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Time to take a little bit of a trip down memory lane. Specifically, I'm just going to rattle off an uncomprehensive list of RPGs that Sega released on its consoles - back when Sega had consoles. Phantasy Star I through IV, Shining Force 1, 2, CD, and a part of III (this incomplete localization being a disgrace for Saturn owners), Shining in the Darkness, Shining the Holy Ark, Skies of Arcadia, Panzer Dragoon Saga, Dark Wizard, and Guardian Heroes. I'm clearly not including everything (Sword of Vermilion, among others, also was released by Sega), but most of those games engender positive feelings in the minds of those who are familiar with them. The company was a long way from perfect, but it once released quite a few RPGs outside of Japan.
Since the death of the Dreamcast, what RPGs has Sega been known for? Phantasy Star Online started on the Dreamcast, but it's really gotten big since that console died, and is most definitely a product that Sega has been pumping in recent years. Skies of Arcadia: Legends was not a new game when it appeared on the GameCube, though that did not detract from its quality. Shining Soul, Shining Force Neo, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (though it seems liked in some quarters, it didn't set the RPG world on fire with love), and Alien Syndrome come to mind for other games Sega has localized semi-recently. These games have their charm, but in a direct comparison with the RPG output of Sega from years ago, they just don't hold up.
There is of course a game I didn't mention that has attracted enormous praise, and I can only hope Valkyria Chronicles was the signal for Sega to try reclaiming its once-great status for RPGamers. Infinite Space and Sands of Destruction are picking up strong word-of-mouth, and Valkyria Chronicles 2 is crossing the Pacific. But the incredibly lengthy localization times for the two DS games are confounding: translation quality wasn't always very good, but the Sega of years ago brought RPGs to English speakers faster than Sega can now be counted on for. If Sega of America really is intent on reclaiming its status as RPG-friendly, paying attention to attention-getting JRPGs like 7th Dragon and Shining Force Feather is a good idea. Localizing them in a timely manner is also highly recommended. Sega can either settle back into its post-Dreamcast pattern of forgetting the special qualities that brought it fans, or it can make a serious effort to change course. I can only hope that the company is remembering what once made it special, and tries to bring that back.
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