Chi powered samurais from europe



What is it with western (read: european and north american) developers trying to make Role Playing Games that take place in asia? Or, to be more precise, how much arrogance does it take to assume you can craft an immersive tale in a culture you barely have set foot into, let alone grown up in?

Once again, brave Columbusses (Columbi?) have ventured forth, this time hailing from the island of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. The goal of their perilous journey: Key of Heaven on the PSP.

While it is of course utterly unfair and unjustified to comment on something that is not finished, more-so without having played it, it still remains dubious if a game that bundles Samurais, Chi Power and a hero named 'Shinbu' (which probably means Real Sausage in japanese) will succeed in giving the impression of an medieval tale set in asia. A made-up asia, in this case.

I wonder why we don't take our own rich cultural heritage of knights, magi and crafted toledo steel and create an RPG based on our own myths. There are plenty.

Now let me get back to listening to my Last Ninja remix...

Posted: Sun - March 12, 2006 at 08:54 AM         |

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