This Week in Famitsu

Weekly Famitsu #1182

Cover Story

The Shin Megami Tensei series by Atlus is a long-running, multi-platform, multiple spin-off (the most popular of which being Persona), RPG franchise of doom. Literally. Enjoying a cult-favorite status for its usually darker and more mature themes, incorporating demons and murders, the Shin Megami Tensei series isn't your typical Japanese RPG. As such, it doesn't have quite the mainstream appeal of Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, but its fans are incredibly loyal to the series, and have supported it since its original game on the NES here in Japan.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor was released last year for the DS, and it proved to be no exception to the SMT series' usual darkness and quality. However, instead of being a traditional RPG as far as the battle system goes, it was actually a tactical RPG like Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea. The sequel, just released here for the DS and coming to the States sometime next year, continues many of the innovative gameplay features found in the original, including the demon auction system; it's literally an auction where you bid on demons from hell which you can then use in battle. It also allows you to form bonds and socialize with the other characters in your party, a la Persona 3 and 4.

The story thrusts you into the middle of an invasion and attack being carried out on Japan by mysterious aliens...space demons...something. In order to defeat them and save Japan, your character and the other characters (up to twelve that you can recruit) sign a pact with the Devil in order to use demons to battle the invaders, becoming the Thirteen Devil Messengers. Unfortunately, you only have seven days in which to defeat the invaders, otherwise both you and Japan are doomed.

It's a shame this game is going to take so long to come out in the States, but there is one bright spot of hope for those of you who can't get enough of the Shin Megami Tensei series: a re-done version of the first Devil Survivor, 'Overclocked' is coming out for the 3DS on August 23rd, in case you missed it the first time around. Hopefully the sequel will come out sometime after that. In any case, if it's as good as the first one, it should be worth the wait.

Featured Games

Phantasy Star Online 2 (PC): The original Phantasy Star Online, released for the Dreamcast in early 2001, was a revolutionary and incredibly addicting game. An online action RPG that you could play with your friends on a home console was a unique concept at that time, and its fan-base could almost be described as rabid. Now, almost 10 years later, Phantasy Star Online 2 is coming out to appease the masses. The beautiful and unique fantasy/sci-fi world has returned, better than ever with the improved graphical technology of today (and it has weather!), along with the ability to customize your character in intricate detail. As mentioned before, the original PSO had an incredibly loyal fan-base, which is why it is with great sadness that I have to inform you that while PSO2 will be coming out sometime this year for Windows PCs in Japan, there are currently no plans to release it in the States, or even on any home-consoles, at this time. I wouldn't abandon all hope quite yet, as the original Phantasy Star Online ended up being released and re-released on the Dreamcast, Gamecube and even the Xbox, but I thought it best to warn you. With any luck, Sega will remember the American fans of this game, and take pity on them by releasing it at some point in the future.

Atsumete! Kirby (NDS): Releasing September 19^th in America as Kirby: Mass Attack, Atsumete! Kirby (Atsumete roughly meaning 'gather' or 'assemble') is coming out in Japan this August 4^th. The latest entry in the long-running Kirby franchise, Nintendo is taking a different tack this time; instead of controlling one Kirby, you control ten. The story revolves around an evil sorcerer who splits Kirby into 10 pieces, and Kirby's quest to get his original form back. Going with the 'ten' theme, this week's Famitsu has a write-up featuring 10 reasons why you should buy it. While they mention things like the abundance of mini-games, the beautiful level design, how fun it is to play using the touch screen, and the interesting dynamic caused from having multiple Kirbies (you are stronger the more you currently have, certain puzzles require a certain number, etc), none of these are the most important reason. The most important reason why people in Japan should buy this game, and why you should buy it once it's released next month, is that it's cute. We all know just one Kirby is cute, but as Famitsu strongly points out, imagine the cute level multiplied by TEN. I know I'm already giddy just imagining it.

Hardware Sales: Week of 7/11-7/17

• Nintendo 3DS – 45,949 units
• PSP – 25,013 units
• PlayStation 3 – 22,807 units
• Wii – 14,260 units
• Nintendo DS – 6,447 units
• Xbox 360 – 1,582 units
• PlayStation 2 – 1,048 units

Top 5 Selling Games: Week of 7/11-7/17

• Real Powerful Pro Baseball 2011 (PS3) – 111,727 units sold
• Taiko Drum Master Portable DX (PSP) – 110,242 units sold
• Izuma Eleven Strikers (Wii) – 73,323 units sold
• Real Powerful Pro Baseball 2011 (PSP) – 67,134 units sold
• Puyo puyo!! (NDS) – 37,590 units sold

Top 5 Most Anticipated Games: Based on survey results from 7/7-7/13

• Tales of Xillia (PS3)
• Final Fantasy: Type-O (PSP)
• Dragon Quest X (Wii)
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
• Photo Kano (PSP)

Well apparently, not only did the world NOT end after four out of the five top selling games last week were western games, this week there isn't even a single one. Looks like things have gone back to normal, and we hope you enjoyed this week's 'This Week In Famitsu'. We're planning a special surprise sometime soon that we hope you'll enjoy, so look forward to that! Also, a quick editor's note, this will be the last week we include the '5 Most Anticipated Games' in 'Weekly Famitsu' until they change, or are released. We're tired of seeing the same five games over and over again, so we imagine you are too. Until next time!

Submitted By: Sherrie Blackwell