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The mystery of Sony's 'unannounced' TGS games
Remember all of those unannounced TGS games? That's a rhetorical question. We know full well that you remember them, because many of you won't stop harping on about them in our comments section. Let's get one thing clear, in releasing that press release Sony was revealing a portion of its TGS show floor offerings. The rest were left as a surprise. They were "unannounced."Many of these games were titles that we'd seen before, such as Killzone 2, Nobi Nobi Boy and White Knight Chronicles, however there were some games that were revealed for the first time during the show. Titles such as Demon's Souls (which was actually technically announced just prior to the show, via Famitsu) and Quantum Theory. Sony's lineup was strong but, sadly, there were no megaton game announcements. So now you know the mystery of the "unannounced" games, can we get back to looking forward to all the awesome games we do know about?Check after the break for the list of "unannounced" TGS games.
TGS 08: Full Square Enix Closed Theater impressions
Ah, the Square Enix Mega Theater. It's always something to look forward to at every TGS. We took the time to check out the theater and see what's cooking behind those big, black walls. Square Enix showed off trailers for nine games and a film in the Mega Theater, including two PS3 titles, the Advent Children Complete movie, and four PSP titles. Grab the full scoop on each title in our Square Enix Closed Theater impressions.
TGS 08: Street Fighter ... MOVIE
There's not much we can say to prepare you for the video after the break (which we carefully extracted from Capcom's TGS DVD). Let's go over the facts: Capcom is making a Street Fighter movie centered around Chun-Li (played by Smallville's Kristin Kreuk); that movie will be directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak (who previously helmed DOOM); it will be terrible."Whoa, whoa, whoa Joystiq!" you exclaim. "Those first two statements are, as you said, facts. But that last statement ... surely that's just your opinion." We appreciate your concern, reader, but the smallest of sneak peaks – really, just a single frame from the film – is enough to convince us. Is Chun Li wearing a mattress?
TGS 08: A guided tour of the Halo Wars campaign
Shortly after learning that the Flood would be making an appearance in Halo Wars, we were whisked away to a meeting with Ensemble's Graeme Divine where we immediately asked: "Is the Flood a playable race?" As quickly as we asked it, we were answered: no. With an emphasis on the story-driven single-player campaign, Divine told us that the multiplayer component would only include the UNSC and Covenant forces, as already revealed, and the campaign would only be playable as the UNSC, not the Covenant. But that brings up another issue: how is the Flood present in a prequel taking place 20 years before the events in Halo: Combat Evolved? The more Halo-aware amongst you (read: total nerds) will recall that the introduction of the mysterious Flood in that seminal title was a surprise to the player and, indeed, to the entire UNSC command. When asked if they're retconning the Flood earlier into the Halo timeline, Divine said that the events observed in Halo 1 "was the first time UNSC knew about the Flood." So how does the existence of the parasitic aliens twenty years earlier go entirely unrecorded? Unsurprisingly, they're not saying (our guess: everyone dies). %Gallery-1676%
TGS 08 picture tour: Microsoft booth
take the tour Nestled comfortably alongside major content partners like Capcom, Electronic Arts, and Square Enix is the Microsoft booth – a bright white oasis of relatively line-free gaming. Seriously, our wait in the Resident Evil 5 co-op line at Microsoft's booth this morning: approximately five minutes. The wait at Capcom's Resident Evil 5 booth? Think "infinity." Check out our gallery below for a quick walkthrough of what the big M's got on display at TGS this year.%Gallery-34245%
Microsoft not committed to biannual 360 dashboard releases
For the first two and a half years of the Xbox 360's lifespan, owners eagerly looked forward to regular "spring" and "fall" updates, packing more functionality into their consoles through (what Microsoft marketing would later call) the "magic of software." With the absence of a spring update this year and the subsequent announcement of the New Xbox Experience we wanted to know if Microsoft would return to the biannual updates ... So we asked John Schappert during our sitdown earlier this week in Tokyo. He said, "I don't know if we're going to tie ourselves to a spring fall release schedule" and continued, "I like staying focused on bigger, more impactful releases ... maybe it'll be twice a year, maybe less frequently, to-be-determined." Speaking of what those future updates could consist of, Schappert said that Microsoft is asking itself, "What's the next big launch? What do we bring? When can we bring it? And how can we do it in a big way?"The NXE is certainly a bigger, more impactful release. We're assuming, however, that Microsoft doesn't plan on reinventing the wheel every couple years in which case what "big" functionality should we expect in future Dashboard updates, regardless of when they're released? No, really, we're asking you.%Gallery-27601%
TGS08: The dead rise in latest Chop 'Til You Drop trailer
A release date wasn't the only thing concerning Dead Rising: Chop 'Til You Drop to come out of Japan this week. A new trailer for the game, as you can see above, managed to escape the craziness that is TGS08.Within, you'll see a lot of the stuff you've seen before, just, you know, in motion. There's zombies, Frank jumping out of a helicopter and plenty of carnage to satisfy your every need.%Gallery-28028% Want to know more about Frank and his quest to survive the undead? Well, first off you should check out our comparison piece that looks at the Xbox 360 version versus the Wii port. Then, be sure to check out some of the game's waggle, as well as some more footage of the game in action. Braaaaaaaaains ...
TGS08: Sonic Unleashed and unbelievably cool
Hey, Sonic Unleashed on the Wii looks great! Sure, this level appears to pretty much play itself, requiring only occasional input from the player, but it's fast, the graphics are incredible, and the music is classic Sonic silliness. It looks much better than that other Sonic game in which he turns into a werehog with stretchy arms for some reason.... what? That's this game? Oh, crumbs. This is how we'd want a 3D Sonic to be --not terribly 3D, and starring Sonic. Even the simplistic "hold right" gameplay is enough to sustain us for the single level we'll enjoy before the werehog, or Sonic's friends, or mandatory Rouge the Bat level, or cutscene, or whatever else shows up to ruin it.%Gallery-19031%
TGS08: Suda51 confirms censored version of No More Heroes 2 for Europe
But, wait, before you break out that pen and paper and start writing that angry letter, know this: you're also going to get a fully-featured, bloodtastic game, just like those of us in North America! This time around, you're going to have the option of choosing which version of No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle you want, though we can't imagine why you'd want one without the buckets of blood and over-the-top violence. "We won't be able to make the same game for all territories," Suda 51 said. "For Europe, we're going to release two versions. One extreme version, and one with less violence." Why? Well, because so many Europeans bugged him about the version that released to their territory and how it was the same as the Japanese version of the game. "With No More Heroes 2 we want to please the fans too. I want the European users to be able to experience the extreme version." So celebrate, Europe. For once, you're being taken seriously! %Gallery-34131%
TGS08: Klonoa: Video Link to Phantomile
We didn't really have much doubt that the core gameplay in Klonoa: Door to Phantomile would be preserved in the Wii remake, especially after seeing how closely the environments matched. But it's nice to see this gameplay video from TGS that proves that it's the same Klonoa as ever. Two more videos from this play session are after the break.In case you missed out on the PlayStation classic, Klonoa's gameplay focuses on the mechanic of grabbing enemies and either throwing them at other enemies, or jumping and throwing them straight down, allowing Klonoa to do a double jump.Strangely, we think this remake bears a distinct resemblance to NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, another 2.5D platformer (or whatever you want to call NiGHTS) that takes place in the world of dreams.%Gallery-33429%
TGS 08: Bungie details Halo 3: Recon
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/TGS_08_Bungie_details_Halo_3_Recon'; After several months of unplanned silence ("This was the project we originally were intending to announce at E3," they say), Bungie finally revealed Halo 3: Recon at TGS. We had an opportunity to talk with Luke Smith and Brian Jerrard during a group meeting in Tokyo this morning and Jerrard briefly addressed some of the more obvious questions we were bound to have: "It will be a standalone disc sold in stores in boxes next Fall. It's also going to include some multiplayer maps." "It is a first-person shooter still ... It's not a squad-based shooter." "As an ODST, compared to playing as in invulnerable Spartan, you are going to have to sort of pick and choose your encounters a little bit differently." "It is going to very much feel like Halo. Full feature parity." That out of the way, Jerrard explained that Recon isn't the only thing Bungie's been up to since jumping off the Microsoft Express this time last year: "This is one of a few projects that we're currently working on. This is the first time at Bungie we've actually had multiple things happening at once and not just, every three years, doing the massive game release." In order to develop Recon, Bungie used a "small agile team" made up of a "bunch of elders" who started the Halo: Combat Evolved franchise some seven years ago (that doesn't sound like ex-GRAWer Christian Allen to us). Who better than to deliver a "bit of a departure" from the last three titles? %Gallery-34046%
Schappert: 'No immediate plans' to delist XBLA titles
Were you worried your procrastination would be irrevocable when you learned that Rocky & Bullwinkle – an Xbox Live Arcade title you'd flirted with for months – could have been summarily "delisted" from the 360's Marketplace for no reason other than a horrible review average and a notable lack of enthusiasm from the console's constituents? Fret no more! Microsoft's John Schappert told us yesterday that the company has "no immediate plans to act on delisting" and, in fact, that little brouhaha earlier this year was simply the company setting "parameters by which [they] can delist" content. With the New Xbox Experience promising an easier-to-use Marketplace, the existing retail mess will (ostensibly) be cleaned up and the XBLA shovelware shouldn't get in the way of what you're really there for: Rocky and Bullwinkle.
TGS 08: John Schappert on NXE, Halo 3: Recon, and Xbox in Japan
Following his TGS keynote, Microsoft's John Schappert crammed himself into a stuffy hotel room with about a dozen representatives from various gaming outlets, including yours truly. Tasked with peppering Schappert with questions, we asked about the sales figures he cited in the keynote (were those worldwide figures?), the decision to delay the Halo 3: Recon announcement from E3 to TGS (do the Japanese even play Halo?), the spring / fall update schedule, and Microsoft's plans to delist XBLA content (don't hold your breath). Instead of reading our condensed version, we've embedded the audio below for your listening pleasure. [MP3 download]
TGS 08: Monster Hunter 3 hands-on
If you're reading this you're in the minority of Joystiq readers who haven't skipped down the page at the sight of the words: Monster Hunter. Clearly you're either a Westerner, curious about what the big deal is, or you're standing in line to play the third installment of the series right now. Within ten minutes of the TGS show floor opening, the line for this game was four and a half hours long. On a press day, no less. Thankfully, we had a considerably shorter wait inside Capcom's base (a hotel room), where we tried out the latest console version of one of Japan's favorite franchises.While the series move from PlayStation 3 to Wii can be attributed to cutting development costs, no expense has been spared on the game's visuals. Monster Hunter 3 (or "Monster Hunter Tri~" ... ?) is one of the sharpest Wii games we've seen. It's also immediately recognizable as a Monster Hunter game. There's been no style change at all from other versions, just an upscaling of models and textures. The game's water looks impressive for a Wii title, which is important because Monster Hunter 3 is the first game in the series where you'll be going swimming.%Gallery-34117%
TGS08: Arc Rise Fantasia to make North American dreams come true
We've known about Arc Rise Fantasia for quite awhile now. Up until today, we've had to look at screens with envy, as the title was not confirmed for a North American release. Sure, we hoped it would happen, but there weren't any guarantees. That is, until now.According to the press release that just hit our inbox, fresh from TGS, the game is scheduled to release sometime in 2009. Sadly, we don't have any kind of idea as to when in 2009 we'll be able to get our hands on this game, but, hey, at least we now know it's coming.%Gallery-26466%[Via press release]
TGS08: Up close with Taiko's Drum Master
Taiko no Tatsujin (Taiko Drum Master) is currently delighting Tokyo Game Show attendees on the showfloor, allowing us a first glimpse of the drum controller that comes with the game. It looks sturdy and very ... hittable! We look forward to seeing how it comes packaged, though are slightly saddened that this version won't have its own Taiko-themed stand.Also worth noting: judging by these photos, the drum is wireless, and connects directly to the Wiimote, à la the Classic Controller. Beat a path past the break for more pictures.%Gallery-33435%
Tatsunoko vs. Roll
The big announcement at Capcom's Tatsunoko vs. Capcom stage event involved two new characters, one from each of the companies from which the cast of the game is drawn. On the Tatsunoko side, Jun the Swan from Gatchaman. On the Capcom side, Mega Man's sister, Roll! Strangely, this isn't Roll Caskett from Mega Man Legends, from whence this game's Mega Man originates; rather, this is the classic Roll. With her broom.1up's James Mielke took in a playable demo of the Wii version of Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes at TGS, and basically raved about it, saying that it "may just be the neo-2D fighter to beat in the upcoming months." He praises the admirable performance of the Classic Controller for the game, as well.%Gallery-32421%
TGS 08: InFamous eyes-on
It's been over two months since we last saw InFamous, but developer Sucker Punch took some time at TGS to show us how it's progressing. So how's it look? Pretty much the same as last time. The demonstration was set in a different part of the in-game city, but very little new gameplay was actually revealed. Sucker Punch's Ken Schramm guided us through a mission, titled "Blood Trail," while senior producer Grady Hunt talked us through what was going on. The level is fairly early in the game -- about five missions in -- and has protagonist Cole discovering a new power. "Post-Cognition" allows you to read people's memories; in this case, giving you a new objective. A dead woman's mind (do dead people still have minds?) reveals an "echo" of her running through the streets towards a Reaper hideout. %Gallery-34052%
Halo 3: Recon will be a standalone, includes new multiplayer maps
Though clearly visible in the corner of the Halo 3: Recon announcement yesterday, Microsoft has made sure to clarify that the "Hell Jumpers" campaign will be released as a standalone product next year (no confirmation of a downloadable version just yet). Halo 3: Recon will not require the Halo 3 game disc and, in fact, seems to include all of the multiplayer components of the original Halo 3, in addition to new maps and Forge options. Recon will also support Saved Films, screenshots, Campaign Scoring, and 4-player co-op. The game is scheduled for release in fall 2009.Update: Bungie's Luke Smith clarifies that Recon is a "Bungie-made Halo game." In other words, no, it will not be third-person or feature gameplay uncharacteristic of past entries in the series.%Gallery-34046%
TGS08: First footage of The Another World [update]
Update: First images of the book and the package it all comes in have made their way online! Head past the break to catch a glimpse.Level-5 and Studio Ghibli's upcoming DS RPG, Ni no Kuni: The Another World is sure to be a big success. Why? Uh, have you watched the video above yet? The game looks awesome. With the visual presence that Studio Ghibli provides with its great animation and wonderful character design, along with Level-5's RPG experience, this is going to be a game you want to keep your eyes on.Know what else is cool? The game is going to come with a custom spellbook specific to that copy of the game. What's inside? Spells, of course (among other things, such as a bestiary)! You can see a bit of it in the video above, where the weird symbols are drawn. After the video, hit up this link to read the Level-5 president's interview with Famitsu about the game.
