All-girl PS2 fighter Arcana Heart coming to North America

When it comes to the PlayStation 2, publisher Atlus USA is certainly not afraid to point out where its loyalties lie. The company indicated as much when we spoke to them last month, as Atlus PR front man Aram Jabbari called Sony's venerable console "a viable platform," adding that "there is no reason to abandon a veteran system just because it isn't the newest thing around."

What this translates to is that players can expect to continue to see Atlus' unique brand of niche Japanese titles coming stateside for some time. The latest to be confirmed of which is Examu's all-female fighting game Arcana Heart, which promises PS2 owners all the girl-on-girl 2D action they can handle when the game drops in North America on April 8. With 11 different customizable gals and a budget price of $29.99, Arcana Heart certainly has all the markings of a game worth picking up, though given Atlus' history, we expect that it will become near impossible to find at retail just hours after it's released.

Reader Comments (25)

Good for atlus. They continue to make tried and tested 2D Fighters on the ps2 that continue to sell like crazy. Though I wouldn't mind seeing what they have in store for some next gen consoles in terms of 2D fighters.

Hmm. I appreciate Atlus' niche leanings, but this game looks to have taken it a few steps to far for my tastes.

That game looks... terrible.

Actually, if you like 2D fighters, it's actually pretty good. Not for everybody, but I think its popular enough in the states already to warrant it's placing at Final Round XI in Atlanta this year. Too bad the US version is coming out a month after that.

CAT FIGHT!

I like how the image shows one girl bitch slapping another.

Pointless port confirmed!

Oh, so they did go with this game after all. For some reason I remember my buddies at there talking about Melty Blood. Still, Arcana Hearts isn't too bad. I just wish my arcade had the patched version instead of the broken, unbalanced original.

i just ordered this on weekly special from playasia 2 days ago! i'm not sure just how good a game this is yet, but for $30 it's worth a try. choosing from playing either street fighter II, III and alpha or KoF '99 up to XI is getting stagnant.

I'll buy it and give it a whirl. Can't possibly be worse than any of the recent Mortal Kombat games, at any rate.

Actually MK:Deception was good but Armageddon was awful.

Arcana Heart's nice and all, but I'm still waiting for a console port of Rumble Fish 2 to come out. Balance issues aside that's still my favorite 2D fighter of recent memory.

+1 for you sir. I thought it was only me and a small handful of friends that enjoyed Rumble Fish 2. Yes, yes, RF2 port!

If it weren't for Chinatown Fair in NYC, I wouldn't even know that RF2 existed. I dunno if Sammy wasn't as fond of it as the GG franchise, or if it just bombed in Japan, but they've never even tried to get a US audience.

Meh, I'm still gonna pick Arcana Heart up when it's out, agree with Zakufever that it'll be a nice change of pace from the usual.

I actually learned about it from Arcade Infinity, but now I have to go to Chinatown as well. I'd go more often if it wasn't right across the DDR machines and if that place ever got proper ventilation--oh the stench.

I think they've got a fan in there now! But I've only "heard" it, so it could just be a looped recording of a fan...

Sad thing, I was debating whether to put this in an order of the Last Blade and Samurai Spirits collections I ordered from Play-Asia a few days ago. Glad I waited... WOOT!

OMG, i love you Atlus!

http://www.atlus.com/new_forum/viewtopic.php?t=527&sid=81147c1e0dc8f42044464d816bb7d9b5

much more info

Going to see if I can reserve this game.

Arcana's good. A lot of serious tournament 2-D people are into it.

How about Melty Blood: Act Cadenza ver.B2? I'd like to see that come stateside.

hot legless dogs, finally. I can scratch this one off the ebay hunt list now.

They had me at "girl-on-girl."

Travis Touchdown approved!

All-girl PS2 fighter Arcana Heart coming to North America

Reader Comments (25)

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