Fans of Japanese role-playing games and associated weirdness rejoice - the kings of Japanese cool over at NIS America have recently announced their 2014 offerings for the PS Vita and Playstation 3. All due out sometime this year, the announcements continue the company's trend of bringing the quirky and the unusual to these shores - and aside from a super secret still-to-be-revealed Playstation 4 title in the works, they're all out on consoles we already own. So without further ado, lets get down to business, dood:
Battle Princess of Arcadias
Immensely colourful, this downloadable side-scrolling brawler follows the adventures of the Battle Princess Plume, who takes it upon herself to rid her kingdom of the monster invasion. With a party of loyal warriors to accompany you, you bash your way through levels filled with wave upon wave of bad guys, stuffing your pockets with as much treasure as you can carry, before taking on some seriously huge bosses. During your travels you can collect new weapons and materials that can be combined to improve your equipment, perhaps even transforming it into a new, more powerful item - improving your stuff has other advantages too, as increasing its level means you can unlock new skills and attacks for your characters too. Currently, there's no concrete release date save a vague '2014', and no price details - hopefully there'll be more to come soon.
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
A sequel to the recently released PS Vita "visual novel" Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair promises more of the twisted, murderous mysteries we came to love from Monokuma the bear and the students at Hope's Peak Academy. Heading to the once-popular Jabberwock Island for a "lovey-dovey, heart-throbbing school trip", you and your classmates soon find yourselves trapped in a dangerous game where murder is the only way of escape. Fun in the sun quickly turns to suspicion and terror as everyone begins dropping like coconuts - and it's up to you to search for clues, interview your peers and uncover the motive and means behind each case. Once you think you've got it all figured out, it's time to test your theory in the Class Trial, where you'll find yourself going head to head in various mini-games with the other students, as you fight to find their false truths and work our what really happened. Out this autumn on the PS Vita, we can't wait.
The only way out - kill someone and don't get caught.
Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited
Originally a PS3 game that was praised as one of the best in the long-running strategic role-playing game series, Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited is the same addictive game, in portable format, with tons of bonus content to make it a worthwhile upgrade. A story of the politics of the Netherworld, the game focuses on vampire Valvatorez, who's leading an uprising against the president of the land, as the notorious prez has ordered a mass extermination of hell's Prinny population. And does Valvatorez plan on going about saving the world? With the power of sardines, of course. About as far away from serious as you can get, the Disgaea games are essentially giant games of chess, that see you moving your team mates around a board, as you try to outmanoeuvre, and attack your enemies - with all manner of over the top special moves (punching someone into the sun, anyone?) helping keep things interesting. This extended version promises more of the same, as well as a number of brand new levels, character cameos and more back story - in other words, a perfect (if slightly insane) way to spend your holiday this summer.
Fairy Fencer F
Long ago, a war between Gods caused a number of immensely powerful weapons - each imbued with the life force of a fairy - to be created. Over the years since the conflict, the weapons have been spread far and wide across the world, highly sought after by skilled warriors who call themselves 'Fencers', as whoever wields such a sword is said to be granted a single wish. When a young man called Fang pulls such a weapon from a stone, he finds himself inadvertently becoming a Fencer himself, and so the story of Fairy Fencer F (F for Fang, perhaps?) begins. With turn-based battles, the ability to transform into a giant robot-y thing in battle and a bright green cat-like creature with Excalibur stuck to his head, the latest title from the folks behind the equally insane Hyperdimension Neptunia series is certainly shaping up to be another slice of weirdness when it lands sometime this year for the Playstation 3.
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So that's your lot - until this year's Tokyo Games Show in September, at any rate, where NIS promise to reveal the mystery Playstation 4 title (our bets are on Disgaea 5). For more on these, and all your other favourite (crazy) games, stay tuned over the coming weeks and months, as we're bound to get more soon.
