Our first Co-op International Column focuses on Onechanbara Z: Kagura, a recently released Japanese Xbox 360 game. Kagura is as bizarre as past Onechanbara titles, but boasts much sharper graphics and combat. Get the full co-op scoop on Kagura before it reaches domestic shores (if ever)!

It's not often we cover games that have only been released in Japan, but in this case, we'll make an exception. The Onechanbara series made it to American shores in 2009, with releases for Xbox 360 and, oddly enough, Wii.  The formula for Onechanbara seems to be tough girls skimpy outfits zombies cool moves co-op - your brain.  Our review of the 360 release didn't pull any punches: it wasn't very good.  Still, there must be a market for cowgirls in bikinis wielding swords to decapitate the undead, and so D3 published Onechanbara Special for PSP.

The title Onechanbara is a combination of two Japanese words, onee-chan, meaning “big sister,” and chanbara, meaning “sword fighting.”  The game Onechanbara is a combination of zombie slaying, Dynasty Warriors-type action, and co-op.

What happens when you take the Bikini out of Bikini Zombie Slayers or Bikini Samurai Squad?  You get a girl in a cowboy hat with samurai swords and a backache. 

Warning, the following post is going to confuse, baffle and perhaps excite you.