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TGS07 bits: Darth Vader paparazzi
It seems the Tokyo Game Show's intense draw extends beyond international borders and well into intergalactic, fictional universes, a fact highlighted by Saturday's arrival of one Darth Vader. The force-choking, emperor-dunking Jedi was seen leading an imperial march through the show floor, glaring intensely at cosplayers and scolding his accompanying stormtroopers for being unable to complete the Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles demo.When quizzed about his favorite games at the show, Mr. Vader blamed Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon for putting something resembling a smile on his horribly scarred face. He also noted disappointment in the response of Japanese gamers to Halo 3's "Believe" marketing campaign, describing their lack of faith as "disturbing."%Gallery-7788%
TGS07: Wii captures Fatal Frame
Tecmo is bringing the next Fatal Frame title to the Wii, and they're recruiting Team Awesome-Crazy at Grasshopper Manufacture on board to handle the details. Clearly, this eclipses all the other news that's come out of this year's Tokyo Game Show. That's it. There's no topping it. Okay, maybe we're biased here, but Fatal Frame represents some of the best in horror gaming. While the photography-centric series lacks the action some prefer in survival horror games, Fatal Frame has always offered a gorgeous, spooky, thoughtful experience that blends horror and adventure. Combine that with the twisted sense of surrealism Grasshopper can bring to the table, and Fatal Frame IV is set to be an amazing title. [Thanks, Brandon!]
TGS07: Puzzle Fighters coming to EU in early November
Whilst getting some hands-on time with Devil May Cry 4 at TGS with the guys from Capcom we asked a few questions regarding Puzzle Fighter HD and its delay in Europe. The Capcom representitives told us that the game would be available for download on the EU PSN store in early November. The reason for the delay is, as usual, localisation issues. They were also quick to mention that in solving these issues now all future Capcom downloadable content will be available worldwide simultaneously. Sounds like a good deal to us.We followed up by asking whether Sony Europe would be providing any localisation aid to publishers now that they recognise the issues that are causing the delays and trying to fix them. Quite frankly, the answer is no. Third party publishers who want their content available to all regions simultaneously will have to make it happen themselves. But if Capcom can promise that all future releases will be available without delays, then others must be able to do the same, right Sony?
TGS07: Beautiful new Tales of Innocence trailer
The post-show media just keeps rolling in! We're not complaining, though ... far from it, when the media in question is as mind-boggling as this Tales of Innocence trailer. Even us dedicated DS fans are sometimes impressed with the capabilities creative developers can wring out of our handheld. This latest Tales installment is due for release in December in Japan, and there's no word on localization, but after seeing this trailer, we can only hope Namco Bandai picks up the slack. [Thanks, creamsugar!]
TGS07: A very short glimpse at Opoona
The first rule of taking video at a game show is you do not talk about Fight Club make sure half of your video does not consist of the back of some random dude's head. Considering the video is on the shorter side, this isn't that big of a deal. We still get a good glimpse at the character status screens, along with a small chunk of environment exploration. But, know this: if you do it again GameSpot, we're coming for you.
TGS07: PixelJunk Monsters unearthed
Hidden away in a list of upcoming PSN releases at Tokyo Game Show was PixelJunk Monsters. There isn't much known about the title, but if it's anything like the newly-released PixelJunk Racers, it should bring back new retro 2D gameplay to PS3 audiences everywhere. We have to wonder if you play as the monster, or are are trying to defend yourself from the monster in these new pics -- let the speculation begin.%Gallery-7756%
TGS07: The new (and old) features of Wipeout HD
Wipeout HD is hitting the PLAYSTATION Store later this year, and although it's just a remix of tracks from previous games, there's a lot to look forward to. In addition to the obviously improved graphics, the game takes a few key features from previous Wipeout titles, and adds a few of its own: SIXAXIS support - "Wipeout HD provides full support of the SIXAXIS wireless controller." Tilt-ready racing, perhaps? Mag-Strips - From the upcoming Wipeout Pulse game on PSP, this feature allows players to defy gravity through tracks that feature loops, vertical drops, and 90 degree sections. Teams - Like any Wipeout game, this iteration features eight teams from Wipeout Pulse. Seven Race Modes, including Zone - Single Race, Tournament, Time Trial, Speed Lap, Zone Mode, Elimination and Head-2-Head. Zone Mode, from Wipeout Pure, will make your craft go progressively faster throughout a race until your ship explodes. It's one of the best additions to the franchise in recent memory. Three New Weapons - The Repulser, Shuriken and Leach Beam. Photo Mode - Like Wipeout Pulse, players will be able to take screenshots from within the game. 8 Eight Player Online Multiplayer - With "Team vs Team" mode, which allows teams of two to compete in larger races. Community Website - Lets players create their own profiles and see stats and data for other players. Downloadable Content - The game will continue to expand through more downloadable packs. Music - Nine fully-licensed music tracks, remixed in 5.1. Expect Wipeout HD to hit the Store later this year. Until then, check out our new screenshots.%Gallery-7754%
TGS07: The Ninja Gaiden stylus lets you murder your DS
GayGamer's Fruit Brute just posted a picture of the styli he picked up in Tokyo while in town for TGS. Of special interest is the promotional Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword stylus, which he received at a Tecmo party. It's a little sword! With a scabbard and everything. Sure, poking at the touch screen with a plastic finger is okay, but the idea that we could advance through Elite Beat Agents by repeatedly stabbing and slicing at the title characters is disturbingly irresistible. Wait, that came out wrong. We can, and quite frequently do, resist the urge to stab fictional characters.
Can you imagine? Katamari rolling to PS3
While at the Tokyo Game Show, 1UP was able to confirm with director Jun Morikawa that Beautiful Katamari would not be arriving on the PlayStation 3. But, fans of rolling take heart! Morikawa says that the series will "definitely be making its way to the console soon," just not in the Beautiful Katamari state. So, will this be the Katamari that evolves the series at least a little bit past the roots established in the 2004 original? Well, what does your heart tell you? Because ours is walking away, shaking its head and laughing, which we can't imagine is a good sign.[Via PS3F]
TGS07: D3 announces Oneechanbara R
D3 Publisher's Oneechanbara was a Simple 2000 action game about a bikini-and-cowboy-hat-clad girl hacking up tons of zombies with a samurai sword, getting covered with blood in the process. It's reportedly not very good and represents the amount of effort expected from a 3D action game designed to be sold for about $20.That hasn't stopped it from being popular enough for numerous sequels, including a full-priced release on the Xbox 360. And now it's headed to the Wii in what promises to be a mess to control. But a different kind of mess than previous Oneechanbara games! Famitsu was on the scene to take lots of pictures of the model dressed as the heroine, Aya, and one picture of a guy playing the game or whatever. Luckily, a Ruliweb poster captured some video, so you can see, you know, the real game. As Simple series fans (for some reason), we'd like to see this come to the U.S., at a nice Simple price. However, since Oneechanbara R is not part of the Simple Wii series, we doubt it'll be budget-priced in Japan. [Via NeoGAF]
TGS07: Finally, someone explains the tiger
As happy as we are to hear gameplay impressions of No More Heroes, all of which cast the game as a straightforward combo-based action game in the vein of God Hand (YES) with limited, and sensible, waggle, none of the hands-on posts have satisfied our curiosity regarding the game's most mysterious feature: the tiger.We've stared at screenshots and video, hoping to glean from context what is going on with the little tiger icon in the upper right corner, to no avail. We cheered as, during one TGS demo video, the booth attendant seemed to point in that direction, but nothing ever came of that, either. That's why Spencer Yip is awesome. He asked point-blank what the deal with the freaking tiger was, and brought back the answer to the expectant masses like Moses coming down with a very specific set of commandments that don't actually tell anyone to do anything. It turns out that it's a meter for a "super mode" transformation that has yet to be implemented.We can relax now.
TGS07: Oboro Muramasa Youtouden looks even better in motion
We're already in agreeance that Oboro Muramasa Youtouden is one of the best-looking games announced for the Wii -- we shook hands on it, signed the appropriate forms, and even had a notary stamp the papers to make it official. Still, this first video glimpse of the 2D ARPG managed to leave us in a state of ecstasy, our skin alive with pleasure. What secret resource has Vanillaware tapped into that other developers have so far ignored? Most of the titles we saw at the Tokyo Game Show didn't look half as good as this.
TGS07: New trailer for Dragon Quest IV
Having just received a release date and price for Japan, we knew the game would be on-hand in Tokyo, but nothing in the way of video managed to climb out from under the already suffocating amount of news. That is, until now. And, while the above video is mainly just some pan shots of concept art with small portions of gameplay tossed in for good measure, it's still enough to get you pumped for the game. [Via NeoGAF]
TGS07: Siliconera cracks open Time Hollow
We know that the Tokyo Game Show has been "wrapped up", but there's still plenty of news being posted that we feel we'd be remiss if we didn't pass on. Like this hands-on preview of Konami's Time Hollow from Siliconera, which sounds like a much more serious, supernatural take on the kind of environment-investigation puzzles found in the Ace Attorney series.Basically, the game involves you, as high school student Horo Tokio (a pun on "Time Hollow"-- "Horo" is a Japanicized pronunciation of "hollow", and "Toki" is Japanese for "time"), using a magic pen to draw circles around things you want to go back in time and fix. Key events are saved as "flashbacks" which you can then revisit and mess with using your tiiiiime pen. In the example scenario, you circle and fix the gears on a girl's bike so she doesn't die in a wreck. Charming!This game is set for a Japanese release in January of next year, which seems very soon for a newly-announced title. Hopefully Konami can use some of that same speed in producing a localized version.
TGS07: A look back
Another big show has come to an end, but we're left with tons of news and video to sift through in the wake of the Tokyo Game Show. There's so much planned for the DS that we can barely keep track of it all; some days, it seems like everyone wants a piece of the handheld, and this year's show certainly reflects that. Here's a recap of the coverage:NewsAn evident US release for Dungeon ExplorerFront Mission 2089 announced for DSTime Hollow adds to the DS time-travel game genreKingdom Hearts confirmed for DSEA Populating the DSKonami moves beyond yogaNew DS game aims at the wine-loving crowdVideoThat's some Spirited gameplayApollo Justice trailerFlip what ya mama gave ya: Ninja Gaiden TGS trailerImpressionsJoystiq goes hands-on with Dragon SwordGame Center CX, the new game about old games, previewedChecking out Cooking Mama 2Kohler validates our enthusiasm for Arkanoid and Space InvadersBangai-O Spirits dazzles IGN
PS3 Poll Police: How did you feel about TGS '07?
The Poll Police have pulled out of their duties in Tokyo, as the Tokyo Game Show winds down. We believe it was T.S. Eliot who once said "This is the way Tokyo Game Show ends; not with a bang, but a whimper." Well, if Eliot were a gamer, we're sure that'd be true. Anyhow, we've got our opinions about the show for this year, but we're curious about what you thought. So, our poll for this week is quite simple: what impression did you take away from TGS? TGS '07: What did you think? I thought it was a pretty exciting show. It was neither here nor there on my radar. I thought it was sort of tame. It was bad. pollcode.com free polls We don't know if it was the plethora of trailers and moderate dearth of playables, or the delay of Home, or the already-common-knowledge announcement of the DualShock 3, but TGS was missing a bang this year. Our personal opinion -- don't vote just to agree. However, you should check out our results from last week's poll after the jump. Technically, most of you should have been pleased.
TGS07: That's a wrap!
So, the Tokyo Game Show has come to a close. It's sad to see such a beautiful thing come to an end, eh? We think so, too. But, in case you are one of the few that haven't read all of the news or watched all of the new trailers, then be sure to scroll down the post further. We've got all of the links you need.News:Sega makes a horrible predictionHori joysticks rejoices as SNK announces King of Fighters, Samurai Showdown collectionsWii Sports wins CESA awardScribbling mustaches on Zack and WikiNeo Geo VC games already obsoleteSnake in Smash Bros. BrawlTreasure confirms title in developmentProject O still rolling slowly alongVideo:Mysterious trailer: Shiren the Wanderer 3No More Heroes says yes to more videosNiGHTS gameplay video swoops in to save the dayAthletic World features leaningUmbrella Chronicles trailer shows Wesker as a zombie?!Sonic Riders and Mibri & Tebri trailersScreens:Turn your giant, featureless head toward some Power Pro screensHands-on impressions:Joystiq finds the NiGHTS demo lacks motion control, validation
TGS hands-on: echochrome
After its shocking E3 debut, we desperately wanted to play echochrome, the mind-bending Escher-inspired puzzle game that has players changing their perspective. Available on the PS3 as a downloadable title and as a PSP game, echochrome excited audiences with its truly innovative concept. But, how did the publicly playable PS3 demo play? Well, it works exactly as you expect it to. The demonstration features an English-speaking monotone voice that seems a perfect match with the game's ultra-minimalist presentation. She'll explain the five rules of the game that control the way your perspective, the world, and your character, all interact with each other. Each sequence has players testing out a single new device, such as being able to block obstacles by hiding them from the player's vision. Through this brief tutorial, players will be gifted with the ability to start playing through the game's mind-destroying puzzles. The single level available in the demonstration had us attempting to collect echoes, shadows situated in various points in the stage. As simple as that may sound, imagining the total destruction of object permanence is not something we're readily accustomed to. The on-screen avatar acts like a lemming, constantly going forward, even if it means certain doom for the character. This means players will have to act fast, and position the level correctly as the avatar makes its way forward. This is where we found that the camera rotates a bit too slowly for our tastes. We ended one of our lives trying to cover a hole, but couldn't rotate the level quickly enough to save our character. Thankfully, each echo that one walks into acts as a checkpoint, so that the level we played didn't become frustrating. However, we hope that Sony will make moving the camera a bit speedier. echochrome is a simple, innovative, and more importantly, fun title that continues to deliver on the PlayStation Store's promise of offering gamers unique gameplay experiences. Although we didn't get to play much, it's clear that Sony has something truly special in their hands.
TGS impressions: Ninja Gaiden 2
"Violent content is a big feature," says Ninja Gaiden 2 project lead Yoshifuru Okamoto, well aware of the obvious nature of his statement. Subtlety isn't a concept that's welcome in this particular Tokyo hotel room, with even the faintest hint of it soundly beaten with an over-sized mallet before being strapped to the hood of a car barreling into an exploding train... falling out of an airplane. Which also happens to be exploding. Team Ninja's long-awaited, not-a-remake sequel to Ninja Gaiden has already garnered attention for its gratuitous and unyielding violence, with early screenshots depicting massive arterial blood sprays, decapitations and all manner of lopped and lobbed limbs. It's further exacerbated when seen in motion, as enemies clutch bloody stumps and roll about in agony when separated from their legs. If you didn't consider series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa to be a murdering machine before, Ninja Gaiden 2 should provide enough visual evidence to convince you otherwise.
TGS hands-on: Star Ocean First Departure
Watching Star Ocean: First Departure is far more entertaining than playing it. The time-limited demo we played at the Tokyo Game Show starts with a glorious anime cinema that looks stunning on the PSP's screen. Once the cinema ends, the game goes back to its 2D roots with fairly unimpressive sprites that are a bit too small in the now-widescreen display.Yes, it's a remake of a decades-old RPG, but the in-game graphics lack the life seen in other PSP RPGs. Even Square Enix's own Final Fantasy remakes on the system added shiny new graphical effects, like brand new lighting. At the very least, the game runs at a silky smooth framerate that looks really eye-popping. Navigating the overworld was easy, and we were pleased by the incredible production values: voice acting was aplenty and much appreciated (even though we couldn't understand what they were saying!).The battle system is where we found ourselves less enamored with the game. In a similar fashion to Namco's Tales series, the three characters run around a field in real-time. Players can attack in real-time with their lead character, although the experience felt somewhat simplistic. Sure, we had a limited amount of time with the game, and it was in Japanese. However, the game simply didn't have the flair that its animated cutscenes do, and the battles were less than engaging. Hopefully, more time with the game will change our opinion, but for now we're not too enthusiastic about Square Enix's latest effort.
