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'Toto, I've a feeling we're still in scans'
We were so close to using "Skansas" for that title. So close. Anyway, RIZ-ZOAWD, Media Vision's gorgeous game interpretation of The Wizard of Oz, has made an appearance in the pages of Japanese mag V-Jump, where it continues to look all red-heeled and lovely.There's a serving of character art featuring the cowardly tin woodman, the brainless lion, and the heartless scarecrow (no, wait ...), new screens, and a brief guide to using the green, touch-sensitive trackball that steers Dorothy and Toto. This appears to be quite the versatile tool, with different strokes of the stylus allowing Dorothy to walk, run, and jump, but we can't stop thinking of Microsoft's awful trackball mice whenever we see it. Maybe that's just us, though.Gamekyo has the full scans, so click your heels and get over there for a peek!
The wonderful world map of RIZ-ZOAWD
Every piece of RIZ-ZOAWD news is as important as, if not more than, the announcement of a new Nintendo console. In fact, every single update on any RIZ-ZOAWD information is more important than any news about anything relating to video games in the history of mankind.So, a couple of new screens, then. Famitsu has revealed some new artwork along with the full world map, which is looking pretty stylish. Each area in the game is based upon a different season -- so the changes in environments aren't simply due to Oz being such a trippy place. You can check out a few more screens after the break, and the full collection over at Famitsu.Disclaimer: The above text contains at least one (miniscule) exaggeration.
More from the wonderful wizard of RIZ-ZOAWD
Is RIZ-ZOAWD the most beautiful game in the cosmos? Why, yes. Yes it is. Following on from these screens, we've found a big batch of new media just ready for the drooling. One might get a little bit tired of examining the same game for extended periods of time, but this Wizard of Oz remake is just really, really good-looking.The images show off a range of new enemies, some larger pieces of artwork and a bunch of in-game shots showing Dorothy wandering around doing her red-heeled thing. Check past the break for a few select screens from the pile, and wander over to the Kanji-laden source for a feast of RIZ-ZOAWD righteousness.
Follow RIZ-ZOAWD's yellow brick screenshots
Rather than make us wait for publisher D3P to update RIZ-ZOAWD's official site with images from the game, Famitsu clicked its heels and posted a preview of the Wizard of Oz-inspired RPG with a half dozen screenshots from the magazine pages posted earlier this week. Due this winter and developed by Media.Vision (Wild Arms series), RIZ-ZOAWD features a virtual trackball on the touchscreen which players can rotate to move Dorothy. During battles, enemies appear on the top screen, Dragon Quest-style, with attacks and other commands on the bottom display.So far, the game's seems to follow the 1939 film closely, but instead of living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Harry, the orphaned Dorothy lives alone with only Toto to keep her company. Also, during their adventure in the land of Oz, Dorothy and her party will play through "four fields of play themed in spring, summer, fall and winter." Hopefully, the game will turn out much better than the Sci-Fi channel's reimagining of the original story with its Tin Man miniseries.
Joys be thine: Three discounted games
Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus Lane, breakin' you off something proper. The old saint has brought in a trio of video game deals from Amazon, and not crap games, either. Hang your stockings and take out your credit cards because these bargains can be pulled at any moment. Ghost Squad - $19.99 Puzzle Quest - $14.99 Trauma Center: New Blood - $39.99 Speaking of Santa, have you kids heard that new Ludacris song, "Ludacrismas," from the Fred Claus soundtrack? It is all the way live. Fill your hearts with Christmas cheer and join us past the break for a listen.[Update: Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles - $34.99 -- grab it while it lasts!]
K-1 World GP: Great concept, boxart
We're not too familiar with K-1 or other mixed martial arts organizations, but we recognize a clever cover when we see it! K1-World Grand Prix's packaging design mimics the plastic runners that often accompany scale model kits; both the boxart and the game's subtitle, "Let's Produce a Great Champion," reference K-1 World GP's premise of training a kickboxer to build up his stats before a match.The simulation portions are played out with 2D minigames and menus, whereas the actual combat is all 3D. You can check out a few screenshots of both segments past the break. Publisher D3P is scheduled to ship out K1-World Grand Prix to Japanese stores this week. Plans for a US release have yet to be announced.
Celebrating Simple series sales
Comprising 345 (and counting!) games, D3 Publisher's Simple series has sold over 20 million units since its inception in 1998. That's a lot of cheap junk. To celebrate this remarkable milestone, D3 is rereleasing the first Simple DS game, Simple DS Vol. 1 THE Mah-jongg, at a special price of 1,480 yen ($13.39), which is quite a bit nicer than the original 2,800 yen price.We've often lamented the lack of Simple games in the U.S., as we're in love with both the concept (low-cost games that are modest in scope) and the general quirkiness of the games. We can't think of a better celebration of a sales milestone than to expand the series worldwide.
Wii Warm Up: The questing continues some more
As if responding to the concerns we raised yesterday, D3Publisher announced what changes and additions gamers can expect with the Wii port of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. Shouldn't we have heard about these details at an earlier date, preferably before the game was shipped out?Anyway, this new Wii version of the puzzle/RPG hybrid has rebalanced elements, a replay option for capturing monsters, and a two-player multiplayer mode. As we predicted, there are no online features, unlike the Xbox Live Arcade and PC releases. Developer Vicious Cycle Software did, however, make sure to integrate "waggle control options with the Wii Remote."Were any of you actually hoping for motion-based controls? Or were you wishing, like we were, that the developer would focus its efforts on implementing the primary feature fans of the handheld versions were asking for? We'll probably pick up Puzzle Quest anyway; we just wish we could play against some of you online.
Wii Warm Up: The questing continues
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords was one of the biggest surprise hits of the year, its word-of-mouth success prompting a release on every relevant platform -- first the PSP and DS, then Xbox Live Arcade and Windows, and this week, the Wii and PS2 (with a Mobile version in the works). But with over eight months past since Puzzle Quest made its debut on handhelds and two months since its first console port, are you still interested enough in this game to pick it up?We haven't seen any previews or impressions so far, so we can only assume that developer Vicious Cycle Software hasn't added anything to the original game beyond the bug fixes and balance tweaks that were already in place with the Xbox Live Arcade version. It's safe to assume that there won't be any sort of online functionality either, which is really disappointing when you consider that cheaper versions of Puzzle Quest have had support for online multiplayer battles for months now.
Ninja Council votes to lower its price
This discount for Naruto: Ninja Council 3 only two months after its release probably isn't a good sign, but if you're a fan of the blonde-haired ninja, you were probably planning on picking this game up anyway. Might as well do it now while Amazon has its price cut down to $19.99! The online shop makes a point to ship all orders totaling over $25 for free -- it's how they get you -- so try to muster up $5.02 worth of stuff to take advantage of that offer.Understanding that this anime/manga license has been around the block more than some of our ex-girlfriends, we've embedded a trailer for the game past the post break to jar your memory. Apparently, you can expect to fight a butt-ton of ninjas.
Puzzle Quest and its cheating AI coming to Wii
We reported on rumors of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords coming to the Wii two weeks ago, but publisher D3P finally made the port official with an announcement earlier today. Though it doesn't look like there's much planned in the way of new features or content, we're happy to see the addictive puzzle/RPG hybrid appear on more platforms. Knowing that the game's developer, Infinite Interactive, will have some extra cash to fund their other projects (e.g. Galactrix and Warlords DS) also puts an extra spring in our steps. Expect to see the Wii version of Puzzle Quest hit store shelves this fall. And yes, we know that Puzzle Quest's AI doesn't actually cheat -- it sure seemed that way, though, those first few times we tried to siege Gallia![Via Joystiq]
Rumor: Puzzle Quest coming to Wii?
The latest mumbling amongst mumbling folk is that a Wii release might be planned for Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. Amazon has listed a Wii version of the Bejeweled/RPG hybrid at a budget price of $29.99, due this September 25th.So what can we hope for with this port? New content? Honestly, we don't expect much beyond bug fixes. Added waggle controls, then? Not if we're lucky. Online battles, at least? Though this is implemented in the upcoming XBLA version, and the new product page mentions the ability to "Battle other Warlords for supremacy via wireless multiplayer," this seems like a fool's hope. That bullet-pointed feature was most likely gleaned from a previous press release, and it seems far too early for a niche release on the Wii to support online multiplayer. You'll find no truer friends of Infinite Interactive than us, but there are just so many ways a port like this can be messed up.[Via Joystiq]
