[360] Operation Darkness

[icycalm]

I've been aware of this game for months and months but I've only just now come across some more substantial info. There's a video on the official site and lots of screens in a recent Game Watch preview:

http://www.success-corp.co.jp/software/ ... -darkness/

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/doc ... 730/od.htm




Apparently, it will be a "Horror Simulation RPG" -- surely the most inane made-up videogame genre to come out of a Japanese PR department yet. Comes out October 11th.

[icycalm]

New Game Watch preview:

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/doc ... 927/od.htm

I really want this game. Vampiric Nazi turn-based strategy FTW.

[dementia]

I heard about this a while ago. I'm glad this didn't get canned.
Here's to hoping D3 or Atlus or Ubisoft ala Senko no Ronde pick this up for the west.

[icycalm]

Yeah, at this point no one really cares which publisher will pick this up, as long as someone does. It's only afterwards that the bitching begins.

There are so many SRPGs that never get localized, it's insane. Have you heard of Namco's Seven ~Molmorth no Kiheitai~ and Venus & Braves, for example? Really cool games, yet no one knows about them.

Let's hope this won't end up sharing the same fate.

[filterpunk]

Yeah, at this point no one really cares which publisher will pick this up, as long as someone does. It's only afterwards that the bitching begins.

There are so many SRPGs that never get localized, it's insane. Have you heard of Namco's Seven ~Molmorth no Kiheitai~ and Venus & Braves, for example? Really cool games, yet no one knows about them.

Sad too, because we often get SRPGs that leave me with a, "WTF?! This?!" reaction, like Stella Deus. I'm so starved for decent stuff that Ogre Battle and Front Mission 3 are still my benchmarks. Great series, but it'd be nice to play something more recent and not start gagging the minute the shitty voice acting and weak tactical elements kick in.

I'm crossing my fingers that the U.S. will get this one because it sounds really, really cool.

[dementia]

For what it's worth (not much) Famitsu scored it 6/6/6/5.

[icycalm]

Thanks for the update, but in this case I'd rather I didn't know. Sort of curbs my enthusiasm for the game even though I realize they could be well off the mark.

[Dale]

Yeah, at this point no one really cares which publisher will pick this up, as long as someone does. It's only afterwards that the bitching begins.
.

I don't understand the bitching that happens. So maybe Senko No Ronde doesn't have the best cover art. So what? The company Ubisoft sat down and made the original game work perfectly with their port, they put in all necessary online features and game modes, they put in all the options you'd find in Japanese version. Whats to complain about?

Hello this is my first post, I've been using this site and forum for news for quite awhile and now I've finally decided to join. Many of you may have seen me post at the Shmups forum or the Hardcore Gaming 101 forums. I also frequent the Killer7 SINdicate forums as well.

[filterpunk]

I don't understand the bitching that happens. So maybe Senko No Ronde doesn't have the best cover art. So what? The company Ubisoft sat down and made the original game work perfectly with their port, they put in all necessary online features and game modes, they put in all the options you'd find in Japanese version. Whats to complain about?

It just depends on your sensibilities. If you have somewhat of a collector mentality, the overall presentation is important. Take Gunbird or Shikigami no Shiro, for example, both of which were retitled in the U.S. as Mobile Light Force 1 and 2 and given nasty covers that have nothing to do with the games themselves. The title and cover art don't make the games any better or worse, but it's a little more difficult to be proud of owning something that looks like a reject from the bargain bin. Similarly, some people are OK with digital downloads, while others would prefer to own the game on a medium that isn't so tied to a single piece of hardware.

[Dale]

People who are that picky should have a way to play the original Japanese version. I mean if their that into collecting wouldn't they have that version anyway?

You make a good point though, I was very unhappy with the Gunbird1 port. Not so much about the cover but by the way they took out all the cutscenes. I kind of like the CS2 port of SNS2. The badly translated and acted cutscenes are classic, have you ever seen them?

"I am Kim De Jon of 2 homes and seven mom's"

[MAXCHAIN]

First beaten, and then get caught? Or caught, and then get beaten.

[dementia]

People who are that picky should have a way to play the original Japanese version. I mean if their that into collecting wouldn't they have that version anyway?

I wish Microsoft were as open-minded toward region locking ans SCE are, but that isn't the case.

Anyway, Themes and gamerpics of OD are now on the North American marketplace, and unlike the Idolm@ster content, all the text is translated. I hope I'm not reading too much into it, but i think this alludes to a North American release.

EDIT: I know it's just a forum post on the internet, but this bodes well
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.ph ... tcount=123

[Dale]

Yeah wasn't one of Microsoft's original marketing concepts for the original Xbox to bring gamers from all over the world together? I really don't understand the point of region locking.

[filterpunk]

People who are that picky should have a way to play the original Japanese version. I mean if their that into collecting wouldn't they have that version anyway?

You make a good point though, I was very unhappy with the Gunbird1 port. Not so much about the cover but by the way they took out all the cutscenes. I kind of like the CS2 port of SNS2. The badly translated and acted cutscenes are classic, have you ever seen them?

Well, I'm that picky, but I typically only seek out the Japanese version if it's something I can play without knowing a lot of Japanese. Most shmups and fighters are pretty lacking in story, so they fit the bill pretty well. They also happen to be frequently butchered from one port to the next, which makes grabbing things like a JPN copy of Vampire Savior for the Saturn a pretty attractive option.

Outside of those types of games, "should have a way to play the original Japanese version" means learning a foreign language, which takes time and money. Much as I'd like to play Front Mission 5, games like that have enough technical speak that I'd have to pass the 1-kyu test, which I'm told isn't exactly a walk in the park. Given that, I don't think expecting at least a modicum of attention to detail and presentation is really that much to ask when publishers are trying to get me to shell out $30-60 for a localized game that came out in Japan 1-3 years earlier, y'know?

I haven't seen the U.S. cutscenes from SNS, since I've only played the import DC version. I'm actually not much of a Gunbird or SNS fan :p

[Dale]

Alright i can understand that. One of my friend's wants to play this foreign turn based strategy game but he doesn't know Japanese. I told him about a free ware RPG that teaches American gamers the basics of playing a Japanese RPG(It essentially teaches you the basic terminology). But he pointed out that he wanted to enjoy the story too. So yeah I see your point.

Even if you didn't like SNS1 you might like SNS2. Most people agree that two was massive improvement over one. But you've probably already tried it. Different strokes I guess. :)

[filterpunk]

Definitely different strokes. Everyone seems to love the SNS series, but even though it's pretty accessible and everything, I found it kinda boring. Give me something nutty like Guwange or Batrider and I'm a happy man, though I play more fighters and JRPGs, so I may not be as discerning as the average shmupper.

[CosMind]

gameplay trailer up for your eyeballs:

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/26487.html

[icycalm]

Success has updated the official site with some neat downloads. Apart from the usual wallpapers, videos and BGM samples there are so-called "blog parts". You simply add the relevant code to your blog/site and you get an Operation Darkness-themed gizmo. The ones up right now are:

Promo movie gizmo:
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.success-corp.co.jp/software/xbox360/operation-darkness/blog_movie01.js"></script>

Character bio banner:
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.success-corp.co.jp/software/xbox360/operation-darkness/banner01.js"></script>

Clock:
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.success-corp.co.jp/software/xbox360/operation-darkness/clock01.js"></script>

(You can see this in action here: http://ameblo.jp/gg02/)

Calendar:
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.success-corp.co.jp/software/xbox360/operation-darkness/calender01.js"></script>

[icycalm]

Coming in the US on June 24 from Atlus. Demo available on Live from May 5.

http://www.atlus.com/operationdarkness/

It will also be region-free, for the benefit of the rest of the world:

http://www.atlus.com/new_forum/viewtopi ... 0772#10772