konami-gamers-night-2008
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Joystiq hands-on: Silent Hill: Homecoming
click to enlarge scary-size What's scarier: Silent Hill, or finding out that the latest game in the series isn't being developed by the folks who made the last five games? For many fans, it was the latter when, at E3 2007, Konami revealed that Western outfit The Collective (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Marc Ecko's Getting Up) – now Double Helix – would be crafting the creeps this time 'round.Things, as they are wont to do, change ... but from our time with the latest playable version of Silent Hill: Homecoming, we were more scared by the game than we were about how it's going to turn out. The generally positive vibe was generated in large part by what lead designer Jason Allen told us is changing – but also what isn't. Full impressions after the break.%Gallery-22985%
Joystiq hands-on: Rock Revolution
click to enlarge biggie-size In the latest round of the great "our drum kit is better – or at least bigger – than your drum kit" conflict of ought eight, Konami definitely comes out the clear winner with Rock Revolution. However, we don't necessarily know if that's a good thing, based on our experience playing the title at its formal unveiling.Despite the fact that it will offer support for lead and bass guitars, Rock Revolution is very much a drum-centric game. The behemoth of a drum controller has six pads and a pedal, looking like something Darth Vader would have lying around in his hyperbaric chamber.%Gallery-22989%
Joystiq hands-on: Metal Gear Solid 4 - the finished game
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/Hands_on_with_final_version_of_Metal_Gear_Solid_4'; The moment we'd been awaiting for ever since Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots was announced at E3 2005 came on Wednesday evening, when we walked up to a PS3 running the final, ready-for-retail build of the game and ever so slowly pressed "start" with quivering thumbs. We were whisked from the title screen – a real-time scene showing a suit-wearing Old Snake in the graveyard from previous trailers – to the Middle East, where after only a few minutes we realized that Kojima has done it again: he's taken MGS in a new direction, with wild ambition, while still keeping sneaking the No. 1 priority. No spoilers here; we're just as set as you are on having as little of the game ruined for us before we get to sit down and play it, good and proper. That said, make with the clicking and read our tale of 40-odd minutes with what will surely be a system-seller for PS3 after the break!%Gallery-23093%
New monster-fied screens, videos from Hellboy: Science of Evil
Click to embiggen Second only to falling on his rear in front of colossal beasts, Hellboy is best when he's digging his demonic fist into smaller creatures. Check out these new Hellboy: Science of Evil screens for more punching goodness. Hellboy is coming June 24 on PlayStation 3, PSP and Xbox 360.%Gallery-23002%
Silent Hill: Homecoming creeps out of hiding
click to enlarge Wait ... where are the floats, the cheerleaders, the awkward slow-dancing? Oh, its not that kind of homecoming. No, it's a Silent Hill homecoming, which means it's really foggy, those "cheerleaders" are grotesque creatures, and the dance move of choice is called "running for your life."Konami finally rolled out a playable build of the series' fifth installment at its press event last night, and we were on hand to, well ... get our hands on it. We're writing up our impressions, along with Double Helix design lead Jason Allen's musings on bringing the series to a new generation. For now, get tickled by the first screens (on your console of choice) -- and several new videos embedded after the break!%Gallery-22985%%Gallery-22986%
More DS Castlevania: 'Order of Ecclesia,' first screens
We're pretty sure that Castlevania series director Koji "IGA" Igarashi is out to claim an award for "most sequels in a series on Nintendo DS." His latest, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, was revealed by the long-bearded, whip-wielding IGA at last night's Konami presser (and before that, the ESRB), and is set to stir up renewed Castle-mania this fall.Order of Ecclesia stars a new female heroine who is a member of the ... wait for it ... Order of Ecclesia, a group out to destroy -- who else -- that vile Count Dracula fellow. The game introduces a new Glyph system that Konami promises will offer "more than 100 different combinations" of weapon and spell attacks. These attack mash-ups enable players to unleash two blows simultaneously. Buying and selling items and weapons via the Nintendo WFC is also pegged for this latest, characteristically beautiful addition to the classic 2D franchise.%Gallery-22987%
Konami jumps on the 'band' wagon with Rock Revolution
click to enlarge When Guitar Hero first hit PS2, we thought: "Wow, this is like Konami's GuitarFreaks ... and that's been around since the original PlayStation. Why don't they release it here?" Well, our question was answered at yesterday's Konami Gamer's Night 2008 with the unveiling of Rock Revolution. Taking the "Revolution" suffix naming scheme of its other music genre (bemani) cousins, the game, from SingStar developer Zoë Mode, is set for a fall release on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and Nintendo DS. We have the first screens of the HD offerings, along with some salient details:The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions will feature: 40 songs on the disc, with DLC tracks planned Record your own songs in a "Jam Session" (8 separate tracks) Online co-op, versus, and battle of the bands modes Crazy big drum set with six pads, plus pedal The Wii version adds the ability to play "air guitar" using the Wiimote and nunchuck; and the DS version includes a "Vocalist" mode using the built-in microphone. Check back for our hands-on impressions of Rock Revolution for Xbox 360 -- and be sure to peep the debut trailer after the break!%Gallery-22989%
