Senran Kagura

That's quite the opimistic viewpoint. I see it as simply an 80% drop on week 2 (what it actually is). While it's admirable that it was able to stay on the charts unlike most games, it still doesn't bode well at all. Sure, some popular games also get 80% drops like that, but those are usually due to supply problems - all signs point to this game's initial shipment lasting a while.

edited 20th Aug '14 9:21:31 AM by burnpsy

I don't know, the game moved roughly the same amount of units than the other 3DS games so the userbase is there. In any case it seems that the most vocal sector of the fanbase just reacted poorly at the game having more focus on a solid and deeper gameplay that previous installments.

This Gematsu article

http://gematsu.com/2014/08/outside-senran-kagura-2-user-reviews-edition

Shows that the game positive reviews overweight the negative ones despite the negative ones having more support. Most of the "complaints" listed sound more like people being dissapointed of the game not being a mindless button masher like Burst and actually demanding effort from the player, with the only ones that seem legitimate critcism being the bit about rehashing plot points and maybe, the camera. All the others sound more like a case of They Changed It, Now It Sucks!

edited 22nd Aug '14 9:25:33 PM by Tzitzimine

The patch for Deep Crimson has been released, aside of fixing various bugs it nerfed the bosses (reducing their health and damage output) something metwith aprobation from the japanese but with dissapointment from the importers since now they're too easy.

The first DLC has also been released

http://www.4gamer.net/games/244/G024430/20140827100/

It adds chibi versions of nearly all the characters (sans Rin and Murasame) and a new story chapter focused around their adventures, is very light hearted and has the girls fighting between them for silly things. Also adds a new joke weapon for all the girls, accesories, hair styles and clothes, during two weeks it will be at a reduced price.

So far, the reaction to the DLC and patch it has been VERY positive.

So what is the idea with Yagyuu's joke weapon? And I guess Homura's as well.

edited 28th Aug '14 11:59:03 PM by TPPR10

Continue the bloodline, Fujimaru!

The joke weapons are based on sports club equipment that's common in Japanese schools. Yagyu's appears to be a Kendo sword, although one modified to be shaped like an umbrella.

Homura's is a bit odder: her weapons look like the arrows used in Yabusame, but both ends have the "turnip" tips instead of just one end, so they look baton-like rather than like arrows. They could also be actual batons, like the ones used in baton twirling, or the devil sticks uses in stick juggling. I think part of the problem with identifying hers is that they're longer than usual for whatever sport she's trying to represent.

Yeah, Homura's weapon seems to be batons.

Anyways, Estival Versus has been finally announced:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0pBpKAqnJM

It will be released on 26/3/15 in Japan on both PS 4 and Vita (pretty ballsy move if you ask me) and since it seems to be Versus 2 hopefully will sell like hotcakes.

Takaki also announced that a DOA/SK crossover/collaboration is in the works but didn't give more details

https://twitter.com/kenichiro_taka/status/506400806472400896

The smart choice is just Senran costumes for the DOA girls and viceversa but I would lost my goddamn mind if we end with guest characters.

I'm not sure if releasing on both the PS 4 and Vita is all that ballsy really. The series seems more popular on that console by default, and as far as I know, there will probably be a cross-play option for the game (which may or may not include bonus content, but I don't know how the whole cross-play thing actually works since I've never looked into it). So if you own both systems, it won't matter which version of the game you get. -shrug-

I'm pretty psyched about the Dead or Alive crossover tease, even if it just ends up being costumes, since I'm a fan of both series (although I still need to get DOA 5 and both Ninja Gaiden 3 and Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z). I wouldn't be surprised if they did a full on character crossover though.

I think is ballsy because the PS 4 isn't setting Japan on fire and as much as I like Senran Kagura isn't exactly a system seller (it sold me a Vita though) so I think is a pretty big gamble. A PS 3 version would've been reasonable.

From Gematsu:

- In addition to the four teams playable in Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus, Senran Kagura: Estival Versus will add a new team.

- Four new characters: Sayuri the mysterious grandmother, and the mysterious sister trio Renka (the eldest), Hanabi (the second daughter), and Kafuru (the third daughter).

- 4 player multiplayer on Vita. The Play Station 4 version will include a mode where a large number of people can play together.

- The new team’s characters also appeared in other games. A different form of Senran Kagura 2‘s Pair Battles has also been added.

- In Network Battles, which are based on Shinovi Versus, there are plans to add more rules and increase the number of participating players.

- Costumes will have new expressions, such as becoming transparent or dirty.

http://gematsu.com/2014/09/senran-kagura-estival-versus-introduces-four-new-characters-including-grandmother#G8yVBhjjQGULCg65.99

And from Takaki, teases of the new characters

http://imgur.com/jnToKqE

http://imgur.com/zHjVcwe

Lots of work are going into Estival, let's hope it sells well.

edited 2nd Sep '14 11:03:22 AM by Tzitzimine

http://gematsu.com/2014/09/two-minutes-senran-kagura-estival-versus-ps4-gameplay#U8fWdAsclIC2fHRe.99

First footage of Estival, it looks really pretty but the gameplay seems a little shallow. Is a very early build so things are subject to change though.

Looks to be pretty fun. All that 'backstory' and 'plot' brightens up my day.

I love the lack of subtlety in Takaki's love for tits, it's amazing.

"And you must be Jonathan Joestar!" - Sue

Yeah, it looks like it's still in the "WIP" phase as far as the gameplay's concerned. Seems like they're mostly testing the PS 4 for now.

So a bit of a misc. question just because, but in terms of Haruka, do you guys prefer her first game(s) fighting style or the one she has after that?

Continue the bloodline, Fujimaru!

Burst gameplay was tricky but powerful once mastered but is certainly inferior to later iterations of her. Personally, I like Deep Crimson's style the most.

I personally like Burst one in concept. Though Deep Crimson one isn't bad by any means. I suppose with Hibari using Ninto more often after Burst, Haruka using a companion to fight would make sense.

I decided to read through the Guren no Hebi manga series, and what is up with the artists constantly switching between drawing Mirai with cat ears and tail and not drawing her with them? As in, in her casual attire.

Continue the bloodline, Fujimaru!

Just an artistic choice to highlight lighter moments, if you take notice when he does that is because Mirai's flustered or being adorable (is the same reason Daidouji's overall proportions are off on most of her appearances, is a short hand to make her look more intimidating).

Famitsu revealed a short while the sketches for Estival's DX packages

http://www.famitsu.com/news/201410/10063308.html

And while still being too rough it allows to see all the characters on the game including two unknown characters on Homura's side, one of them seems to be Sayuri's younger form since she has a pipe and a scarf.

Gotta say, if indeed is Sayuri I'm gonna be dissapointed.

I guess I find it so jarring how it can change from panel to panel. And Speaking of Daidouji, I honestly was surprised when I found out that she isn't the biggest of the girls (Murakumo, Ageha and Fuga beat her at 172cm, though Murasame beats every one at 180cm).

I guess not having a Badass Grandma is bit disappointing, though I am guessing she is able to make her younger with Ninja Arts and such.

Continue the bloodline, Fujimaru!

My issue with Sayuri is how it was handled, when it was first announced that we would get a grandma character on Estival everyone was expecting another Tsunade (since you can't have realistic looking older people on Shounen series) and so when it was revealed that Sayuri WAS a real looking old woman it was a breath of fresh air and (what I saw like) a sort of statement about Senran Kagura being willing to challenge expectatives. Then Takaki released Nan's sketch of Asuka's family where Sayuri was depicted like someone that you wouldn't want to cross (hell, Hanzo is terrified of her!) that while another cliche is something you wouldn't expect from the series.

But then this sketch is revealed and everything is like "Psyche! We don't wanna challenge expcetatives and we're going with the lowest effort route. Come, hot not-really old grandma!".

If they would've released Young Sayuri's design first then I wouldn't have any issue since it wouldn't raise expectatives about the character. Although I realize I'm jumping conclusions and that girl could be unrelated to Sayuri so I'm holding final judgement until we get more info.

edited 12th Oct '14 12:44:53 PM by Tzitzimine

It would be cool if she would act sort of like Kliff Undersn [sic] where she can revert back to younger self but you can still fight as her older self.

Continue the bloodline, Fujimaru!

That would be a smart move, another one would be give Hanzo a younger form too.

That's honestly what I'm thinking they'll do. Similar to Genkai, as well. Although I'm mostly just expecting them to make Sayuri turn younger whenever she fights.

That'd be nice, but I doubt they'd go that route for Hanzo.

edited 12th Oct '14 2:03:36 PM by Customer

So while searching some videos for research purposes, I found out that some one has uploaded the English dub of the anime on Youtube. I haven't really started watching it, but if any one is interested, yeah. No real opinions on what I have heard so far.

Continue the bloodline, Fujimaru!

The V As are pretty good an fit the characters perfectly, however the script is horrible.

Heres the finished art of the Estival packages:

http://imgur.com/nV39ii5

That is Sayuri and what it seems to be the Ryou twins big sis back from the dead.

And what it seems is a screenshot of the wet clothes mechanic

http://imgur.com/gVYQXvJ

looks nice but I doubt is gonna be easy to spot in the midst of the battle.

Yeah, I imagine that you will only really notice it when using Ninja Arts and such. Neat feature to be just there, but something you really need to notice yourself.

Also, I just realised that Yomi's weapons more or less correspond with Guts' weapons. Both have humongous swords, an arm-mounted crossbow and one has arm-mounted cannon, the other can use their prosthetic arm as a cannon. Maybe a coincidence, maybe an intentional decision, who knows.

Continue the bloodline, Fujimaru!

I wouldn't be surprised if it was deliberate, considering how popular Berserk is in Japan.

I'm sure I'll be amused by how they'll justify Sayuri being younger than she's supposed to be. And I guess "big sis" is referring to that girl with the halo?

I'm "meh" on the wet clothes thing, mostly because that pic doesn't make it look all that appealing (I thought there were just holes in the shirt at first).