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Project X Zone 2

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Project X Zone 2
North American cover art
Developer(s)Monolith Soft
Publisher(s)Bandai Namco Entertainment
Director(s)Soichiro Morizumi
Producer(s)Koji Ishitani
Designer(s)Atsushi Minayama
Writer(s)Soichiro Morizumi
Composer(s)Yuzo Koshiro (Opening and Ending)
Platform(s)Nintendo 3DS
Release
  • JP: November 12, 2015
  • EU: February 12, 2016[1]
  • AU: February 12, 2016[2]
  • NA: February 16, 2016[3]
Genre(s)Tactical role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Project X Zone 2[a] is a crossover tactical role-playing video game developed by Monolith Soft for the Nintendo 3DS and published by Nintendo in Japan and Bandai Namco Entertainment internationally. Despite the game being the sequel to Project X Zone, the plot is a homage to the events of its spiritual predecessor, Namco × Capcom, while retaining a standalone story. The game is a crossover between various franchises from Bandai Namco, Capcom, and Sega, with special guests from Nintendo. Project X Zone 2 was released in Japan in November 2015, and worldwide in February 2016.

Plot

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Shibuya, Tokyo has been locked down because of paranormal events. Two organizations had previously fought there. Shinra, a secret organization dedicated to protecting the Earth from otherworldly threats and Ouma, an evil organization who use dimensional rifts to conquer the world. After their defeat, all seemed well. But rifts have started appearing once more.

Agents of Shinra, Reiji and Xiaomu, meet with Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine of the BSAA to investigate the appearance of mysterious golden chains that have appeared in Shibuya, which seem to be causing strong rifts in space-time. While investigating, they stumble across Heihachi, Phoenix Wright, Maya Fey, Goro Majima, and Kazuma Kiryu. This marks the start of an adventure that crosses into several worlds, where they meet with characters whose worlds have also been affected by these rifts.

Gameplay

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See also: Gameplay of Project X Zone

Like its predecessor, Project X Zone is a tactical role-playing game in which players strategically maneuver their characters across a field to battle with the enemy. Characters are paired up into Pair Units, with Solo Units consisting of a single character able to assist them when linked together. In battle, players use well-timed attacks and combos to do as much damage to the opponent as possible before their turn ends.

Characters

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Like its predecessor, Project X Zone 2 features pairs of characters from three Japanese video game companies (Bandai Namco Entertainment, Capcom, and Sega), as well as solo characters who can provide assist attacks during combat.[4] The game also features Nintendo characters as special guests for the first time.[5] A total of 58 characters are playable in the game.[6]

Pair units

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Solo units

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Development

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On April 8, 2015, Famitsu.com launched a teaser website with a countdown that would expire in five days, revealing a secret project from Bandai Namco Entertainment.[7] Before its expiration, Project X Zone 2 was announced early to attendees of Bandai Namco's "Level Up" press event in Milan, Italy on April 10, which was prematurely posted on Italian news website E-duesse before being retracted.[8] The game was officially revealed to the public three days later. It was confirmed in an interview that the game will address the criticisms of the original (such as the story) and that there will be some "surprise" announcements. The game was originally going to have a simultaneous worldwide release, but the North American and European releases were later delayed to early 2016.[9] Unlike the previous game, the western versions features no altered content from the Japanese version and are in multiple languages.[10]

The game's opening and ending themes, "Sekai wa Hitotsu no Butai" (All the World's Stage), and "Tsuki Akari no Curtain Call" (Moonlight Curtain Call) were both performed by marina. The lyrics were written by director Soichiro Morizumi, and the themes were composed by Yuzo Koshiro. Koshiro had previously composed the theme of Namco × Capcom, Brave New World, and this time Morizumi asked him to compose a song that was more akin to battle music. Koshiro decided to go with a rock theme, and found that marina's vocals were perfect for the song. marina expressed that while she found the song difficult to sing, she thought it turned out very well.[11]

The game's opening animation was produced by Graphinica and directed by veteran animator Yasutoshi Iwasaki.[11]

Reception

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Project X Zone 2 received mixed to positive reviews, receiving a score of 73/100 on Metacritic, with critics praising the game's cast of characters and improvements to issues present in the first game, but criticizing the game's easy difficulty and the fact that many assets were reused from the first game.[12] The game received a 32/40 from Famitsu.[citation needed] Hardcore Gamer gave the game a 4/5 saying, "Project X Zone 2 is a funny, charming and amusing title. It sets out to entertain video game fans of all stripes and allows the player to jump from world to world to get a taste of other titles they may have been missing. Just based on the built-in "Crosspedia" encyclopedia database, the stack of games that I really want to try out has grown (Resonance of Fate, in particular). It's not challenging, but it was never meant to be. The gameplay is simply the vehicle to deliver the true focus of this title: dumb fun. Players who don't need everything to bristle with a dark malevolence will find a great time in this one."[20]

Sales

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The game sold 37,000 copies in Japan on its first week, selling through 60% of its shipment.[citation needed] The game made the #2 spot in the UK 3DS sales charts.[21]

Legacy

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In an interview with Nintendo Life, Kensuke Tsukanaka stated that he would like to continue the series.[22]

Hideki Kamiya of PlatinumGames has stated he was approached about having Sega character Bayonetta included in this game, to which he refused as he wanted Bayonetta and Dante from Devil May Cry to meet "on his own terms". However, he has stated he has come to regret this decision due to realizing how the fans would have loved the two interacting, and that if there is a Project X Zone 3 he would be all for Bayonetta's inclusion.[23]

Notes

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  1. ^ Known in Japan as Project X Zone 2: Brave New World (Japanese: プロジェクト クロスゾーン2：ブレイブニューワールド, Hepburn: Purojekuto Kurosu Zōn 2: Bureibu Nyū Wārudo)

References

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  1. ^ "Project X Zone 2 launches February 26 in North America". Gematsu. September 16, 2015. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  2. ^ "Project X Zone 2 EU Release Date Brought Forward, Demo Coming in January". Nintendo Life. 21 December 2015. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  3. ^ "International Release Date Confirmed for Project X Zone 2". The Otaku's Study. 7 December 2015. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Project X Zone 2 coming worldwide Fall 2015". Go Nintendo. April 12, 2015. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  5. ^ MacGregor, Kyle (September 19, 2015). "Nintendo characters join Project X Zone 2 cast". Destructoid. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  6. ^ "The 58 Playable Characters in Project X Zone 2". 20 November 2015. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  7. ^ "ファミ通.comで謎のカウントダウンがスタート！ バンダイナムコエンターテインメントから4月13日に発表が!?" (in Japanese). April 8, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  8. ^ Whitehead, Thomas (April 10, 2015). "Rumour: Project X Zone 2: Brave New World Heading to 3DS". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  9. ^ "Project X Zone 2 delayed to early 2016, new trailer and screenshots". Gematsu. 2 July 2015. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  10. ^ "Project X Zone 2 Will Be Playable In 7 Languages". Siliconera. 30 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  11. ^ a b "『PROJECT X ZONE 2：BRAVE NEW WORLD』せがた三四郎など新登場キャラクター続々、『TOV』ザギ、『.hack//G.U.』葬炎のカイトなども!?". ファミ通.com (in Japanese). 10 September 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  12. ^ a b "Project X Zone 2 for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  13. ^ Andriessen, CJ (16 February 2016). "Review: Project X Zone 2". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  14. ^ Landa, Jeff (Feb 19, 2016). "EGM Review: Project X Zone 2". EGMNOW. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  15. ^ Brian (November 15, 2015). "Project X Zone 2 gets first review in Famitsu". Nintendo Everything. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  16. ^ Espineli, Matt (March 10, 2016). "Project X Zone 2 Review". GameSpot.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  17. ^ Gilbert, Henry (February 18, 2016). "Project X Zone 2 Review - IGN". Uk.ign.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  18. ^ Vogel, Mitch (13 Feb 2016). "Review: Project X Zone 2". Nintendo Life. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  19. ^ "> Staff Review > Project X Zone 2". RPGamer. Archived from the original on 2016-03-08. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  20. ^ a b Bohn, Jason (12 February 2016). "Review: Project X Zone 2". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  21. ^ "UK software sales - week ending February 20, 2016". GoNintendo. 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  22. ^ "Interview: Learning More About The 'Ultimate Crossover' RPG, Project X Zone 2, From Its Creators". Nintendo Life. 12 February 2016. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  23. ^ "Project X Zone 2 Almost Had Bayonetta, Which Kamiya Now Regrets". 19 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
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