This is quite a cool little indie game by Teasoft, entitled Shining Blood you control a mecha across five stages via an over the shoulder camera viewpoint. In many ways, it handles a bit like Armored Core 4 and For Answer, especially when airborne. Bar that, it’s pretty standard third person shooter fare, though considering the indie roots it’s damn impressive nonetheless. Not only can you download a PC version but it’s also an Xbox Live Arcade community game too.

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Square Enix have been fairly diligent recently at posting new gameplay videos on their YouTube channel for the upcoming Double Helix developed Front Mission Evolved. Much in the same way our hands-on impressions indicated that the TGS demo was functionally rather lacklustre, these videos only seem to confirm that appraisal further.

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Over at GA Graphic there’s a nice preview of the upcoming 1/72 scale Unsung kit from Armored Core For Answer. Whilst based on the same frame as the Aaliyah the design is different in several respects, notably that of the legs and weapon load out. The observant will note that the Aaliyah kit is actually representative of the Supplice design from Armored Core 4 and was used extensively to promote the game in Japan (so much so that it’s emblazoned on the box art). The Unsung kit will be available in December for 5,200 yen, you can get it here.

The official site for the Xbox 360 port of Oratan 5.66 has recently been given an update regarding the HORI TwinSticks. It seems all is on track and that feedback was positive at this year’s TGS, where the sticks were first displayed to the public. In addition, there is apparently an interview with the team in the December Xbox 360 specific Famitsu. The November release of the sticks is still on schedule as well apparently.

Courtesy of our good friends at HobbyLink Japan, we’ve been sent a kit from Armored Core 4 and For Answer to review. Specifically, Kotobukiya’s 1/72 scale Noblesse Oblige. This is an important design, as it was originally used to promote the original Armored Core 4 before its release (specifically in two trailers here and here). It also heralded the shift in mecha design towards the very talented Yuzo Kojima.

Our review only covers the kit in its out of the box and unpainted form (however, we have also included painted photos towards the end). In addition, to give the kit some context, we’ve also captured some HD gameplay footage of the design in action from Armored Core For Answer.

The recent post about the Lost Planet 2 Vital Suit kits reminded me of this tidbit. Early last September, Capcom released the Capcom Platinum Hits pack. For $40, you get Dead Rising, Devil May Cry 4, and the first Lost Planet. Those who held off on purchasing the original Lost Planet because of the two expansion packs (like myself) will also be happy to know that the Lost Planet here is the Extreme Condition: Colonies Edition, so you’ll be getting the ultimate version basically.

The Vital Suits, the mecha in the game, handle like the cumbersome workhouses they are; partly out of a bit of reality and mostly for balance reasons (making it so that being on-foot in battle isn’t wholly hopeless). Some of the game’s learning curve is also about working out how to make the most of your mecha’s limited abilities, so don’t expect the graceful swans of, say, Armored Core For Answer.

Platinum releases on the Xbox 360 usually go for $30, so three for $40 is pretty much the deal of deals.

For those that have yet to play and finish the wonderful Armored Core For Answer, here is a video from one of the various end game missions where you face multiple Nexts at once. The mission in particular is called the Occupation of Arteria Carpals and I’m playing it on the Hard difficulty on the first Regulation. It’s generally regarded as one of the most challenging missions in the game and as a consequence forces the player to utilise all manner of functional nuances at their disposal. This video has also been encoded in HD. Enjoy!

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The upcoming Lost Planet 2 may have some kits released alongside with it by Kotobukiya. Now, these prototypes were only shown recently at the 49th All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show, with no word of release date or pricing. However considering Kotobukiya’s strong track record of producing kits for gaming series such as Armored Core, Virtual On and now Border Break, it’s hopefully safe to assume that Lost Planet 2′s Vital Suits will be recreated in a similarly well crafted manner.

The upcoming kit of the MBV-04-10 10/80SP that was hinted at on the Kotobukiya blog has been unveiled at the 49th All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show. This design was originally used in the Virtual On sidestory One Man Rescue and later featured in-game in the MSBS 5.66 update for Virtual On Oratorio Tangram. No word on pricing or release date as yet though. Separately, a few new Border Break kits were also displayed at the Kotobukiya booth.

Whilst we already posted a piece on someone else’s hands on impressions, a Mecha Damashii reader felt compelled to send us theirs from the Tokyo Game Show floor regarding the PlayStation 3 version. From the gameplay videos that have been going the rounds, the following report sounds pretty consistent. Considering the submission deadlines with console releases such as these, it’s doubtful that we’ll see many changes between now and the projected release date. So read on to hear the damage first hand (staunch Front Mission fans may need a stiff drink ready).