This week there’s some weird EDF commercials and delinquent boys. Also, I’m still ignorant of what Utawarerumono is.
I Still Don’t Know What Utawarerumono Is
I feel like every six months Utawarerumono shows up Siliconera. The series is a strategy RPG, but in this case it looks more like a musou-style game.
I think what’s surprising is that I literally don’t know anyone who consumes or talks about this thing. They keep getting localized, so I’m sure I’m just not in the right groups of people. But, man. I don’t think I’ve seen a single person actually talk about playing these.
Kenka Bancho – Tough Boy Love
I haven’t played many Otome games. I think this is mostly because, by the time I was actually open to playing them, I was kind of falling out of the visual novel scene in general. I bought Hauouki years ago, but have yet to go beyond the first chapter.
One game that may get an exception, if it is ever localized, is the Kenka Bancho series. As far as I understand, pretty much the entire game is full of the delinquent types. I have a really big soft spot for these type of characters.
I’m not sure if six short-tempered boys in one game would be overwhelming, but I’m still crossing my fingers someday it’s brought over. The anime was localized awhile ago, but I know if I watch the anime I’ll probably never play the games.
The second entry is coming out in Japan soon. But given that it’s on the Vita, I’m skeptical either game will come out here.
Work Out Your EDF
https://youtu.be/R5h_EJyHgXY
I love that D3 is just a strange publisher. Probably their series with the most global appeal is Earth Defense Force, which goes for that cheesy B-movies feel.
That being said, the commercial in Japan for Iron Rain is pretty silly. While visually it has the look of a workout video, it has a strange contrast with the constant drone of “EDF” and the militaristic music.
(Source: 4Gamer)
Houshin Engi – I Guess You Can Make a Game Out of This
If you don’t know what Hoshin Engi is, that’s OK. It was a 1988 novel that turned into a manga series in 1996. Then an anime launched in 1999, which was localized under the name Soul Hunter.
I really liked the anime as a kid, but I don’t know anyone else who watched it. Which is why I’m surprised it has a mobile game. Obviously the series’ western success doesn’t matter much given it’s a Japanese-only mobile game. But it’s still weird because there’s not that much content surrounding the series otherwise. There was a brief anime revival in early 2018, as well as a short re-launch of the manga series that same year. But at least according to Wikipedia, there’s no active content today.
The game’s got a cute and chibi-look though, but it also just looks like any other Japanese mobile game. I assume it features gacha mechanics, though I have to wonder just how many characters really exist to exploit. Maybe it’s a bunch of variations in different costumes.
I’m sure I’ll never play it.
