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Arcana Heart attacks US

PlayStation 2 version of Japanese all-girl arcade 2D fighter coming to America April 8 for under $30, courtesy of Atlus.

Atlus has made a name for itself in the US by localizing an assortment of esoteric Japanese games, from the Trauma Center and Persona series to one-off efforts like Odin Sphere and Ontamarama. While the genres involved run the gamut from medical drama to rhythm action, it has been a considerable time since Atlus imported a fighting game.

Rock beats everything.

Rock beats everything.

Now, 10 years after Atlus introduced American gamers to the Guilty Gear franchise with the original PlayStation edition of the game, the publisher is debuting another series domestically, as today it announced the impending release of Arcana Heart for the PlayStation 2.

The 2D fighter features an all-female cast of 11 anime archetypes battling to prevent a power-hungry woman from destroying the world. Players will be able to customize their fighters with new skills, and Atlus is including both the original arcade game and the revamped Arcana Heart Full, as well as a training mode and various unlockable bonuses.

Arcana Heart has not yet been rated, but is expected to launch April 8 with a retail price of $29.99.

46 Comments

  • danwarecritic

    Posted Mar 6, 2008 1:29 pm GMT

    This game's been rated now. It's rated T.

  • VagrantChild24

    Posted Mar 5, 2008 12:49 pm GMT

    Yet another reason why I love Atlus.

  • CloudXentar

    Posted Mar 4, 2008 3:40 pm GMT

    Atlus is really doing his best for the good old ps2, and I have to say they are becoming my favorite developers along with Konami, Capcom, NIS and Squere Enix. With Baroque and Persona 3 FES coming along they surprised me with even this!? Thumb up!

  • danwarecritic

    Posted Feb 27, 2008 9:36 pm GMT

    I'm gonna try my best to avoid missing out on this.(I'm a guy.)

  • danwarecritic

    Posted Feb 25, 2008 9:39 pm GMT

    This game is going to be great! Atlus has already proven that they can't make bad games. It's no wonder people praise Persona 3! I've never played that particular title though. But again. Atlus has already proven that they can't make bad games.

  • danwarecritic

    Posted Feb 24, 2008 9:05 pm GMT

    I can't wait! I'm willing to save money ahead of time for this.

  • gameguru001

    Posted Feb 4, 2008 12:27 pm GMT

    Who saw that coming!?!?!!?!?!!?!?!!?!?

    _______
    ........ZOMBIE DANCE!!!!!!!!!! XD XD

  • jaykho213

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 7:48 am GMT

    wow! i'm going to get this game! now next up P3 Fes.. pls atlus we need P3 Fes!!!

  • 09231991

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 7:33 am GMT

    Looks Interesting

  • wjc04c

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 7:14 am GMT

    thank you atlus. i will buy this. next up P3 FES, right? right?

  • funsohng

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 1:24 am GMT

    they should have melty blood...
    or EFZ if it ever came out on console

  • firebubbles

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 11:33 pm GMT

    shiny. looks like fun

  • niteowl74

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 9:37 pm GMT

    YAY!! Old school gaming goodness. This will make up for me missing otu on Gal Fighter for my NGPC all those years ago

  • naisor

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 9:32 pm GMT

    @ Gantz666

    No, actually the fighting system is WAY deeper in Arcana Hearts; as you are able to customize your characters based on the Arcana you select for them. Melty Blood is a VERY Fun game, but if you look closely it doesn't have anything innovating at all.

    @ others...

    I understand from many comments that people at NA (which I'm not) will consider this an "otaku" game. Although the obvious attempt to appeal the masses with an All-female cast of fighters, this game does not contain that much of a "Fanservice" people would think by just seeing this without actually playing the game in depth.

    Gameplay-wise is very fun and great. It would be a shame to not give it a try just because of how it looks.

  • Vash67

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 7:15 pm GMT

    I saw this on sale at NCSX a while ago and thought it looked interesting. Probably won't be mind blowingly great, but for a budget price, I may pick it up. Thanks Atlus! you guys are awesome.

  • iamsouledge

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 6:02 pm GMT

    YES!!!!

    YESSSSSSS!!!!!

    Thank you, Atlus. I love you.

  • Gantz666

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 5:35 pm GMT

    I'd rather see a US port of Metly Blood AC. Fighting system is way deeper in that game, plus the character design is a whole lot better

  • ninjavelmor

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 5:13 pm GMT

    ive played this game a few times, and its decent just for casual plays. But i can't take it as a serious fighter, to many chain attacks, and its a tipical dojo fighter.

  • IAHawks52

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 5:07 pm GMT

    Christ, gamespot, will you stop with the 'clever' headlines?!

  • SephirothSyZtem

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 4:54 pm GMT

    Would not touch with a stick.

    Very very generic otaku fighter.

  • Atronflame

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 4:39 pm GMT

    Atlus ftw.

  • Lord_Daemon

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 4:30 pm GMT

    Good news indeed! I was going to go ahead and pick up the import version but it looks like my inherent laziness has paid off for once.

  • Zonic505

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 3:52 pm GMT

    An all-girl fighting game?! It's like DOA, only more girls & in 2D! Can't wait to play this. Saw this discounted on Play-Asia. Heard this was a great game.

  • Sword-Hunter277

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 3:33 pm GMT

    Where's the PS3?

    Thought so.

  • KingKobra2K2

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 3:24 pm GMT

    Looks cool, me like.
    (I lol'd at the picture's caption)

  • StanAce

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 3:19 pm GMT

    NA market has never really been "ready" for fighters like these. It's more or less for the niche. But what the heck, I like fighters.
    Arcana Heart is one of the better recent fighters. Though Arc Sys seems to have something new.

  • CaptValor333

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 3:14 pm GMT

    Finally! A few buddies of mine and I been playing the arcade version for quite a while.

  • sonofabear17

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 2:57 pm GMT

    oooook

  • allmybase

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 2:53 pm GMT

    I saw this game for sale on Play-Asia a while back and while it looked like a decent fighter, I didn't really expect Atlus would be localizing it and bringing it over to America. Then again, this is the same company which has given the country eclectic games about female ninjas and snowboarding a la Mario Kart, so it ought not to be terribly surprising in retrospect. I like to support the underdogs in gaming, though, so if Arcana Heart gets good reviews, I'll be sure to give it a whirl.

  • RockmanSRD

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 2:53 pm GMT

    Leave it to Atlus to bring something like that over here.

    I can't wait to see more on it.

  • DFTricks

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 2:39 pm GMT

    Lol After destroying japan, it evilly invade the US, next on the way! Europe and in the final blow, China!

  • ayumichan

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 2:32 pm GMT

    Hooray!

  • peacenutman

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 2:30 pm GMT

    *read the news* all right, another atlus game!!! i wonder what?
    *see the game* :-l what the....

  • Aurey

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 2:27 pm GMT

    Can't wait anymore to get this one! I hope more publishers were able to take this kind of risks, Sega, Capcom or Namco to name some of them.

  • tomamagic

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 2:24 pm GMT

    I really like Atlus and their games. They usually incorporate such original concepts and awesome artwork. Also, games from Atlus usually don't depreciate as quick as others. They really need to jump onto the next-gen train though!

  • LivingDeadNinja

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 2:00 pm GMT

    Even though the US market isn't ready for this (probably never will anyway), it's great to see Atlus bring this stuff over!

  • OfficialBed

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 1:49 pm GMT

    looks alright

  • Junsei

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 1:41 pm GMT

    man this game is broken.... but it brings the crowd every friday night lol.
    we brought the entire naomi system. China Town NYC..... come thorugh.... we got GGXXAC too.

  • dr_jashugan

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 1:37 pm GMT

    I'll wait for the reviews of this. 8)

  • MamoruNoHakkyou

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 1:26 pm GMT

    Awesome.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 12:36 pm GMT

    Rather have Melty Blood or Eternal Fighter Zero.

  • fiveftwang

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 12:33 pm GMT

    Man Atlus just keeps bringing the games this year.

  • Kratos_OMEGA

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 12:26 pm GMT

    i'm getting this.

  • megamanzero32

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 12:26 pm GMT

    Haha, I don't think we're ready for this. I've played it though, fun game.

  • SciFiCat

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 12:21 pm GMT

    I'm all for 2D fighting games and if it is a good one, all the better. Bring it on!

  • naisor

    Posted Jan 31, 2008 12:13 pm GMT

    It's a really good game. Though I don't know if the NA market is actually ready for this.

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