Trinity: Souls Of Zill O’ll Won’t Have DLC Episodes In The West

By Spencer . February 10, 2011 . 11:02am

Tecmo Koei released a steady stream of downloadable content for Trinity: Souls of Zill O’ll in Japan. The PlayStation Store has additional storylines, costumes, and dungeons to explore.

Unfortunately, gamers in North America won’t see this content. A representative from Tecmo Koei said they won’t be releasing downloadable content here.

Trinity: Souls of Zill O’ll just came out in North America this week. It’s a prequel to the Zill O’ll series and the first game to be localized in the West.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Maria-Garcia/100000479266541 Maria Garcia

and why the hell not? =/
- http://www.siliconera.com Spencer
  
  I did ask this, but don’t have an answer. If I get a response, I’ll post it. In the meantime, I thought you guys and gals might be interested in the news first.
  - Croix
    
    That’s our Spencer, always looking out for the little guy.
- Kaoro
  
  Well they certainly marketed the game well. I’m sure all 10 people who know the game exists would love to buy some DLC.
  
  I enjoy Japanese-developed games (reading Siliconera is enough evidence :D ) but this kind of weird decision making does reflect my current feelings of Japanese devs and their Western branches. Some sort of bizarre cluelessness they exhibit at times.
  
  It’s probably just budget though. It doesn’t seem like they had much for this game to begin with.
Ereek

Aw, this makes me sad.
https://twitter.com/RaiohV ShinkaRaioh

Wow, that doesn’t make any kind of sense, I’m disappoint. :/
PrinceHeir

that sucks.

not only we get the game late but also the content was cut. oh well
http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada

Wow they think that that few people will get the game that the DLC will not be worth their time and effort?
HarryHodd

This sucks. I just got the game yesterday for full price. Loving it and would buy a DLC pack at least.
Locklear93

Well, since it IS the first to be localized… it’s not like I’ll be missing anything of which I’m already fond if I skip it. Problem solved: Pass on it, and I won’t be disappointed, since they haven’t gotten me to like it yet, AND I won’t be disappointed, since I won’t care about lack of DLC for a game I didn’t buy.
http://twitter.com/gabriel_may_uk Gabriel May

Well I guess this means Tecmo Koei are expecting weak numbers in terms of sales. I’m sure if it did sell very well (not likely but whatever) then TK would change their minds.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ex-Detsu/100001670613988 Ex Detsu

Thanks for the news. One more game I won’t be buying.
- HarryHodd
  
  Not buying a game because of no DLC? Come on man. There are literally hundreds of great games this gen with no DLC.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephen-Macsymetz/626530819 Stephen Macsymetz
    
    This is not one of those great games.
    - HarryHodd
      
      Way to miss my point.
      - http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephen-Macsymetz/626530819 Stephen Macsymetz
        
        My point is that its a good thing hes skipping it, even with DLC, this game aint much to talk about.
  - Locklear93
    
    A game that has no DLC is different from a game that has DLC that’s not brought over. I can’t speak for Ex Detsu, and I know a lot of people hate paid DLC on principle, but speaking for myself, I absolutely love DLC that extends the life of a game I enjoy. Knowing that it’s there, and I can’t play it because the company didn’t think it was worth it to localize, is bothersome.
    
    And, as you said, “There are literally hundreds of great games this gen.” Why spend money on one that’s annoyed me in advance, even if it’s just a bit, when there are hundreds out there waiting to be played? It’s a competitive market, and this is the first game of its series to be localized, so I have no pre-existing reason to care about it. I’ll just pick up one of the hundreds of others that are already of interest.
    - HarryHodd
      
      …..and people complain about lack of new IPs and the lack of jrpgs this gen. If you don’t buy ones that come around then don’t complain. I cant even believe some of you are using it’s the first game in this series so I’m not interested.
      
      Best thing to do would be buy the game and then complain about the lack of DLC. If you do not buy the game because of DLC then I hope you dont want Koei to make anymore RPGs or bring the next one west.
      - Locklear93
        
        Funny thing is, Koei hasn’t brought over a JRPG I’ve cared about since I don’t know when.
        
        I don’t have the buying power to convince a whole industry it’s worth bringing their titles here. When companies offer titles I want, I’ll buy them. When they do something I don’t like, I won’t. I’m extremely liberal with my spending on companies doing things I like. I bought four copies of Disgaea 3, and an import copy. I’ve got an import of Disgaea 4 lined up, and will be buying more than one domestic copy. I bought Atelier Rorona, Cross Edge, Trinity Universe, Resonance of Fate, Lost Odyssey, FFXIII (really wish I hadn’t…), ZHP, Yggdra Union, Mimana, Persona 1 for PSP, Persona 3 for PSP, four copies of Reccetear for various people (all at the full $20 price, not the cut prices), and have pre-orders in for Ar Tonelico Qoga and and Hyperdimension Neptune. I imported Criminal Girls even.
        
        I get what you’re saying. Spend money on JRPGs, and they’ll bring more over! I’ve got that covered, seriously. I’ve got that covered so hard, my wallet has nothing LEFT for a JRPG that disappoints me before I even get my hands on it.
        
        Edit: Oh, let’s add Record of Agarest War to the list, the Wii port of Phantom Brave, and two copies of Cross Edge–NISA was shipping slow, so I bought another from Amazon. And if we’re counting last gen games released after this gen started, two of Sakura Wars: So Long My Love, as well. Persona 4, Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy, and probably a bunch more I’m forgetting, since I’m still at work and can’t peruse my game shelf.
        
        Edit 2: And Valkyria Chronicles, and Tales of Vesperia, Magna Carta 2, and Star Ocean 4. Anyway, my point is, not supporting this game isn’t the same as not supporting JRPGs!
      - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WZT3PNIJITR3QBB73AO3P6LWNA Aldo
        
        4 copies of Disgae? We should totally be friends!
  - Barrit
    
    Might I add that it’s free DLC? I don’t understand Japanese.. but there are 3 categories of stuff on the Japan PSN. The first category has 5 things, the 2nd category has 16 things, and the last has 4 things. 25 Free DLC items we won’t be getting. I don’t blame people for feeling they are missing out. Some of the costumes were pretty sweet too.
M’iau M’iaut

Part of me appreciates that somehow in this market, someone is still willing to release a ‘middle’ game. A title whose expectations are not bound from the start to swamp it. The type of game which in previous generations gave us Poy Poy, Raw Danger, and most of Atlus’ PS1/PS2 lineup. That being said, I can’t imagine dropping some DLC on the disk would have added much to dev costs.
- HarryHodd
  
  It will be the first and last if people don’t buy it. Sadly, while a good game, it might be a bit too different for gamers these days.
  - M’iau M’iaut
    
    Well that stateside releases of the series have been discussed for years and never happened until this later title can’t have helped. Such gives folks an idea from the start that support will be fleeting.
    - HarryHodd
      
      This release will determine whether they will bring anymore over. If people buy it in good enough quantities it will do a lot to convince them there is a demand and to bring more. It could also have implications elsewhere if it bombs.
  - Guest
    
    Yet it’s not that much different from Diablo and Dungeon Seige really so….
- SeventhEvening
  
  I have to say…. Raw Danger is actually one of my favorite titles from last generation. That spirit makes me want to at least check this game out.
JustaGenericUser

Oh wow. They must really don’t want this game to sell.
http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

Woah this kinda sucks T.T
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1472407455 Charles Lupula

I have to admit to being incredibly underwhelmed by the demo for this game. It felt like one of those games from the transition period from PS2 to PS3. I’m going to pass on this one, sadly.
- Croix
  
  In my opinion, anything even loosely related to the JRP genre (even though this plays as an action/adventure) is still somewhat in the last little part of a transition period, in that developers still can’t quite seem to decide what direction to take with the new technology. Granted, this is wonderful for seeing innovation as SEGA has proved, but I worry that games like this will become financial casualties just because of their timing.
  - Neckbear
    
    I’d say it also comes to simple tastes; I find myself enjoying greatly say games “from the transition period from PS2 to PS3″, as they’re usually more…uh, fun.
    
    I mean, there’s just something about, say, giving you a shooter example, The Darkness or Resistance: Fall of Man that’s seriously lacking in newer experiences. May have something to do with older shooting mecanics that some may call “archaic” to be more fun (No regenerative health, no aim-assists, etcetera) that I, myself, find incredibly enjoyable.
    
    I think that the somewhat golden era of current-generation consoles (Well, the 360, at least…) was from 2006 to 2008 (Averted, though, since this year is lookin’ pretty damn good in games), what I believe you’re refering as the “transition period from PS2 to PS3″ you mentioned.
    
    From there onwards, though? CINEMATIC EXPERIENCES, REGENERATIVE HEALTH, TACKED ON MULTIPLAYER, STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE, you get the idea.
    
    It’s simply…not the same.
    
    Ah, opinions, I guess.
    - SeventhEvening
      
      Part of the irony there is that The Darkness has both regenerating health and aim-assists. But I know that’s missing the point. The Darkness allowed you to eat the hearts of enemies and you regenerated in the dark. It had some cool original mechanics.
      
      I just hate that every shooter is completely cover based. I spend so much time hidden behind random three foot walls.
      - Croix
        
        I just hate dying constantly. Though that should be a good indication that I’m not very good at shooters.
        
        Action/adventure I can get into. What I do like is how it seems kind of hard to get a game over in T:SoZO. I purposefully let a character die so I could see what happened, and while it makes the current battle temporarily more difficult, it’s not an instant game over like having your controlled character die in FFXIII. Might make the game ultimately a little easy, but I’d rather a game lean toward fun than frustrating.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1472407455 Charles Lupula
        
        Wow, then I made the right decision to not pick the game up. I hate games that hold your hand.
      - Neckbear
        
        Oh, really? Man, my bad. My memory sure is rusty, then.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1472407455 Charles Lupula
        
        And the Darkness also has a tacked-on multiplayer mode.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1472407455 Charles Lupula
      
      You’re missing my point. It’s not that it has “archaic” gameplay mechancis or whatever. If anything, that was the only thing that had me continue the demo. I like when a game has old school mechanics.
      
      No, what I’m talking about is the overall presentation. The graphics are bland, but in a loveless-way. Like they were rushed out to just get them done. The characters seemed completely interchangeable (I mean, okay, the demo is pretty much a tutorial, but not a one of the characters sounded like anything but an instruction manual), The “town” might as well have been a copyright notice for all the detail put into it.
      
      It just felt like one of those games companies rushed to the market before they were done to try to capitalize on the move to HD consoles. There were a ton of them during the first year of the PS3. Conan, Blacksite: Area 51, Dark Kingdom.
      
      Those games all felt like they were just rushed to the market without any care put into them. That’s what this reminded me of. That time before PS3 games like GTA IV, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Uncharted and Metal Gear Solid 4. When there really was no reason to buy the system.
http://twitter.com/Xuiz enorka miho

Well, it lucky they even consider bringing it over to NA… I think they were trying their luck or something… Anyway, in the midst of all the busy western games… I need my JRPG fix on the PS3..
Croix

While this shouldn’t be a major factor in how good a game ultimately is, it’s always a moral blow to know that if you play a game, you won’t be able to get the full experience that someone else got out of it. It’s like if FF7 (popular example so you can get my drift) had ended with Bizarro as the final boss (trying to avoid spoiling too much here). It would have worked fine in the game as the final encounter, but knowing what followed that would have made you feel like you missed out. And if not for the experience, what are you playing a game like this for when you could be playing tetris? (No offense to fans of puzzle games, but they’re not usually known for their stories, characters, and locales, unless it’s Professor Layton, but I digress)

Speaking less broadly, I want to like Souls of Zill O’ll, but I can only bring myself to find it presented in a lackluster fashion. It’s not that I find any part of the game flawed, but nor can I find anything that particularly shines either. Since playing the demo, I’ve been kind of put off by the now rather too familiar character types employed (the thin, agile fighter who is the only female and gifted in magic, the average all around male lead, and the big, physical-based male brute).

I don’t hate this game, and I would very much like to stumble across some facet of it that would make me like it more. But decisions like this, while understandable to a point, aren’t helping in that regard.
- Guest
  
  Not like any WRPG or JRPG don’t have typical types either (because they often do)
  - Croix
    
    Oh, absolutely. That’s exactly why there’s a sense of unoriginality in so many otherwise good characters. Granted, you can only go so far past the norm without going into the territory of ridiculous, e.g. Shadow Hearts series (although I did enjoy how different those were).
    - M’iau M’iaut
      
      Hey, every mother loves their son!
Guest

Damn. Sucks because I read once if the game did well, they would consider localizing the PSP RPG which was based off the PS2 remake of the PS1 turn based Zill O’ll RPG. Great non linear game too. Damn.
neo_firenze

I would suspect that part of the reason they’re reluctant to put PSN DLC up is that publishers have to pay Sony to put content on PSN. This is both a good thing for the gamers (since publishers are footing the bill, the users don’t have to subsidize content through payment of fees like Xbox Live Gold), and a bad thing when companies hold back on content because of it.

I’m guessing the sales projections are low enough for such a niche game that they didn’t think they’d generate enough sales of DLC to justify localization and the associated fees for putting it on PSN.

Does anyone know if the Japanese DLC works on the NA version of the game? For some PS3 games, out-of-region DLC still works.
TyeTheCzar

No DLC, No Buy.
http://www.themogblog.com/ Edward Walton

Yep, not buying it now. Gonna delete the demo as well. Stuff like this rub me the wrong way.
Tokyo Guy

Considering how poorly this game was received in Japan, it makes sense for them to do as little as possible, but the bonus content -all of it free-was like the gift that kept on giving. Maybe Koei will at least include some in the actual game?
Ladius

Really sad to see such negativity. I am unhappy that we won’t see TSoZ’s dlc, but boycotting the game means killing the series completely, since its japanese release bombed and a western fiasco would be the final hit :

The game itself seems to be fairly interesting for hack&slash fans, and I can’t understand why one who was willing to buy it would hold off for the lack of dlc (how many people knew there were dlc for TSoZ before reading this news, anyway?). Of course everyone is free to do what he wants with his money, but I don’t remember seeing those kind of reactions for all the japanese games with dlcs unreleased in the west.

That said, Koei is doing practically nothing to promote the game, basically sending it to die :
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CGX6LLIJFZNSQVGPAB5W5L2SYY Brandon

I want to love you, JRPGs, but the world makes it so hard for us. Between having to search for you at the bottom of an endcap in the used games section of Gamestop, far from the NEW RELEASE section where you belong, and your harsh demands to prove our devotion before fully committing to our star-crossed relationship, I fear our love may not survive society’s expected roles for us.

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