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Tecmo gives us a first-hand look at Dragon Sword
In gathering up various press representatives in Tokyo today, Tecmo formally announced their upcoming DS entry in the Ninja Gaiden franchise in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. The event confirms that the game is going to be primarily driven with the stylus, charging the player with performing just about every in-game action in this way. Itagaki was also on-hand at the event and unveiled the game through a brisk play through one of the game's levels, killing a few enemies and ending the level at a spider-like boss. Itagaki also explained that the focus of this DS title is not the usual demographic, as previous titles in the series were meant for men over the age of 18 and westerners, Itagaki is seeking for Dragon Sword to be more accessible to players of all ages and genders (even the Gelgameks?). And from these early looks, the game is going to do just that. We can't wait.
Gyakuten Saiban 4 wallpaper
In addition to Capcom's official Gyakuten Saiban 4 page, retailer Tsutaya has their own, with the same screenshots, character art, and story information as that on the Capcom page. We saw on Dengeki Online that the Tsutaya page had a new GS4 Flash game up, and we got excited. Turns out it's a personality quiz that tells you which character you're most similar to, which is neat, but it's also totally in Japanese and not really something we can recommend.Poking around the site a little more, we found this sharp wallpaper featuring new hero Odoroki Housuke, and figured that you would enjoy it! Put it on your desktop and start memorizing the title kanji. It's a good first step toward learning enough Japanese to play the game! Gyakuten Saiban 4 wallpaper800x600 1280x1024 [Via Dengeki]
Virtually Overlooked: Arkista's Ring
Welcome to our weekly feature, Virtually Overlooked, wherein we talk about games that aren't on the Virtual Console yet, but should be. Call it a retro-speculative. Arkista's Ring is an action/adventure/puzzle game about an elf girl who battles giant scorpions, orcs, and forest-dwelling ninja in a labyrinth-like forest, all displayed in the charming square-tile graphical style popular with games like Zelda. It was released for the NES in 1990, published by American Sammy. Sammy now owns Sega, and Sega and Nintendo are newly in love. So today's game is kind of timely, in an oblique way. Also it's fun to play and stuff.
A better look at Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword
The idea of playing a handheld adaptation of one of the most difficult games in recent memory is one so big and glorious our measly little shoulders can bearly hold it up. Thankfully the blurry phone camera picture represented in the previous post didn't provide us the most clear and crisp look, for we would've undoubtedly been crushed to death under the wonderful possibilities of this game. That time, however, is now, considering the crisp and clear scans of the Japanese magazine article available over at Go Nintendo. We've included them after the break.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma demo hitting Japanese PSN in April
Are you in the mood to run on walls, acrobatically decapitate your enemies and wear skintight leather, but all too aware that these activities are generally frowned upon by the greater part of society? If you answered "yes" or managed to emit any sort of monosyllabic response, then Ninja Gaiden Sigma is a game that just might appeal to you. If, like this blogger, you're slightly stunned by your preparation to buy the once Xbox classic for a third time, you'd do well to note the April 27 release of a demo on the Japanese PlayStation Network store. With no confirmation of an American or European demo just yet, you might choose to wait until Ninja Gaiden Sigma's June release. Then again, there are other tactics you might use in gaining access to Ryu's PS3 debut. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sam & Max Episode 5: Reality 2.0 released on GameTap
First they faced off against a deranged eye fitness guru, then a talk show host followed by the toy mafia and Abe Lincoln. Now Sam and Max have to overcome a foe of a different kind: the internet! The fifth installment of the episodic Sam & Max adventures is available today on GameTap. Reality 2.0 is filled with the signature Sam & Max humor wrapped in an adventure-lite game. This time around the jokes poke fun at everything geek-related. Expect some video game parodies as well, such as when Sam yells "Its-a me, Sam!" before leaping into the air to collect a coin.You can grab Reality 2.0 from GameTap starting today, or download it from Telltale Games on April 12th for $8.95.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma demo coming in four-ish weeks
There's nothing like downplaying poor calendar/mathematical skills with the addition of -ish. Addition, get it? Oh, arithmetic, you have so many applications. That aside, there's some good news coming for those demo-starved individuals hopelessly scanning the PS Store for something new to nourish their next-gen gaming needs. The news is thus: Ninja Gaiden Sigma demo -- April 27th. This is no "play the first half of the first level" demo, either. Worldwide scoreboards will dictate your mastery of the ninja arts. The level is completely unique and new, not in the final version of the game. You are graced with a multitude of weaponry to play around with. Does this not sound like a lot of fun? Maybe not, but we know it will be. For those skeptics of the game, you can now at least give it a shot! Let's get ready for some ninja fun!
Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword unsheathed for DS
Captured in a blurry, poorly-framed celly shot are the first details of Ninja Gaiden DS -- er, "Dragon Sword." Rumor of this Team Ninja project has been lurking for years, last resurfacing during a 1UP interview with Itagaki this past October. Now Famitsu has the scoop. The blurb indicates that Dragon Sword will play out with the DS oriented like a book, Brain Age-style. Another game gone digital comic? Probably not. Itagaki has suggested that Dragon Sword will be an action title; though Famitsu reports the game is controlled on the touch screen (except for blocking). So much for a classic 2D Gaiden... (Perhaps the dual-nature of the touch screen -- simple, yet limitless -- provides Team Ninja with a better shot at perfection.) [Via DS Fanboy]
Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword announced, will be really hard
Way back in October, we reported on a rumor that Team Ninja was at work on a DS game of some kind, and we hoped that it was a Ninja Gaiden game. Five months later, that rumor has graduated to a blurry cellphone picture of a page from a Japanese magazine! Blurry and definitive. The new game is called Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword-- another "DS" subtitle like so many other DS games. We can't tell much from the scan, except that it uses the sideways Brain Age-style orientation, and it is controlled with the stylus. Check after the break to see if you can decipher anything else from the image. This announcement is great news for anyone who thought Trauma Center was too easy! [Via NeoGAF]
Ninja Gaiden Sigma -- more details to chew on
So, we got a lot of ridiculous flack for posting a comparison of what Ninja Gaiden was and what Ninja Gaiden Sigma has become -- a whole new, gorgeous gaming experience for those who did not get to enjoy the titles on the XBox. Now, don't complain about how it should stay on the 'Box (technically it should stay on Nintendo if that's a concern), you'll probably get this iteration eventually. Possibly bundled with a, gasp, sequel? With that in mind, we're going to present some new details about the game, as told by director Yosuke Hayashi. About graphics: "we more or less are recreating Ninja Gaiden with the most up-to-date graphic techniques in order to take advantage of the hardware...One of the best ways to do that was to have a game that runs at a 1080p with a constant 60 fps, and utilizes real-time self-shadowing. No other game as accomplished all three of these goals at once." About enemy AI: "it's about making sure they have goals they are fulfilling and that they can work together with existing enemies. That's really our philosophy. As far as A.I. goes people have played our game before will see that we've made some subtle improvements. A lot of it has to do with using all the Cell's SPU processors." New dual-wield swords? "We've succeeded in making a weapon that has a ton of moves and is as useful as the single sword you start the game with. We wanted the dual swords to be the second standard weapon. You don't start out with them, but acquire them early on." Difficult to develop for PS3? "The developers that say it's too hard to develop for and complain about it are missing the point. It sounds like an excuse to the consumer to us...If we can do it then other people will be able to do it as well." Online features? "Karma ranking, which is like a leader board for your score. That's something we had back on Xbox but we're going to expand it more to include more detailed statistics on how you played." Working with PS-HOME? "If you wanted to wait for the game to come out for a few more moths we'd be able to, but I don't think anybody wants that." Whew. It's shaping up to be a completely awesome experience -- one that few action-game lovers should pass up. If we can get our mitts off of God of War 2, which is awesome. Haven't laughed maniacally as I kill a boss in ages (Theseus, on the Steeds of Time). Awesome.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma > Ninja Gaiden, true or false?
Ah, perfection. Is it truly attainable? The pursuit of an answer has apparently become the obsession of Itagaki and his merry band of ninjas, who are currently polishing their third incarnation of Ninja Gaiden. Perhaps you're not seeing the "real" difference between PlayStation 3's Ninja Gaiden Sigma and the Xbox original in the embedded version above, but this video does give us some sense of the layers that have been added to the 2004 foundation. But is perfection through repetition a noble pursuit for Team Ninja? While most studios recycle their molds to churn out sequels, Team Ninja simply recycles the product of its mold to offer us more finely detailed versions of the same game, again and again. What is the meaning of this odd discipline?
Ninja Gaiden Sigma PS3 vs. XBox/360 comparison
We've actually scored an HD comparison of the PS3 title Ninja Gaiden Sigma with the original Ninja Gaiden on the XBox (in both 480i on the original XBox and the not-very-different simulated 720p on the 360). Obvious graphical advances aside, it's fairly obvious that the two games are completely, completely different as far as gaming experience goes. Sure, the moves may be familiar, the territory and enemy AI may not be that much different (how much further can one go than "really frickin' hard"?), but the experience of playing the game will be a world of different.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma motorcycle mayhem!
Yeah, we're taking a short break from European launch news. We know, we know, it's important and probably relevant, but no one wants to read solely that stuff all day. So, we're going to present you with this Ninja Gaiden: Sigma gameplay movie where our lovely ninja gets the crap beaten out of him by motorcycle-riding ninja... guys. It's a treat, so enjoy... if you're over 18!
Agatha Christie adventure game to mysteriously appear on Wii
Seems like everyone finally picked up on the idea to port their PC adventure games to the Wii! Console players are starved enough for pointing and clicking that we'll gladly take leftovers. The Adventure Company has announced that Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, an adaptation of a novel of the same name ("The World's Best Selling Mystery Novel," according to the game's website), will be released on the Wii in November.Maybe a game based on the work of a popular mainstream author will bring the Wii even more attention from the non-traditional audience that Nintendo's after. And then we'd see an adventure boom like the one we're experiencing with minigames! Okay, maybe not-- but maybe it'll at least be kind of fun?
Avast! More Treasure Island Z scans spotted
A NeoGAFfer and frequent Wii Fanboy tipster named creamsugar posted these new, higher-quality scans of Capcom's Treasure Island Z, and later in the thread Xboxyde's Blimblim cleaned up the images, which we have provided for you. After a careful inspection, we must say, that if we were excited about the game yesterday, today we are in full hype hype hype mode! We're ready to start freaking out about this game without really knowing anything about it!The graphics look so great (and we aren't going to assume that it's because of Blimblim's filter)-- finally, next-generation cel shading is here! And the art style and general piracy motif reminds us of one of the best Capcom games ever, the Mega Man Legends spinoff The Misadventures of Tron Bonne. Please, Capcom, let it be like Tron Bonne.Click the post break to see the scans, and then click those to see them in their original resolution.
Treasure Island Z: new pirate adventure from Capcom
This week's Famitsu unearths a new game that appears to be basically like treasure: a new Wii adventure game from Capcom, called Treasure Island Z, that is about pirates. Players use the Wiimote to solve riddles and puzzles as they search for riches and improve their standing among pirates. The scan reveals a cartoony graphic style and what look like animated cutscenes.This thing is like a nexus of good news. We don't know how anything could actually turn out as cool as the sum of these parts (pirate adventure games have a lot to live up to, as do Capcom adventure games) but we're hoping that Capcom and director Eiichirou Sasaki (who previously worked on the Resident Evil Outbreak games) are up to the task. Check out the scan after the plank break!
Text adventures arrive on the DS via unofficial channels
We can't tell you to download them (in fact, we'll tell you not to), but we can definitely applaud the technical achievement. A homebrew genius called papafuji has ported a massive selection of classic text adventures and early graphic adventure games to the DS, including all of Infocom's text adventures and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy author Douglas Adams' interactive fiction.These aren't just barebones ports, either: you can save games, and you can choose to enter text via an onscreen keyboard or handwriting input! And the game engine contains shorthand functionality for common commands like cardinal directions and "get". Some of the games are public domain, but most aren't, and we aren't sure which games fall in which category. Therefore, we're officially warning you: if you download these games, there's a good chance that you are a pirate.[Thanks, Joq!]
Ninja Gaiden Sigma... stick it on your PS3
The latest PlayStation Magazine fell into my lap yesterday (well, my mailbox) and I perused it briefly. Seems there was some news on Ninja Gaiden Sigma and since we try to keep up with that game here, I'll post what appears important from the article. Resolution is slated at 720p at a constant 60fps. The SIXAXIS will be used to quickly summon up some Ninpou magic (that might actually be annoying... I hold the controller wonky, you see) Normally, there would be about 16 chapters in the game... Sigma is floating on 19. Finally, you get the option of storing the entire game (or parts of the game) directly onto the PS3 -- which would be great. Or you can do the whole disc-inserting thing. Whichever. Hooray for magazines! We'll stay on top of this thing, since it's shaping up to be a real killer title. Now, if only my camera and laptop would get along, I'd upload a scan of the article. Alas. Next time.
GDC07: Classic Suda 51 weirdness hitting the DS
Suda 51's first games as part of Grasshopper Manufacture are being remade for the DS. The games, called The Silver Case and The Silver Case Ward 25, were originally released for the Playstation and mobile phones, respectively. Suda revealed this fact during his GDC keynote "Punk's Not Dead".Both are graphical text adventures; Ward 25 uses static art and the original Silver Case uses full-motion video. Unfortunately, because of the amount of text that would have to be translated, Suda isn't sure the remakes will be released outside Japan. Someone tell him that American DS players love graphical text adventures! And tell him that we <3 Grasshopper Manufacture too.
Penumbra indie horror adventure makes its 'Overture'
Penumbra is a 3D horror game by Frictional Games created to show off the studio's proprietary physics engine. It plays like a Resident Evil meets Half-Life 2 mashup -- which is reason enough to give it a try -- but also offers something new in the realm of interactivity. Almost every object you see can be moved, carried, and used. If you can't reach the vent on the ceiling, try piling some junk on the floor to stand on. Steam blocking your path? Cover the open pipe with whatever's lying around. Set in an abandoned factory, Penumbra provides a deliciously dark, spooky atmosphere filled with mystery. The indie gaming community ate up the initial offering, so Frictional Games immediately began work on a commercial-sized helping.The demo for Penumbra: Overture has finally been released. Three episodes are planned over the next year with the first installment hitting March 30 for $19.99. In addition to a longer adventure, Overture promises even better visuals (which were excellent to begin with) and deeper interaction with the game environment. A combat system is also in place, though the focus is on solving environmental puzzles, not shredding baddies.[Via Independent Gaming]
