With E3 2015 just around the corner, the team at XSEED Games have announced what will be on display at their booth (#5212 for those attending) during the expo. Rather than opting to save a few surprises for the event (Although still a possibility), the publisher have prematurely announced a number of titles which they plan for release in the near future. These new titles include The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel (PS3 / PS Vita), Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair (PS4), Senran Kagura Estival Versus (PS4 / PS Vita) and Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale (3DS).
Information on both new and old titles (/w information sourced from company) can be found at the bottom of this post. The overall line-up, while very niche, is quite promising. Let’s hope that XSEED Games can deliver with timely releases and some fantastic localisations!
Shinichi Suzuki | President & CEO of Marvelous USA (Which XSEED is a Publishing Brand of)
Without a doubt, E3 2015 will be an action-packed showing for us with Onechanbara Z2: Chaos as well as a pair of games each for the Earth Defense Force and SENRAN KAGURA series. Combined with the long-awaited returns of The Legend of Heroes and Corpse Party, as well as a new crossover entry into the STORY OF SEASONS series, we’re extremely excited about our diverse portfolio of games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV3p9rbyN8c
Corpse Party: Blood Drive
PlayStation Vita | Fall 2015 | Team GrisGris/MAGES/5pb
The final installment of the supernatural story that began with Corpse Party and continued in Corpse Party: Book of Shadows, Corpse Party: Blood Drive ups the ante by allowing players to explore Heavenly Host Elementary in full 3D for the first time, and with a dynamic lighting system aided by an in-game flashlight. New gameplay systems add more exciting interactions for players experiencing the gruesome finale to this tale of an inescapable, otherworldly school populated by vengeful spirits, including talismans to banish the dead, cruel traps to disarm, cabinets to hide in, and a stamina system allowing for limited dashing. Returning features include binaural 3D audio for simulated surround sound and the screen-altering “Darkening” system, plus bonus unlockables. Presented with the original Japanese voiceovers and boasting 11 huge story chapters and 8 supplemental “Extra Chapters,” Blood Drive caps off the Heavenly Host storyline in a big way, providing answers and shocking twists in equal measure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu2A7UUR-ic
Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders From Planet Space
PlayStation Vita | Fall 2015 | Sandlot/D3Publisher
Widely regarded by fans as the best entry in the franchise, Earth Defense Force 2 is making its way to the western hemisphere for the very first time with this greatly expanded remake. In Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders From Planet Space, players will take the role of one of three distinct military classes and fend off hordes of invading giant insects from a third-person perspective by way of conventional weaponry, armored vehicles, jetpacks, air strikes, trip mines, energy weapons, and more. This definitive version of the game will arrive in North America for the PS Vita with a number of improvements and additions including up to four-player online co-op, an entirely new Air Raider class, and a new English dub.
Earth Defense Force 4.1: The Shadow of New Despair
PlayStation 4 | Fall 2015 | Sandlot/D3Publisher
The wild sci-fi action of the Earth Defense Force series comes to the PS4 system for the first time in this complete reimagining of Earth Defense Force 2025, now with silky smooth framerates, beefed-up graphics, and over 50% new content. After selecting from one of four unique playable classes and customizing their weapons, players will lead NPC troops into city-wide battles against hordes of seemingly endless giant bugs, robots, and other colossal enemies. Two players can enjoy local co-op and versus modes, while online co-op supports up to four players to increase the odds against this massive alien threat.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
PlayStation 3 / PlayStation Vita | Fall 2015 | Nihon Falcom Corporation
Revealed for the first time in North America, this RPG adventure from Nihon Falcom’s acclaimed The Legend of Heroes franchise, known in Japan as Sen no Kiseki, improves on the series’ formula and features an expertly told storyline that both longtime Trails veterans and newcomers alike can enjoy equally. Taking place on the same continent as fan-favorite Trails in the Sky, Trails of Cold Steel is the first game in the series to tread Erebonian soil and explore the inner political conflicts of this oft-mentioned powerhouse in detail. With a standalone story that also delves into the expansive lore that has become synonymous with the series, players take on the role of military students at a time of great turmoil, enjoying school life and bonding with fellow students to earn new abilities in battle, then utilizing those abilities via speedy, tactical turn-based combat with the newly-developed “ARCUS” system.
Good News!
NIS America will be publishing this game in PAL regions. Keep an eye on The Otaku’s Study for more specifics at a later date.
Official Storyline Synopsis
Among the nations on the Zemurian continent, the mighty Erebonian Empire has been quick to stake its claim militarily; yet politically, ugly bouts of internal conflict between the upper class and commoners struggling to rise to power have been steadily intensifying with each passing month. The Noble and Reformist Factions have been none too kind to one another over the years, and tensions between the two only stand to worsen if compromises aren’t reached in the very near future.
Rean Schwarzer, like any other citizen of the Imperial Nation, is no stranger to these rising conflicts: the class system has been deeply interwoven into the tapestry of Erebonian culture since the days of old. As a seventeen-year-old student preparing for his new life at Thors Military Academy, however, he notices that his crimson uniform differs from the standard outfits issued to his peers—typically green for commoners, and white for nobles.
Enter, Class VII of Thors Military Academy. For the first time in the prestigious academy’s history, rank means nothing and skill means everything. With nine hand-picked students of various backgrounds and abilities, Rean included, Class VII readies itself to dive deep into the political quagmire that threatens not only them, but the very foundations of the Empire.
Onechanbara Z2: Chaos
PlayStation 4 | Summer 2015 | TamSoft/D3Publisher
The latest iteration of the Onechanbara sexy zombie slayer series ups the ante with two sets of buxom vampire sisters and over a dozen stages of high-octane real-time swordplay featuring hordes of zombies—not to mention wildly inventive methods for dispatching these undead opponents. Players will square off against the undead in various worldwide locations, with limbs and blood flying every which way through physical attacks and acrobatic maneuvers alike, occasionally transforming into demons for short bursts of added power and speed at the cost of life energy. Each of the four members of the so-called “bikini zombie squad” has her own unique abilities, and skillful play is rewarded with orbs that can be exchanged for upgraded weapons and outfits. For the first time in the series, players can enjoy the game with full English voice-acting or play through with the original Japanese performances. The game has been rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB with the descriptors Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, and Suggestive Themes.
Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale
Nintendo 3DS | Winter 2015 | ©Yohsuke Tamori ©Yoshifumi Hashimoto (Marvelous Inc.)
A new game based on the Japanese PopoloCrois Story comic book series, and a new entry in the wildly successful Bokujo Monogatari farming and life simulation series, now known as STORY OF SEASONS in the West, Return to PopoloCrois: A STORY OF SEASONS Fairytale features both classically-styled turn-based combat and towns full of lively and interesting NPCs who contribute to a heartwarming narrative about friendship, forgiveness and the bounty of the earth that veterans and newcomers alike to either franchise can enjoy equally. Ample farming and life simulation elements are also on offer in this comprehensive crossover, including real-time crop-raising, bug-catching, rock-quarrying, item synthesis, and relationship forging. Players can collect over 600 items and undertake nearly 100 quests throughout the game, supplementing its 25+ hour main story with nearly unlimited potential for replayability. StreetPass features are also present, allowing players to connect with one another and earn bonus items through treasure-hunting.
Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson
Nintendo 3DS | Summer 2015 | Marvelous Inc
The naughty yet very nice ninja girls of the SENRAN KAGURA universe return to Nintendo 3DS in a fresh, new 2.5D side-scrolling brawler. Featuring the series′ trademark high-flying, clothes-ripping battle mechanics, SENRAN KAGURA 2: Deep Crimson follows the events of SENRAN KAGURA Burst, sending all 12 of the original cast members on another supernatural martial arts adventure through modern Japan. For the first time in the series, shinobi can either fight in pairs, covering each other’s backs and combining special techniques as needed, or fight alone to give their partners time to recover after bouts of intense combat. One player can control both team members, switching back and forth at will, or two players can fight side-by-side in co-op mode. The game has been rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB with the descriptors Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, and Violence.
Senran Kagura Estival Versus
PlayStation 4 / PlayStation Vita | Winter 2015 | Marvelous Inc
A mystical phenomenon transports the buxom beauties of SENRAN KAGURA to a parallel dimension to face off against their rivals in a new kind of battle. In this strange world – which resembles a sunny, sandy island paradise – the girls are thrown for another loop as they encounter departed loved ones and ultimately have to decide if they can bear to part from them a second time. With the biggest roster in the series’ history, SENRAN KAGURA ESTIVAL VERSUS features more moves, more story, more attitude, and more destruction online with matches that can support up to 10 players (PS4 version only; PS Vita supports up to 4 players). All previous shinobi return with a host of upgraded moves to master, and new playable characters offer more challenges to conquer, along with a story that’s equal parts sexy and shocking, serious and scandalous, busty and bouncy.
When the FUCK does Trails come out?