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Sega's After Burner Climax flying over to iOS
After Burner Climax is a 2006 update of the popular old-school arcade game. It arrived in arcades upon first release and was later ported over to Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. Now, Sega has announced it's bringing the game to iOS. There's no release date yet, as Sega has simply said that the game is "on the way." When it does arrive, iOS users will be able to pull off all of the high-flying action and bombing runs that After Burner Climax has to offer. It's exciting to see a game like this get ported -- retro games are one thing, but as Apple's devices get more and more powerful, we can see games that were traditionally meant for high-end consoles (or even dedicated arcade game units) show up on our iPhones and iPads. [via Joystiq]
European PSN releases for April 22
There's a whole gang of playable content to get excited about in this week's European PSN update, such as Lead and Gold, After Burner Climax, the Lost Planet 2 multiplayer demo and UNO on the PSP. However, we'd make a strong case that the highlight of this most recent batch of additions isn't playable at all. We're speaking, of course, of the Sonic The Hedgehog comic from Archie Comics. Think we're joking? Look, right there, on the cover: "The World's Most Way Past Cool Comic!" How can you say no to that? Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
After Burner Climax comes with Avatar Awards
It's a proven fact that absolutely everyone likes Avatar Awards. Unlike the goodies in the Avatar Marketplace, Avatar Awards are free and, in many cases, provide a highly visible way to show off your gaming prowess. Several titles have offered Avatar Awards thus far -- including Left 4 Dead 2, 'Splosion Man, Halo Waypoint -- and now we have one more to add to the list: After Burner Climax. The game packs two Avatar Awards. The first is a T-shirt, awarded simply for unlocking all the game's EX options, which Sega notes "anybody" should be able to do with continued play. The second, the sweet pilot's helmet you see above, is a little trickier to unlock and requires players to complete their medal collections in the score attack mode, which "takes some serious skill," according to Sega. Unfortunately, it looks like Sega missed a golden opportunity here. Where's our remote control jet?
XBLA in Brief: Puzzle Chronicles, After Burner Climax
We've got two wildly disparate games on Xbox Live Arcade this week. For the puzzle game / RPG hybrid fans, there's Puzzle Chronicles, essentially a different take on Puzzle Quest (which makes sense, as both were developed by Infinite Interactive). If you're more of an action bent, then After Burner Climax will be right up your alley. So, what's it going to be, saving the kingdom one rotating gem at a time or blasting bogeys from the sky? Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if either 800 ($10) title deserves a spot on your radar. [iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly. [RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly. Xbox.com: Add Puzzle Chronicles trial version to your Xbox 360 download queue Xbox.com: Add After Burner Climax trial version to your Xbox 360 download queue
This Wednesday: After Burner Climax and Puzzle Chronicles on XBLA
After last week's one-two punch of Final Fight: Double Impact (you bought it, right?), another arcade gem will take off on Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday in the form of After Burner Climax. It's a port of the 2006 arcade game, which itself is a revival of the classic, late-80s arcade series. Konami's Puzzle Chronicles also arrives on XBLA this week. Lest you've forgotten, this is "that game that looks like a sideways version of Puzzle Quest." If it's anywhere near as good as Puzzle Quest, we'll take it. Both games will be available for 800 ($10) apiece. [Via Major Nelson] Source - Xbox.com -- Puzzle Chronicles Source - Xbox.com -- After Burner Climax
After Burner Climax takes off April 21 on XBLA; April 22 on PSN
Not many of us have the good fortune of taking a soak in a hot tub time machine and waking up in 1986, the year the fighter jet pilot officially became the raddest job on the planet. Fewer still know the whereabouts of a decent arcade that has an After Burner Climax cabinet, the 2006 revival of Sega's classic air combat franchise. Thankfully, in less than a month, all of us can experience the glory of stopping a nuclear inferno from within the cockpit. Sega of America has dated the Xbox Live Arcade release of After Burner Climax for April 21, followed by an April 22 release on PSN. [Update: Sega Europe Ltd. has confirmed the same release dates for Europe.] The publisher did not announce a price for the downloadable title, but the Japanese version was previously priced at the $10 equivalent. %Gallery-84185%
After Burner: Climax looks like Aurora-ing good time
It remains to be seen just how well After Burner: Climax will translate from its arcade greatness over to a downloadable form on consoles, but at least it still looks purty. And we mean everything about it, from the clean and simple Sega UI, to the well-designed dynamic lighting on the planes and explosions, all the way out to the great-looking vistas that catch your eye just as you fire up the 'burners and race for the horizon ... What? Oh, sorry, we got a little carried away in the Climax there. To see what we mean, lock your targeting reticule onto four new screens from the official Sega America blog in the gallery below. %Gallery-84185%
After Burner Climax confirmed for Spring 2010 on PSN, XBLA
Hey, you remember this morning, right? When we told you that the ESRB had rated After Burner Climax for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network? Wasn't that just the tops? Well if that did it for you, here's something that'll positively tickle you pink: Sega has officially confirmed the game for a "Spring 2010" release on the aforementioned digital distribution platforms! The Sega of America blog spilled the deets this afternoon, even handing over a handful of new screens via its Flickr account. We've dropped them below into a convenient little gallery, because we just like you that much. %Gallery-84185%
ESRB: After Burner Climax is a go for US and Europe
We have mixed feelings about utilizing the ESRB as a source for upcoming US releases. On the one hand, we're thankful that their rating practically assures that Sega's After Burner Climax will be coming to the US on Xbox Live and PSN (it was previously only announced for Japan). On the other, they always manage to make games sound so boring, and this is a game that includes both the words "Burner" and "Climax" in its title. Here, see it in action if you don't believe us. Listen to this: "Most of the jets-even the missiles/gunfire-appear somewhat fantastical." And yes, those italics are theirs. The only cool word in the whole thing is "fantastical" and even that's softened by a "somewhat." But don't worry, ESRB, we've taken the liberty of awesoming-up your listing. [Update: Just because MrXile asked: Yes, it's coming to Europe.]
After Burner Climax XBLA screens soar into view [update]
Though we've yet to hear official word from Sega on whether After Burner Climax is jetting to Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, Gameswire has obtained "by hook or by crook" a plethora of gorgeous screens -- 26, to be exact -- which it reports as coming from the XBLA version. Late last year, the flight action was rated by both the Australian and Korean boards, with classification applied for by Sony. While you peruse these shots, we'll keep bugging Sega about some proper details. Update: Sega of Japan has confirmed (via 1UP) After Burner Climax's release this spring for ¥900 ($10) on PS3 and 800 (also, $10) for Xbox 360. We're still following up with Sega of America for confirmation of a North American release. [Via Kotaku]
After Burner Climax rated by OFLC and Korean board, possibly coming to PSN
Though it might lose some of its magic without the full chair-and-tinted-window-equipped arcade cabinet, we're still pretty pumped about the possibility of getting our hands on a port of Sega's classic flight combat sim, After Burner. According to the OFLC and the Korean Game Rating Board, it's only a matter of time before our wish is fulfilled -- GamerBytes recently noticed that both groups have rated Sega's After Burner Climax for home console distribution. According to the Korean board, the rating was applied for by Sony, leading some to believe the title's planned launch platform is the PSN. However, considering the multi-platform release of Outrun Online Arcade, we wouldn't be surprised if Sega decided to share the aerial dogfighting love with the 360 as well. We've contacted the hedgehog-loving developer to find out exactly what its plans are for the title.
Deal of the Day: After Burner drops to $11
Many people ignored this PSP-exclusive rails shooter. After Burner earned decent marks from the critics (a 73 average on Metacritic). While it may not have been worth the original $30 asking price, it's more than worth its current discounted price: $11 at amazon.com. We can buy sandwiches more expensive than that price.[Via CAG]
Get Ready for amazing Sega shirts
We've been drooling over the pictures of The King of Games' "Get Ready" line of t-shirts since 2006. Now we might have the chance to drool over an actual shirt! The company has announced that they're now selling the gorgeous t-shirts, featuring designs celebrating iconic Sega classics After Burner, OutRun, and Fantasy Zone, worldwide.Unfortunately, shirts of this mindblowing quality come at a premium. KOG is selling the Fantasy Zone and OutRun shirts for 5040 yen ($50) each, and the After Burner design for 5775 yen ($57). On an unrelated note, would anyone like to donate to the "Buy JC a Fantasy Zone shirt" fund? Don't mind the name -- the money goes to feed orphans or something.%Gallery-20688%
Metareview: After Burner
The playable version of Sega's After Burner: Black Falcon at GDC left me more than a little underwhelmed. Now that the final game is out, critics seem to have mixed praise for Planet Moon's latest PSP exclusive: GameDaily (80/100) loves the old-school revival: "The studio captured the old-school feeling of the arcade original while, at the same time, adding enough originality and excitement to make it feel like a cool modern-day action game." IGN (79/100) enjoyed the game, even with its poor multiplayer options: "Lots of games have tried to bring an arcade feel to their next-generation efforts, but it's rare to see someone nail it like After Burner has." Electronic Gaming Monthly (47/100) agrees with my quick first-impressions the most: "After Burner sports merely decent graphics while managing to suck all the fun out of a once-great franchise." While I didn't enjoy my time with the game, the critics at GameDaily and IGN seem to have enjoyed the arcadey feel of After Burner. Maybe it's one of those games you learn to love? The game is out now.
GDC 07: After Burner impressions
Sega's upcoming After Burner is not good. The final version of the game appeared at GDC, and it did not leave a good lasting impression. The graphics are quite lackluster, featuring some aliasing problems, and serious draw distance issues. The game just doesn't look good, near or far. The incredibly slow pace of the plane seems somewhat insulting, making you want to hold the Afterburner button as much as you can. At least barrel rolls look cool.The gameplay doesn't really add up to much, either. The controls don't feel as tight as the ones featured in Ratchet & Clank's space shooter segments. The lock on weapons are generous, and the highly unintelligent enemy AI doesn't seem to do much to not get killed. They may fire back once in a while, and like in Full Auto 2, it's nigh impossible to tell how you're doing from the craft itself: you'll have to look in the bottom right corner to see a meter. You won't ever feel impact, nor will you feel like the craft is ever taking damage.It's unfortunate that this game is so uninspired. While the full retail version may have more options, I highly doubt that the core gameplay will get any more interesting. The game comes out March 20th.
Heatseeker's explosive trailer
This must be the year of flight combat games on the PSP. We have M.A.C.H, After Burner and now Heatseeker. Heatseeker is one of the many games that is a Wii/PSP coop and I have a feeling in some ways the Wii will help keep the PSP flowing with new games due to their similarities in power. Judging from the above trailer, this should be a satisfying game for flight combat fans who like their carnage turned up to 11. Codemasters is scheduled to relase Heatseeker later this month. [Via GameTrailers]
See Planet Moon hard at work on After Burner
While Planet Moon may be going on to other platforms soon, they're still working on After Burner, another PSP-exclusive from the team that brought you Infected. In an interview with 1UP, the team reveals their special affinity towards the system: "Yeah, we never actually proposed anything but a PSP version of After Burner because it just felt like it was an idea that was perfect for this platform and hopefully, having the chance to play it now, this is the kind of thing you can imagine playing on your PSP quite a bit."It's nice to see a developer really think about the PSP's strengths: being able to bring great graphics on the go. To see more of Planet Moon, and what their offices look like, check out Matt Leone's 1UP blog.
The jets & sets of After Burner: Black Falcon
Did you know that the upcoming After Burner: Black Falcon uses real world, licensed aircraft? Neither did I, until Gamespot talked to producer Ryan Kauffman. He reveals the crafts that are used in the game, such as the F-14X Tomcat, the F-15E Strike Eagle, and the F/A-18E Super Hornet. Those that know their planes may appreciate the inclusion of more modern craft, such as the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II.While the vehicles of After Burner may stick true to the real world, it appears that the locations are based in fantasy. The term "reality plus one" reflects upon the level designs, which vary from a lush jungle environment, to a snowy tundra. My favorite named level? Mountainistan. Just has a nice ring to it.We'll keep our eyes open for more info on Sega's upcoming game. After Burner hits stores March 20th.
Heatseeker previewed
Codemasters has announced a new game, titled Heatseeker. The game features action-orientated flight combat and is being made by the studio that created Heroes of the Pacific. The setting is modern day and has the player fighting terrorists with more than 20 different planes. Since the focus is on arcade style combat, you'll have unlimited ammo, two different missile or bomb types and you'll be able to choose which weapons you use before each mission. Heatseeker is coming to Wii, PS2 and PSP, but only the PSP version will feature wireless competitive gameplay modes for up to four players. Heatseeker hits the PSP in March. That's the same month as After Burner: Black Falcon. Seems like a questionable release date to me, but apparently Codemasters isn't afraid of the SEGA remake. We'll find out which flight combat game survives the dogfight soon enough. [Via Gamespot]
Mad cows infect After Burner
Those lucky jerks at 1UP have been able to play Planet Moon's latest game, After Burner. The preview is overwhelmingly glowing, with the controls noted as some of the system's best. "The game features some of the best hit boxes on PSP -- just loose enough to work properly with the analog nub, and just tight enough to make it not feel like the game does the work for you."Of course, Planet Moon's usual quirky humor has permeated the game. Of note is one multiplayer mode, called Mad Cow mode, which has you flying around as a cow, trying to survive. If you're interested in finding more about this Sega revival, check out 1UP's preview. Then, you may want to head over to the developer's blog, in hopes of more bovine violence. The game comes out March 20th.(Note: the embedded video is from an early build. 1UP says the near-final build plays much better than this. Let's hope they're right, because this looks pretty junky.)
