Well, the sales figures for Armored Core V’s first week in Japan are out. For the PS3 version, the game shipped a respectable 163,906 units placing it at the top of the Japanese charts and the 360 variant pulled in a more meager 24,719 and landed 6th in the charts. To put these figures into perspective the Japanese PS3 versions for Armored Core 4 and Armored Core For Answer only sold around 90,000 and 100,000 units in their first year of sale. Likewise the Japanese 360 versions also sold approximately 30,000 to 70,000 units respectively in the same time period. So from a Japanese standpoint this first set of sales figures is incredibly good, especially as it’s been less than a week since the game’s release. Talking of release, on a more personal note our order (which includes both versions) has been delayed somewhat, this means our review will be similarly later than usual. Unfortunately, these things happen occasionally. In any case, these sales figures are awesome news for the Armored Core series.

The official Super Robot Wars Z 2 Saisei-hen site is now open for business. Whilst there are no promo videos as yet, it does collate all the new series featured and their respective screenshots (which are also duplicated over at Game Watch, minus the flash leprosy obviously). We’re just glad that Final Dancouga is still present and correct. That said, seeing the mighty Shin Mazinger Z sporting its God Scrander (pictured above) brings warmth to our heart. This being the same God Scrander that in its post-modernist brilliance actually transforms Mazinger Z into a giant rocket propelled fist. We can also highly recommend the Soul of Chogokin toy too, if you can find it. Anyway, the game is still set for its April 5th release and you can pre-order it here.

The new browser based Web Power Dolls will be getting a new mecha, as designed by ToMo. Above is a sketch of a lighter weight mecha with more hard points. Its primary functions are for quick surprise attacks and reconnaissance. For those unfamiliar with the Power Dolls saga, it’s been a pretty successful series of PC based mecha turn based strategy games that were birthed in the mid-90′s (with a tie-in anime OVA to boot). Whilst this new game is browser based, it’s still being handled by the same Kogado Studio. This new mecha will be in-game around the 8th February apparently. We’ve included the current game’s promo video below too.

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

Towards the end of last year an alpha test was carried out on Mobile Suit Gundam Online. Today, we received the results. Of those that signed up, 1,269 opted to play in the Federation whereas 1,320 chose to join Zeon. Despite the slight numerical advantage, the Feddies were more often than not victorious over the Zeeks (Go Feds!). There are also a fair few comments from the testers asking for various features, though whether any of these come to fruition remains to be seen. Another test phase is planned for the end of February apparently and no final release date has been set.

To commemorate the release of Armored Core V today and courtesy of our good friends at HobbyLink Japan, we’ve been sent the Nineball (Armored Core Ver.) kit from the original Armored Core. Our review is also of the kit in its unpainted form. In addition, to help give the kit some context, we’ve also included some video footage of it from the original PSone and PS2 games at the end of the review.

The original Nineball was a very interesting antagonist in the original Armored Core. You spent some of the game hearing about his exploits and that he was the highest ranked Raven around. It wasn’t until you faced him in the heart of the Raven’s Nest that you found out the truth. Nineball was merely a shell AC for a vast AI that controlled the world. So when you faced off against two of them, the AC itself became something of a terror symbol.

Nineball wasn’t just left there though, as it was the primary enemy in Armored Core Master of Arena and in similar fashion was revealed to be yet another shell for the same AI that had survived the first game. You also faced Nineball three times in the final mission and then its ultimate incarnation, that of Nineball Seraph (which is also available in kit form).

In one manner or other, Nineball pervades almost every Armored Core game there is. Whilst he was absent in Armored Core 2, the term “Ninebreaker” was coined as a nickname for top-ranking Ravens. It even appeared in Armored Core 2 Another Age too, as a rather tricky and nimble opponent. The Ninebreaker term would also spawn another Armored Core game that also had a new and updated Nineball (again also available in kit form with an action figure on the way too).

In some ways Nineball defines much of Armored Core’s inherent identity, both functionally and narratively. So this kit is a bit of a big deal and doubly so as this is the first traditional PSone era AC to grace Kotobukiya’s Variable Infinity model kit line (Seraph doesn’t count as that’s a custom built unit).

Kit: Nineball (Armored Core Ver.)
Price: 4,320 yen
Size/Weight: 31.2 x 19.2 x 10.9 cm / 580g

Like with all other Kotobukiya AC kits, the emphasis is still on the quality of the sculpt. In this case, that’s a little odd as the original PSone games barely had enough polygons to render Kawamori’s designs properly. As such, this kit is more in line with Kawamori’s line-art for Nineball than what you see in game (though it also bears a great resemblance to the Nineball model seen in Master of Arena’s opening FMV). As this is also a traditional AC, left arm weapons are pretty much housed laser blades only. This is pretty much the kit’s only gimmick; the laser blade pops out nicely and you attach the beam part accordingly. The grenade launcher also folds out too, athough we didn’t have the kit kneel in the photos it can perform this action just fine. Kotobukiya haven’t cut corners at all though and have included a wonderful pre-painted Nineball emblem on the left shoulder, just like in the games. The articulation isn’t bad either, with poly capped joints throughout.

If you love the original Armored Core games as much as we do, then this is a must have kit. It’s such an iconic design and one that represents one of the finest mecha gaming villains ever.

Despite a somewhat unfortunate release date, sharing it with Armored Core V of all things, Gundam Mokubo no Kiseki will be gracing Japanese shops sometime today (as it’s already “tomorrow” in Japan due to the time difference). 4Gamer commemorates this brave release date with yet another update about the game. We’re definitely interested in picking this game up eventually and review it but we’re going to be pretty busy with Armored Core V for a good while. In the meantine you can still pre-order the game here.

With a new Super Robot Wars Mobile brand on the way, Banpresto have kicked this new series of iSuper Robot Wars games off with Super Robo M released yesterday for 525 yen. On the GBA-end of the SRW graphics spectrum it’s not overly new in terms of animations and sprites but it is an awful lot cheaper than the GBA games were. Currently the game is only available on Docomo phones via the simulation submenu in the games section. The roster of mecha series is pretty classic but we’re just happy to see Dancougar featured again. Considering Banpresto are turning this into a brand it will be likely we’ll see something similar on Android and iOS devices too.

Rather shrewdly, From Software have announced that there will be a support app for Armored Core V on both Android and iOS devices (with the Android app already out). The app will allow players to view the game’s parts list and mull over the complex vagaries of their respective stats. Whilst this doesn’t allow you to customise your AC away from your console as yet, that would be a pretty sweet update. In addition, the app will also feature an RSS feed on things like server status and other player related news. From Software are keen to update the app over the course of the game’s life, so we may get more features as time goes on. It’s also entirely free.

Following the recent promo video, we now have a slew of new screenshots for the upcoming Gundam Unicorn game as developed by From Software. In addition to the shiny new screenshots there are some interesting tidbits too. Namely that the previously mentioned DLC for the Hyakushiki-esque MSN-001 Delta Gundam (pictured above) will be available in the first pressings of an HGUC kit of the mobile suit this August. Not only will the mobile suit have its own mission but it also seems that it will be piloted by Quattro Vagina. Following on from this, in addition to the ability to upgrade your units you’ll also be able to customise their weapon load-out too. With some weapons offering a multi-lock feature. There’s also a slightly odd mention of using asteroids for cover, how this will work will be interesting to see as it sounds like it’s a similar snap-to affair as in Gears of War. Finally, emblems (with extra functional bonuses) will also be available in the game.

Whilst there was a bit of criticism over the graphical fidelity shown in the promo, we’re actually pretty impressed with the game thus far. Bear in mind the host work is animated, so a photo-realistic approach would actually be unfaithful and the game is also considerably cheaper than that of other PS3 releases. That said, we’re more interested in the way the game appears to be more manual in terms of control. So all this graphical willy waving is somewhat lost on us.

Following on from our Revoltech Jehuty (Anubis Version) review, our good friends at HobbyLink Japan have sent us the Revoltech Anubis (from the game of the same name). Now, whilst we aren’t huge fans of the Zone of the Enders series, we’ve always loved the designs that Yoji Shinkawa penned for the games. We’ve also included some game footage at the end of the review.

Unlike the previous two Jehuty figures in the Revoltech line, this is an all new toy. Considering that this is the first ever toy of Anubis, as prior to this point we’ve only had garage kits, this is a bit of a big deal.

Being the primary antagonist of the PS2 Zone of the Enders games, Anubis is first introduced in a terrifying encounter at the end of the first game. Invulnerable to Jehuty’s attacks, all you can do is run away as best you can. If you were to think this terrifying orbital frame was any easier in the sequel, you’d be mistaken. What makes Anubis such an unsettling foe is its ability to teleport anywhere during combat. Admittedly Jehuty receives a similar ability later in the second game, by the name of “Zero Shift”, it still doesn’t assuage the fear this mecha evokes.

As will all Revoltechs, this figure is very poseable and multi-jointed. Whilst it lacks the ability to stand on its own, like the Jehuty figure, as well as lack any other real gimmicks, the sheer imposing nature of the design is still very striking. In the game the structures around the rear of Anubis hover in mid-air, naturally this has been recreated through use of clear plastic to link up the main figure to these “wings”. Subsequently, this affords the opportunity to wrap them around the main figure, almost cocooning it away. As with the Jehuty figure, Anubis also comes with a very serviceable stand.

Toy: Revoltech Anubis
Price: 2,651 yen
Size/Weight: 21.8 x 21.6 x 9.9 cm / 380g

As figures go then, this is not very technically interesting but it is visually very impressive. If you are a fan of the games and appreciate Shinkawa’s designs then you’d be crazy not to pick this up. If only for the fact that all the Zone of the Enders Revoltechs are wonderfully affordable and still very faithful in terms of their sculpt and pose-ability. Having both Jehuty and Anubis on a shelf somewhere also just feels right from a gaming standpoint. Even if you dislike the games, the designwork is still laudable. For that alone, this figure of Anubis comes highly recommended to all.