arc-system-works
Latest
BlazBlue throws a beatdown on PS3, Xbox 360
Arc System Works, the folks behind popular 2D fighting franchise Guilty Gear, are planning on bringing their high-def 2D fighter, BlazBlue, to the Xbox 360 and PS3 IGN reports. Currently only available in Japanese arcades, the title is being ported to home consoles in the region, with release aimed at this summer. Notable additions to the console port include a story mode, with individual stories for each character available. This story mode will offer branching storylines based on the battles you win, as well as the choices you make while playing. Director Toshimichi Mori says the story mode easily offers 30 hours of gameplay. On top of that, gamers can look forward to online support for battling folks around the globe, as well as DLC, which Arc has planned, yet no specific items were mentioned. The console version of the game will also provide all characters with Astral Heat special moves, which were only given to a select few boss characters in the arcade version of the game.
Family Pirate Party brings pirates, oxymorons to WiiWare
By all rights, "pirate" and "family" should never be used in the same sentence, unless that sentence is "A pirate killed my entire family." Still, somewhere between Sid Meier's Pirates! and Johnny Depp it seems that pirates have gone from being the scourge of the Seven Seas to high-flying family entertainment. Sure, they might rape and pillage, but they also say "Arrrrrgh!" and keep hilarious monkeys as pets. We imagine it's the newer, friendlier brand of pirates that's present in Aksys Games upcoming Family Pirate Party for WiiWare.Actually, as it turns out, the game stars the same family seen in Family Glide Hockey, which released earlier this year and was pretty awful. Family Pirate Party is a board game that has players sailing to various islands, plundering treasure and participating in "hilariously exciting minigames." Hey, the Wii could always use more minigames, right?Fun fact: Family Pirate Party is made by Arc System Works, the same developer that brought us Guilty Gear. We're confused too.%Gallery-46058%
Kunio's Super Collection of Hot-Blooded Big Athletic Meet Screens
Would you like to know what the sports are in the new multi-event Kunio sports game? Of course you would! We're going to pretend that the cool reception that met Super Dodgeball Brawlers didn't happen, and the world is exhibiting the correct and expected frothing demand for a new Kunio sports game from Million.Three of the new sports look like a return to the events found in the first Famicom multievent game, Nekketsu Koushin Kyoku: Soreyuke Dai Undoukai: the obstacle course, in a room full of traps; the free-roaming triathlon that takes the kids through town, climbing buildings and crossing rivers; and, of course, the fighting tournament. New to the series is some kind of treasure-hunting game, in which players compete to hoard the most random junk. New screens of all of the games, highlighting the pretty unfortunate 3D, can be found at Famitsu.
Wii Fanboy Review: Family Glide Hockey
Family Glide Hockey had serious potential. A series of cheap, simple downloadable sports games in the Wii Sports tradition is a fantastic idea -- one that, if done right, would easily be one (or more) of the WiiWare service's killer apps. Glide Hockey's predecessor Family Table Tennis actually delivered on the promise of the cheapo family sports game, giving me hope for the series. Plus, air hockey, the arcade attraction on which the WiiWare game is based, is generally awesome and underrepresented in games. The combination of good family sports game series and air hockey seemed like a natural winner. "Natural" and "winner" are two appelations that fail to describe Family Glide Hockey in any way.%Gallery-36359%
Kunio-kun returns to DS -- now in 3D
A small scan in the latest Famitsu has brought something fairly glorious to our attention: a new Kunio-kun game. Kunio-kun no Chou Nekketsu! Daiundokai (Kunio-kun's Super Hot-Blooded! Big Athletic Meet) is a multiple-sports game similar to Nekketsu Koushin Kyoku: Soreyuke Daiundoukai and the game that we got on the NES as Crash 'n the Boys: Street Challenge. In an especially baffling decision, it's in 3D, in what we believe is a first for the series. Nintendo 64-level blocktastic 3D, but 3D nonetheless.Like other Kunio sports games, Daiundokai is a collection of sporting events, taking place at Nekketsu High School and around town, in which players can battle it out with punches and kicks as they compete. The released screenshots feature some kind of triathlon event and a character editor. We'll have to wait to find out about more sports and features.We know Super Dodgeball Brawlers didn't turn out perfect, but we just cannot feel anything but, well, hot-blooded when we see an announcement of a new Kunio game.
Get your Ravi on with We Rock: Drum King
If there's one thing we learned from Nintendo's presentation at E3 earlier this year, it's that snowboarding injuries are often hilarious playing imaginary drums is like, the coolest-looking action that anyone could ever hope to perform. 505 Games, whose publishing repertoire includes PAL versions of Cooking Mama and Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, will attempt to capture said lightning in a bottle with their upcoming Wii rhythm game We Rock: Drum King. We think we know who's winning the coveted "Best Video Game Title of 2009" award. The title, which is being developed by ARC System Works (the minds behind WiiWare "games" Family Glide Hockey and Family Table Tennis), is currently slated for a Europe-only release of April 2009. Based on a brief explanation provided in a press release, gameplay sounds like it will be reminiscent of Guitar Hero, with players using two Wiimotes to "air drum" along with a song, as designated by multicolored bars moving along a track. We will be heartbroken if this one doesn't make it across the Atlantic.
Family Glide Hockey whooshing to US WiiWare [update]
[Update: after the break, four videos of Family Glide Hockey in motion.]We love air hockey, and we're pretty friendly with Family Table Tennis, so we're pleased to see that Aksys has chosen to release the second Family sports title for WiiWare, Okiraku Air Hockey, in North America as Family Glide Hockey.Family Glide Hockey adds several twists to the delightful arcade attraction including ridiculous locations, weird tables, special shots, and extra minigames like Glide Hockey Drill, in which you ... solve math problems? As for when it's coming out, Aksys says "this holiday," and even if they had specified a release date, we wouldn't be able to trust it, because Nintendo doesn't seem to want people to know when downloadable games come out. %Gallery-36359%[Via press release]
Okiraku Putter (and Balance Board) Golf
We love the idea of Arc System Works' Okiraku WiiWare game series. Rather than selling yet another sports minigame collection, Arc is selling them a la carte as $5 downloads. With that tiny commitment, even the decision about buying this casual entertainment is a casual one. And if Family Table Tennis is any indication, the games are likely not to be terrible."Casual" may not necessarily mean "simple": the next Okiraku game to come out, Okiraku Putter Golf, allows you to use the Balance Board to fine-tune your golfer's stance, in addition to using motion controls for swinging. That sounds insanely complicated!
Battle Fantasia for Europe, not for US
Some of you might have been rather disappointed when it was announced that the Arc Systems Works fighter Battle Fantasia will not be headed to US shores on the PS3. Granted, the story in a fighting game usually isn't what's most important, but Battle Fantasia is unique because it has a number of RPG elements in it. Fear not, fanboys, now those who want their experience in English won't have to resort to buying a Xbox 360. Battle Fantasia has been announced for Europe for a release in Quarter 1 2009 on the PS3. The PS3 is region-free, so feel free to import the game when it arrives on the Old Continent.[Via press release]
Theresia piles on the style
We remarked yesterday how Theresia isn't the first survival horror title on the DS, but it's definitely shaping up to be the most eye-catching. We find the occasional use of color (usually red, in Theresia's case) nicely accentuates the largely black-and-white surreal visuals, making for a striking combination. You can see more in our new gallery for the game.If you haven't already heard, this Arc System Works/Workjam collaboration is getting localized for North America this October by Aksys. Hopefully we'll be seeing some English screens soon, because we're looking forward to sinking our teeth into what sounds like a fairly highbrow plot!%Gallery-27060%[Via press release]
Princess on American Ice
Aksys Games announced today that they will release a localized version of the 505 Games/ Arc System Works-developed Princess on Ice in North America. This is the one ASW game whose U.S. release by Aksys we didn't predict.The rhythm-based ice skating game features multiple playable characters, all with their own storylines. We assume the storylines are slightly more indepth than "And then she entered another ice skating competition." Winning competitions will unlock items, moves, and clothes, which can be used to customize each character.In the press release, Aksys's Frank deWindt II exhorted gamers to "Experience the excitement of ice skating in the palm of your hand." That sounds unbelievably painful. Those skates are really sharp.%Gallery-17562%[Via press release]
Horror, survival, and ... incest? Theresia localization announced
Aksys has announced that it will be localizing Theresia, a title jointly developed by Workjam and Arc System Works, for a U.S. release in October. Not to blow our own trumpet or anything, but we prophetic DS Fanboy blogger JC Fletcher totally called this move almost five months ago.The game will join a small but growing group of DS survival horror titles played from the first-person perspective, and incorporates many staple features of the genre: corridor exploration, the collecting of clues, and deadly traps.It also appears to have a fairly dark storyline, including ... unusual family relationships. Aksys Associate Marketing Manager Harry Chang notes that the female protagonist "loves her mom... a lot". Could this be a reference to something incestuous? We've consulted resident psychic JC for another prediction, and used our "incest" tag, just in case.
Bargains on Bully and bullet hell
If you're the type to never pay retail on anything, especially video games, the like-minded misers at the Cheap Ass Gamers community have found two worthwhile Wii deals for you: Bully: Scholarship Edition - $26.99 (Amazon) Castle of Shikigami III - $19.99 (GameStop) If you haven't looked into shoot-em-up Castle of Shikigami III before, make sure you check out the videos we posted a couple of months ago -- there's a flying butler! Amazon also has CSI: Hard Evidence on sale for $19.99, but we have a feeling that not many of you will be too excited to pick up this video game adaptation of a poor man's Law & Order.[Via CAG]
Battle Fantasia and Guilty Gear 2 playable at Anime Expo
We know that Battle Fantasia, the 2.5-D fighter by Arc System Works, is coming to the PS3 since it had a demo on the Japanese PS Store a while back. It's the first we've heard of Guilty Gear 2, but looking at the franchise history, it'll probably find its way to the PS3 as well. Why not play the games, though? If you'll be near the Los Angeles Convention Center for the big Anime Expo this weekend, you can get your hands on a playable version of both. Sounds like fun!
Blazblue: Calamity Trigger to debut at Anime Expo
From the guys that brought you Guilty Gear, Arc System Works' latest 2-D fighter will be having its location test at Anime Expo 2008 taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 3rd - 6th. We previously reported on the game in February and now there is an official website with some information plus a promise of "Coming this winter!" for the US. Though the location test takes place in the "console gaming room," this is the arcade version of Blazblue. Some of us here are huge 2-D fighter fans and we can't wait for this winter to try this out! [Via Siloconera]
Aksys Q&A: Dodgeballs and Detectives
It seems like only a few days ago when publisher Aksys Games announced that it would be localizing Super Dodgeball Brawlers and Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles (Tantei Jinguji Saburo), much to our delight. Though both titles have been met with mixed reviews, we can't help but be thankful that someone took the risk to bring over these titles that likely would have stayed in Japan otherwise.With both Super Dodgeball Brawlers and Jake Hunter now on store shelves, we chatted with the studio's localization crew -- associate producer Mike Manzanares, assistant associate producer Frank deWindt, and marketing director Gail Salamanca -- about the two titles and Aksys's future. Jump past the break for details on Super Dodgeball Brawlers' unlockables and Jake Hunter's abridged case load!
Spyro and Guilty Gear Originals now available
Hopefully you are prepared (we did give you enough of an advance warning), because today it's time for another amazing Xbox Originals release! Celebratory vanilla cake and party poppers for all! And this week's Xbox Originals are none other than Arc System Works' Guilty Gear X2 #Reloaded and Krome Studios' The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning. Each will cost you 1200 Microsoft points and some hard drive gigage, but also a cautionary note. Those who decide to jump into the Xbox Originals mix, be on the look out for "some minor irregularities with audio/video for brief periods" while playing. Hey, we're just saying.Source - Guilty Gear X2 #ReloadedSource - The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning
River City Dodge Ball All Stars!!: The other new Kunio Dodge Ball game
If you neglected to pick up Super Dodge Ball Brawlers two weeks ago -- and we suspect you did, considering how few people are talking about the game -- you can still terrorize playgrounds with River City Dodge Ball All Stars!!Developed by doujin groups Miracle Kidz and Downtown7 (along with Famicom Kunio series creators Yoshimitsu Yoshida and Mokeke Sekimoto), this PC title was actually released several months ago in Japan, but the demo is still worth downloading and playing. Plus, there's an English version of the trial!The game doesn't suffer from the slow pace many have complained about with the DS release, and it even offers two speeds -- Normal and Retro. River City Dodge Ball All Stars!! doesn't, however, include some of the cool features introduced in Super Dodge Ball Brawlers, like the equipment shop, throwable items on the field, and the 8-player local wireless brawl mode. As its title suggests, the PC game comes with the added bonus of a roster filled with recognizable names from the River City Ransom cast! Smack people in the face as end-boss Slick! Dodge super shots as Zombies gang member Turk! Wear panties on your head as, uh, Panty!%Gallery-25040%[Via Insert Credit, Nico Nico Douga]
Metareview: Jake Hunter
Well folks, it would seem that all of our excitement over Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles might have been wasted. What little in the way of reviews for the game online say it's kind of, well ... below mediocre. They aren't too kind to the game, but we can't say we blame them. The North American release only has three cases, where the Japanese release has six! Game Informer (65/100) says "This is a brief and functional title, but it lacks the flair and intrigue to pull off the film noir aesthetic. It's also hard to get over the fact that Jake Hunter looks like he should be ordering Jägerbombs and hitting on your sister instead of solving cases." Nintendo Power (50/100) thinks "The game would have benefited from some compelling touch-screen use (for puzzles or combat, perhaps), but as is, it barely puts the 'interactive' in 'interactive novel.'" [June 2008, p.89] 1UP (D-) is of the mind that this game isn't even qualified to be in the bargain bin: "Each case is stupidly linear (to the point where you cannot leave an area until you perform the game-moving action), the script is riddled with typos (at one point, a character refers to a mobile phone as a "sell phone"), and the static character art exemplifies the cheapness of the entire package."
Undodgeable SDB screens from U.S., Korean releases
North American publisher Aksys has accompanied Super Dodgeball Brawlers' stateside release this week with an image bonanza of (Japanese) screenshots, character art, and other promotional assets, all of which we've conveniently collected for you in the gallery below.Apparently, lots of people are having trouble finding the game in stores, so here's an opportunity for you to flip past the screenshots quickly to approximate an animated match, imagining that you're really playing the game. We had no problem finding Super Dodgeball Brawlers ourselves, as most of the GameStops around our area kept two copies on their shelves.In related news, Fujitsu also plans to ship Super Dodgeball Brawlers to stores in Korea next week and has released a huge, 80-image-strong batch of Korean-translated screens, which, for some reason, includes shots from the staff credits and celebration scene that appears after a completed tournament. Perhaps they were accidentally released in Fujitsu's rush to get the word out -- the word(s) being "Kunio in Korea!"%Gallery-14440%
