The Final Fantasy XIII Trilogy Is Making It's Way To Steam

From as early as this October, PC gamers will see Final Fantasy XIII make it's way to Steam, according to a blog post on Square Enix's official European blog. The original game in the series Final Fantasy XIII will hit Steam on October 9th, with the other titles appear on the platform by Spring 2015.

Anyone interested in pre-ordering Final Fantasy XIII will also be pleased to hear they will receive 10% off if they order through Steam.

Final Fantasy XIII introduces the trilogy's hero Lightning and the floating world of Cocoon in a quest to save her sister who has been branded with a mark from Pulse, Cocoon's enemy. The game also features an active battle system, differing from a majority of the Final Fantasy series turn-based games.

For more on Final Fantasy XIII, check out our other posts on the series.

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Will you be revisiting Lightning and friends?

We'd love to hear your thoughts, so comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle with your thoughts!

Tales of Zestiria's Japanese TV Spot Trailer

Complete with awesome music by Superfly, gameplay footage and anime cutscenes from the game, here is a 15-second Japanese TV commercial for the upcoming games from Bandai Namco's popular Tales series, Tales of Zestiria.

Tales of Zestiria is due for release on January 22^nd 2015 on Playstation 3 in Japan. While there is no official US or European release dates, pre-orders are available in both regions at this point.

Pre-order Tales of Zestiria (Japanese, US and Europe editions available): Play-Asia

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Are you keeping you PS3 for Tales of Zestiria or have you moved onto next-gen? We'd love to hear your thoughts, so comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle with your thoughts!

Persona 5's New Teaser Trailer Reveals That It Will Also Come To PS4

Persona fans can rejoice, as Atlus has revealed a new teaser trailer for Persona 5. The first teaser trailer for Persona 5 feels like it was forever ago and revealed the overall tone of the game but not much else. In this new teaser trailer, we are mainly shown the protagonist (pictured), plus the new big city setting for the game and I'm sure some subtle hints on what else will feature in the game. Probably the biggest reveal in the trailer was that Persona 5 will be coming to the PS4 as well as the PS3, since it was originally only announced for the latter console. The trailer can be watched below:

In a blog post about the trailer's reveal and the series' fans, Persona 5's director Katsura Hashino also had a few things to say about Persona 5:

"While it was sudden, during the conference that was held by SCE earlier today, they showed a trailer for the Persona series’ latest main numbered title, Persona 5. The setting is reversed from the previous title, as the title will depict the lives of youths living in a setting of a big city.

I apologize for only being able to show so little, but it would make me happy to know that you all have been able to get a glimpse of the game’s atmosphere.

Persona 5 was announced last year, and in addition to the release for PlayStation 3, we’re currently developing a PlayStation 4 version to release simultaneously in 2015. Furthermore, it’s very regretful that we’ll keep you guys waiting (I’m sorry ; ;), but I believe we’ll have a great game that will remain in your hearts."

(Translation and quote from Siliconera's original article)

Persona 5's release is currently set for 2015. The game is also available on Play-Asia for keen-bean fans to pre-order. The site features this product description:

"Set in a high school kind of setting, players will be entering a world where social problems and hardships of today are being discussed and features characters that are being held back by the rules set by society. Being a “slave” in sense, trials should be overcome by players that "are bored and discontent with their lives" and set out in a quest for freedom from the certain appalling state they are currently in. Though offering fresh kind of concept, Persona 5 has made sure to offer a familiar sense of atmosphere for long-time fans of the series and an interesting twist for new players that will altogether spell out one of a kind gaming experience."

Pre-Order Persona 5: Play-Asia 

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What will you be naming your P5 protagonist? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle to start a discussion!

This Month's PSN EU/AU PSN Releases, JRPG Style! (29/8/14)

Photo from Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment

Hello hello!

For a start, I'm sorry posts have been sparse! I've been working on two reviews with any blogging time I've had, so I haven't been able to keep up with JRPG news this week, which by the way, I hate! What if I missed a sweet game announcement? O.O

Anyway, since I didn't post the PSN update last week, I thought I'd show off what PSN's offerings for the entire months were instead. So if a few of these games look familiar, that's why. But there have been some awesome releases as of late, with games such as Tales of Xillia 2, Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment and Hyperdimension Neptunia ReBirth1 (in case you don't follow @JRPGJungle on Twitter, I'm on a Neptunia kick right now.) being released in these last few weeks. Looks like the game drought is starting to clear, thank goodness!

Enough talk. Here are this month's PSN EU and AU offerings:

New Releases

• End of Serenity (PSP)
• Hyperdimension Neptunia ReBirth1 (PS Vita)
• One Piece Pirate Warriors 2 (PS3)
• Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment (PS Vita)
• Tales of Xillia 2 (PS3)

Free Demo

• Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited (PS Vita)

DLC

• Dynasty Warriors Xtreme Legends Complete Edition (PS3 + PS4 + PS Vita) - Various Free and Paid DLC
• Everybody's Golf (PS3 + PS Vita) - Various DLC
• Hyperdimension Neptunia Rebirth1 (PS Vita) - Various DLC
• Mugen Souls Z (PS3) - Various Free and Paid DLC
• One Piece Unlimited World Red (PS3 + PS Vita) - Various Free and Paid DLC
• Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment (PS Vita) - Costume Pack
• Tales of Xillia 2 (PS3) - Various Free and Paid DLC

Deals

• Persona 4 Golden (PS Vita)
  (Side note: this is my favourite game, so naturally I highly recommend it!)
• Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle - Joestar Offer
• Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle - Prestige Edition - Add-On
• One Piece: Pirate Warriors - Grand Line Edition
• Mugen Souls Z
• Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention
• Blazblue: Continuum Shift Extend
• Toukiden: The Age of Demons
• Demon Gaze
• Atelier Rorona Plus + 3 DLCs
• Atelier Meruru Plus: The Apprentice of Arland
• Atelier Totori Plus: The Adventurer of Arland
• Hyperdimension Neptunia: Producing Perfection

Avatars

• Tales of Xillia 2

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My release of the week: Hyperdimension Neptunia ReBirth1
Comment or Tweet @JRPGJungle with yours!

Did I miss something important? Or maybe you found a game on PSN that you think fellow JRPG fans would enjoy? Comment below, send a tweet to @JRPGJungle or email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let me know!

A Week Worth Of Fantasy Life News: Two New Trailers Detailing Multiplayer and Classes Plus Release Dates

Last week, there were two new trailers released for Level-5's upcoming 3DS JRPG Fantasy Life. The first trailer details what the game is about and details the lives/classes featured in the game. It can be viewed below.

The second trailer touches on the original trailer's content while revealing the multiplayer functionality to the game. The trailer can be watched below.

Notably, the original Fantasy Life game in Japan didn't originally feature multiplayer functions, instead released a second version of the game with the multiplayer functionality called Fantasy Life Link!, which seems to be the version that is being localised for Western audiences.

For those interested in the game, release dates have also been announced. For Europe, fans can expect the game on September 26th. North American fans can look forward to Fantasy Life on October 24th. The game will be released for Nintendo 3DS consoles.

Pre-order Fantasy Life (Europe): Play-Asia

Pre-Order Fantasy Life (US): Amazon, Play-Asia

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What's your favourite thing about Fantasy Life so far? (So far, I can't get enough of the music score!)
Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle and let us know!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Guilty Gear X2 - Reload Coming To Steam

Last week, digital publishers Kiss Ltd. announced via Twitter that they are bringing Arc System Works' Guilty Gear X2 - Reload game to Steam. The game will be released September 5th. The original tweet can be viewed below:

KISS Ltd are proud to announce that in conjunction with Funbox, we will release Guilty Gear X2 - Reload on Steam on Friday September 5th.

— KISS Ltd. (@KISSLtd) August 18, 2014

Guilty Gear X2 - Reload was originally released in Japan 2003 and in Europe 2004. The game expanded on the original Guilty Gear XX game by adding balancing changes to all characters, two secret characters and a fully voiced story mode for console players. No other details have been released related to the Steam release, so keep an eye out for the game in September.

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Which Guilty Gear game would you bring to Steam? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle and let us know!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Chibi Blazblue Game "Clone Phantasma" Will Be Out August 21st In The US

With a different feel compared to the original Blazblue series, Arc System Works will be releasing the chibi brawler Blazblue: Clone Phantasma on August 21st (so in a few days) on the Nintendo eShop. Blazblue: Clone Phantasma will feature a Story Mode and a Challenge Mode that has you battling as many enemies as you can to unlock characters. Speaking of characters, Clone Phantasma will feature 10 characters from the original Blazblue series in chibi form.

Blazblue: Clone Phantasma will cost $5.99 for US Players. The official website can be viewed here.

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Which Blazblue character will look best in chibi form (I would vote Tager, but he doesn't seem to be in the game :( )? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle and let us know!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Be Afraid - Corpse Party: Book Of Shadows Released In English On iOS Worldwide

Ever wanted to play the high school horror game, Corpse Party? Now you can! Xseed Games has localised 5pb's Corpse Party and it is available now on iOS worldwide. The localised game has been previously available on PSN, but this is it's first appearance on iOS.

Corpse Party revolves around a group of Kisaragi Academy students who find themselves trapped in the Heavenly Host Elementary School, an alternative dimension that was sealed by a mystical charm. In order to escape, the students must unravel the the mystery of the Elementary School or be doomed to join the corpses trapped inside the dimension before them.

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Will you play Corpse Party? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle and let us know!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Two New Etrian Odyssey Untold II Music Tracks Revealed By Atlus

Originally revealed by Etrian Odyssey Untold II: The Knight of Fafnir's producer and director Shigeo Komori to Famitsu, Atlus Japan's official Youtube has revealed two new tracks for the upcoming game.

The first track is a quaint labyrinth track titled "The Sea Trees of the Ancient Remains".

And the second track is a more pumped-up battle track called "First Campaign Battlefield".

Soundtrack titles translated originally on Siliconera's original post.

Etrian Odssey Untold II: The Knight of Fafnir is due for release on Nintendo 3DS in Japan Winter this year.

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Which of these tracks was your favourite? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle and let us know!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Rated By The Australian Classification Board - Could This Mean It's Coming To PAL Regions?

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax has been rated by the Australian Classification Board, suggesting that the game could come to Australia and possibly other PAL regions, including Europe. While no confirmation has been made by Atlus or Arc System Works, it would be rather strange to have a game classified if there were no intentions to release it. The rating can be viewed at the Australian Classification website (or here).

This wouldn't be the first time the Australian Classification Board has revealed an unannounced game. Atelier Rorona Plus was rated by the Board around a week before it was officially announced.

Even if this game doesn't get announced for PAL regions, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax can still be imported and pre-ordered by fans from these regions as the game has been announced as region free.

Pre-order for PS3 or Xbox 360 (in English): Amazon, Play-Asia

Pre-order for PS3 (in Japanese): Play-Asia

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Are you also crossing your fingers for an European/Australian release? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle and let us know!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Margaret Has Been Confirmed As A Playable Character In Persona 4 Arena Ultimax + Official Release Date and New Japanese Trailers

After rumours surrounding a recent Persona 4 Arena Ultimax poster, Margaret has been confirmed as another playable character for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. Players of Persona 4 will remember Margret as the game's Velvet Room resident, who will join her sister, Persona 3's Velvet Room resident Elizabeth in the Persona 4 Arena Ultimax character line-up. Margaret will be available in the game via DLC, though it has not yet been revealed whether she will be free in the first week like the Adachi and Marie DLC.

In the game, Margaret will use the Personas Yoshitsune, Cu Chulainn and Ardha in regular combat and her burst arrack will feature the Persona Lucifer. Here are some photos of Margret in action (courtesy of Famitsu):

Also in recent Persona 4 Arena Ultimax news, the release date for North America has been announced as September 30th. No European date has been announced, meaning that European fans may have to import the game this time around.

(Side note: I will be importing the game from Amazon and trying to get the DLC to work on an Australian Playstation. According to Google, this is possible so if I'm successful, I'll post an article here on how you guys can do it too!)

Finally, here are the latest character trailers from Japan featuring Akihiko, Aegis and Mitsuru.

Pre-order it! (English version released 30th September for PS3 and Xbox 360): Play-Asia, Amazon

Pre-order it from Japan! (Japanese version released 28th August for PS3): Play-Asia

Check out JRPG Jungle's other Persona 4 Arena Ultimax coverage here!

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Will you be downloading all the DLC characters for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle and let us know!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com with details for consideration!

Omega Quintet Box Art Revealed

Amazon Japan has updated their listing for Compile Heart's upcoming Idol JRPG for PS4 Omega Quintet with previously unseen box art for the game. This box art includes both the standard and limited editions of the game, with each featuring different artwork.

Below is the Standard edition, which features Otaha and Kyouka from the Omega Quintet Idol group. The boy on the cover is the game's protaganist, Takuto:

And this is the limited edition cover, featuring a very sweet photo of all of the Idols:

For those wondering, the limited edition copy of Omega Quintet includes the PS4 game, a Special Booklet, Special DVD and a Drama CD, along with the limited edition packaging.

Pre-order (Import from Japan): Play-Asia

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Who is your favourite Omega Quintet idol? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle and let us know! (I like Nana and Kyouka best so far.)

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Looking Good! - Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth Trailer

In my other Digimon post, I asked if anyone had played Digimon Rumble Arena. Well, I now feel the need to mention the PSOne game Digimon World before talking about another new and exciting Digimon game. Digimon World was a pretty brilliant JRPG for it's time that allowed you to raise your own Digimon while rebuilding the Digimon community and really brought the Tamagochi experience to life. This is one of the many reasons I'm excited for Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth. You can check out the trailer for Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth below.

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth excites me most because it's being aimed at adult Digimon fans, making it perfect for those who are now adults that grew up with the series. It has been described as a Cyberpunk RPG, including training, adventure and battle with multiple Digimon. The game also includes the ability to travel between the Digital World and the Real World, which is another common theme taken from the anime.

The game is set for release in Japan next year on PS Vita. There is currently a petition to have the game localised for the West, so if you're keen for the game I highly recommend signing it (I did!).

Pre-order (Import from Japan): Play-Asia

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What were your favourite Digimon games? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle and let us know!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Trailer Time! Japanese Marie Trailer + The First English Trailers: Yukari, Junpei and Rise

This week in Atlus's Persona 4 Arena Ultimax trailers, Marie takes the stage in this week's Japanese trailer. We get a look at her attacks and her Persona Kaguya in action below.

(There may be some slight out-of-context spoilers for Marie for any Persona 4 Golden fans who haven't finished the game!)

You may have noticed I specified that this was the Japanese trailer. This is because AtlusUSA posted it's first round of English character trailers for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. Complete with English voice acting and translations, here are the trailers for Yukari, Junpei and Rise. Let us know what you think in the comments!

Pre-order Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (out Fall 2014): Amazon, Play-Asia

Pre-order the Japanese version of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (out August 28th 2014): Play-Asia

See the other trailers on our Persona 4 Arena Ultimax posts: Elizabeth and Teddie, Promo Video, Naoto Shirogane and Kanji Tatsumi, Chie Satonaka and Shadow Labrys, Game Trailer, Yu Narukami and Tohru Adachi, Sho Minazuki, Yukiko Amagi and Yosuke Hanamura, Ken Amada and Koromaru (at the bottom of the linked post), Labrys (at the bottom of the linked post), Junpei Iori and Rise Kujikawa. For some reason I didn't do a post on Yukari's Japanese trailer, so here's her trailer on Youtube.

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Have something to say about this news article? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Thanks To Fan Demand, Freedom Wars Will Receive A Physical Release In Europe

Freedom Wars was originally announced as a digital only release for European fans, which was better than nothing. But for a game release such as Freedom Wars, the decision to not release a physical copy of the highly anticipated game seemed a bit like an oversight. Fans seemed to agree with this and told the official Playstation Blog how they thought. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe listened to this feedback and has responded with this statement from their Blog Manager Fred Dutton announcing that thanks to fan feedback, European fans can expect a physical release for Freedom Wars too:

"As many of you are aware, earlier this month we announced that Japan Studio’s forthcoming action RPG Freedom Wars would be a digital-only release when it arrives here in the SCEE region later this year. Since then you’ve let us know here on PlayStation Blog, on forums and on social media that you really wanted to see a full title card release for the game. And we’ve been listening. Duly, today I’m happy to confirm that Freedom Wars will now be made available as a full physical edition as well as a digital release, from day one."

Freedom Wars was released in Japan earlier this year. The game's US and European release dates are yet to be announced.

Pre-Order Freedom Wars (Europe): Play-Asia

Pre-Order Freedom Wars (US): Amazon, Play-Asia

Buy the Japanese version of Freedom Wars: Play-Asia

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Have something to say about this news article? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth US Release Date Announced + Opening Movie

Atlus have released a video on their Youtube which is the Opening Movie of Persona Q. This is basically the same as the Japanese version we saw last month (after all, there's no voice acting in the opening or anything that would have needed translating), although it does reveal the release date for the western release!

The game will released in the US November 25th 2014. Persona Q is set to be a dungeon RPG game featuring a new story with the cast of Persona 3 and 4. You can watch the opening video for the game below.

Pre-Order Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (Special Edition): Amazon
Pre-Order Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (Regular Edition): Amazon, Play-Asia

You can also import the Japanese Region version of Persona Q at Play-Asia
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Have something to say about this news article? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Final Fantasy Type-0 HD Vs. The Fan Translation - Kotaku Reveals Some Details From Behind The Scenes

It was recently announced by Sky that the Final Fantasy Type-0 fan translation that him and his team had been working on had been removed due to legal threats. Game site Kotaku has published an article that delves much further into the drama behind Final Fantasy Type-0's fan translation and the HD remake.

The article mentions that Square did have an official translation in the works in 2012, however it was never announced and completed due to business decisions surrounding the end of the PSP console. Shortly after, SkyBladeCloud and his team began working on the translation. The translation was scheduled for an August 2014 release, but Sky pushed it forward without notifying his team as after legal conversations with Square Enix, he had a feeling that Square Enix was going to announce their own Final Fantasy Type-0 translation.

I'd really like to applaud Kotaku on this one and urge anyone interested to give it a read. Their article is full of much more detail than I can give and gives some much needed insight on what would usually be swept under the rug. You can read their article on the matter ("Final Fantasy Fan Translation Has Become A Fiasco") here.

Pre-order Final Fantasy Type-0 HD for PS4 and Xbox One: Amazon, Play-Asia

Read more about Final Fantasy Type-0 on JRPG Jungle

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Have something to say about this news article? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

This Week's Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Trailers: Elizabeth and Teddie

"The Most Lethal Elevator Girl of All Time" Elizabeth from Persona 3 and our resident Persona 4 mascot Teddie get their own trailers this week for Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. Watch them below!

Pre-order Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (out Fall 2014): Amazon, Play-Asia

Pre-order the Japanese version of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (out August 28th 2014): Play-Asia

See the other trailers on our Persona 4 Arena Ultimax posts: Promo Video, Naoto Shirogane and Kanji Tatsumi, Chie Satonaka and Shadow Labrys, Game Trailer, Yu Narukami and Tohru Adachi, Sho Minazuki, Yukiko Amagi and Yosuke Hanamura, Ken Amada and Koromaru (at the bottom of the linked post), Labrys (at the bottom of the linked post), Junpei Iori and Rise Kujikawa. For some reason I didn't do a post on Yukari's, so here's her trailer on Youtube.

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Have something to say about this news article? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax Poster Changed To Feature Marie...And Margaret?

Source: Gematsu

Lucky Persona 4 Arena Ultimax fans in Japan not only got to attend a demo event in Shinjuku, Tokyo for the game, but also received a poster of the awesome cover artwork for the game. Some fans noted online that the artwork had been altered to now include the new playable character Marie in the top right corner and also Margaret (Persona 4's Velvet Room Resident) on the left. With all other characters on the poster being playable, fans are speculating that Margaret may also become a playable character.

Do you agree or disagree with this speculation? Comment below!

Pre-order Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (out Fall 2014): Amazon, Play-Asia

Pre-order the Japanese version of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (out August 28th 2014): Play-Asia

Read more of our posts on Persona 4 Arena Ultimax here!

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Have something to say about this news article? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!

New Omega Quintet Promo Video

Compile Heart has released a longer video for their upcoming PS4 Idol-JRPG, Omega Quintet. The video (in Japanese) is basically an intro to all of the characters in the game. We also get to see the girls in more casual clothes for the first time, along with some battle footage and a cool motion capture clip at the end of the Omega Quintet dance moves.

Pre-order Omega Quintet in Japanese for PS4: Play-Asia

Read our other posts about Omega Quintet here

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Have something to say about this news article? Comment below or send a tweet to @JRPGJungle!

Have a story about a Japanese game or something else you think we should cover? Email jrpgjungle@gmail.com to let us know!