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SGD '07: Ninja Gaiden: Sigma screenshots - Eight of them
New screenies! Pretty ones, at that. I loved this game on the Xbox and I have a feeling I'm going to love it again on the PS3 when it's released on July 3rd. In the meantime, be sure to check out these screenshots for your Ninja Gaiden fix. Including one which shows some Rachel gameplay. Those blood and fire effects look great. I could go on, but I'll let you look at them for yourselves. Enjoy. %Gallery-3230%
Games we need: Kabu Trader Shun
Sure, there are probably dozens of adventure games floating around Japan that we'll never see, despite the fact that adventure games on the DS print extra money, but this one is special. There's nothing quite like amassing giant stacks of fake money in a game (at least, to this blogger), and the idea of an adventure game packed with cash seems like a tiny, colorful slice of heaven. We need Kabu Trader Shun. We need it now. Check out the screens, imagine the fun, and we're sure you'll agree.
Ninja Gaiden: Sigma is complete, will sneak into American stores 7/3
Tecmo held a press event in Japan earlier today titled 'Tecmo's Nite Out 07,' where they announced their upcoming line-up of games. Like the other recent Gamer's Days, this was held as a kind of company-specific alternative to the now defunct E3, which would normally be held about now. A number of new titles were announced, and even though there was nothing new announced for the PlayStation 3, we did get some good news. According to IGN, the director of Ninja Gaiden: Sigma, Yosuke Hayashi, took the stage to announce to the assembled press that they had recently wrapped up development on the highly anticipated re-make of the Xbox classic. They also announced release dates of June 14th in Japan and July 3rd in North America. Unfortunately, no European date was announced. Guess we'll have to wait on Eidos for more details on that. This means that I have approximately two months to polish up my Ryu skills. I never really played the Xbox ones, so I have been getting my ass handed to me by the demo. The plethora of health items is helpful, but the lack of saves is annoying. Good lord, is it pretty though.
Stylus slash: Ninja Gaiden explained with helpful video
If you can manage to focus on anything other than the amazing footage in the video after the jump, you might notice that there's a great explanation of the controls in Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword. Stylus controls seem to make sense in this fast-paced title. Need to slash a guy in his face? Then do it. It's just that simple. But it's the gameplay footage that's the real star in this video. Even in demo form -- with easier enemies, apparently -- the game looks stunning, and compared to many DS titles, technically amazing. If Ninja Gaiden can look this good, the possibilities for the DS suddenly seem just short of infinite.
Demonstration: Ninja Gaiden DS stylus controls
Captured at Tecmo's recent "Night Out '07" event in Japan, the above video delves into the control scheme of the upcoming stylish and stylus-driven Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. In what could either be a profoundly intuitive adventure or a fundamentally awkward disaster, series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa is controlled entirely by taps and slashes on the DS touch screen, with blocking being handled by any one of the neglected buttons. The demonstration makes jumping, attacking and flipping out seem pretty simple in the face of multiple enemies, but it's impossible to tell just how accurate and responsive stylus strokes really are. Though it's graphically quite a departure from the Xbox and forthcoming PS3 iterations, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword still manages some impressive character models, no doubt enhanced by the use of scrolling, prerendered backgrounds. Static backdrops open up the (trap)door to camera issues and off-screen attacks, but the angles don't seem to be too obtrusive in the demonstration. Outspoken designer Tomonobu Itagaki's appearance at the end of the clip is at least comforting -- we know he's somewhat of an expert at touching hostile targets.
Sonic Rush Adventure preview
The now-classic Sonic Rush (not to be confused with SoniCrush, an aural rock-drilling system) is generally considered not only one of the finest outings on the Nintendo DS, but also the finest Sonic game in the past decade. And it had sweet music, too. Sega recently showed off the upcoming sequel, Sonic Rush Adventure (why were we not invited?), and several fellow bloggers around the web have chimed in with their thoughts.From what we can tell, the title is sticking to what made the first so successful. Blaze the Cat will be playable in addition to Sonic, but the game sticks to the trademark mechanic of blinding speed to entertain the player. There does appear to be some actual "adventure" portions of the game, but they merely consist of a (high-speed) boat ride across a three-dimensional ocean, a la Wind Waker. Also, the Sonic team has finally decided to give Sonic the gift of everlasting respiration, removing the classic "air bubble" gameplay found in underwater levels.With some snazzy 2-D to 3-D transitional effects and intriguing level design, we've no doubt that SRA will match, if not exceed, the original. Keep your eyes peeled for the azure blur this fall.
Sam & Max season finale released on Telltale's website
For the last seven months, the edges of our lives have been softened by the knowledge that a turn of the calendar page would bring with it a new episode of Sam & Max. With the sixth and final chapter becoming available for download on the Telltale Games website, however, the only thing left on the next page is a shocking reminder of just how boring calendars are. On the topic of the final episode, Sam & Max creator, Steve Purcell, has this to say: "With huge dollops of creative frenzy tossed into episode 6, the Telltale crew nicely tops off a great season. I'm really pleased." Telltale's design director, Dave Grossman adds, "Bright Side of the Moon is the snuggly-fitting cap on the Serious toothpaste of Season 1. I feel clean."Feel pleased and clean by grabbing the season finale from Telltale's Website for $8.95, or the full season for $34.95. The latter option will also net you a disc containing the episodes and a whole host of extras. Finally, if you flip your calendar to August, you'll see the series getting its retail release. %Gallery-2534%[Via Telltale Games press release]
Soul Calibur ... Adventure?
In this week's IGN Wii-k In Review podcast, Mr. Casamassina unleashed a rumor that promptly sent eighty-nine fans into spontaneous combustion (including poor David, his skin is coal black): Soul Calbur might be coming to the Wii. He refuses to speak the title by name, fearing some sort of silly massive lawsuit, but he comments that a very popular third-party fighting franchise seen on the Gamecube is coming to the Wii. Unless you count the import Naruto 3, Soul Calibur from Namco is pretty much the end-all-be-all of third-party fighting games on the 'Cube.However, he also comments that the franchise will no longer be seen as a fighting game, but as an adventure game. The mythos behind Soul Calibur certainly has the potential to drive a fully-fledged adventure, but will the play mechanics remain similar? And are we just getting this as a runner-up prize because the 360 and PS3 might receive the long-awaited Soul Calibur 4? Only Miss Cleo time will tell.
Amazon.co.jp shoppers are crazy about witch-hunting
SNK's Doki Doki Majo Shinpan, the already-infamous adventure game about examining young girls for evidence of witchery, seems to have gotten Japanese gamers' hearts beating. The preorder listing for DDMS is now the top-listed video game on Amazon.com's Japan store.It's currently ahead of the Final Fantasy Tactics PSP remake, Vanillaware's rather delicious-looking Odin Sphere, and even Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. We have to admit, we're happy to see SNK experiencing such success, though it's weird that we think of SNK as underdogs now when they used to charge people $300+ for their games.[Via NeoGAF]
Final Ninja Gaiden Sigma boxart appears
Lately, we've had a lot of posts about pictures, or screenshots, or scans, or trailers without much actual news. The trend continues here, as the final boxart for Ninja Gaiden Sigma has arrived on the scene for some much-needed "oh, so that's what I'll look for in the store"-ism. As you can tell from the box, it's rated M (for Mothers, Protect Thy Young) and has a neat little fire going on in the background. Some ninja person is in the forefront, but we don't care about lil' ol' Ryu. We want to see that fire! It looks pretty nice, for boxart. There have been some awful boxarts in the past. Just awful. Anyway, this just goes to show you how near the release of this title truly is.
At last: Professor Layton coming to U.S., per EGM
Now, this is being reported as a rumor, but the mere mention of Level-5's Professor Layton trilogy gets us too excited for words. Since this game was first revealed, with its beautiful character designs and logic puzzles, we've been hoping against hope for an English translation, and Electronic Gaming Monthly intimates that it is probably going to happen. Now we're going to be chewing our nails down to nubs as we wait for some hint of confirmation. We can't help it. We're adventure junkies, and the Studio Ghibli-esque look of the Professor Layton franchise completely had us at hello. If it all works out, the good Professor may even compete with a certain Ace Attorney for a place in our hearts. And speaking of hearts -- in that same issue, there are a few other rumors worth mentioning. The first involves whispers of a remade Bonk game for both the DS and the Wii. The other is a little more cryptic: the next Kingdom Hearts will be a spin-off, and it's coming to a "hearty" console. Unless they mean "hearty" as in robust (which would probably indicate the PS3 or the 360), then this could very well refer to the DS, which certainly reaps a hearty profit every month, no matter where you are. And for good measure, it's available in pink. We'll ponder that one once we're done jumping up and down and singing the unofficial "Professor Layton is coming," song, which is really just us chanting that single phrase over and over until someone throws a paperweight at us.Luckily, we're adept at dodging.
In the Flash: Makibishi Comic
Every week on In the Flash we sit down with the creator of a free online game to unravel their secret plans of world domination ... and to talk about their game: Point and click, room escape, and adventure games are a dime a dozen in the Flash gaming realm. But every once in a while a game comes along that's more than just an entry in the list of clones. Makibishi Comic blends Japanese-style manga artwork and storytelling with richly varied gameplay. Your goal is to find five ninjas hidden in five different environments. By clicking characters or objects on the screen, you set events in motion that will lead to their capture.In true manga-style, events rarely connect to each other in a logical way. How do you get rid of a gigantic gorilla? By calling a massive bear that shoots an energy blast out of its mouth, of course. It's that sense of wacky fun that makes Makibishi Comic so enjoyable. The stages you'll search through are also very creative, such as in Warashiamata where an endless stream of characters come marching out of a gigantic naked man's butt ...We crossed the language barrier for a short-and-sweet interview with Shinnosuke Kumazawa, one of the creators of Makibishi Comic.
Ninja Gaiden demo strikes the Store
Every Thursday, the PLAYSTATION Store updates with this or that. Ninja Gaiden, the butt-kickingly awesome game from Team Ninja, will be available for play in today's update. The demo will feature multiple weapons, visuals running at 1080p and 60fps, and some mad ninja action. The demo is also supposed to have some unlockable stuff -- that's nice. We recall there being some kind of ninja-esque scoreboard for the demo, so we'll cross our fingers for that. Make sure that when you play it, your PS3 doesn't start to puff out smoke. Also included in today's update is a demo for Virtua Tennis, and various trailers.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Virtua Tennis demos assault US PS Store
Without warning, like the shadowy figures known only through whispers in the night, Ninja Gaiden Sigma has made its presence known on the PlayStation Store. The demo will be available today in the US, one day prior to its Japanese release, alongside a demo for Virtua Tennis. Also coming out today are trailers for Gauntlet II, The Wheelman, John Woo's Stranglehold and The Godfather. The full version of Ninja Gaiden Sigma is set for a June release (on disc). [Via SCEA news release]
Gyakuten Saiban 4 is huge
Capcom announced today that Gyakuten Saiban 4 passed the half-million mark in shipped copies today, a new record for the series. It's no surprise that being on the DS boosted sales; it's likely to boost sales of anything. But let's not diminish the accomplishment. Gyakuten Saiban 4 is a hit! This milestone has contributed strongly to another milestone: as of today, the Gyakuten Saiban (Phoenix Wright) series has shipped 2 million copies in Japan alone. That's pretty great for any series, much less a text adventure series! If there were any objections within Capcom about spending the money to localize GS4, they've probably been shot down by now.
Suda surprise: The Silver Case will be localized
Back at GDC, Grasshopper Manufacture's Suda 51 announced that his Playstation text adventure The Silver Case and its cellphone sequel were getting ported to the DS. We tempered our interest in this development with doubt that the games would be released outside of Japan, due to their limited appeal and the large amount of text involved.Sometimes, we don't mind being wrong. During the Australian G03 event, Suda announced that the game, which was "a minor hit" in Japan, would receive a worldwide release. Now we should all buy it and let him know he made the right decision![Via NeoGAF]
'Crash' of the Titans headed to Nintendo systems
We weren't too impressed with Crash Boom Bang!, Crash Bandicoot's minigame-filled debut on the Nintendo DS. Crash Tag Team Racing DS couldn't even manage to drive itself out of the studio before the project was scrapped. Third time's the charm, maybe?Crash of the Titans brings the series to not only the DS, but the GBA and Wii. Screenshots of the Wii title indicate that the blue-jeaned marsupial will be thrown back into his natural, platforming/adventure-gaming habitat, freeing him from the wacky genres that've watered down the franchise. Players will be able to unlock extra elements in the Wii version with a DS copy of the game.We're much too cautious to let another Crash Bandicoot title get our hopes up, but we wish Radical Entertainment all the best with its development. Though the Spanish magazine that unveiled Crash of the Titans mentioned an October release, the game isn't guaranteed to arrive in the US at the same date. [Via NeoGAF]
Eidos will distribute Ninja Gaiden Sigma in Europe
Europe, you've not been forgotten. No, Tecmo simply won't let you wait for Ninja Gaiden Sigma any longer than you have to. In fact, they've enlisted Eidos to distribute the game around Europe so that you won't have to wait months after the Japanese and American releases. You'll be getting it this summer, as will Japan and the US. If you want to estimate, take a look at our release date schedule and wiggle in about two, three weeks. We've talked enough about this game, really. It's going to be a great showcase as to how much a game has changed over just a few years -- visually and otherwise. It may also be a great showcase for the PS3 in general. This summer is going to be fantastic for gamers seeking a next-gen thrill on their beloved Sony console. Perhaps it will have a use other than a mirror to make sure you got the pizza off your face. Not that I did that.
DS Fanboy Review: Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales is a lot like most modern cartoons that seem to be aimed at the younger set -- you know, Disney and Pixar and Cartoon Network in the after-school hours. Like these cartoons, Chocobo Tales is colorful and simple, with a solid storyline that isn't really anything special. It's fun, but not deep. But also like those cartoons, Chocobo Tales is peppered with hilarious one-liners and jokes that do show off some depth and appeal for an older set of fans. It's definitely cliché to talk about something that appeals to gamers of all ages, but that may well be the best possible description for the latest Final Fantasy spinoff.Also, it's just about the cutest thing ever.
Ninja Gaiden DS out in Autumn, says Itagaki
It seems those eager to sever limbs and engage in increasingly violent stylus shenanigans still have a fair bit of waiting ahead of them. Speaking to CVG, outspoken and occasionally bonkers designer, Tomonobu Itagaki, has said that he hopes to have Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword done sometime in Autumn. With the DS platform targeting everyone and their grandmother, perhaps solace can be taken in the fact that this most touchy-feely entry in the series is also set to be the easiest. "Relax; I don't planning [sic] on making Ninja Gaiden DS as difficult as the Xbox variants," assures Itagaki. "My first priority is giving everyone the chance to try this innovative new control scheme and enjoy how great it feels to manipulate Hayabusa." When asked if there would be a connection between the portable adventure and the proper console sequel, Ninja Gaiden 2, Itagaki explains that you "may be able to extrapolate some similarities between the two, yes, and not just in the area of story." We'll leave you to extrapolate (hint: both feature a ninja killing things) while we fantasize about how great it feels to manipulate Hayabusa. Before he comes out. In the game.
