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Wii Fanboy Review: Death Jr.: Root of Evil
As a property, Death Jr. is simply hilarious. The characters are delightfully twisted, in a sort of Oblongs-meets-Jhonen Vasquez way, and some of the humor and dialogue can only be categorized as ridiculously funny. In order to build a successful game, however, you need more than that; the gameplay has to be there, to provide the player a reason to move from joke to joke, and some of that impetus is clearly lacking in Death Jr.: Root of Evil. Have you ever played a platforming game? Sure you have. Then guess what? You've pretty much played Death Jr. Get ready to bounce from here to there, collect items, and navigate a number of levels. There's not much more to it than that, other than the aforementioned humor ... which, unfortunately, is somewhat lacking in quantity.%Gallery-24649%
Commando 3 set to blast the XBLA next week
True, buddies over on the Playstation Network already have it, but next week it'll be coming to the better online platform (that's fanboy humor, get it?)Capcom just announced that Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 will be releasing to the Xbox Live Arcade next Wednesday, June 11th for 800 Microsoft points. And with three player online or local co-op, fresh 3D visuals and enough "kaboom!" to throw a hand grenade stuffed puppy at, it may be worth your points. Remember too that those who purchase Commando 3 will also be granted access into the (deep breath) Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix beta which will launch in the days following. A beta that is exclusive to the XBLA. Like we said, the XBLA is the better online platform ... mwahahahaha!
Joystiq hands-on: Space Invaders Extreme (DS/PSP)
My surprise of the week: Space Invaders Extreme. I played a few rounds at the Nintendo Media Summit since there was no line for the lonely kiosk. (Its PR handlers had even abandoned it, working double-duty at the Crystal Chronicles station across the room.) But as soon as I began tapping the buttons, I was hooked; this update borrows the basic idea of Space Invaders and remixes it into a wild, fast-paced shooter. Like the classic, enemy ships make formations above you, raining shots down the screen. Otherwise, nearly everything else has been squeezed, twisted, and stretched into a modern game. The transition deserves comparison to our lauded Pac-Man Championship Edition, but I haven't yet decided if its as elegant an update. Regardless, an update is an update, and Space Invaders Extreme betters nearly every other current shooter. %Gallery-20559%
Blog embarks on quest, finds fresh Gauntlet screens
Our usual Monday morning trek to our friendly local press site unearthed something that should ensure a pleasant start to the week for many of you: plentiful supplies of food, potions, and a dozen screens of Eidos' modern remake of Gauntlet, which was revealed over the weekend and will support a host of multiplayer modes, playable locally or over the intertubes (with voice chat, yaaaay).A few of these screens already appeared at IGN, but most are new, and contain a reassuring number of ghoulies, treasure, and suspiciously well-prepared food. Have a mooch around our gallery to take them all in.%Gallery-19972%[Via press release]
DS needs hack and slash badly
... and it's going to get it! February's speculation after Gauntlet appeared on the ESRB's website has become fact: Eidos and Backbone Entertainment are bringing the classic to the DS. But let's get the best news out of the way up front -- Gauntlet has always been known for awesome multiplayer action, and the DS will continue that tradition. Not only will you be able to throw down with your friends using local wireless, Gauntlet will also support multiplayer over WiFi. They've even thrown in voice chat to make adventuring easier (and potentially more fun). Of course, there's also a single player mode, for those times when you just can't wait for everyone to get together. Gauntlet will come into rotation for Game Night be released in late June. Start hoarding funds (and food) now.
Joystiq hands-on: Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 (XBLA/PSN)
Call it another old-school remake/update; Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 will be out on XBLA and PSN this Spring. The angled, overhead shooter draws on its MERCS origins, bringing three-player destruction to those systems for $10 or 800 Microsoft Points.At a recent demo, I played the 360 version of the game. Controls felt good, with walking assigned to the left stick and shooting to the right. I lobbed grenades and launched super attacks with other buttons; the arsenal held my interest. Vehicles should be a big part of the game, too. In my demo, we drove in an armored truck, shooting from our different seats, and floated down a river raft. Hopefully the full game will feature lots of these breaks, since on-foot battles could grow monotonous.%Gallery-18256%
Joystiq hands-on: Street Fighter II HD (XBLA/PSN)
I'm not a Street Fighter fanatic, but I've enjoyed the series over the years. So with this casual approach, I recently tried the XBLA beta of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, available soon to buyers of Commando 3 on XBLA. The full version will be out this Summer for that system and PSN.Frankly, I don't even remember which character I played. It doesn't help that my only choices were Ken and Ryu, who have nearly the same moves. My helpful opponent reminded me how to do some of the special attacks; I was far out of practice on the Hurricane Kick, but I could throw fireballs right away.%Gallery-9066%
Joystiq impressions: 1942: Joint Strike (XBLA/PSN)
Capcom and Backbone Entertainment are shipping 1942: Joint Strike for XBLA and PSN this Summer. The HD remake -- hmm, part of a bona fide trend -- takes inspiration from 1942 and the other 194X games. But the top-down WWII shooter strives to be its own title, with unique levels, enemies, and updated weapons. I recently checked out an alpha version of the game on a 360. The graphics looked sharp, with light sepia effects evoking a news-reel quality at times. Other times, colors popped against high-definition backgrounds. While the 3D world exists in a top-down angle, tall buildings leaned with the perspective, adding another visual hook to the shooter. %Gallery-18258%
Death, Jr. 2 takes root on Wii
The annoyingly punctuated Death, Jr. 2: Root of Evil will be making the leap from PSP to Wii this spring, complete with a bunch of stuff that should come as standard in the Wii version of a PSP-to-Wii port more polygons, higher-resolution textures, more voice acting, better pacing, splitscreen play for co-op, and an improved user interface. The game's score on Metacritic doesn't exactly leave us bursting with hope, but hey, we wrapped up Super Mario Galaxy a while ago, and could do with another platformer to sink our teeth into.Speaking of Galaxy, here's Death, Jr. 2 producer James Stanley talking up the game to 1UP: "It's definitely one of the better looking Wii titles. I'd say 'best' but we might get in a battle with some Mario fans." Check out more screens past the break and tell us if you agree with him.
Super Street Fighter II HD Remix developers now remixing monsters
Backbone Entertainment, the developers of the Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo and Super Street Fighter II remakes, as well as the DS Death Jr. game and various other projects, have announced a new original Wii game to be published by Eidos. Monster Lab takes place in the hilariously-named Uncanny Valley, in which the player, as a mad scientist's apprentice, mixes and matches monster parts to create original creations. The gameplay involves finding parts out in the wild, then taking them back to the lab and performing alchemical, mechanical, and biological experiments on them to augment them.Once you've built a monster, you then take it out into the world and control it in battles! Monster Lab even features online battling and trading. With millions of possible combinations, this game could have some serious long-term replayability. Or you could just make monsters over and over.%Gallery-15038%[Via press release]
DS Daily: Is Space Invaders extreme enough?
The new version of Space Invaders has new enemy designs, new music, strikingly new graphics, and some kind of bizarre music/gameplay integration. But it appears to still be your basic Space Invaders-- moving left and right, and shooting at enemies as they descend in formation. It's the same game, at heart, as has been around since 1978. Plenty of people still love Space Invaders today, and we count ourselves among that "number," though we haven't built a career in art out of it or anything. But we also know that we (I) can be a little more retro-oriented than most people. Which is why we're asking you: does Space Invaders Extreme have any chance of holding your interest based on what you've seen (which, at the moment, isn't too much)? Is the basic game too antique for you? What would have to change to suit your tastes?
Hudson admits Bomberman Act: Zero was crap
It seems so important to have some presence on YouTube these days. Every company, network, and politician is out to reach all the obsessed YouTubers with their "message," be that "buy my product," "watch my show," or "vote for me." Typically, we don't pay these much mind. Especially those fed to us by game companies. It is somewhat refreshing then, to see Hudson open its making-of Bomberman Live video by admitting that Bomberman Act: Zero was a piece of garbage. Yes, that goes a long way towards restoring our faith in the franchise, for truly it was a festering pile. It's heartening to know that Hudson began with "let's not make another Act: Zero" as a base for their upcoming Xbox Live Arcade offering.It's okay, Hudson. We all make mistakes. As long as Bomberman Live delivers, all is forgiven.[Via selectbutton]
Bomberman Live rated, on XBLA soon?
Old school gaming fans rejoice! The official page for Bomberman Live has appeared on Xbox.com. Well, to be more precise, it's not published on the Xbox Live Arcade page yet, but it's available for those who know where to look. It's actually been there for some time, but now we have some new reinforcement that the game is on its way to XBLA soon. Yes, the game has been rated by the ESRB, so things are looking good. We're so excited that we just might explode. Get it? Get it?! Oh, never mind.
Bomberman Live in early July, 800 points
Bomber-fans rejoice, for we have discovered the price and (rough) release date for Bomberman Live on Xbox Live Arcade. Speaking to the Official Xbox Magazine podcast, Hudson's Joel Breton revealed that the game will release for 800 MS Points. This isn't exactly surprising, as it's becoming the de facto price for all original XBLA content. Breton also reveals that Hudson plans to release the title in early July. Jokes concerning Independence Day and blowing up your friends ensues. If you'd like to listen to the interview, it occurs at approximately 17:15 during episode 68 of the KOXM podcast.So, will you pick up Bomberman Live for 800 points?
1UP takes a gander at Bomberman Live
For classic multiplayer fans, there is perhaps no Xbox Live Arcade title as anticipated as Bomberman Live. Published by Hudson and developed by Backbone Entertainment, Bomberman Live looks to properly bring classic Bomberman action into the online arena, and 1UP recently got an extended look at the game.. Sure, many attempts have been made -- even Saturn Bomberman had online play -- but Xbox Live gives Bomberman Live an edge unknown to previous online entries. Bomberman Live allows for up to 8 players online or 4 players locally. The game also allows multiple players on one 'box to venture online (here's hoping the game allows non-Live subscribers as guests). In addition to the traditional deathmatch mode, Bomberman Live also includes other modes, such as the Paint Bomb mode featured in recent titles. The game also features Vision camera support, which will snap a shot of each player the moment they are defeated and also give the round winner a few moments to gloat on camera. Finally, there are loads of costume pieces that players can use to customize their, um, Bombermen (Bomberfolk, Bomberpeople?). Costume pieces are unlocked by collecting Costume Balls during gameplay.All in all, it sounds like Bomberman Live is everything that old school fans could hope for. Here's hoping the game lives up to its legacy (or, at the very least, better than Bomberman Act: Zero). So, how much would you be willing to pay for "real" Bomberman.
Two Tron titles confirmed for XBLA
It wasn't long ago that Discs of Tron was leaked as an Xbox Live Arcade title on the ESRB website. Disney has now stepped up to the plate and confirmed that Discs of Tron, along with Tron itself, is heading to Microsoft's download service. Both games will feature enhanced graphics and online multiplayer. The game is being developed by Backbone Entertainment, more commonly known on XBLA under the Digital Eclipse label. Given the age of these games, we hope that Backbone goes the extra mile and really enhances the gameplay rather than merely slapping on a fresh coat of pixels. Either way, we're looking forward to some serious light cycle matches on Xbox Live.
Enter the dating scene at Brooktown High [Update 1]
Gamespot has a hands-on preview of Brooktown High: Senior Year, the first dating sim created specifically for the US. Konami is known for their popular dating sim series Tokimeki Memorial, but it seems they are testing the waters for dating sims in the US with Brooktown High. But will US gamers fall in love with a genre that most are virgins with? That question certainly can't be answered yet, but one can't accuse Backbone Entertainment of making a bare bones title due to the risk. In Brooktown High: Senior Year, you'll create your own guy or gal, use your school lessons to help you improve yourself for the opposite sex, and of course talk to lots and lots of potential love interests. As with any school, everyone is in different social groupings and has different expectations of what they're looking for in a significant other, so you'll have to deal with them accordingly. The game also features licensed music and several mini-games to help keep your daily school day interesting. Given the success of DOAX (which was more dating sim than volleyball game), maybe Brooktown High does stand a chance of getting an A+ grade with gamers. Brooktown High: Senior Year gets to 2nd base on PSP later this year, from Backbone Entertainment and Konami. [Update 1: Gamespot also has a great interview along with gameplay footage available.]
