Hey, Minoru Kawasaki? You are a really crazy, crazy man (in the best possible way, though). If this game DOES get a US release, I say D3 should just use these spots as some sort of viral campaign. I’m still considering ordering a copy of this from Japan just in case it’s not localized, but I’ll hold out until after TGS and see if D3Publihser here makes any sort of announcement. My Vita is smiling, that’s for sure…
Holy Cats. I missed this EDF 4 trailer thanks to the CRUSH of Nintendo Wii U, New York Comic-Con news and other game/non-game related stuff jamming my inbox, but here you go. A nice peek at the new EDF game, which is looking SPECTACULAR in its retro way. Sandlot is blowing things up in a HUGE way here and even better, the game is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2013. As for a US release, it’s too early to tell, but I’d say D3Publisher of America would be IN-SANE to not be thinking about localizing this one. Hell, I’ll do all the voices in the English dub if I need to, D3 (although, that would send the game into Dynasty Warriors series levels of camp). Anyway, expect more to come during TGS this month, as I can’t possibly see D3Publisher not wanting to share more of this upcoming game. 2013 is looking better and better now. One thing, though: where’s the Wii U version? That fancy new controller could make for a really fun multiplayer aspect to things is all I’m saying…
Ah, that oddball Japanese sense of humor…. where would the gaming, no, entertainment world be without it? Famed “B” movie director Minoru Kawasaki is trying his hand at making EDF look even more cheesy than it intentionally is and based on these two videos, he’s going to succeed (and quite admirably at that). I’d forgotten to run the rather goofy announcement trailer for these spots a few weeks back (you get to watch the director drinking for the most part), but in a way, I’m glad that I missed posting it because these updates are such fun. Anyway, amusing stuff aside, HOPEFULLY we’ll have a seriously official word from D3Publisher of America after this year’s Tokyo Game Show on whether or not this reaches North America and Europe. In English, of course.
Hell, I’m importing it if it doesn’t and maybe even if it does because I’m such a huge EDF fan, but this is one of those titles I firmly feel will REALLY help the Vita out in terms of being popular worldwide.
I was moving some games last week and this one fell on my head, so I had to see if my memory still works by recalling what it’s about. Well, other than being a collaboration between the generically named Game Studio with ToysPress and May Music, Airs Adventure for the Sega Saturn is pretty dated if you judge it by today’s standards. Granted, it was probably dated by 1996 standards because the game isn’t all that complicated or challenging save for some wandering about necessary mid-game to solve a puzzle. Despite the language barrier It was one of the first imports I was able to complete it twice without understanding any Japanese thanks to the simple combat system, only two party members to deal with and for the most part, fairly linear progression.
Well, this is cool. Yes, it’s only a teaser site for now, but Sandlot has been very, very busy this year (and that’s very, very good). I’m betting we’ll see more about this one come this year’s TGS, but even if it’s a total no-show and that show, I can wait.
That and hey – D3Publisher of America should be making sure 2013 is a big, bug-packed (in a good way) EDF year for gamers. With enough time to generate the proper hype, I’d bet we’ll be seeing a sleeper steamroll some of the games that cost more to promote than what EDF 4 is costing to make…
Nice. A little birdie told me recently that there’s an in-progress English script floating around for this upcoming Vita game, so I’m hoping this is not only true, but D3 gets on the ball in getting the word out ASAP as to when we can expect this instant classic. Here’s the import cover art, a new trailer to drool over plus links to the game’s Amazon Japan page and below, a few of D3’s official Japanese EDF 3 sites. Interestingly enough, the game will be available in Japan in two formats (like EDF 2 Portable on the PSP) a single game card or value-priced dual pack format that will allow gamers to share a copy with a fellow Vita owner. I doubt that double pack will be released stateside, but it WOULD be awesome if D3Publisher of America did us EDF fans a true favor and localized EDF 2 and made it available as a PSN download.
By the way, if you want more info on the game and don’t mind learning a bit of Japanese in the process (or using Microsoft’s bing translator), well, here you go, along with the official Japanese Facebook page (feel free to leave a comment if you visit to express your love for the series) and official D3Publisher Japan EDF portal web site. Anyway, color me thrilled (again)… 9/27/12 in Japan and hopefully not too much longer for the rest of the world…
OK, not only is this port packing in much more content than the original Xbox 360 exclusive (including a four-player co-op mode), I just found out from watching video #2 below that Pale Wing is making a return (faint, thud!). For any longtime EDF fan who knows what I’m talking about, you’re also picking yourself up off the carpet, I’d bet. This changes up the gameplay considerably, as her jet pack and energy-based weapons add a completely different approach to some of the tougher levels in the game. That and EDF 3 (or EDF 2017, to 360 owners in the US) recycles parts of a few maps from EDF 2, meaning playing them again with Pale Wing will see some of those old strategies coming into play more effectively than with Storm 1. Lucky Vita owners in Japan will be seeing this sometime in September of this year. As for everyone else… that’s hard to say.
Now, I know D3Publisher of America is busy putting out a small line of licensed games based on popular kid shows (Ben 10, iCarly and Victorious), but I think they’d be making a huge mistake if they ignore this exclusive. Warts and all, they ought to embrace this intentionally campy and massively awesome run ‘n gun game to the fullest (the company started life in Japan as a publisher of a budget-themed games line), market the hell out of it though viral videos and a bunch of hands-on previews (my fingers are itching just typing that) and get it into stores sometime next year. This should give them time to get the word out that it’s coming and will be a Vita essential for the potential of at least 40 hours of bug-blasting action. Then again, I spend something like 150 playing EDF 2017, so I know I’ll get as much or more time out of a Vita version…
One of the best films I saw in 2011 wasn’t the usual big-budget Hollywood ego piece cooked up to win award after award, but a great and often laugh out loud funny comedy from Japan that’s worth tracking down even if it’s never released in English. That said, I’ll bet writer/director Koki Mitani wants a time machine for his next birthday. I know one of the first things he’d probably do is go back and meet Billy Wilder, Michael Powell and Frank Capra for dinner somewhere expensive where they’d smoke cigars, drink good whiskey and talk movies until the sun popped up like a fresh piece of perfect toast.
I say this because Mitani’s latest film, A Ghost Of A Chance (or Once Upon a Blue Moon if you happen to live in Japan) manages to get in nods to Wilder, Powell, Capra and a few other famous directors while also being as fresh and funny as Mitani’s other inspired comedy work. While a bit overlong, the film is funny (often hilariously so), touching (you’ll probably shed a few tears at some point) and despite a few flaws, is well worth watching a few times. With a plot that’s part crime story, ghost story, courtroom intrigue and romance (for starters), there’s a lot here to keep cinema buffs happy.
BRING BACK THE BUGS! Hey, D3Publisher of America: I’m putting you on notice NOW. If you aren’t planning to snap this up and get it out in North America instead of another kid-friendly game that might sell a few more copies, you’re nuts. In the nicest possible way, though. Seriously, you’re loved around here for some cool games and all, but THIS one has to get a US release. Not only is this looking exactly like the Xbox 360 game many PlayStation-only fans of the series never got to play, Sandlot actually ADDED a four-player co-op mode.Which is an excellent move, by the way (provided the slowdown present in the original game has been taken care of).
I’m stealing one screenshot from Andriasang (thanks, guys!) to show you this is no joke, but here’s a link so you can check out the rest of them and start yelling into your Vita like it’s actually got a phone built in. Day one purchase? Oh, absolutely. ESPECIALLY if D3 is smart enough to consider that dual game card package, provided they can release it at a decent price point. If not, a single cart is still fine, but I’m gathering that a single cart and download voucher deal for a friend might be another way to go. OK, let me stop giving out free ideas and get back to hoping we see this one drop into stores as soon as possible…
Every time I see one of these ads or more images in a magazine or website, I start wishing that the Vita had launched with this game and a few others not here just yet. Then, perhaps some of this angst and negativity I’m seeing on certain other sites just wouldn’t be there about the platform. For those who have short attention spans (about 90% on the Internet), we went through this SAME nonsense with the 3DS last year and look what happened with that handheld (huge sales and faster than expected, at that according to Nintendo). Well, E3 is next month, so hopefully SCEA has a big fat (and well-thought out) plan to squash the dopes spitting out silly opinions that have no basis in reality. Me, I like my reality altered all the time I’m gaming, but that’s about it.
Two more ads below the jump…
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