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With intriguing mysteries, a colorful cast, and fun strategic stages, The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is a gem of a game that never wears out its welcome in spite of its staggering length. As the perfect split between the styles and humor of Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kotaka and Zero Escape creator Kotaro Uchikoshi, it will more than satisfy anyone who enjoys bombastic sci-fi stories with a resonating emotional core.

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy follows Takumi, a boy living in the dome-shaped Tokyo Residential Complex. He’s an ordinary student living an ordinary life with his mom and childhood best friend Karua and doesn’t expect that to change. However, an invasion from otherworldly creatures flips his life upside down. He finds himself, along with a smattering of other high schoolers, conscripted in a war against the relentless army of invaders. They must defend the Last Defense Academy for a hundred days, while also figuring out who brought them there in the first place and why they were chosen for this task.

I really enjoyed the story and cast! Unlike in Danganronpa, where losing characters is a given and leads to some with less development or screen time, it feels like everyone gets an even share of the spotlight. Even characters with off-putting quirks, like Ima and Kurara, became endearing. Conversely, it can make bonding events feel weak, since they’re more of a monologue that provides trivia rather than anything meaningful. With how much we learn about them throughout routes in the game, though, the bonding events never left me wanting for more.

The writing is hilarious too. This was the most physically hazardous review for me, because I had to put down the game at several points after laughing way too hard. The localization was successful at taking specific memes or references that would fly over the head of an English-only audience and turning them into jokes that are in-character and true to the original context. Minor inconsistencies and punctuation errors exist, but it's hard to fault minor mistakes when one considers the scope of the project. As a whole, the localization team did an amazing job!

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is a very long game. Even with over a hundred hours of playtime—excluding idling and retries—I haven’t explored every route or seen every ending. Sometimes, the routes can read like an episode of The Simpsons. You think the story is going in one direction, only for it to be about something completely different. Because of the sheer number of options, the story can feel like a smorgasbord of genres. Not every route is a winner and it can suck when the game traps you in a boring story for hours, but I never tired of the game.

Aside from being a visual novel, The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is a combination of a Fire Emblem-like SRPG and a tower defense game. Some levels can be surprisingly difficult, especially when you haven’t upgraded your characters. A major reason for this is that you can’t choose where to place them. I one level that had two characters I would’ve never put together to hold down the fort. Since you only have a set number of AP to share with your entire army and characters can’t move too far after an action (unless you expend Voltage or an item), I had no way of sending more mobile units over to help. Finding the optimal strategy can feel more akin to a puzzle, rather than pure tactics or strategy.

Usually in these games, you don’t want to lose your units. The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy goes against this notion. It encourages you to let them die or kill them off. Aside from providing you with bonus points after the battle, you gain 100% Voltage. Voltage is one of the most important resources, since you can use it to power up characters via hemoanima boosts. This includes increasing their attack strength or granting them a counterattack. So kamikaze your characters or don’t bother with healing them. Who cares if you win a battle with only one person standing? Death is glory!

I recommend first focusing on characters like Takumi and Kako (star AP farmers) or Shouma (a literal godsend). As he’s the protagonist, you always have Takumi. He’s the safest option to pour resources into until you’re at a more comfortable spot with BP and materials.

My major gripe about the game is the UI choice for the chapter select screen, which is where you can see all the story branches and routes. You can’t zoom out to see the entire chart and every path looks the same, which can make it hard to tell what you’re looking at without hovering over a node. It’s just genuinely a difficult flowchart to look at or use. The lines linking all the nodes together and the line dividing up the timeline into days look the same as well, which adds another layer of frustration. Maybe a future patch can introduce colors to make the routes stand out more, or make it easier to look at the whole thing.

Kodaka said while promoting the game that he considers The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy his “best work” and a game that’s close to his ideal. After experiencing it for myself, I have to agree. It’s unique and unforgettable, and a magnum opus that Too Kyo Games will be hard-pressed to top in the future.

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy will come out for the Nintendo Switch and Windows PC via Steam on April 24, 2025.

The post Review: The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy Is a Masterpiece appeared first on Siliconera.

There’s a lot going on with Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma! It’s a new entry in the series, but also a spin-off. It’s adding a new type of gameplay, given we actually build up towns. There’s also the whole thing of the previous entry experiencing some issues. However, this new game seems like a new opportunity and, after some hands-on time with it, makes it seem the team learned learn from past missteps and mistakes.

In Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, players step into the shoes of an Earth Dancer. It’s a special kind of warrior not unlike an Earthmate. They are connected to the land and able to heal and foster its growth. Which is good, as a blight hit Azuma affecting many villages there. This means using sacred treasures to grow crops, banish corruption, and fight foes. 

When I first stepped into Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma for the demo, town management and farming were the focus. You’ll need to get necessary items to build up a village and place buildings or plots of land for farming. These affect the Earth Dancer, for example increasing HP. It can also mean new items are available to buy or access, and adding fields provide chances to grow crops. After land is cleared and places are built, citizens who returned to the area can be assigned jobs or roles to help out. They may have abilities or traits that make them specifically suited to certain tasks. 

As part of this prep, the sacred treasures came into play. For example, an umbrella could be used for water-based attacks in a fight or to gently glide from one elevated landmass to another, or you could use it to water crops. A drum? It could be used to attack and heal or to speed up growth by one day. There’s a sense of connection, so I could see how everything’s purpose could change and provide different benefits based on context. It also seemed great for ensuring there was no clutter among the tools. Especially since each piece of equipment would also be used to banish a certain type of corrupted growth, indicated by color. 

When it comes to fighting, these treasures are more of a prized resource due to needing energy to be used. As such, every Earth Dancer relies on one of those equipped pieces alongside a secondary weapon that doesn’t require any type of saved stamina to use. These can be melee ones, like the traditional swords from past Rune Factory games, or new ones like a ranged type of talisman like a Touhou Project danmaku. I got to test out these, as well as see how a full party of four worked in-action, in a cleared dungeon. You can have up to three people you in your quest. In this case, the Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma romance options Murasame, Iroha, and Ulalaka were by my side. Each is designed to take on certain roles based on their personality, so Murasame was an aggressive warrior and Iroha was more of a tank-type. Heading in meant facing various monsters inspired by yokai, as well as facing an equine boss. Said boss could also be staggered and temporarily stunned by exploiting weaknesses, with the sword sacred treasure and its fire attack proving critical for that.

While developing the land and quickly running through a dungeon were the initial focuses of my Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma demo experience, romance with some characters came up as well. The two scenes I got to see involved the bachelor Murasame and the bachelorette Iroha. He’s a warrior who ended up needing to survive on his own in the wild for a time, and the event with him focused on that. Meanwhile, Iroha runs a teahouse, and hers ended up being a mix of making it a success and luring in more people to the town she loved. In each case, it felt like the characters got to be the focus, which is exactly what I feel we want from these heart events. Also, I appreciated the quality of life adjustment tied to finding them. When both were available, I could see special icons on the map highlighting that I could get to know them better and further our relationship.

It seems like ensuring the four core gameplay elements of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma are well-balanced could prove critical to ensuring this entry’s success. We aren’t just farming, fighting, and finding love anymore. A whole region’s success depends on us managing rebuilding efforts. It should prove interesting to see how well that goes.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will come to the Nintendo Switch and PC on May 30, 2025. 

The post Preview: Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Combines a Lot of Elements appeared first on Siliconera.

Falcom posted more screenshots and gameplay footage from The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 1st Chapter while showing off the title at the Taipei Game Show 2025. It ed a two-minute-long video comparing the remake to the original game.

You can watch the Trails in the Sky the 1st Chapter gameplay video via the Nihon Falcom X (formerly Twitter) :

In the video, we can hear an updated version of the main battle theme, as well as see comparisons between FC and Trails in the Sky the 1st Chapter. It first starts off with showing the different Craft animations for Estelle, Joshua, Scherazard, and Olivier. Then we can see how exploration and different locales look with the new engine. The original version of the game required a load as you moved between maps. However, we can see how Estelle and Joshua seamlessly make that transition in the remake.

Nihon Falcom first showed off The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 1st Chapter as a surprise announcement at the August 2024 Nintendo Direct. It is a refined remake of Trails in the Sky, which originally came out in 2004. Trails in the Sky is the first of the Trails series, which is part of the The Legend of Heroes series. Trails has gone on for 20 years now, with the 2024 Kai no Kiseki the latest entry.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 1st Chapter will come out for the PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC in Fall 2025. PC players can check out the minimum requirements here.

The post New Trails in the Sky the 1st Gameplay Footage Appears appeared first on Siliconera.

We now know who many of the main characters in the new TooKyo Games title The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy are. A new trailer went over main character Takumi Sumino and his allies Darumi Amemiya, Eito Aotsuki, Ima Tsukumo, Kako Tsukumo, and Kurara Oosuzuki. There are also character profile for them and six of their allies.

Here’s The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy trailer highlighting the characters Darumi, Eito, Ima, Kako, Kurara, and Takumi. Gameplay is also shown during it, explaining how the game works as well.

XSEED also released 12 official character profiles for The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. While Takumi, Eito, Darumi, Ima, Kako, and Kurara all come up here, as well as in the trailer, Yugamu, Kyoshika, Gaku, Tsubasa, Hiruko, and Sirei also come up.

Takumi Sumino / “Everyman” – The main character of this story. A completely average high schooler from a completely average family. He can be a little indecisive and pessimistic at times, but when he has something to protect, he'll fight with everything he's got.

Eito Aotsuki / “Voice of Reason” – Takumi's most trusted ally. Eito cares very deeply for his friends and isn't shy about expressing those feelings, corny as they may sound. He's been weak and sickly since he was little, but his impressive intellect might be just what the team needs to guide them through the war safely.

Darumi Amemiya / “Manic Emo Dream Girl” – A young woman known for her mood swings and obsession with all things dark and depressing. She's a big fan of killing-game stories and has no fear of death. If she has to die, all she wants is a death that's as dramatic and flamboyant as humanly possible.

Ima Tsukumo / “Twin – Big Brother” – One of a set of twins - Ima is the elder by a few minutes.

He acts like a carefree joker, but underneath that humor is a hint of something darker. He thinks of nothing but protecting his sister. If anything – or anyone – dares to threaten Kako's safety, Ima will show them no mercy.

Kako Tsukumo / “Twin – Little Sister” – One of a set of twins - Kako is the younger by a few minutes.

She's prone to spacing out, but also has a keen mind and a healthy sense of curiosity. Kako is a big fan of mystery stories and wants to be a private investigator when she grows up.

Kurara Oosuzuki / “Rich Girl Among Rich Girls” – The scion of one of the wealthiest families humanity has ever known. She's proud, overbearing, and acts like she's better than anyone else. She always wears a strange tomato mask, never showing her true face

Yugamu Omokage / “Teenage Assassin” – A striking young man who's been in the business of killing since long before the war started. Unlike the rest of his family (who are also assassins, by the way), Yugamu believes that killing should be done with love. He enjoys torture, dissection, and other grotesque activities.

Kyoshika Magadori / “Ninja Samurai” – A young samurai who's utterly clueless about the modern world. Has never even heard of multiplication tables, let alone learned them. She has an unsettlingly close relationship with her katana, the Holy Jumonji Sword.

Gaku Maruko / “Self-Centered Mood Maker” – A guy who's true to his personal desires (to put it delicately). He's a coward and always looking out for himself. However, there's something so refreshingly honest about his pettiness that it's hard to hate him. Gaku's also good at taking care of other people once he opens his heart to them.

Tsubasa Kawana / “Star Mechanic” – A young woman who knows a lot about machines and what makes them tick. She has a bright, lively personality, but isn't good with stressful situations. When she gets nervous, she gets nauseous, and then...

Hiruko Shizuhara / “Ice Queen” – Leader of the Special Defense Unit. A cold, almost heartless beauty, she always says what's on her mind, even if it means offending others. She's just as merciless on the battlefield, where she gets a twisted sense of pleasure from tearing invaders apart.

Sirei / Special Defense Unit’s Commanding Officer – The principal and commanding officer of Last Defense Academy. To put it another way, a weird little robot that orders the of the Special Defense Unit Around. Under his command, Takumi and the others will be working to wipe out the mysterious invaders.

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy will come to the Switch and PC on April 24, 2025. 

The post First 6 The Hundred Line Characters Debut in Trailer appeared first on Siliconera.

Being a Western Ys fan has certainly gotten easier in the last decade or so. For a very long time, the odds of any given release in the series getting a localization was hit or miss. More miss than hit, really. That changed in the twilight years of the PSP, when Nihon Falcom hooked up with XSEED to bring a number of its games overseas. One such title was the PSP version of Ys: The Oath in Felghana, the superb remake of the third game in the series. The two companies have once again ed hands to bring that game to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4/5 with Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana.

The word "remake" gets applied in all kinds of ways in this wild hobby of ours, but Ys: The Oath in Felghana would probably qualify as one of its most extreme forms. It's essentially a new game that follows the narrative framework and world design of Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. Originally released on the NEC PC-8801 in July of 1989, Wanderers from Ys broke from the pattern of the first two games by shifting to a side-scrolling format. While the game was well-received at the time, it would prove to be the only time the Ys series would use that style of gameplay.

Following the release of Wanderers from Ys and the departure of series creators Masaya Hashimoto and Tomoyoshi Miyazaki, the series had some very rough years. Ys IV had two largely distinct versions, neither of which was developed by Nihon Falcom. Ys V brought the series back in-house, but didn't make much of an impact. It was a Super Famicom release in 1995, so that might not have been entirely the fault of the game. Whatever the reason, when Nihon Falcom returned to the series a few years later, it was in the form of Windows remakes of the first two games.

Things got back on track with the release of Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim in 2003 for Windows PCs. It sported a spiffy new engine, and had the good fortune to be picked up for a global release on PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable by none other than Konami. The work done on this game was carried into yet another remake, this time of Wanderers from Ys. Titled Ys: The Oath in Felghana, it released on Windows PCs in Japan in 2005 and the PSP globally in 2010, with a global PC release coming in 2012. While it told the same story as Wanderers from Ys and featured most of the same locations, the gameplay was more in line with the rest of the series and just about every aspect of the original was expanded upon.

We're a ways past 2012 now, however. That PC version is still kicking, of course. PC games are nice that way. Otherwise, you have had to dig out an PSP or Vita to play Felghana, a prospect that gets more inconvenient as time goes on. Fortunately, Nihon Falcom has ported the game to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4/5 in a slightly enhanced form as Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana. It appears to use the PlayStation Portable version of the game as its basis, which makes a certain degree of sense. It was the newest version up until now, after all. Things have been touched up a bit visually, and a few modest new features have been implemented.

The real star of the show here is simply that the game itself is now available on these consoles, though. Yes, Adol (awkwardly) fills the silence in conversations now. You can choose your preferred version of the soundtrack, and swap between the original portraits or some new ones. Otherwise, you're looking at all of the same content as the PlayStation Portable release. That's not a bad thing, but if you're looking for a lot of new additions you won't find much here. A remake of a remake, this is not.

With that said, Ys: The Oath in Felghana is an excellent action-RPG, and that goes just as well for this new version as it did for previous ones. At least for this writer, this era of Ys hits the sweet spot between the somewhat thin earlier entries and the multi-character, somewhat long-winded modern games. The story and characters are relatively basic in Felghana, but they're present and help make the world feel bigger than it really is. Adol and Dogi return to Dogi's hometown, and it turns out trouble's a-brewin'. It's up to our red-haired hero to save the day while Dogi is presumably off smashing through walls like the Kool-Aid Man.

The town of Redmont serves as your hub on this adventure, with each of the paths leading from its outskirts taking you in the direction of a different area of interest. You'll be dealing with these areas in a more or less linear order, as opening up them up usually rests on either a story trigger or an ability you'll earn in an earlier spoke. You can return to previously visited areas with your new abilities to score some extra upgrades, and the story will occasionally take you back to some locations to open a new path. Not exactly a massive world, but the areas are just big enough to require exploration without feeling too overwhelming.

You'll frequently return to Redmont, allowing you to take advantage of its shops to pick up useful items and equipment upgrades. You'll need quite a lot of money and ore to stay up to date with your gear, and this will sometimes encourage a bit of grinding. Nowhere near as much as the original Wanderers from Ys, but gold in particular can be scarce as the game goes on. Leveling up can also help with tricky sections, but Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana leans more on your reflexes and skills over having the best gear and a high level. The easier difficulty levels give you a comfortable ride, but even the Normal setting requires the player to put in a little work. The more challenging difficulty settings are a genuine test for any action game fan.

The gameplay in Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is fast-paced and tense. You will often be crowded by your enemies, and there are plenty of hazards and environmental features to keep in mind as you dance around those hostile forces. The boss battles are thrilling, with plenty of fun patterns to learn and liberal amounts of things that will dispatch the inattentive player in a hurry. It feels good to master each encounter, because Adol is like a whirling dervish of death when you've got a handle on things. When combined with the quick movement speed and outstanding soundtrack, it's very easy to get in a zone with this game. That's the mark of a quality Ys entry.

That zippy pace results in a game that you can easily wrap up within ten to fifteen hours, which some players might balk at. I think it's as long as it needs to be, with very little in the way of unnecessary filler. It also provides some satisfying incentives to replay on higher difficulty settings, with an interesting New Game+ feature. The game allows you to pick some cheats using points earned based on the difficulty level you beat the game on, so if you want the full Tiny God effect you really do need to push yourself to the limit. Big risk, big reward.

For this review, I played the Nintendo Switch version of the game. By and large, it runs nicely on the platform in both handheld and docked mode. There have been some light graphical improvements made, but this is still a game from the mid-00s at its core and the texture maps and geometry often reflect that. The framerate on the PSP version could get dicey in busier sections of the game, and while this Switch version is considerably better in that regard, it does still sometimes dip when there's a ton of things going on. One would hope the PlayStation version would smooth that out, but I can't confirm that. It's a little disappointing, but I doubt it will be gamebreaking for most.

The best thing about Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is simply that it gets this immensely enjoyable action-RPG onto more modern platforms. The port is solid though not flawless, and not much has been added for this go-around. I would argue that The Oath in Felghana doesn't need more than we already saw in the previous versions, though. I'm not sure if a series like Ys could get away with a game this lean and mean anymore as a brand new installment, but it's one classic that I always like to have at hand thanks to how breezy and satisfying it is to play. A great game then and now.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana will be released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 on January 7, 2025.

The post Review: Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Is a Refreshing Blast from the Past appeared first on Siliconera.

While it's debatable these days whether or not Ys retains the status as Nihon Falcom's flagship series it enjoyed for so long, there's no question it remains an important part of the storied publisher's history. Ys X: Nordics, the latest in the series, is in many ways the largest and most expansive entry, and it seems to have gone over well with fans. With that said, there's a certain appeal to the simpler, more straightforward earlier entries. Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana offers a spruced-up take on a classic entry, and I've had a chance to go hands-on with the first several hours of this action-RPG set to launch on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4/5 early next year.

First, the obligatory background information. Back in 1989, Nihon Falcom decided to change things up for the third game in its successful Ys series of action-RPGs. While the first two games played from a top-down perspective, Ys III: Wanderers from Ys opted for a side-scrolling view akin to that of Falcom's 1985 hit Xanadu: Dragon Slayer II. Despite the dramatic shift, the game was received warmly by fans and saw ports to a number of computers and consoles. Subsequent Ys games went back to the familiar top-down style, leaving Wanderers from Ys as the oddball of the family.

When the time came to remake Wanderers from Ys, Nihon Falcom chose to use the framework of the original game and completely rebuild it. The then-recent Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim's engine served as the basis for this effort, which was ultimately released on Windows PCs in 2005 in Japan under the title Ys: The Oath in Felghana. While many of the the locations and main story beats were carried over, just about every aspect of the game was significantly expanded upon. The story and characters were richer, the dungeons larger and more complex, and the action faster and more furious. Japanese fans were delighted, but it would be a significant wait before Western players could get their hands on it officially.

Nihon Falcom bet bigger than most publishers on Sony's PlayStation Portable, and part of that involved porting many of its PC games to the handheld. In 2010, Ys: The Oath in Felghana was released on the platform, with a localized version coming by way of Xseed Games. While largely the same game as the Windows PC release, the PSP port added a few small quality of life features and some minor extra dialogues with certain NPCs. A couple of years later in 2012, Xseed Games localized the Windows PC version of the game.

From what I've played so far, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana appears to be based on the PSP release rather than the Windows PC original. This is mainly for the better, but those with sharp eyes and a great deal of experience with the PC release might notice some slightly lower quality textures here and there. In of new additions, you can now choose to play with Mieko Ishikawa's original Wanderers from Ys PC-88 soundtrack, Masaki Kawai's charming X68000 soundtrack, or Yukihiro Jindo's arrangements for The Oath in Felghana. There are some new character portraits, with the option to use the originals if you prefer. Adol also speaks in this version of the game, with new lines inserted where there was once only silence.

The version I played was the Nintendo Switch one, and I can happily report that it runs smoothly and has minimal load times. As well it should, but one can never know in these times. The game plays great, though it is a little odd that you have to use the directional buttons to navigate some menus while Adol's movement is locked to the stick. While I suspected this might be a lingering quirk of the PSP version, a quick check showed this to be a mapping choice new to this version. Nevertheless, you can find remnants of the game's original age here, like the inability to skip most cut scenes. The visuals are rendered at a higher resolution and have seen some clean-up, but at its core this is still a game whose roots lie in the early 00s.

Truly great games transcend time, however, and I firmly believe Ys: The Oath in Felghana to be one such example. The action is so fast, and that speed is thoroughly refreshing in an era where slower, more deliberate combat is the order of the day. Adol Christin is like a little red-haired Tasmanian Devil in this game, flying around like a whirling dervish of destruction. As you gain new abilities and level up, his capacity for chewing through enemies only grows. Bosses require a more strategic approach, but are no less frantic in their pacing. There's a bit of platforming in here, just enough to break things up without imposing too much on the action.

The story is similarly speedy in its pacing. There's enough meat here to give the adventure context and make the stakes more real, but you'll be zipping from one quest to the next without much downtime to worry about. There are side-quests to find and complete, but they're brief jaunts compared to those in many other games. Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a game that wants you to keep on moving, and the result is one of the more exciting action-RPGs you can find.

While more modern Ys games have a lot of excellent qualities, it sometimes feels like something from this era of the series has been lost. Revisiting this outstanding classic via Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana only reinforces that in my mind. So far, this is looking to be a solid update of a stone-cold classic of the genre. If the rest of the game proves as strong as what I've played up to this point, this might prove to be an excellent way to ring in the new year.

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana will be released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 on January 7th, 2025.

The post Preview: Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Looks to Be in Fine Form appeared first on Siliconera.

There’s finally a release date for The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, the new game from Danganronpa creator Kazutaka Kodaka. XSEED is handling it outside of Japan, and it will launch on April 24, 2025. A limited edition will also be available for the Switch version of The Hundred Line.

To accompany The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy release date, there’s a new trailer. It is quite bloody and shows how dark the defense game can be. As a reminder, Takumi wakes up to find that 15 teenagers are now part of the Last Defense Academy Special Defense Unit. Their goal is to use their new Hemoanima powers tied to their blood to depend against enemy attacks and survive for 100 days.

Here’s the latest video:

As for the Switch limited edition, it is $99.99 compared to the typical $59.99 standard physical or digital copy. That gets you the game, an art card of each person in the Special Defense Unit, a short novel with a story based on the academy and its characters, an art book, a soundtrack CD, a pin, a lenticular art card, and a 3D acrylic standee. 

This is the first image of the limited edition shared with us.

This isn’t the only new game from Kazutaka Kodaka on the way, as the Danganronpa creator is also working on Tribe Nine. Pre-registrations are now open for that title. There’s no release date for it yet, however. When it does debut, that will be on PCs and mobile devices.

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy will come to the Nintendo Switch and PC on April 24, 2025.

The post Danganronpa Creator’s The Hundred Line Game Gets a Release Date appeared first on Siliconera.

XSeed Games has revealed the follow-up to Edelweiss' 2020 hit hybrid RPG and farming simulator Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin. The new game will be a spin-off centered on Princess Kokorowa and is titled Sakuna Chronicles: Kokorowa and the Gears of Creation.

The announcement was accompanied by a teaser trailer, showcasing the premise of the game and its lead characters, Princess Kokorowa, the Goddess of Invention, and an automaton named Takebina. As of now there is no release window or confirmation about what systems the game will be releasing on.

You can view the trailer below:

The new game takes place after the events of Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, and centers on the spreading of automaton technology and Princess Kokorowa's role as the Goddess of Invention on a brand new adventure. No mention is made if characters from Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin will appear in the sequel apart from Lady Kamuhitsuki who is shown in the announcement trailer.

Publisher XSeed Games recently restructured its publishing responsibilities alongside Marvelous. In August 2024, both Marvelous and XSeed shared plans as to what this would mean for future endeavors going forward. This included what games would be published under each branch.

Sakuna Chronicles: Kokorowa and the Gears of Creation is in development by Edelweiss and will be published by XSeed Games.

The post Sakuna Sequel Kokorowa and the Gears of Creation Announced appeared first on Siliconera.

I love it when a game heads to a new platform and it turns out that’s the best version you can get. That’s the situation with Potionomics: Masterwork Edition, and I’m so glad the Switch version is the one I ended up beating. The experience feels more stronger, and choosing the new difficulty helps eliminate stress associated with the balancing and scheduling decisions in the original game if someone felt that got in the way of anyone’s initial enjoyment.

Potionomics: Masterwork Edition begins with Sylvia inheriting her dilapidated and in-debt uncle’s potion shop in Rafta. That and a suspicious owl that happens to be living there that was allegedly Oswald’s partner. Though she doesn’t have her potion license yet, she’s quickly thrust into the responsibilities of running the shop and entering tournaments to repair the owed money so she can stay in Rafta running the business. Oh, and maybe she also gets to romance the other people living there. 

I will say that while I appreciate the concept behind Potionomics: Masterwork Edition’s story and like the character designs a lot, I’m not a big fan of the personalities. At least, initially. While there is depth to some of these characters, a lot of them involve these overly exaggerated personality traits that are very in-your-face. Considering a big part of the game is tied to the relationship building, I found the over-the-top nature of many of these folks to be a turn-off. But this is a very personal opinion, and some people might be okay with it given the general tone of the narrative.

Though tone is an important point in general for Potionomics: Masterwork Edition, because going with the standard difficulty or harder one does bring up the dissonance again. This is an entertaining deckbuilder and potion-crafting simulator. Things start off fairly manageable. You need to brew potions, with certain specific ones needed for regular competitions to repay the loan your uncle took. That means getting ingredients from individuals in town, which you can also befriend and romance. 

You place those potions in the shop, then open to engage in the haggling battles with cards to get customers interested and drive up the price. However, customers’ actions during these phases can stress you out, which can carry over and negatively affect future negotiations. So as you meet and get to know people, as well as progress the campaign, you earn cards. These can be added to your deck to shape your tactics and approach. So when you play three each turn, you can focus on buffs, debuffs, immediate assaults, or defense to ensure you maintain customer patience and maximize encounters. Since each day has multiple time period opportunities for brewing and vending, so you can have up to three packed into a single day. 

The thing is that someone’s opinion on said difficulty and pacing can vary. On the standard difficulty or higher, it very quickly gets stressful. There are so many materials you need, so little time between tournaments, and the types of demands that make the game feel downright stressful. People also might get put off by the difficulty spikes that come up when the tournaments happen, as the contents involving specific potions are quite demanding. So going as-is, with the experience Voracious Games intended it to be, might be a lot.

The good news is, Voracious Games took player from the PC version of the game into for Potionomics: Masterwork Edition. There are two notable changes for this release, and one addresses that disparity between the often bright, jovial, and optimistic tone and time-sensitive, sometimes punishing schedule. One pertains to difficulty. As I established, that can ramp up at certain points over the course of the game. When you start out, you can select a new “Cozy” option. 

“Cozy” means you can visit people without wasting your in-game time, which is really efficient for shop management. The boss fights are easier (in a good and rebalanced way) as well. To be honest, I usually didn’t mind the tournaments in the original game, but the timing is a real game-changer here. So I ended up going with that difficulty and not looking back, because it does make it easier to enjoy the relationship-building elements here. I would suggest trying normal difficulty first, then rolling back to Cozy if that doesn’t work for you.

There is also an endless mode in Potionomics: Masterwork Edition. Which, again, is appreciated. I honestly enjoyed the deck-building and haggling card game most out of all the gameplay mechanics at work here. So… that basically let me do more of that? I really appreciated getting to change up and experiment with strategies in a way I couldn’t when I was more focused on completing goals in the campaign. It really allows you to appreciate the good parts of the game in a relaxed way.

Potionomics: Masterwork Edition makes me feel like someone coming to the Switch version is immediately getting access to the best version of the game. While there are some minor balancing issues remaining and someone might be as hit-or-miss on characters as I was, the changes and additions based on player result in a markedly improved experience. It really makes it easier to appreciate Sylvia’s adventures in capitalism.

Potionomics: Masterwork Edition is available on the Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X, and the original version with new updates is on the PC.

The post Review: Potionomics: Masterwork Edition Feels Like a Better Deal appeared first on Siliconera.

Back in March 2024, Mages and XSEED said we’d get to play through Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion in Fall 2024, but now it’s been delayed. The new release window for the latest entry in the horror series is 2025. However, XSEED did reveal the Ayame’s Mercy Collector’s Edition version of the game following the announcement.

First, here’s the Mages and Team GrisGris announcement regarding the delay. It stated it was done to ensure the overall quality of the title.

XSEED also released a similar statement on social media that briefly discussed why Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion had been delayed. As a reminder, a small segment of the game was playable at events like Anime Expo 2024.

As for the Corpse Party 2 Ayame’s Mercy release, that collector’s edition is available directly through Marvelous. Nintendo Switch and PS4 versions of it are available for $79.99 each. In addition to a copy of the game, you get a metal case that looks like an Amare Est Vivere Medical Kit found in-game, an LED blue candle that looks like the ones at save points, an Evidence Kit with items resembling ones you discover while you play, a lenticular art card, and a 64-page art book. 

Here's how that will look:

Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion will come to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam in 2025, following it being delayed out of its Fall 2024 launch window.

The post Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion Delayed Until 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.

Marvelous USA and XSEED Games announced the way titles are published by the companies will be changed, with the split being determined by if the game is a first-party or third-party title. All Marvelous games will be handled by Marvelous USA, while others will be under the XSEED umbrella.

In the announcement, an included image highlighted some of the titles that will be handled by each division to act as an infographic to help people determine what will be a Marvelous USA game and which one might be an XSEED Games title. So Farmagia, which is being made by Marvelous and launching in November 2024 worldwide, would be handled by Marvelous USA. So would the Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scionentry. It is also behind Naruto Emblem Battle, which is the company’s arcade game. 

However, XSEED Games will handle any indie game the company publishes or other third-party releases. The graphic released alongside the reveal showed Japanese games like Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghanaand Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion, as well as Potionomics.

The next game from Marvelous to appear in 2024 will be Farmagia for the Switch, PS5, and PC on November 1, 2024, and it will be published by Marvelous USA.

The post Marvelous USA and XSEED Game Publishing Duties Split appeared first on Siliconera.

Long gone are the days of the top-down, RPG Maker-style Corpse Party horror games. While the series has flirted with 3D in the past, it stuck with its the traditional viewpoint and gameplay style. This is all changing with Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion, a bold new take for the series based on my recent hands-on experience.

It is uncertain if Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion is related to Dead Patient, but it does also take place in a haunted hospital. During the 15-minute play session I experienced at Anime Expo 2024, I played as Haruka. Haruka and her two classmates, Nemu and Maria, are looking for a way out of the hospital and to safety.

Right out of the gate, I noticed two intriguing parts about this game. The first is the third-person point of view. Instead of a top-down perspective, this game takes place behind the shoulders of Haruka. This gives a it a more Silent Hill-like approach. I felt this throughout the game, and the gameplay ed it as well.

You wander the floors of the hospital with a few movement options at your disposal, such as a dash and interact button. The third-person perspective gives this game a different vibe compared to past games, making it feel even scarier in my initial session. It didn’t help that the game had a tiny draw distance, at least on Switch, so I barely saw a few feet in front of me.

Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion also has a much more mature art style to it. This especially came through in actual 3D character models and environments, from what I saw. The removal of the more chibi-like aspects of past games made this instantly much more terrifying. It almost felt like it is in the vein of other Japanese horror titles like Fatal Frame.

The other key change I immediately noticed in Corpse Party 2 involved the character designs. Within the more visual novel-like cutscenes, the 2D character portraits look plucked from an anime. The characters pop much more with color, especially in the case of Nemu. This helps the characters to stand out a bit more, making them more memorable.

While I adore the visual style of Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion, I’m not quite sure about the gameplay yet. Sure, it has some similarities to Silent Hill and other likeminded horror games. However, this particular title is quite confusing, especially when it comes to exploring the hospital.

The hallways and rooms are quite empty most of the time and look exactly the same no matter the location. It became hard to tell the difference from one gray concrete hallway to the next. I got lost pretty early in the demo and this continued all the way through. It doesn’t help that the interact button was pretty unresponsive. I had to perfectly stand in front of an object, such as a door, and aim at it just right for the game to my input.

This became pretty annoying quite fast, especially since it took up precious time in the preview. Since I wandered around the hospital quite a lot, I didn’t get to experience much of the story or action. The bulk of the plot I experienced had to do with a mysterious phone call. On a side note, the audio design in this game is quite impressive at least. Though I had no idea of my location, the smart use of the phone ringing and its audio guided me to its location with ease.

Answering the phone revealed a tease of a certain character’s possible fate in the near future. This added some ominous possibilities for what will happen in the main story. In addition, I saw one gruesome part regarding maggots but the game refrained from showing too much there.

Unfortunately, I missed out on running into any monsters or ghosts. This meant I missed out on seeing how running away, hiding, and surviving works in this new gameplay style.

That said, there is a lot of potential for exploration and puzzles from what I saw. I still have a lot of questions about this game but I appreciate what I previewed. The cast looks to have some solid characters I want to know more about. In addition, Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion’s new 3D style already feels much scarier than any past game. I just hope the full experience isn’t as confusing to navigate as this short demo.

Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion will release for Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC in Fall 2024.

The post Preview: Corpse Party 2: Darkness Distortion Terrifies and Confuses appeared first on Siliconera.

During the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, Marvelous showed off the first Farmagia gameplay and a November 1, 2024 release date. This comes after the company revealed at the end of May 2024 that this is the final name for Project Magia.

Here is the first Farmagia gameplay trailer. It shows how you’ll be growing and raising your own army of Farmagia creatures. You’ll then send them off into fights. In some cases, this could also mean fusing them into larger beasts to fight.

The Farmagia release date is November 1, 2024, and it will be playable on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC.

The post First Farmagia Gameplay, Release Date Debuts at Nintendo Direct appeared first on Siliconera.

During the Marvelous Game Showcase 2024, the new Story of Seasons game was revealed to offer a glider as a new means of getting around the world. This ended up being our first look at the title since its 2023 tease during the company’s last showcase, and it highlighted looks at familiar farm animals and crops.

Back when this new Story of Seasons game was announced, Marvelous noted it would be an entry “you can play with everyone.” Multiplayer was designed to be a goal. This was affirmed again in the latest showcase. So was the ability to use a glider to explore areas, which we got to see in the new video. New types of weather, which will be more realistic, will appear. So will pets like dogs and cats.

You can get a look at the latest footage in the video below. Aside from the Story of Seasons glider reveal, looks at classic animals, and view of crops and the new locations, no updated information or title appeared.

The last Story of Seasons game to appear worldwide was Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. It was a remake of the GameCube entry. 

The new Story of Seasons game is in development.

The post New Story of Seasons Game Features a Glider  appeared first on Siliconera.

Marvelous and XSEED Games announced the Marvelous Game Showcase 2024 will appear on May 30, 2024 at 3pm PT/6pm ET/10pm UTC. It will be about a 30 minute presentation that covers games from the company.

There are no hints as to which games could appear in the Marvelous Game Showcase 2024. The announcement only mentioned updates and titles that would appear in Japan and worldwide. However, during the 2023 installment seven games appeared. One was Fashion Dreamer, which already released. Many of the others only appeared as vague announcement with few details about titles, gameplay, and release windows.

Here are the 2023 games that could return in the 2024 showcase with more details:

• Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion
• New Story of Seasons entry
• Project Life is RPG
• Project Magia
• Rune Factory 6
• Rune Factory Project Dragon

There are no hints yet about the other new game announcements that could appear at the event.

The YouTube placeholder is already live, for those of us who may want to sign up for notifications, so here's where people can see the titles from the company and XSEED Games.

The Marvelous Game Showcase presentation will happen at 3pm PT/6pm ET/10pm UTC on May 30, 2024. 

The post Marvelous Game Showcase 2024 Spends 30 Minutes on Games appeared first on Siliconera.