Eidos launches new Japanese brand for US and Europe
Fresh Games to bring breakthrough Japanese titles to the international market
Eidos Interactive this week announced a new brand, specifically devoted to bringing high quality Japanese video game titles to the worldwide market. Fresh Games will kick-off its line-up with Mr Moskeeto, Mad Maestro!, and Legaia 2: Duel Saga, the sequel to the 300,000-plus unit selling Legend of Legaia. All three games have been developed by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2 and will be available in Spring 2002.
"Fresh Games has been created to expose gamers to unique and captivating gameplay experiences that traditionally have been unavailable outside of Japan," says Mike McGarvey, CEO of Eidos. "With Mr Moskeeto, Mad Maestro!, and Legaia 2 we will further strengthen our already impressive product line-up for this year with a range of titles aimed at the hardcore gamer."
"Eidos Japan is extremely excited to bring outstanding games that have not been traditionally available in the West," says Satoshi Honda, Managing Director of Eidos Japan. "Titles such as Mr Moskeeto, Mad Maestro!, and Legaia 2 exemplify gameplay that the hardcore gamer has been craving worldwide."
Mr Moskeeto, originally released as KA in Japan, is an action game. You play as a mosquito, with an objective to continually torment a Japanese family every summer by sucking as much blood as possible in order to survive the cold winter. You must confront daily life and death battles with the Japanese family who are determined to rid themselves of the mosquito. Quirky, to say the least.
Mad Maestro!, originally released as Bravo Music in Japan, is a music/action title. You assume the role of an orchestra conductor tasked with saving the town's Concert Hall from being destroyed by showing the city the orchestra's great performances. Ordinarily, you would think, ‘…only in Japan’. However, be afraid, ‘cos it’s coming over here.
Legaia 2: Duel Saga is the follow-up to Legend of Legaia, a martial-arts themed 3D role-playing game featuring a highly original battle system. You must create attacks by linking together different styles of hits directed at your enemies. When certain combinations of attacks are linked together powerful, magic-based attacks are formed. Legaia 2’s description of gameplay reads like something Western gamers will be a little more familiar with.
It’s a brave move that Eidos are making with their Fresh Games brand, and we wish them well in converting we western types to the strange playing habits of the east.
"Fresh Games has been created to expose gamers to unique and captivating gameplay experiences that traditionally have been unavailable outside of Japan," says Mike McGarvey, CEO of Eidos. "With Mr Moskeeto, Mad Maestro!, and Legaia 2 we will further strengthen our already impressive product line-up for this year with a range of titles aimed at the hardcore gamer."
"Eidos Japan is extremely excited to bring outstanding games that have not been traditionally available in the West," says Satoshi Honda, Managing Director of Eidos Japan. "Titles such as Mr Moskeeto, Mad Maestro!, and Legaia 2 exemplify gameplay that the hardcore gamer has been craving worldwide."
Mr Moskeeto, originally released as KA in Japan, is an action game. You play as a mosquito, with an objective to continually torment a Japanese family every summer by sucking as much blood as possible in order to survive the cold winter. You must confront daily life and death battles with the Japanese family who are determined to rid themselves of the mosquito. Quirky, to say the least.
Mad Maestro!, originally released as Bravo Music in Japan, is a music/action title. You assume the role of an orchestra conductor tasked with saving the town's Concert Hall from being destroyed by showing the city the orchestra's great performances. Ordinarily, you would think, ‘…only in Japan’. However, be afraid, ‘cos it’s coming over here.
Legaia 2: Duel Saga is the follow-up to Legend of Legaia, a martial-arts themed 3D role-playing game featuring a highly original battle system. You must create attacks by linking together different styles of hits directed at your enemies. When certain combinations of attacks are linked together powerful, magic-based attacks are formed. Legaia 2’s description of gameplay reads like something Western gamers will be a little more familiar with.
It’s a brave move that Eidos are making with their Fresh Games brand, and we wish them well in converting we western types to the strange playing habits of the east.
Companies:
Eidos SCEI
People: Mike McGarvey Satoshi Honda
Games: Legaia 2: Duel Saga Mad Maestro! Mr Moskeeto
People: Mike McGarvey Satoshi Honda
Games: Legaia 2: Duel Saga Mad Maestro! Mr Moskeeto
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