Operation Backlog Completion 2025

PlatinumGames Teases Nintendo Switch Games

 Video games  3 Responses »  Tagged with: ,
Jul 102017
 

PlatinumGames is on the list of Nintendo Switch partners, so we know they’re working on something.

But what is it?

Their new Japanese Twitter account got people talking last week by posting official red and blue artwork of Bayonetta.

On the surface, that’s nothing special. Red and blue match the colors of the neon Joy-Con controllers for the Nintendo Switch, sure, but they’re also the colors associated with Bayonetta in each game.

When fans started comparing the colors to the Joy-Cons, however, PlatinumGames liked their tweets.

I loved Bayonetta and thought Bayonetta 2 was even better, so I’d love to see another game made. Still, you can’t say for sure it’s a tease when all they did was like a few tweets.

On the other hand, if the official Wonderful 101 artwork posted later isn’t a tease, what is it?

When PlatinumGames posts official artwork of Wonderful 101 characters playing what appears to be The Wonderful 101 on a Nintendo Switch, that seems like a pretty strong hint. And since their jackets say “W101” instead of “W100,” it might even be a tease for a sequel!

I enjoyed The Wonderful 101 and will absolutely get The Wonderful 102 (or whatever they call it) if it’s announced. And I finally bought a Nintendo Switch from Amazon (they’re sporadically in stock, so check back often to see if the price returns to $299), so I’ll be able to play it!

(The other art included in the tweet features Vorkken, Immorta, and some unknown characters, but since it has a copyright date of 2013, it’s probably not a hint about something new.)

Kamiya isn’t helping matters, as he simply replied with a smile when asked on Twitter about Bayonetta 1 & 2, the Wonderful 101, and potential sequels coming to the Switch.

What do you think? Is PlatinumGames teasing Bayonetta and/or The Wonderful 101 (or Bayonetta 3 and The Wonderful 102) for the Switch?

Capcom Takes Down Dai Gyakuten Saiban Translation

 Video games  4 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Jul 072017
 

In Japan, Ace Attorney fans are anticipating the imminent release of Dai Gyakuten Saiban 2 with a launch trailer.

Meanwhile, the rest of us are wishing we could play the first game.

As I searched for any hint that maybe Capcom will find a way past whatever issues it has with the localization and bring The Great Ace Attorney to the West, I noticed people wondering if localization is the reason Capcom targeted the subtitled playthrough.

I didn’t know this had happened again, so I looked it up. There was a subtitled playthrough of Dai Gyakuten Saiban on Youtube, and Capcom had it taken down earlier this summer. Why?

Capcom has the right to do so, but they’ve left other Ace Attorney videos–and the Investigations 2 fan game–alone.

Is it really because they’re concerned the videos will harm sales of the first game in Japan? Or is it because they have plans for an official DGS translation after all?

Two years ago I hopefully speculated about the exact same thing, and that turned out to be nothing. We’re probably grasping at straws.

Then again, Capcom might be waiting to see if the sequel does well in Japan… and if it’s a success, maybe an English release is around the corner. Dai Gyakuten Saiban 2 will be out in Japan on August 3.

What do you think? Do we have any hope left, or is it time to give up on The Great Ace Attorney?

Episode Prompto is a Worthy Addition to FFXV’s Story

 Reviews, Video games  1 Response »  Tagged with: , ,
Jul 052017
 

While I never became interested enough in Episode Gladiolus to buy it, Episode Prompto caught my attention.

Prompto isn’t my favorite of the party members (that would be Ignis), but he has one of the more interesting stories. Final Fantasy XV also left him with gaping plot holes thanks to its bizarre handling of a certain revelation.

His DLC episode fills in those holes, while also letting the Empire’s mad scientist take a stronger role in the story. One of the things that disappointed me the most in Final Fantasy XV was that Verstael only had a single scene. Why give a villain one scene and never show him again?

I still think Verstael’s role and the explanations surrounding Prompto should have been in the game to start with, but at least Episode Prompto finally brings them into the light.

Since Prompto fights with guns, Episode Prompto feels somewhat like a third-person shooter rather than an RPG… which is interesting, if a little odd. You also get a snowmobile to zoom around in during certain sections. It’s largely linear, but still allows for a little exploration.

I’m in it for the story, though, and that aspect satisfied me. In addition to cutscenes, the story is also told through optional documents and logs you find in the facility. I love that kind of storytelling, and I wish Final Fantasy XV used that more to flesh out its world.

Plus, Verstael. Mad science. Good stuff.

Prompto’s internal conflict and development are also handled well. If you’ve played Final Fantasy XV, you probably can guess when this DLC takes place, because it’s when Prompto gets separated from the group. And if you’ve watched the anime episode about Prompto, you might remember that he had some self-esteem issues (and still does).

These elements come together in a satisfactory way that resonated with me, and I was invested in Prompto’s journey–always a good sign for storytelling.

Episode Prompto only lasts a couple hours, but it adds welcome information to Final Fantasy XV’s scattered storytelling. Here’s hoping Episode Ignis does the same… and I’m patiently waiting for Ardyn DLC to be announced.

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