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The God Eater series holds a special place in my gaming memories. As one of the more established competitors to Monster Hunter, Bandai Namco gave a more extensive focus on the characters. It also let players bring NPCs as party even in single-player sessions, which did not appear as a feature in Capcom's games prior to the 2022 release of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak. However, the God Eater games released on the PSP, PS Vita, and PS4 also had a trick that allowed players to characters from the same 's saved slots as avatar NPC companions.

To put the trick into perspective, we should first learn how the avatar NPC feature came to be in a genre that thrived with multiple competitor titles around the 2010s. The Monster Hunter games have a Guild Card that records each player's activities. Players can also customize the card before sharing it with others by writing their own messages while choosing a specific pose and title. However, the cards barely serve any gameplay purposes other than recording proof that you have encountered those players in a multiplayer session.

This was where Bandai Namco tried to amp up the competition by adding a meaningful gameplay feature to the cards. In the God Eater games, exchanging these cards would not only let players see each other's records; it also actually let them select the player's avatar as an NPC party member akin to the in-game story characters.

Some of the games' players have even discovered a trick where they can characters from other save slots in the same as avatar NPC companions, which also means they can technically add their own created characters as party . Such a trick has since been known in the community as the "Self Avatar Card."

The trick was made possible by utilizing loopholes in the wireless and online features of the now-legacy consoles, although one would be required to own two copies of the same game and/or console to pull it out. While methods to execute the trick had existed as early as the release of God Eater Burst—the enhanced edition of the first series entry released for PSP in 2010, I had the most profound experiences with God Eater Resurrection and God Eater 2: Rage Burst when Bandai Namco released them for the Vita and PS4.

There were two methods possible to execute the trick in both games. The first one utilized two Vita consoles—one of them could also be a PlayStation Vita TV. And if one had purchased the game digitally, they could and access the same game on both consoles and then connect with the local Ad-Hoc mode.

The second method—and the one I actually used—involved purchasing a copy of the game for each of the PS4 and Vita. I still how I could connect to a private online room with the same simultaneously on both platforms. After successfully performing the internal exchange, I could sync the saves with the updated Self Avatar Cards via the cross-save feature. In God Eater Resurrection, that also meant I could add the franchise's anime protagonist Lenka Utsugi besides my own characters to the list of callable allies.

God Eater was not the only series in the hunting action genre to feature the Self Avatar Card trick. When Koei Tecmo launched Toukiden Kiwami around 2014-2015 and Toukiden 2 in 2016, it released both games on the PS4 and Vita. I still fondly how I could pull out the same method and have my characters appear in each other's saves.

God Eater 3, unfortunately, does not the same trick due to the lack of cross-play and cross-save between its PS4, PC, and Switch releases. Technically speaking, players of the Switch and Steam versions could have a similar experience of exchanging avatars between two respective devices. However, both platforms have more stringent checks so it would necessitate a secondary . And while there is a way on the Switch to access a single digital copy on two consoles and s, both consoles can only connect via online multiplayer, which also requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for each of them.

The experience of having another self-made avatar as an NPC companion in these character-driven hunting games is different from the likes of Freedom Wars' Accessory androids or Dragon's Dogma's Pawns. In the latter games, you could create the secondary avatar right away, but they are more designed to be emotionless servants to your primary character.

The avatar NPCs can appear as callable characters with a more complete personality that can even become indistinguishable from the existing story characters if they are created elaborately enough. I actually felt more motivated to replay God Eater and Toukiden games with secondary and tertiary avatars when I had my previous character(s) appear to help me in the new playthrough.

However, looking at how stringent the check has become in more recent platforms, it becomes more crucial that generating self-made NPCs should not be the result of a cross-play trick, but rather should be implemented as an official gameplay feature. Having such a feature can help give more motivation to players who want to get immersed into the game's world but prefer playing in single-player modes, such as myself.

But I am personally hoping that the self-made avatar NPC feature can appear formally in not only a hypothetical God Eater 4 by Bandai Namco or Toukiden 3 by Koei Tecmo but also all other hunting action games, including Capcom's Monster Hunter Wilds which is starting to go all-in on NPC hunters. Imagine replaying the latter game with a newer character and you spot your first avatar coming to help after you launched the SOS Flare... How cool would that be?

Screenshots for this article were taken from the PlayStation 4 version of God Eater 2: Rage Burst. The game is also available on PlayStation Vita and PC.

The post God Eater Self Avatar NPC Trick Should Become a Feature appeared first on Siliconera.

The PlayStation Now March 2020 roundup has arrived, and it is a good month for subscribers that are Koei Tecmo fans. A number of entries in the companies’ established series have all ed the roster. This means all of both the Nights of Azure and Toukiden series are available as a result.

Nights of Azure, the action-RPG series from Gust that stars half-demon heroines who fight against demons and must face the prospect of the women they love possibly being sacrificed for the greater good. Both Nights of Azure and Nights of Azure 2: Bride of the New Moon are available to play.

Toukiden is a Monster Hunter-like action-RPG from Omega Force that places a strong emphasis on being able to fight alongside capable NPC allies and collect mitama souls to boost your avatars’ abilities as you fight oni. The enhanced version of the original game, Toukiden: Kiwami, and Toukiden 2 are both available.

The other Koei Tecmo PlayStation Now March 2020 additions come from established series. Dead or Alive 5: Last Round gives people access to the fighter. Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is there for strategic endeavors. People can also hop into the Warriors All-Stars Musou that brings in characters from installments in the company’s major (Dead or Alive and Dynasty Warriors) and minor (Samurai Cats and Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time) series.

The other PlayStation Now March 2020 games being added are:

• Control (available until Monday, August 31)
• Nascar Heat 3
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider
• Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

Control will only be available until August 31, 2020, while Shadow of the Tomb Raider will leave the library on September 7, 2020.

PlayStation Now is $9.99 for a month or $59.99 for one year. It lets people play games on their PlayStation 4s and PCs.

The post Dead or Alive 5, Nights of Azure, and Other Koei Tecmo Games Appear in PlayStation Now March 2020’s Lineup appeared first on Siliconera.

Koei Tecmo is welcoming new “Slayers” to in on the hunt against demons in Toukiden 2: Free Alliances Version, an free-to-play version that launches May 30 in North America and May 31 in Europe for PS4 and PS Vita.

In Toukiden 2: Free Alliances Version, those who are trying out the game for free can take on missions using Stamina Cost. As long as they have enough Stamina, they’ll be able to participate.

Stamina is a key part of Free Alliances Version, as it allows players to carry out missions in the surrounding areas of Mahoroba Village. All new players start out with Level 3 Stamina, and each unit of Stamina takes eight real-time hours to replenish. Alternately, players can also spend Gems that are purchasable from the PlayStation Store to recover Stamina.

These micro-transaction Gems not only restore Stamina to the maximum, but also increases the Stamina Level to a maximum of 8. You’ll also get to upgrade the Equipment and Material Chests used to store various items, as well as the ability to draw Mitama Tickets, used to obtain souls of fallen heroes for new combat possibilities when applied to weapons.

The free-to-play Toukiden 2 will allow players to try out the first chapter of the main campaign. Those who wish to purchase the full version of the game will get to import their save data from the Free Alliances Version and pick up where they left off.

Toukiden 2 is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC.

The post Toukiden 2’s Free-To-Play Version Launches In The West On May 30 For PS4 And PS Vita appeared first on Siliconera.

Toukiden 2, the latest entry in a Monster Hunter-style action-RPG series that requires players to team up and work either with virtual or actual people to defeat an array of massive enemies, is launching today. To celebrate and generate hype, Koei Tecmo has released a cinematic launch trailer that lets people see the opening movie in its entirety. It also allows a more stylish look at some of the new characters who will players’ Slayers on their journey.

The Toukiden 2 launch trailer begins with the Professor, the woman who finds and takes in your displaced Slayer, her assistant Tokitsugu, and Gwen looking out over a desert from the crow’s nest of a displaced boat. They eventually see the player character Slayer walking along, trailed by some sort of Oni. It’s then that an attack begins. In addition to Gwen hopping down to the fray, fellow Slayers Benizuki and Homura appear to aid in the fight. While it isn’t an accurate depicture of how a real in-game fight goes, it does convey the same sense of camaraderie and urgency. It also gives you a look at people who will almost all your party within about the first hour, as the Professor and Tokitsugu are the first characters you'll meet and Benizuki and Homura are almost immediately at your side for your first missions.

Toukiden 2 is now available for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC.

The post Toukiden 2’s Launch Trailer Shows Off Some Important NPCs appeared first on Siliconera.

Koei Tecmo released a “Carryover Demo” for Toukiden 2 and it is currently up to try out in North America on PS4 and PS Vita. As the name suggests, it’ll let you transfer save data to the main game.

The demo is available for PlayStation 4 (7.1GB) and PlayStation Vita (1.4GB). In this demo you’ll get to check out its open-world hunting action as well as the village that serves as your base of operations.

It’ll let you try out its opening story, then transfer your save data over to the main game when it releases. You may also receive special bonuses after transferring it.

Toukiden 2 releases in North America on March 21 and Europe on March 24, 2017 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC. The Carryover Demo will be available in Europe on March 17, 2017.

The post Toukiden 2’s “Carryover Demo” Now Available On PS4 And PS Vita In North America appeared first on Siliconera.

 Toukiden 2 offers multiple ways to interact with other players. People can take part in t Operations, in which they aid other Slayers, share items with Reliquaries, and use Portal Stones to take online missions at the Command Hub.

Let’s start with the Toukiden 2 campaign’s multiplayer interactions. When going through the open-world game, people may find other Slayers. In you’re offline, these will be Ghost Data Dopplegangers of their friends. You can cooperatively work together, forming a party or meeting requests, and then get equipment or Mitamas as rewards. It is also possible to find Reliquaries and donate an item to it. When you drop off an item at a Reliquary, you’ll receive something of equal value while also leaving something for another Slayer online to grab.

The online activities can be triggered when you come across a Portal Stone in Toukiden 2. Interacting with one will take you to the Command Hub in the online lobby. (PlayStation Vita owners can also enjoy ad-hoc multiplayer.) Up to four players will be able to work together to fight different sorts of Oni. They may even encounter some of the new Oni inspired by western mythology, such as the Bruteclaw, Canidaemon, Drakwing, and Wingspawn.

Toukiden 2 will come to the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC in North America on March 21, 2017. It will come to Europe on March 24, 2017. People who pre-order from select digital and physical stores will receive Tenko Costume armor and the Masayuki Sanada, Nobuyuki Sanada, Sasuke Sarutobi, and Rin Chika Mitamas.

The post Toukiden 2 Lets Four People Fight Oni Through The Ages appeared first on Siliconera.

Koei Tecmo has released new information on the sorts of weapons and Mitama people will be able to equip and use in Toukiden 2 as they attempt to save what remains of humanity from Oni. As you work to protect Mahoroba and Kagura, the shrine maiden living in the town, your actions could help encourage the Imperial Guard and samurai at odds to work together for the safety of everyone living in the city.

Many pieces of equipment will be returning in Toukiden 2. The swords, bows, clubs, gauntlets, knives, kusarigama chain-sickles, polearms, rifles, and spears will all be available to choose from for your Slayer. In addition, you can also equip chain whips and swords with shields for the first time. The chain whip is a fast-paced weapon, while the sword and shield combination is about offering both offense and defense. Two new trailers have been released showing off the new weapons in action.

Chain whip:

Sword and shield:

A new type of Mitama will be appearing in Toukiden 2 too. When you defeat Oni, you could collect Attack, Defense, Healing, Speed, or, for the first time, Control Mitamas. The Control type allows you to actually summon a friendly Oni to fight by your side. This AI-controlled character will be able to provide a distraction, so you can take fewer hits, while also providing additional firepower in a fight. Your character can have three Mitama equipped.

Toukiden 2 will come to the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC in North America on March 21, 2017. It will arrive in Europe on March 24, 2017.

The post Toukiden 2 Has New Weapons And Mitama appeared first on Siliconera.

The Toukiden 2 launch dates for North America and Europe have been confirmed. The PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC game will arrive in North America on March 21, 2017. A few days later, they’ll come to Europe on March 24, 2017.

Koei Tecmo announced Toukiden 2’s pre-order promotions as well. If people in North America place a pre-order at Amazon, Best Buy, EB Games, or GameStop, they’ll receive Tenko Costume armor and Chika Rin In, Sanada Masayuki, Sanada Noboyuki, and Sarutobi Sasuke Mitama.

Information on some of the characters and features appearing in this entry have been announced. Benizuki, the town’s strongest slayer, Gwen, a British slayer, Hakase, a professor, Homura, a former thief, and Tokitsugu, a Machina with a soul, will be aiding you in your fight to protect Mahoroba Village and defeat Oni. Tenko can you in the world, if you bond with them, and other Machina can be found, repaired, and used to get materials. People will also have access to a Demon Hand for the first time, which allows their avatar to reach new places and attack Oni.

Toukiden 2 debuted in Japan on July 28, 2016.

The post Toukiden 2 Coming To North America And Europe In March appeared first on Siliconera.

Back in September, Koei Tecmo confirmed Toukiden 2 would be released in North America and Europe in early 2017. Now, the release date has been narrowed even further. The action-RPG will appear outside of Japan in Spring 2017.

Taking place almost immediately after Toukiden: Kiwami, Toukiden 2 follows an entirely new Slayer, which players create and customize, as he or she s with a number of companions to defeat Oni. Players will explore an open world, fighting Oni in an Otherworld divided into the Ages of Yore, Grace, Honor, War, Peace, and Chaos. Each age is inspired by a different period of Japanese history, offering different environments and enemies.

Toukiden 2 originally debuted on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita in Japan on July 28, 2016. Koei Tecmo has yet to confirm which platforms Toukiden 2 will release on in North America and Europe next year.

The post Toukiden 2 Heading West In Spring 2017 appeared first on Siliconera.

Koei Tecmo has confirmed its game lineup for the 2016 Tokyo Game Show. In so doing, it’s also announced that the games it will have at the event will all eventually be released outside of Japan as well. In addition to Beserk and Nioh, two titles with localizations and releases already announced, Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey, Nights of Azure 2, Samurai Warriors: Sanada Maru, and Toukiden 2 will be released in other regions “within 2017.”

Here are Koei Tecmo’s official descriptions for its 2016 Tokyo Game Show lineup.

• Berserk (working title)
  Omega Forces interactive entertainment adaptation of one of the most brutal and unrelenting anime and manga titles will be available to visitors for a hands-on demo for the first time! Slated for release on the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, and digitally for the PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system and Windows PC via Steam, the game will closely follow the events of the most well-known story arcs from the iconic mangas narrative, focusing on the daring and heroic life of Guts as he cuts his way through a sinister realm of magical and demonic fiends.

  Berserk (working title) fuses the signature 'one versus thousands' style action of the long-running Warriors franchise with the grim and gruesome atmosphere of the world of Berserk. As players harness the power of Guts Great Sword and utilise the swift and agile swordplay of Griffith to slash and smash through hordes of enemies, players familiar with the Warriors series will be able to feel the difference in gameplay through the way each character handles combat. The game will also incorporate various battle mechanics to better bring the world of Berserk to life, such as Magic and Transformations.

 

• Nioh
  Coming strong from a successful second Beta demo, Team Ninja's dark fantasy, Action RPG title will be available for hands on at the Koei Tecmo booth, featuring new content, including a brand new stage, set to challenge even the most adept players!

  Blending a compelling narrative loosely based on the tale of the first western samurai, William Adams, with a myriad of strange supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore (Yokai), players of Nioh will discover a diverse and comprehensive world dripping with history and lore, and face off against other samurai in epic sword battles. Nioh is guaranteed to challenge players in a way that makes every mission feel earned and their accomplishments worthwhile.

  Nioh is in development exclusively for the PlayStation 4 system.

 

• Toukiden 2
  Koei Tecmo is pleased to announce the return of the popular demon hunting RPG title Toukiden, with the western release of its second installment in early 2017. Taking Oni-hunting to a brand new level, Toukiden 2 introduces an open-world environment filled with strange life forms, empty ruins, unexplored caves, and fearsome Oni.

  Players will be called to take the mantle of a Slayer, charged with the task of defending humanity’s last remaining villages from the supernatural threat of Oni. Taking all types of shapes and sizes, these demons creep out of dark rifts in space and time and prey on mankind. Warriors from the ancient secret cast of the Slayers are the only ones equipped to stop them! Platforms, release date and further information on the western release of this title will be available in the following weeks.

 

• Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey
  Gust continues its trademark 'Atelier' series with the follow-up to Atelier Sophie: the Alchemist and the Mysterious Book. The second part of the Mysterious trilogy, Atelier Firis, follows the journey of a young alchemist through an exciting and colourful world. While Firis travels, she learns more about synthesis and alchemy, meets interesting people, and amplifies the feeling of exploration with the immense expansion of the world map!

  Atelier Firis: the Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey will be playable during Tokyo Games Show on PlayStation 4.

 

• Nights of Azure 2 (working title)
  Following the success of the of Nights of Azure, which marked a darker direction for Gust, producer Keisuke Kikuchi returns to the demon-plagued world where players will follow the story of a young girl knight born from the blood of Arnice, the main character of Nights of Azure.

  Nights of Azure 2 (working title) maintains the same JRPG gameplay elements adored by dedicated fans of the studio and expands this new franchises horizons with a riveting new storyline! This title will be on display in the Koei Tecmo booth at TGS.

• Samurai Warriors: Sanada Maru (working title)
  Omega Force is proud to announce the western release of a one-versus-thousand tactical action title focused on one of Samurai Warriors' favourite characters: Yukimura Sanada. In this character driven epic, players will get a unique look into the Sanada clans inner workings before and during the 16th century conflict that drove two brothers to opposite sides of a grand scale civil war.

  This yet-to-be-named title will be released in the west in 2017 and is available for hands-on testing during Tokyo Games Show on PlayStation 4.

The 2016 Tokyo Game Show will run from September 15-18, 2016.

The post Koei Tecmo Releasing Atelier Firis And Other Games Outside Japan appeared first on Siliconera.

Period: The week of August 15th – August 21st (2016)

Top-seller: Tales of Berseria – 173,537 (PS4)

Nintendo 3DS sales: 835

Nintendo 3DS LL sales: 135

New Nintendo 3DS sales: 5,400

New Nintendo 3DS LL sales: 23,437

PlayStation Vita sales: 10,027

Wii U sales: 4,702

PlayStation 4 sales: 17,596

PlayStation 3 sales: 1,192

Xbox One sales: 52

<< Last week’s software sales chart

<< How to read and understand sales

Last week, Japan had a major release with Tales of Berseria on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. Check out how it performed in the latest of Media Create’s weekly sales data for software and hardware that sold in the week of August 15 through August 21, 2016.

It comes as no surprise to see Tales of Berseria take the #1 and #2 spots with 173,537 copies sold in its debut for PS4 and 76,186 for PS3 for a combined total of 249,723 units between the two versions.

Here’s a look at how it stacks against other Mothership Tales games:

• (2009) Tales of Vesperia – 216,593
• (2010) Tales of Graces f – 215,187
• (2011) Tales of Xillia – 525,605
• (2012) Tales of Xillia 2 – 364,439
• (2015) Tales of Zestiria – 340,891

It’s pretty apparent that Tales of Berseria’s 249,723 copies is a significant drop for first-week sales, the lowest we’ve seen it since 2010’s Tales of graces f (which isn’t technically a “Mothership” title, but it was major enough so we’ll let it slide.) However, let’s not forget that it’s not all about the big numbers, as there are several ways to look at it.

First-week sales numbers are always important, but when it comes to RPGs in Japan, the following weeks are just as important. Reason being is because when someone plays an RPG they enjoyed a lot, they’ll certainly share the positive word-of-mouth with others for the next few weeks. Think of it like a good movie, or even a good TV show. A TV show would probably be a better example, as a movie is done and over with in a couple hours, while a season of a TV show could take anyone a whole day or several weeks—like an RPG. The first example that comes to mind would be Stranger Things, the recent hit Netflix-original drama. Stranger Things wasn’t exactly the biggest topic the moment it was released, but we all saw how it blew up in popularity the following weeks. And that, my friend, is the power of word-of-mouth. Again, keep in mind that it doesn't mean Tales of Berseria could pull off a Stranger Things or a Yo-kai Watch-style boost in popularity and sales simply from word of mouth alone, as RPGs tend to not have a long tail in Japan. With that all that in consideration, you can see how the next few weeks will be crucial for Tales of Berseria in making the most out of what they have.

While the previous title, Tales of Zestiria sold almost 100k copies more than Berseria, you might also the drama that surrounded the game when it released in Japan. That definitely took a hit with some of the series’ core fans, so it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise to have some fans going with the “wait and see” approach. Again, another reason why the next few weeks will be extra important for Tales of Berseria. And perhaps the minority of fans that are “boycotting” the game may hear some good things about it and have a change of heart.

The game is currently sitting at 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon Japan, and as some of you may know, Amazon Japan’s reviews tend to be super picky and titles often get blasted with lower scores compared to how they do in the Western counterpart (see: Freedom Wars). So this can only be seen as a good thing for the time being, and it’ll be interesting to see how it performs in the coming weeks. ne more thing that I should mention about Tales of Berseria’s sales figures is that we can’t truly judge its performance until we get to see some sell-through numbers and some info on Bandai Namco’s sales forecast for comparison.

As far as other new titles go, we had Idea Factory’s latest Otomate title with Collar X Malice at #11 at 7,271 units sold in its first week, which is actually pretty good for any visual novel game on PS Vita that’s for a niche audience. Hardware sales were once again stagnant as they’ve been for the past few weeks, so nothing too new there.

The top-20 chart for the week is as follows:

Sales data acquired from 4Gamer and Media Create.

The post This Week In Sales: Tales of Berseria Sets Sail In Japan appeared first on Siliconera.

Period: The week of August 8th – August 14th (2016)

Top-seller: Yo-kai Watch 3 Sushi/Tempura - 92,833 (3DS)

Nintendo 3DS sales: 931

Nintendo 3DS LL sales: 225

New Nintendo 3DS sales: 5,354

New Nintendo 3DS LL sales: 24,382

PlayStation Vita sales: 11,240

Wii U sales: 5,593

PlayStation 4 sales: 17,433

PlayStation 3 sales: 1,064

Xbox One sales: 56

<< Last week’s software sales chart

<< How to read and understand sales

Last week, Japan saw a quiet week as there was only one new release, and it was Insomniac Games’ Ratchet & Clank for PlayStation 4. Here are the weekly video game sales data for software and hardware that sold in the week of August 8 through August 14, 2016.

At #1 we have Yo-kai Watch 3 back at the top spot with 92,833 copies sold, a big jump by almost 30,000 units more than last week, which is pretty impressive for a game that made its debut almost a month ago. The game also ed its 1 million sales milestone.

The Ganbarion-developed Dragon Ball Fusions remained in its #2 spot with 31,801 copies sold, suring the 100,000 mark in less than two weeks. At #3 we have the only newcomer title in Ratchet & Clank, which sold 27,534 copies. While Ratchet & Clank has been around in Japan since its first title back in 2002, it never picked up the same way it has in the West.

It’s also worth noting that Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire’s sales have continued doing well, showing that it wasn’t just a temporary hype train moment after recent announcements for Pokémon Sun & Moon. There’s also a campaign going on where fans can try out a special free demo for Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire until September 30, so that has likely been helping out as well. Both versions of Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on 3DS and Wii U also saw a noticeable jump. This is likely thanks to the actual Summer Olympics going on at the moment.

And finally, looking at the hardware sales, things have been pretty stagnant for the past few weeks, and this week is no different. We can probably mark that down as a good thing for this past week, considering that it was a slow one in software sales.

The top-20 chart for the week is as follows:

Sales data acquired from 4Gamer and Media Create.

The post This Week In Sales: Ratchet & Clank Makes Its PS4 Debut In Japan appeared first on Siliconera.

Period: The week of August 1 – August 7th (2016)

Top-seller: Etrian Odyssey V: End of the Long Myth – 92,518 (3DS)

Nintendo 3DS sales: 804

Nintendo 3DS LL sales: 219

New Nintendo 3DS sales: 6,403

New Nintendo 3DS LL sales: 24,123

PlayStation Vita sales: 10,005

Wii U sales: 4,435

PlayStation 4 sales: 16,469

PlayStation 3 sales: 1,120

Xbox One sales: 45

<< Last week’s software sales chart

<< How to read and understand sales

Last week, Japan saw the release of several titles with Etrian Odyssey V, Dragon Ball Fusions, Genkai Tokki: Seven Pirates, Dynasty Warriors: Eiketsuden, and more. Here are the weekly video game sales data for software and hardware that sold in the week of August 1 through August 7, 2016.

#1 was none other than Atlus’ latest installment of their dungeon crawler series in Etrian Odyssey V: End of the Long Myth, which debuted at 92,518 copies in its first week. Below is a look at the past main-numbered Etrian Odyssey games and how they performed in their first-week sales:

• (2007) Etrian Odyssey – 32,511
• (2008) Etrian Odyssey II – 68,913
• (2010) Etrian Odyssey III – 87,765
• (2012) Etrian Odyssey IV – 95,506

As you can see, the numbers show that Etrian Odyssey has continued increasing numbers over the course of the past few installments, but the fifth title fell short by a little bit from Etrian Odyssey IV. We can say that while it hasn’t exactly increased its fan-base with the new installment, it managed to keep them coming back for more. And let’s not forget that fans have been treated to a couple remakes between IV and V with Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl in 2013 which sold 88,278 copies in its first week, followed by Etrian Odyssey Untold II: The Fafnir Knight in 2014 which sold 59,531 copies.

Dragon Ball Fusions made an impressive debut with 77,509 copies sold in its first week. It narrowly beat out the previous DBZ game on 3DS, Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden, which sold 74,660 copies at launch.

At #5 Happinet Games’ 12-Sai. Koi Suru Diary, a 3DS visual novel title aimed towards younger girls also impressed with 14,803 copies sold in its debut. The #7 spot goes to Genkai Tokki: Seven Pirates, which sold 12,264 copies at launch. A little less than the previous title of Compile Heart’s brand with Genkai Tokki: Moero Crystal that sold 18,721 copies in its launch week last year.

Dynasty Warriors: Eiketsuden, the strategy RPG spinoff by Koei Tecmo landed on #15 for its debut with 6,084 units sold on PS4. A much lower number than what you’d expect from anything with the Dynasty Warriors logo attached to it, which tend to sell up to a couple hundred thousands, not to mention that its PS Vita and PS3 versions didn’t even chart. But let’s not forget that the game is of a completely different genre that we could consider the total opposite of the hack and slash genre, so we can say that its core audience wasn’t enticed by it much, even with some of their favorite historic heroes involved.

And finally, the inXile Entertainment-developed Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut made its debut for PS4 in Japan, published by Spike Chunsoft, and made its way into the top-20 at #18 with 5,471 units sold.

Hardware sales remained mostly the same, with a little less consoles sold compared to the previous week, except for the New 3DS (the non-LL) which actually went from 3,973 last week to 6,403 this week. Otherwise, even the New 3DS LL stayed at about the same with only five more units sold compared to last week. On a side note, I think it’s pretty impressive how Pokémon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire has continued selling well the past few weeks.

The top-20 chart for the week is as follows:

Sales data acquired from 4Gamer and Media Create.

The post This Week In Sales: Etrian Odyssey V, Dragon Ball Fusions, Genkai Tokki: Seven Pirates Debuts appeared first on Siliconera.

Period: The week of July 25th – July 31st (2016)

Top-seller: Yo-kai Watch 3: Sushi/Tempura – 100,105 (3DS)

Nintendo 3DS sales: 783

Nintendo 3DS LL sales: 169

New Nintendo 3DS sales: 3,973

New Nintendo 3DS LL sales: 24,118

PlayStation Vita sales: 11,016

Wii U sales: 5,228

PlayStation 4 sales: 20,567

PlayStation 3 sales: 1,049

Xbox One sales: 68

<< Last week’s software sales chart

<< How to read and understand sales

Last week, Japan saw three major releases with GungHo’s Puzzle & Dragons X, The Idolmaster: Platinum Stars, and Koei Tecmo’s sequel to their historic hunting action game in Toukiden 2. Here are the weekly weekly video game sales data for software and hardware that sold in the week of July 25 through July 31, 2016.

On top of the list at #1 is Yo-kai Watch 3: Sushi & Tempura for the third week straight with 100,105 copies sold in its debut. While it hasn’t been performing up to par with its predecessors, let’s not forget that it is in fact a Yo-kai Watch title, so it shouldn't come as a surprise

At #2 we have Puzzle & Dragons X with its God’s Chapter and Dragon’s Chapter versions, which sold 87,510 copies in its first week. With its sell-through rate at roughly 45 percent, the game sold significantly less than its previous title Puzzle & Dragons Z which had sold 543,630 copies at launch. During the time the first game released in Japan, Puzzle & Dragons was around the height of its prime, which eventually saw a drop after people moved onto the next big thing that was Monster Strike, so it's understandable that Puzzle & Dragons X isn't a half-million seller at launch.

Next up at #3 we have The Idolmaster: Platinum Stars at 76,165 copies sold on PS4. It’s a bit less than its previous major release in The Idolmaster: One for All that sold 83,395 copies on PS3, but keep in mind that One for All sold through 92.56% of its shipment with those numbers. While the new title didn't do anything to expand on the series, it's safe to say that it's doing a good job at retaining the core fans.

At #4, #5, and #11 we have Toukiden 2, which sold 59,032 copies for PS Vita, 46,334 on PS4, and 6,222 on PS3 for a total of 111,588 units across the three platforms. Looking back at the previous two titles, according to Media Create, the first Toukiden which released in June 2013 sold about 189,000 copies at launch (around 123k on PS Vitas and 66k on PSP) and the next release in Toukiden Kiwami sold about 96,000 copies in August 2014 (79k on PS Vita and 11k on PSP).

If we go by the PS Vita and PSP sales for Toukiden’s handheld numbers so far, we saw it go from 189k with the first game to 96k in the second game and 59k with Toukiden 2. That said, the home console version of Toukiden 2 sold close to 53k units (with 46,334 copies on PS4 and a little over 6,222 copies on PS3) it seems like there was a good appeal for playing an open world title on home console and larger screen.

As far as other new titles go, Nippon Ichi’s The Longest Five Minutes released for PS Vita with 2,767 units sold, a bit on the lower side for the RPG visual novel hybrid title, but it’ll probably see a little boost once it releases for PS Vita and PC in the West in 2017.

On the hardware front, we didn’t see any notable differences other than a slight increase in New Nintendo 3DS LL sales, but it makes sense since the games released this past week aren’t exactly considered “console sellers” and none of them, other than The Idolmaster: Platinum Stars, were making a jump to a new console for the first time.

The top-20 chart for the week is as follows:

Sales data acquired from 4Gamer and Media Create.

The post This Week In Sales: Puzzle & Dragons X, The Idolmaster: Platinum Stars, And Toukiden 2 Debuts appeared first on Siliconera.

Toukiden 2 is releasing in Japan next week for PS4, PS3, and PS Vita, and Koei Tecmo revealed the game’s opening movie featuring an intense fight against a giant Oni.

Additionally, Koei Tecmo also released the demo for Toukiden 2 in Japan which is currently available for all three platforms. As '>previously reported, the demo will let you carry over save data to the retail version of the game when it releases next week.

Toukiden 2 will release in Japan on July 28, 2016 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. You can also check out our earlier report for a look at the original anime short by Studio 4°C.

The post Toukiden 2’s Opening Video Shows An Intense Fight Against A Giant Oni appeared first on Siliconera.