Just read this today.

http://kotaku.com/5136795/cave-announce … ter-sequel

It seems that Death Smiles 2 is Cave's newest shmup project and will be announced and on display at the AOU 2009 expo. Hopefully the score will be equally as amazing as the first.

Thoughts?

They're porting the first Death Smiles over to the 360 this spring, aren't they?  Wonder what the chances are it won't be region-locked?  I want to play it so badly.

And speaking of Cave and the 360, it looks like Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi Extra is set for release this month.  After the mildly disappointing Ketsui Death Label for the DS, I have higher aspirations for this one.

Angela, yes they are. I've ordered a copy of it, just for the arrange soundtrack, but if you want to try out it's region locking, I can always mail you the game. If it only works on Japanese 360s, no big loss for me. I wasn't planning on playing it anyway.

im pretty sure its been confirmed to be region-locked.

Bummer if it is.... but if it's not, I'd gladly take the game off your hands, Don.  That is, only if you'll allow me to compensate you accordingly. :)

All the same, thanks for the offer!

As if there was any doubt, Deathsmiles II: Hell's Christmas will also be ported over to 360:

http://kotaku.com/5191325/xbox-360-gett … ter-sequel

*wonders what a Jasper-equipped Japanese 360 would run me*

Could the end of the world be nigh?

http://www.destructoid.com/deathsmiles- … 0702.phtml

We can finally tag our mp3 correctly

It's official.  Go Aksys Games!

http://www.aksysgames.com/2010/01/18/de … #more-3359

It's looking like a full retail release.  No scheduled date yet, but they're apparently including the Mega Black Label mode, which was DLC only in the Japanese version.

I was just coming here to inform everyone. But y'all are on top of it. Death Smiles in the US, weee!!!!

<3 Aksys

Woot! Now I can use my US Xbox360 to suck at two awesome Cave titles. XD

Seriously though, I'm really looking forward to this. Excellent, excellent news.

Well f---.  Now what do I do with my japanese copy?

If Neogaf's adversesolutions is to be believed, we may not see the U.S. Deathsmiles for a while yet.  "Second half of 2010" can mean June at the earliest.

And in actual Death Smiles 2-related news, the Japanese 360 version now has an official release date.  Kotaku reports:

"DeathSmiles II will be released on the Xbox 360 on May 27 in Japan, complete with a limited edition version. The port will run at a 16:9 aspect ratio and feature seven stages, two of which are new stages. The playable characters are Follett and Rosa from the arcade version. The HD game also allows players to select levels."

Dare we hope this one will be region-free as well?

EDIT: New trailer!

I've heard that ESPGaluda II was their last region-free game. GIven the localization of Death Smiles, I think that might be the reason.

Also, the limited edition comes bundled with the OST composed by Manabu Namiki, Noriyuki Kamikura, and Yoshimi Kudo. Apparently it also comes with a voucher for a downloadable arrange album, but I presume you'd need a Japanese 360 account for that.

Arrangers as follows:

Yoshino Aoki, Kenji Ito, Noriyuki Iwadare, Ryu Umemoto, Motoi Sakuraba, Manabu Namiki, Michiko Naruke, Motoaki Furukawa, Yack, wasi303, TECHNOuchi, Mitsuhiro Kaneda, Masaharu Iwata

U.S. Deathsmiles to get a Limited Edition release.  Not a 4/1 joke:

http://www.aksysgames.com/2010/04/01/de … ools-joke/

Awesome. 50 bucks for all that?! Sweet!

My copy of the game came in this morning.  Snapshots of the Limited Edition packaging.  The Arranged Soundtrack is housed in the game case itself:

-Front
-Spine
-Contents

Anyone up for some co-op play tonight? :)

For some reason I can't get over the hot, semi-lesbo action on the cover.

Managed to find a limited edition copy here in town today! (I really should have just ordered it online... haha.) I'll be around for an hour or so and then I have to get some supper with my sister. I'll keep an eye out for you online, Angela.

Beautiful set from Aksys, incredible you got all of it for a mere $50.  I could feel salty for having bought the JP L.E. when it came out, but I don't.  I've just been admiring the gorgeous packaging as it sits here despite not even have a 360 yet.

Because I have to complain: I am rather pissed the arranged cd didn't get it's own case like Japan's release did. Asides that, it is a rather lovely package.

Agreed. When I first opened the box I thought I got cheated because I didn't see a CD anywhere. Then, of course, I found it in with the game and was immediately disappointed. Perhaps that was one reason the package was so affordable?

Oh well, at least the music and game were excellent!

Talk about a stealth announcement.  Cave confirmed via their Facebook page that they'll be releasing Deathsmiles 2 via Games on Demand for XBLA, on May 17th.  So far, only a North America release has been confirmed, and it'll be priced at $29.99.

Also worth noting that this is the first official IMPORT Games on Demand release in the U.S. since the title is not being localized.