Aksys-Games
Latest
Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- review: Technical knockout
PS4, PS3 Not everything that glitters is gold, but sometimes that glitter can go a long way. Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, the latest fighting game from Arc System Works, handily demonstrates this tweaked adage. Despite carrying over many characters and gameplay elements from the niche-hit Guilty Gear series, this entry adds a wholly new graphics engine that trades 2D sprites for cel-shaded 3D models. The result is a hyper-kinectic 3D fighter that looks like a very attractive 2D fighter while retaining a few neat gimmicks only possible in the third dimension. But beneath that glossy exterior lies an anemic framework. What's there is great, both aesthetically and mechanically, but what's there is also relatively scant. It's hard to dislike Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- because it does so many things well, but the level of quality present in the game only makes you wonder how much better it might have been had the developers added a few more fighters and gameplay modes.
Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- clashes with PS4, PS3 in December
Arc System Works' eminently stylish 2D fighter Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- debuts for the PlayStation 4 and PS3 in December, North American publisher Aksys Games revealed today. Abandoning sprites in favor for a stylized polygonal approach, Xrd features a roster of 16 playable fighters, and expands on series-standard mechanics like the Roman Cancel for deeper and more complex brawls than ever before. If you're wondering how to pronounce that nonsensical title, by the way, here's a quick primer. Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- premieres on December 16 at retail and digitally via the PlayStation Network. A limited edition release that includes a soundtrack CD, an art book, and a keychain modeled after Sol Badguy's belt buckle will also be available at launch. [Video: Aksys]
Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-'s Limited Edition detailed
North American Guilty Gear fans can spend anywhere from $50 to $80 on the incoming Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- (pronunciation help here), depending on how many real-world trinkets they'd like and the console they intend to drain life meters on. As preorder pages from Amazon dictate, a Standard Edition copy of Xrd -SIGN- on PS3 will go for $50, with its PS4 counterpart running for $60. Xrd -SIGN-'s North American-exclusive Limited Edition will follow the same pattern, with the PS3 version costing $70 and the PS4 build pulling off an $80 combo on wallets. As for what makes the Limited Edition so special, a press release from publisher Aksys notes the bonuses of an outer box styled after the series' Backyard, complete with "gears and high-quality binding," a soundtrack arranged by series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari, and a roster-encompassing art book that also includes work for Gear XX Accent Core Plus and Guilty Gear 2 Overture. A keychain replica of Sol's belt buckle with the word "Free" carved in rounds out the offering. Though preorders are live, the press release only offers up a holiday season launch window, so we'll have to wait a little longer to learn when exactly it'll be time to rock. Regardless of which version you purchase however, Xrd -SIGN-'s crossplay compatibility means PS3 and PS4 owners will eventually all be fighting in the same community. [Image: Aksys Games]
Final Muramasa Rebirth DLC drags players to hell Sept. 2
Vanillaware will wrap up its DLC plans for the PS Vita brawler Muramasa Rebirth early next month with the launch of "Hell's Where the Heart Is," the fourth and last entry in the "Genroku Legends" expanded storyline. Muramasa's final DLC chapter stars the Lord of Hell's daughter Rajyaki, who must shift between three playable forms as she hacks away at demonic creatures and confronts classic bosses featured in the game's core campaign. Previous Vita-exclusive DLC releases include "A Cause to Daikon for" and last month's "A Spirited Seven Nights' Haunting." "Hell's Where the Heart Is" launches digitally via the PlayStation Network on September 2 in North America and September 3 in Europe. [Image: Vanillaware]
Muramasa Rebirth cursed with third DLC chapter, is pretty sickle of it
The third piece of story DLC for Muramasa Rebirth is now available to download for $4.99. Titled "A Spirited Seven Nights' Haunting," the chapter stars the ninja Arashimaru, who is on a quest to survive after receiving a curse that limits his life to seven days. Armed with a sickle and kunai, players can tackle both new and old enemies as Arashimaru and also summon the snake-like spirit threatening to kill him in order to overwhelm enemies. The Genroku Legends series of four downloadable episodes for Muramasa Rebirth was announced in November and features new characters and stories with each entry. The first chapter, "Fishy Tales of the Nekomata" arrived in January followed by the second episode, "A Cause to Daikon For," in February. Muramasa Rebirth launched in June 2013 as the Vita port of Vanillaware's original Wii game, Muramasa: The Demon Blade. The game is free for PlayStation Plus subscribers to download this month. [Image: Aksys Games]
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]
Hakuoki: Stories of the Shinsengumi debuts May 6, limited edition detailed
Localization studio Aksys Games launches its latest campaign to capture the otome (female audience-targeted) adventure game genre with the upcoming PlayStation 3 release of Hakuoki: Stories of the Shinsengumi, due to arrive at retail and digitally via the PlayStation Network on May 6. Presented as a choose-your-own-adventure styled visual novel, Stories of the Shinsengumi is the first PlayStation 3 entry in the series to arrive stateside. Aksys kicked off the series with Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom and its spin-off action game Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi for Sony's PSP, later following up with last year's Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi for the Nintendo 3DS. Aksys additionally revealed the contents of its upcoming Limited Edition retail release for Stories of the Shinsengumi. In addition to a copy of the game, the Limited Edition includes an "Omamori" love charm, a Japanese-style comb and a hairpin, allowing players to look their best as they woo the samurai of their dreams. [Image: Aksys Games]
999: The Novel on iOS coming to North America March 17
Publisher Aksys Games has announced the iOS-specific, interactive comic version of 999: 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors is coming to North America on March 17 for $4.99. 999: The Novel is based on the 2010 DS game also known as Zero Escape, focusing on the game's narrative by removing DS version's puzzles and instead offering players a choose-you-own-adventure story experience. The iOS app first launched in Japan last summer. 999: The Novel from writer Kotaro Uchikoshi promises to take readers on "a suspense-filled journey full of danger, terrifying choices and unexpected twists toward a variety of endings that may or may not see them coming out alive on the other side." A direct sequel, Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward, launched on DS and Vita in North America in late 2012. [Image: Aksys Games]
Magus review: Best worst game
Magus is the worst game I've played this year, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. Bad games typically fall into one of two categories. Many are bad because they're mechanically awkward or otherwise deeply flawed in terms of controls, making them frustrating to play. The second category is much rarer. These games are poorly conceived but otherwise inoffensive with regard to gameplay, often rendering them inept in an endearing sort of way. Magus, exclusive to PS3, neatly falls into the latter category, offering up tons of unintentional laughs at the expense of its boneheaded writing and simplistic gameplay. It's a rare gem of a game that manages to be immensely entertaining despite having no obvious redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Farmers fight the power in second Muramasa Rebirth DLC
The second downloadable addition for PlayStation-exclusive 2D action game Muramasa Rebirth has been unveiled, and instead of more samurai combat, players are thrust into the role of a lowly dirt farmer. Entitled Genroku Legends – A Cause to Daikon For, the DLC casts players as Gonbe, a widowed farmer who grows weary of the local lord taxing his village to death. Instead of instituting democratic elections, Gonbe opts to solve things the old-fashioned way. Unfortunately for this assault, Gonbe isn't much of a trained warrior so the weapons he carries with him into battle are repurposed farm implements. Genroku Legends - A Cause to Daikon For is slated for release on the North American PlayStation Network Store come February 25. A European release will follow the next day. Aksys has yet to announce a price point for this DLC offering. [Image: Aksys Games]
Persona-like dungeon crawler Mind Zero coming to Vita this spring
Aksys Games confirmed that it will release an English-language version of Acquire and ZeroDiv's PS Vita dungeon-crawling RPG Mind Zero in North America and Europe this spring. Similar in premise to Atlus' Persona series, Mind Zero stars a high school student who forges a pact with a "Mind," a supernatural being that grants its partner special abilities and magic attacks. Party members come equipped with unique Minds, which players can switch out and call upon to exploit enemy weaknesses in battle. Mind Zero will be priced at $39.99 when it launches at retail and digitally via the PlayStation Network in North America. Aksys will skip a retail release in Europe, opting instead to launch the game exclusively as a digital download.
Muramasa Rebirth landing in Europe this fall
Muramasa Rebirth will launch this fall in Europe, Aksys Games recently announced. The PlayStation Vita port of Muramasa: The Demon Blade, which first launched in 2009 for Wii, retains the side-scrolling action drawn to life by Vanillaware, the creators of Odin Sphere and Dragon's Crown. Aksys noted that four additional downloadable characters and scenarios will be available for the game, though the DLC has yet to launch in any region, let alone Europe.
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend PS Vita free on PS Plus this week
This week's PlayStation Plus freebie is BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend. All PlayStation Plus members can download the PS Vita fighter gratis when the PlayStation Network updates later today – sorry, the PS3 version does not apply. Tomorrow, PS Plus also gets a free timed trial of Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time and Insomniac Games' latest, Fuse. Finally, PS Plus-exclusive discounts on a few different games will be up for grabs tomorrow: Hamilton's Great Adventure is down to $2.50; Draw Slasher is $4.19; and Germinator can be snagged for $5.
Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi coming to the 3DS in America
Aksys Games has announced a North American release of Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi on the Nintendo 3DS. The game is based on Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom, which made it to the PSP last February.The female-focused "otome" romance game comes to Nintendo's handheld with new story content and some 3DS-specific features, like 3D graphics and the ability to take your potentially creepster picture with the story's main characters.No release date has been announced yet, but those interested can stay tuned to the official site for more.
Muramasa Rebirth finds new life on PS Vita 'early summer'
During a GDC demo of Muramasa Rebirth, the PS Vita port of Vanillaware's 2D action game Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Aksys PR coordinator Russell Iriye confirmed with Joystiq that the game is currently penciled in for "early summer.""We have not talked about a release date yet. Right now all we're saying is early summer. Within the next couple weeks we should be announcing that," Iriye said.Aksys will also offer a pre-order bonus for early Muramasa Rebirth commitment, plus a limited edition. The standard edition will run $39.99, while the limited edition will cost $59.99. Iriye couldn't reveal any of the contents in the limited edition yet.
A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda getting an EX version for X.B.L.A.
The manic side-scrolling shooter A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda, originally developed for Windows by a Thai developer named Extend Studio, is making its way to the Xbox Live Arcade in an extended version, courtesy of Origo Games and publisher Aksys Games. The console version of the title (which placed second in Microsoft's 2010 Dream.Build.Play. competition) will feature new controls, a new UI, redesigned maps and enemies, and new high resolution textures and animated cutscenes.The XBLA version, called A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX, will also include both the original soundtrack, and a new soundtrack for the second campaign by Peruvian heavy metal guitarist Charlie Parra Del Riego. Aksys hasn't announced a date or price for the game yet.
Live and love as Keiji Inafune's niece in Sweet Fuse: By Your Side
You are the fictional niece of game designer Keiji Inafune, visiting his new theme park for the first time. However, the terrorist Count Hogstein has invaded the park and kidnapped the staff on that very day. There's nothing for you to do but take part in Hogstein's twisted games, in an attempt to save Inafune and, perhaps, find love among the other participants.This is possibly one of the best premises for a game ever, and definitely the best premise for an otome game, interesting enough for us to be curious despite the Idea Factory developer credit.Aksys Games is bringing this unique romantic adventure, Sweet Fuse: At Your Side, to PSP in North America this summer.%Gallery-179112%
Aksys publishing Muramasa Rebirth for Vita in North America
The Vita version of Wii action game Muramasa: The Demon Blade will be published in North America by Aksys, Siliconera reports. Based on the 2009 game by Vanillaware, Muramasa Rebirth will have downloadable content adding new storylines and four new characters. The original followed amnesiac ninja Kisuke and possessed princess Momohime, traveling through an Edo-era Japan full of spirits and mythological monsters.Aksys has not revealed a timeframe for the Vita port.
Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi drops Feb. 19
Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi, the hack-and-slash PSP action game based on Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom (itself a PSP otome visual novel about getting hunky samurai to fall in love with you), will be available on February 19 in North America, Aksys has announced. Folks that pre-order the game through Amazon will receive a bandanna featuring the game's eight playable samurai.Not so concerned with the heart's capacity to love as much as with its ability to be stabbed by swords, Warriors of the Shinsengumi follows young maiden Chizuru and her accompanying Shinsengumi on their quest to find her father. Players will be able to play through two versions of the game, one that follows Demon of the Fleeting Blossom's storyline and a second, alternate version.%Gallery-169695%
Bit.Trip Saga coming to 3DS eShop December 20 for $15
Aksys Games is bringing Bit.Trip Saga, the Gaijin Games 3DS compilation that hit retail last year, to Nintendo's eShop on December 20. What's more, the collection will cost $14.99, saving players a whole bunch of dollars in addition to the convenience of the compilation being downloadable.Bit.Trip Saga includes Bit.Trip Beat, Bit.Trip Core, Bit.Trip Void, Bit.Trip Runner, Bit.Trip Fate and Bit.Trip Flux. If our math is correct, that's only a couple dollars per game in the six-game bundle. What a deal! %Gallery-138323%
