Aksys Games have announced at Anime Expo that Zero Escape 3 will be coming to Vita and 3DS in 2016, and will feature simultaneous western localization.
The two previous Zero Escape games, 999: Nine Hours Nine Persons, Nine Doors and Virtue’s Last Reward, have been something of a cult hit in the west, but Japanese audiences were less than impressed by their unique mix of puzzles and plot twists, even when Virtue’s Last Reward was tweaked to be more appealing to Japanese audiences after Japanese gamers said that 999 “looked scary”.
The press release, written amusingly as though it is a warning about the events of the game, makes desperate pleas not to be tempted by “familiar faces, fully voiced cinematics, multiple endings, or voices in both Japanese and English” as these are purportedly “signs that the apocalypse is nigh.” In fact the press release is so funny that I have included the whole thing below so that you too can be warned of how dangerously infectious the game will-apparently be.
Zero Escape 3 has had an elusive and troubled time getting funded, so it’s good to see the game finding a following in western puzzle game fans.
“ATTENTION PEOPLE OF THE WORLD: Japanese Adventure Game Strain Zero Escape Unavoidable
Undisclosed Location – July 3, 2015
Many government organizations have dismissed our urgent warnings regarding the upcoming game event called Zero Time Dilemma. Recent intelligence has escalated our plans and we have come to the decision to contact gamers about the dangers directly. Our ultimate goal has always been to protect the public from the horrific consequences we have foreseen, but it appears our mission to prevent it from occurring may have failed. It is imperative that you make every effort to prepare yourselves for the oncoming deadly game, so that you may survive the coming apocalypse.
An antidote for the game is predicted to be created, but much further down this timeline, and as such there is no defense from its effects. It will be most easily identifiable on Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita handheld entertainment system, though it is transmittable through the air so the spread may increase even more rapidly through the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop.
Do not be tempted by familiar faces, fully voiced cinematics, multiple endings, or voices in both Japanese and English, as those are signs that the apocalypse is nigh. We suggest that you put extensive effort into improving your puzzle solving skills, as they will be vital to your survival.
We at Crash Keys beg for your assistance in notifying everyone you can so that no one is left in the dark about this dangerous game. The world will end up in a tumultuous uproar, and ultimate consequences will be unavoidable unless word gets out. Use all the time available to you before the summer of next year to contact your loved ones and prepare; our intelligence hasn’t been able to focus in on an exact date at this time. Do not fear – we are here to protect you and prepare you to our utmost ability so that you may survive. You will survive. We will use all channels available to contact you with updates as soon as we uncover them. You must be ready.”