Issues of Import – TGS Recommendation Round Up (Part Two)

In case my last post on the gems from Tokyo Game Show that aren’t yet confirmed to be Westward-bound just wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, here are my final two (and a half) choices to get you up-to-date on what you should want that you aren’t meant to have!

Earth Defense Force 4 (Sandlot, PS3/360) 2013
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXhm8_jgllU&hd=1[/youtube]

The lowdown: The true sequel to Earth Defense Force 2017 is coming along nicely. While it’s still the janky game many of us know and love, just about everything has received an overhaul since the last version. Aside from controlling an EDF Ranger as per usual, you can also get to grips with a “Winged Diver,” a valkyrie-like upgrade of the PaleWing units from earlier in the series. For me, this game tied with Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance for the most fun game of the show. I’m not mental.

Importability: Good news: PS3 discs are generally region-free. Bad news: D3Publisher tend to region-lock their 360 games. Sorry if I got your hopes up there. Maybe time to invest in one of those spangly new PS3 slims?

Western release: D3Publisher said they’ve been receiving a lot of interest in a western release, and that they were taking it all on board. This year’s OneeChanbara Z ~ Kagura didn’t receive a western release, but that series has generally been panned in the West, while EDF has its own cult following and some opinionated reviews backing up previous entries in the series. Take that as you will.

Why can’t I play EDF on the go yet? Ah, but you can! EDF 2017 has just received an upgraded Vita port (as Earth Defense Force 3 Portable) featuring the return of the flying PaleWing units from Global Defence Force on the PS2. This Vita version looks like it’ll be heading over to the States, but no word on a European release as of yet. No matter though – you can import away as all Vita games are region-free!

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy (Silicon Studio/Square Enix, 3DS) 11/10/2012
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n15am-lzUE&hd=1[/youtube]

The lowdown: This is downright gorgeous. The most beautiful game I’ve seen on the 3DS to date. Characters and backgrounds really stand out in 3D thanks to the game’s pop-up book style. With the game being developed by the team behind 3D Dot Game Heroes and a script from the mind behind celebrated Japanese visual novel Steins;Gate it’s already building up a lot of clout. The Brave/Default (attack/skip) battle system, where you can spend turns in advance then owe them later or save instead, is a welcome escape from tried and tired formulas. Additionally, the job system and wireless features sound complex but engaging for the moment.

Importability: 3Ds – you should know the story by now. I wouldn’t recommend importing this unless you have some level of Japanese to work with.

Western release: Almost certainly, but be prepared to wait. After being one of eleven games at the show to win the Best Upcoming Games Division prize in the Japan Game Awards 2012, Producer Tomoya Asano said the game is going to be the “fourth pillar” of Square Enix – up there with Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts. If that doesn’t sound like a secure Western release I don’t know what does.

Keep on importing!


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