Operation Backlog Completion 2026

PlatinumGames Teases New Games and Bayonetta 3’s Design Process

 Video games  8 Responses »  Tagged with:
May 032019
 

We’ve barely heard anything about Bayonetta 3 since it was announced, which is disappointing.

However, PlatinumGames has referenced its development from time to time, and the latest update comes along with teases for other planned games.

In a recent interview with VGC, Platinum’s studio head Atsushi Inaba said they are moving away from the “orthodox development process” used for Bayonetta 1 and 2 and that fans may recognize this while playing Bayonetta 3.

It’s unclear what he means, but it might explain why we’ve gone so long without seeing more from the game.

While describing the development of the first two Bayonetta games, he said, “We did stage one, then stage two, then stage three and built up the drama and the pacing chronologically.” Development of Bayonetta 3 is not following that process. Maybe this non-chronological development means they haven’t had anything early enough to show off.

And if it’s something the player might notice, I can’t help but wonder if we have more time travel coming in the plot.

In the rest of the interview, Inaba spoke about how PlatinumGames is working toward an approach where they’ll be able to own and control their IP, which gives them freedom and also lets them create sequels.

(Remember, Bayonetta 2 almost didn’t happen at all until Nintendo stepped in, despite Platinum having plans for it. They’d like to avoid that sort of situation in the future.)

They still plan to partner with publishers for certain games, but right now they have plans for two new unannounced IPs. Inaba also referenced an unannounced game that “has never been done before.”

In other words, PlatinumGames is busy! We have Astral Chain coming August 30 for the Nintendo Switch, Bayonetta 3 coming to the Switch at an unknown date, Babylon’s Fall announced for this year for the PS4 and PC, and now two unannounced games as well.

I’m excited for Astral Chain, Bayonetta 3, and Babylon’s Fall, so I’m looking forward to hearing about the new games as well… although preferably after we’ve seen more from Bayonetta 3. And will we ever see The Wonderful 101 or a sequel on the Switch?

How do you feel about PlatinumGames using a different design process for Bayonetta 3? What are your hopes for their unannounced titles? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Fiona Frightening Was Officially Cancelled

 Video games  4 Responses »  Tagged with: ,
May 012019
 

In 2017, we discussed the long silence concerning Fiona Frightening, a 3D platformer that had been planned for the 3DS and Wii U.

The most recent update had been from March 2017, when the developers said they were waiting for the demo to be finished.

Every now and then I search for news, and today I saw that the TV Tropes page said the creator posted on September 19, 2018 that development of Fiona Frightening had been halted.

And when I clicked the link to read the delay/cancellation announcement… it had been deleted.

However, it isn’t completely gone. It was a DeviantArt journal entry, and previews of it are still readable on DeviantArt. So when I dug further and found people discussing the game’s status, I was able to see what the original journal announcement said:

So, for several months now; I’ve had commenters asking questions all along the lines of ‘How’s Fiona Frightening coming along?’ And it’s only after a lot of thought, soul searching and attempting to contact folks involved with no response, that I have to announce this. As of now, according to my knowledge, development has been halted indefinitely, if not permanently.”

The journal entry goes on to explain the problems they ran into in more detail. Basically, the programmers they hired kept leaving, which stalled their progress, and then he lost contact with the producer of the studio. The preview ends there, so the rest of the announcement has been lost.

However, then I looked up the studio, Azurous Studios… and what did I find but their official announcement of the game’s cancellation.

It also cites the issues with programmers and concludes with a wish that they’ll be able to revisit Fiona Frightening someday.

(My guess is that the announcement from the studio is why the creator deleted his own post about it.)

I was excited for Fiona Frightening was it was first revealed, and I kept hoping they’d return even after their long silence. Unfortunately, it looks like Fiona Frightening is gone for good.

In other news, we have a Patreon now! This is sort of experimental; Patreon is changing the way it handles fees for creators starting on May 7, so if you’re interested in making one, doing so before then is the best option. Since I’ve debated about it in the past, I decided to go for it.

Anyway, if you want to support this site and my other sites (although buying my fiction is always the best option), the Patreon page is up!

Oninaki Looks Good So Far

 Video games  1 Response »  Tagged with: ,
Apr 292019
 

We only spoke briefly about Oninaki when it was announced during February’s Nintendo Direct, but it looks like it could be an interesting game.

Oninaki is the third game from Square Enix’s Tokyo RPG Factory studio, after I Am Setsuna and Lost Sphear. Unlike those, Oninaki is an action RPG.

In a recent interview with the PlayStation Blog, Tokyo RPG Factory shared some new details about the game. Reincarnation is a key part of the game’s world, and the main character is a Watcher who helps ensure Lost Souls can move on.

Now, grief for someone who has died can make them become a Lost Soul, so people try not to feel strong emotions. Sometimes Watchers need to kill the people’s whose emotions are preventing a soul from moving on.

That sounds like it could get pretty dark. Later on in the interview, they describe it as a dystopia.

A new trailer is also available, introducing some of the characters and showing more combat.

I still wish Tokyo RPG Factory had stuck with turn-based RPGs, but this game looks like it might surpass their previous two. The story definitely has potential, and I hope it ends up being as interesting as it sounds right now.

In the meantime, I probably should play Lost Sphear sometime… What do you think? And what do you think of what we’ve seen of Oninaki so far?

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