RPGs can be one of the most interesting sub-genres of video games to play. Unlike many popular video game genres where one playable character at a time may fit the norm, RPGs tend to build focus around the collective rather than the individual. In certain games,like the recently released Unicorn Overlord, a potentially flawed unit can become a monster with the right support system.
Similarly, a crossover RPG can create a context where gameplay elements that might feel out of place on their own are able to work together as a unit. From purely franchise-based crossovers, where established heroes meet one another and team up, to crossovers that focus more on implementing aspects of each game they derive, these are RPGs that make the most of the elements they attempt to cross over.
Tokyo Mirage Sessionswas an interesting crossover on a conceptual level. A meeting ground for two RPGs that were fairly different in tone, presentation, and gameplay. The result became something of an anomaly that, while making use of the source material, was fairly limited in resemblance to either game it attempted to emulate.
Most of the gameplay is lifted from theShin Megami Tenseiseries, being more of a traditional RPG by design, rather than the grid-basedFire Emblemstyle of play. Aspects more directlycarried over fromFire Emblemaresquarely located in the mirage element. Mirages are beings from another realm, many of whom are hostile towards humans and use them to harvest energy. Friendly mirages ally with members of the Japan-based Fortuna Entertainment Agency. Mirages, friend or foe, derive their names, classes, and weaponry from theFire Emblemseries.
The playable mirages include Chrom, Tharja, and Virion fromAwakening, as well as Caeda, Cain, Draug, and Navarre fromShadow Dragon.Also of note is Tiki, who appears in both games, returning as a Vocaloid-esque figure who supports the cast, and can even take to the field inEncore, the Switch remaster ofTokyo Mirage Sessions. Overall, the gameplay will satisfy fans ofShin Megami Tensei, and aspects of mirages will satisfyFire Emblemfans.
For Fans Of Any Era Of Dragon Ball
Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission
SUPER DRAGON BALL HEROES WORLD MISSION is a Tactical-Card game packed with exhilarating confrontation, deep card game strategy and a thrilling storyline taking place in the wide Dragon Ball Heroes universe!Welcome to Hero Town, an alternate reality where Dragon Ball Heroes card game is the most popular form of entertainment. Create your own avatar and follow his journey to become the world champion of Super Dragon Ball Heroes. However, when the antagonists from the virtual game world appear in Hero Town and start wreaking havoc, you have to jump into the game world and team up with famous Dragon Ball characters to restore peace in the real world.Create your own avatar and peruse more than 350 Characters and more than a thousand cards! Play in Online and local Battle then explore Card and Mission Creation Mode for even more experiences. Build your best deck and become the World Champion of Super Dragon Ball Heroes!
Once only available in Japan,Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Missionis now an internationally available digital trading card game with RPG aspects. Like any trading card game, there’s a strategy involved in filling the deck, with the right combination of units making a clear difference. Each card individually has a level of strength, which determines the maximum power a unit can attack with but also the pace at which the charge impact gauge operates.
Charge impacts determine which unit gets to attack the other. If too many powerful units attack at once, the charge impact becomes significantly harder to control,making technically weaker decks much more effective in a fight. Units can also power each other up with their skills, or in some cases, fuse alongside their counterparts to form a single, stronger unit. In addition to typical examples likeGogeta and Vegito, other more obscure fusions like Vegeks (fusion of Trunks and Vegeta), Gohanks (fusion of Gohan and Trunks) and even Gotan (fusion ofGoku and Mr. Satan) are all playable.
What helps this game differentiate itself as a crossover, is the character variation compared to other console games.OnlyDragon BallXenoverse 2comes close to matching the roster, and even after its numerous DLC updates, several more characters from bygone eras such as the originalDragon Balland evenGTare among the playable characters on theHeroesroster. There are also more contemporary characters fromSuperand newer forms and characters from theHeroescontinuity. With a dedication towards characters who aren’t even playable in most proper Dragon Ball games,World Mission, despite its relative simplicity gameplay-wise, is a worthwhile crossover RPG.
Worlds Are Crossing Once Again!Featuring Guest Characters From Nintendo!
This Monolith Soft-developed title found its roots in the Japan-only 2005 game,Namco X Capcomfor the PlayStation 2. This game consisted of two paranormal investigative agents, Reiji and Xiaomu, teaming up with Namco and Capcom heroes to fight against the evil organization Ouma, and various other Namco and Capcom villains. This game involved units, operating either as a pair (such as Reiji and Xiaomu) or independently (such as Mike Haggar fromFinal Fight)taking on foes in a grid-based arena.
A sequel surfaced years later on the 3DS,Project X Zone. While most of the gameplay remained largely unchanged, the cast added Sega characters to its already impressive roster, and the units were switched to teams of three. Pair units now operate in the Overworld map, with interchangeable solo units and adjacent pair units joining in on the fights. However, the sequel’s sequel wasperhaps the most effective crossover this series has produced. In addition to truly unique solo units likePhoenix Wright and Maya Fey fromAce Attorney, the game received a sprinkle of Nintendo characters in its roster. Chrom and Lucina fromFire Emblem: Awakeningare a pair unit, as well as Mecha-Fiora fromXenoblade Chroniclesjoining fellow Monolith Soft creation, KOS-MOS fromXenosaga.
The banter between the characters can be very entertaining, such as Kazuya Mishima and his son Jin Kazama (Tekken) trying to be an effective fighting duo,while also deeply despising each other. Kazuya’s father, Heihachi, can also be added to the mix for another heated exchange.Project X Zone 2is probably the best crossover RPG in terms of roster, and how well it allocates its units is also laudable.
Pokémon Conquestmanages to thread the needle ofbeing a solid compromise betweenNobunaga’s AmbitionandPokémonto the point where in Japan it is known literally asPokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition. In this game, numerous warriors (based off those in Japan during the Sengoku Period) use Pokémon as partners in the Arceus-shaped region of Ransei. The Hero (based on Azai Nagamasa) is to conquer the 17 Pokémon type-based Kingdoms in Ransei,in order to take down Nobunaga, who has already conquered eight of them. Every single warrior hasat least one Pokémon they can form a perfect link with, allowing for maximum power, as well as a type proficiency that generally determines their strongest partners.
Type proficiencies for leading warriors, known as warlords, are somewhat tied to history. Nobunaga is a dragon-type user, whose most effective Pokémon are weak to ice-types, the proficiency of Mitsuhide, who historically betrayed and assassinated him. Similarly, Hideyoshi, who killed Mistuhide in retaliation, is skilled at using fire-type pokémon. Despite these tacit references, the game itself is not so explicit and shies away from murder, violence outside Pokémon battles, and other harsher subjects found in history, making them fairly appropriate for the demographic who would enjoy Pokémon.
Kingdom Hearts 2
KINGDOM HEARTS II follows Sora, Donald, and Goofy on their continuing quest. Sora is looking for his lost friends Kairi and Riku, while Donald and Goofy are searching for their missing king.It has been a year since the events of KINGDOM HEARTS. Sora and friends are joined by a vibrant new cast of characters, including the king himself! Together, they will encounter countless dangers in worlds both familiar and brand-new. It seems the Heartless, or at least some form of them, still exist. A new villain also awaits, hidden by a mask. Is it someone familiar or a new opponent to be confronted? This mystery and others will be solved as the story unfolds in a grand adventure.KINGDOM HEARTS has sold over 4 million units worldwide and continues to gain popularity with gamers and fans of both DISNEY and SQUARE ENIX across the planet. KINGDOM HEARTS captured the imaginations of gamers young and old, combining classic DISNEY properties with SQUARE ENIX’s renowned style, and presenting characters and worlds brought to life by an all-star voice cast. Fans will revisit this beloved story and come to care for a new troupe of characters in KINGDOM HEARTS II.Tetsuya Nomura reprises his role as Director and Main Character Designer in KINGDOM HEARTS II, seamlessly weaving two creative worlds into a universe brimming with imagination. Nomura is also the creator of many unique characters in the FINAL FANTASY canon, including characters from FINAL FANTASY VII, VIII, X, and X-2. Joining him is Yuichi Kanemori as Battle Director. His battle system for KINGDOM HEARTS was designed for players of all skill levels, wedding a simple and intuitive interface to challenging and entertaining gameplay. Kazushige Nojima acts as Scenario Director, spinning together the many emotional twists and turns of KINGDOM HEARTS II. Nojima is also known for this work on the landmark PlayStation titles FINAL FANTASY VII and FINAL FANTASY VIII.
TheKingdom Heartsseriesneeds no introduction. The games manage to do a solid job of integrating their original characters and story with various Disney worlds, as well as other Square Enix characters.Kingdom Hearts 2manages to stand out as the premier crossover game, in part due to its gameplay, but also theextent to which reps from six differentFinal Fantasygames were integrated alongside the Disney characters.
Aside from continually recurring characters fromFinal Fantasy VIIandVIII(namely Cloud, Aerith, Yuffie, Cid, and Leon),the main standout is Auron fromFinal Fantasy X, who appears as a fighter in the Underworld Colosseum. He is also one of the game’s guest party members,being the firstFinal Fantasycharacter in this role. Additionally, Sephiroth reprises his role as a powerful hidden boss who Sora has to fight alone.
Keep in mind, that these characters all appear alongside the more prominent Disney roster (fromHercules,Mulan, andThe Lion Kingamong others.) In terms of both gameplay and the numerous elements it integrates,Kingdom Hearts 2may be thebest crossover RPGof all time.
