Pokémon Pokopia Review – Shattering All Expectations

By
Ryuji Shiryu
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Pokémon Pokopia Review

Nintendo’s Switch 2 lineup has been quite stacked this year in both the first-party and third-party avenues. It warms my heart to see just how much love and support the company’s new console has gathered. Over the past couple of months, my Switch 2 became my daily companion, with so many good games finally making their way into a console I can take out and about. Rest in dust, PS5. Soon you’ll get your time again, I swear…

When Pokémon Pokopia was first announced, I must say it didn’t really impress me at first, but the more I watched the trailers that were released afterward, the more I got curious. And then I saw that a lot of my friends were trying out the game, and even saw in the news that Pokopia was sold out everywhere. Since we won’t get the next mainline Pokémon game until next year, I decided I’ve had enough, and so, I decided to dive in to figure out just what makes this game so endearing to people.

Where Have the Humans Gone?

Our story in Pokémon Pokopia begins with a lone Ditto, who wakes up to not being able to find their Trainer. After meeting a uniquely colored Tangrowth that calls itself Professor Tangrowth, they show that the world we once knew is now devoid of humans…and Pokémon. However, this particular Ditto is able to sort of turn itself into a human. If you’ve ever watched that one episode from the anime where that Ditto couldn’t really figure out faces, it’s essentially that. However, because of its transformation skills, it is somehow able to copy other Pokémon moves in a way that can help others.

And just like that, you’re put straight away into the core gameplay loop of Pokémon Pokopia. It is astonishingly simple, yet it’s amazing how in-depth it can be at the same time. The main objective is to raise something called the Environmental Level, and this is done through a variety of ways. Inside your Pokédex are various habitat hints in a section called the Habitat Dex, where you must set the location to be similar to the picture hint. Once you’ve done so, give it a couple of minutes, and a Pokémon will settle in it.

But just having them settle in isn’t enough, of course. Sometimes, they’ll ask that you change their habitat somehow, by placing a toy, a bed, or sometimes changing up where it’s located. As you tailor each habitat to the Pokémon’s preferences, the Environmental Level of that area increases. Oh, wait, did I say “of that area”? Why, yes! As you complete the various main quests in Pokémon Pokopia, you’ll be able to pass through various area gates, which will take you to other areas.

My favorite part about Pokopia has to be collecting the various human-written documents that are scattered across the world. The game doesn’t really mention it, but there are lots of theories you can make from some of them, and I started to get very excited to just learn more. Finding creative solutions to the game’s many quests was also really fun and kept me engaged for hours.

Take Your Time, Literally

One of the aspects that surprised me with Pokémon Pokopia is that time moves forward according to your real-time clock. This changes various things in the game, but the biggest is the fact that whenever you’re building something like a house or restoring a ruined structure, the game will tell you to wait for a few hours in real time, with a good majority of them requiring that you wait until tomorrow. You even have special events that are set to happen on specific dates, but don’t worry about a potential fear of missing out.

See, there is absolutely nothing that punishes you for doing the classic trick, which is going into the Switch’s internal clock settings. Although if you asked me, I would say that is not the intended way to experience Pokémon Pokopia. This is truly meant to be that game you just boot up and relax to after a long day at work, because I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll find something that will catch your attention, especially when progressing the main storyline, even if you play it at, say, late at night.

But still, while I could sing its praises all day, there were a couple of minor gripes I had while playing. For instance, keeping track of your stored items, especially as you expand your areas more and more, can be a bit of a drag, unless you have a notepad handy to jot down where you’ve stored each item. There are some ways around this, such as the ability to paint your storage boxes and use color coding to tell them apart. However, I’m much more willing to blame myself than the game in this one.

When it comes to the Habitat Dex, I also think it can be a bit vague on some of its hints and example pictures. For instance, the Rain Dance habitat doesn’t show that the dolls must be placed on a flat wall, and some tall grass habitats have multiple combinations that the game considers valid. It was something I got used to eventually, and you can press the X button to check the required list of items, but I still wish the pictures were clearer.

The More, the Merrier!

Pokémon Pokopia offers many ways to play together with your friends. You can visit someone else’s world either locally or online, via a Link Code entry. It is worth noting that if you enter the world of a friend who has made much more progress in the game’s main story, you will be promptly notified that you could potentially be spawned in an area you haven’t been to yet. And indeed, any habitats and Pokémon you find on that friend’s island can get saved to your Pokédex. This wasn’t too big of a deal at first, but then I started discovering things that I think I wasn’t supposed to find out, so heed that warning!

But if you still want to create with your friends, the game offers two ways you can do it! First, you can create what is known as a Cloud Island, which is randomly generated. While the items from this island cannot be taken back to your world, you can think of it as a blank slate of sorts, with its own Environment Level, Pokémon, and habitats. You do need to have a constant connection to the Internet in order to access this island, but I do find this the best way for you to hang out with your friends and build things together in the game, without worrying about spoiling each other’s discoveries.

The second method is Palette Town, which is yet another randomly generated island. Unlike the Cloud Island, you can use GameShare and have up to three other players help you build. It is worth noting, though, that through this method, the Pokédex and by extension, the Habitat Dex, are both features that only you, the host, has access to, which does limit it somewhat. Still, besides that, you can do the vast majority of activities that Pokopia has to offer. Destroy stuff, build stuff. Everything goes. So for once, I can say this is a title where GameShare makes sense.

Absolutely Nonstop Fun

Pokémon Pokopia has shattered pretty much all the expectations I had, and it deserves every praise it can get. This is precisely the type of game that, even if you boot it up for just a few short minutes, I guarantee you there will always be something that can be done, and before you notice, it’s been half an hour, and you’re still engrossed in it. Whether that time be spent looking for artifacts, decorating your islands, or even meeting new Pokémon, there’s something for everyone to enjoy here.

Disclaimer: Pokémon Pokopia was reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin Final Preview – A Vibrant Open-World RPG

By
Soul Kiwami
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The Seven Deadly Sins Origin Final Preview

It’s been five months since I delved into the closed beta test for The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin for my initial preview, and in that time, Netmarble has been making great strides in development of this new anime open-world action RPG. The beta offered a glimpse of what’s to come, and ahead of launch, I was able to really delve into The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin for a final preview and a full picture of what this game offers. The free-to-play RPG sector of gaming is incredibly competitive for players’ time, but I believe The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin will carve out a space for itself, especially among fans of the anime. The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin takes a successful blueprint that was popularized with the release of Genshin Impact and puts a twist on it while offering the quality and experiences that anime viewers would expect from a game adaptation.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin transports players to Britannia, the same setting of the anime adaptation of Nakaba Suzuki’s successful manga series. However, the game doesn’t follow the exact events of The Seven Deadly Sins and Four Knights of the Apocalypse as one might expect from a game adaptation. Instead, players will take on the mantle of Prince Tristan of the Kingdom of Liones as he ventures forth with his fairy companion, Tioreh, to discover the source of a strange spread of corruption on the land. While investigating with Howzer, the trio begin to discover that time itself is malleable with the Book of Stars, a strange artifact that has become physically linked with Tristan. In fact, the flow of time seems to be disrupted, as characters like Hawk and Holy Knight Marmas are still present in the world. A strange scholar named Clotho also warns Tristan and the party of vague threats and dangers that lurk as they continue their journey, which builds intrigue as you play through the opening acts. 

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is an Open-World RPG Full of Adventure

 

From the get-go, I noticed that The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is more vibrant and colorful compared to its previous state in the closed beta test, and it’s a bit more optimized on top of that. The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin really captures the essence of the anime series, despite the open world being a little generic in some respects. This is a character-driven action RPG that puts emphasis on adventure and discovery, and there’s a slew of optional side quests, challenges, and bosses to take on in the world. Every challenge, treasure chest, and landmark is more distinct, too, thanks to more pronounced visual effects and icons on the map. The quality of life and performance improvements made me want to explore every nook and cranny that I could so far, and I can definitely see myself spending well over 100 hours exploring and building up my team.

My overall thoughts on the action RPG combat system are relatively the same from my initial preview, but there are some improvements that I found helpful. At its core, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin follows much of the standard that anime-inspired action RPGs have set in recent years—equip up to a team of four characters with elemental affinities and switch between them at opportune moments to deal great damage on enemies. Combat is very flashy, and Ultimate Moves each have cinematic animations that really make them feel impactful. Normal Attacks deal damage and apply modifiers, and Special Attacks and Normal Skills deal bursts of damage or support party members quickly, though there’s a brief cooldown before you can use them again. Tagging between characters leads to some massive damage potential with Tag Skills, especially if timed well as a counter to a bosses’ unique attacks. The counter window was modified slightly, and there’s now a distinct blue glow around enemies and the party members you can tag in when such an opportunity presents itself. Further, characters can also link their Ultimate attacks together in cinematic style to deal extra damage.

 

 

Movement is relatively the same as it was in the closed beta. You’re able to walk, run, swim, fly, and climb to reach objectives, points of interest, chests, and other locations across Britannia. Mounts and gliders can be used to quickly navigate stretches of land, and mounts have an auto-move feature that let you traverse to a quest’s objective by letting the mount take the wheel. While exploring, you’ll get a sense of how vast the game world feels, and although some of the world design becomes second nature to the experience, there’s still some locales that are breathtaking. You’ll want to access the many waypoints across the map to teleport between key locations and level up the Book of Stars, which gives you rewards for leveling up and exploring. In addition, you can procure resources like ore and ingredients to craft items and equipment at your portable workshop or cook at a fire. As you progress the game, your World Level will also increase to reflect your overall mastery of the game, and as it increases, the rarity of loot and danger that enemies present will increase. This is really par for the course when it comes to open-world RPGs now, so there’s nothing really noteworthy when it comes to this game’s World Level implementation.

Like most free-to-play and gacha RPGs, there’s an established equipment and upgrade system that easy to get understand, so if you’ve played Genshin Impact or Wuthering Waves, you’ll automatically know the deal here. Each character has dedicated weapon, gear, and accessory slots to empower them with stat bonuses, and the loot itself comes in varying rarity. It’s up to you to determine which set of armor and gear works best with your characters, and since there’s so much equipment to consider, I definitely see character build guides becoming quite useful in no time. With certain in-game materials and duplicate characters, you can also upgrade their Mastery and Potential, respectively. It’s relatively easy to earn Mastery EXP potions and the materials you need out on the field by defeating enemies and bosses, completing side quests, or opening treasure chests.

Draw or No Draw?

Unlike the closed beta test, I wasn’t treated to a boatload of characters right off the bat, but I’d say the game is still really rewarding. By regularly playing the game, exploring the world, and completing quests, you’ll earn Star Fragments, which can be traded for Star Memories—one of the currencies used for draws. You can also earn Draw Tickets to get skins, weapons, and heroes, and from what I played, you can get these tickets quite easily over time. Limited-time events will most likely give players more tickets and rewards as well, but it’s worth noting that I didn’t have any access to events while I played. 

Overall, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin doesn’t stray from the expectations I had after playing the closed beta test. Star Fragments can be acquired from numerous sources, including completion of achievements and other objectives in the game, and there’s an in-game shop where you can buy bundles of Star Memories if you want to fast-track your way to getting all the heroes. Monetization isn’t intrusive to the game, and I’m sure players who don’t spend money on gacha will still be pleased with the overall experience. The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is very hands-free when it comes to monetization, but you will need to draw using those aforementioned free currencies in order to have the best team possible. 

A Delightful Anime Aesthetic and Presentation

Presentation-wise, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin looks impressive and stays faithful to the art of the source material for the most part. Some of the game’s original characters, such as Clotho, have a design I’d associate with some of Netmarble’s other anime-inspired offerings, such as MONGIL: STAR DIVE, for example. At first, those character designs do clash a little with Suzuki’s original designs, but I still think they’re all great. Fans of the anime will be right at home with The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, since the game has a returning cast of Japanese voice actors.

The main story’s dialogue is fully voiced with some exceptions, such as minor NPCs that aid the progression of quests, for example. There are plenty of talented voice actors that fill the roles of the game-original characters as well. When paired with the anime’s fantastical soundtrack, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin definitely feels like an extension of the anime, and there’s plenty of that tropey charm that goes along with it. You’ll notice it right away when the game opens up with Tristan and Tioreh, or when the comedic banter music plays after meeting Hawk. This is all to say that The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin does well right in as a companion piece to the anime and manga.

As I mentioned briefly, the quality of life improvements come a long way, and that extends to the UI/UX experience. The in-game HUD is more discernible now, and I immediately noticed the new and improved health bar. Status indicators for enemy health bars were also improved, and overall, I just think The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is presented more cleanly with its UI. I can see it translating well onto all sorts of display options. For this preview, I mostly played at 1080p at Very High settings to get the best picture out of the game. Although there were some improvements, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin still appears to be somewhat CPU intensive, thanks to its sprawling world.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is Shaping Up to be Worthwhile for Anime Fans

Fans of The Seven Deadly Sins will definitely have a lot of fun with The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, as it faithfully carries the aesthetic and charm of the anime and manga. The colorful open world, the compelling voice acting and cast of characters, and the action RPG mechanics are all really great, and I can also see this being a very cozy game to play thanks to its rewarding exploration elements and pleasing soundtrack. The scope of The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is still as impressive as it was in the closed beta, and I can see this being a big time sink for players who really get invested in the gameplay and story.

That being said, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is a game that mostly caters to anime fans, and gacha players who’ve played Genshin Impact will likely feel some déjà vu when it does come to gameplay and exploration due to the similarities. Since The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is free-to-play, it’s still worth trying out, and the overall consensus of the game will be clear once there’s a better picture of long-term support, which includes events and upcoming gacha banners. For now, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is looking really good for launch, and I’d love to see a Switch 2 version down the line.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin is available now for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam, and the Android, iOS, and Google Play Games versions will launch on March 23. Before launch, Final Weapon had the opportunity to interview The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin executive producer Do-Hyung Koo to discuss the game’s development, the team’s initial goals, consultation with manga creator Nakaba Suzuki and more.

Disclaimer: Netmarble provided access to The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin for coverage purposes.

Gnosia is Now Available for Android and iOS, Stage Play Announced

By
Soul Kiwami
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Gnosia on Android iOS

Following the conclusion of the Gnosia anime series, PLAYISM has released Petit Depotto’s critically acclaimed social deduction RPG on Android via Google Play and iOS via App Store for $24.99 worldwide. The Android and iOS version of Gnosia appear to have the same features as the console and PC counterparts, along with the inclusion of touchscreen support.

In addition, a new stage play for Gnosia will run from August 21 to September 6 at the Hikosen Theater in Tokyo, and all of its performances will be live-streamed. Eisuke Ike pens the script, and Fumiya Matsuzaki will direct the show.

The cast includes:

  • Ginga Shitara as Yuri
  • Teru Ikuta as Setsu
  • Yui Ito and Kuina Moriyasu as SQ
  • Ryo Taguchi and Takumi Nagaishi as Raqio
  • Erika Terashima and Tororo Nanami as Gina
  • Yutaka Ishii and Gari Yanagi as Shigemichi
  • Sena and Yukari Nakamura as Stella
  • Marina Tanoue and Non Harusaki as Yuriko
  • Yuki Odera and Rina Hagino as Comet
  • Shingo Kochi and Kuro Tada as Chipie
  • Masashi Taniguchi and Yū Furuyashiki as Jonas
  • Sora Nomoto and Ayaka Hashimoto as Kukrushka
  • Satomi Sugiyama and Chinami Hayashi as Otome
  • Kento and Tsukasa Taguchi as Remnan
  • Shōta Kawakami and Yūsei Hiraga as Sha-Ming

All 21 episodes of Gnosia are streaming on Crunchyroll with English subs and English dubs. MAISONdes performs the opening theme song “Bake no Kawa feat. Kobo Kanaeru, Kasane Teto, Giga & Teddyloid.” Umeda Cypher performs the ending theme song “Floor Killer.”

Ling Tosite Sigure performed the previous ending theme song “Loo% Who%.”

The Japanese cast includes:

  • Hiroki Nanami as Racio
  • Ikumi Hasegawa as Setsu
  • Chika Anzai as Yūri
  • Akari Kitō as SQ
  • Asami Seto as Jina
  • Saori Hayami as Stella
  • Aoi Yūki as Yuriko
  • Ayane Sakura as Comet
  • Yūichi Nakamura as Chipie
  • Kenjirō Tsuda as Jonas
  • Kana Hanazawa as Otome
  • Takeo Ōtsuka as Remnan
  • Takuya Eguchi as Sha-Ming

The English dub cast includes:

  • Anjali Kunapaneni as Yuri
  • Morgan Berry as Setsu
  • Jenny Yokobori as SQ
  • Joshua A Waters as Racio
  • Natalie Van Sistine as Jina
  • Aaron Dismuke as Shigemichi
  • Kelly Greenshield as Stella
  • Molly Zhang as Yuriko
  • Cat Protano as Comet
  • Kamen Casey as Chipie
  • Jason Douglas as Jonas
  • Yuuki Luna as Otome
  • Landon McDonald as Remnan
  • Ryan Negron as Sha-ming

Kazuya Ichikawa is directing the Gnosia anime at studio Domerica. Jukki Hanada writes and oversees the series scripts. Arisa Matsuura adapts Kotori’s original character designs from the game for animation. Hideyuki Fukasawa is the music composer.

Other key staff members include:

  • Art Directors: Mayumi Kamada, Mari Takada
  • Director of Photography: Tatsuya Nomura
  • Sound Director: Ryōsuke Naya
  • Sound Effects: Kiyotaka Kawada
  • Sound Production: Studio Mausu
  • Jinrō Supervision: Fumiya Matsuzaki
  • Producers: Tōru Kawakatsu (Petit Depotto), Yoshitaka Kimura (Aniplex)

Gnosia is a social deduction game where the player character must determine who is the “Gnosia” among them in a massive space ship drifting across the cosmos. The game is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

MARRIAGETOXIN Anime Reveals Opening Theme Song and Behind-the-Scenes Video Series

By
Soul Kiwami
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The staff of Shueisha and BONES Film’s TV anime adaptation of Joumyaku and Mizuki Yoda’s MARRIAGETOXIN manga series has announced the anime’s opening theme song “Kill or Kiss” by Yurina Hirate. In addition the opening theme song, a new six-part behind-the-scenes video series titled “The Making of MARRIAGETOXIN” will be released in the lead-up to the premiere. A preview video was released as a teaser of what’s to come.

Yurina Hirate also shared the following comment regarding her role:

“When recording ‘Kill or Kiss,’ I wanted to channel the world of MARRIAGETOXIN and the tension between its two leads. It’s a track I’ve personally fallen in love with, a high-energy dance number driven by a sharp, aggressive beat and haunting synth arrangements. The sound perfectly captures that ‘sweet-yet-toxic’ duality, creating an addictive sonic experience that I think fans of the original manga will really resonate with. I’m counting down the days until the premiere myself. Let’s experience this journey together!”

MARRIAGETOXIN will premiere on April 7. Motonobu Hori is directing the anime series. Kimiko Ueno is in charge of series composition and scripts, Kohei Tokuoka is the character designer and chief animation director, and Taisei Iwasaki and yuma yamaguchi are the music composers. BONES Animation is supervising the production by BONES Film and MARRIAGETOXIN Project.

Additional staff includes:

  • Sub Character Design: Yurika Sako
  • Costume Design: Kotono
  • Prop Design: Ayumi Nagaki, Ryo Hirata
  • Art Design: Toshiki Amata
  • Art: Bihou
  • Color Design: Hiroko Umezaki
  • Photography Director: Go Kanbayashi
  • 3DCG: SANZIGEN Inc.
  • CG Animation Director: Taiki Nagashima
  • Editing: Kumiko Sakamoto
  • Sound Director: Haru Yamada
  • Sound Effects: Tomokazu Mii

The confirmed cast of the anime includes:

  • Hikaru Gero: Haruki Ishiya
  • Mei Kinosaki: Shion Wakayama
  • Kyoko Himekawa: Anna Nagase
  • Shizuku Ushio: Mariya Ise
  • Shiori Ureshino: Asaki Yuikawa
  • Genya Naruko: Soma Saito
  • Kimie Arashiyama: Hinano Shirahama
  • Piichi Nakagawa: Simba Tsuchiya
  • Akari Gero: Haruka Shiraishi
  • Toshiki Hanamaki: Isamu Yusen
MARRIAGETOXIN main visual
©Joumyaku・Mizuki Yoda/SHUEISHA, MARRIAGETOXIN Project

Here’s an overview of the anime, courtesy of Shueisha:

For centuries, the deadly arts have been perfected by those known as the Masters. Among them, the Poison Masters of the Five Great Families hold the most fearsome power and influence. Hikaru Gero, heir to the Poison Masters’ Gero Family, has lived his entire life in the underworld, far removed from love or marriage.

But when the Gero Family head decrees that Hikaru’s sister must bear an heir to preserve the bloodline – by force if necessary – Hikaru resolves to protect her at all costs. It is then that Hikaru encounters Mei Kinosaki, a brilliant marriage swindler who becomes the target of his latest job. Realizing that the only way of solving the family succession problem and protecting his sister is through marriage, Hikaru impulsively asks Mei for help in finding a bride.

“That’s the first time anyone’s ever proposed like that.”

And so, with the cunning marriage swindler Mei as his advisor, elite assassin Hikaru embarks on the most challenging mission of his life: finding a wife!

Their goal: the ultimate marriage.

This is the world’s toughest mission for love, brought to you by the ultimate duo – an assassin and a marriage swindler!

Fate/EXTRA Record Has Been Delayed, Bandai Namco No Longer Publishing It

By
Soul Kiwami
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Fate/EXTRA Record

TYPE-MOON has announced that Fate/EXTRA remake Fate/EXTRA Record has been delayed from its spring 2026 release window to an unannounced release date. Additionally, Bandai Namco will no longer publish Fate/EXTRA Record. 

According to TYPE-MOON, there’s been a revision of the development structure for Fate/EXTRA Record, resulting in the game needing to be delayed once more. The decision came after discussions between TYPE-MOON parent company Notes and Bandai Namco. The remake’s new publisher and release date will be announced at a later date. All current sales/pre-orders for Fate/EXTRA Record physical editions will be discontinued until the new publisher is announced, and refunds at the Asobi Store will be processed soon.

Originally announced in 2020, Fate/EXTRA Record was confirmed for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. The remake includes a number of new additions, and one of the remake’s key characters is Arcueid Brunestud, the main heroine of Tsukihime -A piece of blue glass moon-. From the date of its announcement, the remake is being developed by TYPE-MOON studio bb, a subsidiary of TYPE-MOON, led by Kazuya Niinou. Niinou previously worked on the Dragon Quest Builders series as the director of the franchise at Square Enix.

In the meantime, fans can watch the Fate/strange Fake anime weekly with English subs and dubs on Crunchyroll. The Fate/strange Fake Blu-ray Disc Box set will release on May 27 for 41,800 yen (tax included) in Japan. The set includes the Whispers of Dawn special and all 13 episodes of the weekly anime series, spanning across four Blu-ray discs and a bonus CD featuring outtakes, the original soundtrack, and much more. 

Battle Spirits [Re] Zekkai no Kū Anime Premieres in Fall 2026

By
Soul Kiwami
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A newly launched website for the Battle Spirits multimedia franchise has revealed that the new anime series, titled Battle Spirits [Re] Zekkai no Kū, premieres in fall 2026. A new promotional video, visual, main cast, and staff members were also revealed. 

©BNP/BANDAI

The main cast of the new Battle Spirits [Re] Zekkai no Kū anime includes Taichi Kusano as Kū Bashin and Daiki Hamano as Zetsu Ajara. Masashi Kudo directs the anime at Bandai Namco Pictures and provides the original character designs. Toshizo Nemoto handles the series scripts, and Bandai Namco Pictures is planning the production.

Bandai launched the original Battle Spirits card game in 2008. Within the game, cards represent creatures like dragons, demons, birds, insects, and others. Players can control these spirits in battle. The most recent game in the multimedia franchise, Battle Spirits: Connected Battlers, released in 2022.

The franchise’s website describes Battle Spirits as follows:

Battle Spirits Saga is a deeply strategic trading card game played with cards and cores. The game’s world is made up of different color realms. The game’s world is made up of different color realms. Each realm’s color represents the personalities and fighting styles of its inhabitants.

Use three types of cards to craft your deck: Spirit, Nexus, and Magic. Currently, Battle Spirits Saga has six card colors: red, purple, white, yellow, green, and blue. Each color has its own gameplay strategy for you to master. Cores are the essence of Battle Spirits Saga’s
unique gameplay system.

Use these cores to summon spirits to battle on your behalf, level up spirits to unlock their true potential, or fuel game-changing magic cards at your disposal. How you make use of your limited cores during a game determines the flow of battle, leading to endless possibilities!

Eren the Southpaw Anime Reveals 3 New Cast Members

By
Soul Kiwami
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Eren the Southpaw

The staff of the TV anime adaptation of Kappi and nifuni’s Eren the Southpaw manga has revealed three new cast members. 

The new cast members for Eren the Southpaw include (left to right below):

  • Tarusuke Shingaki as Shun Rukawa
  • Asaki Yuikawa as Yūko Akane
  • Kenichirō Matsuda as Ifū Sakuma
Eren the Southpaw new cast members
©かっぴー/アニメ「左ききのエレン」製作委員会

ALI performs the opening theme song “Funkin’ Beautiful feat. ZORN,” and Ima Murasaki performs the ending theme song “New Walk.”

The Eren the Southpaw anime premieres on April 7 on TV Tokyo, and the anime’s first three episodes will receive a one-week limited early screening on March 27. Amazon Prime Video will stream the anime at 12:30 a.m. JST after the TV broadcast in Japan.

What’s more, a new serialization for the Eren the Southpaw manga is now underway on Shonen Jump+, with its story set in 2026 with a new “competition” in the Meguro Advertising Agency. A new 25th compiled book volume will release on May 1 in Japan. 

The cast members include:

  • Shōya Chiba as Koichi Asakura 
  • Yumi Uchiyama as Eren Yamagishi
  • Yui Ishikawa as Sayuri Katō
  • Akira Sekine as Akari Kishi
  • Kazuyuki Okitsu as Yūsuke Kamiya
  • Yurina Amami as Yurina Mitsuhashi
  • Kōji Yusa as Hajime Yanagi

Toshimasa Suzuki is directing the anime at Signal.MD and Production I.G. Taku Kishimoto is handling the series scripts, while Takayuki Gotō is the animation character designer. Yuka Fukuchi and Akane Tamai are designing the characters and are also the chief animation directors.

Additional staff members include:

  • Color Key Artist: Mitsuko Sekimoto
  • Art Director: Takeshi Satō
  • Art Setting: Kazuhiro Obata
  • Compositing Director of Photography: Shun Arimura
  • Editing: Jun’ichi Masunaga
  • Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa
  • Music: PC Music Club

Kappi’s Eren the Southpaw manga first debuted on the Cake’s web manga service in March 2016. Kappi then launched a remake with art by Nifuni on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ service in October 2017. The manga ended on October 8, 2022, and received an extra chapter in December 2022. The manga’s 23rd and 24th compiled book volumes were also published by Shueisha that December.

Lastly, here’s a description of the series, via the official website:

Halfway through high school, everyone is starting to seriously consider their future career paths. Koichi Asakura, who is aiming to enter an art college to become a designer, is shocked one day by graffiti scrawled on the wall of an art museum.

The artist is Yamagishi Ellen, a left-handed high school girl who has suppressed her talent since a certain incident . Before long, the two come to recognize each other through “drawing,” and Koichi sets out on the path to becoming a designer, while Ellen sets out on the path to becoming a painter.

The Detective is Already Dead Season 2 Has Been Delayed to October 2026

By
Soul Kiwami
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Kadokawa has announced that The Detective is Already Dead Season 2 has been delayed from its July 2026 premiere to October 2026. According to the anime’s staff, The Detective is Already Dead Season 2 was delayed due to “production circumstances.”

The cast of The Detective is Already Dead Season 2 includes:

  • Arata Nagai as Kimihiko Kimizuka
  • Saki Miyashita as Siesta
  • Ayana Taketatsu as Nagisa Natsunagi
  • Kanon Takao as Yui Saikawa
  • Saho Shirasu as Charlotte Arisaka Anderson

Manabu Kurihara will also return to direct the second season at ENGI. Deko Akao is again in charge of series scripts, and Yōsuke Itō is once again handling the character design.

©二語十・うみぼうず/KADOKAWA/たんもし2製作委員会

In November 2019, Nigojū and Umibōzu released The Detective is Already Dead under Kadokawa’s MF Bunko J imprint. The novel achieved massive success, winning the 15th MF Bunko J newcomer award in 2019.

The first season of The Detective is Already Dead premiered in 2021 and consisted of 12 episodes in total. Crunchyroll is streaming the anime series with English subtitles and an English dub. 

Lastly, here’s a description of The Detective is Already Dead series via Crunchyroll:

After thwarting a hijacking with beautiful, silver-haired detective Siesta, Kimihiko leads a life of globe-trotting and crime-solving—until Siesta dies. A year later, a new case will open old wounds as it threads murder, conspiracy, and his dead partner!

Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! Part 5 Film Opens on October 9

By
Soul Kiwami
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Bandai Namco Filmworks has announced that Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! Part 5 will open on October 9 in theaters in Japan. Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! Part 5 will screen in Dolby Cinema, Dolby Atmos, 4DX and MX4D alongside normal screenings. 

Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! Part 4 will open on April 10, and the staff confirmed that the screenings will include a “pilot video” based on Takeshi Nogami and Takaaki Suzuki’s Girls und Panzer: Ribon no Musha manga. A new key visual for the pilot video was also revealed.

Girls und Panzer Princess Samurai key visual
©GuP MottoLoveLove Projekt

The first and second parts in the anime film adaptation of Maruko Nii’s Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! spinoff manga opened on December 26, 2025, and January 30, 2026, respectively. Girls und Panzer: Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu! Part 3 opened on March 6.

ChouCho and Sayaka Sasaki perform the opening theme song “Nonstop Daydream,” while Mai Fuchigami as Miho Nishizumi perform the ending theme song “Oyasuminasai no Tsuzuki Desu! (The Continuation of Good Night!).”

Masami Shimoda directs the new Girls und Panzer anime at P.A. Works and Actas. Takahiko Usui is the series director, and Noboru Kimura writes and oversees the series scripts. Humikane Shimada and Isao Sugimoto are the original character designers with help from Takeshi Nogami. Additionally, Sugimoto is the character designer for animation.

Other staff members include:

  • Chief Animation Directors: Kōsuke Kawazura, Yuki Akiyama, and Sayo Mizuno
  • Composer: Shirō Hamaguchi
  • Sound Director: Takayuki Yamaguchi
  • Sound Effects: Yasumasa Koyama
  • Distribution: Showgate

The cast includes: 

  • Mai Fuchigami as Miho Nishizumi
  • Ai Kayano as Saori Takebe
  • Mami Ozaki as Hana Isuzu
  • Ikumi Nakagami as Yukari Akiyam
  • Yuka Iguchi as Mako Reizei

Maruko Nii launched the Girls und Panzer manga in 2013 in Monthly Comic Alive. The manga’s 23rd volume will ship on March 22. The anime series began in October 2012 and aired for 12 episodes. The anime film adaptation, Girls und Panzer der Film, opened in November 2015 in Japan.

KAIJU No. 8 THE GAME Adds [Unbridled Curiosity] Suited

By
Saras Rajpal
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KAIJU No. 8 THE GAME Adds [Unbridled Curiosity] Suited

Akatsuki Games, TOHO CO., and Production I.G have added a new 5-Star character to KAIJU No. 8 THE GAME: [Unbridled Curiosity] Suited. The character is available alongside a new Mini Special Event. 

A press release describes the new character as “the biggest troublemaker in CLOZER, Suited is also the head of the anti-Kaiju weapon developer Suited Technical Lab (STL). Known to be a massive Kaiju enthusiast, she prioritizes her intellectual curiosity above all else, leaving little room for ethics. The name ‘Suited’ is self-proclaimed; her real name is apparently something else.” The Mini Special Event for [Unbridled Curiosity] Suited will give you a chance to earn 1,000 dimensional crystals, a new home background, and more. 

Check out the trailer revealing [Unbridled Curiosity] Suited in KAIJU No. 8 THE GAME below:

KAIJU NO. 8: THE GAME is available now for Android, iOS, and PC via Steam. Currently, Kaiju No. 8 Season 2 is streaming with English dubs and subs on Crunchyroll. A “conclusion arc” anime adaptation and a new “Narumi’s Weekday” short are also in the works, and planned to release at a later date. Lastly, Crunchyroll describes the Kaiju No. 8 anime as follows:

In a world plagued by creatures known as Kaiju, Kafka Hibino aspired to enlist in The Defense Force. He makes a promise to enlist with his childhood friend, Mina Ashiro. Soon, life takes them in separate ways. While employed cleaning up after Kaiju battles, Kafka meets Reno Ichikawa. Reno’s determination to join The Defense Force reawakens Kafka’s promise to join Mina and protect humanity.

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