Source: ps3blog.net
That’s right, Fat Princess will be hitting PSN this Thursday for $14.99 USD. It will also be released simultaneously worldwide, hitting North America, Europe and Asia. A release is still being worked out for Japan and nothing was said about an Australian release, but I don’t see why it couldn’t be released there as well. You can check out the Interview done by the Official PS Blog here:
Source: videogamesblogger.com
Disaster: Day of Crisis is a unique and intense “panic inducing survival game” exclusively for Wii, developed by Monolith Software (Xenosaga, Baten Kaitos. Nintendo bought Monolith back in April of 2007) and published by Nintendo.
In the game you must survive a wave of natural disasters and save the the United States from a rogue group of special forces who seize a nuclear weapon by using all the capabilities of the Wii system including extensive motion controls that compliment the gameplay instead of hinder it.
The game is a hybrid of adventure, RPG leveling, shooting, driving, platforming, context-sensitive action, and arcade-like elements brought together with a story that Supa describes as a mix between the action TV show “24″ and the disaster movie “The Day After Tomorrow” where players race a car down a mountain to escape a lava avalanche, dodge toppling buildings during a devastating earthquake and swim for their lives during a raging flood. SOUNDS GREAT TO ME!
Sadly though, the game has not sold well and may not see a release in North America (it’s out now in Japan, Europe and Australia).
In an interview with Cubed3, developer Yamagami stated how the game may not come to the United States due to the combination of slow to poor sales and the fact that Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime doesn’t seem to be a big fan of the game. He went on to state however that “Regardless of the region, ‘DISASTER’ can be enjoyed by any consumer that loves ‘disaster’ style movies.”
Even though we may not get the Wii version, another of the developers stated that they would love to do a Disaster 2 sequel, stating that “…there were so many wonderful options [ in the game ]. We would like to see the possibility for them, if we have chance to develop the sequel…” and furthermore, that the sequel may appear on DS if enough fans request it.
Interestingly enough, a sequel is already in place . . . but may not see fruition. It all really depends on fan demand so be sure to let them know how much you enjoy the game and how much you want to see it come to North America!
And in other Monolith news, there would appear to be more than one project underway at the studio, including a possible new Baten Kaitos game! He said their team is “willing to start developing Baten Kaitos” when given the go-ahead. Which should be music to the ears of GameCube fans who got their RPG fix due to Baten Kaitos 1 and Baten Kaitos 2: Origins.
* Thanks to Siliconera for the Disaster Screenshot
Source: videogamesblogger.com
Prince of Persia releases to store shelves tomorrow, December 2nd. In celebration of The Prince’s return to video game form, here is a look at some of the epic gameplay moments that you will encounter in the new title as the Prince runs, jumps, wall runs, leaps and fights his way through the corrupted world.
Prince of Persia will be hitting Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC (in both regular and collector’s editions) and is rated T for Teen due to “Alcohol Reference, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes and Violence.” It will be released in Europe on December 4th and in the United Kingdom on December 5th. If you’re waiting for the PC version in Europe, that will be released on December 12th.
Source: videogamesblogger.com
Square Enix’s latest epic, The Last Remnant, is out now for Xbox 360. It is scheduled for release for PS3 on April 1, 2009.
The game is Square Enix’s attempt at creating an RPG that was focused and built from the ground up to appeal to Western audiences, which would mark a pretty big departure for the Japanese role-playing experts, who in the past would create their games with their homeland people in mind. Even though development for a lot of companies has shifted to the West in recent years as the Japanese game industry’s influence has begun to wain.
So it’ll be interesting to see how their latest game does. If it sells well, then they will likely shift even more of their games and series to appeal to Western audiences.
About the Game:
In ancient times, mysterious artifacts referred to as Remnants were discovered all over the world. People used these objects for their awesome powers — a choice that eventually began to cause a rift in the world’s balance. Equality was replaced by those who ruled and those who were ruled over. War was inevitable. A thousand years later is when this story begins…
Rush lives with his sister Irina on secluded Eulam Island, far from the power struggles for Remnants that are occurring back on the mainland. However, this peaceful life is shattered when his sister is suddenly kidnapped by a mysterious group of soldiers right before his eyes. He immediately sets off after them, unaware of the evils of the outside world but determined to find his sister at any cost.
* Experience groundbreaking graphics, only possible on next-generation platforms, that bring the intensity of gameplay to an entirely new level.
* A dramatic storyline about war and mysterious powers called Remnants are brought to life by the creators of FINAL FANTASY and the SAGA franchise.
* Uncover the mystery of the Remnants, powerful artifacts from an ancient civilization that are scattered around the world and stand as they were a millennia ago.
* The game’s art is developed by Yusuke Naora, the art director of FINAL FANTASY VII, FINAL FANTASY VIII, and FINAL FANTASY X.
* With more than 15 warriors under your command and a unique morale-based battle system, THE LAST REMNANT increases the player’s ability to strategize battle more than its RPG predecessors
* Navigate a massive battlefield while surrounded by countless foes and friends
* Immerse in exhilarating, large-scale battles through a never-before-seen battle command system
* The gameplay features a dynamic turn-based system that creates a sense of continuity of action
Interview with the game’s director.
Mysterious Remnants Interview
Gameplay Videos
Source: videogamesblogger.com
JoWooD has told Eurogamer that Arcania: A Gothic Tale (aka Gothic 4) has yet to be given a date, and revoked the “late 2009″ date that the game had previously been given from a spokesperson at the publisher. Although it could still arrive in 2009, this might mean that the game will be a 2010 or beyond release.
Thankfully though for Gothic fans, fans do have the Gothic 3 expansion, Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods, to satisfy their craving for new Gothic material, which is out now in the United States and is scheduled for release in the UK on December 5th.
Forsaken Gods is supposed to bridge the gap between Gothic 3 and Gothic 4. There isn’t a lot of details on Gothic 4 at this point, but we do know that it will be developed by Spellbound. It will also be the first game in the Gothic series to be released on consoles, as Arcania: A Gothic Tale is scheduled for release on the Xbox 360 and PS3 in addition to PC.
Sadly, the third game in the series was almost universally panned due to it’s low-grade development by a little-known PC developer from India (Trine) (unhelped by the game’s prevalent bugs and glitches), instead of the original developer of the franchise, Piranha Bytes. So it’s to be seen if Spellbound will be able to return the magic to the series. Which has a passionate following, particularly in it’s country of origin (Germany), due to it’s alluring open-worlds that are packed full of ferocious action.
Gothic 4 will keep the fantasy tone and setting of the world intact with a story that is set around ten years after the events in Gothic 3. Some interesting aspects of the game will include the ability to control the day and night cycle via magic, and the ability to ride all kinds of beasts.
Source: videogamesblogger.com
The fifth expansion pack for EverQuest II, entitled EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey, released for the PC yesterday and thus is out now. The newest expansion follows in the success of the award-winning, best-selling previous expansion, EverQuest II: Rise of the Kunark.
The new pack will take players both new and veteran alike on a journey through a substantial amount of exquisite content with more than 20 new zones, including the Moors of Ykesha, a massive outdoor zone once known as Innothule Swamp, and the legendary dungeon Guk.
Check out the launch trailer for the game.
In an age long passed, a band of extraordinary heroes embarked on a journey to free Norrath from the clutches of a shrouded threat.
Key features of EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey include:
* New Zones: Journey through more than 20 new zones, including the new overland zone, Innothule Swamp
* Dungeon Adventures: Experience nostalgic EverQuest dungeon themes, such as Najena, Mistmoore and The Sebilisian Empire, and adventure through more than 18 goal-based dungeons, such as Ruins of Guk and Befallen
* Achievement Point: An achievement level cap increase to 200 that offers new achievements for class-specific lines
* Dungeon Delving: A new mission system for players to replay content with new and different experiences.
* Heritage Quests: Five new quests with unique rewards being added
* Shard Reward System: A new, mysterious group of erudites with powerful new armor and equipment will barter for void shards earned during players’ encounters
* Epic Tales: Stories told through battles with dozens of new creatures and hundreds of new quests.
* New Deities: Rodcet Nife and Anashti Sul are introduced into Norrath
* Access to All Previous Content: Includes all previous expansion packs and adventure packs.
* Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck and booster pack
Source: videogamesblogger.com
Lots of PC Expansion Packs just hit store shelves, including Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir, which just released yesterday, November 18th, for the PC.
There have been several interesting blogs posted by the developers of the game, particularly this one about Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir’s orchestral musical score. So be sure to check those out.
About the game:
In the aftermath of the defeat of the King of Shadows, the Sword Coast is in the midst of an uneasy economic recovery. Trade syndicates have sprung up to exploit the post-war confusion for their own ends and the players’ party will wade into this uncertain environment. In order to increase their own fortunes, they can either ally with a syndicate to create a trade empire, or cut their own path through Faerun by preying upon caravans and selling the goods on the black market. As they attempt to extend their influence, players will become aware of a new faction working behind the scenes: the evil, shape-shifting, serpentine Yuan-Ti.
In addition to trading and economic manipulation, the Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir Overland Map allows players to explore the Chultan Peninsula and Sword Coast in a non-linear manner never before seen in any of the Neverwinter Nights games. Exploration will take players from well-known locations, like Neverwinter and Crossroad Keep, to more exotic areas, such as the xenophobic jungle nation of Samarach. Groups of highwaymen and monsters populate the Overland Map and the farther from civilization the player roams, the more difficult the encounters become. The 15-hour campaign in Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir is also packed with new classes, spells, creatures, and playable races.
Key Features of Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir include:
* Travel the Sword Coast and Samarach using the open-ended exploration of the new Overland Map. Use skills like Spot and Survival while on the Overland Map to avoid ambushes and even find hidden locales and lost artifacts
* Create your own full party of adventurers. Devastate your foes with a squad of fireball-flinging Sorcerers, form a solid wall of steel with a party of Fighters, or strike the perfect balance in your party by spreading out the classes you choose for your characters
* Improved party gameplay including streamlined party conversations, a new Teamwork Benefit System, and powerful party feats
* The world’s economy reacts to your adventures and choices. And, through trading and quests, you can expand your merchant company into a massive trading empire
Last but not least, here is a developer interview from E3 2008.
Source: videogamesblogger.com
King of Fighters XII is the latest installment in SNK’s popular arcade fighting series. The game will be coming to Xbox 360 and PS3 eventually, but isn’t even scheduled for release in Japanese arcades until the second quarter of 2009.
However that doesn’t mean that fans out West shouldn’t be excited about it’s release. To the contrary, Ignition Entertainment has announced that they have already secured the publishing rights to release King of Fighters XII in Western countries next year.
Be sure to check out our King of Fighters XII Characters List to get a look at who will be returning and making their debut in the game.
King of Fighters is SNK’s long-running fighting series that, much like Capcom’s Street Fighter franchise, has largely been rooted in the past. If you haven’t played any of the games, be sure to pick up the King of Fighters Collection on Wii, PS2 or PSP when it releases.
However with part XII, just like with Capcom’s Street Fighter IV, the game is finally being taken into the modern age. Unlike Street Fighter IV however, King of Fighters XII will continue to use 2D graphics, however the artwork has been COMPLETELY upgraded and re-done with this newest installment, SNK Playmore have redrawn the game’s 20 characters from scratch, first creating a 3D model of the character, than posing it and using it as a guide for traditional, “hand-drawn” 2D pixel art. Making this arguably the most beautiful game in the series.
Here’s a video of the game in motion.
Source: videogamesblogger.com
Sonic Unleashed has been released (hey that rhymes) today for the Wii and the PlayStation 2. The other versions of the game will come later, with the Xbox 360 version scheduled for release on November 24th with the PS3 version hitting on December 12th.
The Wii version will include motion controls support with the Wii and Nunchuck (such as shaking the Wii Remote to activate boost and homing attacks) and will also include support for the GameCube and Classic Controllers. Both the PS2 and Wii versions will include modified versions of the levels in the PS3 and Xbox 360 version with lower-end graphics based on an existing Sonic engine, instead of the all-new engine used in the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game for next-gen visuals.
In Sonic Unleashed, everyone’s favorite hedgehog breaks new ground yet maintains his roots in a game that combines amazing next gen capabilities with classic Sonic 2D gameplay! Developed by renowned studio Sonic Team, Sonic Unleashed utilizes the powerful “Hedgehog Engine” to mesh seamless 3D and classic 2D camera transitions, whilst delivering a rich and expansive world with multiple paths to choose from.
Having been broken apart by the evil Dr Eggman, it’s down to Sonic to put the pieces of the world back together again by retrieving the power of the chaos emeralds. In doing so, Sonic will find himself in a race against time and faced with an unusual situation that will challenge him in ways never before seen. By completing a wide variety of action-packed stages, spanning the seven broken continents of the world, gamers will need to unleash Sonic’s amazing abilities to save the world, and himself!
Features of Sonic Unleashed include:
* Sonic can engage in different ways during the day and night time levels, bringing a completely original way of playing the beloved series
* Sonic the Werehog makes his debut!
* Nine beautiful stages based on real-life locations
* In addition to running at high speeds in classic Sonic style, combat fighting will become possible
* Includes classic Sonic elements such as loops and corkscrews
* Super quick Sonic’s speed skills is highlighted by four new modes, whilst the all new combat, movement and functional abilities offer depth and variety to the game
Source: videogamesblogger.com
Castlevania Judgment releases exclusively for the Nintendo Wii today, November 18th, and is the first bona-fide fighting game in the Castelvania franchise.
Although the game is a fighter, it looks to play more like a hybrid, similar to Power Stone, Super Smash Bros. Brawl or the upcoming Final Fantasy Dissidia, with a liberal does of Soul Calibur IV thrown in for good measure.
You are able to run around the game’s environments in 3D and there are hazards aplenty to both help or hinder you as you beat down your opponent with special moves and powerful magic attacks, some that are so insane looking that they wouldn’t be out of place in a Final Fantasy title.
Take a look at this 5 minutes launch trailer for Castlevania Judgment, which gives you a good look at all the game’s main characters as well as extensive cut-scene and gameplay footage.
