Uta no Prince-sama MUSIC 2 Demo + Utapri news!

Music2 demo announcement. 

Less than a week away, Broccoli's "Uta no Prince-sama" spin off rhythm game "Uta no Prince-sama Music2" gets a demo release.

The demo available on Playstation Network Japan, is the first game in the franchise to get a demo. Earlier in the month, Broccoli announced that the first game "Uta no Prince-sama MUSIC" would be available for purchase on PSN.

The free demo, includes six songs and four scenarios to view.

Songs included in the demo are:

GAMUSHARA ROmanTic - Reiji Kotobuki, Otoya Ittoki, Tokiya Ichinose (Ryotaro Morikubo, Takuma Terashima, Mamoru Miyano)

Dream more than Love - Ranmaru Kurosaki, Masato Hijirikawa, Ren Jinguji (Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Kenichi Suzumura, Junichi Suwabe)

Triangle Beat - Ai Mikaze, Natsuki Shinomiya, Syo Kurusu (Shota Aoi, Kisho Taniyama, Hiro Shimono)

Northwind and Sunshine - Camus, Cecil Aijima (Tomoaki Maeno, Kousuke Toriumi)

Rainbow ☆ Dream - Otoya Ittoki, Masato Hijirikawa, Natsuki Shinomiya, Tokiya Ichinose, Ren Jinguji, Syo Kurusu, Cecil Aijima (Takuma Terashima, Kenichi Suzumura, Kisho Taniyama, Mamoru Miyano, Junichi Suwabe, Hiro Shimono, Kousuke Toriumi)

Quartet ★ Night - Reiji Kotobuki, Ranmaru Kurosaki, Ai Mikaze, Camus (Ryotaro Morikubo, Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Shota Aoi, Tomoaki Maeno)

With the exception of Rainbow ☆ Dream and Quartet ★ Night, Filling up the heart gauge (completing the song three times) unlocks a scenario. Scenarios are based on who performs the song. (I.E. Playing "Dream more than Love" three times unlocks a scenario where Ranmaru reveals to Ren and Masato that his mother use to read Mother Goose and Alice through the looking glass to him before he slept.)

Countdown to release! 

Being a demo, many of the game's features are locked. Such as the ability to change your character's costumes, and challenge mode. However, profiles, system character and even turn character voices off and on are available. The demo is free of charge to those who have access to the Playstation Network Japan.

In other Utapri news,

The cover art for volume four has been released.

Features for the volume include: Soundtrack 3 included are the songs "ai no REINCARNATION" by Cecil Aijima (Kousuke Toriumi) and "Piyochan no uta" (Piyochan's song) by Natsuki Shinomiya (Kisho Taniyama)
On the video disk (DVD & Blu-ray) are two episodes 07. Promise to Sirius, and 08. Fantasia of the stars.
The special features include: Announcement and Commercial Collection and "Returned quiz no prince-sama" Featuring Shoutaro Morikubo and Mamoru Miyano. To those who are keeping track, The current winners are the following teams tied for first place. Team Tatsuhisa Suzuki & Kenichi Suzumura from volume two and Team Shouta Aoi & Kisho Taniyama from the volume three.

Currently, DVD volume three is topping the "Anime Sales Chart" on Oricon. Oricon is Japan's leading ranking chart. (Much like Billboard in the U.S.) While the Blu-ray version is in at number 5. (Oricon's Blu-ray sales chart reflects all of the Blu-ray sales in Japan not by genre like the DVD sales)

Fans of the series are also being treated on the final volume of the DVD or Blu-ray set. An extra episode called "Shining Star Xmas" has been added. The Synopsis states "In the months following the Utapri Award.. the city is being visited by the Christmas season. At Saotome Agency, the salon is being prepared for the Christmas Party..."
A bonus CD with a song titled "Shining Star Xmas" includes the members of STARISH and QUARTET NIGHT for their first collaboration song under the group name "Shining Stars"
On the video disk. The final "Returned Quiz no Prince-sama" Also the losing team will have to come back for their punishment!
Plus the dance video for the song Maji Love 2000%

Our UTAPRI news doesn't end there quite yet!

The princes have taken over the trendy district of Shibuya in Tokyo. Early in the summer they were part of the "My City Shibuya" campaign. The campaign set out to help boost anime and manga related tourism in Shibuya. Continuing on to help push the end of summer sales, the members of STARISH are gracing the sides of buildings, inside the train station, and even as models in stores. The campaign is called "Prince Summer" Commercials featuring the STARISH members will play on the Shibuya Crossing TVs.

On the side of one of Shibuya's most iconic stores, are the members of STARISH

For those who don't fall in with the trendy crowd, Animate and Broccoli are offering Prince Summer goods at their stores. Including wallscrolls, clear files, pins, and more. 

The campaign will run until the 9th of September. Broccoli has announced that their next project (Anime or game related is not known yet) will focus on the members of QUARTET NIGHT. On their official blog they have stated that information will come through advertisement and to keep an eye out.

LINKS:

Uta no Prince-sama official portal - http://www.utapri.com

Uta no Prince-sama MUSIC 2 official site - http://www.utapri.com/game/music2

Uta no Prince-sama PRINCE SUMMER - http://www.utapri.com/sp/prince_summer/

Sengoku BASARA 4 New characters and updates Part 2!

Hello again! So in part 2 we are going to cover the new features of Sengoku BASARA 4.

The first and most obvious addition to game play is the "Giga BASARA" attack

Giga BASARA featuring Masamune Date and Mitsunari Ishida

Although how the Giga BASARA fully works hasn't been revealed yet, Capcom has stated that by summoning your partner and maxing out the BASARA gauge for both characters, The player can initiate a "Giga BASARA" attack.

When summoning a partner, a red stamp above their icon indicates that a Giga BASARA attack is ready. 

After initiating an the attack, the screen changes to reflect a Sumi-e painting.

Each Warlord gets their own character screen in Sumi-e painting style 

Depending on who the two partners are, each combination creates a unique attack. After the attack the characters will pose. (See top picture)

Masamune and Mitsunari causing havoc on the battle field.

The next feature is the "Comrade Directive"

Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Takenaka Hanbei execute a comrade directive. 

Another new feature added, is the comrade directive. How it works is unknown at this time. However what it does has been revealed somewhat.

Hanbei attacks a targeted enemy

When calling a partner, the player can direct two warlords at once one the battle field! Using button commands, the player can target an enemy for the partner to attack while the main character continues his assault elsewhere.

If the target is knocked into the air, the partner will continue their attack mid-air. 

The final addition to the system this round is "Unit Formation" 

Watch out of this commander on the battle field! He's up to no good! 

When an enemy commander enters the battle field, he not only raises the moral of his troops, he now has the ability to create formations.

Nobunaga and Shibata face the "armed fish scales" formation. 

The "armed fish scales" (銃魚鱗) uses the infantry to create a pyramid of of solider. Doing so increases the range they can fire at as well as the amount. 

Goto goes head to head with the "Great Vertical Shield" 

The pesky shield and spear men can now band together to create a wall known as the "Great Vertical Shield" (大盾縦) The wall not only blocks the player but can charge them and still attack with spears. 

Kojuro dodges the "Great fastened wheel" 

Normal foot soldiers are not immune from the call of the commander. They bind together and make the "Great fastened wheel" (大車がかり) they can spin and charge at an enemy.

Shibata, a spear master, faces off against the "Crane's Wing position"

The "Crane's wing position" (鶴翼の陣) uses the spear men to vertically stack. Then they start rotation quickly and create a tornado to blow enemies away. 

While there is still much information about the game yet to be revealed, Capcom has two events that promise to shed light on things. 

The first event to be held is the Kyoto International Manga Fair. Held in Kyoto, the manga fair includes anime and games in its events. Scheduled to appear is the voice actor Toshiyuki Morikawa. Morikawa voices the Sengoku BASARA character "Kojuro Katakura". He will be presenting the "Sengoku BASARA 4" stage event. The contents of the event have yet to be revealed. Morikawa will only be in attendance on September 7th. The event spans the 7th and 8th. 

Toshiyuki Morikawa's stage event schedule. 

The next event to be held will be the 2013 Tokyo Game Show. This yearly event hosts Japan's and the world's biggest gaming companies. While E3 in Los Angeles features many hardware announcements, TGS focuses mostly on software. Capcom has announced that Sengoku BASARA 4 will have a stage event. The date and time of the event is still pending. 

Capcom's TGS page. The event runs September 19th - 22nd. Days 19 & 20 are Industry only. 21 & 22 are open to the public. 

LINKS: 

Capcom's official Sengoku BASARA 4 homepage - http://www.capcom.co.jp/basara4

Capcom's Tokyo Game Show 2013 page - http://www.capcom.co.jp/tgs2013/index.html

Sengoku BASARA 4 new characters and updates! Part 1!

Current Sengoku BASARA 4 player roster. 

On the eve of Tokyo Game Show 2013, CAPCOM unveiled an expanded roster for the upcoming game, "Sengoku BASARA 4" So, without further ado!

Mataemon Goto (CV: Shinichiro Miki)

Historically, Mataemon Goto was a commander of the Kuroda army. Serving under Kanbei and later his son, he was exiled after his master betrayed the Toyotomi army. Later, Hideyoshi Toyotomi offered to let him redeem himself at the summer siege of Osaka castle. There, he died at the hands of Masamune Date and Kojuro Katakura.

Mataemon' shows no mercy! 

In Sengoku BASARA 4, Goto is a prideful samurai who wanders the land of the sun (Japan). He boasts of his "Matabei grade book" which contains is a list of people who Goto keeps tabs on. Finding them guilty of destroying the pride of others, Goto seeks to punish them. Be it friend or foe, underling or enemy, Goto finds those who win by crushing the pride of others- an action he finds deplorable. The man currently at the top of his list is none other than Masamune Date.

Goto and the "Kiba" 

Goto's weapon is a "Kiba." While the term means an "unconventional sword," Goto's sword of choice is a long curved blade. The blade acts much like a boomerang, which Goto proves by often throwing the weapon instead of striking an enemy directly. Goto's blade also has the ability to trap enemies in a revolving slash move. According to 4Gamer, the true potential of the weapon can be realized when perfect timing is executed.

Goto's blade is so long that striking seems to be an feat.

Mataemon Goto is voiced by prolific voice actor Shinichiro Miki. He also provides the voices for characters "Shiki Mihara" from "Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side", "Roy Mustang" from "Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood", "Kisuke Urahara" from "Bleach", "Toshizo Hijikata" from "Hakuoki" and "Lockon Stratos" (Neil & Lyle Dylandy) from "Mobile Suit Gundam 00." 

The first returning character in the new additions is a series favorite. Kojuro Katakura. 

A somewhat younger Kojuro Katakura (CV: Toshiyuki Morikawa) 

Introduced in "Sengoku BASARA 2", Kojuro appeared as Masamune Date's right hand man. Given the nickname "The dragon's right eye", Kojuro was first playable in "Sengoku BASARA 2 Gaiden HEROES" He went back to NPC  status in "Sengoku BASARA" 3, but was one again playable in "Sengoku BASARA 3 UTAGE." 

The dragon's right eye bears its claws. Kojuro much like his master, uses lightening based attacks and more than one sword. Above, Kojuro performs the "Kasumigedan" attack

While it was hinted in the first trailer that Kojuro would be making an appearance, Capcom had not officially confirmed him as a playable character. However, Kojuro's voice actor is scheduled to present the Sengoku BASARA 4 panel at the upcoming "Kyoto International Manga Fair" on September 7th. Even before Kojuro was confirmed as playable. 

Here Kojuro performs his signature "moon drill" attack "Ugachitsuki" This attack was renamed "makitsuki" in later games. 

Kojuro is voiced by Toshiyuki Morikawa. Morikawa also voices such characters as: "Naraku" from "Inu Yasha", "Dante" from "Devil May Cry", "Heishiro Mitsurugu" from "Soul Calibur", "Ugo" from "Magi" and "Sephiroth" from "Final Fantasy VII" (Advent Children, Kingdom Hearts, Dissidia)

The next returning character is Nobunaga Oda

The devil king of the sixth heaven: Nobunaga Oda (CV: Norio Wakamoto) 

Before being betrayed at Honnoji, before ascending as the demon king, and before he and Oichi sank back to hell, Nobunaga was simply a blood thirsty warlord intent on unifying and ruling Japan. Since the timeline of Sengoku BASARA 4 occurs pre-Honnoji, Players will see Nobunaga in his quest to squash his enemies and rule the country.

He's still a bad guy though.  

Compared to the other released characters, Many of the details of Nobunaga's attacks haven't been revealed yet. He still fights with a sword in one hand and a shotgun in the other. 

Nobunaga confronts Ashikaga

Nobunaga Oda is voiced by iconic Norio Wakamoto. Famous for his deep voiced characters such as "Johnny" from the "Guilty Gear" series, "Cell" from "Dragonball Z", "Vicious" from "Cowboy Bebop", "Charles zi Britannia" from "Code Geass" and "Shining Saotome" from "Uta no Prince-sama" 

The last character to make an appearance is Mitsuhide Akechi. He joins Yoshiteru Ashikaga as an NPC boss. 

The one who betrayed Nobunaga: Mitsuhide Akechi (CV: Sho Hayami) 

Mitsuhide was the right hand man of Nobunga Oda along with Ranmaru Mori. For unknown reasons, he betrayed him at Honnoji. Little of his actual role in the game has yet to be revealed but, It is apparent from screenshots that the events leading up to his betrayal will be covered.

The incident at Honnoji. 

Akechi is voiced by Sho Hayami. Hayami voices famous characters such as "Sosuke Aizen" from "Bleach", "Maximillion Jenius" from "Macross 7", "Nicholas D. Wolfwood" from "Trigun", "Ginias Sahalin" from "Mobile Suit Gundam: 08th MS team" and "Frank Archer" from "Fullmetal Alchemist" 

That's it for Part 1!

In Part 2 we will cover the new battle system as well as Capcom's Tokyo Game Show 2013 event!