Japan Report #8

Japan Report #8 brings a combination of major returns, new releases, and content for already known games. Hatsune Miku returns an old mobile adventure through the project Re, while Langrisser: Sea of Sword attempts to significantly modernize the long-standing tactical RPG series.

Koei Tecmo celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series with a new complete edition, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO receives an extensive Super Limit-Breaking NEO DLC, and the rhythm game In Falsus will combine musical challenges with a story presented in the style of a visual novel.

Hatsune Miku Graphy Collection returns through Re

Crypton Future Media announced Hatsune Miku Graphy Collection Mystery Music Planet Re for iOS and Android devices. The game is expected to be released in Japan during the autumn as a free-to-play title with in-app purchases, while details about the genre, gameplay, and potential release in the West have not yet been revealed.

The game will feature familiar Piapro characters Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, MEIKO, and KAITO. The project represents a return of the mobile game Hatsune Miku Graphy Collection Mystery Music Planet, a card-based music RPG that launched in 2014 and was shut down in June 2020. The Western version of the original was once planned but never released, so it remains to be seen whether Re will leave the Japanese market this time.

Langrisser: Sea of Sword shows first gameplay

BlackJack Studio showcased the first gameplay trailer for Langrisser: Sea of Sword, a new tactical fantasy RPG described as the next evolution of the long-running series. Instead of completely linear progression through separate missions, the game will offer freer exploration of an interconnected world with cities, forests, caves, puzzles, NPC characters, and hidden events.

The main protagonist is known as Nameless, a person trying to regain lost memories while entering into conflict with various states and political factions alongside a mysterious ivory-skinned girl named Eta. The game will retain the familiar hero system leading soldiers, but each unit will now be able to include two heroes and two types of soldiers. The main and auxiliary hero can be swapped during battle, changing their skills and tactical roles. Certain pairs will also be able to activate special Hero Unity Skills abilities.

Changes will not stop at just the units. Players will develop their own territory from a humble camp to a large fortress, while terrain height, different paths to the goal, and destructible elements of the battlefield will play an important tactical role. Walls and fortifications can be destroyed to create new passages, while destroying bridges will allow for the interruption of enemy advancement or complete removal of units from the battlefield.

The visual style will rely on a hand-drawn fantasy aesthetic, and the original music is composed by Yasunori Nishiki. The return of familiar characters such as Leon, Elwin, and Sherry has also been confirmed, although their new roles have not yet been detailed. Langrisser: Sea of Sword is being developed for PC via Steam and iOS and Android devices, but the release date has not yet been announced.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV Complete Edition received an official trailer

Koei Tecmo and the development team Kou Shibusawa have released an official trailer for Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV Complete Edition. The new release is being prepared for the 40th anniversary of the series and will combine the base game, Diplomacy and Strategy Expansion Pack Bundle, two Season Passes, and additional elements created specifically for the Complete Edition.

The expanded version features over 100 notable locations across China, famous literary works, and a total of 190 historical events, the largest number in the series' history. Reconnaissance will provide additional information about military opportunities that can be used during diplomacy, scheming, and planning attacks, while the Merit and Policies systems will allow for the development of subordinate officers and the introduction of various rules within one's own faction.

Among the new options is Expertise Mode, where it will be possible to customize values such as the damage dealt by specific tactics in more detail. The command Employ Officer, new scenarios, and several other options aimed at more experienced players are also being added.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV Complete Edition will be released on September 10 in Japan and the rest of Asia for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The Western release date is currently unconfirmed.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO gets 33 new characters

Bandai Namco and Spike Chunsoft have confirmed that the Super Limit-Breaking NEO DLC for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO will be released on July 30. The expansion introduces a new solo gameplay mode, Limit Breaker Journey, where players choose their favorite fighter, go through a series of battles and events, and gradually develop their stats and abilities.

Players will navigate a special map, choose opponents based on their strength, and use Battle Arts bonuses to gain an advantage. Character development can be tailored to different play styles, and the acquired enhancements will also be used in other game modes. Along with Limit Breaker Journey, four new Episode Battle scenarios, four battle arenas, and even 33 new characters from the Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and Dragon Ball GT series will be introduced.

On the same day, a free update with new combat mechanics will also be released. Sparking! Boost will allow the expenditure of a larger amount of Skill Stock for an additional increase in attack power during Sparking! Mode, but the fighter will temporarily weaken after the effect ends. Chain Blast, on the other hand, will allow the continuation of a combo after knocking back an opponent by having a backup ally enter the fight and continue the attack with a powerful energy strike.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

In Falsus arrives on September 9

The studio lowiro has announced that In Falsus will be released on September 9 for PC via Steam. It is a rhythm game presented in the style of a visual novel, which connects musical challenges with a story about truth, lies, and an unusual government program. A demo version is already available, and the full game will support English, Japanese, simplified Chinese, and traditional Chinese languages.

The story follows five high school girls living in a near-future world where emotions are physically displayed on the neck, while lies are forbidden. Their lives change after being invited to a mysterious government program, and players will observe events from the interconnected perspectives of all five protagonists. The game will feature full Japanese voice acting, while the music, visual elements, and rhythmic segments will directly follow the events in the story.

Gameplay is tailored for mouse and keyboard and includes four difficulty levels. In Falsus will contain over 70 songs of various genres, with more than 40 composed specifically for the game. As players progress, they will collect materials for crafting cards that provide new bonuses during songs. Each card can be customized by placing materials in special Blueprint grids, and players will be able to equip up to five cards at the same time.