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I love Atlus. They just seem to know what I want to play, and that's probably why my gaming shelf is packed with their titles. Somehow they knew I wanted to play Japanese brawler Arcana Heart, too, and now they've announced that the title is coming to the US.

The 2D all-female fighting title was an arcade-only affair until late last year when it hit Japanese PS2s. Although interested, I wrote it off as a title I'd never get my hands on outside of importing.

Atlus saves the day with two versions of the game on one disc. Arcana Heart and the upgraded Arcana Heart Full will cost only $29.99 when it hits US shelves on April 8th.

If you've just learned of the title, know that it sports some very fluid animation and great characters. The sky's the limit with Arcana Heart; you can knock your opponent to the stratosphere if you're good enough. 

Check out Atlus' official Web page for Arcana Heart to hold you over, and check out some gameplay videos of the game after the jump.  








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Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools. Meet the rest of the team



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38 comments | showing # 1 to 38
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Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 12:11
Excel-2011
Josh, come quick! They did it again!
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 12:20
Excel-2011
I never really noticed this, but ever since the Neo-Geo died, dynamic zooming in a fighting game just looks so awkward now.
loki d20's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 12:22
loki d20
I'd get this if I actually had people to play against. And, the 30+ combos are nice, but I'd cry if I was playing someone that got that off on me or vice versa. No one should be that bad :p
Your moms new boyfriend's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 12:24
Your moms new boyfriend
I swear I thought the promo video said "Arcana Heart FULL RELEASE". I need to remove my head from the gutter, now.
deiga-the-semivaliant's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 12:47
deiga-the-semivaliant
I've always hated the whole magical girl schtick so popular in Japan.

This... this is a nightmare.
Dr Milkdad's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 12:52
Dr Milkdad
I played this game in the arcade, it's actually pretty damn fun. For $30, I might be picking this one up.
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 12:53
king3vbo
I love you so much Atlus!
XerxesTWD's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 12:58
XerxesTWD
I will be purchasing this game.
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 13:24
michiyoyoshiku
I already imported this game.....

What's next Melty blood Act Cadenza US release....

Hokoto no Ken US reelase (though I swear you ain't missing much with that game)

But yeah this is the first time i'll rebuy a game I already imported.
Shin Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 13:26
Shin Oni
I think it's funny this is announced a week after I did a write up on the imported one.

but for 30 bucks, can't beat it. Apparently play-asia dropped it down to 30 for a week only. I'll rebuy the american version just for the storyline itself.
Rainbowblack's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 13:27
Rainbowblack
a loli weilding a longcat?

I'm sold

Also Boobs
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 13:39
Excel-2011
@michiyoyoshiku:
Releasing Act Cadenza is the only thing Atlus has left to do before it attains eternal life.
Keriaku's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 13:51
Keriaku
This is actually really weird, I was JUST planning on importing the game the very day I found out they were gonna localize it. And I NEVER import games.
amalgamut00's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 13:54
amalgamut00
Some of those girls have big boobies
Bulrog's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 14:06
Bulrog
I'm normally a supporter of Atlus, but yikes on this game lol.
Simon's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 14:26
Simon
Any idea if they are going to also bit this to europe, or are we sitting out in the cold again ?
RoMeRtHeGaMe's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 14:29
RoMeRtHeGaMe
HMMM...... For $29.99 this might just be a buy....
kawitchate's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 14:32
kawitchate
make mine ATLAS! between this, P3, and Odin Sphere they are quickly becoming my favorite JRPG producer.
SourGr8pes's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 14:33
SourGr8pes
Atlus must be looming over my bed, watching me as I sleep... GET OUT OF MY HEAD, MAN!! But yeah, $30 for 2 games, done deal for me.

Once Atlus ports Act Cadenza, it'll be enough juice for that huge laser cannon we have aimed at Sqaureenix's headquarters...
Batthink's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 14:54
Batthink
For some reason, yer trailer doesn't work. :OP

However, it looks pretty on the first gameplay one. I swear the high-school ninja (with shadow blob fish friend) gives the middle finger at the start of the battle.

Is there a reason why it gets all cherry blossom-y after a certain character command? It looks pretty (again).
Knivy's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 15:25
Knivy
I'm not that much into Fighters, but being Atlus and for that price, I'll probably end up buying it
Novakaine's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 15:52
Novakaine
Atlus, I love you... but you give us when we want FES? =\
Phoenix Gamma's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 15:53
Phoenix Gamma
Good Etna, you're looking a little blond there!
Amp's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 16:28
Amp
To be honest? This game looks all kinds of terrible...

1) Match length. CvS2 much?
2) Characters. Moé is the cancer killing animu.
3) You mentioned fluid animation? I didn't see much of that there, unless you just meant spritework.

...And I thought Melty Blood was bad...I MAY play Actress Again, but I dunno.
KMCC's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 16:40
KMCC
Long Live Atlus!
realyst's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 17:49
realyst
I WANT
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 17:57
Excel-2011
I wonder if Atlus and Aksys see each other as competitors or friendly rivals.
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 19:10
Topher Cantler
YEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!

YES! YES! YEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 19:29
Wedge
I was thinking more $20 point, especially with KoF XI releasing at that. We'll see.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 19:30
Cowboy TTop
Atlus are cool. Seems like they listen to what we want or perhaps sample these games themselves in order to release them, so much so that they have very few crap games in the catalogue. Commendable stuff indeed.

I may just have to buy this myself.

Hurry up and give us a Trauma Center DS sequel, with co op play. DS or PSP cuts of Persona 1 and 2 wouldn't be bad either.
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 19:33
Wedge
I do fucking love Atlus to death though. Steambot Chronicles is great, and now I've been getting into Samurai Western.
CatalystMan's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 19:35
CatalystMan
Already played it... godly
JRisJunior's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 21:07
JRisJunior
i heart atlus like woah.
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 22:17
michiyoyoshiku
By the way it's not acutally two games. On the character select screen you choose which version of the character you want to play as the Arcana heart or Arcana heart full version.

Also don't let the Moe fool you.......games up there with Garou.
Pacman's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/01/2008 23:58
Pacman
I was actually wondering when I posted about this yesterday what the price was going to be. For $30, it sounds good to me.
s0lesurviv0r's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2008 00:44
s0lesurviv0r
I love how they're just flinging more stuff from the japanese PS2 over here now. Hope Samurai Shodown Anthology gets here quickly. How about some Rumble Fish while you're at it?
Hitogoroshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2008 09:06
Hitogoroshi
What Topher said!
Bob Muir's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2008 11:15
Bob Muir
And I need to buy more Atlus games now.
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