Joystiq

The creative maturity of Hironobu Sakaguchi's Last Story

Kat Bailey — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:45:00 EST

There must be a fascinating behind-the-scenes story as to how XSEED managed to get a hold of the localization rights for The Last Story. Ordinarily, Nintendo has a death grip on the rights to its games: If they don't localize it, no one does. XSEED, for their part, say they "got lucky."

The Last Story is the most recent RPG by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, as well as the natural companion to Xenoblade Chronicles, which arrived last month. Both headlined last year's Operation Rainfall petition, along with Pandora's Tower, forever joining them at the hip. Much like Monolith Soft's opus Chronicles, Sakaguchi seems determined to say something new about the genre he once helped create.

Gallery: The Last Story (Nintendo Conference 2010)

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The creative maturity of Hironobu Sakaguchi's Last Story originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 May 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ragnarok Odyssey journeying to North American Vitas sometime this year

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 05 May 2012 22:00:00 EST

In addition to bringing Orgarhythm stateside sometime before the end of this calendar year, XSEED has also announced equally nebulous plans to localize Ragnarok Odyssey for North American audiences and their Vitas. This follows the game's Japanese release last February, though how closely it'll follow remains to be seen.

Set in the same world as Ragnarok Online, Odyssey is a Monster Hunter-esque runabout wherein the player's (fully customizable) character traverses the world, hunting "monsters and giants" as they do so. Players can choose from six different job classes, switching between missions when necessary, and play cooperatively either online or via local ad-hoc network, the later of which supports up to four players at a time.

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Ragnarok Odyssey journeying to North American Vitas sometime this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 May 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XSEED announces rhythm/strategy title 'Orgarhythm' for Vita

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:00:00 EST

Move over Theatrhythm, there's a new absurdly titled and unpronounceable handheld rhythm game in town: Orgarhythm. Developed by Acquire (in association with Neilo) and set to be published in North America by XSEED sometime this year, Orgarhythm is a hybrid rhythm/strategy game for the Vita.

Acting as the God of Light, players do battle against the diametrically named God of Darkness by commanding armies of elementally-themed soldiers. The game's soundtrack, described as "a hypnotic mix of rock, club and tribal music," affects how and when your units attack, with the beat of the music acting as a quantifiable resource to be spent on stronger attacks. The music also dynamically alters itself depending on the circumstances of the battle, adding additional layers of complexity as more troops enter the fray.

As implied by the rather artsy trailer above, commanding your army is handled entirely by the Vita's touchscreen - tapping to select troops, swiping to direct them towards the desired target, etc. Said troops also have a Pokemon-esque relationship with the enemy, due to the fact that every unit is either an Earth, water or fire-type, with all the inferred weaknesses and strengths you'd expect from such a system.

Eventual DLC is mentioned by the press release tucked away after the break, but no specific plans are actually outlined. If you're an aspiring musician, however, take note: XSEED will be looking for independent artists sometime in the near future to bolstier Orgarhythm's aural catalog.

Gallery: Orgarhythm (Announcement)

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XSEED announces rhythm/strategy title 'Orgarhythm' for Vita originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grand Knights History won't be published by XSEED, 'development resources' noted

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:30:00 EST

XSEED Games announced late yesterday that it will not publish turn-based RPG Grand Knights History in North America as previously announced.

"Unfortunately, it was determined that development resources required to localize the game were not available, necessitating its cancellation," the official statement from XSEED sent to Joystiq reads. "We regret not being able to bring the game to our fans, but we are committed to our 2012 lineup and look forward to sharing more on these games in the coming weeks and months."

Vanillaware, the developer of eye candy like Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Odin Sphere and the upcoming Dragon's Crown; will still see Grand Knights History published on PSP later this year in Europe by Rising Star Games.

Gallery: Grand Knights History (PSP)

Grand Knights History won't be published by XSEED, 'development resources' noted originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 May 2012 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XSEED bringing Way of the Samurai 4 to North America as a digital PS3 release

JC Fletcher — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST

The last Way of the Samurai game had two publishers on two different platforms in North America. Way of the Samurai 4 has just one publisher -- and it's neither of the previous companies. XSEED is taking on publishing duties for the PS3-exclusive action adventure, opting to release it digitally on PSN.

Players take the role of a masterless samurai in the period immediately after Japan opened its borders to foreign trade. In this changing Japan, your customizable character can get involved with three factions: the shogunate, Prajna isolationists, or the new foreign occupants. Or you can just hang out in a dainty little dress, apparently.

Gallery: Way of the Samurai 4 (PS3)

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XSEED bringing Way of the Samurai 4 to North America as a digital PS3 release originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unchained Blades going to 3DS and PSP as a digital release

JC Fletcher — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST

Over the weekend, we reported that XSEED was localizing Unchained Blades as a 3DS download. The publisher officially announced the title today, revealing that it's actually localizing both the 3DS and PSP versions of FuRyu's dungeon RPG, for digital release. It's an oddly fruitful day for first-person dungeon RPGs!

XSEED talked up the old-school Game Arts cred of the game, which is directed by Lunar writer Toshio Akashi and features a story by Grandia's Takashi Hino. That story involves a group of monster people ("cowardly golem prince," "medusa priestess," etc., all designed by different artists) questing to win back the transformative power of a "dragon emperor."

Gallery: Unchained Blades (3DS/PSP)

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Unchained Blades going to 3DS and PSP as a digital release originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Unchained Blades' coming to 3DS eShop via XSEED

JC Fletcher — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST

This is going to sound pretty weird, because it involves clues to something you likely don't remember or know. The short version: Nintendo Power's table of contents reveals a game called "Unchained Blades" for 3DS, as a download.

The long version: this is the reveal of something publisher XSEED was cryptically teasing yesterday, with a series of images on Twitter including a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a blade of grass, and a still from Ghost's famous pottery wheel scene. And now you're confused.

It's now clear that the clues refer to the dungeon crawler released in Japan as UnchainBlades Rexx. (get it: "Unchained" Melody plus "blade" of grass plus T. "Rex.") It was a retail game over there, but being in Nintendo Power's "Download" section suggests that XSEED is improving the distribution method along with the name.

'Unchained Blades' coming to 3DS eShop via XSEED originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XSEED Games Ys-es into Steam market

JC Fletcher — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:59:00 EST

XSEED is beginning to publish PC games for Steam, starting with a pair of Ys remakes. Ys: The Oath in Felghana will be available for purchase on March 19 for $14.99. It's coming out a while after the PSP version here, but in Japan this PC release predated the PSP by about five years.

Perhaps even more exciting is Ys Origin, a prequel game that never got an official English release. XSEED plans to put that out on Steam at a later date.

If you've never played an Ys game before, think old-school Zelda with more storyline. And even though Felghana is technically the third game in the storyline, you won't be lost if you jump in there. Basically, all you need to know is that Adol Christin is a really nice guy who will solve everyone's problems and kill everyone's monsters.

Gallery: Ys: The Oath in Felghana

Gallery: Ys Origin

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XSEED Games Ys-es into Steam market originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sumioni: Demon Arts drawn to digital Vita release March 20

JC Fletcher — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST

Looking for the next lovely thing to gawk at on your Vita's crazy screen? XSEED announced today that the sumi-e inspired action game Sumioni: Demon Arts will be available in North America on March 20. The PSN-exclusive release will sell for $19.99.

The gorgeous ink-style vistas, touchscreen platform painting, and summonable "inkgods" will be included at launch, of course, as well multiple endings. Less essential features like leaderboards and extra DLC will be released later.

Gallery: Sumioni: Demon Arts (3/2/12)

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Sumioni: Demon Arts drawn to digital Vita release March 20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hironobu Sakaguchi made this Last Story trailer for you

JC Fletcher — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST

If you've been ignoring The Last Story because you didn't want to get interested in a game you'd never be able to play, well, it's time to start watching trailers. And there's no better place to start than with this European trailer directed by Mistwalker's Hironobu Sakaguchi himself.

Like the European release of Xenoblade Chronicles, this version of The Last Story has quite British voice acting. American publisher XSEED hasn't made any announcements about how it would handle voice recording, but we expect to hear the same accents when the North American version shows up this summer.

Hironobu Sakaguchi made this Last Story trailer for you originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XSEED inks publishing deal for Vita platformer Sumioni: Demon Arts

JC Fletcher — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST

XSEED is one of the most doggedly prolific PSP publishers, and it's continuing the trend with the Vita, announcing plans to publish Acquire's Sumioni: Demon Arts this spring in North America.

Sumioni casts the player as an "ink demon," fighting through a sumi-e landscape. It combines traditional button controls for locomotion and combat, and touchscreen-based drawing to make new platforms, summon fire and lightning, and perform other feats. It's also, like, way pretty.

You don't need us to tell you that! Gawk at the above trailer and see for yourself. Thanks, XSEED, for localizing one of the more interesting Japanese Vita launch games! It's not like we can just buy it from PSN in Japan.

Continue reading XSEED inks publishing deal for Vita platformer Sumioni: Demon Arts

XSEED inks publishing deal for Vita platformer Sumioni: Demon Arts originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portabliss: Corpse Party (PSP)

JC Fletcher — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST

Did you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. In each installment, we'll tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: Corpse Party.

Technically, Corpse Party is a full-sized PSP game that just happens to be PSN-only, but it is a downloadable portable game, so I'm using this column as a convenient venue to talk about it. Because it is really, really cool. It may look cutesy and SNES-like, but the cognitive dissonance between that presentation and what is happening only serves to amplify the profound wrongness of every single moment of this game.

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Portabliss: Corpse Party (PSP) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Corpse Party starts boogeyin' this November

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST

On today of all days, the haunt of all haunts, Corpse Party publisher XSEED chose to announce a November launch for its upcoming download-only PSP horror title. And while XSEED is "sorry to have missed Halloween," this carton of rotten eggs we plan on throwing in the company's general direction just isn't hearing it, frankly.

At very least, the publisher has a decent explanation for the missed opportunity. "We wanted to make certain everything was perfect," a statement from XSEED localization specialist Tom Lipschultz on the US PlayStation Blog reads. He unfortunately didn't nail down a solid date for the game's launch, but did drop a brand new trailer, as seen above.

Corpse Party starts boogeyin' this November originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The best JRPG you haven't played yet

Jason Schreier — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:55:00 EST

This is a column by Jason Schreier dedicated to the analysis (and occasional mocking) of his favorite genre, the Japanese role-playing game. Whether it's because they're too antiquated or just too niche, he believes JRPGs don't get enough attention in the gaming industry today. It's time to change that.

Every good game has moments of euphoria, those revelatory points in an interactive adventure when we realize just how much fun we're having. They're different for everyone - some of us might be enamored by a combat system or nutty plot twist while others might find themselves romantically attracted to a main character's hair spikes - but everybody feels them.

These moments are usually short and ephemeral, showing up every once in a while just to remind us that we're enjoying ourselves. As a general rule, the more time we spend thinking "Wow, this is great," the better the game. When something really blows us away, we're aware of it the whole time.

Few JRPGs blow me away nowadays. For a while, I figured this was because I am cranky and cynical. Maybe this genre just isn't for me anymore, I thought to myself. Maybe I'll never enjoy Japanese role-playing games as much as I did when I was growing up. Maybe I'll never reignite that bliss I felt when I first delved into games like Suikoden and Xenogears. Maybe I'm too old.

Then I played The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky.

Gallery: The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (PSP)

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The best JRPG you haven't played yet originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More details on XSEED's disturbing Corpse Party

JC Fletcher — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST

The first announcement and trailer for XSEED's localization of Corpse Party focused on squicking us out with the game's premise -- a haunted elementary school filled with dead children -- but what about the actual game through which the squick is delivered?

On the PlayStation Blog, XSEED Localization Specialist and chief Corpse Party booster Tom Lipschultz offered more detail on the gameplay. Corpse Party is a "horror adventure game" divided into five chapters, each focusing on a small group of characters trying to escape from the school. Rather than a "visual novel" style (like 999), "most of the game is fully interactive, allowing you to walk around and explore Heavenly Host Elementary as you see fit, carefully examining objects and piecing together the sordid history of the school at every turn."

You'll have to make decisions about what to do, which could lead to a "bad" ending. At other times, you'll have to move quickly to escape a pursuing ghost or leave a trapped room, or you risk joining the party.

More details on XSEED's disturbing Corpse Party originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xseed publishing Vanillaware's online RPG 'Grand Knights History'

JC Fletcher — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:45:00 EST

XSEED has picked up Vanillaware's recent PSP release, the turn-based RPG Grand Knights History, with the intention to publish it in both UMD and digital releases this winter. Rising Star Games will publish it in Europe at an unspecified time. Vanillaware, if you can't quite place the name, is the developer of absurdly pretty 2D games like Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Odin Sphere, and the upcoming Dragon's Crown.

Grand Knights History depicts a war between three European-style nations, Union, Avalon, and Logres. Players choose one of the factions, recruit teams of soldiers, and face off against the other two armies in battles that take place over 30 hours. Each team member is fully customizable.

During TGS, I spoke with producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto, from development partner and publisher Marvelous, who explained the unique online functionality of this title -- the part that he thinks will help appeal to western audiences. "The way it works is you have these four parties online," composed from within a group of 32 characters you've built. "When you're online, you can take direct control of one of these; the other three will battle automatically. The other three parties are synced up to the server. But if you can't get online, all four will fight on their own."

While the online play is seen as a feature to draw in western players, the choice of gameplay system displays what seems to be a uniquely Japanese view. "The reason this was chosen: we did Muramasa: The Demon Blade with Vanillaware previously," Hashimoto said, "an action game. Some people are good at action, and some people are not. So with this game -- everybody can play a turn-based battle, and so every player will be able to get through the story and see the end, which is what we wanted."

Gallery: Grand Knights History (PSP)

Continue reading Xseed publishing Vanillaware's online RPG 'Grand Knights History'

Xseed publishing Vanillaware's online RPG 'Grand Knights History' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pick up info on Solatorobo's combat with these videos

JC Fletcher — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 23:59:00 EST

We've talked about Solatorobo: Red the Hunter, but we haven't seen much of how the game works. In these videos (one above, two after the break) you can actually see for yourself what the combat is like, including the basic action of picking up and throwing enemies, and even a shooting match with a pirate airship.

In this gameplay footage, you'll also see that the camera is sufficiently zoomed out for you to ignore that your character is a dog-man. That's helpful.

Gallery: Solatorobo: Red the Hunter (Combat)

Continue reading Pick up info on Solatorobo's combat with these videos

Pick up info on Solatorobo's combat with these videos originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky flying high after shipping 200,000 units

Jessica Conditt — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 23:00:00 EST

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky was first released on PSP for Japan in October 2006, and for North America in March of this year, and has since steadily soared to 200,000 units shipped.

Trails in the Sky began with a humble shipment of only 30,000, solidifying the game's status as an unexpected hit. Not to be outdone, the upcoming sequel, titled Trails of Blue, has passed 200,000 pre-orders in advance of its September release in Japan.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky flying high after shipping 200,000 units originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solatorobo ships with soundtrack

JC Fletcher — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST

Solatorobo: Red The Hunter, now the best shot at a light-hearted, island-based treasure hunting adventure (with Mega Man Legends 3 gone), will come with a nice bonus if you purchase one of the first-run copies: a soundtrack. In a distinctly Atlus-like move, XSEED is bundling a 24-track soundtrack CD with the initial shipment of the DS game.

XSEED also shared some new images of the beautiful floating-island locations in CyberConnect2's game, along with a couple of in-game screenshots. What lovely places to instruct a walking robot to pick up and throw every single available piece of scenery.

Gallery: Solatorobo: Red the Hunter (Locations and Characters)

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Solatorobo ships with soundtrack originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reel in Prope's Fishing Resort this fall

JC Fletcher — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST

XSEED is continuing its cozy relationships with both Bandai Namco (which has resulted in Retro Game Challenge, among other things) and developer Prope (whose Ivy the Kiwi? was published by XSEED), announcing a North American release of the Wii fishing game from Yuji Naka's company, Fishing Resort. It's a third-party Wii game in 2011, and thus a rarity.

The Wii game puts equal emphasis on both the "fishing" and "resort" aspects -- of course you'll be able to cast for over 200 varieties of fish (and play fishing-related minigames), but you're also given the choice to explore your island surroundings at your leisure, finding spots in different locales from which to fish. And should you develop some skill at the art of virtual fishing, you can take part in competitive play for up to four, and tell the world an incredibly accurate fish story via the leaderboards.

Gallery: Fishing Resort (Wii)

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Reel in Prope's Fishing Resort this fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solatorobo: Red the Hunter flies to North America, published by XSEED

JC Fletcher — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:50:00 EST

Namco Bandai published CyberConnect2's DS action-RPG, Solatorobo: Red the Hunter, in Japan. Nintendo itself picked the game up for Europe and now, finally, XSEED has announced that it'll bring the game to North America this fall.

The Tail Concerto-esque Solatorobo stars Red Savarin, a dog-man with a walking robot that he uses to explore a series of floating islands. His quest starts as a treasure hunt, but ends up tangled in bigger events (as all RPG undertakings are destined to). Luckily, it all leads to plenty of opportunities for that robot to pick up and throw heavy objects and enemies.

Check out a trailer after the break and try not to focus on the fact that the game stars anthropomorphic animals.

Gallery: Solatorobo: Red the Hunter (DS)

Continue reading Solatorobo: Red the Hunter flies to North America, published by XSEED

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter flies to North America, published by XSEED originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls finds a home on PSN

JC Fletcher — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:30:00 EST

The positively historical first-person RPG series Wizardry will continue in North America and Europe in as modern a manner as can be: a downloadable PSN game for PS3. XSEED is localizing Acquire's Wizardry: Torawareshi Tamashii no Meikyū for the West as Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls. Though the series started in America (in 1981!) in recent years it's been more popular in Japan, with sequels developed by Japanese companies and released only in Japan. That explains why this version looks a bit more anime than the original did.

Players will be able to explore a grid-based dungeon and fight 120 different monsters, all with hand-drawn 2D sprites, sometime this spring.

Gallery: Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls (PS3)

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Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls finds a home on PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XSEED explains The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky's family history

JC Fletcher — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:10:00 EST

click to embiggen
A few weeks ago, we asked NIS America to explain the semi-inscrutable title of Ar Tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel. Having had our minds expanded by that new knowledge, we then went looking for more games with absolutely crucial information you (and we) might not know.

And that's The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. Unbeknownst to most gamers, the PSP RPG is part of a very long, very populous series -- one with dozens of games, spinoffs, and even spinoff series. In fact, it's distantly related to the NES's Faxanadu and Legacy of the Wizard.

In response to our query, Tom Lipschultz, localization specialist for publisher XSEED, dropped an unprecedented amount of RPG history on us. If you'd like to know more about Trails in the Sky's lineage than you thought possible, read on.

Gallery: The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (PSP)

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XSEED explains The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky's family history originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A very Korg DS-10 Plus Christmas

JC Fletcher — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 09:39:00 EST

Kanji Honma created an entire Christmas album using Korg DS-10 Plus. Christmas Dinner is available on iTunes and Amazon, if you want to finally one Mannheim Steamroller album your parents insist on playing for his synthesized music. Check out a surprisingly funky "Jingle Bells" after the break.

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A very Korg DS-10 Plus Christmas originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ys: The Oath in Felghana in stores and on PSN Nov. 2

JC Fletcher — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:00:00 EST

XSEED has clarified the announced "November" release date for Ys: The Oath in Felghana -- and it's about as early in November as it can possibly be. If you're up for a classic top-down action RPG for your PSP, you can grab this remake on November 2.

The special edition version (pictured) will be available from Amazon, GameStop, Videogamesplus.ca and "other fine retailers," and will include a soundtrack and desk calendar. The regular edition will be available in both UMD and download forms for $30.

Continue reading Ys: The Oath in Felghana in stores and on PSN Nov. 2

Ys: The Oath in Felghana in stores and on PSN Nov. 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XSEED pledges to release Ys: The Oath in Felghana in November

JC Fletcher — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

All done with Ys Seven? Soon, you can move on to ... Ys Three -- sort of. The next Ys to be released on PSP by XSEED is Ys: The Oath in Felghana, a more traditional top-down action-RPG version of the side-scrolling Ys 3: Wanderers from Ys. In a PlayStation Blog post, XSEED's Thomas Lipschultz announced a November release date for the remake.

Lipschultz then compared the structure of Felghana to a Metroidvania game. "Now don't get me wrong here," he wrote, "I'm NOT claiming it's an open-ended nonlinear exploration-fest ... but it DOES follow the basic structure of this much-beloved action subgenre: you explore your surroundings, find new items or abilities, and use those to push on farther than you ever could before."

Ys: The Oath in Felghana will be released in both a standard edition and limited edition, which includes a soundtrack CD and desktop calendar.

Gallery: Ys: The Oath in Felghana (10/11/10)

Continue reading XSEED pledges to release Ys: The Oath in Felghana in November

XSEED pledges to release Ys: The Oath in Felghana in November originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Ivy the Kiwi? (Wii)

JC Fletcher — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST

Prope's Ivy the Kiwi? is a simple game. It has a simple story: a newborn chick, still half-stuck in an egg, searches for her mother. It has simple gameplay: draw vines on the screen to propel Ivy through mazes, avoiding enemies and hazards. But despite (or maybe thanks to) its simplicity, it thrives: the presentation is almost unfairly charming, and Ivy is just plain fun to manipulate in the world. Besides, for such a simple game, it's not easy.

Gallery: Ivy the Kiwi (Wii, 8/24/10)

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Review: Ivy the Kiwi? (Wii) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ys Seven eases onto retail and PSN August 17

JC Fletcher — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Finally, that 12.5" x 34" space in the "cloth map" area of your room can be filled. XSEED has announced the release date for the beautiful collector's edition of Falcom's action RPG Ys Seven -- as well as the PSN version, for those of you whose walls are already completely occupied by cloth maps.

Continue reading Ys Seven eases onto retail and PSN August 17

Ys Seven eases onto retail and PSN August 17 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Falcom games coming to PSP in Europe as downloads

JC Fletcher — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:05:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

In North America, XSEED is releasing a bunch of Nihon Falcom PSP games, including Ys Seven and several The Legend of Heroes games, on UMD, with Ys Seven getting the full limited-edition treatment. XSEED is also planning to provide Europe with a bumper crop of Falcom games -- in a convenient format. A comment left by XSEED on its Facebook page reveals plans to release the games in Europe as PSN downloads. The XSEED rep said that the releases would occur "shortly after the North American release, but a UMD release is unlikely in Europe."

Unfulfilled desires for cloth maps aside, the PSN distribution method means a lot of new RPGs for Europe, and it means that XSEED is less likely to go bankrupt getting them there. The first game in the XSEED/Falcom partnership, Ys Seven, arrives in North America late this summer.

Gallery: Ys Seven (PSP)

Falcom games coming to PSP in Europe as downloads originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview: Yuji Naka on Ivy the Kiwi and life after Sonic

JC Fletcher — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST

Yuji Naka grew to fame within the game industry as one of the founders of Sega's Sonic Team, the core group of designers and programmers that created the Sonic the Hedgehog series. In his tenure at Sega, Naka produced titles like Phantasy Star Online, Chu Chu Rocket, and Samba de Amigo. He has since left Sega and formed his own company, Prope, who immediately began developing games to be published by ... Sega.

Now, with Ivy the Kiwi?, Naka has emerged from the grasp of the great blue hedgehog, with a game published in Japan by Namco Bandai and in America by XSEED. We spoke to Naka about the design of the game, side-scrollers, and the unique circumstances behind seeing your own game on display in someone else's booth.

Continue reading Interview: Yuji Naka on Ivy the Kiwi and life after Sonic

Interview: Yuji Naka on Ivy the Kiwi and life after Sonic originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preview: Ivy the Kiwi?

JC Fletcher — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:30:00 EST

For some reason, I thought of Prope's Ivy the Kiwi? as a mellow title, a generally relaxing and lightweight game -- at least that's what I thought before actually playing the game. To my surprise, I was presented with a challenging, often chaotic arcade game instead of a frothy, low-impact diversion. It's just the kind of game I seek out, actually -- a game whose challenge comes from mastering a single, unique gameplay mechanic.

Gallery: Ivy the Kiwi? (Wii/DS)

Continue reading Preview: Ivy the Kiwi?

Preview: Ivy the Kiwi? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XSEED and Nihon Falcom bringing six Ys and The Legend of Heroes games to PSP

Andrew Yoon — Fri, 14 May 2010 21:00:00 EST

PSP owners have a lot of RPGs to look forward to. XSEED has announced a new partnership with Nihon Falcom that promises to bring six new games for the North American audience. Ys Seven, Ys: The Oath in Felghana, and Ys I & II Chronicles will all arrive on PSP, with Ys Seven the first title to be released under this new agreement. According to the press release, Ys Seven is the first iteration of the long-running JRPG franchise to be built "specifically for the PSP system," promising "virtually no load times" -- a problem that has plagued many of Falcom's previous PSP efforts.

In addition to Ys, XSEED will also be publishing the next three chapters of The Legend of Heroes saga (known as Sora no Kiseki in Japan). "I couldn't be more pleased to announce a partnership with a development studio as renown by gamers for consistently putting out quality titles as Falcom," Jun Iwasaki, President of XSEED Games, said in the press release. "Their titles have always been some of the most requested titles so it is going to be our pleasure to oblige the North American fans by delivering an amazing line up of in-depth and gripping RPGs."

Gallery: Ys Seven

Continue reading XSEED and Nihon Falcom bringing six Ys and The Legend of Heroes games to PSP

XSEED and Nihon Falcom bringing six Ys and The Legend of Heroes games to PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 May 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XSEED publishing Prope's 'Ivy the Kiwi?' this summer

JC Fletcher — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:00:00 EST

click to see more screens?XSEED has acquired the North American publishing rights to Ivy the Kiwi? for Wii and DS, the latest game from Yuji Naka's post-Sega studio, Prope. The puzzle game, presented in a unique "storybook" art style, stars a baby kiwi trying to navigate her way back to her mother. The player uses the stylus or pointer to stretch vines to bounce Ivy through levels and around obstacles. Along the way, players can attempt to pick up optional orange feathers for extra challenge -- that is, if they don't mind keeping a baby bird separated from her mother even longer, the monsters.

In Japan, the game was originally released on Windows Phone, with console releases published by Namco Bandai. XSEED is planning a "summer 2010" release -- there's still a question mark on the specific date.

Gallery: Ivy the Kiwi? (Wii)

Gallery: Ivy the Kiwi? (DS)

XSEED publishing Prope's 'Ivy the Kiwi?' this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 May 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jikan de Fantasia lets you play as a more-than-Half-Minute Hero

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:10:00 EST

It appears Jikan de Fantasia, a new RPG hitting PSP this summer in Japan, is taking some heavy inspiration from Half-Minute Hero. Makes sense, considering this new adventure is from Opus Studio, the same team responsible for Marvelous's quirky action RPG. Like its predecessor, Jikan de Fantasia blends hack 'n slash RPG gameplay with a time-bending twist. However, instead of condensing an RPG to thirty seconds, you can set the amount of time you want to spend. Have only five minutes on the subway? Have a thirty minute bus commute? You'll be able to set your own time limit, and the game will create an adventure that fits your schedule.

According to Famitsu, Jikan de Fantasia deconstructs the core mechanics of an RPG, from leaving your hometown, meeting NPCs, and exploring dungeons to fighting a final boss, and reassembles them to create an experience that fits the time you want. For those that found the thirty second gameplay of Opus's last adventure a bit too manic, this experience should be far more compelling.

Jikan de Fantasia lets you play as a more-than-Half-Minute Hero originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lunar: Silver Star Story Harmony trailer turns back the clock

Mike Schramm — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST

The game once called "not just the best Sega CD RPG ever, but one of the best on any Sega system" has eventually moved to almost all of the systems, as Lunar: The Silver Star has been remade and re-released on the Sega Saturn, the PlayStation, the PC, and even the GBA. And now here it comes again on the PSP as Lunar: Silver Star Harmony. This time around, the graphics have been given a complete makeover, and cutscenes have been added in, along with new voicework and music as well. Although going by the video above, XSEED might not have even bothered -- the new anime style turns a console RPG relic into something that looks like Ranma ½.

But the gameplay is still there, and the story is a good one. Lunar: Silver Star Harmony should be out in stores on March 2nd, available both for $29.99 and as a limited edition for $39.99.

Gallery: Lunar: Silver Star Harmony

Lunar: Silver Star Story Harmony trailer turns back the clock originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fragile Dreams gets a sturdy March 19 release in Europe

David Hinkle — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:15:00 EST

By way of Eurogamer, we know exactly when in Q1 Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon will release: March 19. The game will be published across the old world via Rising Star Games. Our own time spent with the title was pretty favorable, as we enjoyed its unique approach to the genre and ability to make us feel isolated, much like protagonist Seto.

For the unaware, Fragile Dreams takes place in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, where survivors are few. Seto, now alone after his mentor's passing, must go out into the world and brave the ghosts and remnants of humanity's past that litter the landscape.

In an effort to pencil in a US release date, we pinged XSEED -- who could only say that it would arrive sometime in March. We'll let you know the date as soon as it's announced!

Fragile Dreams gets a sturdy March 19 release in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Say hello to a free soundtrack with Fragile Dreams

JC Fletcher — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:10:00 EST

Fragile Dreams is sneaking into stores sometime this March, among a pile of enormous games. If you choose to pick up the XSEED-published adventure game, you can get a nice bonus with your pre-ordered copy, in the form of a CD soundtrack. The offer is exclusive to GameStop. In addition, XSEED announced in its latest press release that the North American version of the game will include a new "Extras" option that allows players to replay cutscenes, view concept art, and watch Japanese trailers.

Say hello to a free soundtrack with Fragile Dreams originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon

JC Fletcher — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST

I've never played a game quite like tri-Crescendo's Fragile Dreams for Wii. While, mechanically, it's a fairly standard action-adventure game - something like one of the PS2 Silent Hills with experience points - everything about the game contributes to a distinctive mood. Fragile Dreams is an exploration of quiet -- something few games ever have any room for.

Gallery: Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon (Wii)

Continue reading Hands-on: Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon

Hands-on: Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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XSEED now publishing Samurai Shodown Sen

JC Fletcher — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:40:00 EST

The odd swapping of games between Ignition Entertainment and XSEED continues. First, Ignition obtained the rights to Marvelous's Muramasa: The Demon Blade and Arc Rise Fantasia, both initially to be published by XSEED. Now, XSEED has announced that it will publish Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny on Xbox 360 -- a game that we played at Ignition's E3 booth.

XSEED is publishing the fighter under the name Samurai Shodown Sen, with a release planned for sometime this spring. Along with Atlus's announcement that it's publishing Metal Slug XX, this move provides evidence that Ignition's co-publishing deal with SNK has ended.

XSEED now publishing Samurai Shodown Sen originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Play a Half-Minute Hero demo for a few minutes next week

David Hinkle — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:45:00 EST

If the thought of buying before trying seems as alien as making a sandwich out of textbooks and old toilet paper tubes, then you'll want to keep reading: Rising Star has announced that a demo of Half-Minute Hero will hit the EU PSN next week. Dubbed "Hero Mode," the demo will allow players to select between three missions included in the final game.

Half-Minute Hero features a series of quick challenges blending together a menagerie of genres, such as RPG, RTS and even shoot-em-ups. It's currently set to release in Europe on February 12.

[Via Videogamer]

Play a Half-Minute Hero demo for a few minutes next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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