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Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z's classic side-scrolling mode spotted in new trailer, screens
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z will receive a special Ninja Gaiden Z mode, Team Ninja announced. The retro-inspired mode offers side-scrolling action similar to past games in the series along with 8-bit-style cut scenes and menus. In addition to the trailer and screens showing off the classic game mode, the developer issued an additional quirky parody trailer, seen after the break. What's more, Team Ninja noted that the game's main character Yaiba will receive a downloadable alternate costume thanks to a collaboration with Comcept. Players will have the ability to dress their ninja warrior up like Beck, the lead character of Keiji Inafune's Mighty No. 9. Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is slated to launch on March 4, 2014 for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3.
Get Payday 2, Dead or Alive 5 Plus for a steal in Europe's PSN sale
PlayStation Europe's seasonal savings continue this week with Dead or Alive 5 Plus and Payday 2, with the Vita beat-em-up down to £15 (€20/AU$25) and the PS3 heist-em-up at £12 (€15/AU$18). PlayStation Plus members can put that subscription to further use by chopping a further 10 percent off both offers. Finally, as with all games in PlayStation's 12 Deals of Christmas Euro-promo, the offers last for 48 hours starting today.
Marie Rose enters the Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate: Arcade arena [update]
Update: Game Director Yohei Shimbori told 4Gamer (via Siliconera) that Tecmo Koei plans to add Marie Rose to all versions of DOA5 Ultimate via an update. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate: Arcade, the Japan-exclusive arcade port of Team Ninja's latest brawler, is piling another character on top of its already-stacked roster. Lolita fasionista Marie Rose, along with the other 862 characters* in the game, is briefly teased in the trailer above. Japanese arcades get DOA 5 Ultimate: Arcade some time this winter. Tecmo Koei has not announced the arcade version for other territories, though a post on Facebook says that despite this being an exclusive to Japan, "we haven't forgotten about our overseas fighters" and that Tecmo Koei will provide "more information in the near future." *There aren't 862 characters in DOA 5 Ultimate: Arcade, despite the fact that it totally seems that way. In reality, there are 30 characters to choose from in DOA 5 Ultimate: Arcade.
Dead or Alive 5: Ultimate Core Fighters eclipses 500,000 downloads
Dead or Alive 5: Ultimate Core Fighters, a free-to-play adaptation of Tecmo Koei's one-on-one fighting game series for the PlayStation 3, has been downloaded more than 500,000 times since its launch in September. Released alongside the retail version of Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate, Core Fighters features a limited selection of characters and modes, offering a story component and other content via add-on purchases. Shortly after Core Fighters was announced, rival fighting game publisher Namco Bandai countered with the free-to-play Tekken Revolution, which has been downloaded more than two million times since June. Dead or Alive 5: Ultimate and Core Fighters are updated with new content frequently, with last month bringing the release of Halloween-themed character costumes. Developer Team Ninja continues the trend with this week's launch of downloadable Tecmo Bowl uniforms for Bass, Bayman, Leon, Rachel, Tina and Zack. Players who purchase any of the six new football costumes will also receive a free downloadable copy of the retro football revival Tecmo Bowl Throwback for the PlayStation 3.
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z bringing that cyborg ninja to Europe a week early
Yaiba Ninja Gaiden Z-ooms to Europe one week ahead of North America, slicing up the continent on February 28. Just yesterday, Tecmo Koei announced the flamboyant spin-off will hit North America on March 4, coming to Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. Yaiba represents an unusual three-way collaboration between Team Ninja, Lost Planet 3 dev Spark Unlimiited, and Soul Sacrifice studio Comcept. The fruit borne is a mixture of Ninja Gaiden slice-and-dicing and, well, lots and lots and lots of zombies. And plenty of smut too, as a new trailer reveals.
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z pits cyborg ninja against zombies next March
Spark Unlimited, Team Ninja and Comcept collaboration Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z has been pegged for a March 4, 2014 launch in the US on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC through Steam. Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z centers around anti-hero Yaiba Kamikaze - a ninja who massacres his entire clan for perceived weakness. After dying by the hand of Ninja Gaiden series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa during a duel, Kamikaze is then resurrected as a cyborg by a mysterious corporation, which forces him to embark on a quest to quell a zombie outbreak in exchange for the power to enact his revenge on Hayabusa. Team Ninja told Joystiq back in August that the Unreal Engine 3-powered slash-em-up is its own thing - not a spin-off or sequel. Team Ninja went on to say it would love to pursue a sequel, granted Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z manages to find an audience. And if the latest trailer above is any indication, that target audience is folks who enjoy terrible, cringe-worthy euphemisms.
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z set to slash through Steam
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z will now chop, slice and dice on PC. Publisher Tecmo Koei announced this morning that the spin-off will be available on Steam, alongside the announced Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, in early 2014. Yaiba, which we haven't heard much of since Gamescom, is an action-packed bout of ninjas vs. zombies created between Spark Unlimited (Lost Planet 3), Team Ninja and Keiji Inafune's Comcept, which also has its hands full with the successful Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter.
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate: Arcade adds a new fighter
When Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate debuts in Japanese arcades, players will be introduced to an additional character not seen in the game's newly-released console incarnation. Who exactly this new fighter might be remains a mystery. The Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate roster includes almost every notable character found in earlier Dead or Alive entries, and with the addition of Rachel and Momiji from Tecmo Koei's Ninja Gaiden franchise, developer Team Ninja is running out of potential cameo characters. Neither Tecmo Koei nor Team Ninja have offered any hints on the fighter's identity. It was revealed in July that Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate: Arcade will be distributed to Japanese arcades via Sega's "ALL.Net P-ras MULTI Ver. 2," a digital platform that delivers games to online-capable arcade cabinets located in Japanese amusement centers. To date there's been no mention of a Western release for Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate: Arcade, nor any word on when the game might debut in Japan.
Yaiba 'is its own thing,' Team Ninja would love to make Yaiba 2
Although it's set in the Ninja Gaiden universe, Team Ninja looks at Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z as its own entity, separate from Ryu Hayabusa's outings and able to develop into its own property. Speaking to Joystiq at Gamescom, studio head Yosuke Hayashi said his team would love to make a Yaiba 2, but it needs to ensure the first Yaiba is a success first. "It's not a sequel or a spin-off, it is its own thing," Hayashi said, "And so the systems are very different. We want to have it open to another audience, to people who like zombie games. The target is a little bit different, but it should still feel like a good, solid action game." Yaiba isn't just a ninja meets zombies crossover, it is also a worldwide collaboration between three separate games studios: Ninja Gaiden dev Team Ninja and Keiji Inafune's Comcept from Japan, and California-based Spark Unlimited. It's an unusual collaboration to say the least, but one Inafune believes has worked out well. "It's been interesting to see the Comcept team, the Team Ninja team, and the Spark team working together on this project," Inafune said. "First we were being careful with each other and respecting each other's boundaries, and stuff like that. But it really has become an open dialog between the teams, respecting the strengths of each team, and bringing out those strengths through discussion and through open and honest collaboration. To see that happen that between Team Ninja and Spark has been something that's really good for Yaiba."
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate has online 2 vs. 2, a new ranking system and a lot of costumes
In addition to the new characters, stages, and modes, Tecmo has announced that Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate will update its Grade Point system, add a new Character Points system, an online two vs. two tag mode, and have 231 costumes to choose from when the game launches on September 3 for Xbox 360 and PS3. Character Points will let you know how good an opponent is with the fighter they've selected, as well as their world ranking. Meanwhile, the four-player online tag mode will pit two teams of two players each against each other. Both winning players in an online tag match earn Grade Points, which count towards unlocking new costumes. Sadly, we're relatively certain none of the costumes will be a thong bikini for the sexiest of DOA's fighters, Bass.
Team Ninja still open to Wii U, but no current plans to port existing games
Team Ninja is open to making more Wii U games, but the Japanese studio doesn't have any plans for ports like Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge at the moment. Despite the Wii U's commercial struggles, studio head Yosuke Hayashi told Joystiq his team would consider games for the Nintendo system, as long as they're a good fit. "Of course, I think there are games that would be good for Wii U," Hayashi told us at Gamescom. "So I think we need to still see what exactly those games they are and how you make a game for Wii U that is perfect for the Wii U. So if we get a chance to make a game like that, well, maybe we can think about it then. But right now we have no plans to port existing games to Wii U." Razor's Edge was one of the first third-party games announced for the Wii U, and the port brought welcome revisions to the PS3 and Xbox 360 original. As for Team Ninja, it's currently collaborating with Keiji Inafune's Comcept and Lost Planet 3 dev Spark Unlimited on the zombie-plagued Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, due on Xbox 360 and PS3 in early 2014.
Teams duke it out in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate is preparing to enter the retail arena on September 3, with a smattering of new offline modes and costumes on top of the new characters announced previously. Team Fight is one such addition: You select a team of up to seven fighters and take on another team of scrappers, either controlled by another player or the AI. Survival mode adds item drops in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate, which should be familiar to those who've spent time with Dead or Alive 4's variant. Beginners can benefit from an expanded Tutorial mode and a Combo Challenge mode, the latter aimed at teaching players how to chain together succinct strikes and power moves. Coughing up the entry fee to the latest DOA Tournament early either through Amazon or GameStop will secure some "pop idol" costumes for the female fighters. Finally, Team Ninja confirms all costumes acquired in Dead or Alive 5 are transferable to Ultimate, because playing as a near-naked Brad Wong is clearly the only way to go.%Gallery-194481%
European Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate pre-orders get costume DLC, of course
Retailer-specific costume packs will be awarded for pre-orders of Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate in Europe, Tecmo Koei has announced. GAME has "a colorful pack" of costumes for Kokoro, Lei Fang, Hitomi and Mila, while Amazon will hook it up with costumes for female ninjas Kasumi and Ayane. Other retailers will offer a six-outfit collaboration to cover Christie, Helena, Tina, Lisa and new combatants Momiji and Rachel. Tecmo Koei did not share any images of the garb in question alongside the press release, which we've tucked past the break. We've also inquired about North America details and will update this post when we hear back. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate launches on September 3 for the Xbox 360 and PS3; a free-to-play version called Core Fighters is "planned" for simultaneous launch on PSN. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate includes additional fighters, a variety of costume DLC from the original Dead or Alive 5 as well as content found in the PS Vita port, Dead or Alive 5 Plus.
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate: Arcade announced for Japan
A new arcade version of Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate is headed to Japanese arcades at some point in the future, according to Shoryuken's translation of a Team Ninja press release on 4gamer. The Dead or Alive series has been absent from arcades for the last 13 or so years, since the release of Dead or Alive 2 Millenium in 2000. The game will arrive in arcades via Sega's "ALL.Net P-ras MULTI Ver. 2" digital distribution platform, which pushes games to networked arcade cabinets installed in arcades and amusement centers around Japan. The new build will be based on Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate, though beyond that not much else is known about the release, particularly when it may happen. The announcement also makes no mention of a western release, which is to be expected.
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z trailers won't cost you an arm and a leg
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z stars Yaiba Kamikaze, a ninja killed by primary series star Ryu Hayabusa during a duel. We're not sure how Yaiba came back from the dead, but at least we can see how he died.
Putting the 'Yaiba' in Ninja Gaiden Z
Yaiba means "the blade of a sword," Keiji Inafune explains in this developer diary for Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z. It is, somehow, the subtler component of the protagonist's full name: Yaiba Kamikaze. Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is being developed primarily by Spark Unlimited, the Los Angeles-based studio also responsible for Lost Planet 3. In the video, Inafune says the studio is "exactly what we wanted" because they were able to bring a unique perspective to the ninja, unifying Western and Eastern visions on the classic archetype. "To appeal to both, it made sense for us to work together." Inafune then goes into an astute metaphor about how game development is like building a house – at least, we think it's astute. We've never built a house before.
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate free-to-play version announced, coming west
Tecmo Koei is trying its hand with a free-to-play alternative version of Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate, subtitled Core Fighters, in addition to the full retail game. Core Fighters is a PS3 download "planned" for September 3 in North America. As Famitsu reports (via Siliconera), Tecmo Koei is in talks with Microsoft about an Xbox 360 version. Core Fighters includes four playable characters: Ryu Hayabusa, Hayate, Kasumi, and Ayane. Opponents span the same roster as the full version, and all stages are included. Tutorial and training modes make the F2P version as well, but the story mode does not. In terms of in-game purchases, additional characters cost $4, while the story mode is $15. As for online play, it's enabled for free, and players using the F2P and retail versions of Ultimate can fight each other. However, neither version of Ultimate is compatible for online tussles against players using the original Dead or Alive 5, or Dead or Alive 5 Plus on Vita.
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate picks a fight on Sept. 3
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate will launch across Xbox 360 and PS3 on September 3 in North America, Tecmo-Koei announced today in its annual pre-E3 missive. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate is an expanded version of Team Ninja's 2012 fighter, Dead or Alive 5. The Ultimate port has additional fighters and content, including everything found in the PS Vita port, Dead or Alive 5 Plus. Last week, Team Ninja revealed Virtua Fighter mainstay Jacky Bryant and DOA series amnesiac Ein have joined the cast. The publisher will have Team Ninja's fighter on-hand at E3 in Los Angeles next month, along with Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, Atelier Meruru Plus: The Apprentice of Arlend, Dynasty Warriors 8 and Toukiden.
See Ein and Jacky throw down in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate
Virtua Fighter's Jacky Bryant will join his sister Sarah in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate and, in a new trailer and set of screens, the pair team up in a tag match. We get a good glimpse at some of the spiky-haired brawler's move set, alongside Ultimate's other new cast member, Ein. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate is an upcoming retail and digital re-release on Xbox 360 and PS3 of last year's Team Ninja fighter, Dead or Alive 5. Ultimate includes modes and content from the PS Vita port Dead or Alive 5 Plus, like additional stages – some themed around Ninja Gaiden – and, of course, extra characters.%Gallery-189344%
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate adds Ein, Virtua Fighter's Jacky Bryant
Joining Ninja Gaiden's Momiji as new characters in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate are Ein and Jacky Bryant, the latter from the Virtua Fighter series. As revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu (via Siliconera and Game Jouhou), the spiky-haired racer gels with the other combatants when the PS3 and Xbox 360 game hits Japan on September 5. The Ultimate version of DoA 5 is confirmed to arrive in the west this fall, both at retail and on digital platforms.
