After my news post, I realized that I actually missed a page from B’s Log with the other two characters, d’oh! I also realized that my scanner is working again, yay! So I uploaded some character pics and updated the character list.
Armen Noir is a PS2 game from Otomate, set for release in December. The art is by Ike, who also did character design for Hiiro no Kakera 4.
The story appears to be set in the near future, in a corrupt city called Moebius (or Mevius?), where the gap between rich and poor is growing bigger and bigger.

The heroine is a ‘Hunter’, someone who has chosen to oppose the criminals who have sullied their hands with illegal deeds and have gained money as a result. Hunters work for ‘Bountia’, an organization that takes assignments to catch criminals in the city for rewards. Armen Noir is the heroine’s codename in Bountia, and her real name is Naska.
Hunters use weapons called Contract Arms, which are sentient and choose their user. Criminals also can use CA’s; the only requirements are being chosen and paying a fee. Armen Noir’s CA is called Nero.
Seiyuu have already been announced:

Codename Sword (CV: Konishi Katusyuki): Another Hunter, his CA is the Arondite. He’s very cool, and helped Naska a lot after her parents died, but he has no sympathy for Criminals at all.

Knives (CV: Yoshino Hiroyuki): A Criminal who beats Naska in the beginning of the story, he’s usually calm but can be short-tempered. He has a policy of not hurting women or children.

Elle (CV: Tasaka Hideki): A mechanical doll who works as a Hunter, Elle doesn’t show much emotion.

Rain (CV: Homura Shin): A mysterious blond, it’s not clear whether he’s a Hunter or a Criminal (or neither?)

Crimson (CV: Nakamura Yuuichi): An underworld doctor who is kind, but sometimes is surprisingly cold.

Zechs (CV: Fujiwara Keiji): The CEO of Bountia, and a legendary Hunter.

I have to say, it is interesting to be in a city hosting the G20 summit! But it’s also a big pain in the butt, especially when you live downtown.
But elsewhere, life goes on normally, and otome game news happens, so here I am to announce it!
Two big new games are a new Renka game from D3 Publisher which I mentioned earlier, but now has a lot more info on it. Ishin Renka Sakamoto Ryouma Gaiden is set to release this fall for the PSP, with a story focusing on (big surprise) Sakamoto Ryouma, a key figure during the Bakumatsu period (1853-1867). There are new character designs from the last Renka game, Bakumatsu Renka Karyuu Kenshiden which was released in 2007 (which was a semi-sequel to the original Bakumatsu Renka from 2004). The main character apparently is an orphan who grew up in the Sakamoto household.
Seiyuu haven’t been announced; I’ll probably do a separate post when they are. The Renka series is quite popular even though several stories are quite tragic, it will be interesting to see if this game changes ‘accepted’ history enough to have mostly happy endings, especially since two main characters here, Sakamoto Ryouma and Okita Souji, supposedly died quite early in the Bakumatsu turmoil.
The other new new title is Armen Noir, announced by Otomate, for the PS2, scheduled for December. The character designer also did the designs for Hiiro no Kakera 4: Shin Tamayori-hime Denshou.
The story appears to be set in the neat future, in a corrupt city called Moebius (or Mevius?), where the gap between rich and poor is growing bigger and bigger.
The heroine is a ‘Hunter’, someone who has chosen to oppose the criminals who have sullied their hands with illegal deeds and have gained money as a result. Hunters work for ‘Bountia’, an organization that takes assignments to catch criminals in the city for rewards. Armen Noir is the heroine’s codename in Bountia, and her real name is Naska.
Some other news:
Other than that, there are tons of games being released right now, I’ve finally got Hakuouki (for the PS3, honto kirei da yo~!) and Meikyuu Grimm for the PSP, which is fun but looong. What are you playing?
