Back in September 2023, GameCube card-based RPG duology Baten Kaitos made its way back to a Nintendo platform with the launch of Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster. While it may have been easy to miss last night's announcement, the collection is now available on Steam.

The Steam drop of the remastered set â€?which includes Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean and Baten Kaitos Origins â€?is priced at $49.99. Those who pick it up between now and July 1 w?ill get upgraded to the Month 1 Edition, which packs the games with a digital art book. As Bandai Namco details, the art book includes "concept art, character designs, historical documents, and the latest visuals" for both games. All of the content within is in Japanese. 

Baten Kaitos series character designer Nakaba Higurashi whipped up a new illustration to com??memorate the Steam r?elease.

In addition to updated visuals, the remastered versions of the Baten Kaitos games add in some progression-??focused features for those who just want to experience the story. There's the ability to turn on No Encounters so you can sail through the game without having to worry about battles. If you want to fight but don'?t want battles to impede progress, there's also an Instant KO setting that lets you defeat enemies in a single attack. 

Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster is 10 perce??nt off on Steam for a limited time, so if you want to grab it now, you can do so for $44.99. 

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Following up on the recent Switch release of Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster, Nintendo posted an interview with some of the original developers. Director and art director Yasuyuki Honne, planning director Koh Kojima, character designer Nakaba Higurashi, and composer Motoi Sakuraba all joined in to wax nostalgic. Thankfully, they shared relief while looking at how well?? both games have held up over the past two decades.

The original Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean launched on GameCube in Japan and the west in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Even 20 years later, there are many aspects of both it and its sequel that stand out today. "One thing that amazed me once again was the background art," Koh Kojima commented. "It is also surprising that [Yasuyuki] Honne drew all these almost by h?imself at the time."

This time around, Honne says he's just supervising the remastered version. Since the original was released so long ago, he said he really wanted to "remake the whole thing." He wasn't quite sure if fans of the series would like that id?ea. He's still pleased wit??h how they turned out now, though. "I feel relieved and happy to look back at how well the game was made, in terms of playability and length," he added. 

Reawakened memories

It sounds like putting together the Baten Kaitos remasters was a nostalgic experie??nce for all. Character designer Nakaba Higurashi "faced the illustrations" drawn in the past when creating the new key art. "I could vividly recall what I was thinking in the past, the feeling of the tools I used, and the faces of the people who supported me," Higurashi said about looking at Kalas in the artwork. 

"Baten Kaitos is a game where all development staff worked hard; hand-and-hand together like an orchestra," said Hon??ne. 

The team went on to name what they personally enjoy most about both games. Honne is a fan of Mira, the City of Illusion. Kojima chose the "wonderful world setting," which lets the player "become a spirit and participate in the story." Higurashi tried to take the easy route and celebrate every aspect, but ended up honing in on the character stories as a personal favo??rite. 

Orchestral evocations

Music is one of the many unforgettable pieces that make up both Baten Kaitos games. Renowned composer Motoi Sakuraba (Star Ocean, Golden Sun) had his own thoughts about his work on the soundtracks. "I'm proud of all the battle songs from Baten Kaitos I & II," he noted. He also reminisced about how his daughter, who was a small child at the time, performed the vocals for "Le ali del principio" from Baten Kaitos II. "She did her bes??t t??o sing it in Italian until the end of the song." 

It's always nice to get a firm NO REGRETS from a development staff this far down the line. Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster just hit Switc??h on September 14, so you can see how they hold up for yourself right now.

The post Baten Kaitos ?team talks about how the RPGs have held up over the years appeared first on Destructoid.

Some upcoming game updates and a new game reveal

Over the weekend Bandai Namco hosted their own Summer Showcase event at the Anime Expo in Los Angeles. The event included some updates and gameplay trailers for several previously announced titles as well as the reveal of Jujustu Kaisen Cursed Clash.

Below we've put together a recap of the Bandai Namco Summer?????????????????????????? Showcase in case you missed it!

Details on Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections

First, we got some details on Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections. Featuring an all-new special story mode, the game will feature two new game-original characters Nanashi and Merz. Naruto x Boruto will focus on a fight between Naruto and Sasuke leadi?ng to the crisis of the Fifth Great Ninja War.

We also ??got an all?-new trailer for the special story mode.

//youtu.be/xkGQLJwHCJc

Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is set to come ?to PlayStation 4, Pl?ayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and PC later this year.

[caption id="attachment_390052" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

More footage of the Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 HD Remaster

Next up we got some gameplay footage of Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 HD Remaster. The new veneer is looking great for a title that's almost two decades old. We also got confirmation of some of the exclusive new ??features being added to the remaster.

First, you will be able to increase the game and battle speed by up to 300%. You can also toggle a "No Encounters" mode that will let you avoid battles while playin?g. Finally, a new "Insta??nt KO" mode will allow you to defeat enemies with a single attack.

These features are similar to those we've seen in other recently older RPG re-releases and can add? some much-appreciated quality of life to those who may have already beaten the game in the past.

Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 HD Remaster hits the Nintendo Switch on September 14.

Sword Art Online: Last Recollection is the next entry in the franchise

The next installment in the popular Sword Art Online franchise is Sword Art Online: Last Recollection. We got some details on the story of the game, which will feature an original storyline based on the War of the Underworld. Plus, we got glimpse at a new system featuring high-speed battles in a MMO-like multiplayer setting. Sword Art Online: Last Recollection also has a roster of over 40 p??layable characters including some new original characters exclusive to this game.

We got a new trailer?? showing off some of those character?s.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TexFYGLUj18

Sword Art Online: Last Recollection releases on PlayStation 4, PlayStation ?5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC on October 6.

[caption id="attachment_390055" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

A fresh look at Sand Land

We got a look at some of the gameplay for the upcoming Sand Land, including? tank combat and the controllable Jump Bot.

The game is giving me big Steambot Chronicles vibes which definitely isn't a bad thing. The segment was a bit brief, but we got confirmation of a hands-on demo coming next month at the worldwide Sand Land movie premiere.

Sand Land is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. There's no release date yet, bu?t based on the limited information we've seen so far I'd anticipate a 2024 release.

[caption id="attachment_390058" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

New Game Reveal: Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash

Finally, we got a new game reveal: Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash. An action-packed arena brawler, Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash is based off the popular manga and anime of the sam??e name.

Players will form their own 2v2 team and do battle using a wide array of powerful tag-team attacks and combos. Different character combinations will have their own unique synergies and power dynamics. As players complete battles, their fighter's power level will increase unlocking stronger attacks via progression. Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox?? One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Overall it was a decent event for Bandai Namco fans that like their anime-style games. Personally, I was hoping to see God Eater 4, Code Vein 2, or even Scarlet Nexus 2. Oh well, maybe next year!

The post Bandai Namco Summer Showcase recap appeared first on Destructoid.

It's time to d-d-d-d-duel

GameCube-era card RPG series Baten Kaitos is getting a re-draw, in the form of Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster. Bandai? Namco ?is remastering both the original and its sequel, coming to Nintendo Switch in summer 2023.

The card-centric RPG series follows the story of Kalas, an adventurer seeking revenge for his brother and grandfather. The other entry, Baten Kaitos Origins, or Baten Kaitos 2 in Japan, takes place two decades prior to the?? first and follows S?agi, a spiriter with connections to both the Guardian Spirits and the Alfard Empire.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr8r70Jf31g

These are often talked about as cult classics of the GameCube, with some very interesting mechanics. Namely, they use cards for their battle systems, and the esoteric requirements for getting those cards has certainly made the speedrunning scene for them wild.

Bandai Namco is remastering both in this singular collection, due out this summer. It looks to only be locked in for Nintendo Switch, too. According to a Q+A on the Bandai Namco site, several quality-of-life enhancements are being made alongside the visual upgrades. New features will allow players to turn encounters off, skip cutscenes, and auto-save. No content has been added or deleted for either Baten Kaitos entry, either.

Heart of the cards

This is a wild revival for Bandai Namco to pick up, but this ongoing trend of bringing cult-classics back to life is one I can get on board with. Baten Kaitos I & II was revealed during today's absolutely packed Nintendo Direct, where fellow cult-classic Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective also got a remaster locked in.

With Live A Live and others havi??ng their own return to the spotlight, it??'s been a banner time for old-but-beloved games. Maybe those pipe-dreams of left-field remasters won't seem so out there any more.

For the GameCube card RPG fans, Baten Kaitos will return to deckbuild?ing on Nintendo Switch later this year.

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