It's another story in Japan, of course. Many fans spent last weekend attending the Oni Kojuurou festival in Shiroishi along with game producer KobaP and Kojuurou's seiyuu Morikawa Toshiyuki, while this weekend Motochika's seiyuu Ishino Ryuuzou will be attending the Machi Asobi event in Tokushima with the Sengoku Basara 4 team.
I'll quickly run through the latest news stories now.
Dengeki Playstation volume 552 contains surprisingly little Sengoku Basara 4 coverage
Weekly Famitsu broke the news of the latest character announcements last week, and now it's Dengeki Playstation's turn to profile the newcomers and add commentary about Sengoku Basara 4...except the usual comments from director Yamamoto Makoto are missing and the game was only given a single page of coverage. Worst still, it was all recycled and only a couple of tiny pictures seemed to be new. They'll be on the official website in a few hours anyway, making it a pretty disappointing issue of the magazine.
On the bright side, Sengoku Basara 4 has reentered the Most Wanted chart in 15th place. Let's hope it can climb higher! It's reportedly moved up to 12th place in the ranking of upcoming titles in Weekly Famitsu.
Sengoku Basara Comic Anthology 'Setouchi Chronicle' revealed
A few new manga solictations have quietly appeared in shop listings over the last couple of days, including volume 6 of Itou Ryuu's Sengoku Basara 3 Bloody Angel manga due for release on 8th November 2013.
That's not all though; there hasn't been any formal announcement yet but fans of Motonari and Motochika will be thrilled to learn that the third anthology manga to be themed around specific characters is on the way, and it's going to be based around the Setouchi area!
Sengoku Basara Comic Anthology 'Setouchi Chronicle' is scheduled for release on 27th November 2013 under the Dengeki Comics EX line, priced at ¥893. I wonder what the cover will look like if it's going to feature more than one army?
The chances of Motonari and Motochika being in one of the next few character announcements just increased further.
Release information for the Mame Sengoku Basara trading figure set
I'd been waiting for this. The colour samples for the new Mame Sengoku Basara trading figures were shown off properly this week, although the matte finish makes me think they're still CG rather than photographs of actual figures. The release date will be 23rd January, just like the new game, and the cost of a box of nine randomly-packed figures will be ¥5,850 (¥6,143 with tax). They're available through all major importers such as Yesasia and AmiAmi.
The characters available are Masamune, Kojuurou, Mitsunari, Ieyasu, Yukimura, Sasuke, Motonari and Motochika with one hidden character. I personally think Keiji will take that spot as he features quite prominently in the spin-off and (in my opinion...) his Mame Sengoku Basara design is the cutest of all.
The rush of new Sengoku Basara 4 merchandise continues!
Capcom is sparing no effort to promote Sengoku Basara 4 with another batch of merchandise revealed on the CafeReo website. The new items are due for release in late November 2013. I'll quickly run through the descriptions.
Firstly, you can now keep your glasses safe with a Sengoku Basara 4 spectacles case and cleaning cloth, available with a choice of Masamune, Yukimura, Mitsunari and Kojuurou designs at ¥1,800 per set.
People who don't wear glasses will have to make do with Sengoku Basara 4 pen cases for ¥800 each. This time, the designs available are Masamune, Mitsunari, Katsuie and Sakon.
A choice of three ¥2,500 cushion covers with designs based on Masamune/Kojuurou, Yukimura/Sasuke and Mitsunari/Sakon is next. Cushions must be purchased separately.
Memo pads costing ¥600 each might be a more affordable option for fans of Mitsunari, Masamune and Yukimura.
Lastly, there's a range of purses for ¥1,800 each decorated with Masamune, Mitsunari, Yukimura and Kojuurou imagery. Each also includes a charm which resembles an old-fashioned Japanese coin. Please note that I mean 'purses' in the English sense, as in a pouch to hold coins - they aren't full-size handbags! The purses will be released a little later than the other items in mid-December 2013.
Recall announced for the Sengoku Basara 4 official calendar
The Sengoku Basara 4 calendar was recently shipped out to customers and a few fans were shocked to discover that Kojuurou's page (July) has a flaw in the form of a black smudge. The full details are buried within the apology posted by the manufacturer.
One of the advantages of buying Japanese products is that companies will generally own up to their mistakes and treat their customers well. If you purchased the calendar as an import, I'd recommend contacting your retailer swiftly to ask them whether they can assist with fixing the faulty page.
Elemental powers for the new Sengoku Basara 4 characters are still uncertain
I've seen quite a few sources claim to know decisively which element the new Sengoku Basara 4 characters are, and I want to bring the topic up here because I don't think it's as clear cut as people are saying. For example, the English-language Sengoku Basara Wiki refers to Shikanosuke, Katsuie and Sakon as having wind elemental powers, with Naotora as fire and Matabee as lightning.
The Japanese demo build, which journalists were able to play at last month's Tokyo Game Show, seems to be the main source of clues about elements. The photographs in this report make it appear as though Naotora is indeed fire, with both Sakon and Katsuie light. Or possibly wind; the icon is new, after all, but it would be strange for there to be three different yellow-coloured elemental graphics.
However, if you look carefully during the TGS Digest footage released by Sony, Sakon is shown with a completely different elemental symbol during the shot of the character select screen. Before it switches to him, the same element is clearly visible in Masamune's profile.
Masamune is very unlikely to have lost his signature lightning theme so this implies that Sakon might be lightning as well. Alternatively - and I feel that this is a more likely explanation - it means the elements for the new characters hadn't yet been decided at the time Capcom put their demo footage together.
Please tread carefully before assuming any of the new characters have had their official elements confirmed yet. If the official sources contradict one another it's impossible for anyone to know which to trust!
Australian television show Good Game covers Sengoku Basara 4 at TGS
Thanks to the delightful @starshapevx on Twitter, I was alerted to a video from an Australian television show Good Game which briefly covers Sengoku Basara 4 during a tour of TGS 2013. I hadn't ever heard of Good Game before but the hosts seemed respectful and they even managed to get a translated introduction to the game straight from director Yamamoto Makoto, helpfully asking him questions and demonstrating that English-speakers can be interested in Sengoku Basara 4 too. The important part starts at the 5:49 mark in the video.
What is it with the misfortune of the Date and the Takeda lately... The Takeda have been demoted by the producers, while the Date keep getting misnamed and now smudged... ^^;;
ReplyDeleteCan we blame it all on Mitsunari somehow? Perhaps he's trying to shame all of his biggest rivals and win the crown in the next character ranking! ヽ(;´д｀)ノ
DeleteKatsuie only got to appear on one piece of merchandise this time even though he's one of the main characters...
Come to think of it, it's suspicious that nothing bad has happened to Mitsunari and Sakon so far... Clearly, they're the masterminds behind this, and the Date and the Takeda should team up against them!
DeletePoor Katsuie, it seems not even the fans care about him a whole lot, at least he doesn't seem to be as wildly popular as Sakon...
Katsuie's really grown on me. I think he could be a dark horse if his storyline is exciting enough, though I have to admit that Sakon's moveset looks more fun so far ^^;
DeleteI'm not sure if you have access to the My Capcom mobile newsletter website but there's a fun sample illustration up for the new competition they're running. Katsuie loses out to Yukimura again, unfortunately, but I think you'd approve.
http://www.capcom.co.jp/game/content/bsr/?p=2057
Hello! I just wanted you to let you know that they unlocked the new character batch with Matsu and Kingo in SB4 website.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I know they won't cut Mouri and Chosokabe out (since it would cause a legitimate riot), I'm so anxious about it! A lot of people predict that since Aniki's seiyuu is coming to Machi Asobi soon, the character reveals for seitouchi are mostly likely revealed during the event and/or in the following famitsu next week. Maybe even along with Gyobu (since it's the perfect timing)!
Most of my Japanese friends seem to have reacted to the website update with shock at how handsome Keiji is in the new 'drama scene' screenshots (haha).
DeleteGyoubu would be great; I can't shake the feeling that they'll be cruel and take a long time to fully reveal all of the remaining characters shown in the last PV, though. Well, he wasn't shown much so perhaps he has the best chance of appearing soon.
With just a 30 minute presentation they might just bring Ishino on stage and leave it as 'Chousokabe Motochika is definitely in the game' to keep us waiting until Weekly Famitsu arrives, but I'd really like it if they can tease another video like they did with the Kojuurou event before his full reveal. Hmm, we'll see.
im hoping the setouchi chronicle book will feature the moto's and tsuru as the main focus, to me just the moto's are kinda old/overused and since in SB3 tsuru has a rivalry/relationship with both of them, I think they can make it a 3-way rivalry.
ReplyDeletealong with the next batch being the moto's, tsuru, and since G mentioned it gyobu would be perfect to join them as he has a relationship with the 3 too.
Tsuruhime could definitely sneak in. I'd like to see her interacting with Motonari a little more; we see a lot of her pestering Aniki but not so much of the alternative!
DeleteThat was a nice little segment on the tv show. Aww, he got a koala!
ReplyDeleteGreat screenshots on this website update. Super handsome Keiji, (I noticed too) monkey on Matsu's shoulder, she and Hideaki now duelling with vegetables, and yes Tenkai we all know what your real name is already…it's the Masterchef.
By the way, it's a bit strange that despite that Hanbei, Hideyoshi and deer boy were announced early on there still haven't been any sort of gameplay videos with them. Or have I missed something?
Nope, you're right: those three haven't been shown off at all yet (nor has Yoshiteru, really, but as he's the boss that might be intentional). Capcom love keeping everyone in suspense ;_;
DeleteI don't expect them to show off a boss' fighting style, but it's strange that they haven't taken the opportunity to create interest in a new playable character by actually showing him fighting, and that they haven’t shown those two returning ones while showing off others. I remember that before Sb3 and Utage were out there were videos of all the characters and their various moves. Perhaps that sort of thing will come later.
DeleteRegarding elements: Pretty sure Katsuie and Sakon are wind - Katsuie can even become a helicopter...!
I keep sort of forgetting Yoshiteru exists since he's been lurking in the background during most of the exciting reveals, then I feel embarrassed when I remember.
DeleteWhat might be nice is if we get a new Kojuurou-style video with the Setouchi reveals; since they're neighbours, Motonari versus Shikanosuke might be a good way to increase interest in the return of some of the classic characters by teaming them up with exciting footage of the mysterious newcomer.
It feels as though they're doing the move demonstration videos in batches this time (this one is labelled as 'volume 1' of the character introductions). They have more than enough characters announced to release a 'volume 2' by now. Hurry up, KobaP!
I agree that Katsuie makes sense as wind, but several of the early shots showing some of Sakon's attacks have a very fiery feel ( http://www.capcom.co.jp/basara4/action1.html ). So there's an argument for him being fire (some of his screenshots), wind (other screenshots), light (Capcom's selection screen) or lightning (Sony's video).
He'll probably end up as ice element just to confuse everyone...
Out of all the elements the only one I'm certain Sakon doesn't have is ice! The others make more sense from what we've seen of him.
DeleteYes maybe they haven't decided the elements for the new warriors yet.
This combined with the lack of videos makes me suspect that they simply don't feel finished with the characters' moves and such. Hmm.
But now that !aniki! has been confirmed and others with connection to him will be the coming week, it's about time they made another compilation or two. I'm so curious about everyone's ink paintings - this fan made up some and they're pretty great: http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?id=644132
For some reason Gyoubu's fan-made ink painting at that link made me laugh helplessly because it looks so ridiculously threatening :D
Delete