Visual Novel News:
Shiravune has announced that they will be releasing the upcoming remake of the classic visual novel ONE (ONE ~Kagayaku Kisetsu e~) on Steam and Johren. This will be a simultaneous localization, with the Japanese, English, and Chinese versions all planned to release on the 22nd December, 2023. The remake is an ‘all-ages version’ and there is no adult content in any version of the upcoming 2023 release, unlike the original 1998 version. The 1998 version was released by developer Tactics (a former brand of Nexton), and is notable as the core staff from MOON and ONE eventually formed the developer Key, which went on to create well-regarded visual novels such as Kanon, AIR, and Clannad. The remake is being developed by novamicus, a subsidiary of Nexton.
What tied me to this world… 1998, winter. I was just a regular student until another world was born in me. Like softly falling snow, it blanketed and began to bury my everyday life. It was only then that I realized… That there were certain things in my life that never changed. The same familiar scenery. The warmth of the one I loved, who filled me with a joy I never noticed. Their existence tied me to this world. It was when I first started to want these bonds, to want that special someone, that time began to pass, and sunlight caused the season to really shine. When it did, which world was I standing in, and who was holding my hand?
Developer Success has released HD remasters of classic yuri titles Akai Ito and Aoi Shiro. These have launched on PC and Nintendo Switch, with Japanese, Chinese and English. Akai Ito is the first in the series, with Aoi Shiro following it. Early user reviews have noted considerable issues with the English translation of these visual novels. While we’re unsure if the same translator was used for the marketing, the descriptions on the store pages also have English problems.
Akai Ito: After the death of her only living relative – her mother, this past summer Kei was sorting through her inheritance and learned that her father, who had already passed away, owned an old Japanese mansion in a little-known place called “Hemizuka″.Kei decides to investigate in order to determine the prospects of this forgotten homestead. On the way there, Kei has a strange dream in which a huge tree pierces the sky and a girl named Yumei appears with a flock of butterflies. What is the legend of the mountain god and human sacrifice in Hemizumika? What is the truth of Kei‘s lost memory? Hemizuka is Kei’s birthplace. When the characters come across each other, the wheels of destiny quietly begin to turn…
Aoi Shiro: Syouko Osanai, head of the kendo club at Seijo Gakuin, came to Shosin Temple in Unasaka, far to the south for the kendo club’s training camp. That evening, Syouko and Yasumi Aizawa, the club manager were walking along the beach when they saw a girl lying in the sand. Syouko rescued the girl and found out her name was Nami. From then on, the girl became fond of Syouko and Yasumi. After that, Syouko’s fate was changed forever as her destiny unravelled moment, Shoko‘s life changed forever.
Find the Store Pages Here and Here
Ebi-hime has released a free visual novel on Steam and Itch. ‘It gets so lonely here’ is a yandere yuri story with a fairy tale theme with a branching story and advertises ‘Three(?) pretty girls who will love you to death‘. Notably, at the time of writing, all 40 reviews on Steam are positive. Ebi-hime is the developer behind Embraced by Autumn, which we previously recommended.
You are running through a forest. It is late at night and the sky is as black as pitch. The trees which surround you, jutting out of the earth like eerie monuments to a foreign god, are blotting out most of the moonlight. You do not know where you are going. You have no map; no route; no plan. You have no desire, as you run, save to escape. You cannot let yourself be caught. All you can do is run, on and on and on… But, despite all of your hard work, your best efforts will, invariably, be in vain. It’s already too late for you. After all… You’ll never be able to escape from me.
More Visual Novel News
- Grisaia Chronos Rebellion now has a live Steam Store page. No Release Date has been Announced
- Sugar Sweet Temptation (Shugaten) has been delayed by one week. The most recent release date was set as 26 May, 2023
- Yukar from the Abyss, an Otome Visual Novel Announces Full Release of 30th June, 2023
- Beyond R: Rule Ripper, a Danganropa-inspired Visual Novel, announced upcoming Kickstarter on 1st June, 2023
- CyberStep Inc have Announced おいでませ、こくりさん – Welcome Kokurisan – is Now Available on Steam, Nintendo Switch and other Platforms
- CyberStep, Inc have Announced the Upcoming Steam release of 肉食ギャルは清純派！？ ～ Innocent Stuck-up Girls! on 8th June, 2023
Gaming News:
The Summer Games Fest is only a few weeks away and we’re bound to get a ton of new game announcements! However, in a surprise twist, Sony decided to get the ball rolling early and premiered a PlayStation Showcase event to provide updates for anticipated games and new announcements. Here is the round-up for the most notable announcements:
Perhaps the biggest surprise to come from the event was the announcement of a remake of arguably the most beloved title in Konami’s Metal Gear series! Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a full remake of the PlayStation 2 classic, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, but outside of an elaborate teaser trailer, not much else is known about the remake. The announcement also revealed that the first three games will be available digitally this Fall.
Watch the announcement trailer for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
With only a few weeks away until the next entry in the legendary Final Fantasy releases, the showcase wisely revealed another trailer to remind fans that the game is less than a month away! Story details are still vague, but we got more gameplay footage, with a particular focus placed on the massive summon battles.
Final Fantasy XVI launches exclusively for PlayStation 5 on June 22nd.
Watch the PlayStation Showcase trailer for Final Fantasy XVI
After a long and troubled development, Cygames’ highly anticipated action RPG based on the hugely successful mobile game, Granblue Fantasy, is closer to release than ever. Granblue Fantasy: Relink received an English trailer and confirmed the release window for the game. Not only that, but it also confirmed the appearance of two fan-favorite characters that those who played Granblue Fantasy Versus are sure to recognize: Zeta and Vaseraga.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink releases for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC this Winter.
Watch the PlayStation Showcase trailer for Granblue Fantasy: Relink
Capcom made its presence known with updates to three of its biggest games! First up is the remake for Resident Evil 4; it will be receiving a VR mode that’s coming to PlayStation VR2 in the near future. Next up was a launch trailer for the next mainline entry in the iconic Street Fighter series that’s set to release later this week. Last, but not least was an update for Dragon’s Dogma 2. While it was announced last year, we now finally have a full trailer showcasing the game in motion. Fans of action RPGs will surely need to keep their eyes on this one!
To wrap up the PlayStation Showcase came with it the highlight of the whole event: a full gameplay showcase of Insomniac’s sequel to their interpretation of everyone’s favorite web-swinging superhero, Spider-Man 2! Announced back in 2021, we finally get our first look at gameplay, and there was quite a lot revealed. Regarding the villains we’ll be seeing, the showcase revealed Kraven the Hunter and The Lizard, with the two of them playing a part in a spectacle-filled setpiece that sees you controlling Peter Parker and Miles Morales. New mechanics like a web glider were also revealed, but the biggest was undoubtedly the inclusion of Spider-Man’s iconic black suit, hinting that Venom will be playing a big part in the game’s narrative.
Spider-Man 2 releases exclusively for PlayStation 5 this Fall.
Watch the gameplay showcase for Spider-Man 2
Outside of the PlayStation event, NIS America confirmed that Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless will be releasing later this year! The next entry in the long-running Disgaea franchise got a brand new story trailer, which sees our protagonists gathering powerful weapons in order to challenge the maniacal Demmodore Opener.
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless launches for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC on October 3rd.
Watch the story trailer for Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless
Anime News:
After a successful first part last year, Ichigo Kurosaki and company are returning to tell the next part of the final saga of the Shonen Jump classic: Bleach! Bleach: The Thousand Year Blood War‘s second part received its first full trailer, teasing many battles and plot points, along with a brand new key visual.
Bleach: The Thousand Year Blood War Part 2 will premiere on July 8th and will be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
Watch the trailer for Bleach: The Thousand Year Blood War Part 2
Speaking of Shonen Jump, those of you who miss Black Clover‘s anime adaptation won’t have to wait to see Asta’s exploits in animation again! Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King is a brand new movie that sees Asta and his allies going up against the four former Wizard Kings in what’s sure to be an epic confrontation. With the film just under a month away, we’ll be receiving short character trailers leading up to the release, with the first one focusing on the series protagonist, Asta.
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King premieres on June 16th and will be available to stream via Netflix worldwide on the same day.
Watch the Asta trailer for Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King
Upcoming Releases:
Get ready to hit the streets and tussle with fireball-chucking martial artists as Street Fighter is back and in a big way! Street Fighter 6 introduces the Drive Gauge mechanic to increase the speed of combat, but it will also include a beefy single-player campaign starring your own custom character.
Street Fighter 6 launches for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, and PC on June 2nd.
An anime/gaming aficionado, experienced content creator and lovable goofball. Name a game genre and Seamus has likely played it… yes, even that one. Follow him @TrueStorySeamus
