There is not a mystery game after all

Following a recent interview with Team Ninja lead Fumihiko Yasuda, reports swirled that the studio had another game in the works, set to arrive before 2024's Rise of the Ronin. But Koei Tecmo confirms those rum?ors aren't accurate to Tea??m Ninja's plans.

Speaking to Famitsu, Yasuda discussed Team Ninja's upcoming docket of games. The previously announced Rise of the Ronin is set for? 2024. Yasuda a??lso expresses a desire to release something new in 2025. The confusion arises around a certain phrasing, though.

"'Rise of the Ronin' has been under development for about?? 7 years and is s?cheduled to be released in 2024," Yasuda said. "This work will be released in 2023, and I feel like I want to release a new title in 2025."

Famitsu's interview was published online on March 11, after the release of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty earlier this year. This, alongside mention that the game in question was in development, led to speculation and reports that Team Ninja has another game planned fo??r 2023.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlmdeQFyqC0

Koei Tecmo clarifies

As noted in Famitsu's article, though, this interview was conducted on February 14, 2023, prior to the launch of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. And the interview itself is about Wo Long, too.

We reached out to Team Ninja parent company Koei Tecmo to clarify, and a spokesperson confirmed that "this work" refers to Wo Long. The spokesperson also confirms their 2023 game is Wo Long, and Te?am Ni??nja does not have another full game planned for 2023.

Which, considering Wo Long still has a season pass' worth of content on the way alongside Rise of the Ronin and thoughts of a 2025 game, is probably a good t??hing. Team Ninja has had a steady cadence over the last few years.

Meanwhile, Wo Long does sound like it's a pretty rad. That's out now, with added content? on the way for the rest of this year.

The post Koei Tecmo confirms there isn’t another Team Ninja game arriving this year appeared first on Destructoid.

Wide, wide world of crafting

It’s time for my fourth annual review of one of Koei Tecmo’s Atelier games, and I’ve fallen a bit behind. I passed the 20-hour mark in Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, which has proven insufficient f??or conjuring a final opinion.

Atelier Ryza 3 (I’m never going to remember the subtitle, so why pretend?) is a mix of old standards and new experiments. It is so strange. It wears an ?outfit comprised of various poorly fitting garments, and I am fighting with myself to discov?er whether I think that’s an overall good or bad thing.

[caption id="attachment_370045" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Bubble bubble...

The main change for Atelier Ryza 3 is that its world is magnitudes bigger than anything else in the series. In the beginning, you’re in the same area where Atelier Ryza takes place. Pretty much everything from the first game is represented �copied wholesale �with one major difference: there are no loading screens. The whole area is presented as one big continuous area. It’s still made up of nodes and path??ways, but there’s no s??toppage in between.

The story involves the sudden appearance of a group of islands that are quickly referred to as the “Kark Isles.�I’m guessing this name sounds sinister to the Japanese ear, but as an anglophone, it is more like the sound someone makes when a Junebug flies down their windpipe at high velocity. In the weirdly realistic twist for an Atelier plot, the sudden appearance of i?slands has had devastating consequences for the marine environment. Since Reiselin “Ryza�Stout is ??the only competent person on Kurken Island, she is asked to investigate.

But that’s only the beginning. Not long after you first start po?king around the Kark Isles, Ryza and her squad get sidetracked by a plot that is only tangentially related to the main issue. So, they travel to a completely different part of the world, and rather than address the problem threatening their home, they get into a crafting competition.

And that’s not the last time t??hey’ll switch landmass.

//youtu.be/qDG_g2tcsNY

All the tools

The Cleria region is already a big chunk of land, and I had come to expect that this was just where Atelier Ryza 3 would tell its story, but then Ryza and Co return to Kurken, only to immediately set out again to a completely different region. It’s a big, big game, if the inclusion of the entire region from the first game didn’t tip you off. But it’s less that there’s more Atelier Ryza and more that the same amount of game has been spread acr?oss a much wider area.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’m a fan of gigantic w??orlds, and the change in design has had several major impacts that I appreciate. The first is that the game doesn’t take all that long to let you off the leash. You essentially start with your atelier and can start crafting right away. Progression is immediate. If you are familiar with the previous games and have already built your skills in the game’s mechanics, you can start putting them to use very quickly and build up your party.

There are very few barriers to exploration, as well. While you can travel to the next region until you’ve progressed enough in the story, you’re not shackled to a lack of gear to make your way around. Things like the air drops that allow you to dive underwater can be crafted very early, opening up all the exploration abi?lities quickly. Likewise, recipes for gathering equipment, such as the axe and hammer, are av?ailable from the start, so you’re not limited in what you can collect.

[caption id="attachment_370047" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Gilded cage

Where this starts to detract from the game itself is in the fact that the wide world was obviously created in a (relatively) short time. There’s a lot less care in its design. At times, the conflicting elements in the environments and the overall feeling of it being thrown together make the areas feel downr?ight ugly. They’re neither lifeless nor empty, but the sporadic enemy and resource placements in some areas can make them feel like they were created quickly and never polished nor revised.

The world des?ign isn’t too much of a departure from previous games, either. There are some areas th??at are more open, but a lot of the time, it’s just a twisted spaghetti nest of corridors. That might be for the best, because not a lot of effort was made to make the traversal any more comfortable. There are mounts and zip lines, but Ryza is so rooted to the ground that a lot of the verticality is lost. There are also a lot of invisible walls and areas that it looks like you should be able to access, but can't.

[caption id="attachment_370049" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Mixed feelings

I’m maybe coming across too negatively on Atelier Ryza 3’s world design. To be clear, I think it’s a positive and beneficial step for the series; I just want to temper player expectations. This isn’t a completely reformulated take on the Atelier series. You could, perhaps, say it’s an open-world approach, but I feel that’s inaccurate. It’s more of a “big world�take on the series. It’s extraordinarily expansive, but the actual feel of its de??sign is much the same.

The resulting shift, however, is enough to make Atelier Ryza 3 something of a mess. On the other hand, it’s a mess that I’m largely enjoying. It’s a mess with character. I’m still trying to figure out if I think the painful and abrupt expansion has?? left us with the best game in the series or just a disappointing experiment. It could really go either way. With that said, the changes made are at least worth seeing.

_{[This review in progress is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review in Progress: Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemis?t of ?the End & the Secret Key appeared first on Destructoid.

Premieres in Japan this summer

Wonderful news for fans of the Atelier series, as Koei Tecmo has revealed that a new anime adaptation of Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is currently in production inc? collaboration with Aniplex. The new TV series ?is expected to premiere in Japan this coming summer.

Not much was offered in the way of detail about the anime, but it is confirmed to be a straight adaptation of the 2019 video game, which saw young hero Reisalin Stout �more commonly known as "Ryza", embark upon a country-crossing series of adventures with her frie?nds, where they become embroiled in a world of magic, alchemy, and monsters. The anime is being produced by studio Liden Films, who have a proven pedigree in adapting games and manga to the medium of animation.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly83UdDhv18&ab_channel=%E3%82%A2%E3%83%8B%E3%83%97%E3%83%AC%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9%E3%83%81%E3%83%A3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8?D%E3%83%AB

Koei Tecmo and Aniplex announced that more details about the series will be revealed at the dramatically titled "Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key Launch and Anime Adapation!" event, which is scheduled to take place this Sunday at the Anime Japan 2023 expo. As you c??an see from the teaser trailer above, the new anime features some wonderful lineart and animation, even if the camera is a tad on the shameless side.

It's a very promising look at what will no doubt be an eagerly anticipated show for the Atelier faithful.

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness &; the Secret Hideo?ut anime announced [Gematsu]

The post Atelier Ryza anime Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout coming 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Don't say sayonara to these Wild Hearts yet

The world of Wild Hearts is getting even more in March. Koei Tecmo and Electronic Arts have teased a new Kemono arriving in Wild Hearts in March, alongside more content.

This new beast to hunt seems to be fire-based, according to the teaser posted on social media. The "torrid inferno" and volcano emoji certainly brings to mind some?? smoldering concepts for a new Kemono to hunt through Azuma.

//tw??itter.com/playWildHearts/status/1631090??551645667328

More content is expected to arrive in March, though today's teaser doesn't specify if that means more Kemonos or other content. Regardless, it does look like speedy Wild Hearts players will have? even more to tackle in the comi?ng month.

Hearts young and wild and free

It hasn't been all that long since Wild Hearts landed on newer consoles and PC, back on February 17. Still, it sounds like players have mostly enjoyed Omega Force's return to the monster-hunting format,?? with lots of building and action ?to go around.

With content already slated for March, it looks like support will be here for at least the short term. For the hunting fans at home, I hope it's a sign of a decent lifespan on this game. February was an absolutely stacked month, with way too many games for any one person to get around to. But Wild Hearts certainly seems like it's been worth it to check out, fo??r any??one who likes to take down big monsters and gradually gear up as they do so.

The post Wil??d Hearts teases a new Kemono and more to co?me in March appeared first on Destructoid.

A witch, an alchemist, and a wrestler walk into a bar...

March 2023 is heating up with plenty of exciting game releases. Resident Evil 4 Remake will modernize the horror classic with spectacular visuals, while Atelier Ryza 3 is taking the series open world for the fir??st time.

In addition, we'll be getting a brand-new WarGames mode in WWE 2K23 and exploring a certain witch's past in Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. Here's what to expect?? from the March 2023 games lineup.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & The Secret Key (NSW, PS4, PS5, PC)

[caption id="attachment_365614" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Koei Tecmo[/caption]

Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Developer: Gust
Price: $59.99
Release Date: March 24
Trailer

Firstly, the fan-favorite Atelier series takes its introductory steps into an open world, and this will sadly be the conclusion to Ryza's story. Koei Tecmo seems to be stepping up the action with 11 playable characters, a seamless open-world design with multiple biomes, and a grand story involving the Code of the Universe. It will also have some fun alchemy mechanics, which makes the series stand out among the rest of the JRPG juggernauts, like Final Fantasy and Persona. Atelier Ryza 3 was recently delayed by a month. Hopefully, t??h?e game is technically sound and will run great when the game is in the players' hands.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon (NSW)

[caption id="attachment_365612" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: PlatinumGames
Price: $59.99
Release Date: March 17
Trailer

Coming out of nowhere in an early 2023 Nintendo Direct, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza of the Demon tells the origin story of the legendary witch. Cereza (her name before being called Bayonetta), alongside her first demon Cheshire, is on a quest to save her mother with a power found within the forest. She'll be solving puzzles and fighting faeries, even as a child. This game will likely give some fascinating backstory to the beloved witch in the Bayonetta series. There's an expectation of quality from this cult hit series, so hopefully?, this game will deliver.

Resident Evil 4 Remake (PS5, PS4, XSX|S, PC)

[caption id="attachment_365615" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Price: $59.99
Release Date: March 24
Trailer

One of the most prolific horror games ever made, Resident Evil 4, is finally receiving a remake in March. Similarly to the two prior remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, RE4 is getting a complete reworking of its gameplay and graphics. The animation and texture quality is incredible, while the gameplay has been remade to fit more modern tastes. That means no more tank controls! In addition, the pesky quick-time events of the original have been completely removed. While Capcom's attempts to bring back Resident Evil 3 arguably disappointed fans, Resident Evil 4 Remake can hopefully pick up the slack.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX|S, PC)

[caption id="attachment_365626" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Koei Tecmo[/caption]

Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Developer: Team NINJA
Price: $59.99
Release Date: March 3
Trailer

After the tepid audience response to Wild Hearts (according to the UK charts via PlayStation Trophies), Koei Tecmo is likely hoping Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty will be a hit. This action RPG pits you against mighty bosses across the Three Kingdoms. Set in a dark fantasy interpretation of the late Han Dynasty, you'll face off foes with swordplay that's based on Chinese martial arts. You'll have access to multiple weapons like dual swords, glaives, a spear, a staff, and 14 other types. You'll also be able to use magic like fire and ice-elemental abilities against your enemies. Hopefully, this Souls-like hits with Team NINJA's many fans of Nioh. There's a demo out as well if you're curious about this JRPG.

WWE 2K23 (PS4, PS5, XBO, XSX|S, PC)

[caption id="attachment_365629" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via 2K[/caption]

Publisher: 2K
Developer: Visual Concepts
Price: $59.99
Release Date: March 17
Trailer

Unlike the 2021-2022 season, WWE has been red-hot over the past year with the return of Cody Rhodes, the championship reign of the E.S.T. Bianca Belair, and the incredible storytelling from the Bloodline faction. Hopefully, WWE 2K23 takes advantage of the hype that's been building toward Wrestlemania in 2023. The game is introducing a new WarGames mode, which has two wrestling rings combined within a cage. In addition, the MyGM mode is getting a big upgrade with new managers, match types, and more show options with four people instead of just two. Wrestlers like Logan Paul and the original GOAT Bruno Sammartino are a part of the roster as well. It's one of the March 2023 games that diehard fans w?i??ll want.

Honorable Mentions

[caption id="attachment_365630" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Awaceb & Kepler Interactive[/captio??n]

Thankfully, there's a promising indie that has to be included on this list: Tchia. It's an open world that has the titular character exploring the beautiful archipelago islands and sailing the seas. A neat mechanic in this game is that you can take control of any animal in the game. You can even learn the ukelele in Tchia. It's docking ont?o PS4, PS5, and the Epic Games Store on March 21.

Additionally, Crime Boss: Rockay City is making its way to consoles and PC (Epic Games Store) on March 28. Starring Hollywood talents like Chuck Norris and Michael Rooker, this crime-based first-person shooter has you planning heists, similar to Payday. The twist is it has roguelike mechanics as you take down?? enemy forces from rival gangs and avoid the ??custody of Officer Norris. The action seems fun and having more co-op experiences can only be a good thing.

The post Most anticipated game releases – March 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

One last fight before the main event

The final demo for Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is finally available. Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja'??s action RPG has its final demo out now, ahead of its launch next week.

The Wo Long demo is live now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms. Save progress will carry over into the full game, and for those too busy to hop in this weekend, the demo won't go away when the game launches. The final Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty demo is slated to stay live through March 26.

Included in the final demo are Chapter 1?: Village of Calamity and Chapter 2: Two Chivalrous Heroes. Starting here won't just net you an easy on-ram?p to the full game, but also a reward in the "Crouching Dragon Helmet" item.

Alongside the demo release, you can also get a glimpse of Team Ninja's new action-RPG here in the brand-new launch trailer here:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi7vQOpfquo

A fight for the kingdom

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty heads to the Three Kingdoms era, so fans of Dynasty Warriors or other virtual adaptations will feel right at home. This is, however, Team Ninja tack?ling the action.

Considering the trajectory Team Ninja has struck with Nioh, it seems we can expect ?more fantasy and some punishing swordplay.

Luckily for fans of Team Ninja's work, Wo Long looks to have held up in all of our early looks at the game. As Chris noted in a recent preview, it?'s ticking all the right boxes, e??ven if it's not for the faint of heart.

With today's demo, you'll get at least a chance to see whether you're up for it ahead of the full game. And hey, if you end up liking it, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty arrives on PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC next week on Mar??ch 3.

The post Wo Long??: Fallen Dynasty final demo is out now, ahead of launch appeared first on Destructoid.

Toil and trouble await in Salburg

Koei Tecmo has locked in a launch date for its remake of the first Atelier game. Atelier Marie Remake: Alchemist of Salburg is set to hit Switch, PlayStation 5, PS4, and PC via Steam on July 13, 20??23??.

Previously confirmed for a summer 2023 window during the recent Nintendo Direct in Japan, Atelier Marie Remake will "reintroduce" player??s to Marie, a struggling student at the Royal Academy of Magic. Marie's goal? Make an item within five years that will appease her teacher. But that's easier said than done.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=38j5TByJ0nM

Gathering and collecting alchemy materials, and then synthesizing them into items, is a core part of the story. You can fulfill requests for those in the town, upgrade your atelier, ?and hire little helpers to assist. On top of this, there are some RPG battles to undertake, potentially leading to encounters with legendary monsters. Turns out magic school is pretty rough.

Atelier Marie Remake is playable with either the story-imposed five-year time limit, or with an "Unlimited Mode" which turns off t??he time crunch. Either way, Gust's R?PG gets a fresh look and a bevy of new platforms to play it on.

Stirring the pot

As the Atelier series grows in popularity, it's cool to see this piece of history get a refresh for modern systems. All the life sim elements may even seem more appealing to players now, who may have put a fair number of hours into games like Stardew Valley and are looking for a new RPG with similar vibes.

In other Atelier news, Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is due out on March 24, 2023 after taking a one-month delay to wo??rk on the game. Even with the delay, though, the upcoming spring and summer looks to have plenty for armchair alchemists to dig into.

The post Atelier ???Marie Remake sets a launch date for July 13 appeared first on Destructoid.

Wild Hearts will stir up your PC

Wild Hearts will be a current generation-only game, meaning that you'll need a hardy rig to get the game running on PC. These Wild Hearts PC sy?stem requirements may need you to open up your wallet and upgrade your gaming setup.

If you don't have the specs and are strapped for cash and have a console at hand, you should be happy to know that there's full crossplay between all systems. Regardless, below you'll find all of the Wild Hearts PC system requirements and recommended settings that publisher EA Originals and developer Koei Tecm??o have published.

Wild Hearts PC system requirements

[caption id="attachment_361932" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via EA / Koei Tecmo[/caption]

2023 seems to be the beginning of the end for those who have a PS4, Xbox One, and ultimately an outdated PC. More games like Wild Hearts and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will be leaving earlier platforms in the dust. This means that you may need to beef up your PC if you want to play this epic monster-hunting game. Here are all the Wild Hearts system requirements you'll need:

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
• Memory: 12 GB RAM
• Graphics: GeForce GTX 1060 (VRAM 6GB) / Radeon RX 5500 XT (VRAM 8GB)
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 80 GB

You'll also need a stable internet connection to get into the chaos of Wild Hearts and join your buddies in t??heir fight agains??t these beasts.

Wild Hearts Recommended Hardware

[caption id="attachment_361935" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via EA / Koei Tecmo[/caption]

To experience Wild Hearts in all of its graphical glory, you'll need an impressive graphics card and 16GB of RAM. Let's go over all the recommended hardware that should be in your PC for the best performance of Wild Hearts.

• OS: 64-bit Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: GeForce RTX 2070 (VRAM 8GB) / Radeon RX 5700 XT (VRAM 8GB)
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 80 GB

On the Steam page for the game, EA and Koei Tecmo recommend you also use a surround sound system or headset to get the most immersive experience possible within Wild Hearts. It might be worth the expenditure if our preview is anything to go by.

Related: Does Wild Hearts have Haptic Feedback? �Answered on Prima Games

The post Wild Hearts PC system? requirements and recommended settings appeared first on Destructoid.

Paradise Lost

This week sees the launch of Electronic Arts period-piece adventure Wild Hearts, the mythical action-RPG set within the age of feudal Japan �Developer Omega Force, of Dynasty Warriors fame, has released a new trailer introducing playe??rs to the village and people of Minato, loca??ted deep within the beautiful overworld known as Azuma.

Wild Hearts will present players will a fresh take on the... well... the Monster Hunting genre that has proven especially popular in recent years. The player will take up the mantle of a custom hunter, and team with the people of Minato on a quest to track and defeat a menagerie of behemoth beasts known as "The Kemono" �utilizing each creature's soulful "Celestial Thread" in o?rder to renovate and rebuild the province of Azuma before it is lost completely.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_grFGQ2oWUQ&t

As you can see from the trailer above, Wild Hearts will boast some amazing and awe-inspiring creature designs, while offering up a selection of varied weaponry, gear, and elemental skills in order to aid our hunters in their battles with these incredible land gods. From the village of Minato, the play?er will enlist the help of various arts, from alchemists to healers, blacksmiths to guides, in order to best prepare for the long and hazardous journeys that lie ahead.

Hone finely crafted skills of the "Karakuri" in order to build a variety of envir??onmental traps and defenses, and experiment with a wide arsenal of weapons in order to best equip you and your party for the hunt. And looking at some of the monsters on display in this preview, you're probably going to need all of the help you can g??et. I mean, I'd come with you, but I've got a bit of a bad back. There in spirit, though.

Wild Hearts launches February 17 on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X. Be sure to check out our own Chris Carter's initial thoughts in his Review-in-Progress.

The post Wild Hearts tra?iler introduces the village and people of Minato appeared first on Destructoid.

Hopefully it stays fun

When we last checked in with Wild Hearts, I was pleased at how unique the game world was, and how it differentiated itself from the rest of the hunting genre. Four months later with the final build i?n my hands and the launch swiftly approaching, I feel ro?ughly the same.

[caption id="attachment_363055" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

For me, the main draw of Wild Hearts is the setting. Taking place in the constantly changing and mysterious land of Azuma, it feels like pretty much anything can happen. An ice wolf can drop by and change the arena into an arctic setting. A creature can breathe fire and wreck havoc in an idyllic forest. Of course most of these sequences are scripted and?? deal with the introduction of big bosses (the subjects of the hunt), but it's still exciting in the context of a first-time pl??aythrough.

It also has a good Koei Tecmo action core to boot. The key to all this is the Karakuri system, which are basically magically con?jured tools, adding a bit of construction into the hunting formula. The very first Karakuri you acquire is a platform, which can also be used as a spring board to launch you into enemies. Slowly but surely, you start to realize the additional use scenarios for Karakuri, like placing platforms to block attacks and create a makeshift barrier??, and so on.

On performance mode, everything plays out smoothly, amid the vibrant visuals. While the story hasn't grabbed me yet (despite being a chunk into the game), the world is driving me forward, and I don't have any major complaints about the action sequences yet. The additional of a "s??liding dodge" (triggered when pressing the dodge button while sprinting) feels comically ov?er the top at first, but really helps the player character avoid some of the crazier attacks from bosses.

So far, I have been able to experiment a bit with online multiplayer; a??nd in the pre-launch period, things have been?? going swimmingly. The game will ask me if I want to call for help whenever fighting a big hunt target, and I'll always just hit "yes" just to see what happens. Every other fight someone joins in and answers the call, usually with a completely different main weapon and Karakuri setup.

[caption id="attachment_363057" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Seeing all of the different weapons work in tandem is how Wild Hearts really comes together. As I generally brave close combat situations and serve as the bait, other players use combos of ranged and hit and run weapons, bringing in Kara?kuri synergy of their own. I've had a blast trying out new strategies and loadouts too on lower priority targets, as it feels like there's just enough weapons to do that without things getting too overbearing.

We've heard from Koei Tecmo for m??onths that the game is supposed to be 30 hours long, and hopefully it keeps up the pacing I've experienced throughout that runtime. But most importantly, hunter genre fans are going to want to know if this game is going to be a flash in the pan, or something they want to invest in for months on end.

Even if it doesn't meet those expectations (and some post-launch patches and DLC never arrive), I'm glad I took the plunge and played through everything I've seen so far. This is a gorgeous game, and as a purely atmospheric action romp, it's hitting a lot of good notes. Expect our full review of Wild Hearts closer to launch.

The post Review in Progress: Wild Hearts appeared first on Destructoid.

An older Atelier entry gets a modern update

One of the earlier entries in the Atelier series is getting remade for current systems. Atelier Marie Remake reimagines the original Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg, and it arrives for Switch, PS4, PS5,? and PC this summer.

The news arrived yesterday during the Japanese broadcast of the Nintendo Direct. While it wasn't shown in the English-language Direct, Koei Tecmo America has launched a site saying that the remake will arrive this s??ummer. We reached out and a Koei Tecmo representative confirmed that this summer is the worldwide release window.

Here's the trailer from yesterday's Direct:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAfHby0zw74

The original Atelier Marie was the first in the now long-running Atelier series. First released in 1997 f?or the PlayStation, then later ported to Sega Saturn and Windows, it is the origin of the series. It follows Marie's quest to create something outstanding, to stand out in her clas?s.

Back to the origin

With the Atelier series seeming to pick up steam in the west with each new entry, it's neat to see Koei Tecmo return to its roots. While Atelier Marie has seen many ports over the years, this starting slice of the series h??asn't seen an official North American release yet.

For fans of the workshop-driven RPG series, this could be a good chance to see how it all started, but with a fresh update and look that adheres closer to recent entries like Ryza and Sophie.

Meanwhile, Atelier Ryza 3 was originally slated to arrive this month. But the team recently announced it's taking a one-month delay and pus??hing the third entry in Ryza's adventure back to March 24.

The post Atelier Marie Remake:?? The Alchemist of Salb??urg arrives this summer appeared first on Destructoid.

One more chance to try Wo Long out

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty arrives pretty soon, but if you're still unsure or just want to play more of it, there will be one more chance before release. A final Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty demo is going live on February 24, 2023.

Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja's new action-RPG will have this demo for Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty up from Feb. 24 through March 26, 202??3. The new and final demo will be available on all systems it's releasing on too, which are Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PS5, and PC.

The final demo will feature Chapter 1: Village of Calamity and Chapter 2: Two Chivalrous Heroes. This start from the earlier chapters of the game is also good for prospective buyers, as save ??data can transfer over to the main game. Doing this will also net you the "Crouching Dragon Helmet" item.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlmdeQFyqC0

Online multiplayer will also be available in the final Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty demo. And a special launc?h window "Baihu ??Armor" has been revealed for anyone who gets the game by March 16, alongside the digital pre-order "Zhuque Armor" bonus.

Dynasty warriors

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has been quietly creeping up lists for games to keep an eye on this year. The latest action-RPG from Team Ninja does seem to carry on ideas from Nioh, while set in the Three Kingdoms era of China.

While FromSoftware is well known for its ability to craft a punishing fantasy action-RPG, Team NInja has been honing its own skills within the genre. And from the impression we had with a recent hands-on, it seems like Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is coming together to be a surprise hit for those who haven't been?? keeping an eye on it.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is out on March 3 for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.

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The alchemy will take a bit longer

The next installment in the Atelier Ryza series is taking just a little bit more time to get it right. Koei Tecmo and the Atelier team are pushing the launch date of Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key back one month.

This moves the Atelier Ryza 3 launch to March 24, 2023, just one month removed from its previous February 24 date. In a statement on the shi?ft, producer Junzo Hosoi says that in or?der to make this a "fitting finale" for Ryza and friends, the team has taken on challenges like a vast open field and more expressive graphics.

"Our team will take this ??additional time to fine-tune the final touches so that we can deliver to all of you who have been following the series for the best possible experience in this culmination of Ryza and her friend's adventures," said Hos??oi. "We are making the game even better to make it worth your wait, so we appreciate your patience for just a little bit more until the game's release."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDG_g2tcsNY

Atelier Ryza 3 will cap off the Ryza series, with a note on the site saying this is Ryza's "final summ??er adventure?" with one final secret. It seems like the Atelier team wants to make sure the ending comes together well.

After the summer is gone

One month is not much in the grand scheme of things, and certainly n?ot much compared to other game delays. And if the extra time means the Atelier studio can get everything right, that's a good thing.

The one troublesome note is that Atelier Ryza 3 now launches on the same day as the remake of Resident Evil 4. But its previous date was also in contention with another game, and inside its own genre at that, with Octopath Traveler II. Really,?? there's little chance of having a big week to yourself in 2023, as a bunch of games are already slated to launch in the first quarter of the year.

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Look forward to something, somewhere, at somepoint

Happy new year folks! Here's to another fine year of this fine pastime of video gaming, and it seems that many of ?Japan's biggest developers and publishers are all ready and raring to bring fun new adventures your way in 2023... They just aren't exactly ready to come forward with any titles, release dates, platforms, or trailers...

As part of the myriad ?Happy New Year messages dropped by multiple studios, a lot of titles were certainly teased �in as much as it was revealed that they exist, ?somewhere, in somebody's desk.

[Thanks to Gematsu and Famitsu for the translations of the studios' messages.]

Konami led the charge, teasing "power-ups", (whatever the hell that means), and "new developments for familiar series" while also "quietly progressing on new projects". So, look forward to all of tha??t. Especially the power-ups?!!

Persona publisher Atlus also joined the cryptic crew, noting that it is "preparing several unannounced titles" while also asking fans to check out the incoming ports of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden, which hit PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Swi??tch platforms on January 19. They'll be here before you know it �ready and rar?ing for their 14th playthrough.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PazfxkDW??3RU&ab_channel=KOEITECMOAMERICA

Spike Chunsoft �of Danganronpa and AI: The Somnium Files �also noted that it was "preparing unannounced large-scale title(s)" with some form of reveal to be expected "in the not-so-distant future". Spike Chunsoft is also preparing Master Detective Archives: Rain Code for its upcoming Switch release, and will also be handling the long-awaited PS5 edition of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition.

Koei Tecmo was a little more specific with its new year plans, announcing new RPG Fate/Samurai Remnant for PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch platforms. Fans can expect the new title at some point in 2023. Developers Omega Force and Kou Shibusawa, and Aniplex released a short teaser trailer. You can also check out a brand-new website right here.

So there you have it. Plenty of studios are planning to rele?ase something, at some poi??nt. Let's go!

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Ninja Rap

[Update: In a new statement to VGC, Team Ninja's Tom Lee has suggested that fans shouldn't hold their breath on these previously hinted reboots for both Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive.

"Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden are both long-standing pillar franchises for Team Ninja. These celebrated titles are synonymous with our studio history and reputation," said Lee in VGC's statement. "It goes without saying that when speaking about the development of our past and futur?e projects, both of these important titles cannot be left without mention. However, there are no details or information to share on either of these franchises at this present time."

“Like many of our dedicated fans, we share the enthusiasm for the return of these beloved titles. And we will be sure to provide a proper update (if and) when ??that day arrives."]

Original Article

Team Ninja is not done with its flagship franchises Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive �What's more, it appears that the Japanese developer is actually making?? preparations to reboot both franchises for someth??ing of a fresh start for both long-running series.

At the G-Star conference in Busan, South Korea this weekend, Team Ninja President Fumihiko Yasuda held a panel on the future of the studio. As part of Yasuda's presentation, a slide was shown that featured logos and images from action RPG franchise Ninja Gaiden, and 3D scrapper series Dead or Alive, complete with a header of "Reboots of popular series". A translation from Ruliweb suggests that Yasuda said ???news of these projects would arrive "as soon as possible".

The last mainline Ninja Gaiden release was 2012's Ninja Gaiden 3, though numerous spin-offs, side-titles, and compilations have hit the market since then. The series is renowned for its violent combat, mythical adventure, an?d exceptionally challenging gameplay. It is also one of gaming's longest-running franchises �the original entries in the series having launched on arcade and NES markets in 1988.

Initially launched as a challenger to the burgeoning 3D fighter market, Dead or Alive is typified by its incredibly fast fighting action, smart counter-attack mechanics, and cheesecake-sexualized roster of buxom babes. While Dead or Alive as a fighter is top-tier entertainment, the series has been heavily chastised in recent years as a mere cash register, with the last release, Dead or Alive 6, being particularly egregious in its "DLC first, game second" mentality. Over $400 worth of in-game costumes were released for the title in its first year, with even alternate hair colors being sold as separate DLC purchases. In addition, the game itself felt as if little advancement had been made over the-then seven-year-old DoA 5.

Dead or Alive 6, inarguably, was a shameful end to a plucky, well-designed, underdog fighting franchise. A reboot is the only way to go for Team Ninja. As for whether any lessons will have been learned from DoA 6's embarrassment. That will be on the part of i?ts publisher. Time will tell.

Tea?m Ninja is planning to reboot Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden [Free Step Dodge]

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You're gonna need a bigger barn

Monster Rancher, for me, has always been a game I enjoyed more for its gimmick rather than its gameplay. Back in the �0s, I wasn’t too hot about slowly raising a monster through battles, training, and adventures just to eventually fuse them with another monster and start the process all over again. I was f??ar more interested in the gimmick. I went through every CD in my parent’s collection, unlocking whatever monsters were tied to their Garth Brooks and Shania Twain albums. My f??riends at school would exchange CDs and report back what we unlocked.

For me, that was the game. I didn’t care too much about being an actual rancher. I just wanted to see what monsters I would get if I put in my Space Jam CD. Wo?uld I even care about this series if?? it didn’t have that gimmick?

Turns out I do care, as long as it has kaiju.

Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher (Switch)
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Released: October 19, 2022
MSRP: $49.99

I’ve written ad nauseam on this site about my love of kaiju and how I’ll give just about any game my time and attention if it has big, giant monsters. For the past week and some change, I’ve been giving a bit too much of my time and far too much attention to Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher, the latest entry in the long-dormant monster-raising franchise. Back in the �0s, Monster Rancher was one of the most ingenious games on the market thanks to its novel use of reading music CDs to summon monsters. Nobody knew it at the time, but that innovation had an expiration date. In 2003, the same year Tecmo released Monster Rancher 4, Apple launched the iTunes Store. It would only be a matter of time before CDs became a thing of the pa?st.

Without that gimmick, it’s tougher to sell people on the idea of Monster Rancher. The series hasn’t evolved a great deal since its incept??ion. You’re still raising a monster on a cycle of training, sleeping, and battling, building up their power until you can combine them with another monster to create a new creature that’ll put you back at square one. You can send your monster off to grow with other trainers in the game, and after a few hours of playing, you’ll get invited out on adventures where you and your monster can explore tile-based maps with treasure to discover. Those have been the nuts and bolts of the franchise since the original; only everything here is super-sized with kaiju.

It’s the ridiculousness of this idea–that you can control a massive kaiju and keep it happy with cookies and complements–that I could not get enough of in Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher. Going into the game, I pretty much thought it would make a fun first impression, with me raising a giant crab monster on a farm before I’d grow tired of it and want to mov?e on. And yet, even with the game's pacing being a bit too slow for my liking, I never got that urge to move on. I wanted to see that crab monster through to his retirement, and then I wanted to take his best? features and put them into a new kaiju.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=38tPkSWK0iY

Perhaps I’m just too big a sucker for giant monsters, but Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher is the first game in the series to get me to care about the gameplay as much as the gimmick. I put in the effort this time to fuse and raise strong monsters that would be able to take on the toughest competitors the game threw at me. Once I got past the slow opening hours, I really started to vibe with it. My first?? kaiju, the aforementioned crab monster, was pretty quick to an??ger and went on several expensive rampages before I retired him. When I started again with monster number two, I got into the rhythm of the schedule, carefully crafting my kaiju’s training and sleeping weeks around the notion their anger could be used as a weapon in battle.

Fight it out

As with previous Monster Rancher games, battles in Ultra Kaiju are distance-based. You’ll move your kaiju toward and away from your opponent, getting access to whatever attacks they’ve unlocked for the distance they’re currently at. Having a good strategy going into battle is fine, but what will really make the difference are your kaiju’s stats. As with most other RPGs, as long as your kaiju has better numbers than your opponent does, you should be fine. But i??f you really want to seal the deal, make sure your kaiju is as angry as can be before you send them into battle.

It is fun watching a kaiju destroy a farm because it got so angry when I asked it to build me a snowman, but it’s also just fun watching these kaiju in general. Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher isn’t the prettiest Switch game around, but the artists at Koei Tecmo nailed the design of all these Ultraman creatures. The textures used in their character models make them actually look like they’re guys in big foam suits. It’s something that becomes far more noticeable when you stand them across from one of the classic Monster Rancher monsters that appear in the game.

I Summon Thee

There are more than 200 kaiju and monsters to collect in Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher. Obtaining them is not nearly as fun as it was back on the PlayStation. The game has a few options for summoning new monsters, including scanning non-amiibo NFC chips, entering a password, typing two keywords, or using a Field Guide to summon a kaiju you’ve previously raised. Look, I know the Switch doesn’t have a CD player, and the only CD anyone bought this year was Taylor Swift’s Midnights, but it’s disappointing the ?developers didn’t implement some cre??ative gimmick to summon new creatures.

In Monster Rancher DS, one of the two ways you summoned new monsters was by drawing on the touch screen. Something like that could have been used here. Or the game could have searched your save data like it’s Psycho Mantis. Hell, it could have generated new monst?ers from the screenshots you've saved on your console. I donâ€??™t know how easy any of that would have been to implement. I just know it would have been a lot more interesting than me thinking of two words.

But even without a fun and innovative way to summon new kaiju, I think Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher is an excellent revival of a cult classic series. You don’t even have to be a fan of Ultraman to appreciate this crossover. As long as you don’t mind the slow and occasionally repetitious gameplay that’s at the core of the Monster Rancher franc??hise, there are plenty of good times to ?be had here.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Not too much Wo Longer to wait

Koei Tecmo has finally announced an official release date for Team Ninja's dark fantasy epic Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty �The hugely challenging Three Kingdoms adapt??ation will launch on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms on March 3, 2023.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlmdeQFyqC0

Wo Long, which was recently bestowed upon Soulslike fans via a PlayStation demo, will task players with building a deadly and stoic warrior, who will then stand against a huge batallion of rogues, demons, and monsters. Utilizing an array of deadly hand-to-hand and weapon-based combat skills, our hero will call upon the power of The Divine Beings in order to infuse their attacks with ??otherworldly, spiritual powers. Craft your champion across five phases, taking down larger and more destructive forces as their epic journey continues.

Now available to pre-order, eager players can bag the Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Deluxe Digital Edition includes a season pass, containing three post-release DLC expansions �bringing with them additional stages, skills, weapons to s?wing, and demon heads to be swung upon. Picking up the Deluxe Digital Edition will also bag you a digital art book and soundtrack, as well as the exclusive "Qinglong Armor". Additionally, all pre-orders of any edition of Wo Long will unlock the exclusive "Baihu Armor".

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty la??unch??es March 3 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.

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Yosuke Hayashi of Koei Tecmo gave us a bit of background on the project too

Recently, press were able to attend a Wild Hearts hands-on session, and the game is shaping up to turn some heads when it arrives on February 17, 2023.

Here's how things are shaking out so far, wi??th a bit of background from Koei Tecmo producer Yosuka Hayashi, and executive producer of EA Originals, Lewis Harvey.

Koei Tecmo says it has "unfinished business in the hunting game genre"

Hayashi kicked things off with a pre-recorded message, and specifically brought up the Toukiden series up (which had releases in 2013 and 2016?) as part of Koei Tecmo's history with the genre: and noted that the company had "unfinished business" with hunting games.

Wild Hearts is very much inline with his thesis for what he wanted another hunting game to be about: "an action game everyone can play together." "Four years in the making," this hunting game brings Kemonos (monsters) front and center, with "animal and nature" fusing together (in many cases, literally) to? form the setting.

Before heading out, Hayashi noted tha?t EA has the "global experience Tecmo Koei lacks," so the partnership was a good fit for them.

[gallery link="file" columns="2" ids=??"3470?10,347009"]

Here's how EA helped Koei Tecmo with Wild Hearts

As for what help EA gave explicitly, the "full force" of the partnership was employed; things like "user research" (testing/data to fine tune the game), and reaching a "broader, more western audience," ?with "tutorialization, onboarding, and clarity of UI and mechanics."

You can really see this in action when playing the opening moments of Wild Hearts, as the tutorial involves a straightforward hunt th?at showcases the game's dynamic environments and some basics. There's a lot going on with this game (especially with the trap??s), and most of it is clearly communication on-screen.

"You can climb any [monster] in the game"

Following up on Hayashi's focus on the Kemonos themselves, Lewis Harvey calls them the "stars of the s??how," as giant nature-infused beasts. They'll apparently represent a "tremendous challenge" for players, with an emphasis on crafting to gain more of an edge. Crafting will "take enemies down while traversing the world, to build it back up."

Crafting is also baked into the lore, as you're apparently one of the very few people who can actually create new technology to take on the looming and out of control threat from the Kemonos. This includes magic-like building of structures, giant walls an enemy can smash into, or huge hammers that can stun. Ziplines, camps, human catapults, an umbrella gliding tool, and more are talked about and showcased in the Wild Hearts demo.

Harvey explains that there will be "over 200 variations for weapon loadouts," when putting crafting into mix, and you can change up your weapons and armor with some form of a transmog system (where you can alter the appearance of your armor). Weapon types teased include a blade and shield combo, a bow (with an ultimate charged shot ability), and a staff that can transform into? five different weapon types (the demo starts you out with a katana).

The Kemono modifying themselves based on the environment, which is very impressive looking (as you can see in the trailer below). An enraged king tusk boar-like creature, a lava back gorilla, and a giant hawk were all rattled off, among the ones we've seen so far. "You can climb any Kemono in the game," Harvey says, and brings up a comparison to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but I see shades of Shadow of the Colossus in there too.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbJPkCD9ZTs

Friends can "party up at camps and play through the entire game"

As for multiplayer, Harvey explains that although Wild Hearts was tested with different player counts, three players in total is ultimately where they landed from a balance perspective. In terms of scaling, Wild Hearts will "dynamically scale its difficulty," includi?ng scaling for solo play; and wil??l ratchet up or down as people join your session.

One big element of the multiplayer system is going to be the traps, and mixing and matching strategies and different builds. You'll also get to "party up at camps and play through the entire game," which includes every facet of Wild Hearts. During a demo of multi??player, we saw that you'll be able to open the world map and select a monster, then matchmake into a hunt. You'll also see local hunters in your area. If you're alone, you'll have a companio??n.

Harvey clarifies that "every player gets their own rewards/loot," so no one is going to get screwed out of drops. Full cross-play is also reconfirmed across the a?nnounced PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X platforms.

So far, Wild Hearts has a lot of promise

Kicking things off, the af?orementioned tutorial really let me become acquainted with the visual style, and I'm going to love exploring this world. It looks fantastic, and nearly every character/enemy model I've seen so far ?is pronounced. Even little critters are fully of personality, and the "four seasons" approach is a genius way to automatically meld some style into the universe.

Mechanically, Wild Hearts feels tight (inline with the action focus Hayashi mentioned), and a key component involves free movement, with a dodge governed by a meter (which can be swapped to a running slide dodge, which slides a a sufficiently over-the-top character-action distance). You can climb on certain surfaces and bigger monsters, but you'll n??eed to physically press a grab button (RB/R1) to latch on.

Wild Hearts quickly shows off?? the important of elevation. Early on you can conjure up crates (hold LB/L1 and press X), which can be stacked, and trigger a little plunger to push you up at the top. Not only do you need them to get from place to place (especially when cliffs are involved), but you can also adapt new combat strategies with them. I started to pick up on creating vantage points, which I could leap off of and quickly trigger a lunging attack. The combo system seems rewarding and deep enough so far, especially with how elegantly the dodge mechanic is woven into everything.

So how big will the game be? While? Harvey said that there's more info coming, it will take "30 hours to get through the story, with a hell of a lot more content throughout." Omega Force apparently has an endgame concept in mind that won't get grindy, but future support is "TBD," officially. Harvey notes that all of this ?is currently a work in progress, and they'll announce "what they know when they can."

Wild Hearts looks gorgeous, and the action-centric focus does it a lot of favors. It's also great to see Omega Force get out of their recent wheelhouse, and ideally, the EA partnershi??p gav?e them a chance to work with a bigger budget and extra time to smooth things over. Given how long this has been in development for, and how it plays already, I have good feelings about this one.

We deserve some ??real competition in the hunter genre space.

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