thexder-neo
Latest
PSN leaderboards point to top game downloads for January
Gamasutra wasn't able to get its hands on year-to-date PSN sales data directly from Sony, but it has come up with some interesting conclusions based on an unscientific look at ... leaderboard stats. The site broke down January's new releases, as well as a few other games that sold well last month, and the big debut of the month appears to be Hustle Kings, which added over 39,000 players to its ranks. Assault Heroes only picked up 754 new players, but given that it's a game that actually came out in 2006 on the Xbox, that's not a big surprise. PSN also offered up its "10 for '10" sale in January, and Uno came away from that event with a whopping 87,000 new players on its leaderboards. Braid and Critter Crunch also did well, adding 20,000 and 17,000 new players to their leaderboards, respectively. Keep in mind that these numbers are far from official, and not complete anyway -- Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment, Thexder Neo and Matt Hazard were released on PSN last month, and none of those games are included in this analysis, due to unreliable or nonexistent leaderboards. But it is probably fair to say that PSN had a pretty good month in January, especially with the games featured in its "10 for '10" sale. More of that, please.
PSN Thursday: Were you waiting for the Uncharted 2 demo?
Folks who couldn't bring themselves to buy Uncharted 2 until they played the demo, well, now's their chance. This week's PSN update adds a single-player demo for Joystiq's Game of the Year for 2009. For those who already have Nathan Drake's latest adventure, the update also includes the $5 "PlayStation Heroes" pack, which allows you to reskin the Uncharted 2 crew with Resistance, inFamous and Killzone bodies. Check out the full PSN update after the break, along with the PSP comics update. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
European PSN releases for January 28
After two relatively dry weeks, the PSN update has finally delivered a few savory morsels. There's Thexder Neo (joined by a free trial version of the game), a demo for Uncharted 2, some new DLC for the PSP version of LittleBigPlanet, and a Creedence Clearwater Revival track pack on Guitar Hero 5. We know! Finally. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Game Arts already working on another downloadable game
Game Arts has another downloadable title in mind after last week's release of its self-published WiiWare puzzle adventure The Magic Obelisk. Takahiro Nishi, producer of Obelisk, told Siliconera that "Our development team is now engaged in the next downloadable game." The experiment in smaller-scale downloadable software must have been a success, then, for the Grandia developer. Nishi declined to name the platform for the new title, but in a previous Siliconera interview, he had nothing but kind words for WiiWare, praising its "easy to work with development environment" and an audience that is accepting of "unique and new concepts like ours." We thought briefly that Nishi could have been referring to the new PS3 version of Thexder Neo, but Game Arts doesn't list either the PS3 or PSP versions of Thexder Neo on its website, indicating that another developer made the updated versions of the shmup classic. %Gallery-80770%
Thexder Neo transforming into a PS3 game
After the ESRB rating for Game Arts' Thexder Neo listed it as a PSP and PS3 game, Square Enix released the downloadable shooter remake on PSP only, leaving PS3 retro fans vexed and un-Thex'd. However, a post on Square Enix's Facebook page reveals that the transforming spaceship/robot will make an appearance on PS3 after all. "With PS3 graphic THEXDER NEO becomes more THEXDER," Square Enix PR staffer Akira Kokushoh said, suggesting that the new version isn't just a direct port of the PSP title. The game will be out sometime in 2010 -- possibly on the early side, since Kokushoh indicated that the game is almost complete. [Via Gamerbytes]
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Thexder Neo
Thexder originally came out in 1985, and has been ported to several different platforms in its lifetime, mostly computers. However, I can say with some confidence that the PSP remake of Game Arts' classic free-scrolling, transforming shmup, called Thexder Neo, is much more enjoyable to play than the retro versions. And people who didn't go to TGS will get to enjoy it soon: Square Enix announced that Thexder Neo will be available worldwide on October 1.%Gallery-74060%
Square Enix reveals transformed Thexder Neo for PSP
Who doesn't like transforming robots? No one. Square Enix is reviving its classic Thexder franchise on PSP later this year as a download-exclusive title. According to Andriasang, the PSP version of Thexder NEO will feature a new easy mode, additional bosses and a six player online race mode. The game is getting a Japanese release on October 1st -- the same day as the PSP Go launches. Considering the recent ESRB listing of Thexder NEO, we're pretty certain a US release will follow soon afterward.
Sony TGS lineup includes unannounced games, newly announced games
Sony announced its lineup for Tokyo Game Show today, minus, of course, the stuff that it hasn't announced yet. After the break, you can find the list of games that will appear at Sony's booth in Tokyo. Strangely, the company quantified the number of unannounced titles that will be present: two for PS3, three for PSP, and one new old game on Game Archives. Thexder NEO, just found on the ESRB database, is also official now, as it's in the lineup. A new PSP game from NIS, called Disgaea Infinite, also appears in the list. The new comic distribution service, Home, and other non-game services will be on display as well.
Square reboot Thexder NEO revealed by ESRB listing
Square Enix has its finger in a whole lot of pies right now -- but if a recent ESRB listing is any indication, the developer might be preparing to sully its digits in yet another pastry. Said listing is for a PS3 and PSP title called Thexder NEO -- a new entry in a classic Square-developed franchise, which first appeared on the prehistoric NEC PC-8801 platform before making its way to PC and NES. Considering Square held the reins of this IP back in 1985, we're assuming the company will develop this new title -- but until we get more details, there's no way to be sure.According to the ESRB listing, Thexder NEO is "a side-scrolling action game in which players control a transforming robot through a series of maze-like levels." Stop right there, ESRB listing. You had us at "robot."
