A little while ago, Aquaplus started teasing a new entry in the Utawarerumono series. This is a series I didn’t know existed until Atlus USA released two of the visual novel strategy RPG hybrids in the West on PS4 and PS Vita. These have been ported to iOS and Android in Japan but there has been no announcement for an English mobile release yet. I love the series now and can’t wait to play Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen next year. When Aquaplus revealed the new entry as Utawarerumono: Lost Flag for iOS and Android in Japan, there were people unhappy about the platform decision but Aquaplus did confirm that a console project was underway. Watch the new trailer for Utawarerumono: Lost Flag below:
Utawarerumono: Lost Flag featuresAkuta and Minagi in addition to older characters like Eruruu, Kuon, Benawi, and more in battles that play out automatically. It is going to be interesting seeing how this game is supported and whether future Utawarerumono games will have collaborations with it. While pre-registration went live for it when it was announced, the game has officially launched in Japan on the App Store and Google Play for free. As of now, this is only confirmed and available for Japan but given how the recent console games are getting localised and released in USA and Europe, hopefully Aquaplus can partner with NIS America or localise it themselves for the West. Check out the official Japanese website for Utawarerumono: Lost Flag here. Have you played any game in the series before?
[Source: Gematsu]
A nice example of one of my major gripes with mobile gaming: It acts as if nobody were capable of foreign languages.
- Why release a game only in Japan? The platforms should allow and encourage by making it the default to limit the release to "Japanese only", rather than "Japan only".
- Neither Android not IOS allow changing the language setting on a per-app basis, unless the developer adds an explicit toggle to their UI (most don't). Neither does Windows (and Store games by extension), but there Steam takes care of it.
This hurts, as apps related to local services often suffer from confusing translations to English, while most Games have abysmal German translations. The English one is not always good, but usually at least adequate.