Just reading through Metal Max Xeno Reborn’s descriptions make it sound absurd in all of the best ways. You get a dog that can use guns, and the setting is named Distokio—because it takes place in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian Tokyo. There’s even a progress bar tracking humanity’s extinction levels. It’s all fairly absurd, but in an entertaining, earnest way. Whoever thought up these ideas likely thought that they were the best ideas ever, and that’s awesome. Sadly, a lot of these ideas are bogged down by an antiquated interface, a surprisingly predictable story, and dull level design.

"It’s all fairly absurd, but in an entertaining, earnest way. Whoever thought up these ideas likely thought that they were the best ideas ever, and that’s awesome. Sadly, a lot of these ideas are bogged down by an antiquated interface, a surprisingly predictable story, and dull level design."

Despite looking at the vast open desert in front of you in the first hour of the game, it’s quite easy to get tired of it all rather quickly. There’s only so much one can go around fighting giant ants, after all. And a large part of the game is spent in that desert. Of course, it certainly doesn’t help that the desert doesn’t really allow for much in the way of exploration. There are a lot of invisible walls, and sure, some of them are to encourage players from getting out of their tank to explore on foot, but others are purely there just because there’s nothing beyond those invisible walls.

A key selling point for Metal Max Xeno Reborn is the fact that you get a highly-customisable tank early on, and more vehicle options later. And despite the terrible menu designs, it’s actually quite fun to play around with different loadouts for your tank once you get around to unlocking new guns and slots to put them in. Managing to use the tank’s cannon on an enemy before they can see you is quite satisfying.

Speaking of vehicle customisation, the level offered here is quite impressive. Be it tanks, buggies, or even school busses, driving around murdering enemies with missile launchers duct-taped to your vehicle’s roof doesn’t really get boring. Sadly, a lot of these aspects are poorly explained, and trial-and-error is often the best way to go.

Metal Max Xeno Reborn’s strongest suit is its combat. It uses a twist on the classic turn-based JRPG combat formula. So here’s how it works: if an enemy spots you, a bar starts filling up at the top of the screen. You can quickly use your own weapon to fire an opening salvo, kicking the fight off in earnest, or just back off and ignore the enemy altogether. Once combat starts, an adaptation of Final Fantasy’s Active-Time Battle system kicks in, letting you attack only once a tiny circle in the corner of the screen fills up. All in all, it’s a pretty fun system, especially since it features free movement even when it’s not your turn. The only real knocks against are the absurdly-slow aiming of the tank’s guns, and the low difficulty, even early on.

"A key selling point for Metal Max Xeno Reborn is the fact that you get a highly-customisable tank early on, and more vehicle options later. And despite the terrible menu designs, it’s actually quite fun to play around with different loadouts for your tank once you get around to unlocking new guns and slots to put them in."

Metal Max Xeno Reborn’s biggest problem is its presentation. Its menus feel like they weren’t really adapted particularly well for the PC. Buttons are gigantic, and a lot of information is nebulous at the best of times, lacking any real way to expand on, for example, what a stat means. PC games often have tooltips, and it’s a shame that Metal Max Xeno Reborn doesn’t make particularly good use of it. The tutorialisation is also quite poor, throwing big walls of text on the screen rather than presenting the finer points on how to play the game in a more interactive way.

Aside from the menus, Metal Max Xeno Reborn’s opening chapters are also incredibly boring. Not only are you going to be roaming around in the desert for hours, you’re also going to be killing a lot of ants. Ants and broken-down tanks make up for the bulk of the enemies in Metal Max Xeno Reborn’s opening hour. Even the story does little in the way of giving you much of a direction aside from “most humans are dead. Why don’t you go check in on some camps?” It isn’t until you get some sidekicks that the earnestly-stupid writing starts becoming quite endearing.

Metal Max Xeno Reborn’s gameplay structure might feel a bit too open in the beginning. Thankfully, you get used to the general openness, which allows you to spend quite a bit of time doing just about anything you want, from advancing the main story, to engaging in sidequests, to even just hanging out in your tank. It has a day-night cycle which, in the long run, doesn’t really amount to much more than maybe a few enemy placements being different.

"Metal Max Xeno Reborn’s gameplay structure might feel a bit too open in the beginning. Thankfully, you get used to the general openness, which allows you to spend quite a bit of time doing just about anything you want, from advancing the main story, to engaging in sidequests, to even just hanging out in your tank."

Of all the sidequests Metal Max Xeno Reborn offers, however, the bounties might just be some of the most fun activities. Essentially, you get a list of optional boss fights you can partake in at your leisure. In fact, the first time you come across a Bounty target—around the time when the game tutorialises the concept—you’re advised to retreat, and maybe come back to fight it when you’re stronger. A lot of the uniqueness I was hoping to see in enemy designs ultimately ended up with the Bounties, which while great, leaves the rest of the game worse off. The studio could’ve distilled the game down to just the vehicle customisation and Bounties, and I can make an argument that it would end up being an all-round superior game.

Thankfully it’s still a lot of fun kitting your tank out to fight specific Bounties. The Bounty list provides some hints to how you might approach the fight. One Bounty, for example, is said to be weak to electricity; better load up on some electric beam cannons. Another Bounty, basically a highly-armed drone, needs you to have anti-air weapons to fight it effectively. There are a fair number of Bounties, and honestly, they might just end up being the highlight of the game.

In terms of performance, the PC version runs quite well, which shouldn’t be altogether surprising considering the fact that Metal Max Xeno’s original release platforms also included the PS Vita back in 2018. It isn’t a particularly beautiful or demanding game, so high frame rates are almost a given. The graphics options, while quite anemic, provide at least a passable level of customisation. When it comes to being able to play with a keyboard and mouse, however, even the Steam page recommends using a controller instead, stating that keyboard and mouse isn’t supported.

"In terms of performance, the PC version runs quite well, which shouldn’t be altogether surprising considering the fact that Metal Max Xeno’s original release platforms also included the PS Vita back in 2018."

Metal Max Xeno Reborn is an absurd game, but it’s one with a lot of good ideas that ultimately work out, even if the cost of these ideas were a lack of general polish. The tank would undoubtedly feel better to control on a keyboard-mouse combo rather than a controller, at least in combat, and scaled-up PS Vita textures might not be the prettiest look. Metal Max Xeno Reborn is, however, saved thanks to its competent combat, a sincere attempt at telling a story that tries to have depth, interesting side characters, and surprisingly-fun optional bosses. And it has a dog that can use guns.

This game was reviewed on PC.

"At first, we were planning to simply port the title and develop the sequel, Metal Max Xeno 2 simultaneously, instead of remaking Metal Max Xeno."

What led to the decision to remake Metal Max Xeno?

At first, we were planning to simply port the title and develop the sequel, Metal Max Xeno 2 simultaneously, instead of remaking Metal Max Xeno.

However, as the Metal Max Xeno 2 project progressed, we realized that we were distancing way away from the original concept of the previous title, Metal Max Xeno.

Therefore, we came to the conclusion that we needed to first remake the Metal Max Xeno to a newly reborn version instead of simply porting it. 

Developers usually take one of two approaches when remaking video games- either modernizing the visuals and controls while otherwise sticking to the original, or reimagining the game in a completely new light. Which approach are you taking with Reborn?

The approach we took for Metal Max Xeno Reborn was literally “Reborn”.

The previous Metal Max Xeno was created with the concept of covering the portable game console, PS Vita, but Metal Max Xeno Reborn will be a complete remake which is mainly targeting PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

There are no changes in the world settings and story, but it will be a recreation of many game experiences and overall feel of the game, not to mention the upgraded visuals.

Are you taking this opportunity to address any criticisms with the original game?

No doubt we have listened to our user’s requests on Metal Max Xeno.

We can’t incorporate and implement everything, but I can say that we have strived to do our very best.

Are you looking at localization in the west for both Reborn 1 and 2?

If there are many users who want to play and there is an opportunity, then we would like to consider realizing these titles.

"We can’t incorporate and implement everything, but I can say that we have strived to do our very best."

Would it be fair to say that Reborn is going to give us glimpses for the ideas you have in store for future instalments of the series?

There is a chance that the favourable systems may be followed in the future series.

Why did you choose not to launch on Xbox One as well?

Up till now, the Metal Max series is an IP which has been primarily released in the Japanese market, but we have not received that many requests for an Xbox One release in Japan.

If the number of overseas users increase and we receive more requests in the future, we should be able to consider this.

RPG Maker MV, the, well, RPG making suite that was going to come to PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC courtesy of NIS America, is no longer going to be coming to Xbox One. NIS America and Japanese publisher Kadokawa Games announced that the Xbox One port, which had already been delayed in Japan, is now not coming at all—not even for the western release, which is scheduled for later this year.

This is actually a shame—RPG Maker MV was going to be the first game by NISA on an Xbox platform, and it was also going to allow cross-platform functionality between user creations on Xbox and Switch. Now it seems neither of those things will come to pass. We haven’t even been given a reason for the delay—just “various circumstances”, which really could mean anything.

That said, the console ports of the game underperformed in Japan even on PS4 and Switch, so maybe the developers felt it wasn’t worth their time to bother with a port for a system where Japanese games sell even worse.

While Square Enix returns to the Front Mission universe in Left Alive (releasing in March worldwide), the original team behind the tactical mech combat title on SNES has something else coming. Publisher Kadokawa Games announced on Twitter that Project Stella, a spiritual successor to Front Mission, will be out this year. A more concrete release date wasn’t provided.

Though it’s a spin-off of a Kadokawa mobile title (Starly Girls: Episode Starsia), Project Stella is a proper strategy RPG. While the publisher didn’t share more information on the consoles it would be releasing for, it wouldn’t be remiss to expect a PS4 release. Even a Steam launch seems reasonable enough, but we’ll have to wait for more confirmation.

Also, it seems Kadokawa president Yoshimi Yasuda is overseeing Project Stella. If the screenshot released on Twitter, the game’s first thus far, is any indication, then a more Front Mission-style strategy mech experience is on the cards. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.

https://twitter.com/starly_girls/status/1079755689340203008

All new set of screenshots, along with the second in a series of trailers, for the upcoming Kadokawa Games RPG, Natural Doctrine were released, giving us our best yet look at what to expect from the proposed February 2014 released title.

Natural Doctrine follows some typical RPG elements, such as turn based combat, the utilization of magic both in and out of combat, and the inclusion of multiple sentient species of life. All pretty standard fair, right? Where Natural Doctrine deviates, however, and becomes a more unique game is that the over arching theme of the game is natural selection. It’s humans versus a number of other alien races battling it out for supremacy. However simple, it’s actually a pretty unique and awesome idea for a fighting game, especially an RPG.

The trailer and screens give us a good look at what we’ll see in terms of both battles and the overall environment of the game. Check them out for yourself to see. Things are looking good.

Natural Doctrine is planned for release exclusive on PlayStation across PS Vita, PS3, and PS4.

One of the bigger albeit understated launch titles for the PlayStation 4 when it released in Japan on February 22nd 2014 was Kadokawa Games’ Natural Doctrine. However, Dengeki PlayStation (via Siliconera) recently revealed that the game has been delayed till March 19th in Japan.

Natural Doctrine’s name pretty much indicates the game’s premise – that of natural selection amid a fantasy simulation. Though there hasn’t been much revealed about the story till date, aside from the fact that you’ll play as some one named Jeff and be tasked with wiping out monsters, but we do know that it will feature both single-player and multiplayer modes along with several fantasy monsters such as minotaurs, goblins, orcs and more.

The game will also be heading to the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita in Japan, with a special PS4/PS Vita set to real for 7,980 yen on release. No details have been provided for a Western release as of yet, but stay tuned in the coming months for any updates.

On the development side of things, Kadokawa games has been responsible for such titles as Lunae: Silver Star Story Complete, Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete, EbiKore+ Amagami, Earth Seeker, Kantai Collection and Natural Doctrine.

Dengeki is one of the more recognizable names worldwide when it comes to Japanese media. They and their subsidiaries are responsible for the publishing and the development of numerous magazines, games and comic books which have seen release across the globe.

While virtually nothing has been revealed about the upcoming game at this point, it’s safe to assume that a collaboration from these two Japanese powerhouses won’t likely disappoint.

Players take on the role of executioner named Mondo Zapp, who is tasked to take out criminal and assassins. The game was released on August 2013 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

• 1. Development
• 2. Story
• 3. Gameplay
• 4. Characters

Development

The groundwork and planning for Killer Is Dead began in late 2009 with development starting in early 2011. The game does have some content which is mature, but vice president Ken Berry thinks the game can appeal to wider audiences.

“It can appeal to a wide group of people, not just our usual core audience that mainly focuses on RPGs. The key will be getting the additional retail exposure at the mass market retailers like Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Target, which is essential to branching out to the more casual gamers that may not closely follow gaming news and upcoming releases.” [reference]

The game took inspiration from Transformers: Dark of the Moon with its premise. Goichi Suda stated in an interview that, “When I was creating the script had to do with the moon, earth, and sun. I started with a plot that related those elements, but it wasn’t working out so I took that out. I still wanted to have some kind of focus with the moon.

You know the latest Transformers movie? Nobody has seen the dark side of the moon. There could be a house there with somebody living in it and the main character needs to kill that person, but how do you get over there. That’s how I started creating this game.” [reference]

The game would also rely on Unreal Engine 4 as Suda explained in an interview “As a developer, we’re heavily relying right now on Unreal Engine 4, That works really well with both systems – or in the sense that we could go either way.” [reference]

Story

The story takes place in the near future where the player takes up the role of an executioner named Mondo Zappa. The player gets contracts from the Bryan Execution Firm. This firm is run by a cyborg named Bryan Roses, who commissions Mondo and as you can imagine the player needs to kill various criminal across the world. Due to profession, Mondo does not show himself much in the world and lives a private life.

The game will also involve serious themes like “how far can you protect someone”  and “love and execution”, hence mixing action along with player emotions.

Gameplay

The game is a hack ‘n slash sword play combined with wild gunplay, and even some wrestling thrown in for good measure. The main character Mondo handles a sword with his right hand but has his cybernetic left arm that transforms into different weapons, which include guns, drills and more. In addition, his arm absorbs blood from the people that he slaughters and the collected blood is used for a powerful strike called Adrenaline Boost.

Suda stated that, “One thing we got to do with this game, is you fighting against a Yakuza guy riding a tiger. You’re in Kyoto, among all these old-style buildings, and [hero] Mondo is on this motorbike fighting against a Yakuza on a tiger! And the game’s packed with these sorts of situations, the kind you won’t see in any other game. That Kyoto battle got concepted out surprisingly early on, too; I guess we felt like overseas gamers ought to see what Kyoto looks like”.

He further stated that, “Mondo’s an executioner, not an assassin. You have that ‘execution’ nuance added to the act of murdering your foes. The hero’s job is to wipe out these serious villains, real AAA-class international terrorists. He’s dressed so smartly that you might wonder if he’s actually capable of killing, but once the ‘work’ switch is pulled, his aura completely turns around.

“The story depicts him as a man who just does his job without putting much of any emotion into it. I think Killer7 was the best we could do in art expression at the time it came out, but if we just recreated that, it’d merely seem old at this point. So we really pursued an art style that seemed modern with our shading technology. There was a lot of trial and error behind what you see now.” [reference]

As the player performs more and more combos, your combo level will increase which will give rise to four different finishing moves. They are called as the Final Judgement. They are:

• Assassination
• Slaughter
• Punishment
• Execution

Characters

Mondo Zappa – The hero of the game is  a 35-year-old man hailing from America. As mentioned above he who is hired by the Brian Execution Firm in order to kill criminals around the world. He uses  is his pair of Katanas (Gekkou)  to take his foes down.

Hamadayama – He is Yakuza and yields a Katana and is one of the antagonists in the game. He has a tiger tattoo on his back.

Giant Head – Another enemy in the game, Giant Head is an alien.

Vivian Squall – She is a 25-year-old woman from Europe. She  works in the Brian Execution Firm as Mondo Zappa’s boss. She is a very serious and upto the point kind of person.

Victor – He steals sounds from music makers to create his sound of evil. He can transform himself into a powerful robot.

Mika Takekawa – Takekawa  is Japanese woman who works as Mondo Zappa’s assistant.

Brian Roses – Brian is a 65-year-old American and is the chief of the  Brian Execution Firm. In the past Brian Roses was a executioner himself but now, he is turned himself in to a full fledged Cyborg.

Damon- Not much is known about him except he described as a mysterious man with eyes of madness.

This wiki was last updated on 5th, January 2015. 

Interestingly enough, as Siliconera reveals, one of those targets is Alice, and though not explicitly stating it to be Lewis Carroll’s character, you’d find it hard to think otherwise.

This Alice comes from France though, and seems to suffer from back pain (shut up) since moving to the Moon. It begins with a painter named Robert showing Mondo a drawing of a spider creature and he heads off to the house in question to investigate before landing up in a twisted version of Wonderland. Alice is the spider creature, and unlike many of the Mondo Girls isn’t one to fall prey to X-Ray glasses.

Killer is Dead is set to release on August 27th for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Some of the first run pre-order bonuses for the game have been revealed, including a Gigolo Mission centered around Betty – a vampiric woman who is actually 256 years old. Also odd castles and mysterious gentlemen play a part somehow, which makes it even more mysterious.

But the biggest edition is the a pair of black Gigolo Glasses, namely the Super Mondo Glasses, that let you view a woman’s, er, “heart” as long as you want. And no, not even the displeasure from your creepy advances will be enough to break them, so stare away.

Killer is Dead is due to release in August for Xbox 360 and PS3. XSeed Games and Deep Silver will be publishing the game in North America and Europe respectively.