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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.
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]
Demon's, Dark Souls director takes over as From Software president
From Software employees are pledging their souls to Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director of the first two Souls games and now the studio's new president. Miyazaki, who only acted as a supervisor on Dark Souls 2, takes over from industry veteran Naotoshi Zin who in turn is taking on a new advisory role. While the exact reasoning for the reshuffle is unclear, it's probably tied to From Software's acquisition by Kadokawa Corporation last month, especially since the transfer was formally concluded today. Kadokawa's known in Japan for its extensive manga library but in recent years it's dipped further into the gaming market, publishing Suda51's Killer is Dead and Lollipop Chainsaw and developing games like Natural Doctrine and Demon Gaze. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Big monsters, tiny humans, great hair in Natural Doctrine trailer
The first Western trailer for PS4, PS3 and Vita tactics-RPG Natural Doctrine doesn't tell us a huge amount about the game. It does, however feature a lot of huge, gruesome monsters at war with a band of humans with some really beautiful hair. It just looks so silky-smooth! The game itself stars a group of explorers who head into caves to mine a precious resource called Pluton. Things go a little awry when they discover an underground teeming with beasties, but luckily they've got all the shampoo and conditioner that adventurers need. Kadokawa Game Studio's RPG features cross-play and cross-save functionality, and a 100 percent natural shine. Look out for it when it hits North America and Europe this autumn. [Image: NIS America]
Killer Is Dead: Nightmare Edition due for PC on May 23
Killer Is Dead: Nightmare Edition won't lend PC gamers its dose of quirky Grasshopper Manufacture action until May 23, but fans can check its system requirements right now and plan accordingly. With minimum requirements calling for Windows Vista 64-bit, a 2.0GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, a GPU that can handle Shader Model 3.0 and 13 GB of space, Nightmare Edition shouldn't be too taxing for your gaming rig. Recommended specs jump up a bit, calling for an Intel Core i5-2400 Processor, 8 GB of RAM and a NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450. The $20 Nightmare Edition adds a difficulty mode, includes the Smooth Operator DLC and offers a theater to re-view cutscenes. Aside from its uncomfortable Gigolo side missions, we'd recommend giving Killer Is Dead's bizarre brand of combo-driven action a shot. [Image: Deep Silver]
From Software acquired by Japanese publisher Kadokawa Corporation
Dark Souls and Armored Core developer From Software is to become a subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, after the Japanese publisher announced its acquisition of the studio. According to a report by GameBiz.jp, Kadokawa will conclude the transfer of 80 percent of the company's shares from former shareholder Transcosmos on May 21. Kadokawa Corp. is best known in Japan for publishing manga for the likes of Neon Genesis Evangelion and Mobile Suit Gundam. However, its Kadokawa Games subsidiary, formed in 2009, is a growing force in the Japanese gaming market. The studio published Suda51 titles Killer is Dead and Lollipop Chainsaw in Japan, and it also has a hand in development, most recently with RPGs Demon Gaze and Natural Doctrine. In a press release (translated by CVG), Kadokawa Corporation said, "We are planning to expand our position in this business with both Kadokawa Games and From Software. We have planned a series of discussions aimed at cooperation: expanding and developing both companies while taking advantage of their areas of expertise." As Gematsu notes, the publisher expects From Software and Kadokawa Games to benefit from the move, with the studios sharing expertise and resources to bolster development. It's too early to tell what the full implications of the acquisition will be for From Software, and for its headline series of Souls games. This time last year, the studio announced more than 2.3 million sales of Dark Souls, and it'll no doubt hope to better that number with the recent release of Dark Souls 2. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Natural Doctrine coming to PS3, PS4, Vita in US and Europe this fall
NIS America has cleared the way for an upcoming North American and European release of Kadokawa Games' strategy role-playing game, Natural Doctrine, for the PlayStation 3, PS4, and PS Vita. Launching in Japan this week, Natural Doctrine features an in-depth battle system, offering players a number of strategic options across multiple characters in combat. The game will feature Cross-Play and Cross-Save functionality, allowing players to resume their progress across PlayStation console versions and the PS Vita. Natural Doctrine will launch at retail and digitally via the PlayStation Network this autumn. [Image: NIS America]
Watch eight minutes of strategy-RPG Natural Doctrine
While this in-depth look at Kadokawa Games' upcoming roleplaying epic Natural Doctrine is entirely in Japanese, you shouldn't have much trouble following it - slaying goblins and stabbing ogres translates to any language. [Image: Kadokawa Games]
Disgaea characters assemble in fiend-finder Demon Gaze
NIS America has announced some cross-game synergy is coming to PS Vita dungeon crawl Demon Gaze. After Kadokawa Games' quirky RPG launches for PS Vita on April 22, early adopters will be able to download some popular characters from NIS America's Disgaea series: Etna, Fionne, Sicily, Asagi and Prinny. All five will be free for the first month of Demon Gaze's availability. Demon Gaze stars Oz, a vagabond with the ultimate fashion accessory: a magical eye that can be used to capture demons. When Oz isn't exploring dungeons and sealing away these dark entities, he's hanging at the local inn, befriending NPC characters and probably putting in a bunch of eye drops. [Image: NIS America]
Killer is Dead suited and booted to slice up PCs in May
Suda 51's Killer is Dead is still alive, after Deep Silver Europe announced last year's stylistic slice-and-dicer is coming to PC in May. The new Nightmare Edition arrives in both retail and downloadable versions, and features a new difficulty mode of the same name. The Nightmare mode only allows kills via three attacks - Adrenaline Burst, Dodge Burst, and headshots - and prohibits the Final Judgment finisher. The Nightmare Edition also includes the Smooth Operator DLC pack, and a Theater mode to revisit cut scenes in. Deep Silver Europe's announcement notes a US price of $20, so although there's no official confirmation yet, it seems the PC port will hit stores statestide. The Euro pricepoints are £20/20 euros, and the release date for the region is May 9. While we weren't bowled over by Killer is Dead, our three-and-a-half-star review said Suda's return to third-person assassinating was also a return to form: "Its combat is neat if still a bit limited, and its dark direction and weird narrative a bit tainted by self-indulgence, but this is still a Grasshopper grindhouse romp worth most of its issues." [Image: Deep Silver]
Natural Doctrine to miss PS4 launch in Japan, now debuting in March
Originally slated to premiere as part of the PlayStation 4's February launch lineup in Japan, Kadokawa Game Studio's strategy-RPG Natural Doctrine has been delayed to March. Dengeki Online reports that Natural Doctrine is now set to debut on March 19 for the PlayStation 4, PS3, and PS Vita. Natural Doctrine supports cross-save functionality across all platforms, and a special edition bundle will include a download code for the PS Vita port along with a PlayStation 4 retail copy of the game. A North American release for Natural Doctrine has not been announced.
Japanese PS4 launch game Natural Doctrine features pretty heroes, prettier music
Japanese publisher Kadokawa Games launched a new trailer showcasing Natural Doctrine, a strategy-RPG slated for release as a PlayStation 4 launch title in Japan. Outed as a member of the PS4's launch lineup earlier this month, Natural Doctrine is a turn-based strategy game in which battles take a traditional grid-based approach. Famitsu notes that the game features both a single-player campaign mode and a multiplayer component in which players send enemy creatures to do their bidding. Natural Doctrine will also launch for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita in Japan in February. A North American release has not been announced.
Killer Is Dead review: Drunk on the moon
I invariably recommend games made by Grasshopper Manufacture to friends, not necessarily because I enjoyed them, but because Goichi Suda's studio produces games that have to be tried. Grasshopper's approach to design can be nonchalant bordering on reckless, and leaves me as secure of their games' quality as I am watching a drunk at a dartboard. Much like someone's who had too many, their games can be hilarious, frivolous, profound, outrageous, offensive, and at their worst downright loathsome, but when it comes down to it I want to be there when they're around - even if it means taking a dart to the eye. For better or worse, Killer Is Dead is certainly a Grasshopper game, and for the most part it's closer to bullseye than head wound, although it's an absolute shame its one real gash is so very profuse. But then, the good thing about recommending games to friends is that you can tell them which bits to avoid.
Killer is Dead hits US retail August 27
Killer is Dead, the latest mind-bending action game from Killer7 director Suda 51 and Grasshopper Manufacture, will hit store shelves in North America on August 27 with a bevy of bonus goodies in tow. Publisher Xseed Games notes that all launch copies of Killer is Dead will include an 80-page hardcover art book, a soundtrack disc featuring 25 tracks by Silent Hill series composer Akira Yamaoka, and a download code for the "Smooth Operator" DLC pack, which adds extra in-game missions and other bonus content. Deep Silver will publish an identical deluxe version of Killer is Dead in Europe on August 30.
New Killer is Dead trailer is killer
You could try to make sense of the latest Killer is Dead trailer, but we wouldn't recommend it.%Gallery-191270%
Killer is Dead trailer features Mondo's girls, EU pinned for August
If you hadn't gathered yet, from it being a Suda game and including "gigolo missions," the upcoming Killer is Dead features scantily-clad ladies, as does this possibly NSFW video. While the North American release window is still "Summer 2013," Europe and Japan received upgrades to August.
Killer is Dead screens showcase combat, gigolo missions
Grasshopper Manufacture games often feature mature content, and Killer is Dead is no exception. These screens feature its 'gigolo missions,' where you travel the world to meet "exotic women" - publisher XSEED's words - as well as some of the crazy-looking combat. %Gallery-185801%
Kadokawa trademarks 'Demon Gaze' in US
Demon Gaze is a Vita dungeon crawler developed by Experience Inc. and published this year in Japan by Kadokawa Games. It would appear Kadokawa has an interest in bringing it stateside, as the publisher has filed a trademark for "Demongaze" in the United States. Demon Gaze sounds, well, kind of insane. Protagonist Oz can use his eye to capture demons, many of which are also robots who can transform. Oz can use money earned in the dungeon to rent more rooms from an innkeeper, in order to invite more NPCs into the inn to help him.Kadokawa's last two games to be localized, Lollipop Chainsaw and the upcoming Killer is Dead, were published stateside by Warner Bros. and XSEED, respectively. The latter seems more likely to pick up a Vita dungeon RPG.
Killer Is Dead's second trailer is no less crazy than the first
The second trailer for Suda51's Killer is Dead includes earth-stealing, giant aliens, and a woman with 16 arms all holding guns, all to the wholly apt backdrop of Wagner's "Flight of the Valkyries."Killer is Dead is coming to Xbox 360 and PS3 in North America and Europe this summer.
Killer is Dead launches worldwide this summer
Suda 51's Killer is Dead is confirmed for a worldwide launch on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in summer 2013. XSEED is releasing the Grasshopper Manufacture game in North America, while Deep Silver is bringing it to Europe and Oceania.True to the developer's form, Killer is Dead stars an assassin taking out criminals in the near future. The hero, Mondo Zappa, brandishes a sword with his right hand and everything from guns to drills with his other, artificial arm.Today's announcement comes hot on the trail of Grasshopper Manufacture's acquirement by Japanese MMO makers GungHo Online Entertainment. GungHo does have an American publishing branch, but this Grasshopper game won't be the first to take advantage of it.Update: Killer is Dead will feature both Japanese and English audio on the disc.%Gallery-177734%
