Well, the first day of December has been officially over for roughly 2 hours now…and we’re that much closer to the inevitable release of DOD3 in 18 days!  Now that we’re heading into the final stretch, recent news has not been all that astounding, although we have had a couple awesome tid-bits!

More Soundtrack News!
Emi Evans has finally been given the official go-ahead to announce that she is indeed back performing vocals for the DOD3 soundtrack.  You may recall her from the exquisite work she did for the Nier soundtrack.  A sample of her newest work for DOD3 can be streamed directly from Square Enix’s page with other info about the soundtrack.  As I’ve mentioned before, you can see that there is still room to hear 3 extra tracks on the page….but they are currently unavailable.  Maybe they will upload a new track weekly until the release?  Hmmm!  Definitely bookmark this page:
http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/dod3/

Next up:
The two manga series.

Volume 1 of both Utahime Five and Red Obtained by Death will be released on December 20th.  The biweekly publication of the latter in Young GanGan has been pushed back until the December 25th issue due to possible spoilers for the game.

Also on the subject of the manga, I find the latest coloration for “One” quite interesting. At the beginning of the Red Obtained by Death manga, we’re introduced to a character who calls himself “One”.  He apparently wears a lot of white, has a somewhat similar hood/cloak as the Utautai Sister One…but he has very pale eyes and hair color; you could argue that both LACK color at all, although I would call his eyes gray and hair white–BUT, maybe my perception is wrong!  The white fluffy stuff that I thought was hair could have simply been the feathery trimming around the hood that he used to hide his hair?  That’s all very interesting, but then why would his eyes change color?  Hmmm… 

* Story Speculation *
I’m going to throw out a speculation idea and see where it goes.  Quite some time ago, someone suggested that we might learn more about the two-faced Goddess design that appeared in the original DOD1.  I thought on this and a couple other ideas, but I keep coming back to this one idea–In the video in which Zero says that those with such great powers as the Utautai Sisters, there need not be six of them when just one will do.  What if she succeeds in killing her younger siblings but is unable to completely defeat One and in the end, somehow, they merge.  I really don’t think Zero has it in her head that SHE will be the one to survive in the end.  Maybe she was very literal (not so much in Japanese) when she said, “Only one will suffice.”  Hmm.  What, if anything, that would have to do with the characters in the Red Obtained by Death manga, I have no idea…

Moving on…

Display Kit
I was recently able to obtain a complete store display kit and am in the process of scanning the images.

Hmmm, maybe that’s about it for news tonight/this morning.  😉

According to this page, we can expect the DOD3 soundtrack to be released on January 22, 2014. It will include 33 tracks, the two vocal songs by both Aoi Eir and Onitsuka Chihiro, respectively–also, Emi Evans makes a come-back with her phenomenal and emotion-evoking vocals for the soundtrack! You can hear her in the sample track that is available on the announcement page, which is linked above.

Also, if you go to the site above and try to click on the link there at the bottom to go directly to the Square Enix e-STORE, the link does not work. Please use this one to be directed to the page where you can pre-order the soundtrack!!  I’ve already purchased my copy!!  😀

Pre-order the soundtrack from the SQUARE ENIX e-STORE here!!

RELEASE INFORMATION

CD Release Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Price: 3,000 yen + 150 tax
Number of Discs: 2
Label: Square Enix
ID: SQEX-10414-5

Amazon IDs
ASIN: B00GXEY210
EAN: 4988601463676

Sound Director: Okabe Keiichi (MONACA)

Composition & Arrangement: MONACA (Okabe Keiichi, Hoashi Keigo, Ishihama Kakeru, Takahashi Kuniyuki), Sano “Denji” Nobuyoshi, Toyama Akitaka

Theme Songs:
“Kuroi Uta” by Aoi Eir
“This Silence is Mine” by Onitsuka Chihiro

Links to Purchase:
Square Enix e-STORE
Amazon Japan

Copyrights:
(C) 2013 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved. Character Design : Kimihiko Fujisaka.

Big GanGan has a surprising treat for DOD3 fans this month…

That’s right!!  A beautiful double-sided poster featuring all 6 of the Utautai Sisters and the other is that famously gorgeous blood-soaked image of Zero we’ve grown accustomed to see with her faithful sidekick, Mikhail.  What an awesome gift to fans this is!  Must pick this up soon!! <3

Here are a couple more images related to this poster from Yahoo Auctions:

Drakengard 3 in the News

• Famitsu (Japanese) Zero Run-down
  (Quick Google Translated Intro):
  1 month after finally to the launch of “Drag-On Dragoon 3”! With that said, it also serves as a recap, as prior knowledge of pre-launch, so far published to people who are interested in recently to people who from this time, is checked to bean the information in “Drag-On Dragoon 3” go to publish a summary of the information has been.This time, is referred to as the strongest Utautai, I try to summarize the main character zero facing the sisters. By the way, in charge of the voice zero Uchida Maaya.

   

  [Zero]
  Special ability’s called “Utautai”, with Kengeki and Ryoryoku abilities of a far cry from the man. In addition, nature do not think anything that you have a relationship with men of many open and very sexual. Is a violent character in Ya rising PITA, tiff die out between the sister one too serious. I have a strange body flowers that grew in the right eye continues to grow.

• Famitsu (Japanese) One Run-down

Assorted News on Quests

• Siliconera
  http://www.siliconera.com/2013/11/24/drakengard-3-loaded-side-quests/

   

   

• Explosion
  http://www.explosion.com/48827/drakengard-3-gets-new-screenshots-sidequests/

   

   

• GameKult (French)
  http://www.gamekult.com/actu/drakengard-3-aura-ses-quetes-annexes-A117365.html
  
  (Quick Google Translation):
  Square Enix has released new screens of Drakengard 3 illustrating the particular quests developed by Access Games game.The main plot aside, the hero of Drakengard 3, Zero can complete many quests such as collect items that enemies drop. All in a given period of time. Some of these side missions also take the form of “bonus stage” and will take you fight waves of enemies and earn rewards based on the number of opponents you have been able to carpet.3 Drakengard released on December 19 in Japan and is expected next year in the West.
• Play3.de (German)
  http://www.play3.de/2013/11/25/drakengard-3-screenshots-zeigen-nebenmissionen/

   

  (Quick Google Translation):
  The developers of Access Games and publisher Square Enix have released more screenshots for the upcoming RPG “Drakengard 3”. The new images provide insights into some side quests of the title. The side missions include also various tasks that are sometimes subject to time limitations and also other rules.”Drakengard 3″ is an action role-playing game and is being developed by Access Games for the PlayStation 3. The struggles the players wear mainly on the ground. Nevertheless, there are some portions which take place both in the air and on the ground. As a special gameplay component, the developers introduced the so-called “Utautai” power. Once your character is completely soaked in blood, his battle skills increase to a maximum.”Drakengard 3″ appears in Japan on 19 December 2013. A publication in the West has already been confirmed.

• multiplayer.it (Italian)
  http://multiplayer.it/notizie/125862-drakengard-3-completando-le-quest-secondarie-di-drakengard-3-si-ottengono-dei-premi-extra.html

   

  (Quick Google Translation):
  One more reason to explore this aspect of the gameSometimes the quests are a little interesting pastime for those who delivers everything it promises, but Drakengard 3 in their completion will lead to earn extra rewards. Players can experiment with these missions accepting the limitations regarding the use of weapons or objects, but to get success in such times lead to some gains. The output of Drakengard 3 is fixed to 19 December in Japan, while in the West the game will come over the next year. (From Gematsu)

• LaPS3 (Spanish)
  http://www.laps3.com/noticias/401854-drakengard_3_contara_multitud_de_misiones_secundarias.html

   

  (Quick Google Translation):
  There are new details related to Drakengard 3 new installment of the series started on PS2 and is presented as a prequel to the first adventure starring Caim and Angelus.In this case, comes new images showing various scenes of the gameplay of the title, showing various side quests that will be part of the game.These missions have to perform certain tasks, such as preventing an enemy reaches a certain point, keeping track of various objects … with restrictions, such as using only a certain weapon, fight without equipment, etc.. Other missions will be based on defeating enemies before time runs out.

  All these secondary missions will be rewarded, sometimes a fixed or, as in the case of the defeat enemy vary the prize our results.

  Drakengard 3 will arrive in Europe on PlayStation 3 digital format early next year.

• Gamekyo (French)
  http://www.gamekyo.com/newsfr55487_drakengard-3-nouvelles-images.html

   

  (Quick Google Translation):
  As usual, Square Enix began his week with a new batch of images for Drakengard 3 title that will not sell for its graphics but we can say that the fans of this otherwise excellent series have become accustomed.Expected next month in Japan, the title is already confirmed for 2014 in the West even though we must content ourselves with a PSN release.