DDR A released to arcades in Europe last week, and it's making it's way to players now. Even with the online features missing, most of what I've seen about it is positive. At the same time, Round 1 is still expanding in the US and doesn't appear to be slowing down. At least according to what I've heard, they're trying to bring more games to the US, which means that they're seeing success from the games they already have.

Between these two, arcades are looking less dead. While I don't expect a full return to the 80's peak, arcades are definitely becoming more relevant to gaming. Some of that probably has to do with the fact that several previously Asia-only games are now available to more players (I know this has been a major shift in the Western IIDX community, and is the reason Sound Voltex has a community outside of Asia), but I think another major factor is that a lot of the questionable practices present in AAA gaming have never made it into the arcade. You can't overhype a game and release it in a broken state when players can try it cheaply, and there are no paid lootboxes anywhere I could find.

Arcade games have also come a long way since the early 00's. Online functionality is present in most games now, from score tracking in rhythm games to online matchmaking in the arena battle type games. There are also well made tutorials to help you get used to the unique control schemes on games, or to get the right combos under your fingers in the fighters. Most games have some kind of progression system, tracked by a single card that works with other games (there are three competing system though).

All of this is on top of a community that's generally better than what you'll usually find on any home system (it's much harder to be toxic to someone who's standing in front of you), and it looks like arcades might be sticking around. As someone who likes more than one game that's either better in the arcade or is arcade exclusive, I personally like this development.

And the last party member has been announced, Goro Akechi. He's a high school detective, and that's about all we know. He looks to join the Phantom thieves sometime in the game though, as seen by his presence in the fourth trailer.

Video

Quick highlights:

• Two new part time jobs revealed, flower shop and convenience store
• There are 5 social stats, same as Persona 4
• Transitions are absurdly fluid, just pick a location and you're there, no intermediate screen
• Knocking all enemies down results in a "Hold Up!", where you can either negotiate with the demons at gunpoint or do an all out attack
• Baton touch is something you do after getting an extra turn, and it passes your turn to another party member, who gets some kind of bonus
• Arsene's first move is death element, but does damage.
• It looks like there's a late night time slot again
• One of the velvet twins was seen in dungeon at what looks like a save point
• There's a mystery gauge in the upper left corner.
• Morgana's English VA sounds a lot like Ashley Birch
• The entire video is in Japanese

Overall the game manages to look even better than it already did, which is rather impressive. Releasing against FFXV does no look like a stupid decision after today. It's going to be tough waiting until Valentine's Day.

Persona 5 will be launching Valentine's day, 2017, for PS3 and PS4. The limited Take Your Heart Edition will be exclusive to PS4, and comes with a steelbook case, a 4" morgana plush, a soundtack CD (looks like it's only for persona 5), a Shujin High schoolbag, a hardcover artbook, and a special box. A preorder bonus for the PS4 version only has a steelbook case for the game. The PS4 version will be $59.99, while PS3 will be $49.99. Preorders are open on amazon.

Source

The end result of the Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem crossover has already had a bit of a censorship controversy around it, but the last detail mentioned in a 4chan leak, the lack of the hot springs DLC in the US version, has been confirmed. While the game absolutely bombed in Japan, it is one of the few exclusives coming out this year for the Wii U.

I honestly think the game is going to be dead on arrival, because as I've heard the game has already been disowned by both MegaTen and Fire Emblem fans, basically leaving a more otaku type anime audience, who are probably going to boycott the game because some outfits got covered up, admittedly in a manner that causes a couple holes (there's an undershirt covering her cleavage, but her tummy is somehow bare). I'm predicting another flop.

How is this in any way confirmation that the game is going to be awful?

Persona 3/4 could compete, especially P3 thanks to not having any real objective for the first third of the game.

I'm inclined to agree. The improved conversation system is a definite plus, but combat is just way too fast in IV. I took down the first form of one of the final bosses in two turns, and the second in four. Smirks are completely uncontrollable and any battle can turn around in one action off of a lucky crit. It's not completely worthless, but slowing down combat would make it a lot more reasonable.

Most likely. IV was advertising 400+, and that felt like too many. I completed the game with about 120 registered, even when actively trying to keep my team up to date.

Official site

Atlus has announced that Shin Megami Tensei IV Final, released in Japan on February 10, 2016, will be localized as Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse for the Nintendo 3DS in North America, in summer 2016.

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse will be released at retail stores and on the eShop, and it will cost $49.99 US / $64.99 CA.

It’s time for all things to end because Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, (known as Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final) in Japan, will finally be arriving to the Americas. Overlapping the story of the original SMTIV, the upcoming game focuses a Hunter cadet protagonist who gets killed by one of the demons treating post-apocalyptic Tokyo as their personal playground. However, the mysterious god Dagda resurrects the protagonists in exchange for his fealty, and sets him on a perilous path that treads the fine line between peace and anarchy. Is Dagda simply just an opportunistic lesser god or is part of something much bigger?

The plot of Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse overlaps with Shin Megami Tensei IV (and features some familiar characters), but no previous experience with the original is required!

The game features:

Divine Intrigue – Choose between peace or anarchy while being a pawn in the gods’ chess game.

Combat Partners – Hunting demons is dangerous, so count on some backup! Alongside the standard three demons, players will be able to rely on one of seven partners to help win battles.

Oodles of Demons – Be on your guard because Tokyo is infested with a series record of over 450+ demons to fight, fuse, or recruit.

Revamped Demon Fusion – Demons will have affinities for certain skills, so players can better plan the outcome of fusions.

Classic SMT Combat – Prospective Hunters will exploit weaknesses, boost attributes, and unlock skill bonuses with the returning Press Turn and Smirking systems.

Everything about the game so far has been positive, and I'm actually excited for it. I am expecting some (actually justified this time) religious protests about the game's content, especially the final boss, but it looks like another easy 8/10.