Tag: Nis America - Page 3
Review Monark (PS5) - Tedious JRPG Grinds to a Halt
Shin Megami Tensigh
On the surface, Monark looks like any number of other Japanese role-playing games that star high schoolers like Persona, Trails of Cold Steel, or some Shin Megami Tensei titles. But Monark differentiates itself from that crowd by leaning into horror, with a slick gothy vibe throughout — it's a bit like Persona 3 going through a...
News Disgaea 6 Complete Ditches Switch for PS5, PS4 This Summer
Includes all DLC
Disgaea 6 Complete is the, er, complete version of the crazy strategy RPG that released for Nintendo Switch last year. The latest entry in NIS' long running series, it's packed with all the comedic charm that you'd expect, and our pals over at Nintendo Life recommend it in their Disgaea 6 review. Thankfully, the performance issues...
Mini Review The Caligula Effect 2 (PS4) - Rough but Intriguing JRPG Has a Lot of Cool Ideas
No regrets
If you're on the market for a rather unique Japanese RPG stuffed with reasonably interesting ideas, then The Caligula Effect 2 is certainly worth a look. You play as a high school student who comes to the sudden realisation that the world around them isn't real. In a Matrix-esque twist, it turns out that you're part of a simulation of...
Interview Examining the Ego of Monark, the New JRPG from Ex-Shin Megami Tensei Devs
Pieces in place
Monark is an upcoming RPG from Japanese developer FuRyu. Boasting talented individuals who previously worked at Atlus on the Shin Megami Tensei games, there's plenty of reason to believe that this latest project is worth keeping an eye on. We were lucky enough to get an interview with Fuyuki Hayashi, who's behind the planning,...
News Shin Megami Tensei Offshoot Monark Dated for February 2022
Plus new trailer
Shin Megami Tensei V may only be releasing on Nintendo Switch, but at least the offshoot made by former Atlus staff will hit PlayStation 5 and PS4 just a few months afterwards. Monark from NIS America will launch on 25th February 2022, and the new trailer embedded above shares a slice of the action as well as introducing many of the...
News Monark, the New JRPG from Former SMT Devs, Gets New Trailer
Control the madness
Those who are fed up with waiting for Persona 6 should take note of Monark, a new JRPG from developer FuRyu, which is comprised of staff members who previously worked at Atlus. While it doesn't seem to have quite the same budget as a Shin Megami Tensei entry, the latest trailer introduces some of the game's characters. There's...
News JRPG Sequel The Caligula Effect 2 Gets Weird on PS4 This October
Redo
The Caligula Effect 2 will be heading West this October, publisher NIS America has confirmed. A sequel the somewhat divisive The Caligula Effect, which first released for PlayStation Vita back in 2016 (and got an enhanced PS4 port named The Caligula Effect: Overdose in 2018), it promises more psychological drama and turn based battles. Just to...
News Action RPG The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails Journeys West on PS4 in 2023
Trails with a twist
Trails spinoff title The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is being brought to Western shores by NIS America in 2023. This is a PlayStation 4 remaster of the PSP game that released all the way back in 2012, exclusively in Japan. Unlike other Trails titles that you may be familiar with, The Legend of Nayuta doesn't have turn...
News Trails of Cold Steel Sequel Trails into Reverie Comes West on PS4 in 2023
The whole gang's here
Massive Japanese RPG Trails into Reverie has been confirmed for a Western release on PlayStation 4. Those already familiar with the Trails of Cold Steel games may know that this is a sequel to that series. However, it doesn't just cover Rean Schwarzer and the gang — it also ties up stories years in the making from other...
News Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure Confirmed for Western PS4 Release in 2022, 2023
It's finally happening
It's official: the two Crossbell Trails titles are finally coming West on PlayStation 4. Both of these games started life on the PSP, before being remastered for Sony's home console in 2020. However, until now, they've remained exclusive to Japan. Officially titled Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure in English, the...
News Four Trails Games are Being Localised, But PS4 Hasn't Been Confirmed
Yep, the Crossbell remasters
Well well well, what do we have here? Ahead of Falcom's big 40th anniversary event tomorrow (or tonight, depending on your time zone), it looks like the Epic Games Store has leaked some major Western announcements. The PC storefront confirms that four Trails titles will be localised. This includes the two Crossbell...
News Turn Based JRPG Monark Announced for PS5, PS4, Developed by Ex-Shin Megami Tensei Staff
Again with the demons
First teased just a couple of weeks back, Monark is a turn based Japanese RPG that's coming to both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 in early 2022. Here in the West, it's being published by NIS America. One of the big talking points surrounding Monark is that developers who previously worked on the Shin Megami Tensei series are...
Mini Review R-Type Final 2 (PS4) - One of the Greatest Shmups Ever Gets a Timely Sequel
Blast the Bydo, again
When you’re taking time to consider the true greats of the shmup genre, a few names tend to crop up with alarming regularity. Darius. Gradius. Space Invaders, if you’re feeling particularly bookish. However, few shooters have had the same degree of impact that R-Type achieved when it hit arcades way back in 1987. The savvy...
News Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Launch Trailer Embraces a Dark Dream
Jail time
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is out today on PS4, and NIS America has released a launch trailer to help it pick up some hype. The action RPG sees recurring protagonist Adol Christin battle against a corruption that holds the foreboding city of Balduq hostage. We recently reviewed the game, giving it a solid 7/10 in our Ys IX: Monstrum Nox PS4...
Review Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (PS4) - Adol's Darkest Adventure Doesn't Quite Hit the Highs of Ys VIII
This cursed city
There's something dodgy going on in the foreboding stone city of Balduq, and seasoned adventurer Adol Christin finds that out the hard way when he's abruptly arrested upon arrival. Our red-haired hero escapes his captors with the help of a mysterious woman, but her assistance comes at a cost. Now saddled with a curse that prevents...
News Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Playable Demo Out Now on PS5, PS4
Monster mash
Upcoming action RPG Ys IX: Monstrum Nox just got a playable demo out of the blue on PS4 (and PS5 through backwards compatibility). It's available to download right now from the PlayStation Store, weighing in at 4.9GB. A bit of background: Ys IX is the latest instalment in Falcom's long running series. The previous title, Ys VIII:...
News Ys IX Gets a Rockin' Story Trailer
Lifting the curse
The next instalment in the long running Ys series continues to intrigue with a brand new story trailer. This one's fully dubbed, and it comes complete with a heavy rock backing track. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (to give the game its full title) is still set to release for PS4 on the 2nd February 2021. Are you looking forward to this...
News Trails of Cold Steel IV Digital Pre-Orders Are Finally Fixed
Buyers can finally download
Update 3: Cold Steel fans rejoice, for Trails of Cold Steel IV digital pre-orders are finally fixed. It's taken NISA and Sony several days to solve the issue, which was preventing people from actually downloading the game even though they had pre-ordered it from the PlayStation Store. If you were impacted by this issue,...
A Class VII act
Have you played through Trails of Cold Steel III? If not, take our advice and don't even think about trying Trails of Cold Steel IV. Apparently, the two games were originally meant to be just one big instalment in Falcom's long running The Legend of Heroes franchise — but the sheer scope of the saga forced them apart. Put simply,...
News Danganronpa Games Will Be Pulled From PlayStation Store in September
Vita is the worst hit
If you've been thinking of picking up digital versions of Danganronpa titles, particularly on PlayStation Vita, you'll want to act sooner rather than later. Publisher NIS America has announced that multiple entries in the visual novel franchise will be taken off the PlayStation Store in September without any obvious reason why...
News Trails of Cold Steel IV Secures an October 2020 Release Date
Plus a new trailer
Trails of Cold Steel IV now has a confirmed Western release date. The final chapter in the property's Erebonia arc comes to a close on the 27th October in North America and Europe. With the previous game ending on a massive cliffhanger, we can't wait to see where the story goes. If you've been with the series from the start, then...
News Ys IX: Monstrum Nox Dashes onto PS4 in 2021
Gets a new gameplay trailer
The next instalment in the long running Ys series will be coming West in 2021 on PlayStation 4. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox got a new gameplay trailer during the New Game+ Expo, and it looks as frantic as you'd expect. We've still got a while to wait for this one, then, but at least Adol and the gang have got a release window to...
News Little Town Hero Details Its Combat System Ahead of PS4 Release
Woah
Little Town Hero is coming to PlayStation 4 next month, which means it's time to learn more about the former Nintendo Switch exclusive. In a new trailer, developer Game Freak has detailed the game's combat system with a three-minute deep dive. You can check it out above. You'll be battling monsters in Little Town Hero through the use of Ideas...
News Trails of Cold Steel IV Stirs Some Emotion with New Story Trailer
Smile like you Rean it
Trails of Cold Steel IV has a new story trailer, and those already invested in the series will know the significance of this final chapter in the Erebonian arc. With the previous game ending on a total cliffhanger, the trailer sets the stage for what should be an engrossing Class VII adventure. We've said it once and we'll...
Review Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories - Incoherent Disaster Sim Fails on All Fronts
Disaster la vista, baby
Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories is an odd title, isn't it? Ostensibly, the game is about surviving a gargantuan earthquake, so that's the "Disaster Report" bit covered. But "Summer Memories"? It sounds more like the name of a sickly sweet K-Pop song than anything to do with cracked pavement or crumbling buildings. As it...
News Trails of Cold Steel IV Comes West This Fall on PS4
Finish the fight
Update: NIS America has confirmed that the game is also coming to Europe in the Autumn. Original story: The fourth and final chapter in the Trails of Cold Steel series is heading West later this year, publisher NIS America has confirmed. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV, to give the game its full title, launched in...
News Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories Puts the Big Decisions in Your Hands
And dress up as Santa
Huh, Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories is shaping up to be a far deeper PlayStation 4 game than we first thought. As its latest trailer demonstrates, you'll be able to control the protagonist's decisions by selecting choices from a drop-down menu when the opportunity presents itself. Whether this actually has an impact on the...
News NIS America Is Teasing Two Announcements for Next Week
Cold Steel IV incoming? Ys IX?
Publisher NIS America has revealed that it'll make two announcements next week, on the 3rd and 5th March. Given that NIS America deals primarily in localising Japanese games, it's safe to assume that it'll spill the beans on upcoming plans to bring new titles to the West. It's difficult to say which games could be...
News Little Town Hero Western PS4 Release Confirmed for June
Physical release incoming
After the announcement of a Japanese release for Little Town Hero on PlayStation 4, the PlayStation Blog has now confirmed that the RPG from Pokémon developer Game Freak will be released in the US and across Europe. It'll launch in the US on 2nd June 2020 and three days later across E
News File a Disaster Report 4 on PS4 from 7th April
Summer memories
Long-in-development natural disaster sim Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories will reminisce this spring when it launches on the PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe from 7th April. “A calm summer day turns into catastrophe when a massive earthquake strikes your city, throwing buildings and lives into chaos,” the synopsis...
Sharpened steel
The story of Rean Schwarzer continues in Trails of Cold Steel III as the often obnoxiously nice protagonist finds himself back at school, only this time, he isn't a student. After graduating from Thors Military Academy following the events of the second game, Rean now leads the all-new Class VII as an instructor at a freshly...
Trailblazer
We were recently given the opportunity to speak with Toshihiro Kondo, president of Nihon Falcom, ahead of the much-anticipated Western release of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III next month. Kondo-san gave us his opinions on why the series has resonated with audiences, insight into how the series has been developed, and his...
Review Utawarerumono: Zan - A Hack and Slash Retelling That Feels a Little Flat
Fan service
It's not often that we see games get remade in an entirely different genre, but that's essentially what Utawarerumono: Zan is. The Utawarerumono (you better believe we have that name copied and ready to paste) series typically focuses on strategic, turn based and grid based combat, but with Zan, Utawarerumono steps into unfamiliar action...
News Trails of Cold Steel 3 Demo Is Out Now on PS4, Progress Carries Over to Full Game
Steel yourself
NIS America has released a demo for The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III on PlayStation 4. The upcoming role-playing title is due to release next month, on the 22nd October, and the demo will take you through the game's prologue. It's a relatively big download at around 13GB, but progress made in the demo will carry over to...
News Mineral Water Comes at a Cost in Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories
Water palaver
The shopkeepers in Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories don’t appear to have a whole lot of compassion for their customers. With water a commodity in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake, they’re putting prices up and profiting from the disaster. Of course, how you respond will influence the outcome of your playthrough. It’s...
News New Trails of Cold Steel III Trailer Makes a Great Game Look Incredibly Janky
Class VII dismissed
Oh dear, not the greatest of trailers, this. If you're anything like us, you're eagerly awaiting The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III -- especially after playing through the first two games which released on PlayStation 4 earlier this year. The third game in the series is due out on the 22nd October, and it's just...
News Trails of Cold Steel III PS4 Release Delayed By a Month, Demo Coming Soon
Wake me up when September ends
It still feels like this is the year of Trails of Cold Steel, but unfortunately, we'll need to wait that little bit longer before we get our hands on the series' third entry. It's been delayed on PS4 from its original late September release to 22nd October. Announced via a tweet from NIS America's official Twitter...
News Old School Fire Emblem-Esque Strategy RPGs Langrisser I & II are Marching to PS4 in 2020
Remastered, of course
NIS America is bringing remastered versions of Langrisser and Langrisser II to PlayStation 4 in early 2020 in the form of a collection called Langrisser I & II. Langrisser is a series of strategy role-playing games that stretches back to the 1990s. It's been missing on home consoles for over a decade, however. It last...
News Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories Brings Localised Chaos to PS4 in Early 2020
PlayStation VR support included
After initially launching in Japan in October 2018, Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories will finally make its way west via a localised port on PS4, courtesy of NIS America. It's set to release in early 2020, so check out the announcement trailer above to build up some hype. The Disaster Report series is known for its...
E3 2019 Disgaea 4 Complete+ Brings the Full Package to PS4 Later This Year
Standard and limited editions detailed
Following in the footsteps of Disgaea 1 Complete, publisher NIS America is bringing back Disgaea 4 in the form of a complete package later this year. Titled Disgaea 4 Complete+, it'll be releasing on PS4. The title is expected to bring together the base game and all its DLC under one roof, which up until now...
E3 2019 Trails of Cold Steel III Arrives on PS4 This September in the West
A release date and trailer
The third chapter in the Trails of Cold Steel series, Trails of Cold Steel III is heading West later this year on PlayStation 4. The game's been available for quite some time in Japan -- two years this September, to be precise -- but thanks to NIS America, it's getting a fully localised release outside of its homeland. You...
News Trails of Cold Steel 3 Trailer Shows Main Characters and Their English Voices
The new Class VII
Hold on a second, we're getting another Trails of Cold Steel III trailer before the second game has even arrived on PlayStation 4? Madness. The timing may be a little weird (although we do need to remember that, unlike the previous games, III is being published by NIS America, rather than XSEED Games and Marvelous), but if you've...
News The Vita's Going to Get a New Game Next Year
It lives
It's time to wheel out all the awful "Vita means life" jokes that you've been saving, because NIS America just announced a new game is coming to the system next year. Vita games in 2020, what a world! The title in question is Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen, a name that we hope we never have to type again. It's a remake of the first...
News Turn Based 3DS JRPG The Alliance Alive Makes the Jump to PS4 Later This Year
Alive and well
The Alliance Alive, a 3DS Japanese role-playing game that launched back in 2018, is being ported to the PlayStation 4 later this year. The news comes via publisher NIS America, but there are no specific details to go on just yet. The title's got a cutesy art style, a twisting, dialogue-heavy story, and turn based combat. The 3DS...
Live Watch NIS America's 2019 Games Showcase
Updates and news incoming
Prolific publisher of Japanese titles here in the West, NIS America has quite a busy year ahead of it, and if you're interested in the company's catalogue, you may want to tune in for its live showcase. The stream is set to begin at 17:00 GMT/09:00 PDT/12:00 EDT, and it'll apparently feature announcements and updates on...
News Trails of Cold Steel III Is Coming West on PS4 Later This Year
The trio should be complete
Trails of Cold Steel fans rejoice, for NIS America has confirmed that The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III will be coming to Western PlayStation 4s in the latter half of 2019. You can catch the announcement trailer above. If all goes to plan, this means that the first three Trails of Cold Steel games will be...
News SNK 40th Anniversary Collection Heading to PS4 in March
Going retro
Retro fans rejoice: NIS America is bringing SNK 40th Anniversary Collection to PS4, and it's not too far away. The collection hits Sony's console on 19th March 2019, as announced via the above trailer. This retro package contains more than 20 early SNK titles, including classics such as Athena, Crystalis, and Ikari Warriors. You'll be...
News RPG Maker MV Goes Back into Development
Release date postponed
RPG Maker MV, the PlayStation 4-based game creation suite, will no longer launch on 26th February as originally planned. The title – which is already available in Japan – is experiencing “ongoing issues with development” according to publisher NIS America. The company wrote: “Until [the issues] are resolved, the...
News Lapis x Labyrinth Brings Cute, Colourful RPG Action to PS4
Danganronpa Trilogy also confirmed
Here’s a game that we’ll never write about again: Lapis x Labyrinth is coming to Western territories, courtesy of NIS America. The whimsical PlayStation 4 action RPG couldn’t look more Japanese if it put vending machine underwear on its head and started screaming kawaii, but we’re sure that it’ll be...
News NIS America Announces Its Last Ever Retail PS Vita Releases
Trio of titles due next year
Sony will cease manufacturing PlayStation Vita cartridges next year, spelling an end to physical releases on the handheld. The device will be supported right through to the end, though, as NIS America has announced a trio of titles that it will be bringing to retail from 19th March in North America. There’s no...
