Today's game on display from our physical collection is EX Troopers for the PlayStation 3!
E.X. Troopers is a very interesting game, and one not many might have heard of. Developed for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation 3, it shared the same engine as the canceled Mega Man Legends 3. While it was a standalone title already in development prior to Legends 3's cancellation, it shares a similar art style and action-shooter gameplay. One of the side characters from that canceled project even appears within E.X. Troopers, which isn't too surprising considering Capcom often likes to include little nods to their other titles when possible. The game itself also takes place within the Lost Planet universe, but with linear action-RPG-style stages mixed with Monster Hunter-style boss fights, it feels quite a bit different from the mainline titles. Sadly, this game never saw a release in the West, though a fan translation does exist.
Thanks Capcom-Unity
My journey to discovering E.X. Troopers actually came from Capcom's now-defunct community, Capcom-Unity. The service was unique because it allowed fans to interact directly with Capcom and get inside looks at their upcoming projects. They allowed fans to voice their concerns and state their opinions, and sometimes these discussions would lead to changes or additional features being added to games. In addition to this, the platform operated on OneSite, and Capcom allowed users to take full advantage of it to create their own websites, blogs, and forums within the community. Content had to be approved by moderators, but it was an accessible way for members of the site to create their own material. This is how Netto's Game Room initially got its start, serving as a major stepping stone for where we are today.
Importing a Piece of Capcom History
While E.X. Troopers was a popular topic of discussion on Capcom-Unity, Capcom ultimately decided against ever localizing the title officially. Once this news came to light, I waited for the PlayStation 3 version to launch in Japan and simply ordered that release instead. Thankfully, importing wasn't too difficult—sites such as Playasia have always been a great help to me—and it arrived pretty quickly. While I did have to miss out on the vast majority of the story, the game was simply a blast to play, and it left me dreaming of the day it would become readily available to the rest of the world. It really is a shame it remained a Japanese exclusive, but I am glad I was still able to get my hands on it. Plus, look at that box art—it is easily one of my personal favorites from Capcom!
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