• Name: Mio Akiyama
• Series: K-ON!
• Maker: Alter
• Sculptor: Numakura Toshiaki
• Scale: 1/8
• Material: PVC
• Release Date: 01/2010
• Buy it here!

Polyphonica: Corticarte Apa Lagranges

• Name: Corticarte Apa Lagranges
• Series: Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica
• Maker: Orchid Seed
• Sculptor: Yamato Sagami
• Scale: 1/7
• Material: PVC
• Release Date: 02/2010
• Buy it here!

Yosuga no sora: Sora Kasugano

• Name: Sora Kasugano
• Series: Yosuga no sora
• Maker: MegaHouse
• Sculptor: Houjun Otoyama
• Scale: 1/8
• Material: PVC
• Release Date: 01/2010
• Buy it here!

Shining Wind: Celestia

• Name: Celestia
• Series: Shining Wind
• Maker: Kotobukiya
• Sculptor: Shou Kojima
• Scale: 1/8
• Material: PVC
• Release Date: 10/2009
• Buy it here!

Shining Wind: Clalaclan Maid ver.

• Name: Clalaclan Philias
• Series: Shining Wind
• Version: Maid version
• Maker: Kotobukiya
• Sculptor: Migizou
• Scale: 1/8
• Material: PVC
• Release Date: 11/2009
• Buy it here!

Kobato: Kobato Hanato

• Name: Kobato Hanato
• Series: Kobato
• Maker: Kotobukiya
• Sculptor: Matsumoto Koei
• Scale: None
• Material: PVC
• Release Date: 12/2009
• Buy it here!

Nendoroid – Vocaloid: Luka Megurine

• Name: Luka Megurine
• Series: Vocaloid
• Version: Nendoroid
• Maker: Good Smile Company
• Sculptor: Yukiwo Ageta
• Material: PVC / ABS
• Release Date: 01/2010
• Buy it here!

Nendoroid – Phantom: Ein

• Name: Ein
• Series: Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom
• Version: Nendoroid
• Maker: Good Smile Company
• Sculptor: Kazuyoshi Udono/Nendoron
• Material: PVC / ABS
• Release Date: 01/2010
• Buy it here!

Final Fantasy XIII: Original Soundtrack [Japanese]

• Name: Final Fantasy XIII: Original Soundtrack
• Series: Final Fantasy
• Version: Japanese
• Maker: Square Enix
• Release Date: 01/2010
• Buy it here!

What can I say? There was a plethora of good games released this month.

• Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)
• Final Fantasy XIII Limited Edition Strategy Guide
• Final Fantasy XIII OST
  
• God of War III: Ultimate Edition (PS3)
  
• Battlefield Bad Company 2 (PC)

FFXIII is the shiniest gem out of all the March releases. Graphics are so amazing that it’s hard to tell the FMV sequences apart from the in-game graphics, and the combat system is innovative and actually gets fun deeper into the game. Some people might complain about the linear plot and endless sprawl of dungeon maps, but it’s really not that bad. I actually prefer the way the maps are structured and that there’s only one ending. Well, I’ll share my thoughts in an actual post focused on FFXIII later on.

Moving along, the FFXIII Limited Edition Strategy Guide is one out of a total of 210,000 printed. Mine is numbered 103,100 and worth every dollar I paid. As for the OST, I haven’t had a chance to listen to all of it yet, but what I heard so far was superb. Figure Haven will actually be carrying a few copies once I update the store with the new inventory we received. Square Enix decided to drop the price of the OST from $49.99 to $34.99 since they were pleased with FFXIII‘s reception in North America. We’ll probably offer it for $29.99 or something, but I digress.

Ah yes, the God of War III: Ultimate Edition. It naturally comes with the game, an art book, and a replica of Pandora’s Box. Basically you pay extra for a rather realistic-looking, but plastic box. I was surprised at the size and how it looks to be made of metal, but you realize it’s simply plastic once you touch it.

Then finally I got Bad Company 2 for the PC after reading great reviews about it and watching gameplay videos on Youtube. Fully destructible terrain? Sounds perfect to me.

Now I just need to find time for all this. FFXIII takes priority of course.

Since many people have been purchasing FFXIII recently, I thought I would share this in case anyone hasn’t heard about it.

Square Enix has a members reward program where buying their games nets you points which in turn increases your membership “tier”. Gamers located in North America can sign up here.

Games like FFXIII and Star Ocean: The Last Hope, which are published by Square Enix, should contain a registration card with a serial number in it. You simply login to your members account and add the game to your “Collection” by entering the code.

Your tier level resets every year, and the date for the next reset is March 31st, 2010. The rewards program sends out free goodies after each reset.

Bronze tier members will receive a postcard set featuring Final Fantasy XIII, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, and Star Ocean The Last Hope International artwork. Silver tier members will get a desktop calendar with artwork from Final Fantasy XIV, Front Mission Evolved, and other games. Gold tier members will get a music compilation on CD while Ultimate tier members will get an 8GB iPod Touch.

So if you have bought Square Enix games recently, it doesn’t hurt at all to sign up and register them. Plus, there’s usually a sweepstakes going on that you can enter. The current one is for a FFXIII Xbox 360 bundle.

So far it seems like one game will net you enough points for Bronze while two games is enough for Silver.

News Source: joystiq
Image Source: pixiv

The PS3 definitely feels like it has been lacking some good RPGs (Side note: Valkyria Chronicles was awesome), but this year’s lineup aims to remedy that. After patiently waiting for years, this game is finally coming out next week!

I preordered this along with the rest of these RPGs over at Amazon as usual. No tax along with Amazon Prime makes it all worthwhile.

Release Date: February 2, 2010

Amazon Product Link

Star Ocean: The Last Hope

I was disappointed when this was released only on the Xbox 360 since I’ve played all the previous Star Ocean games. Good thing it’s coming out for the PS3 on February 9th since it saves me from having to buy a 360.

Release Date: February 9, 2010

Amazon Product Link

Final Fantasy XIII

It’s the next game in the Final Fantasy franchise, what more do you need to know? Despite some gamers ranting about how the plot is too linear, I still highly anticipate FF13 due to its graphics and what will hopefully be entertaining gameplay.

Release Date: March 9, 2010

Amazon Product Link

Resonance of Fate

Known as End of Eternity in Japan, the name was probably changed for release in NA to Resonance of Fate due to copyright issues (I recall an Asimov novel named End of Eternity). Anyways, tri-Ace is the developer behind this game, and I look forward to what they have to offer if their previous work on the Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile series is any indication of what’s to come.

Release Date: May 31, 2010

Amazon Product Link

Image Source: Wikipedia

Yes, it’s finally here – for those of us that can understand Japanese. Final Fantasy XIII was released in Japan on the 17th of this month.

I was debating whether or not to order a copy from Play-Asia and play through the Japanese version, but I opted not to after watching a stream of the game. I didn’t want to miss out on the dialogue and plot, but too bad the North American version won’t include the Japanese voices.

The battle system looks like fun, with a lot of customization and paradigm shifts. Anyone here already playing the game?

March 9th couldn’t come any sooner.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Final Fantasy 13 is coming out this year in Japan for the PS3 on December 17.

The game is a PS3 exclusive in Japan, but the same isn’t true for the international release. I’m curious as to how or why Sony lost the FF13 exclusive for international release. If it were exclusive, this game alone would considerably drive PS3 console sales up.

As further stated in the Sankaku Complex post, it has been suggested that the delayed 2010 international release could be in part due to the Xbox 360 port. It is fairly obvious that porting a game to another console takes time, but I thought the PS3 version was going to be released first anyways?

I’m definitely looking forward to this game and will get it on release day. Another related game that I’m even more anticipating is FF13 Versus; the dark setting seems more appealing to me. Too bad my Japanese skills are at newbie level or else I would be getting this game on December 17.

News Source: Sankaku Complex

Image Source: Safebooru