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Arland Atelier Trilogy hits European PS3s in March
If you cleared Tales of Xillia 2 months ago and need another JRPG grind to tide you over until Persona 5, consider what you may have missed in years past – NIS America has announced plans to release The Arland Atelier Trilogy in Europe on March 6, 2015, with the trilogy bundling a compilation of adventures from developer Gust that debuted on the PS3 between 2010 to 2012. The single-disc, yet-to-be-priced collection will include Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland, Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland and Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland, which share an overarching timeline and cast members. We've reached out to NIS America to ask whether The Arland Atelier Trilogy will also eventually reach North America and will update this post accordingly. [Image: NIS America]
Watch Disgaea 5's anime opening take on an army
There's something very apt about a half-operatic, half-rock ballad for a Disgaea opening, and for me this one is a decent track too. Also, is that Psyduck in demon form at 0:54? So anyway, Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance hits Japan on March 26 and the West sometime this fall. [Image: Nippon Ichi Software]
Get a load of Disgaea 5's new trailer
Nippon Ichi recently revealed a new six-minute trailer for Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance, flashing snippets of the RPG's gameplay. The PS4-exclusive game will launch on March 26, 2015 in Japan and will reach North America later in 2015.
Disgaea 5 wings West in 2015
The now-dubbed Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance is coming to North America and Europe in fall 2015, NIS America announced this week. The newly revealed subtitle is tied to the game's Alliance Attack battle system. According to NIS, it lets main characters - and main characters only - use special moves when their "relationships are appropriately aligned." NIS' announcement also reveals the PS4 tactics RPG features more than 40 races and jobs, as well as a new stats-boosting system called Revenge Mode. It's just a hunch, but we're guessing that's a shot of it above. As NIS puts it, "Revenge Mode empowers your characters with bonus stats when they've become fed up of their allies being beat on."
The best game about depression stars a homicidal toy bear
Whether it's because you can't afford to give the gifts that society says mark you as a good person, or because you're missing someone who used to be at your celebrations, or even just because it's cold and dark, depression can hit particularly hard during the holidays. One of the biggest problems with depression is trying to explain it to people who've only ever experienced the transitory kind that everyone faces at some point in their lives - the kind that hits after a breakup or a loss. They tend to think that depression means you're sad and just need a good cheering up. If you're suffering this holiday season, rather than suffer through another round of suggestions that you "shake it off," consider handing your well-intentioned friends a Vita and copies of Danganronpa:Trigger Happy Havoc and Danganronpa: Goodbye Despair and let Monokuma explain how depression really feels. I'm as surprised as you are that a game starring a homicidal mechanical bear would be a good instructor on the nuances of mental health, and I rather doubt it's what the developers had in mind, but Danganronpa does a surprisingly elegant job of conveying what it can be like to live with depression. In case you're not familiar with the games, they involve a group of exceptional students who are kidnapped, have their memories erased, and are forced to kill each other if they ever want to return home. Admittedly, it's a situation that just about anyone would find depressing - murder someone or never see your loved ones ever again - but the most important part is the villain of the games, known as the Ultimate Despair. Every one of the students is the Ultimate Something-or-other - baseball player, programmer, swimmer, traditional dancer - but the villain's speciality is making people feel despair on such a deep level that they lose all hope. In that state, they become part of the Ultimate Despair's terrorist network because, really, why not? When you don't see the point in anything, does it really matter if you destroy entire cities or kill yourself? Nothing's ever going to get better anyway. It's an extreme depiction that serves the over-the-top nature of the game, but it's a pretty apt description of what it's like to live with depression.
Disgaea team lets loose Firefly Diary in February 2015
The Firefly Diary, a new game from the developers behind Disgaea and The Guided Fate Paradox, is due out on Vita on February 24, 2015, published by NIS America. The standard edition is $20, while a limited edition runs $30 with pre-orders directly from NIS America. The limited edition includes the game, a collector's box, softcover artbook and the original soundtrack CD. The Firefly Diary is a dreamy, fairytale-style platformer about a young girl named Mion and her two fireflies, one that thrives on darkness and the other one full of light. Players shift between the two fireflies to guide Mion among beast-filled ruins, uncovering her lost memories along the way. See the second official trailer for The Firefly Diary below. [Image: NIS America]
The demons of Disgaea 5 take on Japan in March 2015
Disgaea 5 already has a March 26, 2015 release date for Japan, just weeks after it debuted at Sony's pre-Tokyo Game Show conference. The PS4 tactical RPG is coming in both download and retail forms, and as Gematsu notes, a demo is headed for the PlayStation Store in Japan sometime next month. For gameplay footage, check out the new trailer below the break. The next entry in Nippon Ichi Software's off-the-wall mix of demonic heroes, turn-based tactics and volatile penguins is exclusive to PS4, and according to reports NIS wanted to make a game that took advantage of Sony's new hardware. For example, NIS says Disgaea 5 can feature 100 characters on the screen at the same time, compared to just 10 on a PS3 version.
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Review: Magically malicious
A game with new ideas, even bizarre ones, can be a refreshing palate cleanser after playing so many shooters, platformers, and RPGs, and Vita exclusive Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc certainly had new ideas. Combining brain-tickling courtroom drama with finger-breaking twitch mechanics, it was an odd game whose story ultimately won out over its discordant mechanics. Its sequel, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, doesn't stray terribly far from the original, except to add more weird mechanics apparently just for the sake of being weirder. Its well-crafted story still makes it worth pursuing all the way to the end, but it tries its hardest to annoy you with aggravating game styles before you get there.
Tactical RPG Natural Doctrine misses turn, out a week later
Natural Doctrine rolls stateside onto PS4, PS3 and Vita on September 30, after NIS America pushed back the game one week for a second time. Kadokawa's fantasy RPG was originally due on September 16 before its first marginal delay. In fairness, Natural Doctrine's far from the only game to be fidgety this holiday season, with the games industry a bit like a teenager wearing in a new, uncomfortable pair of jeans, endlessly twisting, turning and re-adjusting itself as it tries to settle into a release schedule. As for the game itself, Natural Doctrine stars a party of explorers who go on a mining trip, only to uncover all manner of monsters lurking underground. As a recent trailer shows, it looks to offer a fairly old-school tactics-RPG experience, with players able to co-ordinate attacks from a top-down perspective while 3D action takes places on the ground. Check out the vid below the break.
Fairy Fencer F, Natural Doctrine release dates trade turns
Turn-based RPGs Fairy Fencer F and Natrual Doctrine have swapped places in NIS America's battle party North American release lineup, leaving fans with a pair of familiar release dates to anticipate. Fairy Fencer F will now arrive on September 16, one week earlier than its initially-planned September 23 release. That date is now occupied by Natural Doctrine. Gematsu is reporting European release dates for both games have also changed, with Fairy Fencer F now due to arrive on September 19 and Natural Doctrine trailing on September 26. European retail listings have yet to reflect this change however, including the limited edition of Fairy Fencer F in NIS America's European store, which is dated for September 26 at the time of this writing. [Image: NIS America]
NIS America to pay agreed pledge for GaymerX2 [Update]
Just yesterday, NIS America stepped away from its $3,000 pledge to cover costs for the GaymerX2 convention held in San Francisco on July 11 through July 13. According to the LGBTQ-focused event's founder Matt Conn, the situation between both parties is currently being resolved, and will result in NIS America agreeing to pay the full amount it promised to the event holders. "After talking with their team, [NIS America] have apologized for the misunderstanding and offered to make right and pay the full amount that they agreed upon," Conn told Joystiq via email. "We have apologized for escalating it to a public level so quickly and we are pleased with how quickly they offered to resolve the situation and make right on their promise, and we harbor no ill will towards them."
GaymerX in dire straits after NIS America pulls pledge [update]
An email sent late on Monday afternoon is incurring a dour situation for the organizers of GaymerX2, an LGBTQ-focused and inclusive convention held in San Francisco on July 11-13. The marketing coordinator for niche publisher and developer NIS America reached out to event founder, Matt Conn, to apologize and renege on a pledge of $3000.
Strategy RPG Tears to Tiara 2 headed to US, Europe this fall
PS3 owners can add one more role-playing game to their ever-growing watch list: strategy RPG Tears to Tiara 2: Heir of the Overlord will serve as its series' Western debut on October 14 in North America, with a November 11 release planned for Europe. Atlus will be publishing Tears to Tiara 2 in the US for $39.99, but a price for NIS America's European version is still to be determined. Hamilcar Barca leads Tears to Tiara 2 as a man indentured to the Divine Empire, but when the Empire burns an innocent girl at the stake, Hamilcar unhinges, channeling the might of the berserker. With a new-found understanding for his power and the support of a goddess, Hamilcar moves to free his people from the corrupt Empire. Thankfully, it doesn't sound like Hamilcar will have to take on an entire empire by himself – Tears to Tiara 2 will have more than 15 main characters, with the game's overarching story progressing in a "visual novel style," according to a press release. You'll likely be reading your way through most conversations as well, as Tears to Tiara 2 will retain its Japanese dialogue and offer English subtitles for its "80-hour" adventure. It only takes 80 hours to overthrow an empire? Jeez, channeling the power of an ancient Norse warrior sure seems efficient. [Image: Atlus]
Undead & Undressed strips down vampires in Europe this fall
Europeans get to stumble over orders of Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed when it arrives in the region courtesy of NIS America. As for the when, the press release we received this morning only specified an autumn window, but one sent earlier noted a release date of October 10. Either way, Europe will get its share of strippable zombies soon enough. Last we heard, XSEED plans to get Undead & Undressed in North America later this summer. Released as Akiba's Trip 2 in Japan, Acquire's action-RPG is set in Tokyo's otaku central, Akihabara. Your mission is to take down a group of vampiric Synthisters that are terrorizing the area by shining sunlight directly onto their skin. That's your excuse reason for stripping them down, hence the game's name - by the way, there are both male and female Synthisters in the game, as a NSFW trailer of the Japanese version shows. The Western E3 trailer below the break is equally NSFW.
Danganronpa 2 trailer is 219 seconds of madness
A new trailer for Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair claims to offer a "simple explanation" of the class trial. And it's true, we can't say it doesn't explain the game's Survivor-like twist on its Ace Attorney-esque gameplay. That said, it's also utterly bonkers. Suffice to say, here's a warning if you don't like talking rabbits getting thumped by talking bears, or NSFW content (Teruteru, man, what's up with you?) Anyway, Spike Chunsoft's Vita game hits North America on September 2 and Europe three days later. If you'd prefer something a bit lighter, below the break there's another NIS America trailer for Vita platformer The Firefly Diary, which is due on PSN this fall.
NIS America's new imports include Guided Fate Paradox sequel
Localization specialist NIS America announced three new games for North America and Europe over the weekend, kicking off with The Firefly Diary this fall on Vita. Nippon Ichi's puzzle-platformer will be followed in 2015 by Guided Fate Paradox sequel The Awakened Fate Ultimatum and Vita RPG Criminal Girls: Invite Only. The Firefly Diary is heavily based around the Vita's touch capabilities. As Gematsu reports, you control a pair of firefly-like fairies with the task of guiding a young girl through perilous ruins. One of the fairies is based in a light world, the other a shadow world, and you switch between the two to solve the game's puzzles. Here's where the touch gameplay come in: The light fairy is controlled by the front touchscreen, while the rear touch pad moves the shadow fairy around (Push Square notes you can tie both fairies to the touchscreen if you prefer.) If you fancy a gander at The Firefly Diary, check out the trailer below the break.
NIS America opens Euro store, lists Persona Q for November
NIS America opened a new online store for European customers this week, offering limited editions previously restricted to its American side. However, that means the American store is no longer shipping to customers in PAL regions such as Europe. Also, the European store's prices look steep in comparison. The limited edition version of Disgaea 4 is $50 plus shipping on the US side, while on the Euro store it's £50 ($85) plus £5 shipping for UK ($8.50), or £15 for most other countries ($26). That aside, a bit more browsing reveals a listing for Persona Q pinning it to hit Europe on November 28. NIS America''s confirmed it's bringing the 3DS Etrian Odyssey-style RPG to Europe, but neither it nor North American publisher Atlus have announced a release date. However, late November looks a reasonable bet, given Amazon and GameStop have it down to arrive stateside on November 25. [Image: NIS America]
Have faith Natural Doctrine will be out this September
Tactical RPG Natural Doctrine arrives in North America on September 16, before coming to Europe three days later on September 19. Kadokawa's PS4, PS3 and Vita game is now up for pre-order on the NIS America store, with the publisher's traditional array of limited edition extras available for each platform. Regular copies of the game are $60, $50 and $40 on PS4, PS3 and Vita respectively, with limited editions upping that by $20 on each platform. For that, your bonuses include an art book, poster and - oh - an "explorer's bag." A Vita tactics-RPG and a backpack is all you really need for a half-decent ramble, right? Perhaps some food and water too, at a stretch. As for Natural Doctrine itself, NIS America promises challenging turn-based combat across multiple characters in battle, while players can cross-play and cross-save across all three systems. Meanwhile, the story focuses on a group of explorers - ah, that explains the bag - who head underground to mine a rare resource. Things take a turn for the worse when they run into monsters, but luckily they have fantastic shampoo advert hair on their side. [Image: NIS America]
Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory sequel coming to PS4
A new entry in Compile Heart and NIS America's game industry-parodying JRPG series is coming to the PlayStation 4, Gematsu reports. Hyperdimension Neptunia VII -- that's "Vee Two" -- is a direct follow-up to last year's Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory on the PlayStation 3. Storylines in the Hyperdimension Neptunia series parody the real-world video game industry, with playable characters representing console manufacturers and publishers in an ongoing "console war." No further details regarding the upcoming sequel have been revealed beyond the subtitled video above, which manages to be both cryptic and deeply confusing. A North American release has not been announced. [Video: Compile Heart]
Goodbye despair, hello class of Danganronpa 2
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair arrives hot on the blood-soaked heels of the original, and the Vita game is locked in for North America on September 2 and Europe three days later. Pre-orders for the limited edition are now open stateside, with the $60 box chucking in a soundtrack, art book, sunglasses and other Dangdan-doodads. Like the first entry released in February, Danganronpa 2 pits you and your classmates in a twisted game orchestrated by a ever-so-slightly unstable bear called Monokuma. The Danganronpa series adds a Ace Attorney-like trial system to Spike Chunsoft's murderous formula, albeit one that's just as chaotic in its own way. Danganronpa 2 takes the series away from Hope's Peak Academy to Jabberwock Island, an exotic former tourist resort and the new home of a school trip gone wrong. Maybe the first mistake was inviting Monokuma along, even if he did bring a ukulele. [Image: NIS America]
