Cross over games are all the rage right now, but Project X Zone is particularly in demand. Releasing early in the 3DS’s lifespan in Japan, fans in the west begged for the title until it was finally confirmed last year. Earlier today, a demo emerged on the eShop in anticipation for its June 25th release, and I jumped on the chance to bring the worlds of Sega, Namco and Capcom together.
Acting as a spiritual successor to the Japan only Namco X Capcom, Project X Zone is a grid based strategy RPG with units consisting of characters from series such as Street Fighter, Dot.Hack and Sakura Wars, each with their own sets of moves. Unlike most games in the genre that will have you simply walk up to enemies and select text to attack, X Zone takes a more action oriented approach. Choosing between a list of moves, maximum damage is achieved through linking attacks, juggling enemies and utilizing support to keep them in the air. Each unit is either a pair of characters, (like Ryu and Ken,) or a group of three, with the odd one out acting as additional support, (including my favorite so far, Space Channel 5‘s Ulala.)
Field position plays a vital role, since allies within a unit’s attack radius can be called in for additional support. Attacks that connect simultaneously between different units and support creates a “cross” effect on the enemy, where the foe is frozen in place, making landing combos easier. Doing so also builds energy called XP, that can be stored to unleash devastating super moves or used for actions such as healing, counter attacking and defending.
It’s not enough to simply bash away however, because much like a fighting game, enemy position is important when it comes to landing combos. I accidentally crossed enemies in the air where they were too high for my main characters to make contact with on my first run for example, and trust me, that really sucks. Other than wanting to actually be able to hit your enemies, continuously juggling awards more damage, items and experience, so you’ll want to plan your attacks accordingly if you want to make the most out of them.
I’ll be honest, I suck at strategy games; but blending action, fighting and RPG elements into the genre might finally be a winning combination. I left the demo very impressed, and I can’t wait for more when June 25th comes around. With the final version featuring characters from Tekken, Soul Calibur, Virtua Fighter, Resident Evil, Devil May Cry and Mega Man, there’s sure to be a character for even the pickiest of gamers. Get to your local game store and pre order fast, because this game screams niche. If the demo is any indication, you really don’t want to miss out.