Valkyria: Azure Revolution to focus less on action and more on strategy due to demo feedback

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Valkyria: Azure Revolution, a spin-off from SEGA’s Valkyria Chronicles franchise, saw a demo released in Japan alongside the retail release of Valkyria Chronicles Remastered for PS4 in early February. While Valkyria Chronicles Remastered was met with positive reactions, reactions to the demo of Valkyria: Azure Revolution were mixed to say the least. According to Siliconera, via Hachima, developer Media.Vision received three times the amount of player feedback than expected and plenty of it was harsh. Based on what they heard, the developer has since reworked the battle system, which was more action oriented in the demo, to be more RPG-like in the final game.

Added is a new action gauge for both sides of combat which will allow players to strategize. The new system will allow actions to be done once the gauge fills, and players will be able to stop time while using weapons and abilities – much like a traditional RPG. The game’s director, Takeshi Ozawa, believed that since this is a Valkyria title, a more strategic battle system was required. It’s great that Media.Vision is taking the feedback to heart, but it is kind of odd that it took them this long to realize that a Valkyria Chronicles game functions best when the combat has strategy involved. Makes me wonder if this early demo was a test to see if a action Valkyria game would fly with fans.

The next demo for the game should be available this summer.

[Via: Siliconera]

Hatsune Miku getting her own limited edition PlayStation 4 bundle

HSMIKUPS4If you are a big fan of the Hatsune Miku video game series, then you will probably be excited to know that its getting its own limited PlayStation 4 pack. Bad part? Only in Japan thus far.

According to the product page there will be a choice of 500GB and 1TB models along with a Glacier White and Jet Black color choices.  More details below:

500 GB Jet Black/Glacier White Models

  • With one PS4 HDD Bay Cover: 37,480 plus tax
  • With two PS4 HDD Bay Covers: 38,980 plus tax
  • With three PS4 HDD Bay Covers: 40,480 plus tax

1TB Jet Black Model

  • With one PS4 HDD Bay Cover: 42,480 yen plus tax
  • With two PS4 HDD Bay Covers: 43,980 yen plus tax
  • With three PS4 HDD Bay Covers: 45,480 yen plus tax

Depending on how many HDD Bay Covers you want, this can cost you up to $413ish dollars (For the PS4 1TB with 3 HDD covers). That isn’t that bad considering its a limited edition product. Check out the photos:

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X pre-order bonus revealed and new trailer released

SEGA of America has released a new trailer for the Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X, which is set to release on August 30th to PS4 and PS Vita in both physical and digital formats. Along with the trailer comes pricing info, which the game retailing at $49.99/CA$64.99 for the PlayStation 4 version and $39.99/CA$54.99 for the PlayStation Vita version. But wait, there’s more! SEGA has also announced that pre-orders and launch day copies will include a special Hatsune Miku pouch, decorated with the game’s aura symbols. Seems like pre-order bonus items are the norm now with SEGA of America, as Miku fans may recall that Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai DX kicked off this new trend for SEGA by including AR cards and a branded lanyard.

For now this is Americas only, as no European release has been announced as of yet. After the break, check out the full press release.

Persona 5 getting special broadcast on May 5th

P5_fami_h2h3_160411Persona 5 fans have been waiting for more information regarding the latest entry that is due out this summer in Japan. I guess Atlus knows there are fans around the world waiting for information regarding Persona 5, so they have announced a Niconico special broadcast for May 5th at 21:30 Japanese time (5:30 am PT/8:30 am ET).

Atlus will call their Persona 5 broadcast the ‘Take Tokyo Tower’ and will go live when the counter on their site hits zero.

Persona 5 hits PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 this Summer in Japan.

[Via: Gematsu]

Check out Valkyria: Azure Revolution’s Five Grave Sinners

Valkyria-Azure-Revolution_2016_04-22-16_001So what are the ‘Five Grave Sinners’ and how do they tie into the story of Valkyria: Azure Revolution? Well, its the name given to five young people that are said to led the war between the Jutland Kingdom and the Rus Empire which will be known as the “Miraculous War of Liberation”.

Want to know who each of the Five Grave Sinners are? Hit the jump to find out! The content below is from the Valkyria: Azure Revolution site, translated by Gematsu.

DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours Fantasy Zone, Space Harrier and Galaxy Force II DLC now available

Back in February, we reported that DARIUSBURST Chronicle Saviours, Taito’s latest entry in the DARIUS series of side-scrolling shoot’em up games, was getting SEGA themed DLC packs that included Fantasy Zone, Space Harrier and Galaxy Force II. The reveal came with a trio of trailers that were unfortunately posted and pulled within a day. Seems the Japanese news site Game Watch put the previews up by mistake. Thankfully, now those trailers can be seen again, as you can now buy each of SEGA DLC pack for $4.99 or pay $11.99 for all three!

Above, check out the Space Harrier trailer, and after the break see the Galaxy Force II and Fantasy Zone trailers.

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X releasing Fall 2016 to the Americas for Playstation 4 and Vita

SEGA of America has just announced that Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X will be releasing to the Americas in Fall 2016. Both Playstation 4 and Vita versions are receiving localizations, however there is no word on a European version just yet. The games will be released in digital and physical formats.

Project DIVA X sees players helping Miku and her friends as they sing and dance their way though 5 clouds that comprise of their world. Each cloud is unique, with themes that include Classic, Cool, Cute, Elegant, and Quirky. The game promises 30 new and classic songs as well as nearly 300 costumes. The game also features a full concert editor.

After the break, check out some screens from the Vita version as well as SEGA’s full press release.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone to launch with two versions, 220 total songs

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Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone
is coming to PlayStation 4, but we didn’t know before is that it will be coming in two different variants. Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone is set to hit Japanese PSN later this year and according to the latest issue of Famitsu this is what each version will come with:

  • Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone – Future Sound: will include 120 songs focused on the Hatsune Miku: Project Diva home console series.
  • Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone – Colorful Tone: will include 100 songs focused on the arcade game and 3DS Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai series.

Both will include 220 songs and 340 modules to keep your Hatsune Miku addiction going. The game has been confirmed to run at 1080p and 60fps, giving gamers the ability to customize six characters that can appear in-game music videos. This will be the first game in the series to also offer key configuration, which allows one button to trigger multiple presses. No western release has been announced for Hasune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone.

[Source: Gematsu]

 

Yakuza 0 confirmed for Europe, early 2017 release date planned and new trailer released

SEGA has good news for European Yakuza fans, as it has been confirmed that Yakuza 0 will be releasing to both the Americas and Europe. Prior, only an American release was confirmed when the localization was revealed at the Playstation Experience in December 2015. Even better, the game will be released both physically and digitally! SEGA’s plan is a simultaneous release in both territories and the release window is “early 2017”. While the game was released on both PS3 and PS4 in Japan, westerners will only be receiving the PS4 version. Given the PS4 version is obviously superior, I’m not going to complain. Better that than give us the one for older hardware. SEGA was also quick to point out that the localization is 100% SEGA, and that Sony and PlayStation have no involvement on a production level.

If early 2017 is too long a wait, SEGA has more good news. If you’ve yet to play Yakuza 5, the game is currently on sale for 25% off through April 5th. We loved the game, and we’re certain you will too. Now’s the time to pick it up, support the franchise, and play a great game. Win-win-win!

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Contest: Tembo The Badass Elephant Playstation 4 skin giveaway – game is 60% off on PSN & Xbox One

Tembo

Tembo The Badass Elephant from SEGA and Game Freak Inc is a loving homage to the early 90s platformer era, featuring outlandish gameplay and cartoonish over the top graphics. To celebrate the game, we’re teaming with SEGA to give away six Tembo The Badass Elephant skins for your Playstation 4 and controller. The artwork is awesome, and we especially love the use of the classic SEGA Seal of Quality logo. To enter, all you need to do is follow SEGAbits on Twitter and retweet the contest tweet. Six winners will be chosen, and the contest is open to the Americas and Canada. The contest ends on Monday, March 21st at 11:59PM CT and winners will be announced the following day.

Tembo The Badass Elephant is on sale for 60% off on both PSN and Xbox One, and a free Tembo The Badass Elephant theme is available for download now on PSN. Good luck to all who enter and don’t forget to take advantage of the sale and snatch up that free theme!

Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition ‘Ako and Lucian’ gameplay released

We posted before that Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition was getting  ‘Ako and Lucian’ from Netoge no Yome wa Onna no Ko Janai to Omotta?‘ (translates to: “And you thought there is  never a girl online?”) manga. Actually this DLC will launch along side of Netoge no Yome wa Onna no Ko Janai to Omotta? anime that is set to hit in Japan on April 7th.

Sadly for Westerners that purchased Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax , this DLC won’t be available since its only for the re-released Ignition. But if you wanna import a copy Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition it is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.

What do you guys think of the new characters and will you be watching Netoge no Yome wa Onna no Ko Janai to Omotta? anime come April?

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SEGA releases new Valkyria Chronicles Remastered trailer, game set for a May 17th release in Americas and Europe

SEGA’s upcoming Valkyria Chronicles Remastered has a new trailer, and even more importantly release dates for the Americas and Europe! Set to launch in both territories on May 17th, 2016, the updated version of the Playstation 3 classic promises full 1080p/60fps HD quality graphics, all of the original DLC, dual Japanese and English audio, and trophy support. Also, as we’ve reported in the past, pre-orders and limited launch copies will feature a collectible steelbook-style metal Squad 7 Armored Case.

In the above trailer, SEGA highlights the fundamentals of warfare in the game, including the “BLiTZ” Tactical Battle System which combines turn-based strategy, RPG, and 3rd person shooter elements – basically all the reasons we love the franchise so dearly. Pre-order your copy of Valkyrica Chronicles Remastered today and mark May 17th on your calendars.

Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition to add Netoge no Yome’s Ako and Lucian via DLC

DBFCI_03-07-16_003Seems that SEGA will be supporting Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition via paid DLC as they have just announced Netoge no Yome‘s Ako (voiced by Rina Hidaka) and Lucian (voiced by Toshiyuki Toyonaga) as playable characters. If you didn’t know, Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition hasn’t been released in the US, we got the previous title just known as Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax. Yes, it was a poor decision in SEGA’s part for not waiting for this updated re-release, which seems at this point to be the definitive version.

Both characters are from ‘Netoge no Yome wa Onna no Ko Janai to Omotta?‘ (translates to: “And you thought there is  never a girl online?”) which is a comedic manga where a naive protagonist proposes to a female character in an online game, only to find out that its actually a guy. Being traumatized by the experience, he vows to never trust females online again, until a female proposes to him…

No release date for the characters has been announced, but they will be playable at this year’s Dengeki Game Festival in Japan. Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition is out now for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in Japan.

[Via: Gematsu]

Shenmue 3 update shows off in-game environments

Above is early footage of Shenhua’s house from the upcoming Shenmue 3. The Shenmue 3 Kickstarter also sent out various photos of these environments (which you can see below) giving you a closer look at how far the game’s graphics have come along compared to what they showed previously. The Shenmue Dojo twitter account also did a side by side comparison of Shenua’s house from Shenmue 2 to Shenmue 3 and it seems like everything is where we last left it 15 years ago.

I’m not really sold on the over use of lighting, but its looking rather impressive so far for being this early into development. I really can’t wait to see more updates, so far color me surprise. What do you guys think of Shenmue 3‘s new environments? Let us know in the comments below!