After a fair bit of ambiguity regarding Armored Core V’s toys, we now finally have some concrete details as to what and when is getting released. Over at From Software’s official site for the game, it’s now clear that the prototype figures we saw will actually be released as part of two separate packs. The first, is the mecha itself with a fairly default weapon loadout. This will cost 5,040 yen and be comprised of ABS, PVC and diecast metal. The second pack is for the Grind Blade overed weapon, which will cost 2,940 yen and only be made of ABS and PVC (bit unfortunate that). Both packs will be available sometime this June, which is quite a way away really.

Considering that the last set of Armored Core toys we got were the pretty horrific Kaiyodo monstrosities for Armored Core 2 and Another Age, the fact Bandai are finally handling this and in their Super Robot Chogokin line no less is making us very happy indeed. The paint job looks to be suitably decent too.

What’s really interesting is that the mecha design for the game was actually partially handled by a group known as BEE-CRAFT. This is comprised of multiple members who have worked at Bandai for years, specifically helping design the various model kits for the Gundam franchise. Of these, Junichi Akutsu is especially notable as he was one of the main mecha designers for the wonderful Gungriffon games too. The latter being ironic as these were originally a direct competitor with Armored Core, so in that sense the mecha design has come full circle at least. The reason BEE-CRAFT’s involvement in Armored Core V is notable is because it means that these toys will likely have been designed by very nerdy professionals. This is something we wholeheartedly approve of.

No word on whether more figures will follow this initial set in June, as it will likely depend on their sales. With any luck these toys will also make it to the West but that will again depend on how well the game does come its March release.

The upcoming Gundam Unicorn PS3 game had some new footage uploaded to its official site recently. Showing the game’s cover system, with the MSN-06S Sinanju positively fraping its opponents followed by the MSN-001 Delta Gundam being pretty superfly. Overall, the combat is looking really quite fascinating still and we really can’t wait to play it for ourselves. Both videos are shown below.

If you missed out on the crazy short run for the last 1/60 scale DX Chogokin YF-29 Durandal then you’ve now got a second chance. Coming in May, the toy will be reissued. Still no word on whether the super pack set will resurface, as that was an online only purchase originally. Considering that the original toy now goes for almost three times the original asking price, this reissue is a good thing. Admittedly, this will still cost 17,850 yen but it’s a very nice toy indeed. The mecha itself was featured towards the latter part of the Macross Frontier movie The Wings of Farewell and was playable in Macross Last Frontier too. We managed to nab one of the original toys, with super pack, at release so we may get around to doing a toy review of it as some point (if people are interested). You’ll be able to pre-order the reissue YF-29 from here.

At the recent AOU 2012 show, more Gundam Extreme Versus Full Boost content has surfaced. Notable of which is the addition of the Extreme Gundam “Leos” type (pictured above). The Extreme Gundam being the boss mecha you face at the end of each of the arcade paths in the current game, as well as in the Trial Missions on the PS3 port. It also sounds like this will be playable unit. Admittedly, we won’t be getting the gattai-tastic variants seen in the original Extreme Versus but instead something a bit more streamlined. The official site has also been updated a fair bit too as of late, with a current roster of all the playable mobile suits. Much of the PS3’s DLC will be making it into Full Boost, especially that of the wondrous RX-79BD-1 GM Blue Destiny Unit 1. Full Boost is expected to hit Japanese arcades this spring.

Day One Studios, creators of the two MechAssault games on the original Xbox, have announced a spiritual successor going by the name Reign of Thunder. While the game is missing the BattleTech license, it appears that the MechAssault “feel” of fast third-person action is still present, with the promised addition of tons of customization options.

Day One Studios says “mech fans have been asking us for years to return to the genre and we’ve been listening”, which is perhaps an overstatement. The games reviewed exceptionally well, but the BattleTech fans who thought they would be getting a nuanced game in the vein of MechWarrior were sorely disappointed. With a MechWarrior reboot and Hawken still on the horizon, as well as a certain “core” mecha series adding an unprecedented amount of online content, there may not be room for another freemium mecha game based on a series with simple, action-oriented game mechanics.

If there’s a silver lining, it’s this: the press release claims the game will also incorporate the “customization and RPG elements of the early MechWarrior PC and board games” in addition to the instant action feel of MechAssault. If that wasn’t just hapless PR speak, this project could turn out to be something interesting, though Day One Studios still has everything to prove.

Back in 2004 From Software released a suitably bonkers Xbox game, where you played the usurped President of the United States of America who also happened to have his own power armor. Called Metal Wolf Chaos, it was a brilliantly executed shooter that also had a wonderfully satirical bent to it. Mentioning it here is pertinent though, as the game’s scale and functionality bear a very large resemblance to that of Armored Core V.

Set in a depressingly apocalyptic future, Armored Core V has humanity waging war with all manner of weaponry but the most lethal of these are the newly discovered Armored Cores; mecha dug up from deep underground that retro-actively antiquate all modern day warfare. The premise is a more gritty take on Panzer World Galient as the setting is very close to our own present day. That said, From Software are still continuing to go the rounds on Ryosuke Takahashi’s works when it comes to inspiration for Armored Core it seems.

Considering that the game has been in production now for over 2 years, we weren’t sure what to expect. As normally the duration between releases is around a year but this is meant as a reboot of sorts and coupled with a pretty immense online setup, it’s a good thing they took some time with it. In any case, after the disappointment of Front Mission Evolved, this game is simply wondrous by comparison.

Whilst there’s no game footage to see here, Ichiro Mizuki has been wheeled out to promote Super Robot Wars Z 2 Saisei-hen. It’s a nice little advert, as it has him prepare for a concert by using the series’ well-known seishin. The ones he uses, in order, are Concentration, Hot Blood and Soul. Normally Hot Blood (2 x damage) and Soul (2.5 x damage) can’t be stacked (as that was the case in Super Robot Wars J) but this is Mizuki we’re talking about, so he’s allowed license to do whatever he pleases really. That said, we like the fact they used the in-game sound effects and so overall this gets a very nerdy thumbs up from us.

Along with a bunch of other series related blurb over at Famitsu, the upcoming Eureka Seven AO anime will also have a game too (as published by Namco Bandai). Whilst there is no word on what platform(s) it will be on nor its expected release date as yet, we’re still somewhat cautious about another “official” tie-in game. For those unaware, there were a few PS2 games developed by none other than the (now defunct) Team White Dingo. These were sidestories to the original series, which the new AO is a sequel to obviously. Unfortunately, they were functionally pretty dire. This wasn’t the developer’s fault really, as all the funky surfing LFO combat in the anime was totally meant as eye candy and trying to replicate that properly wasn’t really feasible (something that was proven in Another Century’s Episode 3, as the functionality was hugely simplified to make it work). Basically, an in-house studio wouldn’t have been given the same kind of leeway From Software would have and the official PS2 games suffered as a consequence of that. Still, they could go down the more RPG route seen in the PSP game and that wasn’t half bad. In any case, we’ve included the latest promo for the anime below.

Whilst most people would celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving their loved one chocolates or flowers, Bandai Namco thought that a few more mobile suits in Senjou no Kizuna would do the trick. The two new units are the FA-78-1B Full Armor Gundam Type B, as seen in the serialised novel MSV-R: The Return of Johnny Ridden, and the MS-11 Act Zaku. The new Gundam also apparently has similar ranged potency to that of the YMS-16M Xamel, which sounds pretty brutal. The Act Zaku though is more of a superfly Zaku II, basically like a Gouf or a Kampfer but without the predilection towards sucking a big fat one. If anything, the Act Zaku supersedes units like the Gelgoog (well, at least it did in the awesome Gundam One Year War). Game Watch has some nice new screenshots of the units in action too.

A short 30 second TV advert for the forthcoming Gundam Unicorn game on PS3 has been released online. It shows much of what was in the gameplay trailer, bar the Delta Gundam now being a total boss. The combat is looking very interesting and dynamic though, so we’re really keen to get our hands on it come its March release. Especially as it sounds like there will be free DLC too, which is a pretty novel move on the part of Bandai Namco. In any case, the video is shown below.