Project X Zone
Namco Bandai Games conceived a project that would unite three major Japanese video game companies. The idea was to create a "dream crossover" featuring characters from Namco, Capcom, and Sega. This collaboration required careful coordination between the studios to bring together their distinct universes. Monolith Soft developed the game for the Nintendo 3DS platform. The concept first appeared as a teaser on the official website before being revealed in the April 2012 issue of Famitsu magazine. Developers created initial character models in 3D before converting them into SD pixel art for gameplay. Notable attacks had to be executed in 2D space to preserve the origin of each source material.
Stages take place in grid-based locations drawn from many different crossover titles. Each friendly unit consists of two characters known as a Pair Unit. A third character or Solo Unit can join for once-per-battle assistance. Units move freely within their range on the field map without penalty for accessing treasure chests. The battle system is called the Cross Active Battle System. Pressing the A button with the Circle Pad performs up to five basic attack combos. Support Attack allows players to call nearby allies for help during combat. Cross Hit freezes targets during simultaneous attacks from multiple units. Players trigger Critical Hits by connecting their next attack just before the target hits the ground after the first strike. Damage done via Cross Hits fills the Cross Power gauge up to 150 percent.
Mii Kouryuji searches for the Portalstone alongside her tutor private detective Kogoro Tenzai. They investigate the whereabouts of the heirloom belonging to the Kouryuji clan. Strange portals appear in various worlds affecting many characters across different franchises. Villains exploit the chaos caused by rifts between collapsing worlds. Mii and Kogoro team up with a large cast of characters affected by these events. They fight against villains who take opportunity of the destruction happening around them. The story follows their journey through collapsing dimensions while seeking the artifact. Their path leads them through numerous battles against enemies threatening all realities.
The game features sixty playable characters from three Japanese video game companies. Overseas versions include the same character roster as the original Japanese version. Pair units combine characters like Yuri Lowell and Estellise Sidos Heurassein from Tales of Vesperia. Jin Kazama teams with Ling Xiaoyu from Tekken. Kite partners with BlackRose from .hack. KOS-MOS fights alongside T-elos from Xenosaga. Soma Schicksal joins Alisa Ilinichina Amiella from God Eater. Haken Browning works with Kaguya Nanbu from Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier. Reiji Arisu pairs with Xiaomu from Namco × Capcom. Chris Redfield stands next to Jill Valentine from Resident Evil. Dante teams with Demitri Maximoff from Darkstalkers. Ryu and Ken Masters appear together in Street Fighter. Chun-Li fights alongside Morrigan Aensland from Darkstalkers. X and Zero battle together in Mega Man X. Frank West joins Hsien-Ko from Darkstalkers. Kurt Irving partners with Riela Marceris from Valkyria Chronicles III. Ichirō Ogami teams with Sakura Shingūji from Sakura Wars. Gemini Sunrise works with Erica Fontaine from Sakura Wars. Akira Yuki fights alongside Pai Chan from Virtua Fighter. Toma partners with Cyrille from Shining Force EXA. Zephyr joins Leanne from Resonance of Fate. Solo units include Flynn Scifo from Tales of Vesperia. Alisa Bosconovitch appears alone from Tekken. Heihachi Mishima fights solo from Tekken. Sänger Zonvolt operates independently from Super Robot Wars: Original Generations. Lindow Amamiya acts alone from God Eater. Valkyrie appears as a solo unit from Valkyrie no Bōken. Saya fights solo from Namco × Capcom. Neneko or Neito appears from Yumeria. Lady battles alone from Devil May Cry. Juri Han fights solo from Street Fighter. Tron Bonne and Servbots operate together from Mega Man Legends. Arthur appears alone from Ghosts 'n Goblins. Devilotte de DeathSatan IX fights from Cyberbots. Batsu Ichimonji acts solo from Rival Schools. Imca appears alone from Valkyria Chronicles III. Ulala fights solo from Space Channel 5. Vashyron operates independently from Resonance of Fate. Bruno Delinger appears alone from Dynamite Cop. Rikiya Busujima fights solo from Zombie Revenge. Genghis Bahn III appears alone from Fighting Vipers.
The game was released on the 11th of October 2012 in Japan. It arrived in North America on the 25th of June 2013. European markets received the title on the 5th of July 2013. Katsuhiro Harada revealed plans for localization via Twitter on the 22nd of September 2012. He stated that the company had not decided yet but would realize it if he continued proposing. Namco Bandai Games announced official release in North America, Europe and Australasia during summer 2013 on the 21st of January 2013. English versions retain Japanese voices like Otomedius Excellent. Vocals for the opening theme music were removed for legal reasons. Some music tracks were removed or replaced due to licensing issues. The game was removed from the North American and European eShops on the 1st of May 2016. Two theme songs exist with the opening titled Wing Wanderer and ending titled GALAXY performed by Yoko Takahashi. The opening movie was created by animation studio Trigger founded by former Gainax employees Hiroyuki Imaishi and others. Animator Akira Amemiya directed the opening sequence.
The game sold more than 85,539 units in its first week in Japan. In Western markets sales exceeded ten times what Bandai Namco had expected. It ranked among the 20 best games sold in the United Kingdom after debut. In the United States it became one of the best selling games for the 3DS. Total worldwide sales reached over 400,000 copies according to Bandai Namco. Project X Zone received mixed to positive reviews from western critics. Metacritic assigned a score of 70 out of 100. IGNs Scott Thompson gave it 8 out of 10 calling it often funny and consistently frantic. GameRevolution awarded 3.5 out of 5 praising character cameos despite lack of depth. GamesRadar gave 2 out of 5 criticizing repetitive formula. Kotaku included it in top ten games of 2013. In 2014 Kotaku listed it among The 12 Best Games on the 3DS. Critics praised cast and combat system while criticizing confusing storyline and repetitive gameplay.
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Common questions
Who developed Project X Zone for the Nintendo 3DS?
Monolith Soft developed the game for the Nintendo 3DS platform. The project united three major Japanese video game companies including Namco, Capcom, and Sega.
When was Project X Zone released in Japan and other regions?
The game was released on the 11th of October 2012 in Japan. It arrived in North America on the 25th of June 2013 and European markets received the title on the 5th of July 2013.
How many playable characters are included in Project X Zone?
The game features sixty playable characters from three Japanese video game companies. Overseas versions include the same character roster as the original Japanese version.
What is the Cross Active Battle System in Project X Zone?
The battle system is called the Cross Active Battle System where pressing the A button with the Circle Pad performs up to five basic attack combos. Players trigger Critical Hits by connecting their next attack just before the target hits the ground after the first strike.
Why were some music tracks removed or replaced in Project X Zone?
Vocals for the opening theme music were removed for legal reasons. Some music tracks were removed or replaced due to licensing issues.