Operation Backlog Completion 2024

Professor Layton Delayed to 2025, Cupid Parasite FD Confirmed, and More!

 Video games  4 Responses »  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,
Nov 292023
 

Today had the potential for some exciting video game announcements, so I was looking forward to it, starting with Level-5 Vision 2023 II early this morning.

It began with a message from Professor Layton’s Japanese voice actor, who revealed that when he was first given the part of Professor Layton, he drew inspiration from James Bond. Not what I expected, but that’s a fun detail.

The first game they showed was Megaton Musashi Wired, which will be out on April 25, 2024.

Getting an actual release date for one of the games relieved some of my worries, even though I’m not interested in that one specifically.

Next up was a new trailer for Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, which I’m really looking forward to! The new trailer highlights changes from the first game as well as a summer 2024 release window. While that’s further off than I’d like, at least it gives me a chance to get through the rush of early 2024 games first!

They spent a good deal of time looking at the next Inazuma Eleven game after that. I’ve never gotten into that series, but since this game has been delayed over and over again for over 7 years now, it’s nice to see it finally making progress. While it didn’t get a release date, there will be a closed beta test for the online features in March 2024.

Now, you know I only watched this live because I wanted Professor Layton news, so I was thrilled when they showed Professor Layton and the New World of Steam next.

The new trailer shows a small section of the game, including a 3D cutscene and some gameplay. Watching them tap around for hint coins and encounter a puzzle might not sound like a big deal, but seeing that good, familiar Professor Layton gameplay make me so happy. Hearing narration during the puzzle-solving was a bit odd, so I think that might have been purely for the trailer (unless that’s the way hints will be handled in this game). It also appeared like they were using the touchscreen, which is interesting.

Unfortunately, Professor Layton and the New World of Steam won’t be out until 2025. With the other games all delayed to 2024, I was expecting it, but it was still a little disappointing.

I had expected them to end with Professor Layton, but instead they went on to briefly discuss the success of the Yokai Watch mobile game, and then they continued with Decapolice.

I’ve been interested in Decapolice since I love mystery games and it seems to have JRPG elements as well, but I was surprised to hear them describe it as an open world game. The showcase also said the release date had been moved to “post-2024,” although a tweet later clarified that they meant 2024.

The showcase ended with the announcement that the next showcase, titled Level-5 Vision 2024: To the World’s Children, will be held in April 2024, teasing an announcement implied to be a new Yokai Watch game. So that’s certainly exciting!

While it was mainly a showcase full of delay news, I was still thrilled to get a longer look at the new Professor Layton game. And the day wasn’t over yet, because Idea Factory’s otome-themed “just chatting” stream was coming up next with the promise of an announcement.

Indeed, Idea Factory kicked things off with the announcement that Cupid Parasite: Sweet and Spicy Darling, is being localized! This is the fandisc of Cupid Parasite, which I loved.

I’ve been hoping the fandisc would get localized, so that was a great surprise! It will be out in 2024, and a Limited Edition will be available as well.

All in all, it was a great day for video game news for me. And while the Level-5 delays might be disappointing, I’ve got plenty of games in my backlog to occupy me in the meantime.

How do you feel about the new trailer for Professor Layton and the New World of Steam? What about Level-5’s other announcements? Are you excited for the Cupid Parasite fandisc?

Valentine Video Games Festival: Cupid Parasite

 Celebrating All Things Romantic, Reviews, Video games  4 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Feb 282022
 

For our final review of this year’s Valentine Video Games Festival, we’ve got a big one to discuss: Cupid Parasite, an otome in which the main character is literally Cupid.

Cupid is a young goddess who realizes that humanity has made all sorts of advancements on its own, but the gods won’t acknowledge that. So she descends to Earth to prove that she can bring couples together as a human, without using her bow.

Under the name Lynette, she becomes an advisor at Cupid Corporation, a prestigious matchmaking company, and her big opportunity comes when she’s asked to take charge of the matchmaking for five male clients who have been nicknamed the “Parasite 5.”

From an actor so obsessed with mythology that he can’t stop talking about it for five minutes, to a businessman who refuses to appear in person and sends a representative in his place, the Parasite 5 have proven to be so troublesome for the company, she’s guaranteed a promotion if she can help them find love.

Cupid Parasite is a romantic comedy, and it is funny. There were parts of the common route that made me laugh out loud, and a lot of the routes had equally funny moments.

(The secret route was also so much funnier than I expected.)

When I finished my first route, I was already satisfied. I enjoyed it so much that I would have considered it a game worth playing even if I didn’t like the rest. Little did I know he wouldn’t even end up being my favorite, with a couple of the others unexpectedly rising to the top.

Click for my attempted Cupid Parasite route ranking
Allan has to be near the top, which I did not expect when I first saw him. He’s either first or second, with the secret route taking the other spot. I felt guilty doing any other route after Allan, but then the secret route ended up being incredible too.

Ranking in third is Shelby, whom I went for first and expected to be my favorite. He’s wonderful.

Fourth has to be Raul, because he’s just so much fun.

And then Gill and Ryuki take up the final two spots, probably Gill fifth and Ryuki sixth. Gill was sweet but a little annoying (on the other hand, the CAR SCENE), and Ryuki had a nice story but just didn’t appeal to me as much. …He also suffered because I did his route right after Allan’s, though. Sorry, Ryuki.

This is one of the rare ones where I’d say I loved every route. I liked some more than others, but even my least favorite was still good.

(Although for a minor thing that bugs me, how did they give a character the last name Lovecraft and not acknowledge H.P. Lovecraft at all?)

The romances all feel natural, and their stories go in different directions depending on whose route it is. They’re fairly lighthearted, although a few have more serious plot stakes, and some of the “normal” endings are arguably more interesting than the best endings.

I also appreciate that it doesn’t keep the protagonist in the dark for too long. Certain characters have secrets that the player learns before Lynette does, but once you’re actually on their route, she usually finds out pretty quickly.

I had so much fun with Cupid Parasite, it’s already one of my favorite otome games despite not having as strong a focus on plot as my usual favorites. It’s romantic and hilarious, and I love these characters so much. A fandisc was recently announced for Japan, so I can only pray it gets localized.

What better way to end the romance game festival than with an excellent otome where you play as Cupid? Today is your last chance to enter this year’s contest, so check out the details and leave a comment below with your thoughts on Cupid Parasite!