Bushiroad’s Cardfight!! Vanguard is already creating a stir in trading card game circles with the availability of an English edition (see “Cardfight Vanguard Expands in the U.S.”), and this summer two Trial Decks from another Bushiroad TCG Weiss Schwarz will be released in English as well.  Weiss Schwarz takes its name from the German words for “white” and “black” respectively.  The “Wiess Side” features mostly anime series, while the “Schwarz Side” generally features properties from visual novels and Japanese RPGs.  Bushiroad has not yet indicated if it plans to release any Weiss Schwarz Boosters here—the company is likely testing the waters with the two Trial Decks.

 

The two Weiss Schwarz Trial Decks that will be made available in English this summer include a Weiss entry based on the Puella Magi Madoka Magica, a magical girl anime produced by Aniplex that aired in Japan in 2011 and a Schwarz one based on Fate/zero, a prequel to the Type-Moon visual novel Fate/stay night.  Fate/zero itself is a multi-media property in Japan with light novel, a manga, and a 2011 anime produced by ufotable that has been licensed for North America by Aniplex (Aniplex is bring LiSA, the singer who performs the title tune for the Fate/zero anime, will be a Guest of Honor at Anime Expo).

 

The Weiss Schwarz cards are of three different types, character cards, event cards, and climax cards.  Gameplay centers around character battle and clock/level that regulates what cards can be played when. Each turn in the Weiss Schwarz games consist of twelve different phases.  This is a complex and interesting game that makes use of a plethora of popular Japanese pop culture properties that should provide the Weiss Schwarz TCG with considerable appeal to anime and manga fans here in North America.