That's not to say this particular "take"--which is The Nichiest Podcast Ever's 15th, if you can believe that--is of the "par for the course" variety. For starters, some exciting news is shared in its first few minutes. I won't spoil that news here, but I will say that it involves the podcaster formerly known as shidoshi.
Other than that, we spend the bulk of this episode chatting about the slew of niche-y games that have been announced since we last found the time to sit down and record together--which was all the way back in May.
Specifically, we talked about: Crypt of the Necrodancer (PS4/Vita), Dragon Quest Builders (PS3/PS4/Vita) Dragon Quest XI (3DS/PS4), Final Fantasy Explorers (3DS), Hatoful Boyfriend (PS4/Vita), Odin Sphere Leifdrasir (PS3/PS4/Vita), Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus (3DS) and Zero Escape 3 (3DS/Vita).
That's just the tip of the iceberg, though, so if the list above sounds at least a smidge appealing to you, you'll probably enjoy the entirety of "Take 15."
Should you take the time to listen to the latest iteration of The Nichiest Podcast Ever, please leave a comment about your experience on radio.morningproject.com. Better yet, leave a question--so we finally can have one or two to answer when we go to record our 16th episode.
Well, we all knew it was coming, right? Or at least those of us who care about the Dragon Quest series knew it was coming--with "it" being an official announcement regarding the existence (and possibly release) of Dragon Quest XI.
As for when the announcement in question will be made, all signs point to it happening during an event that'll be hosted (and livestreamed, thankfully) on Tuesday, July 28.
It's not a sure thing that Dragon Quest XI will headline this event, by the way, so keep your expectations in check. That said, what other "big title" would prompt the powers that be at Square Enix to throw such a shindig in its honor at this point?
Anyway, assuming we actually hear something about the 11th entry in the eons-old Dragon Quest series in a couple of days, and assuming you actually give a rat's patootie about such a game, what are some of your hopes and fears for it?
Here, I'll get things started. In a twist that I'm sure will shock everyone who's visited this blog for even a few days, I'd really like it if Dragon Quest XI were released for the 3DS. I know that's extremely unlikely at this point, but I can't help but wish for it all the same.
If it isn't going to be playable on the 3DS, I'd really like it to be playable on the Vita. I'm not sure that's all that likely either--the PS3 and PS4 are where I'd put my money, if forced--but this post is supposed to be all about sharing our hopes (or fears), even bat-shit-crazy ones, so that's what I'm doing.
Now it's your turn. So, tell me: for which system--or systems--do you want Dragon Quest XI to be make? Also, feel free to pass along any other thoughts or opinions you may have about this subject, like whether or not you'd like it to continue to feature turn-based battles.
Full disclosure: I've never played Minecraft. In any form.
I can't tell you why that is, sadly. I guess it's possible I would've played the game by now if it were available for a Nintendo platform, but I have a feeling even that may not have pushed me to jump on the bandwagon.
That's not to say I have something against Minecraft or its makers or its fans or anything like that. For whatever reason, it just hasn't pinged my radar up to this point.
Anyway, as a result of all of the above, Square Enix's announcement a couple of weeks ago that it is prepping a game called Dragon Quest Builders--which seemingly combines elements of Minecraft with the Dragon Quest series--for PS3, PS4 and Vita didn't exactly send shivers up and down my spine.
I don't know that I would say I'm feeling those shivers now that I've thoroughly perused the first Dragon Quest Builders screenshots that can be seen throughout this post, but I'm definitely a lot more interested in the game than I ever thought I'd be.
The question is: will the powers that be at Square Enix actually release any version of Dragon Quest Builders in North America?
I wouldn't bet against the PS4 iteration crossing the pond, so to speak, especially since Square Enix seems so bullish on that console at the moment, but I'm not so sure about the Vita iteration--which of course is the one I'd buy if I were to do such a thing.
What do all of you think? Will Dragon Quest Builders see the light of day outside of Japan? And should that come to pass, will you buy one or more copies of it?
Before we tackle the question posed in this post's headline, let's chat a bit about what Steins;Gate actually is (besides a game with a really strange title, I mean).
For starters, it's the second entry in 5pb's and Nitroplus' long-running series of "visual novel" games.
Here's an official summary of Steins;Gate's story, in case any of you are curious: a group of teenage scientists discover the ability to alter the past by sending text messages through a modified microwave. Their experiments inevitably spiral out of control as they become entangled in a conspiracy surrounding SERN, the organization behind supposed failed time travel events, and John Titor, a mysterious Internet forum poster claiming to come from a dystopian future.
All of the games that are part of this "Space Adventure" franchise have titles with inappropriate punctuation, by the way, with the first entry being Chaos;Head, the third being Robotics;Notes and the fourth being Chaos;Child.
Each of these releases have received a multitude of ports (to everything from the Xbox 360 and the PSP to PC and mobile) as well as spin-offs and manga and anime adaptations.
Anyway, I've been aware of them for some time now, although I've got to admit that until recently I wasn't entirely sure how they were connected or even if all of them were games.
Despite that, I've had the Vita version of Steins;Gate on my lengthy "to buy" list since it was first announced due to the positive comments I've heard about the English PC port that hit North American store shelves last year.
Thankfully, it seems I won't have to wait much longer to experience this intriguing sounding and looking title (I especially love its art style, I've got to say), as copies of its North American PS3 and Vita ports can now be pre-ordered via Amazon--with Aug. 31 being their supposed shipping date.
If you'd like to pre-order the North American Vita version of Steins;Gate, you can do so here, while the PS3 version can be picked up here.
So, who's with me in buying some version of this visual adventure?
I may not have much (any) experience with Atlus' vaunted Persona series, but that has absolutely nothing to do with a lack of interest on my part.
In fact, I've been interested in this series since I first read about Persona 2: Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment back in the day.
Sadly, I can't tell you why I've yet to buy or play any of the games that have been released in English since the original, PlayStation release of Eternal Punishment back in 2000.
I can guarantee you, though, that the Persona-free portion of my life isn't going to last much longer. In part, that's because I recently bought a Vita (don't get too excited--it isn't due to be dropped on my doorstep for a week or so), and as such I'm planning to pick up a copy of Persona 4 Golden "tout de suite," as the French like to say.
Another reason my Persona virginity is likely to end soon is that I just watched the latest trailers for both Persona 4: Dancing All Night and Persona 5, and I'm now beyond stoked for both of these upcoming games.
Am I a bit bummed that I may not be able to play Persona 5 due to not owning a PS3 or PS4 (for the moment, at least)? Undoubtedly.
Persona 4 Golden and Persona 4: Dancing All Night are sure to keep my busy for some time, though, and after that, who knows? Maybe I'll get such a kick out of these Vita titles that I'll finally be willing to buy a PS3 just so I can play Persona 5 (and a few other games).
How about you? Are you, too, frothing at the mouth for either of these delicious-looking games?
Those of you who enjoy listening to shidoshi, Anne and I wax poetic on anything and everything related to niche-y games and systems may recall that I ended my last blog post about The Nichiest Podcast Ever with an announcement that we're aiming to make this sucker a monthly thing from here on out. (Or from here until whenever we quit doing it, I guess.)
Although we didn't quite meet that goal this month, we got pretty darn close. We're only a week late, after all.
Anyway, this episode, take, whatever you want to call it touches on a ton of niche-y titles, including the Brandish PSP remake that's supposedly coming to North America (via PSN) by the end of the year, Etrian Mystery Dungeon (3DS), Hatoful Boyfriend's second-quarter 2015 release for PS4 and Vita, Keita Takahashi’s (Katamari Damacy) new game, Rodea The Sky Soldier (3DS and Wii U), Suikoden II's long-awaited appearance on PSN, Theatrhythm Dragon Quest (3DS) and Yakuza 5's just-announced localization.
During the much-loved "Cheerleading" segment, Anne discusses Monster Monpiece (Vita), I blather on about a curious Japanese 3DS eShop title known as Pinch 50 and shidoshi attests to the quality of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.
Should all, or at least some, of the above sound like something you'd like to hear me, Anne and shidoshi talk about, head over to radio.morningproject.com at your convenience.
It's no secret that I love so-called Bubble Bobble clones.
As such, I guess it shouldn't be much of a surprise to hear that I'm feeling a bit gaga about the game, called Drop Wizard, showcased in the trailer below. I mean, it's got an adorable, cherubic protagonist, similarly aww-inspiring enemies and all kinds of collectible fruit--how could I not go a bit gaga over it?
And then there's the cherry on top: its gameplay looks to include elements of one of my favorite Bubble Bobble clones, Snow Bros.
The only downside I can see to Drop Wizard at the moment is that the levels shown in this trailer seem a bit sparse--although that may be due to it being an iOS game?
Actually, it being an iOS game is another downside, if I'm to be honest. That's not me ripping on iOS game, mind you; it's me whining about the fact that I can't play this particular one because I don't own an iOS device.
Developers Neutronized suggest in the comments section of the trailer above that they'd like to follow up the initial iOS release with Android, PC, PS3/4/Vita, Wii U and 3DS versions, though, so here's hoping they're able to make that dream a reality sometime soon.
At least, the PS3 and PSP games mentioned in the header above are the first things that came to mind while watching the following trailer, which is for Honeyslug's Hohokum.
The only thing I don't like about this trailer is that it doesn't leave me with much of an impression as to how Hohokum will play. (Sadly, a quick jaunt to the game's Wikipedia page doesn't help much, either. Apparently the point is to "[relax] in a space and [enjoy] the experience and the music, instead of trying to complete it to make progress," whatever that means.)
Still, I'm curious about it due to its appealing art (created by Richard Hogg) and soundtrack (provided by Ghostly International).
How about all of you? When Hohokum is released on August 12, will you buy a copy for your PS3, PS4 or Vita ?
I've got to be honest here: I'm not entirely sure what's going on in the trailer below, which is for an upcoming PS3 game called Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day. I mean, clearly it's some kind of side-scroller, but beyond that I'm a bit stumped.
What I'm not as confused about is how I feel about this awesome-looking title, which supposedly will see the light of day in North America sometime this spring.
Ranko Tsukigime's Longest Day was madeby same developers that brought the world Tokyo Jungle, by the way--which probably explains the gigantic Pomeranian that pops up partway through this trailer.
Would you believe that I completely forgot that the folks at Atlus were supposed to make an announcement related to the Persona series yesterday until I woke up, checked NeoGAF and saw the news that Persona 5 will be released for the PS3 sometime next winter?
Granted, that the company's main announcement would revolve around both Persona 5 and the PS3 enter "foregone conclusion" territory long ago, so that may have had something to do with it.
Anyway, note the placement of the word "main" before "announcement" in the sentence above. I worded things that way because, as you've probably already heard, before Atlus revealed Persona 5, it revealed two other Persona-related spin-off titles (in addition to finally sharing a summer release date for the PS3 release of Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold, aka the sequel to 2012's Persona 4 Arena.)
One of those spin-off titles will be Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, an Etrian Odyssey-esque RPG starring chibi-fied characters pulled from Persona 3 and 4. Here's a teaser trailer for the game, which will hit Japanese store shelves (both actual and virtual) in June:
As surprising--and strange--as Persona Q's reveal was for most of the Interwebs, the following reveal was even more so.
Yes, the trailer above really is for a Persona-based rhythm game, called Persona 4: Dancing All Night, that's being made by the same folks (Dingo) who brought the world the Hatsune Miku PSP titles.
Oh, and it'll be released for the Vita--again, in Japan--next autumn.
I don't know about you, but I'll certainly be picking up some version of Persona Q next year. Should I add a Vita to my collection in 2014, I'll likely also buy a copy of Dancing All Night, as it looks and sounds far too wacky and wonderful to pass up if given the chance.
Are any of you planning to purchase any of the games mentioned throughout this post? If so, which ones--and why?
As always, Aksys Games is handling the localization. The Torrance, California-based company has yet to announce a release date for Stories of the Shinsengumi, although an Aksys representative recently revealed on neogaf.com that it will be given both a digital and retail release.
My only problem with this announcement: it seems that Stories of the Shinsengumi includes yet another retelling of the story that serves as the focus of the 3DS and PSP Hakuoki titles.
Will any of you be picking up one or both versions of Stories of the Shinsengumi, or have you had enough Hakuoki for the time being?
What do you write about when you're hopped up on cold meds and, as such, can't think straight? (As if I was ever able to do that anyway.) If you're me, you write about something tried and true--you know, like Japanese box art.
Thankfully, there are quite a few stellar--or at least interesting--pieces of Japanese cover art to chat about at the moment. For example:
The art above will grace the packaging of Daigasso! Band Brothers P when it releases on Nov. 14. (I'm planning to pick up a copy of this game myself, by the way, although possibly not until after the holidays.)
The box art produced for the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster TWIN PACK (boy, is that a mouthful) is pretty snazzy, too, don't you think? Would you believe it if I told you I've never played either of the games included in this collection? Well, it's true. I've always wanted to give X-2, especially, a go, though. Maybe I'll buy the localized version of this release at some point after I acquire a Vita (or a Vita TV)?
Full disclosure: I know next to nothing about Liberation Maiden SIN. I mean, other than the fact that it's being released for the PS3, and that it likely has something to do with the similarly titled game that originally was included in Level-5's Guild01 for 3DS. Regardless, I quite like the looks of its box art.
The cover art above was produced for another game I know little about--that being Steins;Gate: Senkei Kousoku no Phenogram. I do know it's going to be released on Nov. 28, though, so hopefully I'll learn more about it between now and then. (At least enough for me to come to a conclusion as to whether or not I should long for its localization.)
That's not to say I've given up on owning a copy of this adorable looking rhythm title; on the contrary, I'm still hoping to add it to my collection, although that may not happen for a few months now.
Anyway, with all that out of the way, what do you lads and lasses think of the above examples of Japanese box art? Do you love some of them? Hate some of them? Feel absolutely nothing about any of them? Let me know in the comments section below.
Before I go into what Puyo Puyo Tetris is (or what little I know of it, at least) and why I want it so badly, let me say that the next six months are going to be terrible both for my wallet and my marriage.
That's because I'm planning to pick up a ton of 3DS games, both North American and Japanese, within that time frame, such as Bravely Default, Daigasso! Band Bros. P, Game Center CX 3, Hometown Story, Pokemon X/Y and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call--and that doesn't even include possibles/probables like Mario & Luigi: Dream Team and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.
As of yesterday, Puyo Puyo Tetris has been added to that lengthy list despite the fact that I don't know much about it yet. What I do know about it sounds pretty interesting, though--such as that its "Classic" mode allows gamers to choose either Puyo Puyo or Tetris, while its "Swap" mode forces them to switch between the two every few seconds (or is it minutes?).
Take the info above with a grain of salt, by the way. All that's known about the title so far comes from folks on various sites (NeoGAF, among them) who have taken a stab at translating the Japanese text included in these Famitsu magazine scans and found on famitsu.com.
Of course, how much do we really need to know about a game like this? It's Puyo Puyo and Tetris--it's going to be awesome regardless of how the folks at Sega toss them together. So, consider me on board--even though I'm not a big fan of the its generically adorable art style. (I much prefer the art style employed in the series' earliest offerings.)
Are any of you also pining for a little Puyo Puyo Tetris action in your lives? If so, which version would you most like to play--the one planned for the 3DS, the PS3 (shown above), the Vita or the Wii U?
A few weeks ago, the folks at Nippon Ichi opened the proverbial floodgates related to its upcoming (it'll be released in Japan on Sept. 26) PS3-based ARPG, Arcadias no Ikusa Hime.
Shortly after it released a bunch of stunning screenshots of this Odin Sphere-esque game, in fact, it also unveiled its beautiful box art:
Call me crazy, but the first thing that came to mind after I stumbled across the box art above was the imagery that will front Japanese copies of another coming-soon-to-a-store-near-you PS3 title, Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
Granted, this kind of "arrange all of the game's characters in a circle" design is hardly new--see the cover art produced for Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, among others--but I was still a bit shocked when I realized just how similar the two examples above are to one another.
Late last week, I tweeted the following: "Assuming the PS3 gets a price drop later this year, I think I'm going to pick one up just so I can play Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn."
Although the main reason I want to buy A Realm Reborn (along with a PS3, of course) is its appealing looking gameplay, I'd be lying if I said its box art didn't have a little something to do with it, too.
The question is: which piece of Final Fantasy XIV box art am I talk about--the Japanese, North American or European one?
I'll answer that at the end of this post. In the meantime, let's take a gander at box arts in question.
For starters, here's the Japanese release's cover image:
And here's the illustration that's supposed to grace covers of the North American iteration:
As for the European version of Final Fantasy XIV, here's its cover art:
Last, but not least, there's the following, which will appear on the outer packaging of the Collector's Edition of the title that'll be sold in Europe and North America:
As for which one I like best, well, I can't help but go with the Collector's Edition. It has to be said, though, that I like the (rather busy) Japanese cover art nearly as much.
Which piece of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn box art is your favorite? Assuming you like any of them, of course...
Those of you who followed my lead and answered in the affirmative should be happy to hear that the fine folks at Namco Bandai just announced--well, a few days ago--that they're prepping a digital compilation that'll be called Pac-Man Museum.
Which titles will this collection include? According to this press release, it'll feature "classic Pac-Man titles as well as newer arcade releases, allowing gamers to play through the evolution of Pac-Man from his humble beginnings from 1980 through 2008’s Pac-Man Championship Edition and 2010’s Pac-Man Battle Royale."
Unfortunately, all of us 3DS, PC, PS3, Wii U and/or Xbox 360 owners are going to have to wait until sometime this winter to get our four-player Pac-Man Battle Royale on.
In the meantime, PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 owners with copies of Pac-Man: Championship Edition DX can look forward to downloading a free update this summer that'll add a slew of new content--including "additional DLC mazes, music and graphics including classic Dig Dug and Rally-X sprites"--to this day-go digital title.
Just in case any of you care what I think about what's been announced and shown (so far) for Sony's and Microsoft's systems at E3 2013, here's another stream-of-consiousness post.
Xbox One price--$499. Yikes. It's going to be very interesting to see how the masses react to this price after the holidays, especially with the PS4 being available for $100 less.
PS4 price--$399. Pretty surprising, actually. Maybe even stellar. Of course, it seems online multiplayer's no longer free. And the Kinect-like camera won't be included with the system. (It'll be sold separately for $59.99.) Still, that price should do a lot to sell the system in North America.
"PS4 Supports Used Games"--Speaks for itself, really.
PS4 system design--Yuck. But does it look better or worse than the Xbox One (above)? I'm not sure. Strangely, I'm leaning toward the Xbox One having the more appealing design at the moment--although that isn't saying much, if you ask me. (The PS4 can be seen below, by the way--just in case some of you haven't seen it yet.)
Puppeteer--This may only be a PS3 game, but I'm completely gaga over it. Of course, it reminds me of Treasure's Dynamite Headdy, so I guess I shouldn't find that too surprising.
Beyond: Two Souls--Can you say "uncanny valley"? I mean, I appreciate what developer Quantic Dream is going for with this PS3 title, but I can't say it appeals to me. Oh, well, hopefully it'll appeal to plenty of others.
Gran Turismo 6--Looks very good. Of course, haven't all the Gran Turismo games looked good? Regardless, it's not my cup of tea. (Seriously, F-Zero and Mario Kart are the only "racers" I play.)
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn--I'm far more interested in this Final Fantasy release than I am in Final Fantasy XV (aka the re-branded Final Fantasy Versus XIII). As such, I'll be paying close attention to both the PS3 and PS4 iterations of this MMORPG--especially if the North American versions retain the beautiful cover art of their Japanese counterparts.
Kingdom Hearts III--Although I'm happy fans of this series finally have a mainline sequel to look forward to after years and years of portable spin-offs, I can't say it interests me at all.
The Order: 1886--Love the setting. I'd like to have seen some actual gameplay, though. So many of these previews look the same--or at least leave viewers like me asking the same kinds of questions--when all that's shown are some cinemas.
The Dark Sorcerer--See above.
Don't Starve--See below. (Also see Ray's the Dead, another indie release being prepped for PS4.)
Transistor--No joke, this is more "my thing," in terms of both graphics and gameplay, than any of the other in-the-works games that have been shown for PS4 so far.
Where art thou, Vita?--Seriously, Sony knows it still has a portable to sell, right? Where are the games (other than Tearaway, I mean)? Where's the price drop? I guess they're wherever the brass at Sony packed away their interest in this system.
So, that's what I think of what Sony and Microsoft and associated third-parties have announced and shown at E3 2013 thus far. What do all of you think?
I may not own a PS3 (yet), but that doesn't mean I lack interest in Sony's third console. On the contrary, I have quite a bit of interest in both it and its catalog of games--especially when the latter sport the kind of delicious cover illustrations that can be seen below.
The following example is for Gust's Atelier Escha & Logy, of course. The game, which is the 15th entry in the company's long-running Atelier series, will hit store shelves in Japan on June 27.
No joke: I'd very likely pick up a copy of this game without knowing a thing about it if it were released in North America with the exact same cover art.
The box art below, on the other hand, was produced for the Japanese retail release of Capcom's Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara (known there as Dungeons & Dragons: Mystara Hero Military History), which is due out on Aug. 22.
Although I don't believe I've ever played either of the arcade classics--1993's Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom and 1996's Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara--that will be included in this compilation, I'd strongly consider giving them a go if Chronicles of Mystara were given a physical release in my neck of the woods.
Last, but not least, we have the Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn's slightly-cluttered-yet-still-brilliant box art. OK, so it's more than slightly cluttered. Still, I love it.
Earlier this month, the folks at Sony Japan Studio revealed that they're working on a new title: Panopticon.
A two-and-a-half-minute teaser trailer for the gamewas released this morning and can be seen below.
What kind of game is it, and which system is it being made for? I have no idea, sadly--although it seems that information may be shared (likely on the game's official site) on May 21.
Until then, all we have are guesses and speculation. Personally, I have a feeling Panopticon is yetanother Monster Hunter cloneand, as such, will grace the still-struggling Vita, but I hope I'm wrong.
(I'm OK with it potentially being a Vita game, by the way. The portion of the prognostication above that concerns me is the part about it possibly being a Monster Hunter clone. I'd much rather it be an RPG or even a straight-up action title.)
What do all of you think of the teaser above? Did it catch your attention, too, or put you to sleep?
Well, that's a game I don't think anyone saw coming--other than those who know folks who are working on it, of course.
Regardless, it's a game I will welcome with open arms when it's released sometime this summer.
The question is: which version of Capcom-and-WayForward-developed DuckTales: Remastered (a trailer of which can be seen below) will I buy?
My initial reaction to this morning's announcement was to wait until I own a Wii U to pick it up, but now I'm wondering if I should bite the bullet and purchase it on day one via XBLA instead. (Don't fret PS3 owners, it's also coming to PSN.)
Are any of you similarly excited about the prospect of playing a re-jiggered--with HD graphics, extra levels and more--update of Capcom's classic NES title, DuckTales?
Editor's note: as stoked as I am about this game's existence, a part of me wishes it were a sprite-based sequel à la Mega Man 9 and 10. Also, I really wish Capcom would bring it to the 3DS eShop as well.
Yep, I'm gay. And I like video games. Old Japanese games and systems are my favorites--the Famicom, PC Engine, original PlayStation and GameBoy, especially--but I like plenty of newer ones, too. If you have similar interests and you don't mind perusing a blog that's got the word gay in its name and is practically slathered in pink, you'll probably enjoy your time here. I'm also on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter, by the way. Oh, and my Switch Friend Code = SW-5852-5514-6897.
