ATLUS Releases New Prologue Demo Today for Metaphor: ReFantazio

Studio Zero Game Director Katsura Hashino announced today at the Metaphor Launch Event in Tokyo, Japan, during the week of Tokyo Game Show (TGS), that the Prologue Demo for ATLUS’ highly-anticipated fantasy RPG Metaphor: ReFantazio is now available on Xbox for free. The free demo will also be available for PlayStation and PC today at 9am PT.

In the Prologue Demo, players can experience some of the early-game narrative, explore social elements and discover the city as they get a head start on their adventure ahead of the October 11 launch. Progression from the demo will carry over to the launch version so players can get a head start on their adventures in the United Kingdom of Euchronia.

The Prologue Demo includes:

  • The beginning of the journey to lift the curse of the prince.

  • The first four dungeons.

  • The ability to unlock seven of the 40+ classes called “Archetypes”.

  • Meet six followers, including party members that will support the Protagonist’s journey.

  • And much more!

Metaphor: ReFantazio is an all-new fantasy RPG from the creative minds of Persona 3, 4, and 5. Players will write their destiny and rise above fear as they step into a fantasy world unlike any other in a perilous race for the throne.

Metaphor: ReFantazio launches October 11, 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, Windows, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and Steam. For more information and for links to pre-order, visit metaphor.atlus.com.

In addition to today’s demo release announcement, Jack Frost is confirmed to be included later in the game (not in the demo) as a demon an Archetype from the Summoner lineage can summon.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance announced from Atlus, available June 21st, 2024

Good ol’ Atlus with their expanded SMT/Persona re-releases. Seriously though, props for the clever logo design here.

If you liked Atlus’s recent hit JRPG Shin Megami Tensei V, then you’re gonna love Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Just announced within the same Nintendo Partner Showcase Direct from February 21st, 2024, which also revealed the new demo for Unicorn Overlord, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance was revealed as an all-new definitive version of the original and highly lauded Shin Megami Tensei V (2021). This all new version of SMT V will include extra locations, demons, and an all new additional story to experience. From a technical side, the game also includes an improved battle, exploration, and demon fusion system, new accessibility features, and all the previously available DLC from SMT V as standard content within the base game.

Journey past the break for links to the game’s official website.

Unicorn Overlord demo now available to download

If you’ve been waiting with baited breath to try the brand new strategy RPG from Vanillaware and Atlus, Unicorn Overlord, you now have your chance with an official demo being available on all consoles’ digital storefronts right now. News of this was revealed in Nintendo’s Partner Showcase Direct livestream from February 21st, 2024 via the above video clip, but the demo has also launched on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox at the same time. Give it a shot right away and see what you’re in for.

Take a look beyond the break for links to each demo.

Like a Dragon Gaiden’s opening movie and main theme “Katatoki” released featuring Yojiro Noda & Rapper JID

SEGA has released Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, this opening movie really shows a contrast to Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth, which is more upbeat story trailers featuring the main cast on an adventure; Like a Dragon Gaiden shows Kazuma Kiryu on the other hand living in the shadows.

What is Kazuma Kiryu doing? What he does best, hanging out at bars and smoking cigarettes.

Atlus & Vanillaware brings back old school SRPGs with the gorgeous Unicorn Overlord

The last time Atlus & Vinallaware teamed up, they brought us the amazing 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and now they have announced Unicorn Overlord coming to Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series world wide on March 8th, 2024.

The game in the West will have a standard edition and a Collector’s Edition pictured below:

Check out the press release after the break:

Sonic Superstars animated opening hits the internet

SEGA has released the animated opening for Sonic Superstars and its beautiful. The art style is very reminiscent of the old school Classic Sonic from the 90s, its nice to see a new take on the classic formula. Hopefully the rest of Sonic Superstars matches up with the quality of this opening animation.

Sonic Superstars is coming out this fall for Playstation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Atlus announces Soul Hackers 2 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series/One, and PC

Atlus has announced Soul Hackers 2 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Xbox One and PC (Steam). The first game, at the time titled Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is actually already the ‘second game’ in the ‘Devil Summoner‘ series which itself is a side-series of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise which originally came out on SEGA Saturn and PlayStation, then getting a 3DS remake in 2012. Does all this confuse you? Probably why they decided a more simple, Soul Hackers 2 title instead of “Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers 2” 

The game is set to launch pretty soon, on August 25th in Japan and the next day world wide with Japanese voice overs and English, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese subtitles. In Japan they already announced a special Soul Hackers 2 25th Anniversary Edition for PS5 & PS4 that includes a three disc soundtrack, 100 page anniversary book with artwork & interviews, and more to be announced soon.

As for what special versions, day one editions or even pre-order DLC for those outside of Japan; its unknown as of right now. But don’t worry, we will keep you guys posted. Siliconera has a good breakdown on the Japanese content though.

Watch Yakuza Creator sing the Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania theme song

(Starts at the 11:45 mark of the video above)

SEGA has revealed the official theme song for Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania with producer Masao Shirosaki along with ‘The Banana Fritters’ who are voice actors who also provide the voices for our Monkey heroes (and Baby) in the game.

The theme song for Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is being titled ‘Hello Banana!!” and debuted as a part of the Sega Atlus Tokyo Game Show 2021 live stream.

The Banana Fritters consist of:

  • Koichi Yamadera (voices Dr. Bad-Boon)
  • Noriko Hidaka (Voices AiAi, MeeMee and YanYan)
  • Toshihiko Seki (Voices Jet)

But during the video, if you look closely you will start seeing cameo appearances by big name SEGA creators singing along the chorus. Two of the big names are Toshihiro Nagoshi who is the creator of Daytona USA, Super Monkey Ball and Yakuza series. Masao Shirosaki who is the current series producer also makes a cameo appearance!

Lost Judgment Review – Our Favorite Detective is Back and Better Than Ever (PlayStation 4)

SEGA’s RGG Studio has really made a name for themselves as the premier triple A studio within SEGA. What’s more impressive than the quality of the games, which have all been pretty great, is how many games the studio seems to be able to release. This year the studio has brought us a sequel to Judgment, which is a spin-off to the Yakuza franchise, where instead of playing a Yakuza, you play as Takayuki Yagami, as you can tell from his cool wallet chain, tight jeans, shaggy hair, and leather jacket, this guy doesn’t play by the rules. He’s a Ex-Lawyer, Turned Detective for Hire that just happens to be well versed in Kung Fu. The first Judgment was a enjoyable experience, but it did come off as a bit janky towards the end. Did Lost Judgement fix these issues? Let’s find out!

Sonic & Friends Join Minecraft as DLC pack to celebrate 30th anniversary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE_zAoOHKHg

If you are a hybrid Sonic and Minecraft fan, SEGA and Microsoft have a big announcement for you! It looks like you’ll be able to get stage decorations for both Green Hill Zone and Chemical Plant Zone. It also seems like you’ll be joined by Sonic’s friends including Tails, Knuckles and Knuckles.

Check out the screenshots to see more. It also seems that Microsoft will have a special server event for Sonic’s birthday, which is set to last two weeks! With something special happening one of those weekends.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania officially announced, coming October 5, 2021

SEGA has officially revealed Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania! The game is releasing in time for the franchise’s 20th anniversary. The game promises 300 recreated stages from the original three Super Monkey Ball games, as well as fan favorite mini games. Expect the game to hit October 5, 2021 to PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania box art and screenshots leak online ahead of its E3 Nintendo Direct debut


SEGA’s Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania might be the worse kept game secret in a long time, having its platforms already leak and now box art and screenshots from TechnikNews writer Nils Ahrensmeier. I’ll be honest, that is probably some of the nicest box art I have seen from a Super Monkey Ball game and I really dig the logo.

Big spoilers, those mini-games you love from the original games? They back baby! Check out the screens shared by Nils below:

Unannounced Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania leaks platforms via Brazil’s classification board


We posted before how the Australian Classification Board rated Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania and now it looks like the beans (I mean, bananas) have been re-spilled by a Brazilian certification board. But this time we got more information, which platforms the unannounced game is heading for and basically every modern piece of hardware:

  • PC
  • PlayStation 4
  • Xbox One
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PlayStation 5
  • Xbox Series X/S

Crazy enough, SEGA just revealed quite a bit of games, but still no word on this Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania title…

Judgment sequel Lost Judgment releases worldwide on September 24

SEGA has officially announced that the legal action thriller Judgment from Yakuza series developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio will be receiving a sequel! Titled Lost Judgment, the game will see a simultaneous worldwide release on September 24 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. You can check out the trailer now! We will be sure to share more details as we hear them.

Japanese PSN leaks “Lost Judgment” early, sequel to Judgment

As you know, back in March SEGA filed a trademark for the name ‘Lost Judgment, which lead people to speculate that SEGA will be making a sequel to Judgment (or Judge Eyes in Japan). Since then SEGA has released the next generation ‘Remaster’ of Judgment and has been teasing a sequel on social media (which is set to be reveal tomorrow).

But Japanese PSN can’t wait, it has updated its store page to show off the sequel right now. The game in Japan will be called “Lost Judgment” according to the leak. The Japanese PSN has been on fire since they also leaked Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown early. We also know that the game will feature a season pass in Japan, according to the site page.
The game is set to launch in Japan on September 21st on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5! As far as the Western name for the game? I guess we shall see if we will get Judgment 2 or Lost Judgment; tomorrow at 7am PST!