Project X Zone Heading West This Summer
Given its severely niche nature, I almost gave up hope on seeing this Namco/Capcom/Sega mashup grace Western shores. But low and behold, Namco Bandai has announced it would be localizing the 3DS’ Project X Zone for release in the U.S. and European markets this very summer.
The spiritual successor to Namco X Capcom, a PS2 crossover oddity that remained only in Japan, Project X Zone (wherein the “X” means “Cross” somehow) carries on the tactical RPG gameplay and 2D sprite visuals found in that title, but adds a little dimension to the affair thanks to the 3DS’ functionality. Combining over 200 characters from each publishers’ library of franchises (over 50 of which are playable), players will participate in teams of two paired heroes fighting freely on battle grids based on recognizable gaming locales.
Basically, you get into ludicrously awesome encounters like Space Channel 5’s Ulala cracking knuckle against Nemesis’ face. If that isn’t worth wiping the dust off my 3DS, nothing in this world is.