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PS3 puts hands together for Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2
Atlus continues to pump Shin Megami Tensei PS2 games onto PS3, with Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon coming to PSN in North America next week. The news comes via the PlayStation Blogcast, which didn't reveal any price details. The 2009 entry was a sequel to the Devil Summoner comeback game on PS2, and one of the last to be released for the console alone. Sadly, the downloadable PS2 Classics version is somewhat unlikely to come with the Jack Frost doll that accompanied physical copies. Devil Summoner 2 is the latest Shin Megami Tensei game to join the PS2 Classics line-up, with Nocturne and Persona 4 both hitting the PS3 in recent months. It's almost as if there's a whole bunch of new SMT games coming up. [Image: Atlus]
Play it again, Sora: Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix due in December
Kingdom Hearts' second collection of HD remixes hits North America on December 2 and Europe on three days later. The release dates come courtesy of a new E3 trailer, and if you stick around for the end you'll also see a storyline tease for Kingdom Hearts 3. Returning to the present, 2.5 Remix brings Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix, Birth by Sleep Final Mix and remastered cinematics from Re:coded to PS3. The high-def compilation revisits the RPG series' blend of Disney and Square Enix characters, with the likes of Cinderella, Ariel and Scar mixing it up with Auron, Tifa and Zack. 2.5 Remix also marks the first time the Final Mix versions of Kingdom Hearts 2 and Birth by Sleep will be available in the West. The PS2 and PSP re-releases were previously limited to Japan, and the duo add features like new difficulty modes, cut scenes and mini-games. [Image: Square Enix]
Hohokum squiggles out across PlayStations in August
IGF finalist Hohokum wiggles into its promised summer window, launching on PS4, PS3 and Vita on August 12 in North America and the day after in Europe. In the words of co-creator Richard Hogg, "you can say that it's colorful, you can say that it's exploratory, you can say that it has a creative, informative element to it. I think you need to see it, though." In a new video, Frobisher Says dev Honeyslug says its new game originally featured a man as the player character. Indeed, he's shown leading procession of creatures behind him in what looks like a far more typical platformer than the real deal. Instead, Honeyslug went with a weaving, flying technicolor worm, and his freedom of movement seems to epitomize the studio's ambitions for the game.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy courts West this winter
Capcom confirmed the 3DS HD package of Phoenix Wright's Game Boy Advance trilogy arrives this winter as an eShop game, priced at $30. The 3-in-1 game includes Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Justice for All and Trials and Tribulations, with Capcom promising "redrawn, high-definition graphics" as well as 3D support. Capcom adds the Western game includes the version recently released in Japan, allowing players to switch between the two as they wish - a surprising plus for games filled with so much text. There's no word yet on concrete release dates or specific regions, but a US price is evidence enough of an appearance stateside at least. [Image: Capcom]
Wii Sports Club boxed copies join Team USA in July
North American retailers join the Wii Sports Club on July 25, when boxed copies containing all five sports arrive on store shelves. Nintendo of Europe already announced the HD-make boxes over there on June 25. The motion-controlled sportsaganza hit the eShop in November, first bringing tennis and bowling before driving forward with golf. The Wii U-packaged game adds baseball and boxing to the mix, and both sports become available online on June 26, a month ahead of the retail release. Presumably they'll follow the same pricing model for the other sports, which are currently available through $2 day passes for all sports or with a $10 permanent unlock per sport. The boxed copy has the best value with a suggested retail price of $40, ten bucks cheaper than getting the five sports online. [Image: Nintendo]
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy takes its Curtain Call in September
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call tours North America starting September 16 and Europe September 19. So you've got a few months to wait before revisiting 221 of the RPG franchise's songs and 60 of its characters in rhythm-action form. If the new songs, characters and modes including two-player versus just isn't satiating you, Square Enix will try to tempt you with the follow-up's Collector's Edition. The $70 (£45/55 euros) box includes a 3DS pouch, 20-track Best of CD, 5-track Remix CD, and 5 of the truly wonderfully named (really) "Collectacards." The glossy affairs feature passwords that you can enter to get the in-game version of them, just to take collecting to the next level. If that's doing it for you, you'd best be quick with pre-orders (only through the Square Enix website) because there are just 5,000 units available stateside. Meanwhile, standard pre-orders still net the Remix CD as a bonus. [Image: Square Enix]
PSP discontinued in Japan just shy of its 10th birthday
And now the end is near, and so the PlayStation Portable faces the final curtain. The Sony handheld says sayonara to Japan later this month, when shipments to the country's stores will officially end. Sony announced the news today, noting it discontinued North American shipments back in January. The company told Associated Press the PSP is to continue in Europe until later this year, while The Verge adds there are no discontinuation plans yet for lines in Latin America and other Asian countries. The PSP's farewell to its homeland comes nine and a half years after it launched there on December 12, 2004. While history will remember it as second-best to the uber-popular DS, the Sony handheld's numbers ain't to be sniffed at. As of March 2012 it had shipped 76.3 million units worldwide, a figure that's probably closer to 80 million now if not beyond. The PSP also brought us the sheer joy of Patapon as well as the resultant joy of Pata-puns, and for that alone it'll always pata-pata-pata-pon in our hearts. [Image: Sony]
This week's PS4 Plus adds Trine 2, Pixeljunk Shooter Ultimate
Trine 2: Complete Story and Pixeljunk Shooter Ultimate hit PS Plus in tomorrow's North American update, as the first month to add two PS4 games gets going early. Pixeljunk SU is a cross-buy deal, so if you get the subterranean shoot-em-up on Plus you'll net it on Vita too. Over on PS3, NBA 2K14 also gets the Plus treatment this week. As ever, the influx of newbies forces old-timers out of the Plus-house, and that's happening next week. You've got until June 10 to "purchase" and tie up Skullgirls Encore, Stealth Inc: A Clone in the Dark, Lone Survivor: The Director's Cut, Payday 2 and XCOM Enemy Unknown. [Image: Sony Computer Entertainment]
Guilty Gear Xrd SIGN makes it up to North America this fall
Guilty Gear Xrd Sign hits North America this fall on PS3 and PS4, courtesy of localization specialist Aksys Games. The Xth fighter in the series features 2D cel-shaded graphics, and Aksys promises IGN it retains trademark systems with some noteworthy improvements. Xrd Sign features 15 combatants including new villain Ramethal Valentine, who's related somehow to the Valentine from Guilty Gear 2: Overture. Ramethal hit the character select screens in Japan's arcades last month. where players are also trying out fellow newbie Bedman. And we reckon we know why he's called that... [Image: Arc System Works]
New Nintendo eShop releases: Mario Kart 8, Ittle Dew
Let's face it, if you're a Wii U owner you're well aware Mario Kart 8 is out tomorrow. It's the series' first HD entry, when you register it online you get a code for a free game, and you know this. But, maybe for some foul reason you're less Mario Kart 8 and more Mario Kart Hate. Luckily for you, you fiend, there are other games out on Nintendo systems this week. First off there's Ittle Dew, a familiarly heroic adventure that's making a far too appropriate jump to Wii U. The influx of GBA games for Wii U continues with Klonoa: Empire of Dreams, and retro fans can also grab Mega Man Xtreme 2 on 3DS. Sales-wise, a 33-percent cut pushes 3DS games Pushmo and Crashmo down to $4.69 and $6 respectively. That offer ends on June 13, a week before Pushmo World drops on Wii U.
Dragon Quest 8 journeys onto mobiles, out now in West
Your Dragon Quest 8 has begun on iOS and Android, marking the first of the RPG series' mobile ports to reach the West. You can take the PS2 adventure on the go for $20 stateside, or £14/18 Euros across the ocean. The port promises "streamlined" touchscreen controls with freely positional d-pads and reworked combat that allows for both one-tap standoffs and more strategic approaches. Going by footage published by TouchGamePlay, it doesn't seem to feature the voice acting found in the PS2 game. We suspect that means it's based on the Japanese original, since that was a feature added later to Western versions. Square Enix announced last year it was bringing Dragon Quest 1-8 to smartphones, and it's re-released 1, 4 and 8 so far. The first two of those were limited to Japan, and it's unknown what the publisher's plans are for bringing other entries West. [Image: Square Enix]
The Evil Within needs two more months within the oven
The Evil Within is staying reclusive until October, after Bethesda announced new release dates for the Shinji Mikami game. Originally due to launch in late August, the asylum horror is now coming to North America on October 21, Australia on October 23, and Europe on October 24. A Bethesda statement reads, "Shinji Mikami and his team at Tango Gameworks have asked for additional time to further balance and refine the game in order to deliver the polished, terrifying pure survival horror experience they set out to create." To see that "pure survival horror experience" in action, check our our new preview in which we fight off zombies in a swimming pool of blood, and stick needles into the brainstems of detached heads that are still living. [Image: Bethesda Softworks]
Battlefield 4 PS3 20-hour trial lauches today for Plus members
20 hours of unpaid access to Battlefield 4 is today's unusual serving of PlayStation Plus for PS3 owners in North America. The new initiative grants full access to the DICE shooter on Sony's last-gen console, including single-player and multiplayer. The 20 hours are denoted as "playable" from the first moment you launch it, though it's unclear if that's accumulative or not. Of course it doesn't matter if you play it for 20 hours straight, in which case good for you - you're living the dream! Plus members can also grab five-star platformer Limbo, with last year's Vita version hitting the service today as well. [Image: EA]
Reel in the Sea Green 2DS on June 6
As suspected, a new color variant of the 2DS is launching alongside Tomodachi Life in North America on June 6. The $130 "Sea Green" model should be a fashionable companion for any beach-goer this summer, or any virtual beach-goer in Nintendo's new sim game. The 2DS is the unhinged younger sibling of the 3DS, and plays all 3DS games but in 2D. If Sea Green makes you sea-sick, you can also grab currently available red and blue models for the same price. [Image: Nintendo]
Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate extends dynasty on new consoles
Tecmo Koei revealed one-versus-tons brawler Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate is coming to Xbox One, PS4, PS3 and Vita. The expanded re-release is the latest entry in the Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors spin-off series, and it's slated to launch this fall. Tecmo's press release notes the PS3 and Vita versions are digital-only and are priced $50 and $40 respectively. So presumably that means there are retail releases for PS4 and Xbox One, which are both priced at $60. Also, Tecmo says the PlayStation versions have cross-save and cross-play support. The new Ultimate version features the elements of the core Orochi 3 game as well as the content added to the PSP and Wii U releases. It also expands upon the plot with a new main campaign that follows on from the Orochi 3 ending, and with new side stories. The player character roster ups to 145, with new additions including Xu Shu of the Dynasty Warriors series and Ninja Gaiden Sigma's Rachel. [Image: Tecmo Koei]
West welcomes Disgaea 4 Vita in August, dood
Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited is coming to North American Vitas on August 12, before waddling its way to Europe two weeks later on August 29. The news comes via NIS America, who've just opened up pre-orders on the goodies-stuffed limited edition box set. As per tradition, the Vita conversion of the 2011 tactics-RPG features a number of extras, including a brand new "scenario" adventure and more than 50 of the DLC add-ons for the original game. No matter the extras, our review of the original PS3 incarnation suggests fans of the series who've not yet played Disgaea 4 are in for a treat: "As another worthwhile and entertaining entry in the franchise, Disgaea 4 is still just another Disgaea game. Fans will love it for everything it is, while detractors will ignore it for all that it isn't. This is a game, and series, that isn't out to win over gamers by changing its stripes -- though its fans probably wouldn't have it any other way." [Image: NIS America]
Etrian Odyssey 4, Untold $20 each on eShop this week
We knew there was an eShop sale on the way for the Etrian Odyssey 3DS games, and now we know the discounts. EO4: Legends of the Titan and EO Untold: The Millennium Girl are each going for half-price at $20, and that sale runs through until Monday, May 19. Atlus' dungeon-mapping series has enjoyed a strong start on 3DS. New entry EO4 took four stars in our review, which praised the RPG for being accessible while retaining the series' core values. Meanwhile, EO Untold is a remake of the first Etrian Odyssey, but with enough "tedium-reducing improvements" to also earn four stars. While it's an entry in another franchise, Etrian Odyssey fans will see the series' dungeon-crawling elements return in upcoming 3DS game Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth. [Image: Atlus]
Dark Souls 2 ships 1.2 million to West in first three weeks
Death factory Dark Souls 2 shipped out 1.2 million copies to North America and Europe in its three weeks at retail. From Software's action-RPG launched in early March, just ahead of Bandai Namco's fiscal year-end, so the shipping figures published today are as of March 31, 2014. That means they don't include last month's PC release, nor do they include sales in Japan because From self-published the game over there. With all that in mind, the third Souls game is showing good progress compared to its direct predecessor; Dark Souls took around a month to ship 1.5 million units worldwide. Around this time last year, From revealed total Dark Souls sales had risen to just under 2.4 million. Looking at Bandai's Namco's end-year report, Dark Souls 2 was Bandai Namco's strongest software performer across the 12 months, although Vita and PSP entry God Eater 2 proved a strong hit in Japan with 700,000 units shipped. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z shifted 620,000 units worldwide, while JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle hit 500,000 units ahead of its Western arrival last month. Bandai Namco's retail and arcade games contributed 155.5 billion yen to net sales, which converts to around $1.5 billion, and the company expects to hit similar numbers this fiscal year. Overall, Bandai Namco posted a net profit of 25 billion yen ($246 million), although that is down 22.6 percent year-on-year. However, the company expects that figure to rise by 11.8 percent for the coming fiscal year. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Climb the walls to save cats in Wii U shoot-em-up Scram Kitty
Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails is coming to the Wii U eShop on May 15, priced $10 in North America and £9/10 euros across the pond. You play as the Buddy on Rails in Dakko Dakko's shoot-em-up, and you have to scroll along the walls of a space station to save your cat, Scram Kitty, and all the world's cats for that matter. Unfortunately, there's a huge army of mecha-rats in the way - isn't there always? Happily you have an arsenal of blasting, exploding and lasering things to help you survive the game's tricky-looking assortment of hazards and enemies. Also, while players blast up rodents on the GamePad, Scram Kitty appears on the TV screen offerings feedback and advice. That sounds like it could be awesome, creepy, or both. For a look at the game itself in action, check out Dakko Dakko's trailer from earlier in the year. [Image: Dakko Dakko]
Stick it to the Man, Picross e4 penciled in for eShop next week
Stick it to the Man and Picross e4 are coming to the Wii U and 3DS respectively as part of next week's eShop update. Both games arrive in North America on May 1, which means Picross e4 misses its target April window by a day. Don't worry, we've already alerted the authorities. Meanwhile, Europe gets Stick it to the Man on the same day, but the continent has to wait until May 22 for Picross e4. Written by Adventure Time comic author Ryan North, Stick it to the Man stars a dude who reads minds using a pink spaghetti arm that pops out of his head. So, a bit like Professor X but with less Patrick Stewart and more pink spaghetti arm. If you fancy Stick it to the Man on Wii U, it'll set you back $10 in North America and £7/8 euros across the pond. If you're a PS4 owner and a Plus subscriber, you can pick up Zoink's 2D adventure as a Plus freebie when it hits Europe on April 30 and North America on May 6. Alternatively, it's already available on PC. Moving onto Picross e4, the latest batch of gridded criss-cross features more than 150 puzzles, including new 20x15 whoppers. As for the hard numbers, it'll set you back $6 in North America, and £4.50/5 euros in Europe. [Image: Ripstone]
