About Rekka Alexiel

Production manager, coordinator, writer/translator, motion/voice actor. Anime Expo 2022 Exhibitor. Since 2005, she has covered all things related to Japanese subculture with an added focus on Yoko Taro and his works, including the Drakengard and NieR series among many others. As the head of Fire Sanctuary, she has published a multitude of official reports on various topics such as Tokyo Game Show, gaming news, and multiple stage plays by Yoko Taro. She has also participated in many volunteer orchestras in Japan as a soprano vocalist.

More Platinum 4 News! Project G.G.

This week’s issue of Famitsu magazine points to yet another new IP from Platinum Games and their Platinum 4 project. Here’s a short excerpt via Ryokutya:

A young boy, body wrapped in pale light, poses before a giant monster…!

Platinum Game’s first self-published and completely new IP!

Kamiya: I’m working as director on a completely new title.
Inaba: We’re going to betray everyone’s expectations on this– in a good way!
Kamiya: This will be a challenge that Platinum has never attempted before.

Kamiya: Similarly with the single-body transformations in Viewtiful Joe reminiscent of Kamen Rider, or the squads in The Wonderful 101, G.G. will have gigantic heroes.
Inaba: If we really had to put it in any given genre, it wold be ____ Action ____ (two words redacted!).
Kamiya: The action feeling is a really important aspect of the game, but I wouldn’t say it’s forced.

Inaba: At this point in time, we want to release it on all platforms.

Inaba: When we started making the plans, the development team kicked into gear.
We want to open a studio in Tokyo with about 100 people, so we’ll be looking for new talent. We have about 15 people thus far.

Kamiya: I’m kinda nervous because Taura beat me in the poll I started on Twitter asking “people you want to work with the most”.
Inaba: We can only take it as fact. (haha)

Inaba: There have been other proposals similar to our partnership with Tencent and I’ve heard many stories about Platinum losing its independence, but I turned these down because we don’t want to sell our freedom in exchange for stability.

There are still 2 new titles that have yet to be announced. Platinum 4 includes four new projects from Platinum Games.

Inaba: The last one is a secret. We’re going to make something interesting that lives up to the Platinum name. Please look forward to it!

Dengeki PlayStation to be Discontinued at the End of March

Dengeki PlayStation logo as seen on Twitter.

In an announcement by Editor-in-Chief, Chiki Ryoaki, we’ve learned that one of Japan’s longest running magazines on video games, Dengeki PlayStation, which began publications 25 years ago in 1994, will be discontinued at the end of March.

The Dengeki PlayStation monthly magazine will be discontinued following the final release of Vol.686 on March 28. Next to Famitsu, Dengeki PlayStation has been releasing issues for 25 years since Vol.1 in 1994. However, due to the continuing change in how information is distributed, releasing physical issues has become rather expensive.

Many readers have already been able to access articles on Dengeki Online or on the Dengeki Online YouTube channel during regular “Dengeki PS Live” segments. They will be considering producing additional publications such as extra editions, mooks, and more. They will also continue to produce articles on the Web under the “Dengeki PlayStation” title as well as releasing “Dengeki PS Live” programs and other videos on Dengeki Online.

Therefore, there are only two remaining issues: Vol.685 to be released on February 28 and Vol.686 on March 28.

NieR Orchestral Arrangement Album – Addendum

The NieR Orchestral Arrangement Album – Addendum will be released on March 25. This album features all-new arrangements for a handful of carefully selected tracks from both NieR Gestalt/Replicant and NieR:Automata. The Addendum arrangements will likely be featured at the NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020 next month.

Track List

  1. Ashes of Dreams (Emi Evans & J’Nique Nicole Vocals)
  2. Emil (Addendum Version)
  3. Deep Crimson Foe
  4. Song of the Ancients (Emi Evans & J’Nique Nicole Vocals)
  5. Kaine (Addendum Version)
  6. City Ruins (Addendum Version)
  7. A Beautiful Song (Emi Evans & J’Nique Nicole Vocals)
  8. Copied City
  9. Crumbling Lies
  10. Weight of the World (Emi Evans & J’Nique Nicole Vocals)

NieR Orchestral Arrangement Album
Addendum Special Disc (Pre-order Bonus)

  1. Alien Manifestation (J’Nique Nicole Vocals)
  2. Peaceful Sleep
  3. Vague Hope (Emi Evans Vocals)

* The tracks that are listed as “Addendum Version” have already appeared on the NieR Orchestral Arrangement soundtrack, so these will be completely new arrangements specifically for the Addendum release.

** The NieR Orchestra Concert 12018 Blu-ray included two digital audio tracks: Kaine with vocals by Emi Evans and Weight of the World with vocals by J’Nique Nicole.

NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020 Promotional Video

Square Enix has just released a short promotional video for the NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020, which will be held in Tokyo on March 28-29 and in Osaka on April 25, for a total of 5 separate performances.

NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020 Promotional Video
Translation below:

In 2020, 10 years from the release of NieR Gestalt/Replicant, the “NieR:Theatrical Orchestra 12020” concert will be held in Tokyo and Osaka.

This performance will consist of fully orchestrated performances of songs carefully selected from NieR Gestalt/Replicant and NieR:Automata, including recitations by the voice cast as well songs performed by vocalists.

Please look forward to this amazing music festival worth of the 10th Anniversary!

Very few details are currently known about the concert besides this, but it will likely be similar to the NieR:Orchestra Concert 12018 with additional recitations from the voice actors from the game. It’s unclear whether this is referencing new recitation dramas like what was performed at the NieR:Automata Memory of Puppets Concert, although this is likely referencing the monologue inserts before various pieces by Emil and 2B. In this sense, the Theatrical Orchestra may not be all that different from the original concert from 2018, save for the new arrangements that will be released as part of the Addendum album.