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As part of the NieR series’ 15th anniversary, Square Enix released an interview with Creative Director Yoko Taro and Producer Yosuke Saito about the games, and that involved details about both the NieR and NieR: Automata inspiration and endings. In addition to citing Evangelionas an influence for the second game, the two talked about certain choices and endings for both the first and second titles.

First, the Evangelion element came up when Square Enix specifically brought up NieR: Automata inspirations. Yoko Taro mentioned that anime. He then also said, “But then, everything I make is influenced by Evangelion.”

As for the NieR and NieR: Automata endings, those came up twice. First, Saito brought it up. He mentioned how he wasn’t “supposed” to know about NieR and its Ending D deleting save data. However, he brought up how he did find out ahead of time. 

Here’s Yosuke Saito’s statement about that:

“Mr. Yoko kept the fact that the game deletes your save file a secret from me, but some other of the team revealed this to me in secret. My favorite memory is probably choosing to let this slide. "It's fine!" I said. "It's probably just an homage to Dragon Quest!”

Although apparently it wasn't an homage to Dragon Quest (laughs).”

Finally, Yoko Taro discussed the multiple endings in NieR: Automata. He cited how his past games and Square Enix’s requests affect design decisions. He noted, “That's an idea that we brought over from Drakengard. And the reason we did it is that Square Enix told us to ‘add more content!’”

As a reminder, we may hear about NieR Reincarnation again soon. The anniversary site included a teaser referencing the now-closed mobile game. An update will appear there on May 2, 2025.

NieR is available on the PS3 and Xbox 360, NieR Replicant is available on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and NieR: Automata is on the Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. 

The post Yoko Taro Talked About NieR: Automata Inspiration and Endings appeared first on Siliconera.

Good Smile Company announced three figures of Steins;Gate characters Kurisu Makise, Mayuri Shiina, and Suzuha Amane in swimsuits, and they can be purchased separately or together in a bundle. Alone, they cost ￥18,700 / $193.99 each. If you buy all three at once, they are ￥55,000 / $565.99. These will launch in Japan in May 2026, with a worldwide release coming sometime in Q4 2026. All of them are based on their appearances in the games and anime.

All of these are static figures. So you can’t change face plates or arm parts to alter their expressions or poses. However, each one does feature a different position so they can be paired together or showcase various poolside activities. Kurisu is holding an innertube that matches her swimsuit and a soda. She’s also still got her necktie on from her daily attire. Suzuha, given her background, is holding a water pistol. Meanwhile, Mayuri holds a transparent beach ball that resembles the Metal and Fairy Upa from the series.

Each one of these characters is a 1/7 scale figure. That means they’ll all be between 9-11 inches tall. So Kurisu is about nine and a half inches (240mm). Suzuha is slightly taller, since she’s holding her pistol up, but she’s still around 10 inches (260mm). Mayuri is the tallest, since she’s holding the beach ball up over her head, so she beats the other too and reaches for almost 11 and a half inches (290mm). 

Here are two official photos of all three of the Steins;Gate characters together, so you can get a sense of scale for all of the figures.

And here are some close-ups that offer better looks at Kurisu, Mayuri, and Suzuha’s faces.

Finally, there are Good Smile Company Store bonus items available. One is only available if you buy the bundle that includes all three figures. The other three are piecemeal items that come when you buy just one. Collector’s cards of Kurisu, Mayuri, and Suzuha come with the solo figures. If someone buys the collection, they get a 60cm x 40cm tapestry that features the art of all three heroines in their swimsuits.

Here’s how those bonus items look:

The Steins;Gate figures of characters Kurisu Makise, Mayuri Shiina, and Suzuha Amane in swimsuits will come to Japan in May 2026 and launch worldwide in Q4 2026. Pre-orders are open until June 4, 2026. The original game is available on the PS3, Vita, and PC worldwide, and it also appeared on the PS4, PSP, Xbox 360, and mobile devices in Japan. Steins;Gate Elite is available on the Switch, PS4, and PC worldwide, as well as the Vita and mobile devices in Japan. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post New Steins;Gate Figures Put Characters in Swimsuits  appeared first on Siliconera.

Taito featured multiple Spiritale figure reveals at WonFes 2025 Winter, and one of them ended up being a first look at the cute Bridget figure based on her Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R appearance. This is the first time an actual physical version of this product appeared, as the company only previously shared concept and announcement art. 

This figure will be a 1/7 scale model. That means it will probably be between eight and ten inches tall when it is finished. She has her nun’s coif and veil on her head and is wearing her blue and white dress. Her yo-yo is in her left hand. Roger the teddy bear is behind her. Her handcuff is also around her waist, as usual. The design is intended to replicate official art of the character from Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R.

Here’s how the Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R figure of the character is looking so far:

Spiritale released another Guilty Gear Bridget figure not too long ago. However, that one was based on her Guilty Gear Strive look. It debuted in March 2024 worldwide. That was also a 1/7 scale figure, and it stood at over 10 inches tall.

There’s no release window for this Spiritale Bridget figure yet, and Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R is available on the Switch, PS3, Vita, Xbox 360, and PC. 

The post New Bridget Figure Based on Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R  appeared first on Siliconera.

At Wonder Festival 2025 Winter, Good Smile Company shared details about three Final Fantasy scale figures of Fran from FFXII, Claire “Lightning” Farron from FFXIII, and Noctis Lucis Caelum. from FFXV. The three are at different stages of development, which means we’ll see likely see Lightning or Noctis appear first. 

The three characters appeared as separate updates. In the case of Lightning, a painted prototype of the character appeared. She’s standing with her back facing toward the viewer and turning around to look at them. She’s holding a gunblade at her side, out of its holster. It appears to be the Blazefire Saber model. 

Likewise, Noctis is at the painted prototype phase of development as well. He’s depicted as he appears at the outset of FFXV. He’s wielding his signature Engine Blade sword in the design. 

In the case of Fran, we only have a piece of concept art. This suggests a possible pose for the final figure. She’s wearing her attire from FFXII. If the image is accurate, than she may be wielding the Shortbow from the game in the final product.

Here are the photos and concept art for the FFXII Fran, FFXIII Lightning, and FFXV Noctics Final Fantasy figures so far:

There’s no release window for the FFXII Fran, FFXIII Lightning, and FFXV Noctics Final Fantasy figures yet, but we’ll likely see Lightning or Noctis first since those prototypes were painted ones. This could mean pre-orders will open in the next few weeks. You can get FFXII on the PS2, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC. FFXIII is available on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, as are FFXIII-2 and Lightning Returns: FFXIII. FFXV is now on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and the Pocket Edition version is on those platforms, the Switch, and mobile devices.

The post FFXII Fran, FFXIII Lightning, and FFXV Noctis Figures on the Way appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom revealed that it will sell a new book containing key art from games it released in the up to 40 years since its first release. The book will have the title "Capcom Key Art Catalog since 1984 to 2023," and it will be available on March 20, 2025, at 9,900 yen (~$65.20).

The A4-sized book will have a total of 376 pages. It will cover over 300 games Capcom has released on numerous platforms throughout 40 years since 1984, with explanations in Japanese and English.

The first-ever title Capcom released was the arcade shooting game Vulgus in May 1984. Since 2023 is the cutoff year, the latest games featured in this book should include the Resident Evil 4 remake, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, Street Fighter 6, Exoprimal, Mega Man X DiVE Offline, and Monster Hunter Now.

Here are the samples for some of the pages in the book:

The new catalog book will be available for purchase in Capcom's physical and online storefronts. The company will also sell the book at the Capcom Exhibition, which will take place at Osaka's Nakanoshima Museum of Art from March 20, 2025—the same day as the book's release date—until June 22, 2025.

The "Capcom Key Art Catalog since 1984 to 2023" book will be available for purchase in Japan on March 20, 2025.

The post Capcom Key Art Catalog Will Cover Over 300 Games appeared first on Siliconera.

PlatinumGames has opened a new webpage on its official site to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Bayonetta. The new page is available in both Japanese and English.

Even though Sega first released Bayonetta for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in Japan in late October 2009, PlatinumGames opted to start celebrating the game's 15th anniversary in January 2025 to coincide with its global releases. Sega subsequently released Bayonetta on the same platforms in North America on January 5, 2010, in Australia on January 7, 2010, and in Europe on January 8, 2010.

The company that developed the Bayonetta video game series will use the new webpage to share new smartphone wallpapers with an optional calendar every month. The January 2025 wallpaper features Bayonetta and Jeanne with Japanese attires to symbolize the New Year festival season.

On the same webpage, PlatinumGames also shared the new Bayonetta music box, which Wayo Records will release in Q1 2025 for €220.00. The latter will design the music box after Bayonetta's Super Mirror, and it will play Masami Ueda's "Theme of Bayonetta - Mysterious Destiny" for 30 seconds with 10 loops.

The first Bayonetta is available on not only the PS3, Xbox 360, and Switch, but also PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, and PC worldwide.

The post Bayonetta 15th Anniversary Site and Merchandise Shared appeared first on Siliconera.

Mistwalker is the legendary, arguably underrated studio from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. After Sakaguchi’s split from Square Enix, he founded this studio. Certainly, the studio doesn’t have the success it deserves. But this doesn’t mean it doesn’t have excellent games worth checking out. So, what is the best Mistwalker JRPG?

Mistwalker has phenomenal titles like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Fantasian, and more. These JRPGs are well worth your time. When it comes to the best one out of these in of visuals, story, characters, and gameplay, though, there is only one answer.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Our Favorite Mistwalker JRPG n6yx

Lost Odyssey was, strangely enough, one of the first JRPGs I ever played and a game that ranks highly for me in the overall genre. Since I only ever had a Nintendo handheld for Pokemon or an Xbox console growing up, I missed out on just about every JRPG out there for a long time. My general knowledge and experience from playing Final Fantasy XII when I borrowed a PS2 for a short time got me to check out this game and I adored it.

The story of Lost Odyssey is incredibly unique with its tale of immortals, the little visual novel-like stories you find throughout is such a novel idea, and the turn-based combat still holds up well today. Sadly, I never finished it as my disc got scratched up when I was likely around 75% through. I’m really hoping for a remaster someday so I can finally see it through to the conclusion. Of the incredible Mistwalker JRPGs, Lost Odyssey stands out as the best for me. That said, I also enjoyed my time with Fantasian for a bit on my iPad. I never finished it but it has some neat ideas of its own. I look forward to completing it with Fantasian: Neo Dimension soon. -- Cody

Fantasian: Neo Dimension releases for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on December 5, 2024.

The post What’s the Best Mistwalker JRPG? appeared first on Siliconera.

The original Xbox was Microsoft’s first attempt at a home console. While the Xbox didn’t set the world on fire immediately, it still had some phenomenal games worth checking out. Though the Xbox didn’t have too many JRPGs, the best original Xbox JRPGs are great titles worth checking out based on their visuals, gameplay, and how well they hold up now.

The king of action JRPGs on the original Xbox and the progenitor of console MMOs is a must-play for retro Xbox JRPG fans. This is by far the best JRPG experience you’ll find on this particular platform. The action-based combat is pretty good and holds up well enough today. The sheer number of customization options and the ability to play with others also helps.

My personal favorite about this game is the sheer amount of content. You won’t find another JRPG on the original Xbox with this much quality content worth playing.

2. Shin Megami Tensei Nine e661i

This is by far one of the lesser-known entries in the Shin Megami Tensei series, and for some understandable reasons. The UI and combat is a bit too confusing and convoluted, but if you look past that, there are great series staples like collecting demons and the like. I also think this initial switch to 3D, while not as timeless as Nocturne, still looks pretty solid even today.

3. Digimon World 4 r506m

This action RPG dungeon-crawler-like game in the Digimon series is far from the best of the franchise but it is still worth a look. There are four different Digimon players pick between to hack and slash their way through numerous enemies. The usual gimmicks like Digivolution are present, and the up-to-four-player multiplayer is where the most enjoyment lies.

4. Rent a Hero No. 1 4p1y2k

This remake of the original Mega Drive classic was sadly canceled for an official English release. That said, it is still possible to play the Xbox remake and it is the definitive way to check out this action JRPG. The world is fun to explore, the story is a bit ridiculous, and the third-person brawler-style combat works surprisingly well.

5. Shenmue 2 5b1k1u

Shenmue 2 is far from the typical JRPG experience but it was one of the most influential games in of exploration, open-world, and role-playing as a character in a story. This slower RPG lets players explore a highly detailed version of Hong Kong with so much to see and do. There are arcade games, minigames, fighting game-like brawls, and a solid enough storyline. Just know that the gameplay doesn’t hold up as well as some of the other JRPGs on this list.

Let us know what your favorite JRPGs on the Xbox were below!

The post Best Original Xbox JRPGs, Ranked appeared first on Siliconera.

The 30th anniversary of the Tales series is just around the corner and Bandai Namco has already started preparations with the Remastered Project. For those who would like to take a walk down memory lane, or are curious about what other Tales games they can play while waiting for new (or remastered) releases, here is a full list of the mothership Tales titles.

Tales of Phantasia 2q1f5t

Release Date: December 15, 1995

Platforms: Super Famicom, PlayStation, GBA, PSP, iOS, mobile devices

The first Tales title takes place in Aselia and follows Cless Albane, who seeks revenge after his hometown is destroyed. He learns that the culprits behind the attack wish to revive a powerful sorcerer king, Dhaos. Using the power of time travel, Cless and his friends travel to the past and future in order to defeat Dhaos for good.

Tales of Destiny 304o49

Release Date: December 23, 1997

Platforms: PlayStation

The original Tales of Destiny came out on the PlayStation and the remake came out in 2006 for the PS2. It follows Stahn, who accidentally finds a sentient sword that calls itself Dymlos. He, along with other wielders of speaking swords, fight for the Eye of Atamoni, which is a powerful relic from an ancient war.

Tales of Destiny Remake is one of the best titles in the Tales series for its story—which expands on the original and includes a redemption arc for popular character Leon—and fighting style. Hopefully, Bandai Namco has plans for a remaster so that it can officially release the game to the west.

Tales of Eternia 2t543o

Release Date: November 30, 2000

Platforms: PlayStation, PSP

Tales of Eternia, released in the west as Tales of Destiny 2, has nothing to do with Tales of Destiny. Instead, it follows Reid Hershel and his friends, who live together in the world of Inferia. One day, they come across a mysterious foreign girl named Meredy and through their interactions with her, learn of a different world called Celestia. They journey together to stop an ages-old conflict between the two worlds.

Tales of Eternia feels like the turning point for the Tales series in that it propelled the series into its initial popularity. It was popular enough for an anime adaptation and a MMO, though the anime was pretty bad (in that it had little to do with the game) and the MMO didn’t last long. The battle system feels a lot more fluid compared to Phantasia and Destiny, and it holds up to newer 2D Tales games too. 

Tales of Destiny 2 3i3854

Release Date: November 28, 2002

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The actual sequel to Tales of Destiny, Tales of Destiny 2 follows Kyle, who’s the son of Stahn and Rutee from the first game. Due to his parents’ heroic past, he’s also obsessed with becoming a hero. One day, he meets a mysterious girl named Reala and embarks on a journey to become a true hero.

Like the above Tales of Destiny Remake, Tales of Destiny 2 is a fantastic game. It’s got a great story, compelling characters, and a difficult battle system that’s rewarding to master. The meme himself, Barbatos, is also from this game. Considering how much trouble he can give you, it can be a little hard to laugh at the jokes Bandai Namco make at his expense.

Tales of Symphonia 5r3l5w

Release Date: August 29, 2003

Platforms: Nintendo GameCube, PS2, PS3, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One

Tales of Symphonia was popular in its native Japan, but it’s what really put the franchise on the map for the western audience. While the west had gotten Phantasia and Eternia, they weren’t exactly selling like hotcakes in the way that Symphonia did. The story follows Lloyd, who s his friend Colette’s pilgrimage to regenerate the world of Sylvarant.

Tales of Rebirth 3d484v

Release Date: December 16, 2004

Platforms: PS2, PSP

The story of Tales of Rebirth heavily focuses on racism. It takes place in a world where people wield a magical power called Force after King Ladras, in his final moments, uses his power to unleash the potential in people around his kingdom. Veigue lost power of his Force of Ice and froze his childhood friend Claire in a pillar. Even after he manages to free her with the help of new friends Eugene and Mao, soldiers acting on orders from Karegia Kingdom heiress Agarte take her away. His journey to rescue her from the palace morphs into a battle to end racism.

Tales of Legendia 4q6q12

Release Date: August 25, 2005

Platforms: PS2

Tales of Legendia follows the story of Senel and his surrogate little sister Shirley. Shirley is the Merines, a legendary figure among the Ferines, which is a race of people who can live underwater. Because Shirley is the Merines, many different factions want to capture her to use them for their own schemes.

Compared to previous titles (and its successor Abyss), Tales of Legendia looks and plays in a very weird way. This likely has to do with the fact that the developer, Project MelFes, consists of Tales Studio , along with developers from the Tekken and Soul Calibur series. It’s the first Tales game with Go Shiina as the composer and the soundtrack is objectively the game’s highest point.

Tales of the Abyss 5h3k3x

Release Date: December 15, 2005

Platforms: PS2, Nintendo 3DS

Tales of the Abyss is the eighth mothership title, but it’s the commemorative game for the series’s 10th anniversary. It follows Luke fon Fabre, a pampered noble and swordsman who ends up outside of his comfy mansion after heroine Tear appears to assassinate her brother, who’s also Luke’s teacher. The story heavily focuses on Luke’s personal development as he seeks the meaning of his birth. There is also an anime adaptation for Abyss, which you can watch on YouTube.

Tales of the Tempest r5ii

Release Date: October 26, 2006

Platforms: Nintendo DS

Tales of the Tempest follows Caius Qualls, who is a Leymon (essentially a werewolf). After the church takes his guardian prisoner and kill the parents of his childhood friend Rubia, the two of them set out for the capital. The adventure then turns into one to overthrow the church.

Tales of the Tempest is the first Tales game for a handheld console. However, the reception to the game was very mixed, with some places giving it a very positive score and others giving it a very negative one. Points of criticism included the story’s short length, lack of content, unappealing relationship between Caius and Rubia, and more.

Tales of Innocence 14305s

Release Date: December 6, 2007

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita

The story of Tales of Innocence follows avatars, human reincarnations of the divine Devalokans who can still use supernatural powers from their past lives. Ruca, a timid boy, is an avatar of the powerful Asura and he awakens to his powers after rescuing fugitive Illia, a fellow avatar. They meet up with other avatars, who then travel to do something about the wars engulfing their world.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World 4t508

Release Date: June 26, 2008

Platforms: Wii, PS3

Though the sequel of Tales of Symphonia, Dawn of the New World introduces a lot of lore and elements that weren’t in the original game. It follows Emil, a timid boy who survived a massacre that Lloyd from the first game perpetrated. After meeting with Marta, a girl with Ratatosk’s Core on her forehead, the two of them set out on a journey to fix the meteorological problems occurring around the world and escape from Marta’s pursuers.

Tales of Vesperia 164y6m

Release Date: August 7, 2008

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Windows PC, Xbox One

Tales of Vesperia is a very popular and successful entry in the Tales franchise, selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide. It also has a prequel film, though Flynn in particular is so out-of-character it might as well be fanfiction. The story follows Yuri Lowell, a former soldier who’s now doing odd jobs around his neighborhood. After meeting a noble named Estelle and fleeing from the capital with her, he forms a guild called Brave Vesperia.

Tales of Hearts 6c70r

Release Date: December 18, 2008

Platforms: Nintendo DS, PS Vita, iOS

Tales of Hearts follows Kor Meteor (Shing Meteoryte) who meets siblings Kohaku and Hisui Hearts. A monster infects Kohaku and in an attempt to save her, Kor accidentally destroys her Spiria (her heart and emotions). The three of them set off on a journey to restore Kohaku’s Spiria.

People don’t talk about the CG Movie Edition, but I definitely that one. People were comparing the models to the Evil Goddess MOCCOS, an old 2ch meme about the ugly KOS-MOS figure that came with the Xenosaga Episode 2 Box Set.

Tales of Graces 5q5o6m

Release Date: December 10, 2009

Platforms: Wii, PS3, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Windows PC

Tales of Graces follows the story of Asbel Lhant, who is the future heir of the Lhant village. As a child, he befriends an amnesiac girl named Sophie and the prince of Windsor, Richard. Witnessing Sophie’s death traumatizes him and he runs away from home to become a knight. Seven years later, he reunites with Sophie, setting into motion an adventure that takes him all across the world of Ephinea.

Tales of Xillia 1l6o71

Release Date: September 8, 2011

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia is the first Tales game that combines character designs from Kosuke Fujishima (Phantasia, Symphonia, Abyss) and Mutsumi Inomata (Destiny, Eternia, Rebirth). Like Tales of the Abyss, it’s a celebratory mothership title. In Xillia's case, it was for the 15th anniversary. It follows Jude Mathis, a medical student who encounters Milla Maxwell after she breaks into a military research facility in an attempt to destroy a secret weapon. Now that they’re on the run from the military, Jude and Milla, along with their companions, journey to help Milla with her mission to save the world.

Tales of Xillia 2 3nb3v

Release Date: November 1, 2012

Platforms: PS3

Tales of Xillia 2, like Dawn of the New World, is a sequel of its predecessor while introducing elements and lore that the original game never really mentioned. It takes place a year after Xillia and follows Ludger Will Kresnik, a guy who just wants to cook. It turns out he’s not just a good cook, as he possesses the Chromatus. He and the cast from the first Xillia need to go into parallel worlds—essentially what-if scenarios from the first game—and destroy them to prevent their own world’s destruction. He also has to pay off a huge medical debt. Ah, adult life.

Tales of Zestiria 3cr5c

Release Date: January 22, 2015

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Zestiria was, like Abyss and Xillia, an anniversary title and this time, it was for the 20th anniversary. It draws inspiration from Arthurian legends and it follows the story of Sorey, a young human who can see the mystical spirits Seraphim. He leaves the village of Elysia with his best friend Mikleo and, after forming a pact with the Seraph Lailah, he becomes the Shepherd whose job is to purify the Hellion rampaging throughout Glenwood.

For an anniversary title, Zestiria had its fair share of controversies. Before the game came out, Japanese fans were ticked off about how prominent advertising for Alisha was, yet she was a mere guest party member in the actual game. After it came out, fans seemed split on the story, battle system, and tutorials.

Tales of Berseria k586k

Release Date: August 18, 2016

Platforms: PS3, PS4, Windows PC

Tales of Berseria technically serves as the prequel to Tales of Zestiria. However, you don’t have to play Zestiria to understand Berseria. It follows Velvet Crowe, a normal village girl who lost her pregnant sister after a daemon attack. One day, tragedy strikes the village and Velvet comes across her brother-in-law Artorius killing her younger brother Laphicet in a ritual. She transforms into a daemon and Artorius tosses her into jail. Once she wakes, she swears vengeance on the man who used to be her family.

Tales of Arise 37x2o

Release Date: September 10, 2021

Platforms: PS4, PS5, Windows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X

Tales of Arise follows the story of Dahnan slave Alphen, or “Iron Mask,” and a Renan girl named Shionne. A curse on Shionne hurts anyone who touches her but since Alphen can’t feel pain, he’s the only person who can pull a sword from the Master Core she has. Like Rebirth and Eternia, it deals with themes of racism and oppression.

The post All Mothership Titles in the Tales Series in Release Order appeared first on Siliconera.

Nissin has ed a new collaborative Cup Noodle commercial video which features the Japanese meme based on El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. In this new trailer, Lucifel questions Enoch's choice of his Cup Noodle-branded gear.

The meme originated when a promotional trailer for the El Shaddai game appeared at E3 2010. Enoch's insistence on his original armor and his concession after the reset became a timeless classic in the Japanese gaming community.

Nissin launched this commercial to promote four special-flavored Tokujo Cup Noodle packages. Each of them is themed after the Matsutake mushroom, Seafood, Curry, and Chili Tomato.

The company not only worked with Crim to apply Cup Noodle branding to Enoch's armors in the El Shaddai trailer. It even employed Lucifel's Japanese voice actor Ryota Takeuchi to record new quotes for the commercial, including parody lines that replaced the word "equipment" with "Cup Noodle."

The new collaborative commercial video is available to watch via YouTube:

Nissin has been holding collaborations between Cup Noodles and many Japanese game franchises. The most well-known one was the Final Fantasy XV crossover in 2016. In recent years, Nissin has also collaborated with the mobile game Project Sekai Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku in 2022 and the Pokemon franchise in 2023.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron was originally released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2011. Crim has released remastered ports for the game on PC via Steam in 2021 and Nintendo Switch in 2024.

The post New Cup Noodle Ad Is Based on the El Shaddai Meme appeared first on Siliconera.

The RPG landscape was beginning to shift in 2007 when Lost Odyssey released. Final Fantasy had begun to favor more stylized and cinematic storytelling. The not-far-off Final Fantasy XIII in particular would limit exploration (to an extent) to serve its deep political and sweeping narrative. In contrast, Lost Odyssey represents a progression of golden age JRPG storytelling, offering players a rich world full of exploration, a great cast of characters, and plenty of discovery along the way.

Created by Final Fantasy's father Hironobu Sakaguchi, Lost Odyssey acted as a spiritual successor to 90's JRPGs. Also, with Uematsu on board for the soundtrack, Lost Odyssey felt like a Final Fantasy game in everything but name.

The game offers a rich, emotional narrative with deep character development, focusing on themes of immortality, loss, and memory. Also, the traditional turn-based combat and richly detailed world feels like a love letter to fans of classic JRPGs.

The characters in Lost Odyssey are one of the game's strongest aspects. A diverse cast of characters Kaim Argonar, the immortal protagonist. Each has their own struggles and backstories deeply intertwined with the game’s central themes.

In of gameplay, Lost Odyssey stays true to those same roots Final Fantasy does. The turn-based combat system is strategic and challenging. The addition of the "Ring System," which adds a timing element to attacks, keeps players engaged during battles. The game also includes traditional exploration and puzzle-solving elements, reminiscent of the earlier Final Fantasy titles.

At the time of its release, Lost Odyssey was part of Microsoft’s strategy to break into the Japanese market. Alongside games like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey was one of the key titles in Microsoft's attempt to attract Japanese gamers to the Xbox 360. Although these efforts ultimately fell short, Lost Odyssey remains a significant title from this period. It showcases what could have been if Microsoft had succeeded in its ambitions.

Lost Odyssey captured the essence of what many JRPG fans loved about the genre during its golden age. Despite being over a decade old, the game still holds up well, with its timeless story, memorable characters, and classic gameplay mechanics.

In the end, Lost Odyssey represents a separate path from the Final Fantasy series. For fans of classic JRPGs, Lost Odyssey remains a must-play title. A game that stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of the genre and the creative vision of Hironobu Sakaguchi.

Lost Odyssey is currently available as a backwards compatible title on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

The post Lost Odyssey Was a Solid Successor to Pre-Playstation Final Fantasy appeared first on Siliconera.

Sega announced that before Sonic x Shadow Generations is released on October 25, 2024, the standalone version of Sonic Generations will be delisted. It will no longer be available alone on digital storefronts as of September 9, 2024. 

Here is Sega’s official announcement. It noted that everyone who buys Sonic Generations prior to being delisted will be able to continue to play it and, if they own the PC version, use mods. The company also confirmed that the Microsoft Store and Steam bundles with it will continue to sell the game.

So, for example, Sonic the Hedgehog: Ultimate Bundle on Steam includes Sonic Generations Collection and 14 other games for $205.06. After the delisting date, people would still be able to get the game via this bundle for the PC. 

For those wondering what one game has to do with the other, Sonic x Shadow Generations is a remaster with an additional game tied to Shadow the Hedgehog included with it. 

Sonic x Shadow Generations will appear on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on October 25, 2024. Sonic Generations appeared on the 3DS, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, and it will be delisted on September 9, 2024. 

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Live Wire announced that the Switch version of the Cave shmup Mushihimesama will be delisted from the eShop on August 10, 2024. The reason for it being removed is due to the licensing agreement Live Wire had expiring.

There is no notice about the delisting in the Switch eShop just yet. Also, the price remains at $19.99 as usual. It is unknown if it will be discounted ahead of the removal. It appeared during June 2021 as an E3 shadowdrop.

Mushihimesama is a shmup for between oen and two people. Princess Reco finds herself flying out on her Kiniro beetle to meet God of the Koju and save her people from an illness as she shoots her way through five stages. The Switch version features multiple modes and difficulty levels.

Live Wire handles publishing duties for multiple Cave shmup titles on the Switch eShop in addition to Mushihimesama. It is behind the platform’s versions of DoDonPachi Resurrection and Espgaluda II as well. It released both of them on the eShop in 2021 as well, with Espgaluda II appearing in September 2021 and DoDonPachi Resurrection in November 2021. 

The most recent game Live Wire published on the eShop is the Treasure shmup Radiant Silvergun. That version launched in September 2022.

Mushihimesama can be found on the Switch, PC, and iOS devices, and it also showed up on the PS2, Xbox 360 , and in arcades in Japan. Depending on your local arcade, however, you may find a cabinet near you.

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Among the Good Smile Company Smile Fest 2024 figure announcements was a Gears of War Marcus Fenix Nendoroid. It seems like it is quite far along in development, to the point we could see pre-orders soon, as it appeared as a painted prototype. 

For this figure, the character is wearing his standard armor from the series. It is all black, with the trademark icon in silver and some blue highlights. He’s also wearing a black beanie. He comes armed with a Lancer Assault Rifle.

Here’s the official painted prototype figure of the Marcus Fenix Gears of War Nendoroid:

While the Good Smile Company figure collections tend to focus on games and media made in Asia, it isn’t uncommon to see items like the Gears of War one. For example, the company made Halo InfiniteMaster Chief Nendoroids. Barbie became a Nendoroid too.

There’s a new Gears of War game on the way as well, as Microsoft announced Gears of War: E-Day during its Summer Game Fest 2024 showcase. Rather than a sequel and Gears of War 6, it is a prequel. It will still feature Marcus, but will do so 14 years before everything began in the original game.

The Gears of War Marcus Fenix Nendoroid is in development, but there’s no exact release window for the figure yet. Gears of War: E-Day is in development for the Xbox Series X and PC.

The post Here’s the Marcus Fenix Gears of War Nendoroid appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix kicked off another Final Fantasy XIV Free Campaign on May 24, 2024, which allows inactiveplayers to return to FFXIV and temporarily play for free. This latest round lasts until June 20, 2024.

As usual, ed service s that have been inactive for 30 days qualify. This means that if you haven’t played FFXIV since before April 23, 2024, you could be eligible to participate in the Free Campaign. You can take part by ing the launcher, logging in, and then playing for four days from the start of when you logged in for the first time. So if you played on a Mac, you can return on that. If you were a PS4 player, you need to re and play there for the duration of the campaign. 

The important thing to note is that you only get a total of 96 hours to play. The timer for the Free Campaign starts the moment a person logs in. So if someone began it on May 24, 2024, regardless of how often you play it would end on May 28, 2024. If there ends up being maintenance during that time period, there will be no credits for the downtime. Also, if someone’s violated Square Enix’s rules and got their suspended or banned, they can not take part. 

At the moment, multiple activities are live in FFXIV for those who take advantage of this promotion. The Make It Rain Campaign is available until May 31, 2024. The Fall Guys event is back until June 10, 2024. You can also get Moogle Treasure Trove: The Second Hunt for Genesis items until June 24, 2024. Also, the Yo-Kai Watch crossover is live until 7.0 debuts.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Dawntrail expansion debuts on July 2, 2024. The latest FFXIV Free Campaign will be available until June 20, 2024. 

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