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All the reveals from PlayStation Experience 2016
It definitely feels like Sony showed off more games during the PlayStation Experience keynote today than it did at E3. Which is pretty impressive, when you think about it. The show started out with a glimpse at the next chapter of the Uncharted saga and ended with, well, the next chapter in the The Last of Us. Both were extremely unexpected treats from developer Naughty Dog, but in between those bookends were a ton of other teases and announcements from the company's 20-plus years of gaming history. If you wanted fresh versions of Parappa the Rapper and WipeOut, or even an updated take on the obscure Windjammers, you're all set. Oh, and how about the next game from Housemarque, the Robotron-esque Nex Machina? Now, let's get to the videos.
The follow-up to 'Resogun' is a Hail Mary for arcade shooters
Housemarque, the Finnish developer behind Resogun and Dead Nation, hasn't had the best year. I visited its Helsinki headquarters back in September to see how the studio was following up Resogun, the surprise hit of the PlayStation 4 launch. What I found was a unique company struggling to hold on to the identity it believes in. Housemarque made its name with Stardust. Originally released for the Amiga in the early '90s, the series rose to prominence with the digital release of Super Stardust HD on the PlayStation 3. The studio has since become a specialist in digital-only games, almost all of which can trace their lineage back to the arcade. The isometric shooter Dead Nation was the studio's next big hit, going on to become one of the bestselling digital-only titles for PlayStation 3, while the Ikaruga-meets-Metroid platformer Outland was critically acclaimed. But it was during the launch of the PlayStation 4 that Housemarque would make the biggest impact. Resogun took the basic premise behind the arcade classic Defender and turned it into a modern shooter. With cylindrical stages and a custom voxel-based engine, the game was by far the strongest PlayStation 4 exclusive of its time, and one of scant few highlights of the console's November 2013 launch.
Abduct four pals for couch co-op in PS4's 'Alienation'
What's better than mowing down (virtual) alien hordes with a buddy sitting right next to you? When it comes to video games, not much. That's why the fine Finnish folks at developer Housemarque are adding local co-op to the top-down, xenophobic shooter Alienation next week. Come July 5th, up to four players can join in on the same-screen mayhem according to a post on the studio's blog. That's not all either, because the update also brings in a competitive play system dubbed "leagues," and a pair of crushing new difficulty levels for the folks who could probably play the game with their eyes shut by now.
Resogun Defenders brings two new modes to PS4 next year
While Resogun is firing up its engines to launch on PS3 and Vita later this month, a new expansion for the game is in the works: Resogun Defenders. Priced at $5, the final add-on for the game introduces two new modes: Protector and Commando. It also features new ships and planets for players to "save the last humans" on (we're pretty sure they mean it this time). Resogun Defenders will launch early next year, and will be part of the game's $8 season pass. The season pass includes the "Heroes" DLC, which hit digital shelves in June. Housemarque will also issue a free content update alongside Defenders codenamed "Challengers," which offers new challenges for players across Resogun's existing modes. [Image: SCEE]
Resogun saves the last humans on PS3, Vita this month
Carousel-scrolling shooter Resogun will reach PlayStation 3 and PS Vita on Tuesday, December 23 in North America. The game will launch nearly a week earlier in Europe on Wednesday, December 17. Resogun first arrived as a launch title for Sony's latest home console, PlayStation 4, in November 2013. While originally developed by Housemarque, the PS3 and Vita ports are courtesy of Climax Studios, the developer behind the PS4 and Vita version of Housemarque's Dead Nation. PlayStation Blog notes that the PS3 and Vita versions of Resogun run at 30 frames per second as opposed to the 60 fps seen in the current-gen version of the game. The game will be Cross-Save and Cross-Buy compatible, so those that own the PS4 version will be able to download it on the other two systems for free instead of ponying up $14.99. Resogun on Vita will feature ad-hoc cooperative multiplayer and the ability to customize controls in order to use the system's touch panel options. [Image: SCEE]
Resogun sets course for PS Vita
Arcade-style shooter Resogun will receive a PlayStation Vita version, developer Housemarque confirmed via Twitter today. The Vita port will be handled by Climax Studios, which developed the PS4 and Vita versions of another Housemarque original, Dead Nation. While no release date for the Vita version was given, the developer noted that "more details on the port will soon be released by Sony." Resogun launched alongside the PS4 in November 2013 as a free download for PlayStation Plus subscribers. The game's first major "Heroes" expansion arrived this past June and added new survival and demolition modes to the shooter. The DLC launched shortly after a free update for the game patched in a ship editor and local cooperative multiplayer options. [Image: Housemarque]
Outland switches platforms, absorbs bullets on Steam
Resogun developer Housemarque's platforming, bullet-dodging hybrid Outland will make its way to Steam on September 29. A related post on Housemarque's blog notes that in addition to Outland's campaign co-op, the port will include "a revamped checkpoint system," which should be helpful for those going against flowing, tone-changing bullet patterns for the first time. Outland's intricate, dangerous environments first appeared on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade in April of 2011, and while Editor-In-Chief Ludwig Kietzmann wished the co-op had altered the experience in a meaningful way, his review concluded that Outland "succeeds where it counts." [Image: Ubisoft]
Housemarque bringing Alienation to PS4
Housemarque, the studio behind Super Stardust HD and Resogun, is bringing yet more frenetic shooting to PlayStation 4. A brief trailer shown during Sony's Gamescom press conference showcased space marines mowing down waves of nasty monsters. Players will be able to tackle the challenge cooperatively and, in an interesting twist, it looks like they can turn against each other competitively as well. Watch the trailer for yourself after the break.
PSA: Resogun 'Heroes' DLC out today
The first major gameplay expansion for Housemarque's PlayStation 4 shoot-'em-up Resogun will hit the PlayStation Store later today, Sony's XDEV Studio Europe announced. The "Heroes" DLC features a Survival mode that pits players against endless waves of enemies in the new Avernus stage. Also launching as part of the DLC is the Demolition mode, an explosive ball-bouncing challenge that XDEV describes as "Resogun meets Arkanoid with a touch of Pinball." Resogun's DLC release follows up on a free update that introduces local co-op gameplay and a ship editor, along with a new collection of unlockable trophies. [Video: Sony]
Resogun's free local co-op, Ship Editor update coming tomorrow
Sunday isn't the typical time to hunker down and download fresh content with consoles, but Resogun will defy societal norms tomorrow with an update that adds local co-op and a Ship Editor. Perhaps you can forgive the abnormal launch date due to the update's lack of a price tag? Come on, it's even a day ahead of its previously-planned June 23 release! According to the PlayStation Blog, the Ship Editor allows for more than just palette-swapping paint jobs – pilots will be able to create their dream human-saving craft, down to the positioning of weaponry, afterburners and setting "attributes to govern the ship's agility, boost and overdrive, and choose either of the standard weapon sets." Non-creative types can just wait for the Resogun community to build the inevitable Nyan Cat-shaped vehicle and download it for themselves, thanks to support for sharing builds online. If the addition of local co-op isn't enough of a reason to play with new (or downloaded) creations, the free update will add a few new trophies to chase. You can always burn time climbing your way back up the leaderboards, too – the related post notes that due to players finding exploits, the update will reset leaderboards in addition to patching a few of those up. As great as free content is, the Heroes expansion for Resogun is still launching on June 24, offering Survival and Demolition modes for $5. [Image: Housemarque]
Housemarque grabs and chucks new DLC at Resogun this month
A new Heroes expansion adds two modes to frenetic shoot-em-up Resogun, and the $5 content is due for the PS4 game on June 24. In addition, dev Housemarque is patching in a ship editor and local co-op for all players, and that lands the day before on June 23. Housemarque's Mikael Haveri said the day/night cycle will stand out in the new Survival mode, while Demolition lives up to its name by adding a wrecking ball weapon to its chaos, along with pinball-esque power-ups like multiball. Heroes won't be the only DLC coming to Resogun, with Housemarque promising more modes and the original soundtrack in future content. If you want in on all of that, a new season pass will be available for $8.
PlayStation 99-cent sale discounts Tokyo Jungle, Super Stardust, more
The PlayStation Network Store is hosting a flash sale for dozens of games this weekend, each discounted to 99 cents. The sale spans PS3, Vita and PSP games as well as both PS2 and PSOne Classics, such as the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon series. The sale features standout gems like PopCap's Plants vs Zombies, Jonathan Blow's Braid, Sony's own Tokyo Jungle and Housemarque's Super Stardust HD. It also includes full seasons of episode Telltale-developed games Back to the Future and Jurassic Park as well as the adventure studio's five-game Tales of Monkey Island bundle. The full list of games included in this weekend's sale can be found after the break. [Image: Sony Online Entertainment]
Housemarque might be teasing local multiplayer for Resogun
Developer Housemarque tweeted the above picture yesterday, likely hinting that a DLC co-op mode is in the works for its PlayStation 4 game, Resogun. Available at the PlayStation 4's launch last year, Resogun is a horizontally scrolling shoot-'em-up in the vein of the arcade classic Defender, challenging players to rescue human survivors as they blast waves of enemy ships. The game premiered as part of the PlayStation Plus Instant Game Collection, emerging as an early favorite for Sony's new platform. Currently, simultaneous co-op play in Resogun is limited to online multiplayer sessions. Housemarque notes that the content featured in the teased image is the "first of many things to come" with regard to future Resogun DLC. [Image: Housemarque]
Dead Nation's zombie hordes take a bite out of the Vita on April 15
Following a 2010 PlayStation 3 debut and a recent PlayStation 4 release, Dead Nation will complete the Sony trifecta by reaching the Vita handheld on April 15. Originally developed by Housemarque (the studio responsible for Joystiq-favorite shooter Resogun), Dead Nation drops players into an ongoing zombie apocalypse. From a top-down perspective, would-be survivors navigate a decrepit city, blasting hordes of ambulatory corpses while collecting health packs, explosives and cash useful for upgrading both guns and a player's armor. Despite the zombies, Dead Nation is best described as an arcade shooter, rather than a horror game, though players should expect to see lots of gore and ominous shadows. On debut, the Vita version of Dead Nation will be available from the PlayStation Network Store at a price of $8, while the game's Road To Devastation DLC will feature a $4 price tag. If you already own the PlayStation 3 version of Dead Nation, you will be able to download the Vita game for free. [Image: Housemarque]
Hinder or help in Dead Nation PS4 streams
The PS4 port of Housemarque's top-down arcade shooter, Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition, will have an interesting feature called "Broadcast+," where streamers can have viewers directly affect their game through a voting mechanic. During certain sections, democracy will be triggered and viewers on PS4 or through Twitch's web site can aid survivors with things like additional ammo or up the difficulty by spawning more zombies. The full "Road of Devastation" expansion, with its supplemental Arcade and Endless game modes, will be included in Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition. A "challenge" mechanic will allow players to set scores and dare their friends to surpass them. Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition sports improved, full 1080p graphics and both local and online co-op. Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition will be a free download for PS Plus members on March 4 and a $14.99 download for basic PSN users. A PS Vita port of the original game is also in the works at an unnamed third-party studio.
Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition listed for PS4 by SCE Asia
Housemarque is bringing the twin-stick zombie massacre of Dead Nation to the PS4, according to Sony Computer Entertainment Asia. The Hong Kong PlayStation Blog lists the top-down shooter in a new Apocalypse Edition for the PS4, and says it'll be part of March's PlayStation Plus' freebies for the region. Housemarque announced an outsourced Vita port of the PS3 game last year, but this is the first word of it coming to the PS4. Interestingly, Korea's classification board published new Dead Nation ratings today for PS4 and Vita, suggesting the two versions could be released side-by-side. We've reached out to Housemarque to find out what's up. The PS4 launch saw the Finnish studio bring its intense brand of twin-stick action to the new console with Resogun - a PS Plus game itself - but another offering wouldn't hurt. Well, it would hurt the zombies, but they deserve it. Back in 2010, former Joystiq-er Andrew Yoon shelled out a perfect five stars to Dead Nation, lauding its "suffocatingly dense" swarms of undead and its strategically sound local and online co-op. [Image: Sony Computer Entertainment]
Resogun DLC in the works
Resogun isn't done saving the last humans. Passively mentioned in the responses to a Facebook page post about the game's nomination for "Action Game of the Year" at this year's DICE Awards, developer Housemarque also indicated it's working to expand the arcade shooter. "At the moment we are working on Resogun DLC and another PS4 project," a company rep wrote. No timeline is mentioned for the downloadable content or the next project. But expect a lot of psychedelic particle effects either way.
Best of the Rest: Earnest's picks of 2013
Team Joystiq is barging into 2014 with a celebration of last year's best games. Keep reading throughout the week to see our assembly of ingenious indies and triple-A triumphs. Pokémon X/Y Nintendo is generally a risk-averse company, but with its most recent Pokémon entries it proves that when the normally predictable gaming giant decides to switch things up, it does so in spectacular fashion. Not content to merely increase the number of Pokémon yet again, Nintendo added proper, full-featured online gameplay to Pokémon X and Y alongside gorgeous, colorful 3D graphics. The basic "gotta catch 'em all" gameplay formula still underlies X and Y, but for the first time since the original generation of Pokémon games, catching a Pikachu in the tall grass is complemented by a feeling of modernity and aesthetics superior to anything the franchise has ever seen. While Nintendo will likely have a very hard time topping the success of X and Y with their inevitable sequels, that's less a knock against the company and more high praise of just how hard Nintendo pushed itself for the franchise's 3DS debut. Whether you're old hat at tossing Pokéballs or just want to add a new vice to your life, Pokémon X and Y are phenomenal games that obsolete everything the series has spawned previously.
Furmins line up a path to Vitas, candy on December 17
The less-than-coordinated of us know that navigating spaces can at times be harder than it looks. As often as we may stumble, Furmins have it one step harder - they're just limbless balls of fur waiting on an omniscient power to guide them to their destinations. Their puzzle-oriented plight is lining up a pathway from iOS devices to Vitas on December 17. Compared to Resogun, Furmins is a less explosive effort from developer Housemarque that makes a puzzle out of the journey from Point A to Point B. Players construct potential solutions for any given level in Furmins' Setup mode, which pauses the environment to allow for a path to be constructed out of objects. Once a solution is ready, switching to the Action mode lets the scenario play out, resulting in glory or a return to the phase of blueprints. If you're feeling particularly crafty, you can build with the bits of candy strewn across levels in mind. The PlayStation Blog notes that Furmins has "100+ unique levels," but it does not suggest a price. The iOS version, Furmins HD, is currently $2.99 on the App Store, but you can try the first world of Furmins Free at no charge.
Resogun co-op trailer has twice the ships, twice the explosions
We called Resogun "a smart, merciless little shooter" in our four-star review, but did you know that it's also a smart, merciless little shooter that can be enjoyed in online co-op mode? Yes, with another ship at your side, the fun can be doubled. You can get a taste for co-op thanks to the trailer above, and if you're a PS4 owner already, you have a couple other options. Since the game is free for PlayStation Plus members - which everyone can try out thanks to a 30-day trial voucher - there's no reason not to check it out. And if you're worried about not having anyone to play with, don't be: One million PS4 units were sold during the system's first 24 hours on the shelves, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a co-pilot.
