onechanbara
Latest
Onechanbara Z2: Chaos delivers 1080p bikinis to Japanese PS4s this year
Blood-and-bikinis brawler Onechanbara Z2: Chaos is coming to the PlayStation 4 in Japan later this year, D3 Publisher confirmed with Famitsu this week (via Gematsu). Tracing its origins back to a series of schlocky budget releases for the PlayStation 2, the Onechanbara franchise made its way to North America in 2009 with the Xbox 360's Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad and Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers for the Nintendo Wii. The upcoming sequel boasts a 1080p 60 FPS presentation throughout, and features new mechanics like the "Cross Merge Combination Element" multi-character combo attack and the "Quick Time Kill" mode, which challenges players to trace lines on the DualShock 4's touch pad to deliver critical blows to bosses. Onechanbara Z2: Chaos will hit Japan in October. A North American release has not been announced. [Image: D3 Publisher]
'Onechanbara Z: Kagura' to make a bloody mess on Xbox
D3 Publisher is reportedly working on yet another Onechanbara game, the second for Xbox 360. Onechanbara Z: Kagura replaces the familiar cast of characters (bikini-clad, katana-wielding Aya, her sister Saki, and cloned Reiko) with vampires named Kagura and Saaya. Don't worry; we're sure they'll be inappropriately dressed as well. We're sure the rest of the game will match up with what we know from the series: thousands of easily-killed zombies surrounding you at all times. The Xbox-exclusive game will be released in Japan this winter. An "Onechanbara 2" listing was found earlier this summer on Play.com, suggesting that D3 is planning a western release as well. D3 is likely crunching to get it done as soon as possible, as it'll face competition from another "cute girl slashing zombies" game – one that has the potential to actually be good, instead of "so bad it's good."
Onechanbara's Aya goes nude for Playboy
Sex sells, and nobody knows that more than the folks at D3 Publisher and Playboy, who have just teamed up to promote the mag's review of Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad -- complete with some pictures of the game's lead heroine, Aya, in the buff. You're going to click over for the article, right? It's a pretty good review. We've read it. Like 4 times.[Via Go Nintendo]Source - (NSFW) Playboy review for Onechanbara
Hot girls slicing up zombies is something we can immediately identify with
If you've ever lamented the lack of localization love shown to some of Japan's more obscure titles, you've probably overestimated their Western appeal. Alison Quirion, vice president of marketing for D3 Publisher, demonstrates considerable expertise in the matter, telling GameDaily about some of the discernible elements one seeks out in import-worthy titles. "Among the titles we have access to, we localize the ones that will have a certain appeal and are about pure fun experiences," she explains. Also, "we thought there was a bunch of gamers who'd dig hot girls slicing up zombies; its something that I think most gamers can immediately identify with."Before we reach for our intellectual facades in unison, let's hear what David Pava, president of a marketing consultancy called "Problem Solver," thinks about the upcoming OneChanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers. "There is still that deep story in the game," he says, noting that recent advertising has "to get people aware of the game and make them understand the basic concepts of the game." Presumably, the Bikini Zombie Slayers subtitle failed to make it clear that the slayers (and not the zombies) are the ones wearing the bikinis.%Gallery-35486%
GO DEEP INSIDE Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers
This is it, folks. The final trailer you're going to see before Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers releases next week. If zombie slaughter, scantily clad ladies, and ridiculous dialogue interest you in the least, then you'll want to check this trailer out (we've embedded it after the break, as it's rated M). It has all of those things, not to mention big, bold text.%Gallery-28067%
Onechanbara: Leather Catsuit Zombie Slayers
Yesterday's Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers video left out one important component of the experience: Reiko, the cloned fighter sent out to capture samples of Aya and Saki's blood. Well, it also left out Misery, but we expect to see her soon. That's right, in case you had forgotten, Tamsoft's super-bloody hack-and-slash has another character who is -- get this -- a scantily-clad young woman. In this game? Really? What a departure! And here she is (after the break) in fenced-off areas slashing a bunch of zombies with a sword. It's like a totally different game. We might be doing Reiko's outfit a disservice by calling it a catsuit. Catsuits are demure next to her little ensemble, which is basically the front of a vest and a set of skintight chaps, with some fishnet underneath. We kind of can't believe that Onechanbara is really coming out on February 10. We've been talking about this silly game since September 2007!%Gallery-28067%
Onechanbara video features Bikini Zombie Slaying for once
Following the recent Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers trailers, we feel obligated to warn you that the one after the post break contains real gameplay footage. If you came in hoping for more oatmeal-faced zombie analogues mugging in pseudo-sitcom vignettes, you will be disappointed. However, those of you who wanted to see bikini-clad ladies cleanly slicing through hundreds and hundreds of zombies will be well-served by this surprisingly excellent-looking trailer. And if you want more footage, IGN has a few new videos as well.We don't know which hypothetical group of Onechanbara fans would be considered weirder. We won't make any judgments, in any case. This is a safe place to like Onechanbara. [Thanks, yanya!]%Gallery-28067%
Wii Warm Up: Bikini Zombie Marketing
The live-action Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers ads have taken a unique and creative approach to game advertising. Trailers tend to be totally dry affairs stitched together from in-game CG and occasional gameplay, but D3 decided to indulge in ridiculous skits set in a world where zombies live alongside humans, and suffer discrimination (or worse) just for eating people being different.Did you find the ads funny? Did they affect your opinion about the game at all? And even if you didn't necessarily dig these particular skits, do you think publishers would do well to explore this kind of content as a break from the usual trailer format?%Gallery-28067%
Onechanbara takes to the streets
At the risk of recycling the same joke a little too often, D3 has pressed on with its range of live-action viral videos promoting Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers. Today's pop culture-spoofing clip tells the tale of zombie rap duo "Rest-n-Peace" bemoaning the alleged unwillingness of Asian girls to sleep around. So yes: although tongue-in-cheek, this could be deemed fairly offensive.That's why we're giving you fair warning now: if you thought the most recent videos in this series were a bit close to the bone, you're probably going to find the clip past the break more distasteful. The amount of female flesh on display here means this is NSFW -- unless you have an incredibly tolerant, slightly pervy boss.%Gallery-28067%
Onechanbara: the sitcom
Okay, we aren't sure who D3 is after with these live-action Onechanbara ads. They're corny, but at the same time approach an uncomfortable level of (implied) lasciviousness. Well, we say we aren't sure, but we have a pretty good idea. We've seen enough Spike TV to know how companies think they should advertise to dudes. It's kind of a good thing for them we're already interested in Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers.The newest trailer seems to violate the rules of the world set up in the previous trailers. In other ads, zombies live normal lives and act pretty much like people, but humans hate them anyway. In this trailer ... the humans don't really seem to hate him. And that's the most analysis anyone will ever apply to these ads! Enjoy after the break.We're glad to see D3 getting so much mileage out of that one fake arm, by the way.
Onechanbara trailer delivered in 30 minutes or it's free
Did you like the live-action Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers "Birthday Party" trailer? Maybe you found the silly vignette and its broad acting amusing, or, perhaps, charming? We kind of found its rough edges refreshing as a counterpoint to most superslick advertising. If you found something to enjoy in that previous trailer, then feel free to proceed past the post break for the latest Onechanbara-inspired skit by D3.If you groaned, zombie-style, at that previous trailer, you're probably not going to like this one either. There's a bit of gameplay footage at the end, but there's a lot of silliness before that. %Gallery-28067%
Rumor: Tenchu 4, Broken Sword, Onechanbara, more dated for Europe
A list of 'retailer info' containing release dates for upcoming games popped up on NeoGAF. Judging by the use of the German title for Broken Sword, we decided to try Amazon.de to check these dates against their database, and they match. These dates might be placeholders, and they might be subject to change, or our PALs might have an awesome March to look forward to!Tenchu: Shadow Assassins might actually come out in Europe in the same month as North Americans get to play it: Amazon says it'll be out February 26, alongside Castlevania Judgment. Broken Sword: Director's Cut is listed for March 26, while Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers (retitled, as is the Xbox game, Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Killers) is expected March 18 -- a slight delay from the official date. [Via NeoGAF]
Nintendo unleashes full Q1 schedule
Nintendo's carrier pigeon just landed on our windowsill with a complete list of Wii releases for Q1 2009. We do actually know most of these dates already (so yeah, maybe the mushroom cloud is a bit excessive), but there's still the occasional scrap of new news buried within.Those Tenchu and Little King's Story dates are fresh to us, and there's also confirmation of the first Play on Wii "New Play Control" games, Pikmin and Mario Power Tennis. For the record, "New Play Control" is a bit of a rubbish name for the series. In our humble opinion, obviously.Make the jump for the full line-up, and remember you can click on a game's name to bring up screens (where available)!%Gallery-22964%
Onechanbara: better-looking Bikini Zombie Slayers for North America
According to a Siliconera interview with D3 Publisher's Oohashi Toshiro, the US release of Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers will be more than the simple addition of campy English dialogue and text. Specifically, "... the graphics are now in higher resolution in comparison to the Japanese version so we were able to implement and present something that is more visually appealing." We knew (from another Siliconera interview!) that D3 wanted to put new material into the US version, but this is a global change to the existing content. We continue to be absolutely shocked that D3 is putting so much care into the US release of a notoriously lo-fi action game series. Maybe it'll improve upon the series' reputation! Well, as much as one can raise the reputation of a game series about bikini-clad girls getting covered in zombie blood.%Gallery-28067%
MadWorld's take on Wii music
As happens each month, some of the more interesting tidbits from the holiday issue of Nintendo Power have been transcribed by the tireless folks at Aeropause.The most eye-catching news, for us? A novel and particularly painful-sounding attack in Platinum Games' MadWorld. According to the magazine, you'll be able to lodge "a trumpet where the sun don't shine, leaving the unfortunate fellow to stagger around as he inadvertently toots the horn." Awe. Some. What's a trumpet doing lying around on the set of a futuristic game show about death and wanton bloodletting? Heck, don't ask, just shove.Other worthy factoids drawn from the mag deal with how No More Heroes creator Goichi Suda relaxes (by playing Burnout Paradise), and the news that Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers will have a two-player splitscreen mode. Hit up Aeropause for the rest!%Gallery-22964%[Via Go Nintendo]
Onechanbara's other Zombie Slayers
We've seen plenty of Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers' main characters, Aya and Saki -- perhaps a little too much, in terms of modesty! Tamsoft's embarrassing action-horror game features two more playable characters, both of whom have their own unique idea of appropriate zombie hunting attire.Reiko is one of many clones of the "Original Reiko" created by some unspecified agency of SCIENCE!! She is ordered to take a sample of Aya and Saki's blood (which apparently is the cause of their occasional bouts of blinding rage). Misery also wants the sisters' blood, but to make herself stronger. Our suggestion for increasing combat effectiveness: the crazy chain sword is a good start, but we'd bring some shoes into battle.%Gallery-28067%
Onechanbara trailer reveals women hate zombies
If the latest trailer for the upcoming zombie-slayer Onechanbara proves anything it's that sometimes shopping can go terribly wrong. Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad lands on the Xbox 360 in mid-December from publisher D3 and developer Tamsoft, the team behind ... uh, well we can't think of anything you'd really know or care about. Toshinden, maybe? But hey, it's a good looking woman wearing a bikini and slaying countless zombies. Basically, the most realistic game ever conceived.
Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Party
We imagine Halloween as the time of year when any producers of monster- or horror-related media scramble, if not to get their products out into the marketplace, at least to get some kind of ad or material out, to take advantage of the pro-spooky sentiments that Halloween-celebrating parts of the world feel. For us, then, it just wouldn't feel like Halloween unless we were inundated with trailers and ads for horror games -- and we think campy ones like Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers fit the season best of all.Yes, this video is extraordinarily silly ... but it's for Onechanbara. That's pretty much the idea. Our favorite part: Aya appears to have a poster of her own rear end.
Swords, blood, underage girls and waggle: Hands-on with Onechanbara (Wii)
There's a saying: don't judge a book by its cover. But, we're fairly confident you can do just that to Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers. The upcoming Wii/360 action game knows its audience, and aims to please by combining Japanese school girls, swords, zombies and buckets of blood. The developers of Onechanbara are so confident this concoction will make gamers swoon, they've trimmed all the unnecessary bits like enemy AI, depth and most importantly, clothing.It makes sense that these girls will have to undress and get down to their bikinis. Why? They're just soaked in so much blood. Enemies get cut up real well in Bikini Zombie Slayers, with body parts and gore simply flying all over the place. The cartoonish, over-the-top violence continues Wii's strange penchant for these kind of games (e.g. No More Heroes, Madworld).%Gallery-35486%
New Bikini Zombie Slayers footage is light on the bikinis, zombies, slaying
Sex sells. And the developers behind Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers know it, as their game features attractive ladies in sexy outfits. There's also something else in the game that rivals the popularity of hot chicks: lots and lots of carnage. Plus, there're zombies. And extras! There's a lot in this package, that's for sure.This latest trailer for the game takes some CG cutscenes from the game and combines them into one new trailer. With a steamy shower scene, you'll also see some pre-rendered combat, as well as some sunglasses-wearing guy who likes to punch girls in the stomach. Come on, dude, hasn't your mother taught you anything? You're not supposed to hit a lady ...Who's anxious to slice down some zombies with us in February?%Gallery-28067%
