Category Archives: Drakengard 3

Drakengard 3: Official Release Date is May 20th

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We have official news on the NA release of DOD3!  And they will release a special edition box with a bunch of goodies, although, it’s lacking some of the best goodies from the 10th anniversary box like the art books and scripts.  Here’s some more information:

Pre-Order Drakengard 3 today exclusively at the SQUARE ENIX ONLINE STORE!

Street Date: 05/20/14

SHIPS EARLY FOR LAUNCH DAY DELIVERY

Only 5,000 copies of this exclusive item will be produced, so pre-order now to reserve your copy while supplies last! Pre-ordering this version also locks you in for three free bonus items:

1.) Japanese VO DLC
2.) Revealed on March 4th!
3.) Revealed on April 9th!

The Collector’s Edition also contains:

• Premium Packaging, featuring the Japanese Product Art
• The Complete Prequel Novella
• Soundtrack Sampler Disc
• Double-sided Collectible Poster
• DLC Code for the Caim Costume, based on the protagonist of Drakengard
• DLC Code for a prequel stage featuring Zero’s sister, One as a playable character
• DLC Code for the Giant Baby Hat

A prequel to the original Drakengard, Drakengard 3 transports players to a medieval world where six sisters wield special magical abilities as the “Intoners.” These sisters have brought peace to the earth with their power to manipulate magic through song. Harmony is disrupted, however, when the eldest sister, Zero, attempts to murder her younger sisters with the help of her dragon companion, Mikhail. As the story progresses, players find themselves in a battle to unravel the mystery of Zero and learn her true intentions.
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*Launch day delivery not guaranteed. Final product may vary

D3_collectors_edition_RP_1292x1000 DOD3-NA-cover-box DOD3-NA-cover DOD3-NA-Standard-Edition-Box DOD3-NA-Standard-Edition DOD3-preorder-ad
http://store.na.square-enix.com/store/sqenixus/en_US/pd/ThemeID.29853700/productID.296956900#.UvJP0UKSzB8

The Official Complete Guide Book + Settings

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The release of the Official Complete Guide Book and Setting Designs will be released on February 28th. Have you pre-ordered your copy yet? Do so, here!

Anyway, Dengeki Online has just published a short reminder about the guidebook and reminded us what goodies we can find within it. I believe I’ve posted about its contents before, but here’s one interesting thing they’ve added: The settings for “DOD1.3“.

What is DOD1.3? Well, if you’ve played through DOD3, you will know that [SP: time is not a single, flowing entity. It is like a tree which may brach out from its original path to create a new “future”. It’s the classic Back to the Future idea: Change the past to create a better future.] So, what if events in DOD3 effectively alter the events which now may or may not occur in DOD1? That is where the idea of DOD1.3 comes from; It’s the same general idea, with both small and very vital aspects changed, melded into a new timeline.

For example, the guide book will talk about various possibilities with DOD1.3 like this:

  • Since there is no such thing as contracts between humans and dragons, Caim and Angel have merely a symbiotic relationship.
  • Perhaps there is a parting of ways between Caim and his younger sister Furiae.
  • Many other unpredictable yet exciting new twists and turns!

**EDIT**
Looks like I never updated this post with more information on the guidebook.  ^^;;

More information on the Complete Official Guide Book!

Pre-orders for the Complete Official Guide Book have been underway for a while now!  Have you ordered yours yet?  Here’s what you can expect:

The only Complete Guide and Settings book

*  A ton of data and information on how to reach each of the endings

*  A ton of setting designs and information, especially previously forbidden information on various things that many fans have been wondering about

 

Must read information for fans from the developer on story and world of DOD3

* Featured story by Yoko Taro, series creator

*  Highly detailed information on the world view, development terms and materials to enjoy the game even more

 

The book is jam-packed full of maniac-level articles by the Dengeki staff that brought you the legendary “DOD2” and “Nier” guide books

*  An extensive view of the DOD3 world from the perspective of the Dengeki staff

*  In the fan book-like corner of the guide, you will find a character popularity poll and much more

 

Beautiful illustrations and character designs, especially from fans

*  Rough illustrations by character designer Fujisaka Kimihiko, including other design materials and notes that can only be found here

*  Rough images that eventually were cut in the development process

*  Various tribute illustrations from the illustrating team:  Ayakura Juu, Tanno Shinobu, pako, Fukahire, MAYA, Morii Shizuki, and Yaegashi Nan

Dengeki Online – News Release
http://dengekionline.com/elem/000/000/765/765612/

Amazon – Pre-order the Complete Official Guide Book here!
http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4048660861/dengekionline-22

Possible connections between YoRHa & DOD/Nier?

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For those of you following the news of the secret track ripped from the game which was labeled as Accord’s battle theme, here’s some interesting food for thought for youー but please be warned of spoilers.  I would recommend not reading any further in this post if you do not want to be spoiled on the story of DOD3.

First of all, Accord has no battle theme within the game.  She is not a playable character.  Although she technically *does* have a little bit of an action role, she has no such theme that could be categorized as her battle theme within the story of the game.  Now, if they had initially planned for her to have such a role in the game but thusly needed to cut it in the end, that would be entirely a different story, although I’m a bit skeptical on that front.

Secondly, the actual track is another vocal performance by YoRHa (ヨルハ) on their CD entitled “Normandy / Guadalcanal”*, which you can hear in a longer remix version here: https://soundcloud.com/syouyamashita/extend-overdub-rmx

According to YoRHa’s official Web site, there is a specific story background for the singing/talent group. Here is my translation of the very sparse information on their Web site:

SToRY
======================================
西暦11939年 第十四次機械兵器戦争勃発
11,939AD Outbreak of the 14th Machine Armament War

機械生命体に地上を制圧された遠い未来。
In the distant future when the world is conquered by mechanical live.

衛星軌道上に逃れた人類は、増殖強化される機械生命体に対し決定的な打撃を与える事が出来ずに居た。
As the remaining humans fled to the moon (or artificial satellite), they were unable to deal the decisive blow to the mechanical life which found a way to fortify their propagation.

衛星軌道上からの降下艦隊は全て撃沈され、爆撃作戦も全て無効化。
The humans descended from orbit with a fleet of ships, firing all of their torpedos and bombs, but all attempts to destroy the machines were ineffective.

地表にたどり着いた僅かな友軍も、圧倒的な敵軍の前に為す術もなく全滅。
Although a few friendly forces arrived on the surface of the Earth, they were completely annihilated before the overwhelming enemy forces.

迫り来る冷たい敵を前に、人類は絶滅の淵に立たされようとしていた。
As their ice-cold enemies approached, the entire human race was forced to stand on the precipice of extinction.

【ヨルハ】YoRHa
対機械生命体用に開発された自動歩兵人形。
Automatic humanoid soldier androids developed to combat the mechanical life forms.

PRoFiLe
======================================
YoRHa No2: Healer (Re-Assessing)
YoRHa No4: Executer (Seriously Injured)
YoRHa No9: Scanner (Deported)

YoRHa No11: Defender (Deployed)
YoRHa No12: Sniper (Deployed)
YoRHa No13: Attacker (Deployed)

SCHeDuLe
======================================
2013.6.28 Akihabara Dearstage Reboot MTG #1
2013.3.8 Akihabara Dearstage Strategy MTG #4
2012.12.13 Akihabara Dearstage Strategy MTG #3
2012.9.27 Akihabara Dearstage Strategy MTG #2
2012.7.13 Akihabara Dearstage Strategy MTG #1
2012.5.27 Shibuya WWW First ACT

Now take this new information about this very distant future in which the world is conquered by robotic life forms…humans are nearly completely wiped out…and their only means of survival is to create other androids in which to combat the machines and reclaim the planet…

Is this a completely separate story from the world of DOD & Nier? Perhaps. It seems like YoRHa has been around at least for the past two years or so…but then again, this could also have been around the time when DOD3 was entering development (how long does it take to begin working on a game…?), so it all still could be the concoction of the DOD team.  It’s an interesting thought, but I am also skeptical on this because the group has their own performances in the fashion/indies music front in Akihabara, unattached or unaided by anything related to MONACA or the game series.

Could the overall view or the “Big Picture” of the DOD world actually be from the perspective of the real humans who were nearly exterminated and yet cannot defeat the machines… Their only chance at survival was to send androids into the past to find a way to stop the machines from coming to be in the first place??

Hmm, pretty far out there, but it’s hard not to imagine the possible connections. It’s still very unclear whether there is a firm connection between YoRHa & the story of DOD/Nier.  If the track is a secret data file on the game itself, it could have been placed there as a nice shout-out to the group for participating on the soundtrack.  Kinda sad if that’s all it is…but…

What do you think?

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Read more on the Invasion of Normandy/D-Day and the Guadalcanal Campaign here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Normandy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalcanal_Campaign
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Kuroi Hana: An Interpreted Translation

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I was asked to translate the lyrics from “Kuroi Uta”, but since lyricist Kikuchi Hana also wrote this in complete katakana, it’s very difficult to make an exact translation. There are a few reasons why I am okay with this:

1) Like poetry, song lyrics need not be completely coherent and they can break from traditional norms of grammar.

2) Simply by using all katakana like this conveys a sense of an old language, or perhaps even the language of gods.

3) Somethings are not meant to be fully understood, but rather felt or experienced. It is what it is and holds no room for explanation. There is a sense of beauty in ambiguity.

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