Majin
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Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom trailer gives us golem envy
We know our first thought after watching this Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom trailer should be, "Wow, look at all the pretty colors," or "Hey, this looks like it's going to scratch our Ico and Beyond Good & Evil itches pretty definitively." However, our minds are only addled with raw, unchecked jealousy. How come we don't have a giant, lovable, moss-covered golem companion? We wouldn't make him fight monsters or lift gates for us. We'd only ask that he let us pet his grassy head, and occasionally ride on his back, and go on the most magical adventures together. Curse you, Namco Bandai! You knew our weakness for giant, adorable companions, and you exploited that weakness without remorse.
Namco Bandai predicts sales for Dead to Rights, Splatterhouse
During a recent investor's presentation, Namco Bandai relayed some projections for a few of its top titles -- specifically, recent releases Clash of the Titans and Dead to Rights: Retribution and upcoming Splatterhouse and Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom. The presentation is available here, though due to the fact that it's in some foreign language (what are they speaking, Klingon?), we defer to Siliconera's translation. For Clash and DtR, Namco Bandai isn't expecting either to clear a million units: each is projected to sell around 700,000 copies. That's certainly nothing to scoff at. Namco Bandai has higher hopes for Splatterhouse and Majin, however, predicting sales of one million for each. Really? A million units? Sure, we've heard that "sex sells," but charmingly bumbling monsters and bloody, deformed hockey mask-garbed behemoths? People can't possibly be into either of those things, right? [Via Siliconera]
Majin and the Giant Collection of Screens
Click to enter the Forsaken GalleryNamco Bandai sent out a Majin-sized update for Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom, bestowing upon us forty new screenshots of the boy and his behemoth. Game Republic seems to have hit upon the secret formula for emotional resonance: the quiet-looking, overgrown ruins of stone buildings, and the pair of explorers therein, give Majin game a strong Ico vibe. Just replace Ico's reedy, ethereal princess with an enormous, moss-covered Muppet and you've got Majin. Which is fine with us -- more games should take Ico as inspiration. And to be honest, Yorda would have been way more helpful if she were twenty feet tall. %Gallery-89245%
Majin and the Forsaken Trailer
He's huge, he's covered in foliage -- he's Majin, and in this latest trailer for Maijn and the Forsaken Kingdom, we get to see him and his friend some guy fighting the evil forces that have made the kingdom so forsaken. Majin may be cuddly, but he won't hesitate to straight up drop a wall on some monsters. He will emit lightning, should the situation require it. In addition, we see that even without his BFF Majin around, the kid can do some platforming and acrobatic fighting on his own. Majin is currently scheduled to arrive on PS3 and Xbox 360 this summer.
Meet your giant new pal: Namco Bandai announces Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom
Namco Bandai has announced that it's localizing Majin: The Fallen Realm, Game Republic's action-adventure about a boy and his giant, adorable monster pal. The game, now called Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom, is expected to release in North America on both PS3 and Xbox 360 this summer. According to the publisher's press release, Majin stars a "cunning young outsider" who explores a kingdom that was mysteriously overwhelmed by a "dark force" one hundred years prior. During his travels, he meets Majin, a super-strong monster, and the two explore the kingdom together. Gameplay-wise, the player works with the AI-controlled Majin, who acquires new abilities throughout the game, as they solve puzzles, fight enemies, and navigate ruins together. Namco Bandai calls it an "emotional journey of courage and respect." %Gallery-86981%
We just fell in love with Majin: The Fallen Realm
Namco Bandai has been mum about Game Republic's Majin: The Fallen Realm since introducing the game at August's GamesCom event. In fact, even though the company just released new assets, it's still pretty much mum on the game: the latest release consists only of one piece of character art and five screens. At least they serve as a reminder of the game's existence! We're absolutely certain of one thing after looking over the selection of screens: we want our own pet Majin. We were not aware from previous media that it was so Muppetish and huggable. More like Awwww-jin!
Namco Bandai suffers losses, cuts staff
It's a tough economic time the world over, but Namco Bandai appears to really be taking it on the Heihachin according to a report from Edge. During the nine months ending on Dec. 31, 2009, the company posted a $129.05 million loss, compared to a $99.5 million profit during the same period in 2008. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that the company has also announced layoffs, or rather a "group restart plan" that translates to 650 staffers (about 10 percent of the company) losing their jobs. We hope Namco finds a way back to profitability, but when some of its biggest titles for 2010 include a new entry in a forgettable series (thus far), a troubled relaunch of a fan favorite and a promising game that disappeared almost as soon as it was announced, we're not convinced the recovery process will be a quick one.
First Majin: The Fallen Realm trailer is charming
If you want to demand innovation in your games, you have to be willing to embrace things when you don't totally get them. Take this trailer for Majin: The Fallen Realm. for instance. We don't exactly understand the relationship between this young boy and his mossy Wild Thing, but we're ready to clasp both of them to our bosom until we "get it." The picture painted of the friendship seems like a really interesting one, especially in that last shot. Honestly, we're just glad to see man and monster's relationship evolving beyond oppressive slavery.
[1.Local]: I can haz in-jokes
Reader comments -- ahh, yes, the juicy goodness following a meaty post. [1.Local] ducks past the swinging doors to see what readers have been chatting about in the back room over the past week.The green-eyed loot monster contemplating readers from the top of this week's We Have a Tabard appeared to be the source of some agitation for one reader. "I wish each and every person who ever used an 'I can haz' joke was firebombed into oblivion, including the author of this story who posted that braindead image," complained Preston. "Internet memes are some of the dumbest trends on the planet."Readers seemed to feel otherwise, peppering this week's comments with insider jokes, geek references, internet memes and a generally wry outlook on WoW and life. Join hands around the bonfire, boys and girls, and let us indulge in an entire post's worth of internet memes and dumb trends ... courtesy of our very own readers.
