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Written by Dustin Murphy
You’re probably familiar with our friends over at XSEED Games by now, and how excited we can be when it comes to hearing about new titles being published by them. This week brings the news of two new installments to two rather well known titles by the names of Corpse Party: Blood Drive and Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders From Planet Space. When it comes to Corpse Party, many will know that this series is long running, dark, and ever-more-so enjoyable title. Corpse Party: Blood Drive will be taking the spot as the third and final installment in the series known as the “Heavenly Host Elementary” chapter, which will bring in the visual novel-style horror adventure series to life once more, this time the latest entry in the series will release for the PlayStation Vita in North America for the first time ever in the series’ history, and will be released with a special “Everafter Edition”, which will contain two-discs of compiled songs from the trilogy so that fans may enjoy the music that they’ve enjoyed across multiple titles. Fans will also get a unique art book called “The Dying Art”, which will feature some of the art from the series.
“We’re confident in saying that we’re just as thrilled to be making this announcement as North American Corpse Party fans will be when they find out that Blood Drive will be getting a physical release,” said Executive Vice President Ken Berry at Marvelous USA. “We’re also incredibly excited to be publishing an Earth Defense Forcetitle for the first time—one which has never been released on these shores previously, yet is widely regarded as the series’ best.”
From here, we will let our friends over at XSEED Games introduce you to these two upcoming titles.
Corpse Party: Blood Drive
The final installment of the supernatural story that began with Corpse Party and continued in Corpse Party: Book of Shadows, Corpse Party: Blood Drive ups the ante by allowing players to explore Heavenly Host Elementary in full 3D for the first time, with all of its formerly 2D environments meticulously recreated and greatly expanded. New gameplay systems provide more exciting interactions for players experiencing the gruesome finale to this tale of an inescapable, otherworldly school populated by vengeful spirits, including a dynamic lighting system aided by an in-game flashlight, talismans to protect the player characters from danger, deadly traps to disarm, cabinets to hide in, a stamina system that allows for limited dashing, and much more.
Furthermore, Blood Drive — once again presented with the original Japanese voiceovers for authenticity — features the return of previously offered gameplay elements such as binaural 3D audio for simulated surround sound and the screen-altering “Darkening” system, as well as bonus unlockables such as voice actor interviews, art, music, and more. Boasting 11 huge story chapters and 8 supplemental “Extra Chapters,” Blood Drive caps off the Heavenly Host storyline in a big way, providing answers and shocking twists in equal measure.
Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders From Planet Space
Standing as a direct predecessor to the series’ first North American release (Earth Defense Force 2017, known asEarth Defense Force 3 in Japan), and widely regarded by fans as the best entry in the franchise, Earth Defense Force 2 is making its way to the western hemisphere for the very first time with this greatly expanded remake. InEarth Defense Force 2: Invaders From Planet Space, players will take the role of one of three distinct military classes and fend off hordes of invading giant insects from a third-person perspective by way of conventional weaponry, armored vehicles, jetpacks, air strikes, trip mines, energy weapons, and more.
Originally released in Japan and Europe for the PlayStation®2 system and later making its way to the PlayStation®Portable system, this definitive version of the game will arrive in North America for the PS Vita with a number of improvements and additions helmed by the original developers at Sandlot, including up to four-player online co-op, an entirely new Air Raider class, and a new English dub.
Developed by Sandlot and published by XSEED Games, Earth Defense Force 2: Invaders From Planet Space will launch this fall in North America exclusively for the PS Vita, both in a physical release package and digitally via PlayStation®Store. This title has not yet been rated by the ESRB.
About the Writer:
Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the boarders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter @GamingAnomaly, Google+, and or you can find him on PSN with RaivynLyken.