Releases for the week of December 9-15:

Playstation 3:

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky FC: Kai HD Edition
Falcom
Online Price: 4,198 Yen ($52.90)

Look, if you haven't played XSEED's Trails in the Sky for the PSP, you're doing RPGs wrong. It's a fantastic standalone RPG with excellent writing, interesting characters and a charm that's been missing from JRPGs since the PS2/PSX era. What many folks don't know is that it's the first chapter in a five game series, setting the tone and direction for the entire franchise. With the sixth game, Sen no Kiseki, on its way to PS3 and the Vita next year, Falcom has started re-releasing the original games in HD for the PS3. Of course, the first game to receive the HD treatment is the original Trails in the Sky. Its sequel, Trails in the Sky SC (Second Chapter), hits early next year.

No changes have been made to the game proper, except that the visuals are now much closer to the original PC version. Trails in the Sky was never a particularly beautiful looking game, but there's definitely some lovely environments to be visited. In a cool bonus, the physical and digital versions of the game come with a bunch of free PS3 themes and the full OST of the game. Given the already low price of the game, it's really cool that Falcom went out of their way to include some free extras. 

If you haven't already played Trails in the Sky, go do it. The PSP version received a lovely localization and deserves your time and money. If you're already knee-deep in the franchise like I am, definitely grab Kai HD. Save data is compatible across consoles, so you don't have to worry about losing data.

Playstation Portable:

Baka to Test to Shokanju Portable
Kadokawa Shoten
Online Price: 5,786 Yen ($72.90)

For this week's PSP anime game adaptation, Baka to Test steps up to the plate! Rather than running with a generic visual game style, Baka to Test goes the mini-game route, which is at least fitting with the series itself.

I actually quite liked the TV series, but no amount of fan pandering could get me to buy this. Kadokawa Shoten pumps these anime games out like they're nothing, and I don't know a single person who falls for their tricks.

Buy the BDs and enjoy the anime series. Stay clear of this crap.

Sugary Wish -Limited-
Piacci
Online Price: 5,944 Yen ($74.90)

Another edition of Go West!, another port of an eroge. 

Junbei Shirosaki is an ordinary boy attending the proud Seiyou Academy. While he lacks physical or mental talent, he has a strong sense of justice and is able to sympathize with just about anybody. Two years later and once again the new term is beginning. His little sister has enrolled at the same school, he's made lots of friends, and before he could even notice, he became surrounded by tons of beautiful women who had fallen in love with him!

Ok, I can't do this anymore. This is too much for my frail heart to take. Import this thing if you have no taste in visual novels.

I'm going to go peel onions and cry myself to sleep.

Nintendo 3DS:

Inazuma Eleven Go 2: Chrono Stone  -Neppu & Raimei 
Level 5
Online Price: Neppu - 5,230 Yen ($65.90)  Raimei -  5,230 Yen ($65.90)

I've never once played an Inzazuma Eleven game, but I have plenty of students who love this franchise. You don't have to go very far to find children with pencil cases and pencil boards covered in Inazuma Eleven characters. I can't say I've ever been interested in the series, though clearly I'm in the minority. Apparently in Go 2, you get to travel around in time because, well, you know. Soccer games and such.

These games are doing well for one reason or another, and Chrono Stone is the next big entry in the series. If this is your thing, I say go for it. 

Toriko: Gourmet Monsters!
Bandai Namco Games
Online Price: 5,548 Yen ($69.90)

Toriko is such a weird property to me. I've never read the manga, but the character designs and premise do very little to convince me I should be reading. I don't know many folks here who are hardcore into the series, but hey, it's a JUMP manga. I guess that's something.

Gourmet Monsters has you capturing different monsters and making new ones to fight alongside you. In fact, there are over 200 gourmet monsters in-game waiting to be hunted down! Huzzah!

If you're a Toriko nut, I suppose you can't do much worse (or better). Just make sure you have a Japanese 3DS that can play the damn thing first.

Oresama Kingdom Ikemen Kareshi wo Get Shiyo! Moe Kyun School Days
Columbia Pictures
Online Price: 4,833 Yen ($60.90)

Ok, so let me get this straight.

This game is called "Me Kingdom: Let's get a super hot boyfriend! Moe Kyun School Days." 

Moe Kyun School Days.

Moe Kyun.

Yeah, I think we're done here for today.

[That's it for week 37 of Go West folks. Unfortunately, not too many high profile releases, but there was at least stuff to talk about. I'll be taking a short break from the column over the holidays, but keep your eyes out for a special holiday edition of Go West! in which I break down the best Japanese games of the year. Stay tuned folks!]