Tag: Spike Chunsoft
Never 7 and Ever 17 finally launch outside of Japan
Japanese game director Kotaro Uchikoshi is perhaps best known for the Zero Escape series and AI: The Somnium Files, but prior to that he worked on the Infinity series, as a writer and designer. These games, spanning Never 7: The End of Infinity and Ever 17: The Out of Infinity, launched in the...
Mystery mayhem
Spike Chunshoft is known for its incredible work on the Danganronpa series, a collection of visual novels that saw critical acclaim for its interesting characters and dark yet comedic writing. Following on from such success is a difficult feat, yet in June last year, the release of Master Detective Archives: Rain Code on Nintendo...
News Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus Will Bundle a Free Novel with First-Run PS5 Copies
Included with physical and digital editions
Those of you planning to pick up Nintendo Switch port Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Plus on PS5 may be interested to know that first-run physical copies of the game will bundle in a free printed novel. This book serves as a prequel to the main game, and thus is free from spoilers and can be read...
News In Case You Missed It, There Are Two Quintessential Quintuplets Games on PS4 Now
They're exactly what you think they are
Successful manga series The Quintessential Quintuplets has spawned a couple of anime series and even a movie, so video game adaptations were never going to be too far behind. Mages made a couple of visual novels, The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer and The Quintessential...
News Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Gets an Updated 'Plus' Version on PS5 in October
Complete with DLC stories
And just like that, Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE has a PS5 release date. Originally a Nintendo Switch exclusive which launched last year, this re-release is actually called Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Plus, signifying improvements like 4K resolution, "significantly reduced" load times, and the inclusion of...
Elementary
Last year, publisher Spike Chunsoft made it clear that its new, Danganronpa-inspired title — Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE — would be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. However, something's changed over the last 12 months or so, because the game's now set to release for PS5 on the 18th July. It's possible that there was some...
Mini Review Anonymous;Code (PS4) - Exciting Visual Novel, But Lacks Character Depth
Hacker's paradise
Anonymous;Code is the latest visual novel in the Science Adventure series. It takes place in 2037 Tokyo and focuses on Pollon Takaoka, a young hacker who's part of a group called Nakano Symphonies. Pollon doesn’t particularly enjoy being a hacker and isn’t even that skilled at it, but he does it along with his friend Cross to...
News Baldur's Gate 3 PS5 Publishing Rights Snagged by Spike Chunsoft in Japan
And there'll be a physical release
The critically acclaimed Baldur’s Gate 3 – seriously, have you seen those reviews! – will release later this year in Japan, courtesy of publisher Spike Chunsoft. The firm has snagged the rights to the ridiculously popular PS5 version, and domestic retailers have already started making product pages for...
News ANONYMOUS;CODE Gets Incredibly Meta in 'System' Trailer, Hacks into Western PS4's in September
Close the loop. Hack into God
ANONYMOUS; CODE is the sixth and most recent entry in the excellent Science Adventure series of surreal (and often extremely bleak) Japanese visual novels. The most famous of the series is Steins;Gate, a tragic story of time travel and otaku living in Akihabara that reduced this normally-stolid reporter to tears...
News Artistic PS4 Visual Novel Anonymous;Code Gets an English Dub and Western Release Date
Semicolons in titles should be illegal
Anonymous;Code, the latest game from Steins;Gate creator Chiyomaru Shikura, is coming to North America and Europe on 8th September – and it’ll feature an English dub, as well as its original Japanese voices. The game – about a group of hackers who will “rewrite the future” – is set in future Tokyo,...
News Danganronpa Influenced Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE Could Skip PS5, PS4
Spike Chunsoft says it's for Nintendo Switch only
Spike Chunsoft’s anime-influenced detective series Danganronpa was a pretty big hit on PSP initially, before expanding to other platforms like PS Vita and PS4. But its spiritual successor, Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE, looks like it could skip PlayStation platforms – at least for now. The...
News Drill Down into Made in Abyss with This Game Overview Trailer
The Monster Hunter of mining
Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling Into Darkness' 2nd September release date is fast approaching, and today we got a new trailer detailing its various mechanics, which are the bedrock of the game. For the uninitiated, Made in Abyss is based on an anime of the same name, in which you play as a Cave Raider, adventurers...
News Dig Deeper in This New Systems Trailer for Made in Abyss
Things got really dark at the end there
Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling Into Darkness, despite having one of the more outlandish titles we've yet come across, looks like it could end up being quite interesting. It has a real Monster Hunter vibe to it, except with fewer monsters, more mining, with a smattering of PTSD and depression. Now we're...
News Anonymous;Code Officially Announced for Western Release, Launching on PS4 in 2023
Science Adventure is coming to the West
Anonymous;Code has been officially announced for a Western release, with the latest entry in the Science Adventure visual novel series coming to PS4 in 2023. A SteelBook launch edition of the game will be available to preorder on 5 July. Anonymous;Code is set in the year 2036, when an event called the "2036...
News Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp Out for PS4 in July
Expanded version of Killing Harmony board game
Spike Chunsoft has announced an "enhanced" version of the Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony board game Ultimate Talent Development Plan is in the works. Priced at $19.99, it'll release for PS4 on 21st July 2022. The game originally launched for Nintendo Switch and received lukewarm reviews. Danganronpa...
News Seek the Truth in This AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative Launch Trailer
Truth is only an illusion
AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative, which, aside from being one hell of a title, is actually a pretty good detective game (we gave the PS4 version a 7/10 in our review), and what's more, it's available now in North America. Sadly, the title has been delayed until 8 July in Europ
News Developer MAGES Teases English Release of Anonymous;Code In Cryptic and On-Brand Fashion
Hack into God
The latest instalment in the long-running Science Adventure series of visual novels, Anonymous;Code, is getting an English release, according to a cryptic tease from developer MAGES. Replying to a question asking for news of an English release for the game on Facebook, the MAGES account replied with a string of hexadecimal code:...
News AI: The Somnium Files Sequel Reveals Character Trailer Ahead of Release
Out for PS4 in just over a month
Murder mystery sequel AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative is now just over a month away from release — if you live in the USA at least — so now it's time for Spike Chunsoft to reveal more about the follow-up. Today brings a brand new trailer all about the characters featured in the game, including...
News Unexpected Shipping Issues Delay AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative in Europe
Nevermind
The egregiously named AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative (our spell checker did not like that one bit!) will launch later than expected on the PS4, and other platforms, in Europe. The sequel, which had been scheduled to launch on 24th June, will now deploy on 8th July. There’s no change to the planned North American release...
News Made in Abyss Uncovers an Action RPG Adaptation on PS4 This Autumn
Sinking feeling
Highly rated manga and anime property Made in Abyss is getting a video game adaptation later this year on PlayStation 4. Published by Spike Chunsoft and due to release at some point in the Autumn, Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness is described as an action RPG — although the above trailer doesn't give much away in...
News AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative Cracks a New Case on PS4 in 2022
Eye eye
As was widely predicted, visual novel puzzler AI: The Somnium Files is getting a sequel. The frustratingly titled AI: The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative will continue the property's blend of colourful characters and detective gameplay in Spring 2022 for PlayStation 4. This time around, you'll play as rookie Special Agent Mizuki, wh
News It Looks Like a Sequel to AI: The Somnium Files Is in the Works
Eye to eye
Well received visual novel puzzler AI: The Somnium Files appears to be getting a sequel. Overnight, developer Spike Chunsoft pushed a teaser website that features a lot of, er, eyes. It asks visitors to solve a number of obscure puzzles before inputting a password. Given that eyes — synthetic or otherwise — are a key part of AI: The...
News Danganronpa Series to Celebrate 10th Anniversary with Monthly News Updates
Games, merch, and collabs
Danganronpa is set to celebrate its 10th anniversary in Japan this November, and developer Spike Chunsoft appears to have a lot in store for fans to mark the occasion. Starting next month, the Japanese studio will host a monthly news broadcast which promises to unveil all sorts of surprises. Spike Chunsoft will reveal more...
News Suda51 Wrote a Story Campaign for Fire Pro Wrestling World
Lord of the ring
All the way back in 1994, famed game director Suda51 wrote a single player story for Super Fire Pro Wrestling which is infamous dark. Now he’s returned to the ring, penning an all-new add-on pack for the existing Fire Pro Wrestling World, which adds a campaign to its retro wrasslin’ action. Here’s a synopsis of the story:...
Your inventory is full
Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story is an isometric dungeon crawling action RPG that, as its title suggests, branches off from the janky but fun Way of the Samurai series. Playing as a wandering swordsman who helps a blacksmith settle his debt, you're tasked with exploring a ghostly realm that appears in the night, looting...
An action RPG spin-off
A spin-off based on the Way of the Samurai series, Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story is all about dungeon delving and hectic swordplay. Described as an action role-playing game, you play as a wandering samurai who helps settle a blacksmith's debt. In order to make some dosh, you explore a weird world full of monsters and...
News Spike Chunsoft Hiring for New Project, Applicants Must Like Danganronpa
Is that person you?
Spike Chunsoft is currently in the hiring process for its next project after putting out AI: The Somnium Files a few months back, and the publisher is seeking applicants who share a love for the visual-novel franchise Danganronpa. The job listing gives little else away, other than the fact that the game will be coming to...
News The Disaster That Is Mighty No. 9 Is Being Removed from the Japanese PlayStation Store
Feeling blue
Hey, remember Mighty No. 9? Following a farcical crowd funding campaign and an incredibly troubled development cycle, the Mega Man-style sidescroller finally released on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 back in 2016. Unfortunately, the wait was not worth it. Mighty No. 9 was panned by critics and consumers alike, and these days, it only...
Review AI: The Somnium Files - Top Notch Visual Novel Tainted By Flawed Puzzle Solving
Dream machine
What a weird and wild ride AI: The Somnium Files is. At its heart this is a detective thriller styled as a visual novel, but that basic description sells this consistently bonkers title very, very short. The characters, their interactions with one another, and the world around them are all over the top and comical to some degree, yet...
News Dive into the Dreams of AI: The Somnium Files in This Latest Trailer
Murder investigation
The latest game from Zero Escape series creator Kotaro Uchikoshi, AI: The Somnium Files, appears to be flying under a lot of people's radars. It's out on PlayStation 4 on 17th September in the US and three days later in the EU, and this latest trailer dives into the game's investigation mechanics. Check it out above. It's a...
Review Zanki Zero: Last Beginning - A Survival RPG from the Makers of Danganronpa
Eat, sleep, die, repeat
Zanki Zero: Last Beginning comes from the creators of the Danganronpa series, and if this game isn’t further proof that Spike Chunsoft loves to torture and torment its poor characters then we don’t know what is. While Zanki Zero doesn’t force a group of school students to kill each other, it still has an equally grim...
News AI: The Somnium Files Solves the Case on PS4 in July
A case of the merry-go-round
There has been a bit of an avalanche of release dates over the past couple of days, hasn't there? AI: The Somnium Files, the latest title from Zero Escape director Kotaro Uchikoshi, adds itself to the list with a worldwide launch date of 25th July. To celebrate the occasion, a new trailer has been released that includes...
Review Steins;Gate Elite - The Greatest Visual Novel Just Got Even Better
El Psy Kongroo
What would you do if you had the ability to send text messages back in time? Maybe you’d send yourself the answers to a test at school, or maybe even the winning lottery numbers. If you knew what the future held then there are loads of little things you could do to improve your life. It all seems fairly harmless as well, right? But...
Review 428: Shibuya Scramble (PS4)
Tokyo timehop
The visual novel genre is a strange beast, a niche corner of gaming that’s littered with some classic narrative experiences and bizarre oddities. Developer Spike Chunsoft is responsible for the lion’s share of popular visual novels on the market, with Steins;Gate and the fan favourite Dangonranpa series. Now it's re-releasing 428:...
News An Update for PixelJunk Monsters 2 on PS4 Promises Big Changes
Arrives tomorrow
PixelJunk Monsters 2 released to little fanfare earlier in the year, and although isn't without a few issues, still retains the satisfying, deceptively deep strategy that fans know and love. One of the major changes to the sequel is a much closer camera that follows your character across the map, which can make keeping an eye on all...
Review Fire Pro Wrestling World (PS4)
Fired up
From it’s name, you probably already know if you want to buy Fire Pro Wrestling World or not. The niche 2D wrestling series, which started way back in 1989, is back for another instalment, and for the most part it’s unchanged, as a game in touch with its roots should be. It probably won’t attract many new fans, but you get the feeling...
News 428: Shibuya Scramble and Fire Pro Wrestling World Heading to Europe Next Month
Koch Media partners with Spike Chunsoft
Well, here are two games we weren't expecting to be writing about today. Spike Chunsoft has teamed up with Koch Media to release a couple of its smaller titles in Europe, one of which was only released in Japan when it launched a decade ago. 428: Shibuya Scramble initially released on the Wii in 2008, and...
News Japanese Drama 428: Shibuya Scramble Solves a Kidnapping Case on PS4
A former Famitsu 40/40
Man, the PlayStation 4 really has become the home for virtually any kind of game, hasn’t it? 428: Shibuya Scramble is a great example: a Japanese drama fusing text, live action stills, and video to tell the tale of a kidnapping case across five different characters. The title’s been bubbling around for almost a decade in...
News Zero Escape Dev Announces AI: The Somnium Files for PS4
Murder mysteries, and eyeballs?
Kotaro Uchikoshi, best known for his work as director and writer of the Zero Escape series, has announced his next game, a new IP titled AI: The Somnium Files for the PlayStation 4. Revealed at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, you can check out the announcement trailer above. In true Uchikoshi fashion, a glitch appears...
Review PixelJunk Monsters 2 (PS4)
Man in the wooden mask
It's been a whole decade since the excellent PixelJunk Monsters paraded onto the PlayStation 3, and in that time, it's been ported to several different platforms. It's one of the best examples of the tower defence genre, with its addictive strategising, charming visuals, and fiendish level of challenge. Q-Games has finally...
News Mental 2D Grappler Fire Pro Wrestling World Pins PS4 This Summer in the West
Fan Fiction: The Game
Fire Pro Wrestling is making its glorious return this summer, as fresh title Fire Pro Wrestling World finally leaps into the ring on PlayStation 4. The game's been a big hit on PC where it's been available for quite a while now, as it allows players total freedom when it comes to customisation. You can customise the rules, edit...
News PixelJunk Monsters 2 Makes a Merry Jig to PS4 from 25th May
Tiki all the boxes
PixelJunk Monsters 2, the sequel to the legendary PlayStation 3 tower defence title, is dancing to the PlayStation 4 from 25th May. Q-Games announced the sequel – which will adopt a kind of claymation visual style – at the Game Developers Conference today, with more to be shown as part of a Spike Chunsoft stream this evening...
Review Zero Escape: The Nonary Games (PS4)
A wild twosome
In the past ten or so years, the visual novel genre has found success in the West thanks to attempts to localise games you'd usually only find in the Japanese market. But one series that has never really had its time to truly shine is the set of Zero Escape games, which have been spread across multiple consoles. Fortunately, efforts...
News Fire Pro Wrestling World Stone Cold Stunners PS4 This Year
King of the ring
Long-time readers will know that this particular author is not the biggest fan of sweaty beefcakes in Speedos, but the Fire Pro Wrestling series is a different proposition altogether. And the really good news is that it's making a comeback: Fire Pro Wrestling World will release on the PC in Early Access a little later this year,...
News Danganronpa V3 Disables PS4 Share Button To Avoid Spoilers
Goodbye despair
Spoilers are a terrible thing when it comes to plot-heavy games like Danganronpa, so it's perhaps no surprise to hear that developer Spike Chunsoft is doing away with the PlayStation 4's share button past chapter 2 in upcoming sequel Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. "In order to prevent spoilers for Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony,...
PSX 2016 Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Brings Despair to PS4, Vita in 2017
Teehee
You know that Sony's PlayStation Experience 2016 showcase was packed when you end up completely forgetting about games like Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. The third main instalment in Spike Chunsoft's deliciously dark visual novel detective series, we've got high hopes for a great cast of characters and a storyline stuffed with intrigue...
News Danganronpa V3 Won't Finish The Story of the First Two Games
But an anime will
In a somewhat weird turn of events, Danganronpa V3 - the next title in the series that's expected to launch in 2016 - won't continue the story of the first two games, which largely revolves around students from the prestigious Hope's Peak Academy. Instead, the overarching plot will be resolved in an anime known as Danganronpa 3:...
TGS 2015 New Danganronpa V3 Confirms Your Return Trip to Despair on PS4 and Vita
We can just hear the theme tune
Although there aren't many details to go by just yet, Spike Chunsoft has confirmed that it's working on a new instalment in the Danganronpa franchise. Dubbed New Danganronpa V3, the title marks the series' first foray onto the PlayStation 4. Unsurprisingly, the game's teaser trailer is covered in Monokumas, and comes...
News Danganronpa Was a Heck of a Lot Creepier Back in Its Beta State
Monokuma, what did they do to you?
The Danganronpa games are a bit weird. They're full of over-the-top characters, pop culture references, and ridiculous murders, but believe it or not, the first game, Trigger Happy Havoc, was even stranger before its content was finalised. Over on Unseen64.net, the details of the title's creation have been...
News Costumes Are King in Spike Chunsoft's Free PS Vita Card Battle Game
Dressed to impress
Japan loves to play dress up, but did you ever realise just how much? Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc developer Spike Chunsoft has teamed up with both Square Enix and Capcom to create a new free-to-play PlayStation Vita title which sees three different outfit factions battle for ultimate costume supremacy. You’ll be able to...
