Mourning Rachael Lillis – This Week in Video games

Welcome again, of us! It has been a heck of every week for me, being a humble VTuber fan; earlier this week was my favourite VTuber Silvervale’s birthday (a enjoyable time was had by all), after which the very subsequent day my interview with Mori Calliope went dwell! I by no means thought I might get an opportunity to interview one among Hololive’s abilities; I hope to interview extra VTubers sooner or later.

By now, you have possible heard the information that voice actress Rachael Lillis died this previous Saturday following an extended bout with breast most cancers. Whereas beloved for her roles as Utena Tenjou and Lt. Commander Yuriko Star within the Revolutionary Lady Utena and The Irresponsible Captain Tylor dubs, Lillis’ true declare to fame was her work on the Pokémon anime. Her voice launched older Pokémon followers to the tomboyish mermaid Misty in addition to the lady boss Jessie of Staff Rocket (in addition to a number of incidental Pokémon like Vulpix, Goldeen, and the ever-beloved Jigglypuff).

When her sister shared the information that Lillis was battling most cancers, the Pokémon group united as one in help of Lillis’s care. So, too, is it united in mourning of a expertise who outlined a lot of Pokémon for such a very long time. Presently, the GoFundMe web page operated by her sister remains to be up, with any donations going in the direction of Lillis’ posthumous medical payments and memorial providers. On the time of writing, a replica of the Time journal problem that includes Pokémon, autographed by 24 of the unique 4Kids solid members from the Pokémon anime, remains to be being auctioned on eBay. Whereas the unique intent was to make use of the proceeds for Lillis’ medical care, the earnings might be donated to a most cancers charity as an alternative.

The Pokémon fanbase is sharing loads of candy reminiscences related to Lillis. Seeing extra individuals share blissful reminiscences of her in her absence can be good. The world of Pokémon has gotten somewhat smaller now with out her.

Tango Gameworks Will get A Second Likelihood At Life

Typically, a tiny miracle is not an outdated obscure recreation getting a second shot. Typically, it may be a complete studio getting a brand new lease on life. Man, is that this some welcome information.

Tango Gameworks’ shutdown this previous Might was a punch to the intestine for followers in all places. Not solely was Hello-Fi Rush a rousing success for the corporate, however even Microsoft was singing its praises. Higher but, Hello-Fi Rush was slated for launch on Sony‘s and Nintendo‘s consoles. The sport was emblematic of the sort of smaller-budget success that Microsoft desperately wanted within the wake of their vanishing goodwill and floundering {hardware} gross sales, however even an award-winning recreation like Hello-Fi Rush was sufficient of successful within the eyes of Microsoft, with the corporate shutting the studio down with no second phrase. This occasion left the upcoming Nintendo Swap port for Hello-Fi Rush (which we all know was in manufacturing courtesy of some datamined shirts that includes Swap branding) misplaced to the aether. Whereas founder Shinji Mikami had lengthy since left Tango Gameworks by that time, individuals nonetheless mourned the studio and its potential; a licensed hit like Hello-Fi Rush would not come round on daily basis—and neither does a studio like Tango.

That is the place Krafton is available in! Finest often known as the studio behind PUBG, Krafton has labored with Microsoft to revive Tango Gameworks, particularly opening the door to increasing Hello-Fi Rush as a franchise. This doesn’t embody The Evil Inside or Ghostwire: Tokyo (the article linked above underlines that these belong to Microsoft), however Microsoft‘s loss is our achieve at giant. Higher but, there’s motive to imagine that Krafton is placing within the legwork to actually get the band again collectively; John Johanas, the director of Hello-Fi Rush, was introduced again to renew his work on the collection. I’ve seen of us hope that this implies extra of the ex-Tango Gameworks crew is being supplied a chance to return to the fold, however I have not seen as a lot in black-and-white, solely that Krafton and Xbox are “working collectively to make sure a clean transition.” It could be phenomenal if the parents laid off by Microsoft had first dibs on returning to work. It is a dream supply, a chance totally too uncommon for the gaming trade, and a tiny miracle all its personal. It is a drop within the bucket in comparison with the unparalleled losses we have seen within the gaming trade for the previous few years, however what the hell, for as soon as, the little man received. All the very best to the parents at Tango, I for one will not be crying if the upcoming Hello-Fi Rush 2 takes a miss on Microsoft‘s platforms for his or her troubles. Gamers, you are due for a reunion with Korsica!

My particularly-longtime readers will possible do not forget that my very second column lined the auspicious (to not point out out-of-left-field) crossover between Taimanin RPG and Black Lagoon; the previous an grownup cellular recreation primarily based off of the Taimanin Asagi universe of visible novels from LILITH Mushy, the latter a gritty manga/anime created by Rei Hiroe a few crew of modern-day pirates with loads of Hong Kong Bullet Ballet-inspired taste—in addition to T&A. No joke, that column wound up being one among my most-read for that 12 months, by a rustic mile. Anyway, Taimanin RPG is getting one other anime crossover! It is with Highschool of the Lifeless!

Wow, what a throwback. The unique Highschool of the Lifeless manga dates again to 2007, when of us had been obsessed with zombies. The setting was easy: a gaggle of excessive schoolers (most of them women) slaughtered their manner by means of a military of the lifeless after a zombie outbreak in modern-day Japan. Shenanigans ensue, with the gang having to dodge lewd cults together with the starved undead. I might hate to name it “lowbrow,” if solely as a result of that will be me throwing a lot of bricks from inside my glass home… but additionally, Highschool of the Lifeless is fairly up-front about shoving womens’ fronts into the POV. Created by author/artist duo Daisuke Satō and Shōji Satō (no relation), the collection sadly went on hiatus as a consequence of Daisuke’s well being points, and the hiatus grew to become everlasting when he handed away from well being issues. Shōji Satō, not eager to proceed the collection with out his pal and work associate, moved on to different equally sex-and-violence-infused manga like Triage X and Divine Raiment Magical Lady Howling Moon, feeling that it was higher to honor Daisuke by placing the trouble that will’ve gone into Highschool of the Lifeless into newer works as an alternative.

In the meantime, the Taimanin universe is a long-running collection of visible novels, H-OVAs, and related cellular video games set in a world the place Japan’s prison underbelly cooperates with demons, vampires, and different monstrous beings. Teams of Anti-Demon ninjas—”Taimanin”—battle in opposition to them… however loads of that preventing entails outfits getting shredded and ninjas being put into compromising conditions. Shiravune has introduced over two of the core Taimanin video games, Taimanin Asagi and Taimanin Yukikaze, with the door open to different video games like Hell Knight Ingrid or Mama wa Taimanin getting licensed and launched later down the road. The video games have additionally expanded into gacha, which opens the door to endlessly placing the Taimanin into numerous lewd eventualities without having an entire VN to justify it. The sport has featured (worksafe) crossovers with different anime earlier than, just like the aforementioned Black Lagoon crossover in addition to a crossover with Tremendous Sonico. The Black Lagoon crossover even featured art work from collection creator Rei Hiroe for added authenticity.

Equally, the Highschool of the Lifeless crossover will function all-character artwork from Shōji Satō. The playable characters embody the collection’ major lady, Rei Miyamoto, samurai-girl Saeko Busujima (carry a towel), and girl-genius Saya Takagi. Whereas their fundamental artwork options the ladies of their customary uniforms, the trailer additionally exhibits Rei in a singular “Taimanin” outfit—one other trailer launched a number of days later teases Saeko’s and Maya’s Taimanin gear (as seen within the image above). This is not the primary time Highschool of the Lifeless has collaborated with a gacha recreation; late final 12 months, they collaborated with Queen’s Blade Restrict Break. It gave me one thing to fiddle with after I was in expert nursing after my accident (do not forget that?).

Highschool of the Lifeless is perhaps an outdated T&A motion collection, but it surely’s nonetheless obtained loads of passionate followers; even within the feedback to the trailer above, some Japanese followers are questioning if this collab would possibly result in a continuation of Highschool of the Lifeless within the manga. It possible will not, however I believe the loyalty proven for this collection speaks volumes. I am unable to chalk it as much as the T&A alone as a result of I’ve seen loads of T&A collection come and go (I do not assume I’ve ever seen anybody else discuss Howling Moon, in reality), and I do not assume it is due to the mystique of a collection having been left hanging. Possibly in one other world, Highschool of the Lifeless would’ve run in Heavy Metallic Journal, and its distinctive grindhouse sensibilities would make it a counter-culture icon, but it surely’s already sort of there, and it is good to see it again in some capability.

Do not count on this collab to return to the U.S. in any significant capability, although; Taimanin RPG spruiked its probabilities. The sport’s Extasy model had been localized and completely shot itself within the foot following a mix-up involving gamers incomes an excessive amount of in-game forex and The Powers That Be deciding one of the simplest ways to stability that was to make the gamers pay again the in-game extra. So Taimanin RPG Exstacy shut down earlier this month. Fortunately, there’s nonetheless a Taimanin cellular recreation (Motion Taimanin), but it surely will get fairly nickle-and-dime-y with how costly a few of its outfits can get for a number of the characters. Not solely has it not featured any of the collaborations from its RPG counterpart (so no Taimanin Revy or Sonico), but it surely’s additionally totally worksafe, which could disappoint some gamers. I think about any enterprising fan has methods of taking part in Taimanin RPG by some means within the U.S., but it surely’s a disgrace nonetheless that the sport obtained smothered in its crib from such an completely bone-headed determination. We’ll get ’em subsequent time.

I am a giant fan of Shift-Up’s NIKKE. I attempt to not discuss it an excessive amount of as a result of, imagine it or not, That Bitch™ works onerous to keep away from turning This Week in Video games into This Week in That Bitch™’s Hyperfixations. That is why I solely ever point out Izuna in passing and do not continually discuss how typically I watch the reveal teaser from final 12 months (imagine it or not, six instances). And which means not speaking an excessive amount of about stuff except it is related. However I believe NIKKE is especially related this time as a result of they introduced an anime collab of their very own! And it is, uh… properly, it is positively an anime with loads of feminine characters to select from.

It is Neon Genesis Evangelion! It isn’t the weirdest factor to cross over with NIKKE (I nonetheless assume that will be Re:Zero), however Evangelion‘s sci-fi setting that includes mech pilots capturing down Previous Testomony-looking angelic kaiju positive suits with the remainder of the scantily-clad cyborg girls gunning down monstrous robots. As anticipated, the cameo characters embody Asuka Shikinami Langley, Rei Ayanami, and Mari Illustrious Makinami. And so they’re of their plugsuits, due to model recognition. The artwork additionally options Misato, who will possible be a freebie. Actually, I am stunned they did not go for some twist the place one of many EVA models is a playable character. It would not even be that out-of-the-ordinary for NIKKE, contemplating all the different cyborg girls with weapons featured within the recreation. Simply make some hand-wavy excuse about an experimental EVA unit constructed on a human scale; it would not be that totally different from a Nikke past its surface-level look.

Up to now, there hasn’t been any information on when the collab will go dwell. Within the meantime, SHIFT-UP will maintain a giveaway that includes promotional T-shirts. The giveaway is dwell by means of August 21. Extra to comply with! I do marvel if and when SHIFT-UP will function a Stellar Blade collaboration in NIKKE, although…

Bakeru Will get Western Launch Date, “Mystical Ninja” Vibes Inbound

I really like speaking about obscure video games, however make no mistake: there are quite a bit that handed me by in life. For one, I’ve by no means actually performed any of the Mystical Ninja Goemon video games. I do know it is a beloved collection with a loyal cult fanbase, at the very least (shout-out to my buddy Dave from highschool; he was and nonetheless is a Goemon devoted). The story of the titular Mystical Ninja who defends Japan (and in addition has an enormous robotic), the collection is definitely fairly in depth in Japan—however solely three of the video games ever got here to the U.S. (Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon on the Nintendo 64 and Sport Boy, plus Goemon’s Nice Journey). And being a Konami collection, Konami has seen match to bury the it! Following the 2005 Ganbare Goemon: Tōkai Dōchū Ōedo Tengu ri Kaeshi no Maki on Nintendo DS (which by no means even got here to the U.S.), Konami has performed an entire lot of nothing with the poor ninja. Nuts to the parents who like shiny journey video games starring goofy ninjas armed with tobacco pipes, I assume?

Effectively, it took 19 years, however within the absence of any correct Mystical Ninja, studio Good-Really feel and writer Spike-Chunsoft have determined to carry again the bouncy feudal vibes with Bakeru! The story of a drummer preventing off a military of evil yokai and festival-goers led by an oracle, Bakeru guarantees enjoyable goofy motion and the power to show into heroes from Japanese folklore to battle bosses. And to essentially hammer within the spiritual-successor credentials, studio Good-Really feel (who additionally labored on Princess Peach: Showtime! and Kirby’s Epic Yarn) labored on the unique Goemon video games again within the day.

Bakeru was initially launched in Japan in November of 2023, so some devoted followers have already gotten an opportunity to attempt the sport out. In line with of us who’ve tried out demo on the Nintendo eShop and Steam, the controls for the English model have been improved for smoother gameplay.

Bakeru releases September 3 for the Nintendo Swap and Steam. Up to now, there aren’t any plans for a bodily launch, however I can see Restricted Run Video games selecting it up. I will preserve you posted on whether or not Dave picks up a replica!

Let’s wrap up with some fast tidbits

That’ll do it for this week, I believe. With summer time winding down, it’s going to be downhill for the remainder of the 12 months. Tokyo Video games Present is on the horizon, we have the vacation rush—oh, and autumn means Portland Retro Gaming Expo and Kumoricon are on the horizon. Hopefully, you all can get pleasure from what little bit of summer time we’ve left! Be good to one another; I will see you in seven.

This Week In Video games! is written from idyllic Portland by Jean-Karlo Lemus. When not collaborating with Anime Information Community, Jean-Karlo might be discovered taking part in JRPGs, consuming popcorn, watching v-tubers, and tokusatsu. You’ll be able to sustain with him at @mouse_inhouse or @ventcard.bsky.social.