Yuzo Koshiro

Atlus to hold Etrian Odyssey V panel

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An Etrian Odyssey V discussion panel will be held in Japan on September 30th, 2016. It will be at the Shinjuku Loft Plus One venue in Tokyo, Japan at 8:30PM.

Panel hosts will include long-time Etrian Odyssey panel leaders Yoshihisa Kawahara and Ayumi Murase (both voice actors in EO V), as well as composer Yuzo Koshiro.

The announcement page for the event states that the show will discuss the Etrian Odyssey series and potentially include spoilers for the fifth entry, which released in Japan on August 4th.

Pre-sale tickets will be 2,000 yen, while tickets on the day of the panel will run 2,500 yen. Food and drink are included for free along with admission price. The show is restricted to persons 18 and older only, so expect a good drink selection.

You can buy tickets in advance over here starting on September 10th if you are interested in attending.

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SEGA Retrospective: Streets of Rage – 25 Years of Beat ‘Em Up Greatness

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Streets of Rage 25 yearsHow did SEGA’s Streets of Rage/Bare Knuckle become the big franchise that it came to be? Many people in the West know Streets of Rage as a defining video game franchise for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive – and they aren’t wrong – it was one of the greatest trilogies to grace the console. Today we will take a look at the early concepts, changes and history of the first title that came out 25 years ago. That is correct, the first Streets of Rage launched just months after Sonic the Hedgehog back in 1991, which was a huge year for SEGA’s 16-bit machine.

So let’s hit the streets and rage on.

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Etrian Odyssey V gets 15 minutes of gameplay released

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The Japanese site 4Gamer.Net has posted a 15-minute gameplay video of the upcoming Etrian Odyssey V ahead of its Japanese release, which is August 4th. The video shows off new characters, creation system and features each of the ten classes that will be selectable when the game hits shelves. If you have a Japanese 3DS you can now access the Etrian Odyssey V demo!

Sadly SEGA or Atlus haven’t told us when Etrian Odyssey V will be heading outside of Japan. I guess you have to stay tuned to our site and we’ll let you know as soon as its announced. For now enjoy the Etrian Odyssey V gameplay video and envy the people in Japan.

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Atlus announces Etrian Odyssey V DLC plans

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etrianodysseyvIn the latest issue of Famitsu, Atlus revealed its DLC plans for the upcoming Etrian Odyssey V: The End of the Long Myth, at least in Japan. While I hate the idea of pre-released DLC plans, ill just post the list of Etrian Odyssey V DLC instead of preaching why this is bad for the industry.

August 4

  • New Adventurer 1 (300 yen) – Choose a “School Uniformed Boy” during character creation.
  • New Adventurer 2 (300 yen) – Choose a “Sailor Uniformed Girl” during character creation.
  • New Adventurer 3 (300 yen) – Choose a “Sweater Wearing Girl” during character creation.
  • New Adventurer 4 (300 yen) – Choose an Etrian Odyssey 1 Paladin New Illustration” during character creation.
  • New Adventurer 5 (300 yen) – Choose an Etrian Odyssey 1 Medic New Illustration” during character creation.
  • Adventurer Training Plan (300 yen) – Take on the “Adventurer Training Plan” quest at the bar. (On top of the fact that you get a lot of experience points for clearing the quest, you can also obtain an accessory that multiplies your acquired experience by three.)
  • Adventurer Good Luck Plan (300 yen) – Take on the “Adventurer Good Luck Plan” quest at the bar. (On top of the fact that you’ll get a lot of en for clearing the quest, you can also obtain an accessory that makes the availability rate of materials without drop conditions of enemies 100 percent.)

Still to be Dated

  • FM Sound Source Addition (800 yen) – Adds a Frequency Modulation Sound Source version as a BGM option, which can be switched from in the options menu.
  • New Adventurer 6 – Contents, release date, and price to be announced.

What are your thoughts on Atlus and how they have been handling DLC in the past few years? Are you thinking of picking up Etrian Odyssey V?

[Via: Gemastu]

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Review: 7th Dragon III Code: VFD (3DS)

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7thdragonreviewI have been complaining that SEGA should bring over the 7th Dragon series since it debuted on the Nintendo DS way back in 2009 and now we finally got our first entry with 7th Dragon III Code: VFD (which has been confirmed to be the last entry as well). The7th Dragon series had SEGA veterans like Rieko Kodama (Phantasy Star, Skies of Arcadia fame) and composer Yuzo Koshiro (Streets of Rage series, Etrian Odyssey) involved to help craft the long running series. While we missed out on first couple games and a couple of spin-off titles; its nice to finally get to play a official localized version of the game.

But was the last game really worth the wait? Well, let’s find out.

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7th Dragon III Code: VFD DLC will be free for first week buyers

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Did you know that 7th Dragon III Code: VFD will have a array of DLC released? SEGA has confirmed that early buyers won’t have to pay a cent for the DLC, as long as you buy it during its first week of release. Mark your calendars because 7th Dragon Code: VFD hits store shelves on July 12th in North America.

Here are some of the DLC release dates:

July 12, 2016

  • Gold Rabi Outbreak! quest: Gold Rabi encounters. Free until July 18, 2016. $1.49 after.
  • Nagamimi Doll: free DLC that adds a talking Nagamimi to the player’s dorm.
  • Seed Outbreak! quest: Dragonsbane Seed encounters. Free until July 18, 2016. $1.49 after.

July 19, 2016

  • Code: Otaku!: recruit 7th Dragon 2020’s Hacker. Free until July 25, 2016. $1.99 after.
  • Code: Student!: recruit 7th Dragon 2020’s Samurai. Free until July 25, 2016. $1.99 after.

July 26, 2016

  • Allie’s Death March: boss rush of every encounter, with the bosses at their max level. Free until August 1, 2016, $1.49 after.
  • Code: Lucier!: recruit 7th Dragon 2020-II’s Lucier. Free until August 1, 2016. $1.99 after.
  • To My Beloved Unit 13: unlock classes’ ultimate weapons and the Blaster Raven character. Free until August 1, 2016. $1.49 after. (Note: only available in the quest list after beating 7th Dragon III Code: VFD.)

7th Dragon III Code: VFD is also coming to Europe, thanks to Deep Silver that has just announced a publishing deal with SEGA/Atlus.

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Yuzo Koshiro’s studio releasing ‘Gotta Protectors’ on 3DS e-shop

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If you didn’t know, Yuzo Koshiro is part owner of a development studio called Ancient Games. This studio is responsible for some big SEGA hits like Streets of Rage 2, Beyond Oasis/Story of Thor games and Vatlva (not so much a hit). While the studio has stayed mostly in Japan with new releases, that is about to change as they announced their new game ‘Gotta Protectors’ is coming to the Nintendo 3DS e-Shop on July 21st. Gotta Protectors or Protect Me Knight 2 (as its known in Japan) is a cooperative action tower defense game. This is how Ancient describes their game:

“Gotta Protector is a cooperative Action, Tower Defense game.
You become hero and battle against a bunch of monsters!
Train them, Get items and powers! Protect your princess!”

Gotta Protectors will retail digitally for $12.99 and have an additional FM sound pack as DLC for $7.99 bucks. Seeing that the composer for Gotta Protectors is Yuzo Koshiro himself, it might worth picking up the DLC even at that price. You can check out the game’s page for more information.

[Via: Tiny Cartridge]

 

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7th Dragon III Code: VFD Demo now on American eShop

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I have been playing 7th Dragon III Code: VFD recently, that we even did a first impressions video a week or so ago and now you can give the game a spin with a demo. The 7th Dragon III Code: VFD Demo was released on the American e-Shop on the Nintendo 3DS. I highly suggest you give the game a try, especially since 7th Dragon III Code: VFD demo saves transfer to the final game:

“Demo saves transfer over to the main game, and are not only encouraged, but rewarded! The demo provides players with a streamlined pre-made group with a character cap of level 10, and once you transfer the save data to the full game, you can refund all the skill points and customize the group any way you want.”

7th Dragon III Code: VFD demo is highly recommended for users that want a new SEGA JRPG. The game has a pretty nice soundtrack composed by SEGA veteran Yuzo Koshiro (Streets of Rage games) and co-produced by Rieko Kodama (Phantasy Star, Skies of Arcadia). Give the demo a go and tell us what you think of 7th Dragon III Code: VFD in the comments below

[Via: TinyCartridge]

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Etrian Odyssey V listed as a 3DS title in latest Atlus survey

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EOV-TREEEtrian Odyssey V was announced all the way back in November 2014, it seems like almost a lifetime ago! Lots of fans thought that maybe Etrian Odyssey V was getting canned, but it doesn’t seem that way if this Japanese Atlus survey is anything to go by. While they didn’t announce a platform for Etrian Odyssey V back in 2014, according to this survey it will be a Nintendo 3DS title, which isn’t surprising seeing as each Etrian Odyssey game has been available on Nintendo’s handheld systems.

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Atlus still has announced a release window for the game, but at this point it will be in development for longer than two years. Could this be a much bigger entry into the franchise? SEGA fans might want to know that the franchises’ soundtracks have been handled by Yuzo Koshiro (of Streets of Rage fame).

[Source: Gemastu]

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Streets of Rage 2 vinyl coming to a record player near you

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SOR2_Full_OfferWe have had four SEGA soundtracks published by Data Discs, a awesome independent vinyl publisher of video game soundtracks and their fifth release has been confirmed as Streets of Rage 2 vinyl. This double LP will include four bonus tracks of demos and alternative versions of unused compositions.

Like always the Streets of Rage 2 vinyl will come in three versions:

  • 2 x 180g transparent vinyl with black smoke effect and blood splatter (limited edition, available exclusively from the Data Discs website) – £24.99 (about $35 USD)
  • 2 x 180g transparent vinyl with black smoke effect – £24.99 (about $35 USD)
  • 2 x 180g classic black vinyl – £22.99 (about $35 USD)

Pre-orders for the Streets of Rage 2 vinyl go live on Saturday, February 27th at the Data-Disc website, vinyls will ship sometime in April.

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SEGA Games That Are Celebrating Big Anniversaries in 2016

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SEGA has created some highly popular and cult classic series of games that have stuck with people over the years. While most of you guys already know that Sonic the Hedgehog is celebrating his big 25th Anniversary this year, many other games get ignored because they aren’t as relevant as they used to be. Today we will list those mostly ignored video game franchises we all love. Did your favorite game make our list?

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Streets of Rage 4 cancelled Dreamcast concept art makes its way online

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SEGA is well aware of the cult following that their Streets of Rage series possesses, so they have tried to resurrect the franchise but it always ends up being canceled for one reason or another. It seems that SEGA had a plan to release Streets of Rage 4, we had the first prove of this by leaked footage that was released a few years ago (you can view it here). The game was to be on the Dreamcast and was being developed by Ancient & SEGA with Yuzo Koshiro returning to do the soundtrack. The game was sadly canceled.

We have finally gotten more information on the canceled project thanks to Yuzo Koshiro posting concept art on his twitter account. He posted two sketches one showing off the four lead characters, which have some resemblance to members of the original cast but are actually all new heroes. Another photo shows off ideas for combos, on this photo we actually get the names of the Axel looking guy, who is called Burn and is the son of Axel (aka Axel Jr.). We also see the female character who’s name is Erie and happens to be a ‘Shinobi’.

What do you guys think of the canceled concept art? Do you think SEGA made a mistake cancelling this project or is this something that was going to be met with backlash? Let us know in the comments!

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SEGA has released 7th Dragon III Code: VFD’s ‘World Introduction’ trailer

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RPGs are all about giving a character a living world that they explore, its part of the fun of playing these role playing games and SEGA has just released a trailer to show off their world of 7th Dragon III Code: VFD on the Nintendo 3DS.

7th Dragon III Code: VFD will take you on a trip to the past, present and future. In the trailer you get to see Nodens Enterprise and the Tokyo Subway (present day), Atlantis  and Berk Ocean Palace (past), and the Kazan Republic (future).

7th Dragon III Code: VFD hits Japanese store shelves on October 15th, no Western release date has been announced.

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7th Dragon III Code: VFD debut trailer hits the internet

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SEGA has released the debut trailer for their newly announced Nintendo 3DS RPG, 7th Dragon III Code: VFD. Seeing the title you might think this is the 3rd entry to SEGA’s 7th Dragon RPG series which debuted back in 2009 on the Nintendo DS. This is actually the 4th entry, since the game got two games on the PSP after the debut DS game. Sadly these games have stayed in Japan. There have been fan translations released online, if that’s your thing.

While the song on the trailer is by another group, the in-game music will be done by SEGA legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro (Streets of Rage fame). This is a weird entry in the series as imageepoch (developer of the first three games) will not be developing this title due to their bankruptcy issues. Also series producer and SEGA veteran Rieko Kodama (Phantasy Star series, Skies of Arcadia) is not returning as producer. You can read my other article on the people behind this game, here. The game releases in Japan on October 15th, 2015.

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SEGA announces 7th Dragon III Code: VFD for Nintendo 3DS

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SEGA has announced a new entry into its 7th Dragon RPG series with 7th Dragon III Code: VFD, the series is making its return to the Nintendo platform by coming out on the 3DS. While the official website doesn’t have information on the story, we do know the following people are working on the project:

The franchise has been jumping around with the first entry making its way to the Nintendo DS, while the second one came out on PSP and now its back on Nintendo’s handheld. Do you think it will effect sells when it comes out in Japan this upcoming October 15th, 2015? Since the first two never made it West, I wouldn’t hold my breath for a western announcement on this 3rd installment.

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[Source: Siliconera]

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