Operation Backlog Completion 2026

Digimon Survive Has a Release Date: July 28

 Video games  2 Responses »  Tagged with: , , ,
Apr 182022
 

Today brought an unexpected piece of news for players looking forward to Digimon Survive: a release date!

The long-awaited Digimon game, which was first announced in 2018, will be out on July 28 in Japan for the Switch and PS4.

Digimon Survive is a strategy RPG visual novel/adventure game that sounds like it will be highly story-driven.

Back in February, there was a Digimon Survive Q&A at Digimon Con. When asked about the game’s content, they said the ratio of text adventure content to tactical battles would be roughly 7:3. Your choices will lead to the game branching into three main routes later on, as well as a secret route.

However, since they weren’t able to give a release date for the game, it seemed as though it was probably delayed once again. Apparently not, though, since now they’ve announced the July 28 release.

I’m not too familiar with the Digimon series (although the Cyber Sleuth games are waiting in my backlog), but I’m curious about this one since it seems to be so story-driven. 70% visual novel/adventure to 30% combat sounds a bit like Utawarerumono levels of story-driven.

(Speaking of which, I need to get back to that series, too.)

People have been waiting for Digimon Survive for quite a while, and now it seems like it’s almost here… in Japan, at least. What the western release date will be, we don’t know yet.

Are you interested in Digimon Survive?

Witch on the Holy Night Official English Translation Announced

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Apr 132022
 

Witch on the Holy Night is a visual novel that first came out in Japan in 2012, with no official translation ever released.

Now it’s receiving an HD, fully-voiced re-release for the Switch and PS4, due out later this year.

That was all already known, but this week brought the unexpected announcement that it will also have Japanese, English, and Chinese language options available.

Witch on the Holy Night is a visual novel from Type-Moon, the same company that developed Tsukihime and Fate/stay night.

While Tsukihime and Fate spin-offs in other genres have been localized with some frequency, no actual Type-Moon visual novel has been translated before, to the point where some fans claimed the writer was actively opposed to having his work translated.

Apparently that’s not the case, at least not now.

There’s no word yet if Witch on the Holy Night will be actually released outside of Japan, but since both platforms are region-free, it will certainly be playable in English. Here’s hoping an official release will be announced, for convenience and ease of access.

I don’t know a lot about Witch on the Holy Night, but the plot has something to do with magic and witches, and it sounds interesting enough for me to both be intrigued and want to support such an unexpected translation.

First Broccoli and now Type-Moon, in addition to all of the other “never ever” translations that have materialized lately. Who will be next?? (I’m still hoping RGG is the next one to join this list with translations of Kenzan and Ishin.)

Meanwhile, my site was recently included on a list of the Top 25 Visual Novel Blogs and Websites, so that’s pretty cool. I’ll keep on spreading the good word of visual novels.

What do you think about the surprise English translation news for Witch on the Holy Night?

Kingdom Hearts IV Really Was Announced!

 Video games  4 Responses »  Tagged with: , , , ,
Apr 112022
 

It actually happened!

Sure, I had Kingdom Hearts IV on my list of hopes and predictions for the weekend’s anniversary celebration, but I thought the best we could hope for was a title.

Instead, Square Enix officially announced Kingdom Hearts IV with a trailer and screenshots!

It is apparently part of the Lost Master Arc, so it seems we now have a title for the new story arc now that the Dark Seeker Saga is complete.

This news came as part of an anniversary trailer that also included an update about the finale of Dark Road, which is now set for August and looks like it should be quite exciting story-wise, as well as the announcement of a new mobile game called Missing Link.

(Kingdom Hearts IV starts at 4:06 in the trailer.)

Kingdom Hearts Missing Link appears to be set after the events of Union Cross. Despite being a mobile game, this one is 3D. It looks interesting, but I’m sure it will be another gacha game. A beta test for Missing Link will take place this year.

The Kingdom Hearts IV trailer begins with Sora waking up in Quadratum, which looks very much like our real world. Not only that, but Strelitzia is there with him! She refers to it as an “afterworld” for herself and Sora, which makes me wonder if people who die (or perhaps die in certain circumstances?) end up in Quadratum for some reason.

A giant Heartless appears in the streets, and Sora fights it. It actually shows gameplay for this part, although that might just be for demonstration purposes.

After the fight scene, we see two figures in black coats observing from above. Yes, two. One of them is probably the Master of Masters, but I’m curious about who the other is. Luxu shouldn’t be there, right? Luxord, maybe, or his Somebody?

The trailer ends with Donald and Goofy walking through a dark place before being confronted by someone indicated by blue fire, which probably means it’s Hades. (I’ve seen people say it sounds like his Japanese voice actor, too.) That would line up with the idea that they’re looking for help because Sora is “dead.”

Kingdom Hearts IV doesn’t have a release window yet, although I bet it won’t be as long as people are joking. I’m excited for this next game in the saga, and I can’t wait to learn more!

What are your thoughts on Kingdom Hearts Missing Link and Kingdom Hearts IV?

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