Xbox 360: Eschatos (April 2011)

[Elixir]

Eschatos
エスカトス



Normal Edition　　　　　


Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Vertical scrolling shooter
Released: April 7th, 2011
Players: 1
Game rating: CERO A
Developed by: Qute Corporation
Region: Japan (NTSC-J)
Xbox Live: Supported
Language: Japanese subtitles (w/ English menus)
Standard price: 6804 yen (including tax)

*Affiliate links where applicable

Official site:

http://eschatos.qute.jp/

Trailer 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_STsnw2MP4

Trailer 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG10TZYYNaM

Famitsu article: http://www.famitsu.com/news/201011/22036004.html
andriasang article: http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/1 ... _detailed/
Translation of the Famitsu article:

1980 fantasy science-like shooting

A.D., year 21XX: A sudden disaster on the face of the moon dubbed "purple encroachment" happened. Alongside this, a huge crowd of UFOs came flying towards the earth. To confront the mysterious UFO fleet, the player (fighter (you)) takes up the challenge.

Stages include 26 areas, and in addition to an "original mode" and "advance mode" where powering up is possible, a "time attack" mode will be available.

Use the shot and shield!

The player uses two kinds of shots and shields that can be arbitrarily to advance in the stages.

There are two kinds of shots: A shot attacked in the straight line, and a wide shot to which the bullets widely extend.

If it hits the enemy's main body in conjunction with the shield gauge, large damage can be given, and the shield will be able to reflect the enemy bullets, lasers, etc.

Takeshi Osako of Qute "would like to make [Eschatos] region-free". http://goo.gl/CuWW8

Eschatos will include Judgment Silversword and Cardinal Sins; http://gmstar.com/xb360/eschatos.html

A limited soundtrack will be included with the game: http://sp-game.cocolog-nifty.com/38/201 ... -61fc.html

The tracklist of the soundtrack can be found here: http://eschatos.qute.jp/music.html

FAQ

- Where can I buy it from?
The following sites ship internationally.

Play-Asia - ESCHATOS - STANDARD EDITION (Located in Hong Kong)
Amiami - ESCHATOS - STANDARD EDITION (Located in Japan)
HMV - ESCHATOS - STANDARD EDITION (Located in Japan)

- What other shmups are for 360?

Please see my Guide to owning a Japanese 360 thread.

- Is the game region locked? Do I need a Japanese Xbox 360?

This game is region-free.

- What comes with the game?

A bonus soundtrack will be included to all normal editions, as stated here. The soundtrack tracklist can be found here. A preview of the soundtrack can be viewed here.

A separate, independent, full OST will be available in June for 2,625 yen and is available from Amiami.

More details on Qute:

The WonderWitch is an official hobbyist development kit for Bandai's WonderSwan console. It was available only by mail order to Japanese residents. Judgement Silversword by M-KAI won the WonderWitch GranPrix 2001 indie Wonderswan developers contest and Dicing Knight by AEjuMurasame of PlatineDispositif won the WonderWitch GranPrix 2002 first place. All of these contests were handled by Qute.

[Phellan Wolf]

Another one bites the !
IMO with this new announce I think that the Xbox 360 has clearly became the house for shooting games. I hope this one turns out rather nice and starts a new trend for small japanese developpers to focus on the system with new games for the genre.

[Udderdude]

Screenshots? Info? Anything? Damn teasers. :P

[gatsu25]

Here is a link to the first video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_STsnw2 ... r_embedded

The website has just a bit of information. It says one player, and it will be released this winter.

I don't know what to think so far really. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on it. From what I can see, it looks like this is a physical release?!?

[Jeneki]

Physical release would be my guess as well, since it mentions Normal Edition and Limited Edition. Can't wait for more info!

[kid aphex]

who knows what they know, but siliconera reported this as a retail release also.

the aesthetic rides a fine line between low$$, low-talent 3d poly work AND the current trend of retr-homage 90s CG design
hopefully the front-end and ui show some effort/talent
and hopefully its less than $60 /the yen equivalent

[Ghegs]

Got a heavy Judgement Silversword flashback at 0:17, that's clearly a Mirror Shield right down to the attack pattern, at least what little is shown there. Check SFKhoa's video for comparison.

I like JSS quite a bit so hopefully they'll manage to recreate the magic here.

[KisakiProject]

So I take it retail release is a definite?

Well QUTE is hardcore indie so we can pray for region free? I doubt it.

This looks really awesome though. Hopefully it will do well enough for them to support 360 with more titles.

[Xexyz]

Not digging the RayStorm/RayCrisis perspective at the 0:19 mark. I'm also tired of this panning background trend every polygonal shooter seems to use these days thanks to Ikaruga's popularity.

Bitching aside, I think the game looks pretty fun from what little we've seen.

[Udderdude]

If that music isn't by Yousuke Yasui, I will eat a hat.

[kemical]

definitely interested, but it would probably look better if the environment textures were more stylized and not mashing together realism/blandness with the unreal..

[ex.machina]

Is this going to be an Indie release? (looks like one to me)

[Slump]

Looks pretty interesting from what little we can see in the trailer. The perspective in 0:17 looks interesting. I'll be keeping an eye on it anyway. Thanks for the head up Elixir!

[gatsu25]

There is something about this release that has me really excited. I would like to know where the information is coming from stating regular and limited editions. I don't see it on the site.

The story seems pretty normal. I'll sum it up very quickly. The moon has begun quickly eroding, to about half its size. Giant UFO's have come towards the Earth and it's up to you to defend the world. Can you?

I was curious about the name and came up with this wiki article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschatology

It fits the story and sounds nice. I quite like it.

[KisakiProject]

There is something about this release that has me really excited. I would like to know where the information is coming from stating regular and limited editions. I don't see it on the site.

The story seems pretty normal. I'll sum it up very quickly. The moon has begun quickly eroding, to about half its size. Giant UFO's have come towards the Earth and it's up to you to defend the world. Can you?

I was curious about the name and came up with this wiki article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschatology

It fits the story and sounds nice. I quite like it.

WOW this is a great find. Makes me really curious about this game now.

[yosai]

Liking the look of this so far, also liking the copyright 2011 in the vid.

[kid aphex]

(terence mckenna's 'eschaton')

[spadgy]

I've never got my mitts on Judgement Silversword, so the fact there's a 360 shooter coming that looks very similar in places puts a smile on my ugly little face.

[Dragoforce]

It looks nice in a indie-way and the music sounds good, hoping for a retail release!

[gct]

I love the mechanics of JSS, and it looks like this will play similarly. Hoping for a physical release (and region-free, of course).

But is it known if M-KAI personally had a hand in development? He is not officially affiliated with Qute, is he?

[Elixir]

I love the mechanics of JSS, and it looks like this will play similarly. Hoping for a physical release (and region-free, of course).

But is it known if M-KAI personally had a hand in development? He is not officially affiliated with Qute, is he?

No.. he developed JSS as an entrant for the WonderWitch contest, which was organized by Qute, and it happened to win.

[stryc9]

Just watched the vid but my computer's frame rate is spacking out a bit so it was hard to get a real accurate impression. I get the feeling 5bp's Bullet Soul looks a little more promising. Just as long as it's nothing like Trizeal...

PS The logo looks like it was designed in 1983 (which is pretty RADICAL).

[DEL]

I hope it ever.

[spadgy]

Just as long as it's nothing like Trizeal...

There's a hint of it there for sure...

[captpain]

1980s-like

[Estebang]

So I got an email back from Qute!

Dear (my name here) -san

Thank you for your inquiry.
I am sorry I didn't get back to you soon.

# I challenge to writing English e-mail.

This software will be released only in Japan.
We think that region-Free is promising choices though we have not decided region-Code yet.

Sincerely,

Takeshi Osako

No chance of an international release then I guess, but it's great to hear that they're considering region-freedom.

[Estebang]

I guess no one else without a J-360 is looking forward to this? Shame...

[Zeron]

Will be picking this up though I am not sure what is 1980s like with it outside of the awesome logo

[Estebang]

I don't think Qute's actually referred to the game as being "1980s" like, you're thinking of G. Rev with Strania.

Regardless, there is a pretty heavy Xevious influence in the visuals.

[Elixir]

I emailed them in Japanese, and my reply seems a bit more promising:

Dear Elixir-san

Thank you for your inquiry.
I am sorry I didn't get back to you soon.

As you know, this software will be released only in Japan.
Though we have not decided region-Code yet, We would like to make it region-Free.

Thank you again for the great advice.

Sincerely,

Takeshi Osako
Qute Corporation