GameGirl

Do you wish you were Japanese? Do you eat Ramen like it is the last food on this planet? Do you crave Japanese games?  Well as for the first two, I can’t help you, but for the last one: this is a weekly article featuring popular and quirky titles just released in Japan. Each article will feature brand-spanking-new games for each system, tell you what they are, what is new about them, and when (if) they are expected to make it over here. Grab your Pocky, Ramune, Pikachu slippers, and retsu go!

Highlights this week: BlazBlue, Mamonoro, Fushigi Yuugi DS

**WARNING: This weeks list contains some panties, view at your own discretion**

DS
Fushigi Yuugi DS
Unsurpisingly, Fushigi Yuugi is an anime/manga series which was written by Yuu Watase, with a large following in Japan. The story follows a young girl named Mika as she is transported through a book back to feudal Japan, where she has to save an entire nation. Along the way, of course, there are many cute boys and dramatic encounters with enemies. This new title from Idea Factory starts off at the very beginning of the story, and with the player as Mika. The difference this time is that you can have Mika fall for whoever you want, even if it is the enemy, ultimately changing the entire outcome of the story.
Will it make it to America? Nope, another anime game without the right amount of steam to be a match for Naruto or Inuyasha.

Earthquake DS 72 Hours
This took some digging, but I finally figured out what on Earth this game is. Basically it is an education game about… well, earthquakes. As most know, earthquakes are a major problem in Japan. The game is centered on how to recover from an earthquake disaster- what do to, who to contact and how to help. Most of the game is information on earthquakes, along with quizzes and information on what can be done. The title comes from the rule about trapped victim survival rate in Earthquakes, which is highest 72 hours after the disaster occurs. After 72 hours, it goes down significantly.
Will it make it to America? Well, earthquakes aren’t a huge problem in America. Maybe they will make us an equivalent called Underage Drinking Related Car Crashes DS 1 hour. We can only hope, yes?

Really? Really!
From erotic game maker comes the “soft” DS version of the PC original released in 2006. This “soft” version contains less explicit sexual content then Shuffle! and Really? Really! Regardless, it is still an adult only rated game with plenty of panties. The game has a parody of Ace Attorney in it, and the player must help Kiade recover her lost memories. The player must figure out key words from past memories in order fix others, and each time the player gets 5 chances per day to fix the memory or, you guessed it, game over.  Now where do the panties come in? Not sure, but I suspect the memories come from all aspects of her past, if you catch my drift.
Will it make it to America? Sorry to burst your bubble, but no.

PSP
Swords, Magic, and School Stuff 2
From what I gather about this game it follows a story like Harry Potter, where there are a bunch of young children attending school to learn magic and fighting, while getting themselves into trouble. The genre is a 3D Dungeon RGP, where the player can make up to 100 characters, six of whom can be in a party of adventurers. In this party the students must go through mazes using their skills to beat monsters and the like. This title is the a sequel to the original released for the PSP in 2007.
Will it make it to America? Another no, sorry.

PS3, Xbox 360
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger
Essentially the spiritual successor to Guilty Gear, BlazBlue is a 2D Fighting Arcade game by Arc System Works. The game was already released here about a year ago as an arcade game. The story follows the creation of “Armagus” which is the combination of magic and technology to help humanity defend itself from the “Black Beast” who was threatening to annihilate the human race. Eventually a civil war broke out between those who could and couldn’t use Armagus, resulting in very harsh rules by the Library, the current reigning establishment. A new rebel arises shortly thereafter who can use a unique kind of Armagus called BlazBlue, and creates a legion of fighters to help him in his cause to overthrow the Library. The console version of this game will include an online multiplayer, as well as new backgrounds, music, animations and story.
Will it make it to America? Yup, the date is set for June 30th 2009.

Xbox 360
Mamoru-kun wa Norowarete Shimatta (or Mamonoro)
Developed by G.rev and Gulti, this title is a new vertical scrolling shooter made available for both the Xbox360 and as an arcade game. The game boosts it’s “candy colored” graphics and cute heroines who battle mythical and mechanical creatures. When I first saw the screen shoots, the first I thought of was Ikaruga with its bright (red and blue) colors and fast-paced action. I really enjoy playing shoot ‘em up arcade games, so I would definitely like to get my hands on this one. Besides, look at the cute little bunny rabbits! Too much?
Will it make it to America? This one will be import only.

Ja, matta ne!