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Xenoblade Chronicles gets European special edition, very European localization
While American fans are doing their best to fume productively about the localization prospects for Xenoblade Chronicles, Nintendo continues working on the European localization. And Nintendo is really hammering home the fact that it's a European localization. A video clip from a recently posted Iwata Asks interview reveals a surprising amount of Britishness in the voice acting. See the clip in question after the break, and find lots more in the interview itself. An announcement on Nintendo of Germany's site reveals that not only is Xenoblade being released in Europe on September 2, it's being released in a limited edition with a red Classic Controller Pro. That's like twisting the Xenoblade in the backs of already irritated Americans.
Xenoblade dev Monolithsoft recruiting for Wii U game
Nintendo-owned developer Monolithsoft (who made the Xenosaga and Baten Kaitos games before it was purchased) announced today that it's looking to hire new staff to work on its latest project -- a Wii U game. The studio is looking for programmers, planners, CG artists, 2D designers, effects designers, and more. In other words, it's looking to build its roster significantly for this project, which suggests a big one. Of course, the last three games Monolith made for Nintendo were Xenoblade, Disaster: Day of Crisis, and Soma Bringer, so we're already pessimistic about the American localization prospects of this unreleased, undeveloped game.
Monolith Soft's Wii RPG Xenoblade localized this year -- for Europe
Nintendo has just revealed a European localization for Monolith Soft's Wii RPG Xenoblade. A UK teaser site has just gone up for what is now called Xenoblade Chronicles, featuring (strangely) an untranslated trailer. What that trailer lacks in English text, it makes up for in imagery of impressive locales and big monsters, reminding us why we've been eager to hear news about this game for so long. A press release was posted on the Nintendo Europe sites, and then removed, but not before NeoGAF user Vinterbird could capture it. According to the release, the game will be out in Europe this year, and will offer both English and Japanese voice options. We hope this European announcement is the harbinger of a wider worldwide release, and that this isn't another Disaster: Day of Crisis situation in which an anticipated Monolith Soft-developed Wii game goes to Europe and stays there.
Catch up on Xenoblade with new trailer
In case you haven't been following Monolith Soft's Wii RPG Xenoblade, the strikingly comprehensive NIntendo Channel trailer after the break should help get you up to speed before E3, during which we suspect the game will appear again. Despite the language barrier, you'll be able to see the setting (a world built on the bodies of two dead giants), the battle system (action-RPG style with AI partners and player-controlled special moves called "Arts"), and a bit about equipment (that can be seen on characters in both gameplay and cutscenes). Also, you can't miss the Xenoblade itself, a weird-looking sword thing that is capable of cutting mechs in half ... and also seeing the future. For even more Xenoblade info, check the official site (via Andriasang), which details an achievement-like system, as well as a system through which you develop bonds with other characters.
See the future in Xenoblade's battles
Monolith Soft's Xenoblade remains something of a mystery, even one month before its Japanese release. A new trailer (after the break) and new screens, analyzed by IGN, shed some light on the way battles play out in the RPG -- and it's nothing like Xenogears or Xenosaga. Monolith took the Final Fantasy XII/White Knight Chronicles route with this game: real-time movement combined with time-constrained attacks. Your party is controlled by AI, as are your character's basic attacks. You affect the flow of battle by using your character's special attacks. You can also use the Monado sword's "vision" ability to see a few seconds into the future and anticipate enemy attacks. Xenoblade will be released in Japan on June 10. Prospects for a North American release are unclear. [Via N-Europe]
Xenoblade arrives in Japan this June
We know very little about Monolith Soft's upcoming RPG Xenoblade. It takes place in a world built on top of dead giants, and it involves a battle between humans and robots. One of the few things we now know is the Japanese release date, June 10. The close proximity of the release date makes the mysterious nature of the game all the more notable! Clearing up almost nothing at all is a series of two trailers released by Nintendo and available on the site (and after the break). The first trailer shows the dramatic battle between the two land-mass-size giants, and the second shows ... what appears to be the main characters just hanging out? [Via Siliconera]
New Xenoblade trailer has big swords, big battles
Xenoblade is a game that's had a very confused past -- it was originally called Monado: Beginning of the World, and then was rumored to have something to do with the old Xenosaga series (though apparently that's not true, even if both games were created by Monolith Soft). Nintendo's not even sure if it'll see release in the United States, and, unfortunately, this Japanese trailer (posted on Nintendo Japan's YouTube account and after the break on this post) doesn't do much to clear up any questions. But it does have a couple of gigantic somethings (robots? aliens? xenomorphs?) dueling it out, as well as some screaming dude with lasers and a pretty impressive battle scene full of hacking and slashing and all of the other fun things you can do with a great big blade. A big Xenoblade, in fact. We still don't quite know what this game is or how it might be released. But we do kind of want it just a little bit more. [Via Siliconera]
Nintendo's 'The Last Story' is new Mistwalker RPG; Xenoblade is Monado
We didn't have to wait long to find out about Nintendo's two mystery Wii games. Xenoblade, as we guessed before, is the new name for Monado: Beginning of the World, the RPG by Monolith Soft, creators of Xenosaga. Nintendo has launched a site for the title, featuring little more than music and a bit of artwork for now. More of the game, as Monado, can be seen in last year's E3 trailer and screens. Additionally, The Last Story is a new RPG for Wii being developed by Nintendo and Blue Dragon's Mistwalker. According to Andriasang's translation of a statement from an investor meeting, the game is an attempt at a "new form of RPG." The last time Nintendo worked with Mistwalker, the result was Archaic Sealed Heat, which Nintendo didn't bother to localize for North America. Finally, a Metroid: Other M teaser site has also been newly launched. It doesn't really reveal anything about the game, other than confirming its summer 2010 release in Japan. Interestingly, the game doesn't appear to use the traditional Metroid logo, opting for something much plainer. [Via Andriasang: The Last Story; Xenoblade; Metroid] Source - The Last Story teaser site Source - Xenoblade teaser site Source - Metroid: Other M teaser site
Nintendo report hints at new Wii titles, Other M release
Nintendo is one of a few companies to release its earnings report earlier this week, and a supplemental report released today has some surprises and new information for Wii owners. Not only does it finally list a target date for Metroid: Other M (you can expect it as soon as summer of this year if all goes according to plan), but there are two brand new names in the list as well: Xenoblade and The Last Story. Xenoblade is listed for a Spring 2010 release, so we should be hearing about that one soon, and The Last Story is listed for sometime this year, with both slated for release on the Wii in Japan. There's reason to believe these are just new names, as both Monado: Beginning of the World and Cosmic Walker are missing from the report, and Monado was being developed by Monolith Soft, known most notably for another Xeno- title you may have heard of. But Monado is still listed for a release in the US this year, so who knows? Other than that, the report lists some titles we expected to see soon: A new Kirby Super Star title, Super Mario Galaxy 2, the Wii's Legend of Zelda, Golden Sun for DS, and a few other releases scheduled in 2010. Full list of Japanese Wii releases is after the break.
Nintendo sneaks out Monado: Beginning of the World trailer
You remember watching the Nintendo E3 keynote liveblog just last week and seeing the huge reveal of Monado: Beginning of the World, right? And then Ms. Dunaway returned to the stage, clad in JRPG couture, ready to challenge Reggie Fils-Aime to a turn-based battle. It all seemed like a dream. Oh wait ... none of that happened! So what if we just passed out during the keynote and dreamt it all? But we did wake up with that gunblade in our hands, so, maybe not? It remains a mystery. Nintendo did, however, drop a trailer and artwork for the game soon after its presser had concluded which we're presenting to you here. Get your world beginning on, in trailer form, just above.%Gallery-65431%
Atlus lasciviously announces Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier
As we followed the Japanese version of Infinite Frontier Super Robot Taisen OG Saga, we found ourselves in awe of the lavishly animated battle sequences. But another visual element was prominent in screens of the RPG -- and by "prominent" we mean "spilling out". Somehow, developer Monolith Soft had managed to fill a game about robots with busty girls. The inclusion of KOS-MOS from Monolith's Xenosaga acted as sort of a bridge between the two groups; after all, she is both busty and a robot. Atlus has officially announced a US release for the RPG (surprise!), a more traditional role-playing spinoff of the Super Robot Taisen tactical RPG series. In its riotously funny press release, the company promised a "stacked action RPG" with "so much game ... you may just get lower back pain from the effort!"Super Robot Taisen OG Saga Endless Frontier comes out April 28th. Like Legacy of Ys, every copy will be a boxed edition with a bundled soundtrack CD.%Gallery-14186%
Wii Warm Up: Disaster planning
After delays and uncertainty, Disaster: Day of Crisis finally came out in Europe and Japan -- and pretty much bombed. New information suggests that Disaster may be planned for a North American release (although we suspect it's more that said release was planned years ago when the game was first unveiled, and just has yet to be cancelled). But should it? Do you think the game has a better chance here than in other regions? Would you have any expectation of sales, especially given Reggie's low confidence (and thus low likelihood of promotion)? Personally, we want to play it and we don't much care if Nintendo of America profits on it or not. They've got enough money, but we don't have enough copies of Disaster. Feel free to speak from the position of "armchair business analyst" or "person who wants to play a game"!%Gallery-30942%
Alternate ending suggests potential Disaster sequel [update]
[Update: Thanks to some of our commenters, we now have a better idea what's going on here. This is the introduction to an unlockable shooting minigame, rather than an unused ending. So instead of a lead-in to a sequel that won't happen, it's just a video from a game whose sequel won't happen.]WARNING: If you don't want to spoil the incredibly obvious storyIine of Disaster: Day of Crisis, do not watch this video. We've put it after the break in case you don't want the game's epic plot ruined by even one preview frame.It seems that Nintendo and Monolith Soft may have seen sequels in Disaster: Day of Crisis's future. Unfortunately, they didn't foresee the biggest disaster of all -- the release of Disaster: Day of Crisis, which turned out to be a powerful bomb capable of creating a sales vacuum.Even though this clip, found in the game's theatre, creates a clear opening for a sequel, we wouldn't hold our breath in anticipation of the continued adventures of Raymond Bryce and his ornate beard. For one thing, this is just an extra video and not the real ending. Also, obviously, game companies prefer to make money. However, it's pretty entertaining to see the jokey, ham-fisted manner in which they teased a sequel. %Gallery-30942%
Reggie 'answers' questions about Disaster, Fatal Frame IV
Because it's not a Nintendo event if it isn't followed by "where's (Game X)" questions, Kombo cornered Reggie Fils-Aime at yesterday's conference and asked him about the status of North American versions of Disaster: Day of Crisis and Fatal Frame IV. While nobody expected concrete dates or even confirmation from Reggie's answers, he still managed to impart a bit of information. Regarding Disaster: Nintendo of America is waiting to see how the game performs in Europe before making a decision. That means that we at least have to wait for a while after October 24 to hear anything. As for Fatal Frame, he offered the following frustrating response: "you're going to have to contact the publisher for questions on that." So it might be coming out here -- just not from Nintendo, despite Nintendo of Japan publishing it. Who wants to start cold-calling publishers?* *Note: Wii Fanboy does not encourage the cold-calling of publishers. %Gallery-30942% [Via GoNintendo]
When are we getting Disaster: Day of Crisis?
Your head is probably spinning from all of the wonderful Nintendo news you've been exposed to over the last 24 hours and it's okay, because our heads are, too. But, there's one thing that was missing from Nintendo's little spiel today: Disaster: Day of Crisis. Why was this game not dated for a North American release? With it releasing in Japan late last month and hitting Europe later on this month, we're wondering what the big hold-up is?Of course, not like it matters, because, thanks to the Japanese game releasing, we've basically seen the whole game on YouTube. But, we're still contacting Nintendo for a comment, so sit tight.%Gallery-30942%
Disaster's disastrous development detailed
We know what you're thinking: Disaster: Day of Crisis' protracted development can't have been that calamitous, right? The game released in Japan last week, and promptly earned itself a respectable score in Famitsu. And just getting released is probably more than we should expect for some games.But not every part of the title's gestation was peachy. The Monolith Soft team who worked on the game have been recounting their experiences in an interview for Nintendo's Japanese website, revealing that they were first approached about developing an "epic" game in early 2006, to be delivered in time for the launch of Nintendo's new Wii console.This gave Monolith around nine months to finish Disaster, but by the time the deadline had rolled around, the game still felt incomplete and had very few Wiimote-related functions -- instead, it used the Classic Controller. Nintendo temporarily halted the project in October or November of 2006, only for work to begin again in early 2007; at this point, the entire game was revamped to include more waggle.Getting to peek behind the development curtain is always intriguing -- we're just glad everything worked out for the game in the end.%Gallery-30942%[Via Nintendo Everything]
Stephen Colbert's favorite game has to be Disaster: Day of Crisis
We all know the man's stance on bears. He doesn't like them. In fact, he downright despises them. That's why we're sure that Nintendo's latest, Disaster: Day of Crisis, is among Colbert's most treasured games. Why? Well, it features a boss battle against a bear. Aside from teaching us the near indestructible nature of the beast, it also shows us what kind of weapons to use against a bear should it get you in its sights. Also, it teaches us that bears like to stupidly charge back and forth.Check out the video past the break.%Gallery-30942%
Disaster: Day of Cliche
Oh, man. Listen, Disaster: Day of Crisis is a game we've been waiting on for a long, long time. We like the idea. We like what we've seen. We even like this video (showing off nine minutes of opening gameplay, including the intro movie), despite the questionable YouTube quality. It looks pretty decent and more than playable. We daresay it could even be fun. But the dialogue is a little lacking.Okay. Let's get real: it's repetitive, unrealistic, and silly. But hey, we're used to less-than-stellar game writing, and Disaster has one thing going for it at the start: a hero with an indestructible noggin -- and that's all any action game really needs, right? Gallery: Disaster: Day of Crisis [Thanks, Alex!]
Disaster: Day of GIANT FOOD
Even when escaping buildings that are crumbling around his ears, Disaster: Day of Crisis hero Raymond Bryce takes time out to line his stomach with the huge food that can be randomly found in large wooden crates.We're just pleased to see him looking after himself and getting his five a day. We're sure his mother feels the same.%Gallery-30942%[Via Go Nintendo]
Day of Crisis not a total disaster?
None of us know why Nintendo kept such a tight lid on Disaster: Day of Crisis for so long. Logic dictates that the company didn't present us with much info because, well, the game was bad. Kind of Project H.A.M.M.E.R. bad. Well, the truth may be very different.Famitsu recently revealed its score for the game, and it received a respectable 34/40. Not too shabby, if we may say so. Especially for a game that pretty much got a surprise release. Not a Sega Saturn kind of surprise, but you get the idea.%Gallery-30942%[Via CVG]
