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King of Fighters '98, Arkanoid, Space Invaders Extreme, Metal Slug 7, and more heading to XBL Arcade
var digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/king-of-fighters-98-arkanoid-space-invaders-extreme-metal-sl/'; Hot from the Microsoft keynote at the Tokyo Game Show comes more retro arcade action. Been jonesing to play more Arkanoid ever since that thing came out back in 1986? It was Breakout on steroids, and ate quarters like Cookie Monster eats chocolate chip cookies. Super Arkanoid and Space Invaders Extreme will be out on XBLA this winter, and it'll be joined next year by Metal Slug 7 , R-Type and The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match. The games will all be updated with new graphics, music, two-player and online modes, and will do a good job towards filling that vintage hole in your heart. Now Capcom, please give us some Darkstalkers, and we'll be happy.
King of Fighters '98 in development for the XBLA
Recently, the master list of all games to be shown at the Tokyo Game Show 2008 was released and on it is a listing for SNK Playmore's King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match for the XBLA. Yes sir, fighter fanboys can get excited for SNK Playmore's fighting franchise King of Fighters on the Arcade. Delicious, ain't it? Seeing that the game hasn't been officially announced, we aren't certain when it'll release, how much it'll cost or what 360 improvements have been made. But that's what the actual TGS event is for. You know, game specifics and game announcements. Time to practice the fighting art of patience ...[Via Destructoid]
New King of Fighters XII scans show off 2D glory
Since April 1st is no more, we can resume our duty of bringing you news with a fair amount of confidence that what we see is some semblance of truth. Sometimes we get tricked, too, you know. Anyway, some new scans from Famitsu show off a couple screens of the upcoming King of Fighters XII and we've got to say -- it's looking very, very nice. Athena seems to have gained a little weight, but perhaps it's our imagination. Everyone's gotta be really buff to be a king amongst fighters, right? Enjoy.[via PS3Forums]
GDC08: SNK shows off some PSP fighter anthologies
We already know 2008 is going to be the year for new fighting games, both 2D and 3D. What we didn't quite expect was the huge display over at the SNK area of classic fighters and their respective compilations also getting a 2008 release. The video details some of the PS2 anthologies, but also goes into some of the PSP versions. If you're a fan of fighting games, new or old, this is your year. Embrace it, buy it roses, but keep it at arms length or it will say you're suffocating it and it needs some time to itself. Then the year will never, ever come back.[Thanks, LeadTester!]
GDC08: King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match headed to PS2
While I was at SNK's demo checking out various compilations and Metal Slug 7, I also saw a remade version of King of Fighters '98 called Ultimate Match. Like Metal Slug 7, this was a surprise. Ultimate Match is a remake of the popular KOF '98 with cleaned-up graphics and ten added characters. Since '98 is a "dream match" game (meaning it discarded the series' storyline in favor of just putting a bunch of characters in the game), it already had a huge roster, but it's been upped to 64 characters. Unfortunately I wasn't able to stare at the character selection screen long enough to get who was new!The original King of Fighters '98 is already coming to the PS2 (and PSP and Wii) on the King of Fighters: Orochi Saga collection, but in case you really like the game -- which most fans of the series do -- this is the version to get. It does include the original in addition to the remake. This is expected to release in Q4 of this year.
SNK Arcade Classics confirmed for Wii plus more!
Not only is the fate of the SNK Arcade Classics collection no longer up in the air (yes! It is coming to Wii!), SNK went ahead and announced two more Wii compilations in an email sent out yesterday. Both Samurai Shodown Anthology and King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga will also see Wii releases, as well as versions for the PS2 and PSP.We don't know exactly which titles will be included, but the Japanese version of the Samurai Shodown Anthology contained Shodowns I through VI, and the KOF collection included KOF's '95, '96, and '97. That means that there's overlap between the collections, since Samurai Shodown will be on both the SNK Arcade and Samurai Shodown Anthology collections.SNK will have all three collections on display at GDC. Hopefully they'll have some Neo Geo Stick 2's with which to test the games!
King of Fighters XII at AOU 2008
Some of you might remember our post about King of Fighters XII coming to the PS3 in 2009. That seems like a long time from now, but don't worry old school fighting fans -- 2008 won't be going down without a little SNK love. The SNK-Capcom website tells fans that the AOU 2008 expo in Tokyo's Makuhari Messe convention center will feature King of Fighters XII in video format. Not much else is know about what will be shown at AOU, but we do know that KoF XII will use a whole new game engine and rehashed old character sprites will be a thing of the past. The game is expected to come out first in the arcades by June/July 2008, running on the Taito Type X². A PS3 port (and possibly an Xbox 360 port) will follow in 2009.
SNK bringing yet another classic compilation
Everything old is new again, especially if you're SNK, whose primary business appears to be regurgitating their classics, as opposed to making anything new. Yet another retro compilation is hitting the PSP, months after the release of the Metal Slug collection.SNK's next effort will feature 16 different titles, and will appear on both the PS2 and PSP some time during the first half of this year (but probably not tomorrow). Titled SNK Arcade Classics: Volume 1, this collection will include many forgotten fighters, such as the first World Heroes, Art of Fighting, and Samurai Shodown titles, as well as Fatal Fury, King of the Monsters, and King of Fighters '94. Action titles like Top Hunter, Last Resort, Shock Troopers, Sengoku, and Burning Fight, as well as sports entries Baseball Stars 2, Neo Turf Masters, and Super Sidekicks 3 join the random potpourri of games in this anthology. Finally, Metal Slug (available for the umpteenth time) and Magician Lord also head to the handheld.Volume 1 suggests that other compilations are planned for the future, ensuring that SNK won't really have to make anything new for a long time.
SNK revisits well, returns with 16-game compilation for PS2, PSP
We honestly believe that when it comes to SNK, they believe that nostalgia is job one. Why else would the company continue to keep one foot rooted in the past by re-releasing countless compilations of old releases in lieu of anything truly new? Not that there is anything wrong with that. The company has forgotten more about making fun games than most newcomers will ever know, polygons or not. On that note, SNK's latest trip back in time comes care of an impressive collection of 16 different SNK faves, which skirt across the surface of the company's storied history like flat stone. Set for release for both the PlayStation 2 and PSP sometime during the first half of this year, the not-so-creatively dubbed SNK Arcade Classics: Volume 1 will include a bevy of early-gen fighters, such as the first World Heroes, Art of Fighting, and Samurai Shodown titles, as well as Fatal Fury, King of the Monsters, and King of Fighters '94. Beyond fighting games, however, SNK has put together a rather eclectic mix from other genres, with action titles like Top Hunter, Last Resort, Shock Troopers, Sengoku, and Burning Fight, as well as sports entries Baseball Stars 2, Neo Turf Masters, and Super Sidekicks 3. And of course, where would any SNK tribute be without the original Metal Slug and Magician Lord? Nowhere, that's where, so it's a good thing it includes those as well. Not a bad salvo for the first volume, which has us already wondering what games should make the cut for what we hope will be a second collection soon to follow. What SNK greats would you like to see make a return?[Via press release]
VC Monday Madness video wrap-up 1/7/08
Well now, if it isn't the first video wrap-up of the new year! Rock! And, we're glad to be kicking off another year of gaming with two quality titles in StarTropics and King of Fighters '94. So, without further delay, hit up the video above and head past the break for some more.Oh, and sorry for sounding kind of prepubescent. I have no idea why my voice was so high there ...
Star Tropics, King of Fighters '94 arrive on Virtual Console
Those are the only two titles you'll get this week, though we can't imagine anybody being displeased by the one-two punch of an intriguing island adventure and a 14-year old battle royal. Well, perhaps we could imagine someone turning his or her nose up to that, but only because said person doesn't enjoy being punched, a sensation that all too frequently accompanies the Wii's Virtual Console additions. Star Tropics (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points): Recoil in horror as you learn... that your... dear uncle... Dr. Jones... has been kidnapped! Obey flabby, shirtless men, embark on an epic island quest and question whether being constantly labeled as an "ace pitcher" is some sort of sexual advance! Also, murder a large snake by shoving a yo-yo down its throat! The King of Fighters '94 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points): KOF up the money and SNK's Super Bogard Bros. is yours. The first edition in a long line of three-on-three team pummeling games, this may be worth some fisticuffs if you've not been swayed by the 89 sequels since.
VC Friday: Bobble Fighters
We cherish these European VC updates for the chance to create silly titles from a mash-up of the games, but this time, we really would be interested in Bobble Fighters. Imagine ... two bobbleheads enter, one bobblehead leaves! It could be awesome.Or maybe we're still just in a calorie stupor from yesterday. Let's get to this week's releases. Bubble Bobble -- NES -- 500 Wii points King of Fighters '94 -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii points
Japan's November VC releases: Nuts
... and also Milk. November's Virtual Console outlook for Japan looks pretty excellent, with a lot of delightfully niche stuff. That includes King's Knight, the medieval-themed vertical shooter (!) from Square(!) that nobody likes but us ( ....) It will also bring Sega's Eternal Champions, the goofy Mortal Kombat-influenced fighting game that we poured hundreds of hours into. But it also includes stuff that non-us people will enjoy, like Panel de Pon, which, released in the U.S. as Tetris Attack, is the most popular version of the Puzzle League puzzle games. Light Crusader is notable for being an RPG from Treasure, and not much else.Of course, the big news for a lot of us is that SNK has turned the King of Fighters faucet on, ensuring a constant stream of fighting games with overdone storylines and ridiculous outfits for at least a year. Here's the full lineup for November, assuming some of them don't get bumped or pushed back into December (they will): Famicom: Ganbare Goemon, Balloon Fight, Makaimura (Ghosts 'n Goblins), Nuts and Milk, King's KnightSuper Famicom: Panel de PonMega Drive: Ecco Jr., Light Crusader, Eternal ChampionsPC Engine: Dynastic Hero (Wonder Boy in Monster World), Dragon Spirit, Take the A-Train 3, Kawa no Nushi Tsuri (Legend of the River King), Gradius II GOFER no YabouNeo Geo: The King of Fighters '94, Baseball Stars 2, Top Hunter
Wii Warm Up: Greatest hits
The Namco Museum Remix collection includes, in addition to wacky, waggly remakes of arcade classics like Galaga, authentic emulated classic games. Just a few days after the first Neo Geo game became available on the Virtual Console, SNK announced their intention to release King of Fighters and Samurai Shodown collections on disc.We don't mind buying collections on disc, since they're inevitably cheaper than buying even a few of the games separately on the Virtual Console. How do you feel, though? Do these collections make the Virtual Console redundant? Is there room for both? What are the advantages of one approach over another?
TGS07: Hori joysticks rejoice as SNK announces King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown collections
It would appear that the Wii won't be getting the 16-title Neo Geo collection as reported, but rather two other Neo Geo compilations that should be plenty satisfying for people who love fighting games (which, we believe, is all Neo Geo fans).SNK Playmore USA announced The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga and Samurai Shodown Anthology for the Wii. The Orochi saga in King of Fighters spans King of Fighters games (Kings of Fighters?) '95, '96, and '97, and the Samurai Shodown Anthology hopefully contains all of 'em, including the Samurai Shodown RPG for Neo Geo CD and Samurai Shodown 64 for the Hyper Neo Geo 64 arcade system. It probably won't, but then, things rarely live up to our desired level of awesome. Speaking of our desired level of awesome, these had better support the Classic Controller, and, therefore, the Hori stick.The press release also reveals that, rather than Art of Fighting, the third Neo Geo game announced for the American Virtual Console is Magician Lord, which is in keeping with the Japanese lineup.
Massive SNK-themed PS1 update hits the Japanese PSN today
Sony continues to taunt North American and European PS3 owners today by releasing a huge amount of PS1 titles for play on the PSP or PS3. Weighing in at a staggering 13 titles, this batch has a heavy emphasis on fighting games -- especially the King of Fighters series which has three new games alone! Here's the full list:Guilty GearKing of Fighters '95King of Fighters '96King of Fighters '97Little Princess: Maru Oukoku no Ningyou Hime 2Real Bout Garou Densetsu Special: Dominated MindSamurai Spirits: Kenkaku Yubinan PackSeptentrionSpectral Force 2Spectral TowerSuna no Embrace In addition to the huge list of PS1 titles above, Sony is also releasing a free demo of a XI, also known as Devil Dice. Meanwhile, we get Championship Sprint -- joy. For North American and European users desperate for new content, Guilty Gear in particular looks like a nice purchase. It was kind of hard to find back in the day in America and it should be fairly easy to play for those of us not fluent in Japanese. The King of Fighter's games come heavily recommended too ... if only for Mai Shiranui. Double-sided tape FTW![Via PSP Fanboy]
SNK to wait until 2009 to develop for PS3
According to Yoshihito Koyama, overseas marketing manager of SNK (King of Fighters, Fatal Fury, Metal Slug), is hesitant to support the PlayStation 3 from day one. Koyama gives his perspective to Kotaku's Brian Ashcraft: "My first impression is that it's expensive. The PlayStation 2 is good enough. It's small and cheap. For us, for manufacturers, we have to invest in a new system, and the PlayStation 3 is a risk. There won't be enough consoles at launch. Few consoles mean few software sales. We need to wait three or four years. Maybe 2009-2010 is a good time to release a game for the PS3." SNK is still supporting the PlayStation 2, whose titles are backwards compatible on the PS3, and the PSP. The Metal Slug anthology coming to the PSP will probably arrive for $39 or $49, according to Koyama's statements. The Nintendo Wii's Metal Slug anthology will have the same graphics as the PSP version, and is expected to arrive at launch, although Koyama admits he isn't sure when that is. His best guess is "sometime in the middle of November, just before Thanksgiving." Atari also recently revealed that they would be holding off until 2007 to release a PlayStation 3 title.[via PS3 Fanboy; thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Oops! SNK steers clear of the PS3 'til 2009
Expensive, risk, risky, pricey, expensive, risk... we've heard all of this nonsense before! SNK, you are crazy. Yet, wise. SNK's marketing manager Yoshihito Koyama has gone on record with Kotaku saying, "My first impression is that it's expensive ... the PlayStation 3 is a risk." We can't blame SNK for being cautious -- they're not a very large firm and developing for the PS3 may indeed be a very dangerous risk.However, SNK is eager to embrace the Nintendo Wii. They wish to use the Wiimote to incorporate a new dimension of play into their planned Metal Slug Anthology release. Also of note is that SNK still plans to release some games on the PS2, such as King of Fighters: Maximum Impact 2. Fighting games get such long titles! Anyway, SNK is waiting until 2009 to get cracking on the PS3. By then, development costs may decrease, more hardware in more homes (making for more software sales) and of course, the ulterior motive: making sure the PS3 doesn't crash and burn. We certainly hope that's not the case. Since the PS3 can neither drive nor fly.
