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Persona 4 Golden hits Europe's PSN Feb. 20, two days ahead of retail
Those patient European Persona 4 fans don't have to wait quite as long as they thought for Golden to reach their Vitas. NIS America revealed today the re-release of the Atlus' RPG is available from PlayStation Network on February 20, two days earlier than it arrives at retail.As for the retail release, confirmed for February 22 earlier this week, there are no announcements of any Special or Collector's Edition, so it doesn't look you'll be missing out on anything by buying it on PSN. Apart from the box with some sexy cover art, that is.
Persona 4 Golden launching in Europe Feb. 22
Persona 4 Golden's European release date has now been confirmed, with Atlus' epic JRPG of angst and nightmare television worlds hitting European Vitas on Friday, February 22.NIS America, which is responsible for publishing Persona 4 Golden in the EU, told Joystiq last October that it was aiming for a February 22 release, though the game's official launch window has remained "Spring 2013" until now. We were also informed that the game would likely be released sans Special/Collector's Edition, which appears to be the case considering no such announcements accompanied the confirmation of its release.Well, there is one way to get a Special Edition in Europe. If you stare into the screen of an unplugged television during a heavy rain, at midnight, you'll find what you're after. You have to be completely alone though, otherwise it won't work. It also helps if you've got some kind of repressed issues or have been having trouble accepting part of who you are.
Disgaea 2 coming to PS2 Classics January 22
NIS America is bringing Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories to the PlayStation Network's PS2 Classics section on January 22. The game will be priced at $9.99.The 2006 SRPG game previously made an appearance on the PSP in 2009 as Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days. The PSP version included additional content such as levels, skills and characters. While NIS America's announcement implies that the PSN version will be a direct port from the PS2 game, we reached out to see if any of the added content from the PSP version will be included in the PSN port, and will update as we learn more.
Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory lands in N. America Mar. 12, 2013, Europe Mar. 15
Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory and its consoles personified as busty women are coming to North America on March 12, 2013. The third game in the oddball RPG series is also coming to Europe on March 15, matching the target date NIS America told us earlier this year. That bodes well for Persona 4 Golden hitting its European target date of February 22.NIS also released the above trailer, which showcases the game's CPU ladies to a backdrop of very chirpy J-pop. It also reveals that the game features a 'transforming robot,' one that looks like a chibi version of something you'd see on Power Rangers. %Gallery-173209%
Clan of Champions thumps PSN November 20
Clan of Champions rampages onto PlayStation Network on November 20. The multiplayer brawler which seeks one ultimate warrior was developed by Acquire, makers of Way of the Samurai and Tenchu games. It bustled onto Steam last month. and now NIS America is bringing it to North America's PSN in two weeks time. A European release is scheduled for a later date.With no sight of the Xbox 360 version initially mentioned by NIS America, it seems the Clan may settle down on PS3 and PC for now. And by settle down, we mean beat the bejeezus out of each other until one warrior is left standing. It's a clan with a plan.
Persona 4 Golden, Neptunia Victory 'aiming' to hit Europe Feb 22, Mar 15
NIS America is aiming to bring Persona 4 Golden and Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory to Europe on February 22 and March 15 respectively. Though the official release windows for both remain Spring 2013, a PR representative for NIS America confirmed to Joystiq these are the dates being aimed for, and each game will be released "around that time." Official dates will be announced nearer the time, we're told.Golden, the Persona 4 re-release on Vita, is unlikely to come to Europe in more than a standard release, according to the PR rep. In contrast, North America is getting the Solid Gold limited edition set when the game releases on November 20.Regarding Victory, the third Hyperdimension Neptunia entry, North America has the same Spring 2013 official release window as Europe. We wouldn't be surprised if the North American date NIS has in mind for the PS3 game is in the same week.Finally, we learned The Witch and the Hundred Knights "should" also be coming to Europe. The PS3-exclusive action RPG is confirmed as heading to North America, but following its delay in Japan there isn't an official release window for its arrival here. We were told we'd know whether or not it's coming to Europe when the NA release date is announced.The game features the art style of Takehito Harada, of Disgaea and Phantom Brave fame, which can probably be deduced from the cover art alone. As for what's going on in that cover art, your guess is as good as ours.
Clan of Champions muscles onto Steam on October 30
Clan of Champions, a multiplayer action game from NIS America and Tenchu developer Acquire Corp., will hit Steam on October 30. It's set to launch on PSN at a later date.The first we heard of Clan of Champions, NIS was planning a release on Xbox 360 and PS3. Looks like plans have changed. Clan of Champions enables single-player or online multiplayer, with warriors fighting to become the one true champion using short-range magic spells or close-range combat. Remember: There can only be one. Unless you're on a multiplayer run.%Gallery-168157%
Mugen Souls sees a short delay and an 'overwhelming' trailer
Mugen Souls, NIS America's latest turn-based RPG, will arrive in North America slightly later than planned. Originally set for September 18, the Compile Heart-developed game is now due on October 16. The European version will be released on September 28.The latest trailer highlights Mugen Souls' battle system, which combines turn-based combat with free movement. It looks complicated and, as the trailer itself admits, overwhelming. You need that kind of power if you intend to conquer seven universes.%Gallery-163214%
NIS will teach you how to read Japanese with iOS 'Character Chowdown' app
NIS America and developer Yummy Yummy Tummy have partnered for an educational game that seems particularly well-suited for NISA fans: Character Chowdown, designed to teach the Japanese kana and kanji writing systems.Naturally, as you and the "Nommon" monsters learn Japanese characters (with the game automatically learning and focusing on ones you're having trouble with), you'll see cameos from the Disgaea series, including some heroes available as eventual DLC.Character Chowdown's developer Yummy Yummy Tummy is run by Spencer, editor of Siliconera. Siliconera has experimented with Japanese learning games before, with the Flash games Dinosaurs and Hiragana and Dinosaurs and Katakana.
NISA's Niikawa confirms eventual Disgaea 5
Sohei Niikawa may be the new president of NIS America, but he's the longtime leader of Nippon Ichi Software. In other words, don't expect too many changes in direction for the parent company. During this weekend's Anime Expo, Niikawa revealed that, yes, the company plans to make a Disgaea 5.There were no specifics about the game, other than that there would be one at some point in the future. Niikawa told attendees at the NISA panel to wait for additional details. We feel confident in revealing at this point that Prinnies will be present, as will an endless assault of numbers.[Image: Disgaea 4]
Sohei Niikawa takes over as NIS America president
Someone new is overseeing the American distribution of exploding penguin demons, three-dimensional Quotes, anthropomorphized console girls, and knells of Ar Ciel. Sohei Niikawa, already president of Nippon Ichi Software in Japan, is replacing Haru Akenaga as president of NIS America.Under Niikawa, NIS America is pursuing a philosophy of "Entertainment for All," which will embrace more media like "comic books, anime, music, movies, novels, and mobile games." Something tells us NISA's idea of "all" is still a charmingly limited niche.
Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland comes to our land May 22
Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland is the latest NIS release with a title totally incomprehensible to the uninitiated. It's about a girl named Meruru, princess of one of the kingdoms in Arland, who sets out to become a great alchemist.As a result, you'll be doing a lot of alchemy in the game, creating various items and weapons. Unlike previous Atelier games, you'll be able to use your royal status to "develop" new areas of the kingdom, changing their appearance and giving you access to new landscapes.If the combination of alchemy, world-building and adorableness appeal to you, you'll be able to pick up Atelier Meruru for PS3 on May 22. You can read more about it today on the PlayStation Blog.
Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 fights for Gamindustri Feb. 28
Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2, developer Idea Factory's second trek into the world of Gamindustri, will arrive in North America on February 28, courtesy of NIS America. Europe will actually get to experience the (virtual) console wars a bit earlier, on February 24. This time, players control the younger sisters of the girls-as-consoles from the previous game. Which, in Hyperdimension Neptunia logic, means they're based on portable consoles -- the protagonist is "Nepgear." And Keiji Inafune is there for some reason!%Gallery-145248%
Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland transmutes NA and EU in May
Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland, part three of Gust's Atelier trilogy, is currently being localized for western audiences and prepped for launch by NIS in North America and Europe this May. NIS also published the first and second entries in the series, Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland and Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland. As the artful trailer above explains, Atelier Meruru concerns the adventures of Princess Meruru and her quest to become an alchemist while simultaneously growing her kingdom of Arls to its full potential. "Development" is a primary aspect of the gameplay, with story progression changing based on how the player decides to expand and improve the kingdom. Personally, we had no idea that becoming a master alchemist involved so much sweeping.%Gallery-144698%
Deja Review: Cave Story 3D
Not even a semi-controversial visual makeover can keep me from loving Cave Story. I admit to being a bit worried upon seeing the first screens of the new 3DS remake, Cave Story 3D, developed by Nicalis in conjunction with original creator Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya. And I admit now that the new polygonal graphics lack the extreme charm of the original pixels. But Cave Story is a wonderful game on any platform, in any configuration. Those new graphics are there to sell the game to non-"core" gamers who see 2D art as archaic, and who have no pre-existing knowledge of the indie game scene or of Cave Story. The game still works with its new look. Besides, I was really, honestly impressed with the redone art in several areas. I enjoyed seeing the game reinterpreted, after seeing the original so, so many times.
Cave Story 3D screens come in all dimensional varieties
What're you looking for, folks? Screens of Cave Story 3D's titular three-dimensional display, complete with left-right screen splitting? We have those. Want some slightly less complicated images of the game's spritely 2D mode? You know we got your back. (And we always will.)
NIS America bringing Disgaea to Android, Vita; Neptunia and Clan of Champions headed to NA
In NIS America's continued efforts to put Disgaea games on more and more platforms, the company today announced that Disgaea: Netherworld Unbound is headed to Android devices later this year. Netherworld Unbound is an Android-optimized version of the original Disgaea game, though NIS says it'll expand on that by selling "characters, items, features, and more." The Disgaea heading to PlayStation Vita will also be launching in the US sometime in spring 2012. Beyond renaming the subtitle "Absence of Detention" (rather than the original's "Absence of Justice"), the Vita port adds "all-new characters, stories, and game systems." Beyond the Disgaea series, NIS is bringing "everyone's favorite JRPG with Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune as a weapon," Neptunia MK-II, to the US. Like in Japan, the game will remain exclusive to Sony's PlayStation 3, and it's expected to launch in spring 2012 as well. The company also announced intentions to bring the tentatively titled "Clan of Champions" from Tenchu dev Acquire Corp. to the US, and to both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. [Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice for PlayStation 3 pictured above.]
Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten review: A premise unchanged
The Disgaea series is a tough nut to crack. With its dated gameplay and recycled graphics and music, each new entry in the franchise has flown in the face of convention. Nevertheless, whether owing its longevity to quirky storytelling or staggeringly deep and complex mechanics, the franchise has found favor among strategy role-playing game enthusiasts. That storied tradition looks to continue with earnest in Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten, a testament that, all things considered, developer Nippon Ichi definitely still knows its audience. %Gallery-131379%
Black Rock Shooter is actually an RPG, and NIS America is publishing it on PSP
Black Rock Shooter: The Game is a PSP RPG, one of Imageepoch's "JRPG" line of games. It's based on a growing media empire (anime, music manga) featuring a young woman who carries a cannon that fires rocks. So it's not just a clever name! As you might expect of a game with a cannon-wielding protagonist, Black Rock Shooter has elements of third-person shooting (like ... shooting), but it's alongside RPG-style leveling. NIS America plans to release Black Rock Shooter in America and Europe as part of its deal with Imageepoch. The company has yet to date these releases, "but we are working hard to get it out as soon as possible," said NIS's Jack Niida in the announcement. "Please look forward to this amazing game."
Disgaea 4, ClaDun X2, Atelier Totori dated
Disgaea 4 will explode like a spectral penguin onto PS3 on September 6. Publisher NIS America announced that and a few other release windows today on the PlayStation Blog. It'll be available in three different configurations, depending on how much extra stuff you want to pay for. Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland, a new alchemy-themed RPG for PS3 (and sequel to last year's Atelier Rorona), will be out on September 27. In this game, young Totori searches for her missing mother while defeating monsters, helping townspeople with quests, and learning the art of alchemy in order to synthesize items. And on PSP, ClaDun X2 will offer more pixelated action-RPG fun "at the end of August." This one promises more customization options than its predecessor, the amusingly named "ClaDun: This is an RPG." What isn't customizable is how you can buy it: it'll be released only on PSN.
