Operation Backlog Completion 2026
May 272016
 

We’ve got release windows for two Japanese games to talk about today.

Muv-Luv

Muv-LuvFirst up, Muv-Luv.

Back in January, I discussed Muv-Luv as one of several games I’ve crowd-funded and explained it’s supposed to be one of the best visual novel series ever.

According to the latest announcement, the translation for Muv-Luv Extra is finished, and Muv-Luv Unlimited should be ready in June.

The planned release date for Muv-Luv in the West is July. They have cancelled the beta test so they can focus on getting the full release ready in time.

Muv-Luv (Extra and Unlimited) has a Steam page now. Muv-Luv Alternative is planned to follow in the winter. It hasn’t appeared on PSN yet, but it will be released for the Vita, as well.

Unfortunately, physical copies were only available to backers.

I look forward to finding out in July what Muv-Luv is all about.

Dragon Quest Builders

Next, a game most people thought wouldn’t be localized has been announced for the West… Dragon Quest Builders, available for PS4 and Vita.

While Dragon Quest Builders is a Minecraft-esque building game, it’s also an action RPG with a full-length story mode.

One thing I find really cool about it is that it’s set in the same world as the original game, which I actually played, following an alternate ending where the hero joins the Dragonlord instead of defeating him.

I’m not much of a sandbox/builder fan, but the story has me interested. It’s also just good to see Square Enix showing confidence in the West’s Dragon Quest market.

Dragon Quest Builders will be out in October.

Are you interested in either Muv-Luv or Dragon Quest Builders? Why or why not?

Mar 112016
 

Beastmaster-and-PrinceBy now you probably know that while the dark, twisted part of me writes Lovecraftian horror and loves Silent Hill, another part of me plays games about lawyers and bird romances.

(Don’t worry, my look at bird lawyers is on the way.)

So when I saw a Kickstarter to localize a game where you interact with princes who have been enchanted into animals, with a special “Cuddle System” where you pet their animals forms, I laughed for a while and then said, “This is adorable, I want it.”

Beastmaster and Prince is an otome game (visual novel marketed to a female audience, usually romantic) about a young woman named Tiana who wants to be a Beastmaster. She meets four princes who have been cursed into the shapes of animals: one became a lion, the second a wolf, the third a duck, and the fourth a rabbit.

While searching for a way to life the curse, Tiana learns of a conspiracy within the kingdom.

Beastmaster-and-Prince-AlfredThe game was pretty popular in Japan, and now Gloczus, Inc. and b2g Studio hope to bring it to the West.

However, this project is for more than just the original Beastmaster and Prince game. It also includes the Snow Bride fandisc which continues the story, as well as additional side stories.

It will be the complete Beastmaster and Prince experience, with the original Japanese voice acting, available for Steam. After its Steam release, they may consider a Vita version, as well.

If the Kickstarter project meets its goal, that is.

It suffered early on from a disorganized setup and lack of higher-tier goals. Since then, it’s improved a lot and more backers have joined us… but will it be enough? At the time I’m writing this, Beastmaster and Prince has 26 hours left to make the remaining $78,000 it needs.

So if a game about curses, princes, animals, and romance sounds good to you, or if you just want to support otome localization in general (as they hope to bring more otome games to the West if the market is there), head over to the Beastmaster and Prince Kickstarter!

Feb 242016
 

Nostalgia-AliceYou might remember Nostalgia: Two Worlds | One Soul, an upcoming PC and Wii U game inspired by Ace Attorney and Zero Escape.

We first looked at it last August, and I shared new Nostalgia screenshots in December.

Since then, I’ve contributed freelance work to Nostalgia, so it holds an even more special place in my heart.

Therefore, I’m excited to announce that the Nostalgia: Two Worlds | One Soul Kickstarter is now live.

Nostalgia is about a girl named Alice who was forced to participate in experiments meant to determine whether or not an alternate universe exists. Set 12 years later, the game will involve both the characters and their alternate universe counterparts.

Gameplay is split between choice-based visual novel sections, escape-the-room puzzles, and occasional battle sequences. There are multiple endings.

The Wii U version will have features exclusive to the Gamepad, such as object scanning. Some puzzles will also be different depending on which version you play.

A prototype demo is available, although I had trouble getting it to run.

If you like what you see and want to support Nostalgia: Two Worlds | One Soul, tell your friends about it or visit the Kickstarter page.