Anime action-adventure hits the overseas market soon

Publishers XSeed Games and Marvelous Europe have secured the license to bring high fantasy RPG Trinity Trigger to western audiences �PlayStation and Nintendo Switch edit?ions of the 2022 release will launch in April, with a new P??C port scheduled to arrive on Steam in May.

Developed by Three Rings, Trinity Trigger is a typical JRPG tale of Gods and Monsters, as well as the brave-hear??ted little people that set out to save their own worlds. It follows the story of the Warrior of Chaos, Cyan, who is fated to do battle with his counterpart, the Warrior of Order. Looking for an alternate route to choosing his own destiny, Cyan sets forth on a grand adventure across the continent of Trinitia, accompanied by his friends, Elise and Zantis. While the road will be long and hazardous, the heroes are protected by "Triggers" �sentient beings that can form a huge arsenal of weaponry.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nY61ECK7lU&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gematsu.com%2F2023%2F02%2Ftrinity-trigger-adds-pc-version-launches-april-25-in-north-america-may-16-in-europe&source_ve_path=MjM?4NTE&feature=emb_title&ab_channel=Gematsu

Trinity Trigger, as you might have gained from the trailer, is openly attempting to capture the style, magic, and gratifying, dramatic gameplay of the RPGs of yesterday, with a modernized format that looks to recall classics such as The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Secret of Mana. The title is developed by an all-star team of RPG veterans, including Secret of Mana's own artist, Yuki Nobuteru, and composer, Hiroki Kikuta, as well as Xenoblade character designer Raita Kazama, and Octopath Traveler scenario writer Yura Kubo??ta. Hopefully, this pedigree crew can deliver an adventure that will appeal to fans of all of the above.

Trinity Trigger launches on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch on April 25, (North America), and May 16 (Europe). The PC port will also launch on May 16, and is available to wishlist right now on Steam.

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Beats 'n' Blasts

NIS America has finally confirmed that sonic shmup Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX is be?ing localized for the west �the beat-heavy blaster will launch on PC and console platforms this summer, following on from its Japanese release in February.

As we have previously reported, Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX is a revamped edition of MOSS' legendary 2005 arcade shmup, which boasts new modes, including the dual-?ship Double Play option, a selection of game modifiers, online leaderboards, and additional features to present the best version of this beloved shooter classic. The crux of the release, however, lies in its fully remixed and re-recorded soundtrack, which sports a plethora of celebrated names from Japan's electronica scene.

//www.you??tube.com/watch?v=bIaYNsy57CA&ab_channel=NISA??merica

Among the musicians featured in the new release are GoSatoBan, Heavy Metal Raiden, Fantom Iris, O.T.K., Soshi Hosoi, Daisuke Matsumoto, Cosio, Keishi Yonao, Ryu� Raito, and Yu Shimoda �who have recorded a total of 20 new stage and boss battle themes. Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX also features a customizable U.I. and soundtrack, allowing players to choose from a selection of wallpapers,?? and define a per?sonal playlist of their favourite tunes from both the original and re-recorded scores.

Raiden III x MIKADO MANIAX launches summer 2023 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. A Collector's Edition is now available to pre-order from the NIS America Online Store. This physical release, retailing for around $70, includes a console copy of the game, alongsi?de a phone stand, poster, and a two-di?sc soundtrack CD of the awesome MIKADO MANIAX score.

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Pixel Power

Publisher Leoful has announced PiXEL's 16-bit inspired adventure Xiaomei and the Flame Dragon's Fist is headed west on Nintendo Switch, following on from its quiet release on PC in 2019. The Switc?h port is expected to arrive before the end of the year, although a specific release date was not announced.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lwnDx4qnAo

Xiaomei and the Flame Dragon's Fist, (originally titled Fire Dragon Fist Master Xiao-Mei), is an ultra-retro scrapper inspired by the first scrolling brawler of all time, Irem's 1984 coin-op Kung Fu Master. Operating on a simple 2D plane, the player guides? the beautiful young martial arts specialist as she battles her way through a relentless throng of bandits, monsters, and crazed animals on a mission to save her sister Xiaoyin from the evil influence of the mysterious Dark Dragon.

The Nintendo Switch port, which launched in Japan back in May, features some tweaks and improvements from the original PC release. These include an alternate mode featuring Xiaoyin herself; brand new cutscenes �ably voiced by popular idol unit Suika; improved FM sound effects; a gallery mode; and a remixed soundtrack, composed by Sega veteran Hirofumi Murasaki, (of Shinobi III and Dragon Force fame). So if you're ye?t to experience the simple-but-frantic action of Xiaomei's world, then this incoming localiza??tion will offer the best experience yet.

Xiaomei and the Dragon's Fist will launch in the west on Nintendo Switch later this yea??r.

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Back 2 (old) Skool

Back in 2019, the global gaming community was introduced to two totes-adorbs, totes-dopey schoolyard sluggers: Kyoko and Misako, collectively known as the River City Girls. Essentially a rebirth of sorts for the legendary Kunio-kun series, WayForward's River City Girls revitalized the franchise for modern audiences, retaining the open-world nature and nose-busting brawling of its predecessors and dressing it up with dazzling colors, a badass soundtrack, slick artwork, and cool new characters. River City Girls reinvented not only the Kunio-kun series, but also brawlers themselves.

However, in news that still surprises folk today, River City Girls was not the debut adventure for Kyoko and Misako. No, our excitable and somewhat obsessive teens made their original video game debut way back in 1994, in Japan-only Super Famicom release Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka??, which saw series leads Kunio ?and Riki team up with their respective gals to get to the bottom of a case of mistaken identity. One broken jaw at a time.

While many of the Kunio-kun titles are playable today via the Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle, Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka remained unavailable to western players. Until now, as Arc System Works and WayForward has finally localized this lost sequel for these shores. So fire up the Switch, it's time to rumble with River City Girls Zero.

Our story begins with a hit-and-run tragedy, as a bystander is hit by two dudes on a speeding motorcycle, with one of the riders identified as Kunio-kun's titular ??hero and badass school boss, Kunio. Quick as a flash, our boys find themselves sped through the courts and thrown in the slammer, accused of a crime that they did not commit. This being the video game world, they quickly escape? solitary via amusingly easy means, before setting out on a cross-country jaunt to uncover the truth behind the hit -n- run �a jaunt that will see a lot of fists and feet thrown before justice is ultimately served.

It should be noted, first and foremost, that River City Girls Zero is quite unlike a lot of the other titles in the Kunio-kun series. The 16-bit adventure eschews much of th??e open-city adventure and backtracking of its contemporaries, switching it up for sequential, linear stages as?? our gang of heroes follows the trail of breadcrumbs to the villains of the piece. For the most part, this consists of very straightforward 2D belt-scrolling action, as Kunio, Riki, Kyoko, and Misako throw down with the bullies, street thugs, gangsters, and other Bad Dudes that have the lowdown on the boys' mistaken confinement.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJ-UYq9T1k

River City Girls Zero is a simplistic brawler. Immensely so. It features the typical punch/kick action that typifies the series' combat, complete with the classic back-attack, the satisfying ground-and-pound system, and ugly, unwieldy jump kicks. Each character can also put up their dukes to defend against incoming attacks, and all four fighters have their own cool special moves, activated by hitting block and then the requisite attack button. Misako gets her Street Fighter hurricane kick on, while Kyoko opts for seriously overp??owered lightning legs.

For the most part, however, River City Girls Zero is a slugfest, exchanging finesse and skill for exploitation, toleran??ce, and pati?ence.

Whereas the best brawlers, then and especially now, understand the flow of the fight, and the importance of smooth, rhythmic combat, River City Girls Zero is somewhat raw, with stiff movement and ultra-strict hitboxes. The "overlap dead zone" is in effect, and quite often victory is to be achieved through "working" the opponent (for example overlapping from above, walking the opponent into corners, or otherwise tricking the A.I.), rather than through smart combat, an admittedly clunky strategy style demonstrated in Technos' arcade brawlers such as Double Dragon and The Combattribes.

This stiffness is a problem with many early brawlers, but by 1994, the genre had already moved beyond what is offered in Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka, which, from a gameplay standpoint, feels years older than contemporaries such as Capcom's Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, or Sega's Streets of Rage 2, both of which had released over two yea?rs prior.

The cute Super Famicom sprites offer much personality to our heroes and villains, and the combat is meaty and relentless, but the game's design barely advanced from the earliest Kunio-kun titles, when other series had already begun experimenting with much deeper combat mechanics.  As a result, standard enemy encounters are incredibly samey, while boss battles an exercise in "trickery". The new engine utilized for River City Girls Zero does work to improve the notorious input latency of the original Super Famicom release, making the action here a little more forgiving and responsive to the player?.

In the title's favor, its nicely animated and colorful sprites, variety of citywide locations, and legitimately smooth SNES synth punctuate the action. The anarchic story is also a lot of fun, (you gotta love the police telling our gang of renegade high school kids that it's fine to take the law into their own hands). Aesthetically and narratively, River City Girls Zero lives its cool and compelling "outlaw"? vibe, reminiscent of Toei's excellent array of '70s gangster flicks.

As the story progresses and our heroes travel around the country, the side-scrolling stages are linked with Road Rash style motorcycle sections, where the player guns the hog to the next location, while indulging in footsies with enemy riders. These sections are pretty disappointing, dated even by '94 standards. The overall problem with Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka/River City Girls Zero is that the title lacks a sense of ??"electricity", despite its fun story and great soundtrack. Still, as is the case for so many brawlers, the enjoyment is increased with the addition of a second player.

Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka is, without doubt, a piece of gaming history. WayForward recognizes this, and has dressed up the title in a wonderful presentation package. We open with a fantastic anime sequence, (when's the OVA!!?) backed by an absolute fire song from series composer Megan McDuffee. We also get a delightfully meta manga sequence, as Kyoko and Misako pick up a copy of Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka for the Super Fam??icom and attempt to get it running on, (what must be to them),?? ancient hardware. Kids these days.

We roll credits with another awesome new tune, and scans of the original artwork and instructional manual are also available to peruse as a fun extra. In regards to localization, there are two English translations on offer: A "Literal" translation, which closely follows the original Japanese text, and a "New" translation which is a little tidier and omits the swearing and misogynistic language of the original script. A useful save state function also helps out in some aggravating boss battles. Ironically, River City Girls Zero fits the bill as a preserved historical relic better? than it does as a retro experience.

As both a Kunio-kun and a brawler aficionado, I think it's marvelous that Shin Nekketsu Koha: Kunio-tachi no Banka has been given this new lease of life. It's gaming history that needed to be archived, both for the legacy of Kunio-kun and for protagonists Kyoko and Misako, a duo who only have further fantastic adventures ahead. Fans of the series, who can better tolerate its gameplay shortcomings, will squeal with delight that this long-standing hole in their collection has finally been plugged �though even they wouldn't deny that th??is entry is, ultimately, one of the series' weaker offerings.

River City Girls Zero is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PC, and Xbox. River City Girls 2 is currently in development ??for PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

_{[These impressions are based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Loop-de-doop

With the announcement of tomorrow's Nintendo Direct, make sure to keep an eye on the Japanese version of the presentation as well. You never know what games will pop up in it months before they're ever announced for a worldwide release. Case in point: Loop 8: Summer of Gods. Originally revealed during the Japanese Direct back in February, Xseed announced today it'll be localizing the title early next year with a new Loop 8 trai?ler that showcases the game's new English voice acting.

Loop 8 will put players in control of Nini, a young man raised on a space station who is sent to the quaint country town of Ashihara for the month of August. Demons are threatening to destroy this little slice of paradise, and it'll be up to Nini and his friends to stop the demons and save Ashihara, and potentially the world. But if he fails–and I imagine for the sake of the narrative that he will–Nini can activate his Demon Sight power to reset time to the first day of August. Hence the title, Loop 8. Coming off Shin-chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation -The Endless Seven-Day Journey-, another game set in a quaint Japanese village with a time-loop concept, I hope Loop 8 does a better job at handling the narrative te?chnique.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF33O8d6rj4

All that we could do with this emotion

Xseed Games is promising a town full of myste?ries and plenty of monsters to defeat, but I'm mor??e curious about the game's touted "emotion-driven AI system" that will supposedly alter a character's emotions depending on the actions and the decisions the players make. It'll be interesting to see just how deep this system goes compared to other games where the narrative takes player choice into account.

Developed by SIEG Games and Marvelous, Loop 8 is bringing together developers from a variety of popular series. This includes producer Yoichi Miyaji of the Lunar and Grandia franchises, game designer Yuri Shibamura of Touken Ranbu, and composer Noriyuki Iwadare of the Ace Attorney franchise, to name a few.

Loop 8: Summer of Gods will release ?in spring 2023 for Nintendo Switch, Play?Station 4, PC via Steam, and Xbox One.

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Warm up those winter fingers

NIS America has announced a release date for the western localization of flashy shmup revisit Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix �The highly adrenalized blaster will launch in North America on January 31, 2023, with Europe to follow a couple of days later o??n February 3.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaqpdPb7B3o

As previously reported, Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix is a remaster of the classic 2007 arcade blaster Raiden IV. The new edition has been bolstered with a huge variety of new features including two-player couch co-op, a selection of filters and orientation options, and a full suite of modes including Arcade, Practice, Boss Rush, and Overkill modes. The centerpiece of the remaster is a fully remixed and re-recorded score, composed and performed by ??artists from the Game Center Mikado collective.

Already available on Nintendo Switch, the new port will arrive on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms, and is the first in what is expected to be a full range of "x MIKADO" titles, that will revitalize arcade classics with opulent, beautifully composed scores from some of Japan's most talented gaming composers. Given the long-held love affair between shmups and frenetic, pulse-pounding beats, starting out with the legendary Raiden IV was certainly something of a no-brainer.

Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix launches in the west on PC a??nd consoles Jan?uary 31.

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Naughty but NIS

With To??kyo Game Show 2022 bearing down on us, publishers on both sides of the Pacific are preparing to drop a fresh round of updates and reveals from their upcoming catalogs. NIS America is the latest to tease an upcoming showcase, which will take place on the morning of Wednesday, September 7.

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

While the publisher did not drop any hints as to which titles and localization it will bring to the party, we can expect to see no less than four new game announcements. NIS America is obviously notable for its standard practice of localizing Japanese releases and bundling together classic JRPGs for modern platforms. But we'll si??mply have to wait and see what the publisher has up its sleeve for 2023.

The NIS America Showcase will premiere on the official NIS America YouTube channel, on September 7, at 08:00 PT / 11:00 ET / 16:00 BST. The stream will be fo??llowed by an aftershow, which will feature chats with developers, as well as a competition to win a one-of-a-kind artwork reproduction taken from one of the day's revealed titles. We will, as always, bring you all of the exciting details right here on Destructoid.

NIS America's next release is the compendium Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol 3, which compiles the quirky releases La Pucelle: Ragnarok and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. It launches on Nintendo Switch tomorrow.

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Doing it for themselves

If you feeling a little lacking in Hyperdimension Neptunia goodness, then you'll be pleased to hear that Idea Factory has announced recent spin-off Sisters VS Sisters will be getting a western localization in 2023. The most recent chapter in the Neptunia series launched in Japan back in April of this year.

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

Hyperdimension Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters s?ees the land of Gameindustri besieged by an oppressive new force, known as the "Trendi Outbreaks." Guided by the release of a powerful new mobile phone, known as the "rPhone" �all the subtlety of a fucking brick through a window �it is up to NepGear and her friends to restore peace and order to both Planeptune and GameIndustri at large. But with many of the kingdom's more powerful goddesses away on another assignment, do NepGear and her pals have what it takes to save the d?ay alone?

Sisters VS Sisters will see the player lead a team of Neptunia superstars into battle against the Trendi Phenomenon. De??feat enemies, level up and evolve your heroes, learn new moves, combos, and chain attacks, and take on an array of sub-missions discovered through the popular social media website "Chirper." Of course, fans can also look forward to a lot of fun comedic dialogue, a heavy emphasis on character accessorization, unlockable characters, and the obligatory photo mode.

Hyperdimension Neptunia: Sisters VS Sisters launches in 2023 on PlayStation and PC platforms.

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Classic shmups jetting to these shores

ININ Games has confirmed that both Ray'z Arcade Chronology and RayStorm x RayCrysis HD Collection will both be released in western territories. The remastered shmup classics will release in ??North America, Europe, and other territories at some unspecified point following their Japanese release.

As previously reported, Ray'z Arcade Chronology �currently scheduled for launch in Japan in March 2023 �is a compendium of series classics gathered together for PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The collection will include RayForce (1994), RayStorm (1996), and RayCrisis (1998). Also included are two brand new remasters, RayCrisis HD and RayStorm NEO-HD. The latter title is itself a remaster of a remaster, boosted with new e?xtra features and vital 16:9 mo??nitor support.

RayStorm x RayCrisis HD Collection, which seems a strangely redundant alternate collection, will apparently include all of the same titles listed above but will omit the original RayForce.

//twitter.com/ININ_Games/status/1553365037355606??017?s=20&t=VgjMbozrmZ52t9WVf0RFyg

RayStorm x RayCrisis HD Collection will be made available digitally and physically, while Ray'z Arcade Chronology will launch digitally worldwide and will receive an exclusive physical release via boutique outlet Strictly Limited Games. This edition features a boxed release of the game alongside additional collectible memorabilia i?ncluding a CD soundtrack, a strategy guide, old-school arcade-style stickers, a hardc?over art book, and other neat goodies.

Ray'z Arcade Chronology and RayStorm x RayCrisis HD Collection are currently in development for PS4 and Nintendo Switch We will be sure to give you a heads up when new information regarding western la??unch dates is made ava??ilable.

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Shmup remaster jets off in 2023

NIS America has announced that it will be bringing its 2021 remaster Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix to the west on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms in 2023. The flashy shmup is already available on PlayStation platforms in Japan and also on Nintendo Switch worldwide.

//youtu.be/FO-DEnE6TEw

Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix is a revamped �or "remixed" �edition of the 2007 arcade hit ?Raiden IV, which has itself been revisited multiple times in the years since its original launch. This definitive edition of the vertically scrolling shooter features new levels, alternate enemies, and bullet patterns, as well as several modes including Arcade, Score Attack, and Boss Rush. New Dual Play and Double Play options allow for co-??op multiplayer action... and even the option for a single player to control two ships!

The visuals have been spruced up to HD quality, while the pulse-pounding score has been fully remixed and re-recorded, offering both new and veteran players the most definitive and electrifying edition of the chall??enging action title. If you have been waiting on a PC port or a localized release of this title, then you at least know that you won't have too much longer to wait. Better get that trigger finger in gear.

Raiden IV x MIKADO Remix will launch in the west on PlayStation, PC, a??nd Xbox in 2023. It is a??vailable right now on Nintendo Switch.

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Shin-chan on Switch and PS4

Did you ever play Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale? Released nearly a decade ago for Nintendo 3DS as part of Level-5's Guild02 compilation, the game is a slice-of-life adventure about a young kid named Sohta who's just moved to a small town where giant kaiju fight every Friday. Its developer, Millennium Kitchen, found inspiration for the title from its flagship franchise Boku no Natsuyasumi, a somewhat popular slice-of-life series that?? saw a string of releases in Japan throughout the aughts.

Despite it never getting an official localization, Boku no Natsuyasumi has developed a pretty niche following in North America. So much so that it was pretty big news among a small group of fans when Millennium Kitchen announced it was developing a spin-off featuring characters from the Crayon Shin-chan manga and anime series. I remember gawking at the game's screenshots when they first hit the web a few years ago, never really expecting I'd actually be able to play it. But I guess the fates are on my side because late last night, word dropped from Wario64 over on Twitter that Crayon Shin-chan: Ora to Hakase no Natsuyasumi is getting localized later this summer as Shin chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation �The Endless Seven-Day Journey �

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJjJS5CHYt4

The Endless Seven-Day Journey features the entire Nohara family relocating to Assou, Kumamoto where five-year-old Shin-chan can spend his days exploring the countryside, taking pictures, catching bugs, growing vegetables, competing against other kids in town in Dinosaur Showdown, and more. If it's anything like Attack of the Friday Monsters, it'll be a relaxing experience filled with beautiful locales and charismatic characters. And while I may have no history with the Crayon Shin-chan franchise, I kind of doubt that will stop me from enjoying what this game has to offer. After all, I got more than enough delight out of Doraemon Story of Seasons despite not knowing a single thing about Doraemon.

Shin chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation �The Endless Seven-Day Journey �will release this August for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. As of right now, the game will only be made available digitally over here. Check out the game's official website for more details and to gander at so?me incredibly? lush scenery.

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Pass judgment before launch

If, like my good self, you've been keeping one eye on Izanagi Games' weird, melodramatic shmup Yurukill: The Calumniation Games, then here's some fine news: You can check out the entire first chapter of the incoming release today, via a new PC demo available right now on Steam. (A demo is already available on PlayStation platforms.??)

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ7XL0ksQLY

As a quick refresher, Yurukill: The Calumniation Games is an unnerving new release that sees convicted felons forced to team up with their victims in order to survive a bizarre tournament of death �presided over by "Binko," an attractive woman in a sinister fox mask. Yurukill hopes to marry the fast-paced, pulse-pounding action of a G.rev-developed shmup with the heavy social deduction drama of a Danganronpa, all bedecked in attractive anime artwork and, of course, starring a cast of ridiculously hot hipsters. The story has been written by Homura Kawamoto of Kakegurui fame, so expect ?plenty of high drama and?? state-smashing anarchy.

The Steam demo will offer players the first chapter of Yurukill in its entirety, which will certainly give you a taste of the title's mood, atmosphere, and genre-blending gameplay. I've been hugely intrigued by this title ever since its initial announcement, so I'm definitely hoping to get to this demo later today to check out the action for myself. Oh, and should you pull the trigger on a full purchase, then your demo save data will be carried over int??o the main release.

Yurukill: The Calumniation Games launches in North America,?? July 5, on PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

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You're History

The world of River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is about to get a little more dangerous, as publisher Arc System Works and developer APlus Games have revealed that River City Girls' inimitable schoolgirl sluggers, Kyoko and Misako, will be making their presence felt in the upcoming historical brawler??.

As we have previously reported, River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is a BARF-tastic take on the ancient Chinese fable of “Sangokushi,�perhaps better known to westerners as the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The classic tale has been adapted to fit within the rock-'em, sock-'em Kunio-kun universe, complete ?with retro-inspired visuals, belt-scrolling brawler action, and a cast of familiar heroes and villains telling the tale of the fall of the Han Dynasty, albeit with far more groin kicks.

In addition to the story mode, River City Saga: Three Kingdoms will feature a multiplayer-centric side adventure, "Heroes of the Three Kingdoms: Battle of Red Cliffs". This is where our girls get to enter the fray, joining a roster of 24 Kunio-kun legends to battle through 10 stages o??f madcap a??ction for one-to-four players. Both Kyoko and Misako have received something of a visual redesign in order to fit in with the period setting �and they both look just darling in the retro-contemporary duds.

Of course, this cameo appearance will get the pint-sized pugilists warmed up for their own incoming release, River City Girls 2, which is currently in development at WayForward with a tentative launch window of summer 2022. You can check out information on the sequel in our previous reports here and here.

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms launches July 21 on? PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms adds Misako and ?Kyoko from River City Girls [Gematsu]

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Are You Afraid of the Dark?

The super-cute, super-spoopy Japanese ghost story Yomawari 3 is officially headed to these shores. As announced by publisher NIS America, the freshly re-monikered Yomawari: Lost in the Dark will laun?ch on PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch this fall, hopef?ully in time for Halloween!

As previously reported, Yomawari: LitD sees a young girl on an intrepid and spine-chilling quest to free her hometown from a mysterious curse. Armed with little more than steel nerves and a flashlight, our teen??y hero must brave the avenues, alleyways, woodland, and interiors of the haunted town, gathering clues and learning the lore behind the town's fate and her own part to play in its legacy.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5gWOnu7tSA

Lacking in combat skills, our nameless protagon?ist must use cunning, guile, and the overwhelming power of closing their eyes in order to outwit and outmaneuver her ghostly opposition. Listen to your own heartbeat to detect oncoming presences  On the plus side, the character is fully customizable... So at least you can look fabulous while fighting off legions of the undead.

With a strong emphasis on tension, dread, and hair-raising chills over violent shocks and lame jump-scares, Lost in the Dark looks to be a delightfully creepy ghost story in the more classi?cal horror ?sense, and may eventually prove to be the perfect title to play when you're all safely snuggled up in bed on those cold fall nights.

Just don't look under the bed.

Yomawari: Lost in the Dark launches in the west on PS4, PC??, and Nintendo Switch this fall.

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Physical edition coming from Limited Run Games

We are exactly two months out from the launch of the dynamic Azure Striker Gunvolt 3, which is currently in development for Nintendo Swi??tch. Japanese outfit Inti Creates has revealed some new tidbits regarding the action-packed sequel, ahead of its anticipated launch on July 28.

First and foremost, it is to be noted that this second mainline sequel will see the Azure Striker Gunvolt se?ries receive a fully scripted English voiceover for the first time in series history. Po??pular voice actors Sean Chiplock, Kelly Baskin, and Ryan Colt Levy will step into the metallic shoes of Gunvolt, Kirin, and Black Badge respectively, while singer Diana Garnet will portray overseer Lumen, aka "The Muse."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=heDpzWIqo54

Inti Creates also offered a first look at ?the sequel's unique "Story Mode+" option, which will see th??e entire gameplay out in real-time, seamlessly posting plot details and dialogue directly into the action, without the need for pausing, cutscenes, or any other interruptions. This mode will surely be popular among budding speedrunners, while delivering a non-stop take on the sci-fi action for all other players.

Finally, Limited Run Games revealed that it has opened pre-orders on physical editions of Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 for Nintendo Switch. PhysEd fans can bag themselves a standard boxed copy of the title for $39.99 USD, or splash out on the Collector's Edition, which includes an official art book, double CD soundtrack, and a cute "Dogvolt" keychain for $79.99. Both editions are available to pre-order now from the Limited Run Games store.

Oh, and speaking of soun?dtracks, be sure to check out the music video be??low, featuring the Japanese voice of Lumen, Megu Sakuragawa, performing one of the sequel's many compositions "Traces."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSeSZYcVo8E&t

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Legendary literature, now with added BARF!

Arc System Works has confirmed that River City Saga: Three Kingdoms, a brawler take on a classic piece of Asian literature, will indeed receive a western localization. The latest chapter in the Kunio-kun franchise will arrive on these shores July 21, available on PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXc6Jm8g82w

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is an adaptation of the ancient Chinese fable of “Sangokushi,�perhaps better known to westerners as the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, redesigned and stylized in Kunio-kun's typical retro fashion. Characters from the brawler franchise will take up roles from the legend, as players battle their way through a tale of patriotism and warfare, the story's many battles played out in face-busting, slapstick fashion that is the River City trademark.

In addition to the main story campaign, River City Saga will also include an additional multiplayer adventure. Heroes of the Three Kingdoms: Battle of the Red Cliffs will allow up to four players to team up in local and online multiplayer action, fighting their way through 10 stages of enemies and boss characters, while uncovering secret stages and? other neat surprises... Just watch where you're flinging those fisticuffs... You're a team, remember?

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms laun??ches world??wide, July 21, on PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

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The Best Worst Witch

ININ Games has announced a western release date for all-new shmup sequel Cotton Fantasy, which was previously released in Japan in 2021, (with the far superior title of Cotton Rock 'n' Roll). The cartoonish arcade adventure will launch on PS4 ?and Nintendo Swi??tch on May 20.

Cotton Fantasy is a brand new entry in the cult, long-running Cotton franchise, and sees the titular witch reunited with her sexy space pal Silk as the duo embarks o?n another button-punching mission into the stars. Someone is stealing all of the magical candy, Willow, from Fairyland. With the thought of her supply of sweet treats being exhausted simply too much for Cotton to bear, our heroes jet off to reveal the villain behind this mystery.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZXAT32-eC8

With 16 delightfully animated stages, six playable characters, multiple modes, and even a bevy of secret unlocks, Cotton Fantasy hopes to be a mighty comeback for the cute-'em-up franchise. The sequel features an overhaul scoring system, new gameplay mechanics, fully HD visuals, and remixed soundtrack featuring some of the classic tunes pulled from the entire Cotton franchise.

Cotton Fantasy is a sort of "grand finale" of the Cotton comeback. The new title follows on from the release of remake Cotton Reboot, the rereleased Cotton Guardian Force Saturn Tribute, and an array of physical reprints. The franchise is unlikely to set the wo??rld on fire in this day and age, but for shmup fans and cute-'em-??up fans, there will always be a place in video gaming for the dopey sorceress and her friends.

Cotton Fantasy launches May 20 on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

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Rock the Dragons

Notice this, senpai! As if the race for 2022's Game of the Year was not hot enough, Aksys Games has finally announced that baffling titled anime shmup Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath is officially h??eaded west, and will l??aunch on PS4 and Nintendo Switch this summer.

Developed by Kaminari Games, Burst Forth!! will see our favorite posse of hard-working scaly maidens take to the skies on a mission to escape *checks notes* an evil, sentient, video game program. Let's fucking go. Tohru, Kanna, and Elma will be forced to use their respective abilities in perfect synergy as they battle their way through stage af??ter stage of bullet hell mayhem, guided by Miss Kobayashi herself.

//youtu.be/WsKsExhjduM

Each character will harness their own unique long-range, melee, and screen-clearing "Choro-gon Breath" powers, laying waste to waves of malevolent minions and big-screen baddies. As players battle through each stage, they will unlock a gallery of illustrations and concept art created especially for the game by a host of artists pulled from the Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid manga and anime series.

While I think it's fair to raise an eyebrow at the above footage, which doesn't exactly recall the energy and intensity of, say, a Cave classic, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid: Burst Forth!! Choro-gon Breath still looks like a colorful and fun time for both fans of the Miss Kobayashi franchise and shmup fans in general. I'll be sure to check it out when it hi?ts the skies later this summer.

After all, we wouldn't want to upset Kanna, would we? We aren't monsters.

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Fly the furry skies

Thursday's NGPX presentation brought with it a selection of reveals, release dates, and localization windows for a slew of pint-sized Japanese releases. Among the many super-cute titles added to the calendar was an official western release date for the delightfully titled anthro shmup Horgihugh and Friends, which ?will take to the skies on Nintendo Switch June 16.

You can check ??out a new trailer for the pixel-powered cute-'em-up below.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PINUm8ljrJw

Set in a colorful fantasy universe Horgihugh and Friends focuses on a population of cute critters who decided to fully disarm their countries in the aftermath of a miserable and lengthy world war. Unfortunately, sometime later, the world is invaded by a strange unknown entity known as the Gozareans. In?? this newly weaponless society, it is up to retired ace pilots Hugh and Figaro to dust off their vintage hobby planes and take to the skies, outnumbered and overpowered, in a last-di?tch effort to save civilization.

Horgihugh and Friends is a retro-style horizontal shmup that tasks one or two players with taking down the Gozarean invade?rs. The title boasts six challenging stages, punctuated?? by 13 intense boss battles, unique power-up mechanics, multiple difficulty settings, and an exciting cast of critters to meet and befriend. All of this action is stylized in classic pixel visuals, with artwork by Mega Man and Shantae veteran Kou and a score composed by Motoaki Furukawa of Gradius II and Policenauts fame.

Hogihugh and Friends will launch in the west on Nintendo Switch June 16. The Japanese version is also available right now on PC via Steam.

Chocks Away!

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Pocket Party

Square Enix announced that it is preparing to launch a new mobile title set within the fantastical storytelling world of Octopath Traveler �Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent?? is an original game set in the anthology RPG's universe, and wi??ll launch on iOS and Android platforms this summer.

Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, much like its 2018 predecessor, will be a high-fantasy RPG that sees its players explore numerous narratives set within the world of Orsterra. Players will fine-tune a party of nine from a roster of 64 new and r??ecognizable faces, before traversing the land, meeting allies and foes, and engaging in command-based combat.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQV-U8IgGjc

The new title will utilize pixel-based visuals combined with 2.5D character models to present a pocket-sized adventure that hopes to recapture the scale and adventure of the original title. All of the exploration, combat, and party-building activities will be scored by composer Yasunori Nishiki, who returns from their fine work on Octopath Traveler to ??score our heroes' journies with a brand new soun?dtrack.

Given the initial description of the title, this very much sounds as if Square Enix is following their typical "free-to-play variant of a popular brand" playbook. As to whether the new game will recapture the spritely adventure of its bigger brother, we'll have to wait and see, but interested parties can pre-register for an Android-based closed beta right now �which should offer you at least a sneak peek?? at the action.

Octopath Traveler is availa??ble now on PC, Xbox One, Stadia, and Nintendo Sw??itch.

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Two more classics from the archives, Dood

NIS America has announced a release date for the localized edition of its second compendium Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol. 2. The retro twofer will launch on PC and Nintendo Switch in the west this May. This double pack includes two cult action-RPGs, featuring the colorful characters, wild creatures, and melodramatic anime action that is a trademark of the NIS ca??talog.

The first title is Makai Kingdom: Reclaimed and Rebound, a revamped edition of 2005 PlayStation 2 release Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome. This Disgaea spin-off follows sees the player take control of overlord-turned-book (yep) Lord Zetta as he attempts to overthrow the Netherworld from his new, page-by-page fo?rm. Use a huge range of spells an??d weaponry, as well as the game's unique INVITE system, to claim the realm from your enemies and place yourself back on the bookshelf... erm... throne.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HZ_RP9UzQ0

The second included title, ZHP: Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman, is making its first appearance on a modern platform in over a decad??e. First released for the PlayStation Portable way back in 2010, this wild, tactical RPG places a heavy emphasis on customization, as players build their own custom hero a?nd lay waste to armies of underworld denizens in a quest to face their fate as the "Absolute Victory Unlosing Ranger." Oh, and you'll also rescue world savior Super Baby and defeat the nefarious Darkdeath Evilman.

Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol. 2 launches on PC (via Steam) and Nintendo Switch in North America on May 10, with Europe to follow a few days later on May 13. NIS Classics Vol. 1 is available now.

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The Wait for Willow continues...

ININ Games has announced that Cotton Fantasy, the all-new sequel in the long-running cute 'em up franchise, will not see a western localization this winter as originally scheduled �While the colorful sequel is?? already available in Japan, fans on these shores will now have to wait until spring 2022.

Cotton Fantasy �miserably remonikered from the far superior "Cotton Rock 'n' Roll" �is the first full-on Cotton sequel in some 20+ years, the last release being 2000 Dreamcast entry Rainbow Cotton. The new sequel sees the titular worst witch return alongside her space fairy pal, Silk, as t?he duo embarks upon another cartoonish shm?up adventure.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzb2hNovPl8

Cotton, Silk, a?nd a gaggle of pals battle their way through 16 cute 'n' colorful stages, with gameplay bouncing between horiz??ontal, vertical, and even into-the-screen shmup action. Each hero is loaded for bear with their own unique skills and attacks, which offers a lot of replay value for those who still yearn for the glory days of the high score table. The dazzling visuals are dressed up with charming and extremely daft anime cutscenes, as Cotton and friends solve the mystery of the disappearing fairies.

While I'm yet to play the new title myself, it certainly looks to be a fine evening filler. The Cotton games strike a nice balance between intense shmup action and cheerful, light-hearted gameplay �perfect for those late-night hours and lazy Sundays. While numerous re-releases and reboots have already hit modern platforms in recent times, it's nea??t to see an all-new adventure taking to the skies.

Cotton Fantasy will launch in the west this spring on PS4 and Nintendo Switch. Various physical editions and related merchandise are available to pre-order right now from Strictly Limited Games.

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Confront your Destiny

Fans of the legendary cult franchise Valis would do well to shift themselves over to the Limited Run Games store right now, as the boutique retailer has opened pre-orders on its previously teased Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection for Nintendo Switch.

Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection comprises three classic adventures from the sword-and-sorcery series: Valis: The Fantasm Soldier (1986), Valis II (1989), and Valis III (1990). This trilogy of tales tells the epic saga of young, Yuko Asou, a high school girl thrust from reality into a fantastical fantasy unive??rse, where? she must take up her role as the fabled savior of the spiritual realms. Still better than homework.

The Valis series, which made its presence known on the MSX and PC-88 hardware, was heavily lauded at the time for rudimentary versions of features that we take for granted in modern gaming, such as in-game cinematics and incredible pride in its characters, lore, and storytelling elements. The Valis trilogy would be followed by Valis IV (1991) on the PC Engine, Super Valis IV (1993) on the Super Nintendo, and the "behind-closed-doors" Valis X (2006) on PC. Check over your shoulder before Googling that one. Unfortunately, these three releases are not included in the new collection.

Valis the Fantasm Soldier Collection is available from Limited Run Games in two distinct formats. The regular edition ($39.99 USD) includes all three classics on one cartridge in standard packaging, while a Collector's Edition ($89.99) includes a four-disc soundtrack set, a pin badge selection, a reversible poster, and three art cards. This edition features a reversible sleeve sporting the original western release artwork. In addition, a vinyl soundtrack ($59.99) is also available, featuring the Valis trilogy's score pressed to three LPs.

Pre-orders on ?all of the above items will remain open until February 6. A digital release is also en route.

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Felt Qute, might destroy later

Calling all shmup heads, Qute Corporation has announced that the recently released Switch port of 2011 blaster Eschatos is about ready to jet off on western shores. Originally launched to the Nintendo platform in Japan back in November, Eschatos will be hitting the? Nintendo eShop on January 13.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqwx_r6S2jU

A vertically scrolling shmup with particularly frantic energy, Eschatos sees a lone pilot charged with defeating an alien body known as "Purple Erosion" which is slowly consuming The Moon. At the helm of a powerful space vessel, the player weaves their way in and out of enemy waves, splattering foes and upgrading their ship via a variety of power-ups. The Switch edition of Eschatos features the original single-play?er campaign, as well as a re?arrange mode and a mettle-testing Time Attack mode.

Like the Xbox 360 edition before it, this port of Eschatos also comes bundled with two further Qlassic Qute Corporation releases: Cardinal Sins (2004) and Judgement Silversword (2001). These equally frenetic shmups were originall??y developed exclusively for Wonderswan hardware, so this new release will provide one of the first opportunities for western?? audiences to see these forgotten titles in action.

Eschatos launches January 13 on Nintendo Switch. A PS4? port is currently in the works??.

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Dig this portable shmup machine

German publisher United Games Entertainment, (parent company of ININ Games and Strictly Limited Games), has announced that it will be bringing the super cute coin-op Taito EGRET II Mini to western shores in 2022. The portable hardware, which launches in Japan in?? March, compiles a huge range of Taito titles from the golden arcade era.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=alVYwCP4Ga0

The Taito EGRET II Mini features 40 arcade favorites from Space Invaders, Darius Gaiden, and Bubble Bobble, to Rainbow Islands, New Zealand Story, Growl, and many, many more. Elevator Action Returns is ?in the mix, so I'm sold. The cabinet includes a five-inch screen, which can be rotated to vertical orientation for the shmup releases �whic??h is a very neat touch. Controls feature a six-button setup, and a joystick that can be switched out between four-way and eight-way.

A HDMI output will allow the console to play on the big screen, and all included games sport quality-of-life features such as save states, auto-fire, and stereo sound. In addition, fans will be able to purchase a cute mini paddle and trackball set, which brings with it a further 10 games including Arkanoid, Strike Bowling, and Plump Pop. While the "Mini" craze has definitely died off a little, I have to admit that the Taito EGRET II Mini's quality game list and rotatable screen option make this unit pretty appealing. Certainly more appealing than the recent Taito Milestones collection.

The Taito EGRET II Mini launches in Japan March 2, 2022. We'?ll let you know? when a western date is announced.

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Naughty ninjas nearing Nintendo

[Update: Idea Factory International has confirmed that Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is coming to Switch and PC in the west spring 2022. A Limited Edition is now are now available to pre-order from the IF Store.]

Compile Heart has officially announced that its crossover anime adventure Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is to receive a Nintendo Switch port, following on from its previous release on PS4 earlier this year. The Switch editi?on of the cheesecake action title will launch in Japan in March of 2022. A western locali??zation is expected, but was not announced.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6NlbW6zDQU

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars sees the two hugely popular multimedia franchises clash in a tongue-in-cheek duel over the franchise's competing combat styles. Neptunia's "Compa" (after developer Compile Heart) takes on Senran Kagura's "Honeypa" (after developer Honey Parade) as the denizens of Heartland and Marveland collide in an intense, violent, and very, very silly action-RPG. Obviously, the two brands are practically made for each other, each sporting its? own roster of loud, adventurous characters and wild, slapstick humor. Frankly, it's surprising it has taken this long for the brands to meet.

The Nintendo Switch port of Ninja Wars will include all of the content of the original PS4 release, but will also boast additional sub-quests, an "Extremely Hard" difficulty option, and a selection of previously released DLC character skins. Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars will launch in Japan on Nintendo Switch March 17, 2022. It is available world?wide right now on PS4.

[Via Gematsu / Ryokutya2089]

The post (Update) Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars is stalking Nin?tendo Switch and PC appeared first on Destructoid.

The phantom of the omnia is here

Publisher Rocket Panda, in association with developer MAGES, is super excited to announce that cult slugger Phantom Breaker is to receive not only a brand new content update, but also a long-awaited western localization. Phantom Breaker: Omnia will launch March 15, 2022, on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, p??riced at $39.99.

"Today, the team is ecstatic to announce Phantom Breaker: Omnia," said Rocket Panda co-founder M. Panda in a statement to Destructoid. "The addition of new characters, features, and updates to the game has taken more time than anticipated - but for our first self-published game we had to ensure we’re producing the game to the best of our ability. The Phantom Breaker: Omnia project has evolved far beyond a simple port and has become an enhanced and complete Phantom Breaker expe??rience. The fire in all of our hearts w??ill be burning next March"

Check ou?t the heart-burnin' action in th??is (very silly) new trailer:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVxA4VCaBmo

Phantom Breaker's wild storyline recounts the tale of the mysterious "Phantom," who emerges in Tokyo one dark day and manip?ulates a gaggle of adolescent gals into a hard-hitting fighting competition, promising to manifest the wildest dreams of the tournament's winner. Each entrant becomes the recipient of reality-defying powers known as "Fu-mension Attacks," which the Phantom deceptively hopes will bring about an interdimensional collapse, rendering the mysterious being the omnipotent ruler of all of existence. Anime.

Phantom Breaker: Omnia will be a fully revised and rebalanced edition of 2011's Phantom Breaker: Extra, which launched in Japan on PC, consoles, and the arcade market. Omnia will not only include two brand new characters, but will also sport an overhauled and customizable fighting system, a fully remixed soundtrack, and dual-language voice-acting, which is a first for the series. Phantom Breaker: Omnia will also represent the mainline series' first official release outside of Japan, (notwithstanding 2013 spin-off Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds.) As such, Omnia will be a perfect jumping-off point for brand new fans, as well as an exciting update for veterans. For those veterans, the wait is almost over.

Phantom Breaker: Omnia launches March 15, 2022 on PS4, ??PC (Steam) Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

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Excellence of Execution

Pleasing news for fans of shmups, melodrama, murder, and anime, as NIS America announced that a title combining all of the above Yurukill: The Calumniation Games, will be making its presence felt pronto in the western world. Launching in the west in June 2022, the localization arrives a mere two months on from its Japanese release date of?? April 2022.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahllX7VbkQk

While we have spoken briefly of this twisted title before, here is a quick refresher: Developed by shmup specialists G.Rev, Yurukill: The Calumniation Games tells the story of prisoners and their victims thrust together and forced to pair up in order to survive a strange, morbid playground known as "Yurukill Land". Presided over by a mysterious masked woman, teams of perpetrators and victims must battle against strange unearthly beings in intense shmup chaos. The victims and our for revenge, and the criminals are out for pardons, but perhaps some of our perpetrators can use this opportunity to find out the truth behind their accused misdeeds �and whether they are guilty of them after all. You can meet our cast of heroes, villains, and anti-heroes in our previous report.

Yurukill: The Calumniation Games appears to blend the social deduction and high melodrama of a Danganronpa with the pulse-pounding, button-mashing action of a modern-day sci-fi shmup. Strange bedfellows indeed, but it's certainly intriguing, and I'm absolutely here for it. The narrative is penned by veteran writer Homura Kawamoto of Kakegurui fame, so we can expect some stark character drama, full-bloo??ded rebellion, and some good old-fashioned class/gender war. We'll be sure to keep an eye on this one, and will let you know when more gameplay footage and plot details ??drop.

Yurukill: The Calumniation Games launches in North ??America on? PlayStation and Nintendo Switch June 7, 2022.

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Early Access kicks off this coming winter

Disgaea fans have at least one thing to mark on their calendars in the new year, as publisher Boltrend Games announced that the mobile and PC release Disgaea RPG will be headed west in 2022. Currently, the all-star adventure is only available on PC in Japan, with its global iteration accessible via iOS and Android. The fully localized Steam port of Disgaea RPG is expected in 2022.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jjht9MSWtw

Disgaea RPG tasks players with venturing into a mysterious plane known as The Netherworld, where they will form parties, battle enemies, and raise the strength of "Overlords" in order to venture further into the weird world and tackle its many monsters and challenges in an active turn-based combat system. The game features a roster built of heroes and villains from across the entire franchise, as well as familiar locations????, enemies, and tunes.

The Steam port of Disgaea RPG will be launching in Early Access at some point this coming winter, (either later 2021 or very early 2022), in order for the developer to test out server stability and hunt for any potential bugs or glitches. This testing phase is expected to run for around two months, with the full game launching soon thereafter �provided all goes sm?oothly, of course. We'll be sure to let you know when Boltrend drops an official launch date for the test period.

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Physical release coming from Limited Run Games

Edia has confirmed a western localization for its upcoming retro compendium Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection. While the Japanese edition of the 1980s fantasy series will launch on Nintendo Switch in December, western retro fans ?can look forward to a fully translated edition of the trilogy �which will launch at some unspecified point in 2022.

As we have previously reported, the Valis series launched on PC-88 and MSX platforms in the tail-end of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The games tell the tale of an ordinary, everyday high school girl �Yuko Asou �who reluct?antly accepts her just-discovered destiny as the centuries-fated defender of three majestic spiritual realms, currently under invasions from an army of hellish monsters and demons. What a Wednesday that must have been for her.

While the gameplay of the original Valis titles is undeniably old-school, the series was highly regarded in its day for its commitment to layered narrative, advancing its characters and lore through, at the time, groundbreaking in-game cinematics. The original Valis titles would be followed by Valis IV (1991) on the PC Engine, Super Valis IV (1993) on the Super Nintendo, and the somewhat more questionable Valis X (2006) on PC... Maybe check out that release outside of work hours. The new compendium will only contain the original trilogy Valis: The Fantasm Soldier (1986), Valis II (1989), and Valis III (1990).

Limited Run Games has announced that it will be releasing a physical edition of Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection. While the boutique retailer did not announce any details pertaining to the features of the physical release, it is expecting to open?? pre-orders in January 2022. We'll be sure to give you a heads-up when more information is? forthcoming.

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