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Enslaved: Premium Edition takes a Trip to Steam, out now
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West completed its journey to PC, meaning the game is out now on Steam in a new Premium Edition. Priced $20, it includes the Pigsy's Perfect 10 DLC and three character skins including one simply titled "Sexy Trip" [insert debauched holiday destination joke here]. The Premium Edition also came to PSN this week. Ninja Theory's vivacious re-imagining of Monkey charmed us back in 2010, with our review praising the fantastical adventure for being a "a fine reminder that if you have talented people and a little respect for your audience, great storytelling in games can be not only possible but profound."
Enslaved undertakes Odyssey to the PC later this month
Namco Bandai is bringing Enslaved: Odyssey to the West to PC for the first time, releasing a new "premium edition" of the game later this month. A representative for the publisher told Polygon the re-release is also coming to PS3. It's unclear what makes this edition of Ninja Theory's fantasy adventure a premium one, although we'd wager it features the Pigsy's Perfect 10 DLC. We're also unsure if it's coming via retail and/or downloadable channels, although the game appeared in Steam's database earlier this year. We've reached out to Namco for more info. It has to be said, it's somewhat surprising to see Enslaved get a re-release three years on. Despite being a hit with critics including many of the Joystiq staff, it didn't set the world alight with its sales, shifting 450,000 copies in three months after a rather lo-fi promotional campaign. In that regard, maybe a sudden re-release isn't that much of a surprise.
Ninja Theory splash reel reveals girl with blue hair in a dark city
Ninja Theory is responsible for Heavenly Sword, Enslaved, the new Devil May Cry reboot and ... something starring a girl with blue hair in a dark urban environment. A demo reel on Ninja Theory's front page shows concepts and clips from all of these games, including that last one, which doesn't fit into any universes the developer has announced or released so far. The clips show off a dystopian, vaguely Neapolitan cityscape, and a dank alley of dripping pipes, curving metal signage, garbage cans on fire and a cage-like people-mover that speeds by a bullet train. The girl has bright blue eyes, matching blue hair, and the world itself is tinged in blue hues See a few screengrabs below. Ninja Theory is currently working on next-generation console titles, according to its introduction paragraph, though it recently teamed up with Chillingo to develop the mobile game Fightback.
Steam weekend deals: Alan Wake for $3, DmC for $30
You can grab Remedy's Alan Wake for $3 on Steam this weekend, and if you toss in an extra buck you'll also get Alan Wake's American Nightmare. Weekend savings are also being extended to DmC: Devil May Cry, available for $30. All will revert to regular price at 10am PT on Monday morning. DmC developer Ninja Theory is currently collaborating with Chillingo on a side-scrawling brawler called Fightback. Remedy has said Alan Wake will return "when the time is right," but is now focused on a story-driven Xbox One action game, Quantum Break.
Ninja Theory partners with Chillingo to publish Fightback
Ninja Theory is an excellent game developer based in the UK that's produced Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and the recent Devil May Cry reboot. Now, Ninja Theory is releasing its first iOS title, Fightback, which EA studio Chillingo will publish. Fightback, as you can see above, looks like a fairly gritty arcade-style beat-em-up, and it boasts some AAA grade production values, as well as some interesting touch-based combat. Fightback is set for previews at E3, so we'll see more of the game in action then. It's set to launch on iOS later this summer. Chillingo is a very high-quality studio that's been doing plenty of good work lately, and with its ties to EA, it's no surprise that Ninja Theory gave it the go-ahead on publishing duties. Ninja Theory is a great studio, and we'll look forward to seeing how this one turns out. Show full PR text Chillingo Partners with Ninja Theory Ltd. to Publish Fightback on Mobile and Tablet Ninja Theory's Mobile Debut Playable at E3 MACCLESFIELD, U.K., May 24, 2013 - Chillingo, leading independent mobile games publisher and division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), today announced that they are partnering with prominent Cambridge, UK-based independent video game developer Ninja Theory Ltd. to publish the studio's first mobile game, Fightback for the App Store and Google Play™. From the award-winning studio behind Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and DmC: Devil May Cry, Ninja Theory's Fightback is a thrilling free-to-play action game with a striking 80s action movie vibe and a revolutionary touch-based combat system. "Chillingo is very excited to collaborate with such a talented, critically-acclaimed studio to help shape their first title for the mobile market," states Ed Rumley, COO, Chillingo. "Our team is working closely with Ninja Theory to ensure Fightback delivers a phenomenal experience for mobile and tablet devices." "Mobile and tablet gaming is a phenomenon that we just couldn't ignore as a studio and we're very proud to be working with one of the industry's heavy-weights on bringing Fightback to market. Ninja Theory has always strived for the highest production values and that absolutely remains the case in this exciting new space," said Dominic Matthews, Product Manager, Ninja Theory Ltd. Fightback is slated to launch this summer. Hands-on previews will be shared with press at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles. Additional details and information will be available at www.chillingo.com in the coming months.
Ninja Theory teams up with Chillingo on iOS, Android F2P brawler Fightback
DmC and Enslaved developer Ninja Theory revealed its latest project this morning, an iOS and Android free-to-play brawler called Fightback. The game is being published by EA subsidiary Chillingo, which says it has a "a striking 80s action movie vibe." Going by this screenshot, Fightback is a skils-orientated, side-scrolling beat-em-up. The meter at the bottom indicates a three-star score based on points accumulated by skill moves like 'Skull Splitter' - think Bulletstorm, perhaps, but with more punches and kicks, and maybe a Blood Dragon vibe. It looks like you can use guns too, though. Also, is that a Japanese love hotel? "Mobile and tablet gaming is a phenomenon that we just couldn't ignore as a studio and we're very proud to be working with one of the industry's heavy-weights on bringing Fightback to market," said Ninja Theory Product Manager Dominic Matthews. "Ninja Theory has always strived for the highest production values and that absolutely remains the case in this exciting new space." Chillingo is showing off Fightback at E3 next month, and expects to launch it this summer.
Seen@GDC: 'Imagine Dante in a Western movie'
When Capcom tasked Ninja Theory with rebooting Dante, the main character of its classic Japanese franchise Devil May Cry, it wanted to draw a clear distinction. This was a new Dante, a new Devil May Cry, and the series told through a westernized lens."Imagine Dante in a western movie," Capcom told Ninja Theory's art team. And so it did. There's Dante above, shooped into a scene from Brokeback Mountain – a very western movie, after all – and below Dante takes a breather with Brad Pitt in Fight Club.
Vergil's Downfall DLC review: Downfall is right
Important things first: Unlike in the full DMC: Devil May Cry, Vergil wears a total of zero fedoras in his spin-off DLC, "Vergil's Downfall."Aside from that missed opportunity, Vergil's Downfall plays like a disowned, disgraced brother of Dante should. It resembles the main game and pulls directly from Dante's move list, copying his style and button mapping, but there's something inherently lackluster about the gameplay. Handling Vergil simply can't compare to the thrill of controlling Dante, and Vergil's pared-down weapons pale in comparison (as does his hair).I'm not saying the addition of a fedora would have helped Vergil's Downfall, but it definitely couldn't have hurt.%Gallery-179318%
PSA: 'Vergil's Downfall' DLC available for Devil May Cry today
DMC: Devil May Cry gets an extra dose of brotherly love today, courtesy of the new "Vergil's Downfall" DLC. The content stars Dante's brother, Vergil, and features a new story along with new weapons and enemies. Vergil's Downfall runs for $9 and is available today on Steam, and will hit PSN later today with the weekly update. The DLC will arrive on Xbox Live tomorrow.If you're on the fence, Joystiq should have a review later this week.
Sony completely revises list of PS4 EU studios, down from 53 to 30 [updates]
Sony made wholesale corrections to the list of European/PAL companies confirmed as PS4 developers and publishers, reducing the list of named studios from 53 to 28. Curiouser, not one of the developers and publishers named on the previous list makes an appearance on the new roll call. A spokesperson for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe confirmed to us the first list, sent out last week, was erroneous, and this new one is correct. There are no revisions for any other regions.The new list removes a number of significant names, including Mojang (Minecraft), Rovio (Angry Birds), Frozenbyte, Criterion Games, and City Interactive. In their stead are some new noteworthy studios, such as CD Projekt, who've confirmed The Witcher 3 as a PS4 game. Also included are Bohemia Interactive, Deep Silver, Ninja Theory, IO Interactive, Codemasters, 2K Games, and Sumo Digital. The full list can be found after the break.We've reached out to a number of studios for comment. Mojang's Daniel Kaplan reiterated to us the comments he gave to Gamasutra, saying his studio hasn't decided anything yet, and that the error is "confusion from Sony's side." Gamasutra's article also confirms Super Crate Box developer Vlambeer and Skulls of the Shogun creator 17-Bit, both included in the original list, as not currently working on anything for the PS4.A spokesperson for Monsters (probably) Stole My Princess developer Mediatonic, included in the original list but not in the corrected one, told us he couldn't make any comment on his studio and PS4 development. Meanwhile, Sumo Digital's inclusion adds weight to the rumor the British studio is working on LittleBigPlanet 3, but for the PS4. When approached previously about LBP3, a studio representative told Joystiq, "No comment." Update 1: A spokesperson for 505 Games tells us the Italian company is "definitely" planning to publish games on the PS4. 505 Games was in the original list of European/PAL PS4 developers and publishers, but not the revised list. The spokesperson noted the company's logo appears in the image showcasing PS4 partners, as shown during last week's event, as do many of the names in the revised list. Update 2: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe informs us the list of European PS4 studios has been further revised. Two more studios are now present in the form of Criterion Games and Ghost Games (an EA studio) - both were in the original list of 53. That takes the tally of confirmed European studios up to 30.
DMC gets 'Vergil's Downfall' DLC on March 6, Bloody Palace out today
Capcom has put a date on the DmC: Devil May Cry DLC, "Vergil's Downfall." The new content will hit both PSN and Xbox Live on March 6. Vergil's Downfall features a new story and, most importantly, allows players to take control of Dante's brother Vergil, who packs new weapons and abilities and one mean, bushy mustache. The DLC will set you back $8.99 or 720 MSP.In other teary-eyed Devil news, the free Bloody Palace DLC is available today. The DLC adds a new challenge mode featuring 100 levels.%Gallery-179318%
DmC: Devil May Cry shipped 1 million in January, forecasts slashed
Capcom shipped 1 million units of DmC: Devil May Cry on Xbox 360 and PS3 in January. The company adjusted its sales forecasts for the game to 1.2 million by March 31, down from the 2 million projected back in May 2012.The figures don't take into account the PC version, released on January 25. Nonetheless, they strongly indicate Ninja Theory's reboot is flagging way behind the last entry in the series, Devil May Cry 4, which shipped 2 million units in its first two weeks at retail.Capcom also updated sales figures for Resident Evil 6 to 4.8 million; the series' latest outbreak had shipped 4.5 million by the end of September. and was initially projected to reach 7 million sales by March 31. Dragon's Dogma is up to 1.25 million, while Resident Evil: Raccoon City is at a meagre 650,000, including PC sales. Maybe that's why Revelations producer Masachika Kawata feels there've been too many RE games of late.Capcom didn't release figures for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, released on Wii U in Japan on December 8, 2012, but said the game "became a smash hit." In case you suspect that's just deflective hot air, the action-RPG sold over 600,000 copies by the end of 2012, with the Western launch still to come in March.
DmC prequel comic 'The Chronicles of Vergil' unleashes first digital issue
The first issue of Titan Comics' DmC: Devil May Cry prequel, The Chronicles of Vergil, is now available for download through comiXology. You can purchase either through a computer browser or through the comiXology app on iOS, Android and Kindle Fire.This first issue of the proposed two-book run, written by Guillaume Dorison (AKA Izu) and illustrated by Robin Recht and Patrick Pion, leads up to the events of Ninja Theory's DmC game. The print version drops on May 15, and the follow-up issue hits comic store shelves on June 19.
DmC costume DLC gussies up Japan on Jan. 30
Dante's new look is about to get even newer, and by "newer" we mean "old again." Capcom has revealed DmC's first batch of costume DLC over on its official Japanese website, with Dante's DMC3 coat and hair arrangement featured front and center.The costume pack, which hits Japanese PS3s and Xboxen on January 30 for ¥400/320 MS Points respectively, also includes a fancy blue coat and an outfit not tremendously unlike the one worn by Derelicte fashionista Derek Zoolander.When asked when the pack would be available in North America, a Capcom representative had no more information to offer. Until then, we recommend dressing yourself up in whichever outfit from Dante's past you most prefer.
Metareview: DMC: Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry, under the new direction of Ninja Theory, has garnered positive responses – from reviewers, anyway. Our review found DMC "does action extraordinarily well and manages to make Dante look like the epitome of cool with every move." Giant Bomb (5/5): "Everything in this new game exists in service of making it a great game in its own right, not in stoking your nostalgia for the games you played over the last decade. As a character action game, it hits all the notes – fast, robust action, marvelous visual style, and a tremendous sense of attitude – you could want in this type of game." Game Informer (90/100): "I'm impressed by the sheer variety of Dante's moveset. Three guns, two angelic weapons, two demonic weapons, and one sword have unique abilities that you purchase. Because some moves are more useful than others (I still love the Stinger/Trillion Stabs combo), you can refund any spent points at no cost, encouraging you to experiment with the possibilities." IGN (89/100): "Long-time Devil May Cry fans unsure of Ninja Theory's treatment can abandon their fears. DmC hurls Dante into a newer, better world, complete with a glorious combat system and enough style to make old Dante proud. This is digital action at its finest, steeped in the blood of angels, spiced with gunpowder, and garnished with a middle finger." Edge (80/100): "DmC has a greater emphasis on story than the games that preceded it, then, which is just what you'd expect from the maker of the narrative-heavy Enslaved and Heavenly Sword. But its focus is absolutely where it should be: at the tip of Dante's sword. Playing true to its forebears' considerable strengths, DmC is still a game about crowd management and of making best use of its myriad systems to keep a combo going and maximise your style rating." GameSpot (80/100): "DmC succeeds both in its story and in its brilliant combat, and it looks the business too, despite a few minor glitches and the more color-soaked levels looking like they've spent a little too much time in an Instagram filter. Sure, you may baulk at Dante's trendy new haircut, or maybe even miss a little of that B-movie Devil May Cry insanity, but the heart of what makes the series so enticing and so much fun to play holds true here."
DMC: Devil May Cry review: Love's keen sting
There is a fine, bleached line between "trying too hard" and "confident in your own skin." The two descriptors can look disturbingly similar: Some people use hair dye, awkward yet fashionable clothing and violent curse words as a mask for their insecurities, while for others these are outward expressions of the very personality quirks that the first group attempts to hide.At first glance, it's difficult to tell which category DMC: Devil May Cry belongs to. In the marketing leading up to DMC's launch, publisher Capcom released videos of a naked Dante sailing through the air, manly bits covered by slices of pizza, and infused its material with metal songs and f-bombs. It had reason to put forth such a ridiculous effort following backlash from the game's radical style shift: Dante's hair black rather than white-blonde, his body decked out with new clothes and his personality given a modern twist.With such a rabid fanbase, the only thing that could redeem DMC from reactionary internet infamy was to turn that unique, new styling into an homage to a beloved series. To be confident in its skin and own all of its style choices unapologetically, while still retaining the crux of the series, the combat.DMC does this in spades – er, scythes.%Gallery-170014%
DmC deal nets you Resident Evil 6 for $9.99
1. Have you been holding out on getting Resident Evil 6?2. Are you planning to pick up Devil May Cry?If you answered 'No' to either question, please accept our sincere apologies and kindly move on to the next Joystiq post. If you answered 'Yes' to both then congratulations, you might be interested in Best Buy's offer of Resident Evil 6 for $9.99 when you order Devil May Cry online.The offer applies to PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of both games, but you can mix different console versions if you're into that sort of thing, you rascal.[Thanks, Ray]
Devil May Cry cinematic trailer stamps its mark
This CG trailer for Ninja Theory's upcoming Devil May Cry reboot is showing in movie theaters nationwide. The CG actually stands for Creepy Goo; looks like Mulder and Scully didn't do a great job with that particular case. Luckily, Dante is on hand to foreclose that sucker for good, maybe.
Vergil and Dante cut down evil in new DmC trailers
A pair of new Japanese trailers for DmC: Devil May Cry show off a bit of both its half-demon brothers, Dante and Vergil. We're not picking favorites, but Dante's video may just be a tad more stylish (death metal notwithstanding).
Dante's bling free when you buy Devil May Cry from Capcom
While Dante oozes style, we just kind of ooze. We could never pull off Dante's flashy pendant seen above. It's free to anyone who purchases a copy of DmC: Devil May Cry through the Capcom store.Of course, you don't have to wear the pendant. You could just hang it somewhere, or lay it on a table near you while you silently prepare a sandwich during a Devil May Cry 4 installation. Yeah, that's right, we're bringing that gag back.DmC: Devil May Cry launches on January 15, 2013 for the PS3 and Xbox 360; and on January 25 for the PC.
