We all know that in a perfect world, Super Robot Wars J would have been officially released in English. Its sweet, sweet combination of no less than 13 different anime series joining together to face evil in a strategy RPG set souls aflame. When it became clear that we did not live in this perfect world, however, and would be denied seeing this game’s release, a dedicated team of wizards and mystics set out to right this wrong, using the darkest and most forbidden of arts to scrape away at reality, tunneling into this hypothetical perfect world to extract an English copy of Super Robot Wars J from it.

Luckily, their Great Work is nearly complete, and a cornucopia of mecha tonnage is nearly ready to sortie. What they need for this Miracle is your help–your burning spirit–to pull the Veil of our Universe away for that tiny moment, just long enough to copy data over their 56k modem.

Clap if you believe in mecha fairy dust. Clap if you believe in love. Clap if you believe in never giving up. Clap if you believe in Space Lance.

Super Robot Wars J is coming, but only if we are first found worthy. You have been warned: prepare yourselves.

UPDATE: The translation group have turned back their hoods and have decided to make themselves known: when the translation is allowed out of its cage you may find it here. Keep in mind every minute they spend reading “but when, man, WHEN will it be done?” is one minute less they spend on the game’s release, and if possible restrain yourself from melting down their server through furious pressings of the reload button on your browser.

In the latest column it appears that not only will Virtual On Force be localised into English on the Japanese and Asian versions (presumably triggered by your console’s system language settings) but also that it will be entirely region free as well. Whilst there is still no word on an official Western release, this does allow for importers to buy the game without fear of it not working on their 360 (meaning you can buy it here if you want to). This was done intentionally as well it seems, as a sort of thank you to the Western fanbase. In addition to this good news, the column also lays out all 32 of the game’s achievements too.

To mark the release of Break Blade’s fifth “movie” on the 22nd January, Border Break Airburst will allow players to use costumes from the anime via their BB.net service (as shown above). Break Blade is an interesting anime, formerly based upon a manga, as it sets the narrative in what appears to be a pseudo-medieval past where people are able to control quartz with their minds. The main protagonist, that of Rygart Arrow, is the only one that doesn’t have this ability and is thus able to control an ancient and mysterious mecha. The anime also has involvement with one Takayuki Yanase, who has a long and illustrious mecha design career in gaming. From Murakumo to Metal Gear Solid 4, not to mention SRW W and ACE 3, he does get around.

As with all Border Break related news though, we’re still much like a cat pawing at a fluffy ball of wool behind a glass screen. After tasting the mechanical nectar not that long ago, we need our fix again basically. Considering how much of a money spinner the arcade game is for Sega though, we’re becoming less hopeful for a console port. To make up for this sad state of affairs, we’ve linked the Break Blade opening (in HD) below. The opening song is called “Fate”, as written and sung by the hugely talented KOKIA.

As we mentioned previously, the just released Gundam Musou 3 will receive its first batch of DLC on December 22nd (oddly co-inciding with the release of Virtual On Force no less). The DLC will be split into three mission packs, costing a 100 yen each (on PS3) or 80 Microsoft Points (on 360). There will also be multiple new mobile suits attached to each pack. Whilst we already knew about the GNX-Y901TW Susanowo and NZ-666 Kshatriya, according to 4Gamer there will also be the GN-006 Cherudim Gundam, GN-007 Arios Gundam and GN-008 Seravee Gundam included too. It’s apparent in any case that DLC will be quite vigorously supported for the game, whether that any of it will make it out of Japan come Gundam Musou 3’s inevitable Western release remains to be seen though. Still, we’re just happy to see the Musha Gundam and Musha Gundam Mk. II from the first Gundam Musou game again.

4Gamer has the scoop on a new playable addition to Gundam Extreme Versus. That of the blade wielding GN-001 Gundam Exia from the first season of Gundam 00. In addition, the Exia can be encountered on one of the EX stages as an enemy in the game (specifically 3-A EX). As well as the inclusion of the Exia, there’s also a new boss mobile suit design in the game now. Specifically, a mode of the Extreme Gundam called the Tachyon Phase, designed again by Kunio Okawara. We think it looks pretty sweet. As always, still no word on the obvious PS3 release but the game is looking pretty damn amazing, hopefully we’ll know more in the New Year.

As shown in the latest column over at the Virtual On Force site, there’s now a 1:1 scale Temjin 747 emblazoned across the side of the Gigo arcade in Akihabara, all 16.3 metres of it. For those somewhat confused, VR’s aren’t as big as most mobile suits so the poster is actually pretty accurate. Separately, 4Gamer has some new gameplay videos of the port in action. The game is released next Wednesday, 22nd, in Japan and you still pre-order your copy here.

Game Watch has some nice coverage of a recent update (Rev 2.50) that occurred on December 16th to the glorious Senjou no Kizuna arcade game. Specifically on the inclusion of Torrington Base from Gundam 0083 (video shown below). What’s especially nice is that the map has the Albion as the Feddie base, with a Zanzibar II on the other side obviously (for the Zekes). As always, it’s pretty cool that the game is still getting supported with content (even after 4 years).

The nearly released Virtual On Force has been recently reviewed in Famitsu, nabbing a 7,7,8,7 score (or 29/40), which is by no means a bad score – quite respectable in fact. However, it’s nowhere near the almost mythical heights that the Dreamcast port of Oratan reached; as that attained the very rare 39/40. At the time that amounted to a pretty big deal, still does to an extent. That said Force is indeed flawed, compared to the previous two games, but it is an awful lot better than the hacked up port that was Marz. It’s nice to see that Famitsu have called this one pretty accurately though.

Famitsu has some nice new coverage explaining how the new combination attacks in Another Century’s Episode P will work. Unlike the same attacks in ACE 2 and 3, it seems that these will be more manually controlled as the player will need to hammer their targets within a time limit. Successful face raping of the enemy in question will also net the player more ACE points for upgrading. With the game’s release in a few weeks, it will be interesting to see how gamers take to this after the pretty appalling ACE R. In any case you can pre-order the game here.

With Gundam Musou 3 near release in Japan, 4Gamer has some cool new screenshots of the game’s Partner Strike system as well mobile suit customisation. Though we’re mostly nerding out on the shots for the RX-78GP01-Fb Gundam Full Vernian “Zephyranthes” from Gundam 0083 (pictured above). Despite being one of our favourite Shoji Kawamori designs it’s also been somewhat in the news as of late, mostly due to Linkin Park’s fascination with the mobile suit. Unsurprisingly, the game’s site has also reciprocated this current interest with showing a new special video of the mobile suit. Naturally, as this is Gundam 0083 we’ve included the series’ two very lovely opening animations (in HD no less) below. That said, we still think that Back to Paradise would have been a better intro song.