even stronger one. This is accomplished by the use of "Toady", a strange frog whose exposure to the mysterious substance Rune has given him the ability to swallow weapons and regurgitate a new weapon. Toady can also analyze weapons and make suggestions for combinations, and will helpfully warn if a combination he's attempting to digest will give useless or negative results. He can only combine two weapons of the same kind.
After a weapon is "Maxed" on its experience, it continues to gain additional damage in specific "elemental" categories - fire, ice, lightning, wind, and holy. These can improve to a limited degree. When the experience and the elemental damage is at maximum, a weapon is considered "Mastered" and cannot be improved further. Improving these stats can mean a more powerful weapon is produced when Toady is used.
All playable characters possess two weapons: primary and secondary. The majority of the characters have a close-range weapon set as primary, while long-range weapons will be their secondary. However, Lilika has the opposite set up, and Kisala has no ranged attacks. Combining weapons is no different among characters.
Revelation Chart
Each character has his/her very own revelation chart. These charts are the key to leveling up the characters in the game. The chart has unlockable AP commands and upgrades that make the team stronger and allows them to gain more abilities. Each character starts out with an empty box with an outline of an item. By choosing the correct item needed, you will be able to fill the slot, thus unlocking the AP command. Once a slot is filled, one or more are opened up.
Extras
Alternate Outfits
Each character has five outfits in all, except for Kisala and Simon, who gets 6, four of which are unlocked. They offer small attribute improvements such as defense increase and elemental resistance. Some can be found in chests across the universe and others are obtained after completing special tasks. These are the only items that are carried over to a new game file.
Rare Items
There are nine rare items in the game, these items can be obtained by simply purchasing them at a certain shop on a specific planet, completing tasks or by creating them in the factory function of the game. If all nine are acquire the player will receive a fine reward.
Seven-Star Swords
These are some of the strongest and rarest weapons in the game (Excluding The Dorgencalibur and Sword Of Sin) and can only be used by Jaster. Using Toady to synthesize the original forms of the swords with other basic swords is the only way these great swords can be crafted. Only at their highest level can the true power and strength of the swords be unleashed.
Quarries
These are special and strong beasts that give large amounts of hunter points when defeated. In order to participate in these special hunts you must visit the Galaxy Corporation on the planet Zerard and purchase the information on the quarry. Once you have gained the information, travel to the planet specified and search for a "thinking circle". When you have found it, use the correct item hinted to allow the beast to appear. Once the enemy is defeated, use a teleporter to claim your reward.
The Seventh Mystery
After completing the optional dungeon, the Ghost Ship for the first time, you will have a choice to complete a short quiz game, called The Seventh Mystery. These questions will be based on various parts of the game. Once completed, the player will now be able to test themselves in a daring task.
Audio
Soundtrack
Composed by Level-5's chief composer, Tomohito Nishiura, Rogue Galaxy's OST is reminiscent of games such as Skies of Arcadia and Star Ocean. The title's ending vocal track, "Dreaming My Way Home", is composed by Nishiura and written, arranged and performed by Barbara Kessler.
A 10-track arrangement album entitled Rogue Galaxy Premium Arrange was also released in early 2006, and featured contributions from quite a few popular video game composers including Yasunori Mitsuda, Kenji Ito, Yoko Shimomura, Motoi Sakuraba and Noriyuki Iwadare.
| Soundtrack listing |
|---|
Disc One
- The Theme of Rogue Galaxy
- The Sandy Town
- The Omen
- The Crisis
- The Church
- Brave Heart
- A Hasty Man
- Hazardous Desert
- Timeless Town
- Severe Voyage
- The Jungle of Jyuraika
- Burkaqua Village
- The Ruined Castle
- A Road to the Ruined Castle
- Shadow of the Sun
- Swinging
- Planet Zerard
- Two Horns
- Sweet Memories
- The Galaxy Public Corporation
- Factory (In Editing)
- Factory (In Production)
- A Peaceful Moment
- A Hidden Insanity
- The Prison
- The Lost Gene
- Exploder1
- A Childhood Memory
- Starship Factory
- Open the World
- Varkogu's Theme
Disc Two
- The King of Legend
- A Masked Man
- Exploder2
- The Misty Town
- The Bar "Angela"
- Overcome the Sorrow
- The Cave of a Mine
- Insectron (Strategy)
- Insectron (Battle)
- The Watery Relic
- Wandering Way
- Strain
- The Labyrinth
- Le Marie Glennecia
- Enormous Threat
- The Castle in the Air
- The Battle Within
- The Mystery Forest
- History Tells
- The Holy Valley
- Blue Tears
- The Valley of the Evil Lava
- The Mother
- The Relic's Song
- The Beast Battleship
- A Wish For Tomorrow
- The Ghost Ship
- Escape to The Victory
- Dreaming My Way Home ~ Ending Theme
- Dreaming My Way Home ~ Unrecorded Version
|
Localization Improvements
Due to its success in Japan, Level-5 opted not only to localize Rogue Galaxy for North America and Europe, but to add a significant amount of new features and content, and address any complaints concerning the original version. These improvements, which feature in both the North American and European versions of the game, and the Japanese Director's Cut, include:
- The game now uses a dual-layer 8.5GB DVD to play instead of a standard 4.7GB DVD the Japanese version used. This allowed smoother, better looking graphics and additional data to be added into the game.
- A fifth planet, the water world of Alistia. While it is separate from the main story arc, the planet includes its own sidequests and special items, and helps flesh out some of the characters. However, it is only available after obtaining a key item in Chapter 8.
- Toady's Analysis of weapons, which became much simpler to use.
- The Burning Strike system. Players now collect Burning Chips during battle, which allows them to store power and execute their Burning Strike when they want to.
- The layout and visual design of several dungeons and planets was altered and improved, making them more visually appealing. Affected areas include Rosencaster Prison, the Gladius Towers, the Daytron factory, Rosa's desert town, and Rosa's Labyrinth.
- Additional content within the Insectron Tournament sidequest. Main difference is that two species of Insectrons, the Bomber Snail and the Spidan, have been added, each with 8 types of Insectrons per species.
- Each character (except Jaster) has two new types of weapons, thus increasing the number of weapons in the game by 140.
- Each character has 4 bonus costumes, except for Kisala and Simon, who each have 5. The difference in defense is small, but each character's clothing changes according to the costume they wear, even in cutscenes and in battle (except during the pre-rendered cinematics and when onboard the Dorgenark). Some sidequests even require certain outfits.
- Improved and expanded battle animations.
- Over 2000 lines of additional voiced dialogue.
- Making it easier to damage enemies, as the formula for attacking has been modified.
- Every character gets three extra abilities to their Revelation Flow, except for Lilika, who has 4. Some characters also come with abilities that only work if certain characters are in the main party with them. For example, Lilika and Kisala have an combination ability called "Star-Linked Venus", and Jupis and Steve get a combination ability called "Black Hole". Jaster has two called "Supernova", which works when he, Kisala and Zegram make up the party, and "Fated Passion", which is for Jaster and Kisala and is considered the ability born from their love for each other.
See also
External links
|
| |
|
|
