by Eric Caoili - 07.25.06

We can’t help but feel weak at the knees whenever any bits of Atlus news pass our desks. We’ve already received several emails decrying our unprofessional journalism, condemning their preferred treatment, but we’re too caught up in this crush to notice. This may just be a summer romance, but we will cherish it nonetheless.
At the heart of our infatuation lies Contact, Atlus’ quirky DS RPG due this September 19th. If we weren’t raving about its Mother-esque feel, then we were probably praising the game for its varied art styles and offbeat gameplay.
The Professor wrestles his damaged spaceship to a crash landing on a mysterious planet. In the aftermath of the crash, The Professor discovers that the power sources of his ship, known as Cells, have been scattered across the surface of this strange world. To retrieve them all, The Professor enlists the aid of a brave young man named Terry—and a brave video game player known as you! The Professor and Terry will ask for your help during the course of the adventure, using the Nintendo DS to “contact” you along the way.
You’ll only need to look to the above image for an example of what kind of humor to expect with this eccentric adventure. Much thanks to 1up’s Jeremy Parish for capturing that poke at Sony’s E3 conference on his review copy of Contact. We can’t wait to see what other surprises Atlus’ localization team has ready for us.
Original “Massive Damage” Screen Capture
Atlus makes “Contact” with Siliconera











Gian enemy crabs?!?!?!
OH NOES!
MIke - 07.25.06 12:11 pm
hahahahahahahahahaha. Oh man. *single tear*. I wasnt really that interested in this game before (i’ve went off RPGs bigstyle) but that little screen has made my day and piqued my intrest.
ALH - 07.25.06 12:15 pm
Try to hit its weak point for massive damage!
[-NintendoFreak-] - 07.25.06 12:25 pm
If that screenshot is real, that is hilarious. I’m sorry, I love my PS2 but that E3 conference was just to stale and deserves to be mocked.
used cisco - 07.25.06 12:48 pm
Haha, that is so brilliant!
SereneCrimson - 07.25.06 1:01 pm
Eric, if we get a reviewable copy, I’m still willing to fight you to the death for it. =P
Or.. We can just share and write two reviews of it.
Greg - 07.25.06 1:07 pm
Cannot wait for this one. As I’ve said many times, Atlus is my favorite company… whether it’s Atlus Co. LTD developing or simply Atlus USA localizing stuff.
I’m tempted to make a general Atlus fansite in addition to my Megaten one. I’d never have the time for it, though lol
Tony - 07.25.06 1:09 pm
When references to your horrible press conference start showing up in actual games you HAVE to know something is wrong.
rdkenshin - 07.25.06 1:28 pm
Ok, this is probably really lame of me…but I don’t get the joke. Please explain!
shamed:( - 07.25.06 1:37 pm
NoBullet - 07.25.06 1:43 pm
There’s this island called WiFisland, and when you exchange Friend Codes with someone, they will take up residence as an NPC there.
Wait, so we cant actually visit someones town, they only turn into NPC’s when you exchange code? Lame.
NoBullet - 07.25.06 2:03 pm
It’s a little disheartening that a game like this didn’t sell well in Japan
Matthew(Someguy) - 07.25.06 6:56 pm
the reason it didn’t sell well is clear if you read the japanese reviews of it. Especially check amazon.co.jp
matt - 07.25.06 6:59 pm
Presumably the Japanese reviews are in, uh, Japanese, right? Anyone care to give a translation?
Grant - 07.25.06 7:37 pm
Make the reference… for massive laughter.
Picc - 07.25.06 7:55 pm
Hey “SHAMED”. To get the reference, just click the link in the text of this post that says “Sony’s E3 Conference”. It will take you to a video montage of Sony’s embarassing presentation and the presentations of third-party PS3 game developers as well. In the video, a rep for some company claims that the levels in his game are based on real historical japanese battles. Then, later the video shows some gameplay footage of a boss battle against a giant crab. Then the guy explains that to beat the giant crab, you should flip him over and then “hit his weakpoint for massive damage!” This is funny for two reasons:
1) There are (to my knowledge) no records of any ancient japanese battles involving giant crabs.
2) Sony kind of stressed that PS3 games would be very innovative and original. The cliche of a crab-like enemy that must be flipped over before becoming vulnerable (or more generally, the tried-and-true cliche of bosses having “weakpoints” that must be exploited) is hardly an original gameplay mechanic.
The linked video is edited in a way that juxtaposes the “innovative” claims with the cliche stuff, to humorous effect.
Is this an accurate explanation?
Explainer - 07.25.06 8:17 pm
Explainer, your missing the real time weapon changes, i hope contact comes out with that too
Lem - 07.25.06 8:49 pm
Lem, you’re missing the apostrophe in “you’re”.
Corrector - 07.25.06 8:55 pm
It’s also funny because “attack his weakpoint for massive damage” is just phrased funnily and the guy who says it sounds funny while doing so.
Grant - 07.25.06 8:58 pm
I’m surprised this obligatory RIIIIDDDGE RAAAAACER! Comment hasn’t been made. Oh wait… Do’h!
Benny - 07.25.06 9:41 pm
*makes the obligatory FIVE HUNDRED AND NINTY-NINE U.S. DOLLARS comment*
SereneCrimson - 07.25.06 10:16 pm
NO NOT MY WEAK SPOT D:
Giant Enemy Crab - 07.26.06 1:20 am
so is there a release date yet for the translation?
bgudna - 07.26.06 3:28 am
So is Contact based on real historical japanese battles?
…certainly looks like it.
TK-Linx - 07.26.06 5:10 am
Contact comes out in mid September 2006. I forget the exact day. It’s likely Atlus will throw together a mini-site before then, so I’m sure we’ll hear plenty about it then.
Tony - 07.26.06 9:53 am
Hah!
“NO NOT MY WEAK SPOT D:”
“-Giant Enemy Crab
I bet in the game, you can summon a kamikaze with a button combo too (not Japanese Zero’s fighters flying into ships, the real meaning of the word kamikaze, divine wind)
Fank - 07.26.06 11:28 am
Can anyone say ‘massive powerbuy’?
599 - 07.26.06 11:55 am
I really want contact
Naruto - 08.01.06 12:33 am