Aselia the Eternal - A Defining VN-SRPG - Gets Released!

[Clephas]

I've played the all-ages version and it was really good... as in superb. The plot for Aselia is easily one of the best rpg plots I've run into in years... Magus said it compared favorably to Ar Tonelico on that aspect and with good reason. It is a great deal more serious though. As for why it would be coming soon... Xuse says that the translation was developed under their supervision but its more likely that they just stole the fantranslation and are going to pretend that they did it.

[LAMV]

There is a version of the game that was released last year with all the added content plus the ero scenes intact. If I get my way, JAST will release both versions of the game. This is mostly just my personal campaign however; I doubt anything will come of it.

Yeah. I think JAST should have released the version you mentioned, or release both the adult version and the all ages version (I'm sure either JAST or Mangagamer did this with some of their localizations). But yeah, doubtful it will happen unless they get A LOT of requests to do so.

Also, what happens in the all ages version in those two spoilers? It's cut out completely? If so that would suck, especially the first bit.

EDIT: Even though I'm only slightly disappointed they're not releasing an adult version, it's good we're getting another VN-RPG hybrid localized. Hopefully if it does well we get more VNs like this, or VNs in general. They'd probably get even more sales if they released it on Steam and/or PSN and XBLA though.

[Orliatzu]

Ahh my apologies about the miss understanding then Anyway I'm still interested in this game regardless, and graphics definitely take a back seat for me in terms of most crucial gaming elements, story and music taking a much higher priority.

So its supposed to come out in the next few months then from what I read, or does anyone else have a more accurate time table?

[magusgs]

Yeah. I think JAST should have released the version you mentioned, or release both the adult version and the all ages version (I'm sure either JAST or Mangagamer did this with some of their localizations). But yeah, doubtful it will happen unless they get A LOT of requests to do so.

Mangagamer has released all-ages editions for existing adult releases several times now. This'll be JAST's first all-ages release.

Also, what happens in the all ages version in those two spoilers? It's cut out completely? If so that would suck, especially the first bit.

Spoiler:

The rape route is completely cut. I don't know what happened to the rape of the sister's friend. I assume it's implied or replaced with a more age-appropriate torture.

In all fairness, I should add that the all-ages version added a great deal of additional content, including extra routes and fleshing out characters that were just faceless soldiers in the original.

As for adult VN/RPGs, there's always Tenkuu no Yumina (Yumina the Ethereal). That's also coming out sometime this year from JAST. And unlike Lightning Warrior Raidy, it's actually supposed to be good.

So its supposed to come out in the next few months then from what I read, or does anyone else have a more accurate time table?

Q2 2011 is straight from an official statement, made today. That's as accurate as it gets.

[magusgs]

I should also add that there's another reason to support Aselia the Eternal:

It has a sequel, Seinaruakana.

Seinarukana, released 4 years later, improves on its predecessor in terms of graphics and battle system. Seinarukana refines a battle system that was already very solid, making the battle sequences even more engaging. However, general consensus is that the story is merely decent--not to say it's bad, but it doesn't reach the bar set by Aselia the Eternal. I'd say it's at "Tears to Tiara" level. Even so, the game was well received in Japan. I should also note that Seinarukana doesn't have an all-ages version.

[LAMV]

Hmm. What other VN Hybrids that would make decent localizations? I'm sure those types of games would be better received and sell better than normal VNs, which might actually make things better for normal VNs overall, IMO. ("Hey, I guess these folks like visual novels after all, let's finally localize this really popular one that everyone wanted translated," etc.)

[magusgs]

Hmm. What other VN Hybrids that would make decent localizations? I'm sure those types of games would be better received and sell better than normal VNs, which might actually make things better for normal VNs overall, IMO. ("Hey, I guess these folks like visual novels after all, let's finally localize this really popular one that everyone wanted translated," etc.)

Eushully games. Softhouse Chara. Alicesoft. Although, Alicesoft rejected JAST USA's advances; they're not interested.

Personally, I think the recent Ikusa Megami games (Zero and Verita) and Wizard's Climber would be sure to win over some Western fans. Marketing a "porn game" is hard no matter how you slice it though. The mentality of Western gamers dooms such games to 4 digit sales. That's not going to change anytime soon. Not when piracy is such a convenient alternative that covers your identity and allows you to dismiss the hobby even while you're enjoying it.

[SjSharks182]

>All-ages version

eh, still want XD Looks like my computer will play another game. Geez it's been years.

[magusgs]

Note I'm using "all-ages" in the colloquial sense, as it's used in the visual novel scene. The game is rated 15+. It's not really appropriate for "all ages" at all, as it has significant mature themes.

[SjSharks182]

I did look into that after posting (sorry for posting beforehand), and apparently this version has more stuff (why? XD) too. So I guess I'm good

[LAMV]

Hmm. What other VN Hybrids that would make decent localizations? I'm sure those types of games would be better received and sell better than normal VNs, which might actually make things better for normal VNs overall, IMO. ("Hey, I guess these folks like visual novels after all, let's finally localize this really popular one that everyone wanted translated," etc.)

Eushully games. Softhouse Chara. Alicesoft. Although, Alicesoft rejected JAST USA's advances; they're not interested.

Personally, I think the recent Ikusa Megami games (Zero and Verita) and Wizard's Climber would be sure to win over some Western fans. Marketing a "porn game" is hard no matter how you slice it though. The mentality of Western gamers dooms such games to 4 digit sales. That's not going to change anytime soon. Not when piracy is such a convenient alternative that covers your identity and allows you to dismiss the hobby even while you're enjoying it.

I looked some of those companies' games up in VNDB. The one I'm most familiar as far as seeing screencaps and discussion is Sengoku Rance, but it's already fan-translated.

Personally I'd like to see Galzoo Island (although it's 5 years old) or Himegari Dungeon Meister translated/localized. Assuming they don't have anything localization companies might have issue with.

[magusgs]

I did look into that after posting (sorry for posting beforehand), and apparently this version has more stuff (why? XD) too. So I guess I'm good

The game was initially released in 2003 for PC. In 2005, it was given an enhanced PS2 port with the adult content removed. In 2007, a PC backport of the PS2 version was included in a Limited Edition bundle with Seinarukana. This backport is what's being translated. In 2010, an enhanced "Special Edition" for PC was released with the added content of the backport plus the adult content from the original.

[magusgs]

Personally I'd like to see Galzoo Island (although it's 5 years old) or Himegari Dungeon Meister translated/localized. Assuming they don't have anything localization companies might have issue with.

Princess Hunting Dungeon Meister is pretty good. I have to say I preferred Ikusa Megami Zero though. The former has a more engaging battle system, but the story is rather sparse. I haven't played Galzoo Island yet. It seems like a dungeon crawler, and I'm not terribly fond of those.

[Clephas]

I really do recommend Ikusa Megami Zero to anyone that is interested... I even have a review up for it on my blog.

http://clephasstomach.blogspot.com/2011 ... -zero.html

There are a lot of games of this type out there... but the great ones are few and far in between, same as normal jrpgs. I don't really recommend AliceSoft personally, as their games tend to have really weak stories. You have to recall when listening to Magus that he likes the dungeon-crawler type, and it is reflected often in his choice of favorites.

[magusgs]

You have to recall when listening to Magus that he likes the dungeon-crawler type, and it is reflected often in his choice of favorites.

This is false. Also, you probably haven't played Pastel Chime Continue. The story in that is pretty decent, though it isn't terribly deep. It is, however, a dungeon crawler.

Also, the 3 companies I listed aren't just my personal favorites. It's general consensus that they're the top makers of visual novels with meaningful gameplay. Note that I'm ignoring Illusion and TeaTime--the games they make are targeted at a completely different audience.