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Is Phantom Dust the Xbox import to own?
It's no secret that the Xbox has been a commercial failure in Japan; in fact, in some circles it's a running joke. So when Microsoft announced it was developing a first-party title exclusive to Japan, a lot of people scratched their heads. Why? There hasn't been a lot of incentive to get into the Xbox import business, and chances are most of you haven't pursued Japanese compatibility. So while Phantom Dust is probably worth importing, it's probably not worth prepping your Xbox for. Maybe if we fuss and wine enough Microsoft will send it stateside (and to Europe) before the launch of the next-gen Xbox-the game's already in English, you know. Then again, who really believes that will happen? Phantom Dust will ultimately become the best Xbox game you'll never play. Oh well... UPDATE: Everyone makes mistakes. And apparently, some of us pay for them. Phantom Dust is available for $19.99 in the US at this very moment. Think you could cut us a little more slack next time, rigmasher? Sheesh!
GameTab warns of an expensive week
GameTab has a thorough list of this week's releases, and it's a doozy. At long last. The last few weeks (since the holidays, really) have been quiet, volume-wise. But for the next seven days we'll be struggling over the following. This is just a taste, too. PC Brothers In Arms: Road to Hill 30 Act of War: Direct Action Project: Snowblind PS2 Musashi Samurai Legend Worms Forts: Under Siege Xbox Phantom Dust Gamecube Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 GBA Rayman: Hoodlums' Revenge DS (three, count em, THREE titles!) Yoshi's Touch & Go Pokemon Dash Retro Atari Classics And ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome the latest device to the weekly grind...the Playstation Portable. PSP Need for Speed Underground Rivals Spider-Man 2 Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix Twisted Metal: Head-On Wipeout Pure Dynasty Warriors Darkstalkers Chronicle Again, go to GameTab for the complete list. Nice stuff. Which ones are you getting? I'm certainly getting Yoshi's Touch & Go, Twisted Metal and Spider-Man 2. All handheld titles. What could this mean? [Thanks Reed!]
Xbox 2 and PlayStation 3 screenshots revealed in Game Informer
It isn't every day that a mainstream publication comes out and declares some screenshots to be from the next generation of consoles. Sure, you have some hints in Gamespot about Elder Scrolls IV and The Godfather, but there's always this sense that the images could be from the PC version too. Well, not this time. Game Informer is coming right out and saying it. These are next gen console shots. The game is called Condemned, by Sega, and it looks pretty freaky. But a little "current-gen" PC, to be honest. So here they are. What do you think? We may need to see the magazine up close to make the call. [Thanks Josh!]
Phantom Dust gets ready for a Stateside bow
Phantom Dust was meant to be an Xbox Live! staple title. But after a review by Microsoft, the plan changed. The Japanese-developed game ended up on Microsoft's Japan-only product list after the suits decided the game should stay out of America. The result of this decision, of course, sent shockwaves through the developer and made life tough for awhile. While the game is doing okay in Japan, the company would like to see it get a shot at the US. Thanks to Majesco, it looks like they'll get their wish. 1up's piece is an excellent study of the developer, the development process and the game. Good job, guys and gals (minus the automatic clip streaming, which is bad form).
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath Reviews
The reviews are still pouring in, and while not as strong (on average) as yesterday, the numbers are sill impressive: Team Xbox - '91' IGN - '88' GameSpot - '85' 1Up - '80'
Stranger's Wrath is all good, for now
Due in stores tomorrow, the latest Oddworld adventure has garnered some early "universal acclaim" as evidenced by its '91' average over on Metacritic. So far, only 2 of the 7 reviews posted are accessible in full, with TotalGames.net going all out with a '95', while GameSpy chose a slightly more reserved score of '90'. It looks like the risk of converting the Oddworld standard from puzzle to action has paid off for Oddworld Inhabitants (developer), and gasp, EA! We'll keep you posted as more reviews roll in...
The week in zeros and ones
VE3D does their weekly round-up of digital media. The list includes DVDs, games, movies and the latest in pornographic paraphernalia. And sometimes you'll even get a pornographic DVD game in the same item. Take Playboy: The Mansion, for instance. It's finally hitting the shelves for PC, Playstation 2 and Xbox. How many 6.9/10 ratings do you figure it'll get from the mainstream gaming press? Unless it's good, of course, which is entirely possible. Also of some note is Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow DVD.
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath preview shows there are changes coming
If you're a fan of the Oddworld series, you may want to prepare for some changes in the next OW game. It looks like the puzzle-solving and happy jumping is turning into some hardcore action, of the videogame variety. The game, due out this month on Xbox, will allow you to explore the rich world you've grown to love, but this time you can do it from a third or first-person perspective. The same crazy touches are present, thankfully; fuzzy critters for ammunition, and health power-ups from, well, unlikely places.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
The season of sequels has officially come to an end-or perhaps, just begun-with the arrival of Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Like many of the other blockbuster sequels sprouting up, Snake Eater inherits its backbone from its predecessors, while managing to surpass them in every way-we certainly don't miss the mind-numbing philosophical ramblings of MGS2. But no radar? Don't fret, there's some Snake-friendly gadgets that will ease the pain of losing your most valued crutch. The new health/stamina/inventory systems may be different, but you'll find it helps to propel the gameplay, as does the camouflage. And certainly, some players will welcome the new close quarters fighting. With Snake Eater, the developers have pushed the PS2 hardware to the max, without going overboard (see Killzone). Still, the dated camera system is annoying as ever, but the thrilling(!) boss battles and breathing environments are some of the best we've seen-and the number of available options you have to approach these scenarios is equally impressive. And c'mon, MGS characters are always priceless! Despite twists and turns around every corner, Snake Eater is clearly the best this series has to offer. But is it the best sequel this season has to offer? That remains to be determined...
Metal Gear Solid 3 available now
Yes folks, you can now eat snakes. As Solid Snake. It doesn't get much more poetic than that. Or maybe in the game, Snake eats himself... Who knows... For those of us who are fans of the Snake they call Solid, the latest iteration of the series has shipped. Expect more stealthy action, hardcore violence, and lots of great music, especially the Harry Gregson Williams pieces. (I'm a fan, what can I say.) And, of course, the always snazzy visuals an MGS game provides. The kind of visuals that, when they debuted with MGS2: Sons of Liberty, actually made grown men weep. (Happened at E3.) A word to the wise: A lot of people complained that the demo of MGS: Snake Eater was too easy. The official story is that the difficulty was tuned back considerably in the demo. Don't expect such an easy journey in the full version. Even if you have no interest in the game, the demo on the recent Jam Pack demo DVD in stores is worth checking out, purely for the opening segment. Spectacular stuff. Note for trivia fans: David Hayter, the voice of Solid Snake, is also the voice on all EA Sports "It's in the game" intros. He also wrote the screenplays for the two X-Men movies.
Konami employs Hollywood no-names for MGS3
Konami has joined forces with some legitimate, albeit unknown, Hollywood talent for the latest Metal Gear installment. David Hyter, Harry Gregson-Williams & Kyle Cooper join the team. Those names ring any bells? Well, Hayter is actually the (English language) voice of Solid Snake and will once again lend his talents-he's also a screenwriter (X-Men, X2 & Scorpion King). Gregson-Williams is composing another original score for the series (he's responsible for the MGS2 score). Some of his Hollywood credits include, Shrek 1 & 2, Enemy of the State, Team America & Man on Fire. Finally, Cooper, a director/producer, is working with Hideo Kojima (MGS creator) on an interactive opening title sequence. Cooper's worked on title sequences for Spider-Man, Seven & Mission Impossible. Metal Gear Sold 3: Snake Eater will be available on November 17. [Good lookin' out, David]
Otogi 2 offers a solid sequel for fans
Otogi 2: Immortal Warriors is the quintessential sequel. Bigger, better, and no surprises. The most noticeable new feature is the addition of three playable characters. However, the sequel is still plagued by many of the problems that marred the original, namely the camera. A few moves have been made to counteract the repetitive non-stop action, including more boss battles and, as previously mentioned, the ability to play as several characters. Still, FromSoftware could have done more to make this title standout. As it is, fans of the series will certainly be drooling over the brilliant visuals and hardcore action and will likely be drawn to Otogi's old school values. This is certainly a game that encourages players to re-play levels again and again (any beaten level can be played at will), as an initial run-through will only take 12 hours or so.
GTA: San Andreas and Metal Gear Solid 3 clips on Worthplaying
Once again, Worthplaying delivers on the game clips. Today's list includes the brand new Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater movies. Oh yeah, there's also a Gran Tursismo 4 trailer thrown in for you racing fans. All in all 130 MB of worthy downloads. MGS 3 is gorgeous, of course, but will be facing some stiffer competition in the genre this time around. Hey, it's a strong enough title to push Tom Clancy's next Splinter Cell to next year. GTA: San Andreas looks dreamy, doesn't it? Sorry - fawning complete. Hey, it could end being awful. Yeah, right.
Metal Gear Solid 3: go deluxe for the price of two
Konami has confirmed that the Japanese release of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is set for December 16 (roughly a month after the projected US release). But there's a bonus in it for Japanese fans, that is, fans with deep pockets. That's right, for 12,800 yen (or $115), you'll secure yourslef a limited-edition MGS, complete with DVDs, booklets, and a model figurine. Expect Konami to reveal more details at the Tokyo Game Show this Friday.
What brand of ninja do you prefer?
I'm sure a lot of you have got to be psyched to download the Ninja Gaiden: Hurricane Pack Vol. 1 next Monday, and if not, you probably aren't an Xbox Live subscriber. But if this has somehow slipped under your radar, it is going to be the single most spectacular download in the history of Live. Yes, it's that good. We're talking: new camera, new game engine, new enemies, new weapons, and of course these two new costumes. I'd have to agree with Hilary over at IGN, I'm sort of feeling that "evil Spider-Man vibe" myself.
Ninja Gaiden Hurricane Pack: "Greatest. Download. Ever."
A few days back we featured some news on the upcoming Hurricane Pack Vol. 1 download for Ninja Gaiden, and now a few lucky reviewers have gotten a test run. Incidentally it blew at least one reviewer's mind, despite kicking his @$$. Hilary Goldstein of IGN raves, "Best damn download in the history of mankind." Although he does warn this download is NOT for newbies-we're talking seasoned veterans only. Think of it as a present (it's free!) from Team Ninja for all of your hard work, but expect even more this time around... Use the links below to check out a couple early impressions.
Ninja Gaiden: Hurricane Pack download
If you weren't impressed with what the Master Ninja Tournament had to offer, or just weren't up for the hours of 'training' needed to compete, Tomonobu Itagaki, Gaiden's creator, recently announced the arrival of the Hurricane Pack Vol. 1 August 2. Excited yet? Well, this latest download packs quite a punch. It will feature new weapons, new costumes, new enemies (complete with a revamped AI system), an "action engine" (which will make gameplay even faster), and for all you haters, a brand new camera. And it's all free?! Now are you excited? Check out the link to IGN's Q&A with Itagaki.
