Samantha Lienhard's Blog, page 3

It Looks Like Tales of Xillia is the Next Remaster…

We’ve been waiting for the Tales remaster announcement planned for this summer, and it looks like it will probably be Tales of Xillia after all.

Xillia remaster rumors have been floating around for over a year, but now the announcement was accidentally leaked by Bandai Namco themselves.

Yesterday, Bandai Namco Europe uploaded a video to premiere on August 18 with the title “Tales of Series News” and a shot from Xillia, which several fans got screenshots of before it was quickly taken down.

So it seems we’ll be getting Tales news on Monday, and it’s presumably a Xillia remaster.

Xillia was the first Tales game I ever played, and I have a soft spot for it. I don’t know if I’ll replay it, but it’s tempting, especially since there are some differences depending on whether you pick Jude or Milla’s story.

I’ve also still got my fingers crossed that it will be both Xillia games bundled together, because I never played the second game. I have it, but I’d rather play a remaster than dig out my PS3 for it.

I’m also curious about the fact that the video was titled “Tales of Series News” instead of just being an announcement trailer for the game. Is it possible that we’ll get more Tales news besides the remaster announcement? It would be nice if they revealed the next new game at the same time, or even another remaster.

What are you hoping for from the Tales announcement? Do you think Tales of Xillia and its sequel will be remastered together?

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Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Could Be Twice as Long as the Original

As I continue to make slow progress through the Trails series, having just finished the third Trails in the Sky game, the remake of the first is just over a month away.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, a full remake of the original game, is due out on September 19 for PC, PS5, and Switch, making the start of the series more accessible to new fans.

The remake looks beautiful, with additions like the hybrid action/turn-based combat introduced in the later games.

Meanwhile, a new interview suggests it might take quite a bit longer to beat than the original Trails in the Sky FC. According to the interview, translated here by RPG Site, the main programmer said it took 80 hours to finish.

The interview goes on to say that if you do all of the exploration-related elements, let the voiced dialogue play out, and do all of the quests, it could be twice as long as the original.

Now, some fans are worried that this might make the remake feel bloated. I understand the concern. Trails in the Sky FC has a pretty slow pace as it is, so extending that story to last even longer might make it feel like it drags on. On the other hand, it sounds like a lot of this added time might simply be a result of the remake having voiced dialogue, more elaborate scenes, and bigger areas to explore.

So it remains to be seen whether the story will actually feel longer, or if it’s simply a matter of the same events taking more time. I’m optimistic for the remake (even though I probably won’t play it for a while because of my backlog).

On the other hand, if being remake extends the length of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter by that much, I’m terrified to imagine how long the remake of Second Chapter will end up being…

What do you think about the claim that the Trails in the Sky remake might be twice as long?

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Trails in the Sky the 3rd: A More Character-Focused Sequel

Miraculously, I did not take another years-long break after finishing Trails in the Sky SC to start the next game, so it’s time to talk about Trails in the Sky the 3rd.

Trails in the Sky the 3rd is a bit of an unusual game in that it’s technically the third game of a trilogy, but the second game already wrapped up the main story of the arc.

So instead of focusing on another world-shaking story, this game does two things: lay the groundwork for future stories and provide a deeper look at some of the characters, with a more character-driven story.

It follows a different main protagonist, and even the gameplay structure is different. The characters are transported to an unusual realm made up of different planes they have to fight through. There are no towns, although there is a hub area where you can talk to your increasingly-large group of available party members. That sets up a very different gameplay loop, although the gameplay itself is pretty much the same as in previous games.

There are also doors scattered throughout the planes that show memories, usually related to a specific character. These doors make up the bulk of the storytelling, which is one of the reasons why it feels so character-driven. Everyone is given a chance to shine, and some of these memories even have playable segments.

It also got a lot heavier than I expected, both in terms of the main story and the doors (okay, one door, and if you’ve played, you know which one I mean).

While I was a little disappointed that the main plot was more focused on the characters’ personal stories than on advancing the larger plot, it still had enough intrigue and emotional moments for me to enjoy it. It’s almost what I’d call a side story, but at the same time, it feels significant enough that I’d never recommend skipping it.

Now, when it comes to setting things up for future games, several parts left me really intrigued and excited to see what will happen later in the series.

Click for Trails in the Sky the 3rd spoilersOlivier’s door especially stands out to me in that regard. His confrontation with Osborne and everything being set up there was one of the best parts of the game. Olivier was already one of my favorite characters, and that elevated him even further. (At one point I actually said to myself, “Is Olivier secretly the coolest character in Trails?” haha!)

I know Cold Steel is set in Erebonia, so I’m assuming that’s when I’ll get to see more of this play out.

Meanwhile, the Star Door with Campanella left me so curious about seeing more of Ouroboros.

The game took me about 60 hours, so it felt almost short compared to the 90+ hours I spent with SC. Still quite a sizable game, though, and the prevalence of the doors means it’s still story-heavy despite its structure initially making me think it would have more of a gameplay focus.

Trails in the Sky the 3rd might be different, but it’s still quite good and I’m glad I played it. Next up will be the start of the Crossbell arc with Trails from Zero… although I’ll probably get some other games out of my backlog first!

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When Could We Get Ace Attorney News?

Here we are, in 2025, and we still don’t have Ace Attorney 7.

But you know me, I have boundless optimism for the series these days. I thought Ace Attorney’s future looked brighter than ever even before we got a direct confirmation from Capcom that the series will continue and an official translation of Investigations 2.

With the entire series (except for the crossover) available now on modern platforms, it’s the perfect time for a new entry in the series!

I’m still of the opinion that releasing both the Apollo Justice Trilogy and the Investigations Collection last year instead of spacing them out more makes the most sense if they were clearing the way for a new announcement. I’m also still hopeful those mysterious captions will lead to a new Great Ace Attorney game.

But whether it’s Ace Attorney 7, The Great Ace Attorney Investigations, or something entirely new, when are our best chances of getting Ace Attorney news?

A Nintendo Direct

I’ve got my fingers crossed that it won’t be long before we get a general Nintendo Direct, and that is one possible place for a new Ace Attorney announcement. After all, it was at a Nintendo Direct that they revealed the Investigations Collection. They’ve never announced a new entry in the series at a Nintendo Direct before, but it’s not unreasonable.

Gamescom

Gamescom 2025 begins with the Opening Night Live showcase on August 18 at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET, with the convention itself being held over the next few days after that. While it doesn’t look like Capcom is having their own show, they’ll be at Gamescom with playable demos of Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition, and Kunitsu-Gami. Maybe they’ll have new game announcements too?

Ace Attorney feels a little too niche for a big reveal during Gamescom Opening Night, so I won’t hold my breath (but I’ll still be hoping).

PAX West

Not long after that, Capcom will be at PAX West, again with playable demos of Requiem, Onimusha, and Pragmata, but also with a Capcom Presents panel on August 31.

We’ve discussed how Capcom has different names depending on the type of live stream it is, and I think a “Capcom Presents” usually focuses on already-announced games. I’m not actually expecting anything here (but I’ll still hold out a little bit of hope, just in case).

Tokyo Game Show

Finally, Tokyo Game Show will be held from September 25-28, and that’s always an event where I hope for Ace Attorney news. A big Japanese gaming event feels like a fitting place to announce an entry in a smaller series like Ace Attorney. Capcom is on the list for TGA exhibitors, so maybe there’s a real chance!

If I had to rank them for how likely I think it is that they’ll announce a new Ace Attorney game, I’d say Nintendo Direct > TGS > Gamescom > PAX West.

But who knows? Let’s not forget that “announced in a tweet on a random day” is also possible.

Do you think we’ll get Ace Attorney news this year? If they do announce a new game, where do you think it will be revealed? Join me in my delusions in the comments!

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Indie World Showcase Announced for Tomorrow

Just one week after the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, there will be an Indie World Showcase on August 7 at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET.

It will last 15 minutes and feature indie games coming to the Switch and Switch 2.

Of course, there are plenty of people hoping to see Silksong, as always. I’m mainly hoping to see Hades II, maybe with a release date for the full game. I’d also be happy if we got a release date for Tormented Souls 2.

Now, what would really be interesting would be if they complete the trio with a general Nintendo Direct next week. There have been rumors of them doing a 3-stage presentation that way, with one type of showcase each week. I’ve been waiting for a new general Direct to see if there will be some new must-play Switch 2 exclusives announced.

(Not that I don’t have plenty of games in my backlog as it is. Why am I so anxious for Nintendo to give me reason to buy a whole new system?)

Are there any indie games you’re especially hoping to see tomorrow?

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Utawarerumono Developer Aquaplus Acquired by Yuke’s

Sometimes company acquisitions make a lot of sense, and other times they leave me scratching my head a bit.

Aquaplus, the developer behind the Utawarerumono series (among others, like the ToHeart remake that came out in June) has been sold by its parent company and acquired by Yuke’s.

Yuke’s is a developer most famous for… the WWE series and a few Earth Defense Force games.

Not exactly the first match I’d pick for a developer of visual novel strategy RPGs.

(Then again, their most recently announced game is Full Metal Schoolgirl, so maybe it’s not such a surprise after all that they’re interested in branching out in directions Aquaplus could help them with.)

Meanwhile, I had completely forgotten about the Monochrome Mobius sequel that was announced last year. I wonder if it’s still set for 2025 and if this acquisition will have any effect on it. Of course, I still need to catch up on the series myself.

What do you think this will mean for future Aquaplus games?

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Monster Hunter Stories 3?! (and Other Nintendo Direct Announcements)

There was a Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase yesterday, and while it wasn’t the most thrilling Direct, it started off on a great note for me.

(Not as great as if it had been Ace Attorney, but maybe next time.)

When the first trailer began, I spent a few seconds thinking, “It would be neat if this was actually a new Monster Hunter Stories” before realizing it really was.

I enjoyed the first Monster Hunter Stories, and I was pretty excited for Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin. It’s one of those games that I would have played at launch if not for it coming out shortly before The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles and NEO The World Ends With You, which kept me busy.

As a result, I still haven’t played it, but I keep intending to.

I didn’t expect a third entry this soon (if ever), but Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection has been announced for 2026, and it looks fantastic.

That was the high point of the Direct for me.

Despite starting off so well, I found myself uninterested for most of the Direct. I know the new Katamari game is a big deal for fans, but I never got into that series. Ports of Persona 3 Reload and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are neat, but I already have them on other platforms.

It didn’t catch my attention again until Square Enix showed up to announce two games. The first was a new HD-2D action RPG called The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. It has a demo, so I might give it a try.

The second was a new entry in the Octopath Traveler series, Octopath Traveler 0. It looks like this one is based on the mobile game, but reimagined as a full console game.

I’ve never gotten into the Octopath Traveler games, mainly because of the lack of party interactions, but maybe I’ll give the series another try someday.

So there we go. For me, the Partner Showcase was pretty much “Monster Hunter Stories 3 and a couple other games.” It’s one of the weaker Directs we’ve had recently, but I’m thrilled about that announcement at least.

I now have until sometime in 2026 to play Monster Hunter Stories 2. It’ll get done… surely.

What announcements from the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase did you enjoy the most?

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I’m the Writer for the Action RPG Nezori, Now On Kickstarter!

I’ve got some exciting news today!

The next big game project I’m working on, the action RPG Nezori, is currently seeking funds through Kickstarter!

Nezori is from Visualnoveler, the same developer as Eternal Radiance, although this one has a simpler story and a more lighthearted tone.

It follows a fox girl on a quest to find the legendary hot springs guarded by the warlike wolf girls who stand in her path.

I’m the writer for it, so I can’t wait for people to check it out.

It’s in development now for PC, PlayStation 5, and Switch, and there’s a demo available on Steam so you can check out the start of the first chapter.

The game is pretty far along in development already, and meeting the campaign goal will ensure we can make it a good, polished experience. If we reach the first stretch goal, we’ll also be able to add voice acting!

So check out the Nezori Kickstarter campaign and let us know if you have any questions. What do you think of Nezori?

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Suikoden Broadcast Announced for August 5

Konami has announced another Suikoden Live broadcast, set for August 5 at 4 AM PT / 7 AM ET.

(I think I’ll catch this one after the fact.)

The last Suikoden broadcast back in March was unintentionally comedic, as they said the Suikoden I & II remasters were only Step 1 of Suikoden’s revival and then proceeded to announce three different parts of Step 2: an anime, a gacha game, and a stage play.

Expecting the announcement of another remaster or Suikoden VI while they kept announcing new things that weren’t that, all while being part of Step 2, made it a bizarre experience.

They’ll probably follow up with more details on those things in this next live stream, but I hope there will be some new announcements as well. Since I don’t care much for gacha games, I’m very skeptical about Star Leap. I’d be much happier over the reveal of a regular new game or a Suikoden III remaster.

The broadcast is supposed to last an hour and a half, so that’s enough time that hoping for a new announcement doesn’t feel unreasonable. Maybe they’ll finally reveal Step 3 of their plan.

What do you expect from next week’s Suikoden live stream?

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Trails Beyond the Horizon Set for January 15

Back in March, the localization of Trails Beyond the Horizon was announced for this fall.

It was delayed to January 2026, and now we have a release date: January 15.

There’s also a new trailer, which I haven’t watched since I’m nowhere near caught up on the series yet.

This really would have been a crazy year for Trails localizations if it had stuck with its original fall window, since Trails Through Daybreak II came out in February, the Trails in the Sky remake is coming out on September 19, and the spin-off crossover Ys vs. Trails in the Sky is still set for 2025 as well. Adding Trails Beyond the Horizon to that lineup is hard to imagine.

So, it’s now coming out on January 15, and that gives me more time to catch up… right?

…Maybe not. I have a long, long way to go.

Anyway, I’m excited to have a release date for Trails Beyond the Horizon even though I probably won’t be ready to play it when it launches. Have you gotten into the Trails series yet?

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