I missed GrimGrimoire the first time around. I have no idea why. Maybe it was because it was a niche title. Maybe it’s because NIS America games are usually only found in dedicated game stores and, even then, can be hard to find. All I know is I didn’t get the initial opportunity to play it, and always regretted that. Thankfully, NIS America decided to release it as a download via the PlayStation Store as a PS2 Classics.

While GrimGrimoire is definitely a niche title, it’s gorgeous art, fantasy setting and smooth gameplay make it the sort of game anyone can appreciate. Especially since each level has multiple difficulty options so even those new to strategy games can help novice mage Lillet survive her adventure…

Yesterday, XSEED teased its fans on Twitter about a forthcoming game announcement. The first tweet said, “Something is coming…” and the second was the anagram, “A RAVELING NOON SOUL.” Later in the day, a third clue made solving the anagram up into, “_ _ A _ O _ / _ O _ R _ _ / _ N I _ _.” Of course, now all that doesn’t matter, since XSEED has decided to tell the world it picked up Grand Knights History…

A Vanillaware Dreamcast project is finding new life as a PS3 and Vita game. Vanillaware and Ignition have just announced the 2D, HD, dungeon crawler Dragon’s Crown. Up to four players can journey through dungeons together as amazons, dwarves, elves, fighters, sorcerers and wizards to make their characters stronger and find out why a dragon is so mad that it’s willing to try and destroy the world.

Dragon’s Crown is a side-scrolling, beat’em up with RPG elements…

It’s been a few years since we’ve heard anything from Vanillaware. Since the 2009 Wii release Muramasa: The Demon Blade, if you want to be exact. Normally, almost two years of silence is a bad thing, but there’s no need to worry. Vanillaware is back again, and teaming up with Marvelous Entertainment to bring Grand Knights History to the PSP.

Vanillaware is known for RPGs, and that’s exactly what Grand Knights History is…

In this week’s Important Importables, we’re going to look at one of my favorite Japanese video game developers, Vanillaware. The company may not be one of the most prolific developers out there, but they do make some of the most gorgeous video games available.

In a way, that works out better for us today! We’ll take a brief look at Vanillaware, and then another quick peek at all five games Vanillaware has created so far…

The Wii is gradually becoming home to games you wouldn’t expect to see on the system. More serious, artistic and mature games that are created with adults and veteran gamers in mind, and not the casual or beginning gamers. Muramasa: The Demon Blade joins the ranks of Rune Factory Frontier, Resident Evil 4, Madworld and Phantom Brave as one of those more challenging and engaging games.

If you’re a fan of or familiar with Vanillaware’s Odin Sphere or Princess Crown, then you’ll know right away the kind of situation you’re getting yourself into. Muramasa: The Demon Blade is a spiritual successor to the previous titles, and once again is a 2D, hack-and-slash adventure with RPG elements.

The Shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa desires power. Specifically, he wants the power of legendary swords that can collect souls and unleash unbelievable attacks and abilities. The Genroku era is already violent and tumultuous enough, but when you factor in that those who use these swords become homicidal maniacs desperate to keep attacking and killing to feed the swords’ bloodlust, allowing the shogun to accumulate them is unthinkable…

For those of us not lucky enough to live near the Nintendo World Store, here’s a friendly reminder to check in with your local game shop to see if they’ve received the absolutely gorgeous 2D side-scroller, Muramasa: The Demon Blade. Muramasa follows the stories of Kisuke and Momohime as one fights amnesia and desire and one fights demonic possession.

Muramasa: The Demon Blade is set for release September 8, 2009 at $49.99.

One of the most highly anticipated Wii games of the year, Muramasa: The Demon Blade is receiving an extravagent release party. On Saturday, September 5, 2009, from 12-3pm, the Nintendo World Store at 10 Rockefeller Plaza is all about Muramasa. Everyone’s invited to the release party, but try to make sure you’re there early. There’s only a limited number of Muramasa games that will be sold early, and only the first 100 people to purchase the game get a Muramasa t-shirt, tattoos, postcards and art scroll.

Even if you’ve already preordered the game somewhere else, or aren’t certain whether you’d want to buy it, be sure to stop by. The store is going to be decorated for the event, kiosks will be set up with Muramasa: The Demon Blade for people to sample, there will be artists who will write people’s names in kanji…

The best way to describe Kumatanchi is to compare it to those popular little electronic eggs known as Tamagotchis. Much like a Tamagotchi, Kumatan must be occasionally fed but, unlike a Tamagotchi, the Nintendo DS does not alarm you when it’s turned off. Just because you may be able to turn off your DS doesn’t mean that the world of Kumatanchi stops.

The fact that she demands so much attention made it easy for me to want to pick on her. So, when Kumatan began hating me, this is where my real fun began…