'Project X Zone' Release Date: Watch The New Epic First Trailer [VIDEO]

The first trailer for the coming crossover RPG, Project X Zone, was released Saturday on YouTube. The trailer for the new game, which features popular characters from Sega, Namco and Capcom classic games, reveals more information on which characters will be playable, and gives fans their first glimpse of what gameplay will look like.

The existence of the massive crossover project among several big-name Japanese video game companies, Project X Zone was hinted at for weeks before finally being officially announced on April 13. The strategy role playing game (RPG) will be released sometime in 2012.

Project X Zone was developed by Banpresto and published by Namco Bandia Games. The game concept was conceived by Namco, which then brought Campcom and Sega on board, according to andriasang.com.

The game was originally teased at at a website showing three petri dishes displaying the names of the three companies involved. When the petri dishes were clicked on, the color schemes of popular video game characters involved in Project X Zone were revealed.

The game's website now includes an about section, but others, including story, system and movie, are still blocked off.

Gameplay will involve characters from a variety of classic video games fighting in pairs. Eighteen characters from the new game were revealed on April 12. Each will play a major role in the game's story narrative.

From Capcom the game will feature Ryu & Ken Masters (Street Fighter 0), X & Zero (Rockman), Demitri and Dante (Darkstalkers and Devil May Cry), and Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine (Resident Evil).

From SEGA: Ichiro Ogami and Sakura Shinguji (Sakura Wars), Akira Yuki Chen and Pai Chan (Virtua Fighter), Kurt Irving & Riera Maruserisu (Valkyria Chronicles), and Cyrille & Toma and Urara (Shining Force EXA & Space Channel 5).

And from Namco: Sanger Somvold (Super Robot Wars), Jin and Ling Xiaoyu (Tekken), Kos-Mos and T-elos (Xenosaga), Yuri Lowell & Estellise (Tales of Vesperia), and Kite and Black Rose (.Hack).

For screenshots from the upcoming game go here.

Project X Zone will be in the same vein as Namco X Capcom on the PS2, but with even more variety among characters, but is not a sequel.