Project X Zone[b](pronounced as "Project Cross Zone" ) is acrossovertactical role-playing video gamefor theNintendo 3DSdeveloped byMonolith Soft[5]with assistance fromCapcomandRed Entertainmentand published byNamco Bandai Games.It is a follow-up toNamco × Capcomand features characters fromNamco Bandai,Capcom,andSega.[4]The game was released on October 11, 2012 in Japan; June 25, 2013 in North America; and July 5, 2013 in Europe.[1][6]Project X Zonereceived mixed to positive reviews upon release; praise went towards the game's cast, combat system, and presentation, but criticism was directed at its repetitive gameplay and confusing storyline.

Project X Zone
European cover art
Developer(s)Banpresto
Monolith Soft[a]
Publisher(s)Namco Bandai Games
Director(s)Soichiro Morizumi
Producer(s)Kensuke Tsukanaka[4]
Koji Ishitani
Writer(s)Soichiro Morizumi
Composer(s)Naofumi Tsuruyama
Takuya Hanaoka
Kayoko Matsushima
Platform(s)Nintendo 3DS
Release
Genre(s)Tactical role-playing game
Mode(s)Single player

A sequel,Project X Zone 2,was released in Japan in November 2015 and in North America and Europe in February 2016.

Gameplay

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Stages inProject X Zonetake place in grid-based locations from the game's many crossover titles. Each friendly unit is made up of two characters (thus referred to as a Pair Unit), though a third character (or "Solo Unit" ) can be added for once-per-battle assistance. UnlikeNamco × Capcom,units can move freely within their range on the field map, with no penalty for accessing treasure chests or destructible objects prior to attacking.[7]

The battle system is called the Cross Active Battle System, wherein pressing the A button in combination with the Circle Pad performs up to five basic attack combos. Additional gameplay elements include Support Attack, which allows the player to call in a nearby ally for assistance, and Cross Hit, which freezes the target in place during simultaneous attacks from multiple units. Also, the player can trigger Critical Hits by connecting their next attack just before the target hits the ground after the first. As the player's units deal damage, the player's Cross Power (XP) gauge fills up and can be used for special attacks and defensive moves on the map. Damage done via Cross Hits can fill this gauge up to 150%.[5][8]

Project X Zonehas a total of 15 save game slots included in the game, which can be used for recording a save game file during intermissions with a quick save file and a soft reset command.[9]

Plot

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Mii Kouryuji, the latest descendant of the Kouryuji clan, and her tutor, private detective Kogoro Tenzai search for the Portalstone, the heirloom of the Kouryuji clan. As they investigate the whereabouts of the Portalstone, they team up with a large cast of characters who have been affected by strange portals appearing in their worlds, and fight against villains who have taken opportunity of the chaos caused by the rifts between worlds collapsing.

Characters

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Sixty playable characters are included in the game.[7]The overseas versions feature the same character roster as the original Japanese version.[10]

Pair units

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Solo units

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Development

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Namco Bandai came up with the idea of a "dream crossover" and brought on Capcom and Sega.[4]The game was first revealed in a teaser by Bandai Namco on the official website until it was revealed in the April 2012 issue ofFamitsu.[18]

The initial creation of the characters were done in 3D character models before they were converted to be SD pixel art.[19]Notable attacks used by the characters had to be done in 2D space in order to preserve its source material origin.[19]

The game features two theme songs, with the opening song titled "Wing Wanderer" and the ending titled "GALAXY", which were both performed byYoko Takahashi.The opening movie was created by the new animation studioTrigger,which was founded by formerGainaxemployeesHiroyuki Imaishiand others. The opening was directed by animator Akira Amemiya.[20]On September 22, 2012, Katsuhiro Harada, producer of theTekkenseries, had revealed on Twitter: "I proposed localization ofProject X Zone."He added that the company had" not decided yet, but it will be realized if I continue proposing. "[21]Namco Bandai Games announced on January 21, 2013 that the game would be officially released in North America, Europe and Australasia during summer 2013.[22]The English versions of the game retain the Japanese voices, likeOtomedius Excellent,though the vocals for the opening theme music were removed for legal reasons. Some music tracks were removed or replaced for the same reasons.[23][24]On May 1, 2016, the game was removed from the North American and European eShops.[25]

Reception

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The game sold more than 85,539 units in its first week in Japan.[35]In the West, the game has sold over ten times more than what Bandai Namco had expected.[36]The game was among the 20 best games sold in the United Kingdom after it made its debut.[37][38]In the United States, the game has been among the best selling games sold for the 3DS.[39]The game has sold over 400,000 copies worldwide, according to Bandai Namco.[40]

Project X Zonehas received mixed to positive reviews from western critics. The game currently has a score of 70 out of 100 onMetacritic.[26]IGN's Scott Thompson gaveProject X Zonea score of 8 out of 10, saying, "Project X Zoneis often funny and consistently frantic – two traits not necessarily associated with tactical RPGs. Its story is confusing and the chapters slavishly follow the same repetitive formula, but the superb battle system makes repetition not just tolerable, but enjoyable. "[41]GameRevolutiongave it a 3.5 out of 5, saying, "Despite the lack of depth and the repetition of combat,Project X Zonefollows through as a tactical, humorous, preposterous romp through the best hits of video games. Even if you find the combat system strange, the streak of character cameos and the ridiculous number of hits that rack up with every battle will make any hardcore fan smile with appreciation. And if you're anything like me, that's hard to do. "[42]On a more negative note,GamesRadargaveProject X Zonea 2 out of 5, saying, "With the wealth of RPGs, and even great SRPGs, that have arrived on the 3DS in the last several months, it would almost be unconscionable not to recommend one of those games instead ofProject X Zone.Fun combat and screaming Tekken characters can only take you so far. "[43]

Kotaku's Mike Fahey includedProject X Zonein his top ten games of 2013.[44]In 2014,Kotakualso included the game among "The 12 Best Games on the 3DS".[45]

Sequel

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A sequel,Project X Zone 2was released for the 3DS in Japan in November 2015 and in North America and Europe in February 2016.[46]

Notes

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  1. ^Capcom,Red Entertainment,CyberConnect2andSegaprovided additional help with development.
  2. ^Japanese:プロジェクト クロスゾーン,Hepburn:Purojekuto Kurosu Zōn

References

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  1. ^ab"Project X Zone Release Date Announced".IGN. 5 April 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-04-12.Retrieved2013-07-14.
  2. ^"Project X Zone gets a release date, in Japan".Destructoid. 27 June 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 23 August 2023.RetrievedSeptember 22,2012.
  3. ^abCocke, Taylor (2013-01-21)."Project X Zone Coming to North America and Europe".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-01-24.Retrieved2013-01-21.
  4. ^abc"So Who's Responsible For Project X Zone?".Andriasang. April 11, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon December 25, 2012.RetrievedMay 16,2012.
  5. ^abAnoop Gantayat."Monolith Software Confirmed as Project X Zone's Developer".Andriasang. Archived fromthe originalon December 25, 2012.RetrievedMay 16,2012.
  6. ^Oliver, Tristan."Project X Zone Dated for Europe".TSSZ News. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-04-13.Retrieved2013-07-14.
  7. ^abAnoop Gantayat."Over 200 Characters in Project X Zone".Andriasang.Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2012.RetrievedAugust 9,2012.
  8. ^Anoop Gantayat."Project X Zone Gameplay Details".Andriasang. Archived fromthe originalon December 25, 2012.RetrievedMay 16,2012.
  9. ^Spencer. October 2, 2012. 3:06pm (2012-10-02)."Whoa, Project X Zone Has A Ton Of Save Slots".Siliconera.Archivedfrom the original on 2012-12-08.Retrieved2012-10-14.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^Ishaan (2013-01-22)."Project X Zone Will Not Have Any Content Cut for Western Release".Siliconera.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-02-14.Retrieved2013-07-14.
  11. ^abcdefYip, Spencer (June 27, 2012)."Project X Zone's Original Characters".Siliconera.Archivedfrom the original on December 4, 2012.RetrievedAugust 1,2012.
  12. ^abcdefghijklmnopChris Scullion (April 25, 2012)."Project X Zone – New characters bring the running total to 32".Nintendo-Gamer. Archived fromthe originalon July 2, 2012.RetrievedMay 17,2012.
  13. ^abcdeAnoop Gantayat (May 16, 2012)."Chun-Li and Morrigan Join the Cast of Project X Zone".Andriasang. Archived fromthe originalon September 21, 2012.RetrievedAugust 12,2012.
  14. ^abcGantayat, Anoop (July 24, 2012)."Fighting Vipers Joins New Mega Man Characters in Project X Zone".Andriasang.Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2012.RetrievedAugust 1,2012.
  15. ^abcdefYip, Spencer (September 11, 2012)."Project X Zone Adds Batsu (Rival Schools), Juri (Street Fighter) & Alisa (Tekken)".Siliconera.Archivedfrom the original on December 16, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 13,2012.
  16. ^abYip, Spencer (July 17, 2012)."Project X Zone Adds Lady From Devil May Cry, Rindou From God Eater".Siliconera.Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2012.RetrievedAugust 1,2012.
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  19. ^ab"Project X Zone Concept Art Shows Mii Kouryuji's Original Design - Siliconera".Siliconera.28 September 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 23 August 2023.RetrievedDecember 9,2014.
  20. ^"Studio Trigger, Evangelion's Yoko Takahashi Work on Project X Zone Opening".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-06-14.RetrievedJuly 14,2013.
  21. ^"Tekken producer pushing for Project X Zone localization".Nintendo Everything. Archived fromthe originalon January 25, 2013.RetrievedOctober 2,2012.
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  25. ^"Project X Zone Isn't Appearing In The Nintendo 3DS eShop".Siliconera. 2 May 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 23 August 2023.RetrievedMay 2,2016.
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  28. ^DS/3DS (2013-07-02)."EGM Review: Project X Zone".EGMNOW.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-09-06.Retrieved2013-07-14.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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