Without much of a fanfare at all, the original Virtual On was released on PSN and XBLA earlier this week. As forewarned, the release was indeed Japan only (for both platforms) but thankfully neither version was region locked. Meaning that if you have a Japanese account then you can buy and play either version just fine. In terms of the port, it’s not quite as thorough as the PS2 SEGA AGES release but it’s as pure. In that it lacks all the various options, such as widescreen and split-screen versus, but it does afford online multiplayer and system link version (though only for the 360 version on the latter). As for the online there are already plans for a tournament. Anyway, we can heartily recommend both ports of the classic arcade game and look forward to seeing our readers online.

Following the Tamashii Nations 2012 poll where the wonderful Layzner came out on top, Bandai have been working hard to fulfill the wishes of their fans. As we already have a thoroughly excellent Soul of Chogokin Spec Layzner toy, it now looks like we’ll be getting an E-MF-LZ-00X-2 Layzner Mk2 figure too. This was the designed but never animated version of the titular upgraded and transformable Layzner that was meant to appear at the end of the second season. Due to all manner of funding issues, the series was cut short and the Mk2 never appeared. However, as is always the case in gaming, the Mk2 has graced many games over the years. From Super Robot Wars to the Another Century’s Episode games and as such the Mk2 is very much a fan favourite (so it makes sense to have a figure made of it finally). No word on release, toyline or price but Bandai have followed this announcement up with asking people to fill in an online questionnaire. It is interesting to see Layzner still endure like this though. Especially as the series is very influential when it comes to mecha gaming. If only the PS2 game had been finished, oh well.

Following on from our previous Revoltech Jehuty, Revoltech Jehuty (Anubis Version) and Revoltech Jehuty with Vector Cannon reviews, our good friends at HobbyLink Japan have sent us the Revoltech Naked Jehuty. This being the final and most powerful incarnation of Jehuty from the end of Anubis. In addition, we’ve also included some game footage of the mecha in action at the end of the review.

A few days ago, SEGA did an online video broadcast talking about the remaining games in their Model 2 Collection (of which the classic Virtual On is one). The important information is that the remaining games will be released on February 13th for 800 yen or 800 MSP a piece. The slightly odd and saddening aspect to this is that, unlike the other games in the collection, these last two games will be released in Japan only. Now it’s not clear whether this just means limited release or that the games will be regioned too. Naturally we’ll know for sure when they’re eventually out in the wild.

Whilst we weren’t very happy with the Zone of the Enders HD Collection, one of the main reasons for this was done to the appalling framerate that crippled the games (especially the second). However, Konami have made the collection available for download via Xbox Live and PSN. At a pretty reasonable 3,600 yen it’s not badly priced but more importantly the fact that you’re installing it to your HDD may alleviate some of the framerate/loading issues. Currently this is Japan only but what with the dire American voice acting in the Western release, that’s the only version you should be buying anyway.

We now finally have details on Kotobukiya’s much awaited first Armored Core V kit, dubbed the AGNI it uses a different config to the Super Robot Chogokin toy (despite looking somewhat similar). It will be released in may this year for 6,090 yen. As Kotobukiya have a record for making thoroughly excellent Armored Core kits, we’re looking forward to this one.

Over at Hideo Kojima’s Twitter feed he previewed a shot of a Revoltech Vic Viper from Anubis. For one it looks lovely and it will be at least affordable. Talking of other Revoltech’s, Naked Jehuty is now out too and our review will be forthcoming. If you can’t wait for the Vic Viper Revoltech they you can still buy the Kotobukiya kit, in addition a RIOBOT toy is also planned.

In a nice move of not making yet another Jehuty toy, Kaiyodo have followed up with a toy of the orbital frame Ardjet this March. As with all Revoltechs, Ardjet looks to have decent articulation and won’t cost the earth. Whilst this feels like extended marketing for the ZOE HD Collection, it’s nice to see one of the lesser orbital frames from Anubis get the toy treatment. You can pre-order Ardjet here.

Over the past few years, realising that the current generation has decayed due to excessive functional standardisation, we’ve had a few “classics” resurrected into HD to stem the tide of mediocrity. Whilst many of these games were originally rather noteworthy, their updated HD versions have often been very disappointing. This is mainly down to the fact that these ports are in fact outsourced in their entirety.

The worst offender thus far has been that of Konami, with a variety of HD re-releases suffering from all manner of grievous problems (many of which the original games never suffered from). So what has happened to the Zone of the Enders HD edition then? Well, firstly it was ported by High Voltage Software (not internally by Konami, as we were led to believe) and they’ve done a pretty poor job. Now, we’ve never thought the Zone of the Enders games were bad but they are functionally flawed. Though the issue here is entirely down to the fidelity of the port itself.

We’ve somewhat held off talking about Chikyuu Boueigun 4 (aka EDF4) for a while now but this news seemed worthy. Considering that this game series was birthed from Sandlot’s nerdy love of classic mecha anime and the tech it produced during the PS2 era, the mecha lineage is a notable one. So when they added mecha to the third game we were pretty excited. However, it wasn’t very useful in-game if we’re honest. This new mecha looks more the part though, almost out of VOTOMS with a nice Shinji Aramaki twist from MADOX-01. Anyway, we’ll be buying this when it’s finally released next year and it should be better than the dire Insect Armageddon as Sandlot are working on this again (yay!).