Ten Games Japanese Gamers Reccomend

Following up on that article from Kotaku I mentioned in my Dungeon Travelers 2 post, I can agree on most of their recommendations.  Aside from Dungeon Travelers 2 I've also played Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus and DmC.  Those are really fun games and they play really well (ignoring Senran Kagura's excessive fanservice).  I'm surprised as with most people that the Japanese loved Far Cry 3, which I haven't gotten my hands on yet but am looking for it to be on sale during the Steam Summer Sale.

Demon Gaze and 7th Dragon 2020 II are some RPG's I haven't really heard much of, but they do like like excellent games.  The 7th Dragon series has never and localization and probably never will, but as Demon Gaze is a new IP, I'm hoping one of the niche developers here in the US like Atlus, Aksys, NIS America, or Xseed will pick it up.

NIS's The Guided Fate Paradox is coming over sometime in the Fall and I am looking forward to the spirtual sequel to Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger vs Darkdeath Evilman.  That was a fun spin on the roguelike RPG genre and had quite a few cameos from Disgaea and various manga/anime.  Hoping Guided Fate Paradox will do the same.

Soul Sacrifice is out right now but I haven't the opportunity try it out/ buy it, but the reviews have been positive.  Macross 30 is something the states will never see but as new Macross fan I'll believe the Japanese to its quality.

[Playstation 3] Mugen Souls Limited Edition Unboxing

Well I didn't expect my copy to arrive a day early, but I got my copy of Mugen Souls that I pre-ordered at NIS America's Anime Expo booth this summer.  The set includes a pair of Nendoroid figurines made by Good Smile Company featuring the characters Chou-Chou, Shampuru, and Altis.  Inside the box we get the Shampuru Bath Set(hand-towel and sponge), a full-page color hardcover art book, a soundtrack for the game and of course the Mugen Souls PS3 game.  Gonna hold off a bit on playing this game since I did just received Code of Princess this weekend.

NIS America announces Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl

Announced over the weekend, NIS America announced that they will be releasing Ground Control to Psychoelectris Girl aka Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko.  The release will be, like every other NIS America licensed anime, a premium box set with both blu-ray and DVD copies with a full color 36 page artbook in a collectible slipcase.  The complete 13 episode series will be out on January 8, 2013.

NIS America's TGS 2012 Announcements

NIS America's recent Prinny Bomb Newsletter has revealed that NIS America will be releasing Hyperdimenion Neptunia Victory in spring of 2013.  They've also got an iPhone Neptunia app in the works. Wonder what that will be? 

Next, they got Generation of Chaos: Pandora's Reflection for the PSP via the PSN.  I'm not all that familiar with the series but I'll check it out as it looks interesting.  They expect it to be released sometime 2013 as well.

Lastly, they will be publishing Atlus' Persona 4 Golden in Europe for release in spring 2013.

Hyperdimension Neptunia RPG's gets anime adaptation

It's like a dream come true! Japan's next issue of Dengeki Playstation magazine lists a Hyperdimansion Neptunia anime adaptation to go along with Thursday's release of the next game of the series, Neptunia V(Kami Jigen Game Neptune V).

Now the big question is, is the anime going to be based on the new game or the older ones, or will it be entirely original?  Once more news comes out I'll post on them as soon as possible.

Source from Anime News Network:Compile Heart's Neptunia RPGs Also Get Anime

NIS America steps onto PC with its first Steam release Cladun X2

NIS America releases its first PC game on Steam and it's surprisingly not a Disgaea title.  Cladun X2 is a action RPG dungeon crawler with some rouge-like elements including random dungeons, items, and traps.  Some cool features this game includes is the ability to create your own party of adventurers, your own weapons, and your own armor designs with the in game edit mode.

Creating a party in this game is unlike a traditional RPG.  The game has a magic circle system where you pick one character to play as, and the rest of your party gets placed into spaced surrounding your main that will enchance your stats and may give you additional bonus effects.  Your party members will also act as a shield for you main character until they die in which you also lose the bonus effects they give.

Cladun X2 was originally released on the Playstation Network for the Playstation Portable system.  I can't wait to see what else NIS America will bring over to Steam in the future.

NIS America Licenses Umineko: When They Cry

Announced during their panel at Otakon, NIS America will release Umineko: When They Cry on two separate Premium Edition volumes on Blu-ray this December.  The 26-episode series originally aired in Japan back in 2009.

 Plot Summary from Anime News Network:

Umineko no Naku Koro ni takes place in the year 1986, during the time frame of October 4 and October 5 on a secluded island named Rokkenjima. The head of a wealthy family named Kinzo Ushiromiya, who lives on and owns Rokkenjima, is near death, and eight of his family members arrive on the island to discuss how Kinzo's assets will be divided once he is dead. Also on the island are three family members who live there, five of Kinzo's servants, and his personal physician. After the eight family members arrive, a typhoon traps them on the island and shortly after people start to get mysteriously murdered.

The anime series is an adaptation of the visual novel of the same name by 07th Expansion.  They have also worked on the previous entry of mystery/horror anime Higurashi: When They Cry.

I hope NIS America will also think about re-licensing Higurashi and its sequel Kai someday.

source:NIS America Adds Umineko: When They Cry Mystery Anime

NIS America releases Character Chowdown on iOS

NIS America has just released a game that will help you learn hiragana, katakana, and  hundreds of kanji!  The game has a system that will recognize what you've mastered and what you need to work on.  They plan to add some Disgaea characters into the game in future updates so definitely working forward to that.

Character Chowdown is now available on the iTunes store for free, but you need to buy additional lessons in hiragana and kanji levels 1 through 4 for $0.99 each.

Kami Jigen Game Neptune V 2nd Promo Video

A new video detailing the battle system for Kami Jigen Game Neptune V (God Dimensional Game Neptunia V) was recently put up on Complie Heart's official website. (Video is not my re-upload; visit MasterLL on YouTube)


This game is a follow up to last year's Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 which I'm still currently playing through.  The battle system looks to be identical with some improvements to the UI.  Looks like this game is going to be filled with more fanservice than the previous Neptunia games with just as much "moe" otaku filled goodness.  The Japanese release date is on August 30th and will cost 7,329 yen (about US$93) and a limited edition is available at 10,479 yen (US$133).

There are currently no news regarding a US version but I assume NIS America will announce it sooner or later.

Mugen Souls PS3 Limited Edition Figure Set Pre-order announced

Originally saw this during Anime Expo 2012, NIS America has now officially announced the Limited Edition Figure Set for Mugen Souls on PS3 exclusively or pre-order on the NIS America online store.

The normal Limited Edition will include:
• The Mugen Souls Game for PlayStation 3
• An original soundtrack
• Online Store exclusive: A hardcover art book (35+ pages)
• Online Store exclusive: The Shampuru body sponge and hand towel

The Limited Edition Figure Set features the above items as well as:
• Online Store exclusive:A Nendoroid Petite figure set box produced by Good Smile Company which contains a detailed figure of Chou-Chou Infinite (poseable with interchangeable face and arms), Altis (poseable with interchangeable face and arms), and a Shampuru (1-inch figure).

If you were to pre-order the game anywhere else, you don't get any of these items, so if you're interested in the exclusive items, pre-order here from their online store:
http://store.nisamerica.com/Exclusives/Mugen-Souls-Limited-Edition-plus-Figure-Set

Both Limited Editions will not get reprinted once they run out and if like the Atelier Meruru Limited Edition before, it will sell out weeks before release.

From what I've seen, this game looks to be for the crazy "Moe" anime fans.  It's graphics style focuses on chibi models and those "mow" facial expressions.  Its gameplay system resembles that of Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 with the turn based free movement battles, and the ridiculous over-the-top animations and damage from  Disgaea series.  The game just seems to be the fusion of both NIS and Complie Heart/Idea Factory.

Being a sucker for limited editions from NIS America I already pre-ordered at Anime Expo for $100 and got a exclusive pin set.

The game is scheduled for release September 18th 2012.