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Naruto whips up Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 on PS4, Xbox One, PC
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is heading West next year for Xbox One, PS4 and Steam. Bandai Namco Europe described the coming Storm as a "final massive strike" from the cel-shaded brawler series, following last year's two million-selling entry. "The Storm series continues to be one of our most popular franchises and its leap to the new generation of hardware ensures that it won't stop now," said VP of IP Strategy Herve Hoerdt.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle coming to North American PS3s on April 29
CyberConnect2's PlayStation 3 fighting game JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle will unleash its stylish brand of manga-based fisticuffs at the end of April, publisher Bandai Namco revealed. Bundling all software updates released since the game's initial launch in Japan last year, the North American version of All Star Battle also features an exclusive Arcade mode. In addition to a digital release via the PlayStation Network, a disc version will be available in limited quantities on Amazon and at the Club Namco online store. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle will hit store shelves in North America on April 29. A European release is set for April 25. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle tours Europe, Australasia in April
The manga-adapted ostentation of Jojo Bizarre's Adventure: All Star Battle is coming to PS3s in Europe and the Australasian region on April 25, but North America has to wait on a "spring" release window for now. The flamboyant fighter, developed by Asura's Wrath studio CyberConnect2 (of course it is), is a PSN release in Europe and Australia, while North America is getting an additional limited run of physical copies. The most important news, however, is that of the pre-order bonus DLC for Europe and Australasia, if only for the descriptions Namco Bandai Europe provided in this week's press release. We quote: · Yoshikage Kira (Chapter 4 - Diamond is Unbreakable): Originally a salesman who is aspiring for a quiet life, Kira is full of contradictions and madness. Why a man seeking discretion would be wearing a purple suit? Why a man seeking discretion would be a serial-killer for years? Lot of questions remains unanswered around this scary man and his terrifying stand: Killer Queen... · Shigekiyo Yangu (Chapter 4 - Diamond is Unbreakable): Nicknamed "Shigechi", like a lot of characters in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, he appears to be full of paradoxes. People thought that being naïve can't be associated with being a smart fighter? Ask Shigechi about it! His encounter with the frightening Kira remains one of the most important twists in the 4th Chapter... "Why a man seeking discretion would be wearing a purple suit?" Truly, we don't know. [Image: Namco Bandai]
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle to see limited physical release in the West
We've known for a while that developer CyberConnect2 was planning to bring its manga-based 2D fighter JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle to Western territories, and now we have a few more details on how exactly that's going to happen. According to Crunchyroll, when JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle makes its English-language debut, the game will feature all of the updates released to date for its Japanese counterpart. Additionally, the Western iteration of the game will include an exclusive arcade mode that pits players against randomly-selected opponents. By defeating these foes your character can earn gold which is useful in purchasing upgrades and items for use in future battles. Despite the added content, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle will not see a wide-scale release outside of Japan. Instead, the PlayStation 3 game will appear as a download on the PlayStation Network, while limited quantities of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle will appear in physical, boxed form on Amazon and at publisher Bandai Namco's Club Namco online store. Both retailers have priced pre-orders of the physical game at $50. While it's still unclear when JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle will appear, Crunchyroll claims that the fighter will be released in March. When asked, Bandai Namco representatives refused to confirm or deny this timeframe. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution plans a trip west
Namco Bandai has confirmed that Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution will arrive in Europe and North America on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The latest in CyberConnect2's long-running fighting game series is due to leave Japan for the west sometime in 2014. The announcement on Facebook promises "new moves, new modes, new characters," while the European press release past the break says there will be "tons of new techniques, a never-before-seen number of playable characters and a new character designed by Naruto's author: Masashi Kishimoto." There will be 100 total playable characters in Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution and a new, unknown mechanic called Combination Ultimate Jutsu is said to be introduced. CyberConnect2's series is based on the Naruto manga, created by Masashi Kishimoto, focusing on the titular Naruto Uzumaki – a plucky teenage ninja with a terrible demon sealed inside him. Despite being a vessel for an evil spirit, Naruto is often a cheerful and energetic lad who has no difficulty befriending other ninjas such as himself.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure may drop microtransactions in the West
Developer CyberConnect2 has been forced to reconsider its international release of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle after Japanese fans expressed dismay at their version's microtransaction scheme. Similar to many free to play mobile titles, the Campaign mode in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle equips players with a stock of 10 batteries. These batteries are exhausted each time you enter a fight. They will replenish over time, or players can opt to purchase DLC items for real cash to instantly rejuvenate their battery supply. Player reactions to this plan have been largely negative, even after the developer reduced the time necessary to refill a single battery by 75 percent. As a result of this backlash, the international version of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle is being reworked, with "lots of adjustments and improvements" promised by producer Noriaki Niino. Neither CyberConnect2 nor Namco Bandai has officially stated that the microtransaction scheme will be stripped from the game, but as Siliconera points out, the developers are currently rethinking this section of the game and are hoping to reward players who supported the original microtransaction scheme, "perhaps by offering something that might have been a paid item for free." JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle is currently scheduled for release in North America and Europe at some point in 2014.
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle coming to NA, EU in 2014
Hyper-stylized, multi-generational 3D manga fighter Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle will bring equestrian combat and psychically-summoned spirits to North America and Europe sometime in 2014, Namco Bandai announced at its pre-TGS showcase earlier this week. The PlayStation 3-exclusive fighter was released in Japan near the end of last month and has "reached 500,000 sales," according to producer Noriaki Niino (left). When it does finally launch in western territories, the localized version of All Star Battle will be on par with the Japanese version's character balance: "We are still making character adjustments – even in the Japanese version – based on the feedback that we're getting from fans," CyberConnect2 president and CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama (right) told us, when asked about the potential for future balance updates. "All of that feedback will be implemented in the overseas [version]."
CyberConnect2 releases iPhone action game Shadow Escaper
CyberConnect2, developer of Naruto fighting games, Asura's Wrath, and more, has published its first smartphone game, downloadable for free. Shadow Escaper, reminiscent of a gothic Temple Run, is on iOS now, with an Android version coming. It stars a fugitive "Night Dweller" demon, whose flight away from attacking angels you control with taps and swipes.When day turns to night, your power is unlocked and you can turn around and face your attackers. Each cycle you survive improves your place on a leaderboard.As a cooperation with GREE, Shadow Escaper is naturally free-to-play. An in-game shop will exchange real currency for in-game currency whenever you'd like.
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle breaks out in Japan August 29
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle – that's the new Jojo game from Namco and CyberConnect2, not the HD re-release of the Capcom fighter – will be released in Japan on August 29. Along with the announcement, Namco sent out the dynamic, exciting, and surprisingly long trailer above.There's no news on a release date for North America, as the game has not yet been announced for release outside of Japan. A trademark found in September for "All Star Battle" suggests that Namco may be planning a localization, however.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 flips out on March 5
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3, the next entry in CyberConnect2's lauded fighting game series, has been pegged for a March 5 launch in North America; March 8 for ninjas across the pond in Europe. Both regions will include a special in-game Goku outfit for protagonist Naruto and an exclusive trading card, available only in first-run copies of Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3.A new English-subtitled trailer has also been released alongside this most important Goku costume DLC news, which you can feel free to watch above. For the most authentic experience possible, we suggest you turn out the lights and play the video on mute, like we imagine how most ninjas digest their video game trailers on the internet these days.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle director aiming for casual appeal
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle director and CyberConnect2 president/CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama wants his company's first entry into the JoJo's mythos to be as casual-friendly as possible, Joystiq was told during a Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 event held last week.When asked if he hoped that All Star Battle, the new JoJo's fighter being developed for Namco, would be accepted by the competitive fighting game community (or if that was even a goal for the project), Matsuyama responded via translator that he "actually prefers JoJo to become a game that casual users can pick up and play, because if you appeal to the 'maniac' users too much, it becomes too niche, and the people who can play this game become very limited."Matsuyama referred to fans of the JoJo series as 'maniac' at one other point during the event, and at both times the term was said with a cheerful inflection. Here's hoping that the director's goal of creating an accessible fighting game involves making it accessible in countries that aren't Japan.
Namco trademark points to US release for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle
CyberConnect2's upcoming manga adaptation/fighting game JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle (not to be confused with Capcom's recently released JoJo's Bizarre Adventure HD on XBLA and PSN) may see the light of day on North American shores, should a recently filed trademark serve as any indication. The trademark itself (Serial No. 85723902) was submitted by Namco Bandai and only covers the words "All Star Battle," which is interesting considering that the trademark for "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" has been abandoned since 2010. At any rate, the trademark covers usage of the phrase in relation to computer games, arcade machines and other "amusement arcade services."We're not willing to interpret those definitions as meaning that an arcade version of All Star Battle is in the works, but this trademark's existence does support the notion of a North American release. We've reached out to Namco Bandai for comment by freezing time and dropping a road roller in front of their offices.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 hitting NA in Spring 2013
Come Spring 2013, North America will find itself directly in the path of another ninja-infused meteorological phenomenon. Namco Bandai has confirmed an English version of Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and has set up the first playable version at this week's San Diego Comic-Con.Once again developed by the world's biggest Naruto fans at CyberConnect 2, this latest installment in the over-the-top fighting series pushes further into the story laid down by the popular manga, its sequel, and approximately 9,856 anime episodes.Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 is the first in the series to pair the gorgeous cel-shaded art with 3D display support – "for the ultimate Ninja immersion experience," it says here. If you've been following the franchise for a while, however, you're probably wondering how 3D could happen before anti-aliasing. %Gallery-160280%
Rumor: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure HD coming from Capcom
Achievements for an alleged HD version of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, one of the strangest and most unique fighting games of the 20th century, have appeared on 'chievo database Xbox360Achievements. The list, which makes reference to gameplay mechanics like Stand Crushing and specific character abilities like Mahrahia's magnetism, also mentions Xbox Live-enabled multiplayer and to-be-expected Story and Challenge modes.Capcom is listed as the publisher, while CyberConnect2 is surprisingly listed as the potential port's developer. CyberConnect2 is currently in the process of developing Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle for Namco Bandai. We've reached out to Capcom for comment and will be keeping an ear to the ground for more on this as it develops.
Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 to display in 3D
Namco has officially unveiled Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 – the other anime-based fighter from CyberConnect2 – providing a much higher-quality trailer, which you can enjoy above.For the first time in the series, Ninja Storm 3 will display in 3D on both Xbox 360 and PS3. Though you can't see the 3D for yourself just yet, you can check out a 2D demo at Japan Expo this weekend, if you happen to be in Paris. For those few of us not in Paris, we'll be able to check it out upon its launch in 2013.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle on the way from Asura's Wrath dev
Japanese manga Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is being adapted into a video game once again. However, this time, Namco's publishing instead of Capcom, and development is by Naruto fighting game developer (among other things) CyberConnect2 – so don't expect Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle to use the same style of gameplay as Capcom's arcade/Dreamcast fighter.The first trailer reveals that the PS3-exclusive All Star Battle is rendered in 3D, and features a variety of characters we're sure you'll recognize from the manga, including teeth guy. If you don't recognize anyone (like us), the game is tied to a new TV anime coming this year, so we'll have a chance to acquaint ourselves.
Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 revealed with first gameplay footage
The first gameplay footage of Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 has been posted by V Jump (via Andriasang), a Japanese mag that focuses on games and manga. The resolution isn't the best, but it looks like Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 is shaping up to be another beautiful entry in the popular series of cel-shaded fighters developed by CyberConnect 2.
Asura's Wrath 'Episode 11.5' DLC available today, more to come
Relax -- stop going around knocking over magazine racks like you're Asura. Capcom will extend Asura's Wrath with some new DLC, dubbed Episode 11.5, for 160 MS Points ($2). Another episode, 15.5, will arrive on April 4 at the same price. Finally, on April 25, Capcom will release four DLC episodes in a bundle for 560 MS Points ($7).Now, you're probably wondering where that Ryu DLC is, right? Asura will exchange blows with the Street Fighter on May 9 and with Akuma the following week, on May 16. Those two DLC episodes will cost 160 MS Points ($2) each.
Asura's Wrath reaction no surprise to Matsuyama, dot Hack for NA needs more fan support
CyberConnect2's president Hiroshi Matsuyama was signing autographs at Wondercon in Anaheim, CA this past weekend, and he kindly took a break from showing off his latest game – Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations – to chat with us about how his other games are doing. And by "other games" we of course mean the one with the god destroyer: Asura's Wrath. Despite both critical acclaim and a strong sales start, Matsuyama is still cautious about the new IP. "It's only been a month since it's been out," Matsuyama told Joystiq through a translator. He said that he expected both positive and negative reactions, and that's what he got. "Obviously, it was a challenge to create something new. And when you try to do that, obviously the people that get it will enjoy it. But for people where the game doesn't fit their expectations, they're not going to jump up as much." We also checked in on both the dot Hack title in progress as well as a possible sequel to Solatorobo, but for both of those, Matsuyama says he needs more support from North American publishers. For dot Hack specifically, "as long as we can get more requests from the fans, there's a possibility." But he there are other factors in play as well. "It's not that people don't know about it," he said. "But I think it's more than Namco Bandai Games America is not interested in the typical JRPGs and that's why they're not looking to pick it up." Matsuyama said he's not trying to make directly Japanese or Western games, however. "It's most important to be able to see the whole world. Back in the day, a lot of developers and publishers were focused on Japanese games and sent them out to North America. Obviously that's not going to be accepted as much. From our standpoint, we're really looking to create a game that's fun for everybody in the world." That said, we kindly asked Matsuyama to show us what might be the next evolution of the Asura pose, given that we've seen it twice already so far. But because Matsuyama happened to be in the Namco booth and not the Capcom booth (not to mention that he was dressed up as Naruto anyway), we got the very serene pose above. In other words, the Asura Pose has evolved yet again.
