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Pandora's Tower streamlining to NA without a special edition
Publisher XSEED isn't looking at bringing out a Pandora's Tower special edition when the game finally reaches North America this spring. The Wii JRPG did get one in Europe, which came with an art book and steel case, but XSEED tweeted that this time around it had to "go a bit more streamlined." That streamlining may still incorporate a reversible cover and manual art, but we'll have to wait and see.Pandora's Tower is the last of the Operation Rainfall Wii JRPGs to get North American localization, and is now available for pre-order at GameStop, priced $39.99. Its release represents a comprehensive victory for the 2011 grassroots campaign, and we suspect those involved are just happy to see it over here, special edition or no.
XSEED erecting Pandora's Tower for Wii in NA this spring
Publisher XSEED has come to the rescue for American Wii owners again. Once thought lost to the dungeons of Nintendo localization, XSEED will bring Pandora's Tower to North America this spring. Pandora's Tower tells the story of a hero tasked with saving a young girl from a terrible curse. The only cure: feeding her lots of freshly slain monster flesh. Check out the trailer above (made for the European release last year), for the gritty, nasty details.Last year, to the dismay of many fans, Nintendo infamously stated it had "no plans" to localize three major Japanese Wii RPGs, The Last Story, Pandora's Tower and Xenoblade Chronicles (though it did eventually localize the latter). Now it seems XSEED has made a habit of snatching up discarded Nintendo properties in North America, last year localizing The Last Story, which went on to be its most successful game ever.
Corpse Party: Book of Shadows haunts PSN next week
Corpse Party spins off into a series of new, smaller Corpse Parties next week, when the follow-up to last year's PSP game launches on PSN. Corpse Party: Book of Shadows is a set of short stories set in the franchise's universe, each focusing on different characters as, if the first game is any indication, they get tortured relentlessly by ghosts.On the PlayStation Blog, XSEED localization specialist and professional Corpse Partier Tom Lipschultz introduces each of the stories, so you can get an idea about all the unfortunate kids you'll be putting through hell when you play the game.
Unchained Blades sequel a 'maybe' in US after the first gets on 3DS
Unchained Blades is due for the 3DS in December, "hopefully," XSEED writes on its Facebook page. After that launch, XSEED might start localizing the sequel, Unchained Blades EXXIV, for western audiences."We're still struggling to get the original out on 3DS first," XSEED writes. "After that's finally out the door (hopefully December), then maybe we can start thinking about the sequel."Unchained Blades hit PSP on June 26, for $30, and it is available now on the Vita via the PlayStation Store.
The Last Story is XSEED's most successful game, and now it's cheaper
The Last Story was released in North America by XSEED, after original publisher Nintendo decided to skip it. Nintendo's lack of interest turned out to be a boon for XSEED: today, Executive Vice President Ken Berry revealed that the RPG "has become our most successful title to date." XSEED declined to offer specific sales numbers.In response to this success – and to the selling out of the original printing – XSEED is now shipping a standard edition that lacks the art book and special packaging from the original release. It's also cheaper, at a $29.99 MSRP. The MSRP on any remaining "premium" versions is now $40. If you need a cheap game to go with your Wii U, don't forget about the backward compatibility for stuff like this!
Orgarhythm review: Laying down godlike beats
If it's possible to have a favorite "type" of game – not genre, mind you, but favorite "type" – I'd have to say that the games I love most are "ambitious but imperfect." These are games that try to do intriguing, daring things: meld genres together, build themselves around an interesting theme, tell a story in an unconventional manner. Often they run into more than a few technical and design hiccups, perhaps because the developers' ambitions outstripped their team's capability to realize them. But in spite of their flaws, there's something secretly awesome about them that makes wrestling with all their foibles worth it.Having read all that, you've probably already guessed that Orgarhythm falls into this category. It's a bizarre mix of god-sim, rhythm game, and RTS that mostly – mostly – works. When it shines brightest, it's a fabulous and unique experience.%Gallery-169120%
Report: Checkpoint sues Marvelous AQL, claiming 'hostile takeover' plan
Game studio Checkpoint has filed suit against Marvelous AQL, claiming that the Japanese publisher attempted to take over Checkpoint in an effort to avoid a $2.5 million payout. The suit names Marvelous, XSEED, a former Checkpoint employee, and others on breach of contract, theft of trade secrets, and more.According to Gamasutra's summary of the case, Marvelous made a deal in 2011 through which it would pay $2.5 million in exchange for 35 percent of Checkpoint and two shipped games. Following the release of those two games, AviNation and Party Politics, the two companies planned a similar $2.5 million arrangement for two more games.However, Checkpoint CEO Brian Wiklem alleged in the suit that chief technical officer Christopher Masterton, owner of 24 percent of Checkpoint, met with Marvelous to sell his own shares and give Marvelous control of the company without Wiklem's consent. Marvelous then hired Masterton and 14 other Checkpoint staffers to work at XSEED. Masterton is now technical lead.Furthermore, the suit claims, the former Checkpoint staff are now using Checkpoint tech at XSEED, and Masterton refuses to hand over the logins for Checkpoint's Facebook page and other accounts. We've asked MAQL for comment.
Corpse Party: Book of Shadows terrifies PSP this winter
Corpse Party, the most surprisingly disturbing PSP game, is getting a sequel in North America this winter, and Europe "shortly thereafter." Corpse Party: Book of Shadows is a collection of eight self-contained scenarios in the Corpse Party universe, also for PSP, and also released exclusively as a download."Some of them help fill in the blanks of what happened during crucial off-camera scenes from the original game," XSEED localization specialist Tom Lipschultz said on the PlayStation Blog. "Others go into the back-story of various characters, helping to flesh them out and make their roles in the series mythos a bit clearer. Still others ask 'what if?,' presenting an alternate version of events from the first game in which characters who previously died are kept alive and given a fleeting chance to stay that way." One final chapter acts as a direct sequel to the events in the previous game.Speaking of the previous game, XSEED is putting Corpse Party on sale for $9.99 for two weeks starting with tomorrow's PS Store update. If you're looking for spooky (Vita-compatible) adventure this Halloween, we recommend it.
Orgarhythm out on October 23 on Vita
Yet more PSN games in October! The latest is XSEED's Orgarhythm for Vita, a game that mixes up Pikmin-esque crowd control strategy with rhythm gameplay, arrives in North America on October 23, publisher XSEED announced. The PSN-exclusive game will retail for $29.99.If you're desperately trying to understand how such a combination could work, allow us to point you to our E3 preview. We were confused as well until then.%Gallery-167909%
Former Atlus president now in charge at XSEED
XSEED, publisher of games such as Unchained Blades and Orgarhythm, recently announced Shinichi Suzuki as its new President and CEO. Suzuki stepped down as CEO of Atlus North America in August."This is an exciting time for the industry and our company, and I look forward to navigating a course of success through the exciting changes in store as we advance XSEED's publishing efforts by bringing even more highly anticipated titles to market across multiple platforms," Suzuki said in a press release.XSEED also announced that Ken Berry, founding member of the company, has been promoted to Executive Vice President.
The last trailer you see before you realize The Last Story is out
Finally, after all the anticipation, petitioning, and weird fan campaigns, The Last Story arrives on Wii in North America today, published by XSEED. See why so many people were so anxious to get a chance to play it in this launch trailer.
Way of the Samurai 4 comes overseas to PS3 August 21
Way of the Samurai 4 will let you create a ronin and explore post-isolationist Japan starting August 21 in North America. The PSN-exclusive PS3 game will be available for $39.99.While the premise is all about joining up with the shogunate, the isolationists, or the new immigrants, and experiencing the power struggles between the three groups, we're fairly confident the moment-to-moment gameplay is going to have more to do with swordin'.Speaking of which, you'll be able to upload your created character for distribution in others' games, as a wandering, AI-controlled assassin. Other players' characters will roam your game, offering up items to anyone who can defeat them.%Gallery-161776%
The Last Story finally comes to North America on Aug. 14
XSEED has announced an August 14 release date for Mistwalker's anticipated, petitioned-for Wii role-playing game, The Last Story.All launch copies will include an art book; in addition to that, XSEED revealed the above soundtrack disc as a pre-order bonus from Amazon, GameStop and EB Canada. That's some deluxe treatment for what is sure to be one of the last big Wii games, and it seems to deserve the attention.
XSEED lets loose Unchained Blades on PSP next week
Your first chance to check out XSEED's localized version of the RPG Unchained Blades will be very soon – and on PSP. The PSP version of FuRyu's RPG, created by Lunar and Grandia vets, will be released on PSN June 26, for $29.99. XSEED was unable to confirm whether the game would be Vita-compatible, or available through the Vita store, at launch – a reminder that the Vita's PSP compatibility is not 100% for some reason, and not even all of the Vita-compatible PSP games are available through the Vita's PlayStation Store.The 3DS version, announced concurrently, is due sometime later in 2012, also as a download.%Gallery-158708%
Orgarhythm combines rhythm and strategy into one weird game
Pikmin 3 might have been the best-known crowd-control strategy game at E3, but it wasn't the most memorable. That distinction goes to Orgarhythm, a Vita game demonstrated to me during a meeting with publisher XSEED.Orgarhythm mashes up two of the least mashuppable genres imaginable: rhythm game and strategy. Players control a giant, strutting god who follows a predetermined path through each level. The god has the ability to direct elemental troops, representing earth, water, and fire, to fight enemy troops who are also elemental, being sure to attack with the element that those enemies are weak against. Each element has multiple attack options, including melee, ranged, and even a catapult attack to affect enemies on a higher plane.
The creative maturity of Hironobu Sakaguchi's Last Story
There must be a fascinating behind-the-scenes story as to how XSEED managed to get a hold of the localization rights for The Last Story. Ordinarily, Nintendo has a death grip on the rights to its games: If they don't localize it, no one does. XSEED, for their part, say they "got lucky."The Last Story is the most recent RPG by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, as well as the natural companion to Xenoblade Chronicles, which arrived last month. Both headlined last year's Operation Rainfall petition, along with Pandora's Tower, forever joining them at the hip. Much like Monolith Soft's opus Chronicles, Sakaguchi seems determined to say something new about the genre he once helped create.%Gallery-107120%
Ragnarok Odyssey journeying to North American Vitas sometime this year
In addition to bringing Orgarhythm stateside sometime before the end of this calendar year, XSEED has also announced equally nebulous plans to localize Ragnarok Odyssey for North American audiences and their Vitas. This follows the game's Japanese release last February, though how closely it'll follow remains to be seen. Set in the same world as Ragnarok Online, Odyssey is a Monster Hunter-esque runabout wherein the player's (fully customizable) character traverses the world, hunting "monsters and giants" as they do so. Players can choose from six different job classes, switching between missions when necessary, and play cooperatively either online or via local ad-hoc network, the later of which supports up to four players at a time.
XSEED announces rhythm/strategy title 'Orgarhythm' for Vita
Move over Theatrhythm, there's a new absurdly titled and unpronounceable handheld rhythm game in town: Orgarhythm. Developed by Acquire (in association with Neilo) and set to be published in North America by XSEED sometime this year, Orgarhythm is a hybrid rhythm/strategy game for the Vita.Acting as the God of Light, players do battle against the diametrically named God of Darkness by commanding armies of elementally-themed soldiers. The game's soundtrack, described as "a hypnotic mix of rock, club and tribal music," affects how and when your units attack, with the beat of the music acting as a quantifiable resource to be spent on stronger attacks. The music also dynamically alters itself depending on the circumstances of the battle, adding additional layers of complexity as more troops enter the fray.As implied by the rather artsy trailer above, commanding your army is handled entirely by the Vita's touchscreen – tapping to select troops, swiping to direct them towards the desired target, etc. Said troops also have a Pokemon-esque relationship with the enemy, due to the fact that every unit is either an Earth, water or fire-type, with all the inferred weaknesses and strengths you'd expect from such a system.Eventual DLC is mentioned by the press release tucked away after the break, but no specific plans are actually outlined. If you're an aspiring musician, however, take note: XSEED will be looking for independent artists sometime in the near future to bolstier Orgarhythm's aural catalog.%Gallery-154740%
Grand Knights History won't be published by XSEED, 'development resources' noted
XSEED Games announced late yesterday that it will not publish turn-based RPG Grand Knights History in North America as previously announced."Unfortunately, it was determined that development resources required to localize the game were not available, necessitating its cancellation," the official statement from XSEED sent to Joystiq reads. "We regret not being able to bring the game to our fans, but we are committed to our 2012 lineup and look forward to sharing more on these games in the coming weeks and months."Vanillaware, the developer of eye candy like Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Odin Sphere and the upcoming Dragon's Crown; will still see Grand Knights History published on PSP later this year in Europe by Rising Star Games.%Gallery-134648%
XSEED bringing Way of the Samurai 4 to North America as a digital PS3 release
The last Way of the Samurai game had two publishers on two different platforms in North America. Way of the Samurai 4 has just one publisher -- and it's neither of the previous companies. XSEED is taking on publishing duties for the PS3-exclusive action adventure, opting to release it digitally on PSN.Players take the role of a masterless samurai in the period immediately after Japan opened its borders to foreign trade. In this changing Japan, your customizable character can get involved with three factions: the shogunate, Prajna isolationists, or the new foreign occupants. Or you can just hang out in a dainty little dress, apparently.%Gallery-152307%
