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Japan’s New Properties

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by Bryan Vore on July 07, 2011 at 06:55 PM
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Huge Western sequels like BioShock Infinite and Batman: Arkham City made headlines at E3, but Japanese developers and publishers have an intriguing lineup of all-new IP on the horizon. See what’s in store from out East now.

 

 

Catherine

Platform: PS3, 360

Publisher: Atlus

Developer: Atlus

Release: July 26

 

This “adult-themed” puzzle game feature loads of deftly animated cutscenes interspersed with multiple choice questions and block puzzles. Who knows ifs this will all stack up to a quality experience, but at least it’s branching out to strange new territory.

 

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

Platform: PS3, 360

Publisher: Ignition Entertainment

Developer: Ignition Entertainment

Release: July 26

 

This out-there third-person action title is almost out and we can’t wait. The visuals stand out from the pack and the combat looks tight and challenging. Plus, designer Takeyasu Sawaki has worked on Devil May Cry and Okami so El Shaddai has plenty of pedigree to back up Ignition’s relatively unproven dev house.

 

Rise of Nightmares

Platform: 360

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Sega

Release: September

 

Sega’s actually making what looks to be a real game for Kinect rather than a fitness sim or minigame collection. The company’s certainly got a history for arcade horror with House of the Dead, and this melee-focused take has a chance at joining the shortlist of good titles for Microsoft’s peripheral.

 

NeverDead

Platform: PS3, 360

Publisher: Konami

Developer: Rebellion

Release: Winter

 

Konami’s team-up with Western dev Rebellion looks just crazy enough to work. Immortal hero Bryce is unable to die due to an ancient curse. All those centuries of life have given him quite the attitude and the ability to roll himself back together when he gets severely damaged. A kooky cast of characters and wild enemy designs could push this into cult classic status.

 

Heroes of Ruin

Platform: 3DS

Publisher: Square Enix

Developer: n-Space

Release: Early 2012

 

The developer known for porting the Call of Duty games to DS is finally getting a shot to work on a fresh new franchise. Sure, n-Space is an American developer, but Square Enix’s touch will be all over this. This strategy RPG fully embraces the 3DS’ StreetPass and SpotPass features, allowing for item trading with friends and daily challenges from the creators.[PageBreak] 

 

Dragon’s Crown

Platform: PS3, Vita

Publisher: Ignition Entertainment

Developer: Vanillaware

Release: Spring 2012

 

If you’ve played Odin Sphere and Muramasa: The Demon Blade, you know that Vanillaware creates some of the most breathtaking 2D visuals in gaming. Now the developer is creating a 4-player co-op, RPG-style, Golden Axe-influenced take on the brawler genre. Should be incredible.

 

Asura’s Wrath

Platform: PS3, 360

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: CyberConnect2

Release: 2012

 

The developer that’s brought us countless Naruto: Ultimate Ninja games finally gets to prove itself on a non-licensed, new property. However, it seems that the over-the-top influence of the anime series is on full display. The player’s six-armed hero, Asura, seems capable of anything, even beating back a giant’s finger that’s large enough to crush a city.

 

Dragon’s Dogma

Platform: PS3, 360

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Capcom

Release: 2012

 

This open-world third-person action game shows impressive graphical fidelity when considering the promised size of the environment. This looks a lot more focused and fun than Capcom’s other beast battling franchise, Monster Hunter. Definitely color us curious.

 

TBD

Much has been made recently of three new-IP JRPGs that Nintendo is publishing everywhere but North America. Nintendo crushed hopeful fans saying that there are “no plans” to bring these games to the U.S. Read on to see what we’re missing out on.

 

Xenoblade

Platform: Wii

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Monolith Soft

Release: September (Europe)

 

Monolith Soft, known for its excellent Xenosaga trilogy, finally put out a new RPG and we don’t get to play it. The battle system's Final Fantasy XII/MMO style shakes up the standard turn-based approach and the art looks cool.

 

The Last Story

Platform: Wii

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Mistwalker/AQ Interactive

Release: 2012 (Europe)

 

Hironobu Sakaguchi knows RPGs and this is his studio’s latest. Mr. Final Fantasy (and Chrono Trigger) re-teamed with FF composer Nobuo Uematsu for the soundtrack. Famitsu gave it two 10s and two nines. C’mon, Nintendo!

 

Pandora’s Tower

Platform: Wii

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Ganbarion

Release: 2012 (Europe)

 

Okay, so Ganbarion hasn’t really done that much great stuff. It’s mostly known for some One Piece games. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t get a chance to play this Castlevania-style action/RPG.

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  • by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:00 PM
    wow no PC man
  • by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:02 PM
    Stop being d-bags Nintendo. Give the hardcore RPG fans who own a Wii a reason to turn it on for the first time in months. Seriously, I think the last time I turned on my Wii was in January.
  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:03 PM
    Wow, Nintendo with the Epic Fail for not bringing those last three games to North America. Like, what???
  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:05 PM

    I don't personally have a Wii, and it's because of things like that. They have 3 games that look awesome, and they're not going to release them in America? That just seems like a poor decision on their part.

  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:06 PM
    I recently realized that nearly all of my favorite games were developed in Japan anyways. North American development can't seem to hold a light to it. Catherine is the most exciting from this list, and I heard El Shaddai was pretty disappointing, unfortunately.
  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:12 PM

    Stay classy Japan

  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:18 PM
    The two Dragon's look cool (I like the art direction of Crown, looks very interesting). Dragon's Dogma is still a silly Engrish sounding name though (but that shot of the lion looks pretty Baracus).

    Not going to comment on Nintendo's actions here; I haven't understood them in over a decade.
  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:18 PM

    Rise of Nightmares seems like a cool idea, but i'm wondering how melee combat against zombies/ monsters will work. Really curious about how Dragon's Dogma pans out though.

  • by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:21 PM

    I'm really excited for Dragon's Dogma, CATHERINE!!!, NeverDead, Heroes of Ruin and Dragon Crown. And I will find a way to get my hands on The Last Story, even if I have to import a PAL Wii and the game.

  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:22 PM
    lol @ the male who is in full body armor while the woman warrior is in a thong for Dragon's Crown.
  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:25 PM

    Looks like Nintendo got a higher (emergency) hand now. It's up to them to play it right or lose it by saving until the end of the game.

    I seemed to me Dragon's Crown wouldn't make it to this side.

  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:30 PM

    It's always good to see the Japanese titles come back, and in full force no less

  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 07:56 PM

    The two "Dragon"s are on my short list. An action-RPG helmed by the guys behind DMC4? Yes, please. And Vanillaware's visuals are really that good. I hope to read a  reveal of cross-play between PS3 and PSV for Dragon's Crown in the future.  

  • by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 08:03 PM

    Man, thanks for reminding me that there were some original, promising-looking, EXCITING announcements at e3. Instead of just tons and tons of sequels and other games we've already seen at e3's past (passed?)

    Most of these look really, really cool. Asura's Wrath is the craziest action game I've ever seen. And while I'm no fan of the overrated Vanillaware (Muramasa BLEW. The absolute worst level designs on the planet and simplstic, monotonous combat do not a great game make), at least they're hitting with another new game, so there's the chance it'll be better. Although their art is terrible. Have they ever seen a woman before? Even for stylistic reasons, the uber-busty/thick-thighed ladies of Dragon's Crown are pretty gross.

    But Heroes of Ruin, Catherine, El Shaddai, Rise of Nightmares and Neverdead all look like they could become something special. I REALLY hope Heroes of Ruin is good, because the 3DS is hurting for some games.

  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 08:06 PM

    Cool :)

  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 08:13 PM
    Meh. The only one that looks remotely interesting is Dragon's Crown. I was excited until I read "brawler" then I realized Japan's "new" IP ideas suck.
  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 08:13 PM

    Dragon's Crown. Dungeons & Dragons with porn star breasts!!

  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 08:14 PM
    Honestly, SHADOWS OF THE DAMNED really reinvigorated my appreciation for Japanese game development. That game was really spectacular - very well done. Homerun for Suda 51 and company! And nearly every game on this list looks promising too. I'm planning on buying Dragon's Crown blindly - I have everything else that Vanillaware has made, and I have yet to be disappointed. Even if the gameplay and dialogue of Muramasa was subpar, I found just LOOKING at the game to be a simple pleasure of life (the same for all their games). Could this mean the next Tokyo Game Show won't suck as badly - considering that at least half of these games won't be out until mid-2012 (most likely)?
  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 08:25 PM

    I'm extremely displeased with Nintendo not bringing those last three titles to NA.  Even if they did a games-on-demand approach with those, I would take that.  We already saw in an article today that they could essentially do a full release that way, 1000GS and all.  Thanks, Nintendo, for allowing floods of crappy titles to hit the Wii, but when some good looking RPGs come out you keep them to yourselves.

    GI, is there any chance you guys can review these games so we can see what we are missing out on?

  •
    by Thursday, July 07, 2011 at 08:29 PM

    Only one of these I'm really excited about is Asura's Wrath, looks nuts! Even though I don't own a Wii, I am very interested in The Last Story for the sole reason that Nobuo Uematsu is composing the soundtrack, the man's a musical genius!

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