You can still re-download it though

Although Project X Zone suffered from a bit of tedium when it was released back in 2013, the magic of being able to play with characters from Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Street Fighter, and Mega Man was undeniable. Thankfully this wacky side project got a second go around, but it looks like that run might be over.

Over the weekend, folks noticed that the original game was removed?? entirely from the 3DS eShop. For a good day or so even owners of the game in digital form weren't able to re-download it, but that was smoothed over last night, though the game remains missing.

As expected, licencing issues may be at pl?ay. We reached out to Bandai Namco to?? see what's going on.

Original Project X Zone removed from th??e 3DS eShop [Nintendo Everything]

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A love letter from Japan

Project X Zone seems like something that probably shouldn't exist. It's a strategy role-playing game sporting an expan??sive all-star cast of prolific characters from the combined libraries of Capcom, Namco Bandai, and Sega.

That sounds more like the stuff of fa??ntasy than an actua?l game you can play. And yet, here it is.

Project X Zone (Nintendo 3DS)
Developer: Monolith Soft, Banpresto 
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Released: June 25, 2013 (NA), July 5, 2013 (EU)
MSRP: $39.99

Project X Zone focuses ??its attention almost entirely on two things: combat and fan service. Despite being an RPG, much of the what one might typically associate with the venerable genre has been pushed to the wayside in favor of a much more streamlined experience. Battles flow seamlessly from one to the next, with little in the way to break up the action. 

Oh sure, there's a story. It's a bizarre little tale involving time travel, alternate dimensions, and a syndicate of bad guys doing bad guy things. It's forced, needlessly complicated, and, to be honest, not really all that important. The narrative merely serves as a pretense to thrust the casts of franchises like Resident Evil, Tekken, and Valkyria Chronicles under one amazin?g roof; and that's all that matters.

To their credit, the characters seem to acknowledge the absurdity of the plot. Teetering on the verge of parody, Monolith Soft seems to halfheartedly thumbs its nose at the incomprehensible plots which seem all too common in JRPGs these days. The comedy is backed up by sharp dialogue, laden with inside jokes from many of the franchises from which Project X Zone draws its cas?t. Characters make fun of o?ne another's inappropriate outfits and reference localization oddities that should garner at least a few laughs from enthusiasts of Japanese games.

It's evident that the developers possess an extensive knowledge of the source material, showcasing a clear adoration for Capcom, Namco Bandai, and Sega's various properties. The entire package is one big tip of the cap to fans. From the expansive roster to the clever dialogue and detailed gameplay animations, Project X Zone really goes the extra mile to make certain players know how much it respect?s these beloved characters and franchises.

Missions take place on a grid and players are given an isometric view of the battlefield. Small t??eams of characters are represented by a single avatar and utilize this map for strategic positioning. It's all fairly typical of the genre, but diverges radically from the standard SRPG fare when it comes to the combat itself.

Project X Zone places more of an emphasis on action and style in comparison with some like Fire Emblem: Awakening. Rather than planning attacks out ahead of time, players take on a more active role in skirmishes. Each pair of characters has a variety of moves and set number of attacks per turn that can be executed in succession at the player's l??eisure. Think of it more as a stripped down fighting game than an elaborate game of chess.

At first, Project X Zone seems like a fairly shallow experience, at least in contrast with its peers. However, the game possesses more depth than players might initially give it credit for. Whi?le button mashing can go a long way, it ??can be a great deal more engaging than one might initially imagine. Much of this comes down to timing and choosing one's attacks wisely. Finding a way to knock an enemy off its feet then juggling them in mid air to negate their defenses is the key to an efficient victory.

Over the course of a batt??le actions will contribute to filling a meter that is shared between the entire party. This can be saved up for a devastating super attack powerful enough to help fell boss characters quickly. Alternatively, the meter can be used to great effect for lifesaving defensive maneuvers and counter attacks that can help turn the tide of battle.

Solo characters that a??ren't tied to a partner can join up with a team to form a trio. Rather than acting in unison with the rest of the group, they have the ability to execute a powerful attack once per turn. Nearby allies can be used in a similar fashion, piling on for an assault that can include up to five characters at any one time. These scenes are hilariously chaotic, as groups wail on an unfortunate foe in unison with ?a cacophony of fists and swords.

The battle animations were clearly the focus of a great deal of time and attention. Lovingly crafted, the developers pulled character's moves straight from the source material. It makes the combat such a joy ??to take part in. ??Chun-Li can be pulling off a kikoken one moment, transitioning into a spinning bird kick in the next, and seconds later you get to witness a horde of Servbots rushing in with a variety of bizarre attacks. It's amazing.

As much as I loved Project X Zone, it's not for everyone. The story is incomprehensible. It can be pretty repetitive. And those lacking a strong attachment to Capcom, Namco Bandai, and Sega's iconic characters might want to stay away. That said, this is a love letter from Japan that just abo?ut any RPG fan should seriously consider checking out.

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The fan service cannot be contained

I didn't think the powers would be could obtain the proper rights to release Project X Zone internationally, but lo and behold, it's happening! If you're picking it up at launch, check and make sure you'r??e getting the free limited edition version, which comes with a mini-art book, poster, and soundtrack.

I had a chance to play Project X Zone last week, and I have to say, it's pretty solid. Although it may be one of the easiest strategy RPGs I've ever played, and the customization aspect is very shallow, it's pretty much a non-stop romp with some of the best characters in gaming. If you hate strategy RPGs t?his will do nothing to change your mind, but if you're open to genre and spot some of your favorite characters in the trailer, this is probably a great place to start.

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Five-use limit is weaksauce

If you've been itching to put the SEGA X Capcom X Namco Bandai strategy RPG extravaganza, Project X Zone, through its paces, you finally get your chance today. "Demo A" -- a combat scenario with the teams of Ryu & Ken (Street Fighter), Ichiro & Sakura (Sakura Wars), Gemini & Erica (Sakura Wars again), Kurt & Riela (Valkyria Chronicles), Soma & Alisa (God Eater), and Kite & BlackRose (.hack)?? -- has appeared on the 3DS eSho??p. Just beware the five-use limit, those stingy bastards...

Having only caught the odd gameplay clip here and there, I possessed but a vague idea of how the action would feel in my hands. And to be honest, it felt kinda blah. You move your characters around the map in turn, enter a one-sided battle against an opponent, then hammer different button combos?? to execute a succession of flashy attacks that don't appear to be significantly more effective at dealing damage than the last. Rinse and repeat.

The last Japanese strategy RPG I played was the original Disgaea, but I seem to recall there being slightly more actual strategy to combat back then. After campaigning to get this game out West, I would ha??te for it to end up being as dull as th?is boring-ass demo.

The full Project X Zone launches in the US on Ju?ne 25 and in Europe on July 5.

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It's almost my entire childhood in two minutes

Project X Zone has a new trailer, and it shows off a ton of characters that will be appearing in ??the p??roject. If you've been following the game for a while now you won't find any surprises. But for a lot of you some of the appearances will definitely catch you off guard, as will the retro background music. In fact, I dare say this is one of the most fan service oriented trailers ever.

I've seen a lot of you out there confused as to what Project X Zone actually is, but it's not really that tough to explain. In a nutshell, it's a strategy RPG much like Disgaea or Final Fantasy Tactics, with a large cast consisting of characters from Namco Bandai, Capcom, and Sega properties. The genre itself is fairly niche, so research it a bit be??fore you dive r?ight in.

The post Can you handle this Projec??t X Zone character spotlight? appeared first on Destructoid.

Also, Limited Edition copies are free at launch

After a long wait, Project X Zone is nearly here. Set to launch on June 25, this Namco Bandai, Capcom, and Sega crossover will feature characters from Mega Man to Bruce Willis. Namco Bandai has just announced today that "for the fans," there will be a free Limited Edition version of the game given out to?? those who buy the game new at the launch price of $39.99.

I?t'll come with a mini-art book, poster, and music CD, which is pretty standard for limited editions of portable games (typically Atlus). We were all worried there for a bit that it wouldn't ever get localized, but now we can breath easy -- and with a Limited Edition version on the way to boot!

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Release date confirmed for North America

The first step for Banpresto and Monolith Soft's strategy role-playing game Project X Zone was getting it localized. Mission accomplished. Now, Nam?c??o Bandai has come out with a firm release date for this mash-up of Capcom, Sega, and Namco properties: June 25, 2013.

This news comes by way of an update on the game's official site, which was thankfully not mistakenly posted or anything like that. The publisher confirmed the North American date with IGN, so we're good here. European gamers, however,?? will have to remain? patient for their big day.

[Via NeoGAF -- Thanks, SephirothX]

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There are many sexy, chiseled muscles to look at, too

Apparently, nearly a decade ago, Namco and Capcom teamed up for the crossover, turn-based SRPG Namco x Capcom. Don’t ask me how ??they decided who would get first billing. A coin flip? A Japanese game show? Similarly, don’t ask me when we were suppose??d to figure out the “X” is pronounced “cross.” Not sure if Japan is too advanced for us, if we’re too culturally mired down in Christian iconography when it comes to cross, or if the whole trend is just stupid.

The point is, Namco and Capcom’s already unwholesome pre-marital coitus is reaching an entirely new level of damnation as newcomer SEGA joins the fray turning the twosome into a threesome that spans 29 franchises with Project X Zone. This leveled up debauchery, as we reported earlier, is coming westward this time around, presumably emboldened by all that kinky sexual experimentation. It definitely wasn’t SEGA’s doing, since the company can’t be arsed to bring me more Valkyria Chronicles games.

I’m still a bit bitter, but this game is fan ser??vice incarnate, so excuse my fan complaining.

Project X Zone (Nintendo 3DS)
Developer: Monolith Soft & Banpresto
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
Release: Summer 2013

So, some wibbly wobblies in the quantum neutrino fields have led to worlds colliding, or something. Original characters Mii and Kogoro have the unique ability to ride these mystical space waves and jump between worlds, while everyone else is ge?tting screwed with, being transported to?? and fro willy-nilly. Again: fan service. There’s a mild attempt to validate smushing these disparate characters together like action figures in a formative sandbox. There’s an ultimate, nefarious baddie pulling strings. But things are mostly about smushing characters together and saying, “Hahaha, Ryu is totally talking to KOS-MOS, ain’t that wacky?”

It’s not a bad thing, mind. My ears perked up just the same when I heard mention of Zephyr, Leanne, and affable Vashyron from the under acknowledged Resonance of Fate. I got a kick out of Ken Masters and Ryu palling around. When I read the full list, I even got excited upon seeing Valkyria Chronicles, only to realize the characters are apparently from Valkyria Chronicles III. If ??you remember, it didn&rsquo?;t get a US release.

There is a game behind this fan service, of course. It’s a mix of bog standard, grid-based, turn-based strategy and action. Everything plays out on your typical grid, but attacks take place on a separate screen that requires soft one to one button pressing. Your units operate in defined pairs (Ryu and Ken, Zephyr and Leanne, etc.) and have interchangeable support characters (Vashyron, Ulala from Space Channel 5, etc.) that can be called in with a button press. If the pair you&rsqu?o;re controlling engages an enemy with an ally pair adjacent, it’s possible to get all five characters beating down on the poor chumps that decided to be henchmen against as many “heroes” they could cram into a game.

While I didn’t go hands-on with the all Japanese build, I think I was able to wrap my head around the combat, which has some depth beyond statistics and requires dexterity. It’s no fighting game, mind you, but different characters generally attack low, medium, or high, and things like that need to be taken into consideration; for example, you should ?juggle an enemy into the air if you’re getting ready to call in a support character who attacks high. There are other wrinkles; you can attack straight up and get an extra blow in or you can stun enemies to keep fists flying and meters rising. Filling one meter in particular allows scripted special moves by the pairs, which are generally reflexive of the coolest moves they have in their respective games.

In hand?ling the licensing, Namco worked to ensure a westward voyage would go smoothly, so all the characters from the Japanese release are intact. So too are the bits of voi?ced Japanese dialogue that punctuate the text heavy title, which will undoubtedly be a treat for fans of these series. Mercifully, there is a huge database of all the characters and the like in the game, which will likely be particularly helpful in covering characters from games that never even made it out of Japan.

Speaking of fan service, Project X Zone’s long anime opening is pretty amazing. Unfortunately, a sprite-based SRPG doesn’t quite live up to that level of insanity -- though the combat does get pretty hectic and cool looking. Still, if you’re somehow finding yourself lacking in games to play this Summer, perhaps because you’re a wizard with the power to stop time, and you’ve already played Fire Emblem: Awakening, I suppose Project X Zone could be worth the novelty (and expected grind).

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You can't have too much Project X Zone! If the hedonically excessive 16-minute trailer didn't get your panties nice and moist, here is the full intro animation. It'?s your average anime opening, with pop vocals and characters who ??just stand around doing nothing, but it's still bizarre to see all those Capcom, Sega, and Namco Bandai icons sharing screen time.

It wouldn't be surprising if a game with so many readily apparent localization hurdles never left Japan, but that doesn't mean there's no chance. Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada is confident that Project X Zone has international appeal and has proposed a Western release to his higher ups. He took to Twitter to announce his intentions, and though nothing has yet been decided, he's certain that he'll get his way if he keeps pressing.

I hope it pans out. It would be a shame to let such a massive crossover sit in a single region.

Check Out the Opening for Project X Zone [The Mega Man Network]

The post The full Project X Zone intro plus possibl?e localization appeared first on Destructoid.

The upcoming Capcom/Namco-Bandai/Sega crossover title Project X Zone shares a lot of similarities to the unlocalized PS2 title Namco X Capcom. They're both action/strategy titles with visual and practical elements that make them resemble 2D fighting games. The two titles even appear to share some of the same g??raphics.

That said, Project X Zone outclasses its predecessor in a couple of areas. First, it's got a Ulala from Space Channel 5 and characters from Sakura Wars. That's adorable. Second, the graphics are a lot better. The animation appears smoother and the dramatic close-ups are more than just still frames of 2D art. Thirdly, it appears that Project X Zone will ante in terms of over-the-top action. The Space Harrier from... Space Harrier, Opa-Opa from Fantasy Zone, the previously mentioned Ulala, and God knows who else perform a multi-hit, multi-character combo against a defenseless Morolian is quite a sight to behold. I can only imagine what kind of pageantry that game's boss battles mi??ght have in store.

Now we just have to wait to see if Project X Zone can one-up Namco X Capcom in the most important wayl ocean hopping. Namco X Capcom never left Japan, reportedly due to licensing issues. If Project X Zone? suffers the same fate, it'll make millions of Western 3DS awfu??lly blue.

The post Project X Zone wants to show you some dram??atic combos appeared first on Destructoid.

After slowly trickling information about their upcoming dream team project, Capcom, Sega, and Namco Bandai finally took the lid of of some official plans. The power trio revealed to Famitsu that their upcoming 3DS game is titled Project X Zone (pronounced Project Cross Zone). One of the other morsels of info they let out is that the release fea??tures pair-ups of some of the companies' best fighters for ba?ttle sequences.

The kicker? It was revealed not to be a fighting game, as many speculated, but a strategy RPG of sorts. The character duos don't seem to cross publishers but do mix a couple series. I'm pretty impressed with the selection but s???till totally baffled by how the game might actually play out. I am intrigued, though, and can't wait for the trailer, which should drop later this month.

Capcom x Se??ga x Namco Bandai: Project X Zone First Details [Andriasang]

The line-up so far:

Capcom
Ryu & Ken (Street Fighter 0), X and Zero (Mega Man), Demitri and Dante (Darkstalkers and Devil May Cry), Chris and Jill (Resident Evil)

Sega
Shinguji Sakura and Ogami Ichiro (Sakura Wars), Pai and Akira (Virtua Fighter), Kurt and Riela (Valkyria Chronicles), Ulala and Touma (Space Channel 5 and Shining Force EXA) 

Namco Bandai
Sanger Somvold (Super Robot Wars), Jin and Ling Xiaoyu (Tekken), Kos-Mos and T-elos (Xenosaga), Yurie and Estel (Tales of Vesperia), Kaito and Black Rose (.hack)

The post Project X Zone surprises us with actual details appeared first on Destructoid.