Finally, it has come to an end. And what a majestic end it was for Legend of Heroes. Once again, Nihon Falcom pulls up an intricate tale of friendship much deeper than the depths of the ocean. As their last hurrah for the Legend of Heroes series, this was more than apt to say goodbye to one of the best RPGs out there.

The heart of Legend of Heroes is the story. The story of the Song of the Ocean revolves around two friends, Forte and Una, who share a passion for music. When Forte's grandfather, McBain, receives a music book with a power to save the world, the two went on the quest to solve the mystery hidden in the book's Water Melody. Hence, this starts a soulful trail for the lost notes.

According to Siliconera, the game boasts lovely visuals that remind you of the 16bit games of yesteryear. It even has anime FMVs that heightens your game experience. The music ties the player with the game and the visuals that you can find yourself lost in the songs. One can say that it leaves a soothing feeling, as though you were close to an ocean yourself.

In terms of gameplay, the battle system is slightly different compared to other Legend of Heroes series as you can change your characters in the middle of gameplay. More so, as one levels up and gains new spells, he could only use it granted that he equips the necessary stone for it.

But despite the lovely new things that come with the game, there are some things that just doesn't work. The battles are still long and 'useless', as said by Siliconera. There were also some grammatical errors in the game. But these things won't deter a happy gamer who has now sunk into the bottom of Song of the Ocean's reverie. In the end, it's all about the story, right? And what a great story this game is.

Gamers will be seeing quite a few games hit retail shelves for the week of January 22. There's a bit of strategy here, with Europa Universalis III for the PC, as well as the swashbuckling action of Sid Meier's Pirates! for the Sony PSP. Anime fans also get a little something courtesy of the Nintendo DS title InuYasha: Secret of the Divine Jewel. Those looking for something eerie and noir-ish should get both and more from Hotel Dusk: Room 215, and those who want a little madness in their gaming lives should definitely check out Sam and Max 3: The Mole, the Mob, and the Meatball.

Here's a list of the releases, sorted by date:

January 22

• Alien Shooter: Vengeance (PC)
• Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (DS)
• Sid Meier's Pirates (PSP)

January 23

• Europa Universalis III (PC)
• InuYasha: Secret of the Divine Jewel (DS)
• The Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean (PSP)

January 25

• Sam & Max Episode 3: The Mole, the Mob and the Meatball (PC)

We're not really religious or blaspheming, but we'd like to think that the gods sang us into being. Songs, after all, are universal. One doesn't need to understand the lyrics all the time. Sometimes, the rhythm is all that matters. You can sense the message that any particular song is trying to convey just by listening to its musicality.

Okay, enough about our random ramblings and get on with this one already. Actually, we got into that some poetic fit because of upcoming game The Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean. This installment lets players be in the shoes of young musician Forte whose quest requires the discovery a forgotten song. The game also boasts of different characters, a unique pet system as well as over 50 hours of gameplay.

If you want to know how this game looks and feels like, we've attached a video clip of its dungeon gameplay. Song of the Ocean will be released by Namco Bandai on January 23 so expect more updates about this one as that date approaches. Enjoy!

 

So. Had your fill of Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch and A Tear of Vermilion, eh? Do you find yourself wishing you could have Legend of Heroes on your beloved handhelds once again? Well Namco Bandai must have an uncanny sense of telepathy because they have just announced that The Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean will be serenading your PSP's soon!

Yeah-huh! That's right, the third title off the Legend of Heroes series is currently under development and will be hitting shelves next year. Set in the Heroes' universe, Song of the Ocean will let users take on the role of Forte, a young musician from Numeros Empire as he sets out to discover a long-forgotten song of enormous power left behind by a legendary composer. Join Forte and his group of wandering musicians as they go on lyrical adventures that span over 50 hours of gameplay.

With a hundred characters and a unique pet system, this RPG will surely let fans of the series sing their hearts out in joy as they encounter harmonious havoc (say whaaat?) in search of that all-powerful song. The Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean is slated for release January 2007.