I never thought I'd say this, but Arcana Hearts 3 is coming stateside. Aksys, of BlazBlue fame, have announced today that they're bringing their popular Japanese fighter to the US. And before you phone in the pedobait police, recognize that some deep game play lies underneath the game's all female cast and sugar and spice visuals.

This reveal is odd for numerous reasons. For one thing, nobody expects games like this to get released in America. The amount of exposed cleavage and skin the females in the game have makes this localisation just short of miraculous. Another thing that stands out is that there is no mention of an Xbox Live release. Why Aksys would limit the audience so much of a game doomed to minor if any sales success is beyond me.

The game will come with no shortage of features, with online modes, ranking, replay saving and more. It will even feature a simple mode, which is probably similar to the one that appears in their other popular fighter BlazBlue: Continuum Shift and is detailed a bit here. Arcana Hearts 3 will be available for download this Spring. Hit the break for the full press release.

[Shoryuken]

Stand-by Angel!

Arcana Heart 3 is coming to North America!

Torrance, CA (Februrary 14th, 2010) – Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, is proud to announce that the fighting game Arcana Heart 3 will be coming to the PlayStation®Network this Spring. Arcana Heart 3 combines fast-paced aerial action with a unique cast for an extraordinary fighting experience never before seen in North America!

Chaos and disorder are threatening to rip apart the very fabric of Japanese society as planar rifts appear throughout the country. It is suspected that the Drexler Institute, the instigator of the Great War many years ago and creator of the Divine Celestial Weapon, is somehow involved.

In the midst of this confusion, a mysterious rumor arises, claiming the existence of wish-granting “Celestial Stones” within the chaotic planar rifts. As a result of these rumors, a number of individuals have converged on Japan in the hopes of obtaining one of these fabled stones – either to seal them away or to see for themselves if the rumor is true. Each person has their own reasons for seeking these rare and valuable stones, and they won’t let anyone stand in their way, be they foe…or friend.

Arcana Heart 3 Key Features

3 Newcomers To Arcana Heart 3, For A Total Of 23 Fighters!

Enter Weiss, the main character in Arcana Heart 3; Eko, a young girl who can bring her drawings to life; and Scharlachrot, a mysterious figure lurking in the shadows with the power to summon chains from out of nowhere.

23 Unique Arcana Types; Create A Fighting Style To Match Your Individual Style Of Play!

Pair your favorite character with one of the 23 available spirits for an incredible range of different fighting styles.

Deep Single Player Experience!

With an extensive arcade-style story mode, score attack mode, and training mode available, Arcana Heart 3 offers players a myriad of ways to sharpen and polish their fighting skills when not facing off against friends and rivals.

Introducing “Simple Mode”!

Simple mode is a new control scheme designed with beginning and casual fighting fans in mind. Unleash powerful attacks and extended combos without having to practice complicated input commands!

Full-Featured Online Multiplayer!

Arcana Heart 3′s online system was developed by Arc System Works, creators of the critically-acclaimed BlazBlue games, a series known for its superior network code. In addition to online lobbies and ranked matches, Arcana Heart 3 also includes a comprehensive ranking system and online replays.

About Aksys Games

Located in Torrance, California and founded in 2006, Aksys Games has published many well-received fighting games, RPGS, and innovative downloadable titles. Some of their more popular titles include the BlazBlue, Record of Agarest War, and Hooked: Real Motion Fishing series.

Arcana Heart 3 has been rated ‘T’ for Teen by the ESRB. More information about Aksys Games and Arcana Heart 3 can be found at www.aksysgames.com.