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Dark Souls screens examine the phantom menace
If you're anything like us, the thought of a red phantom invading your world in Dark Souls is a little unnerving. It was certainly disconcerting in Demon's Souls. Just knowing that at any moment, some schmuck could jump out from ... what's that behind you?!
Design a shield for Dark Souls and get into the credits
We can't tell you the number of times we turned off Demon's Souls (after dying for the 100th time), whipped our controllers across the room and wished that everyone who'd worked on the game would be tortured in the fiery pits of Satan's hell for all eternity. Now, with upcoming sequel Dark Souls, some lucky players will have the chance to sneak into the credits and join the damnation. Fans can Like the title's Facebook page and submit up to three designs for a shield to be included in the game. Ten of those finalists will win a copy of the game signed by director Hidetaka Miyazaki, but three will get the big prize: A signed, limited edition copy of the game, and a slot in the credits. To any Joystiq readers who might receive the honor: Know that we'll be wishing you be forever banished to only the very nicest chunk of brimstone that's only barely, scaldingly, fatally hot.
Dark Souls preview: Boss hog
You see that giant metal warthog up there? He's a real bastard. That son of a mother-grabber must have killed me ten times during my E3 session of Dark Souls. Foolishly, I swore to take him down, proclaiming that I wasn't leaving until the pig was dead -- shouting it really, to the Namco PR representative and anyone who would listen. Alas, it was not to be. I was foiled again and again, regardless of what weapons were equipped or what cunning strategies were applied. Finally, I decided to avoid the beast altogether, hoping to find some more material to fill this preview. My grudge against the creature still burns in my chest, but it serves to make a valuable point: This is definitely a Demon's Souls sequel, despite claims you may have heard to the contrary. %Gallery-125917%
Dark Souls arrives on Northern (American) Realms October 4
Namco Bandai has revealed exactly when it'll release Dark Souls, the next game to make you curse, cry, and glare at your cat like it's his fault you died. Yes, we know you do that. From Software's Demon's Souls follow-up will officially hit North America on October 4, and Europe on October 7. Just in time for Halloween ... to pass you by as you chip away at the super-difficult RPG, completely alone except for your cat, to whom you'll have already apologized profusely. Before that happens, watch the new trailer (after the break) together!
Armored Core 5 due in Japan this October
Talk about not a moment too soon! Here we were in an utter panic about what we'd wear this Halloween (we were torn between Ghostsama bin Laden and Green Lantern) when our answer comes direct from the new issue of Famitsu -- albeit via Andriasang. Armored Core 5 is arriving in Japan in October, according to the mag, which should give us plenty of time to pick a robot costume, cobbled together from cardboard boxes and colored tinfoil. Plus, considering the game won't come to North America until early 2012, think how avant garde we'll seem! There's apparently even going to be a closed beta for the game just prior to the Japanese launch. We can only hope we get some invites stateside, so we get an inkling of what foil colors to stock up on.%Gallery-123436%
Dark Souls Collector's Edition offered as pre-order bonus
For those intrigued by From Software's Dark Souls, the decision to pre-order looks like it will be considerably less difficult than the actual game. Rather than selling a collector's edition of the game at a premium price, publisher Namco Bandai is instead offering one as the pre-order bonus -- meaning it's priced at the standard $60. The Dark Souls Collector's Edition will come in a metal case and will include an art book, mini strategy guide, behind-the-scenes development videos and a download of the game soundtrack. It will be available this October for PS3 and Xbox 360. %Gallery-123367%
Dark Souls trailer reveals October launch, many ways to die
This new Dark Souls trailer (past the break) closes the previous launch window ever so slightly: to October 2011. In addition to the revelation of a more specific release date is the realization of horrible homicide. Seriously, dude dies in this trailer. Like, a lot. It's not like we didn't expect as much -- this is the Demon's Souls successor, after all -- but watching this trailer makes us feel all funny inside. It's like falling asleep with Saw on the TV. [Thanks, Tengu]
Dark Souls screens show off environments, one pseudo-NSFW monster
These new screenshots of Dark Souls are all fun and moody dark games until you see "it." You'll know when you gaze upon the picture in question and its ... toothiness.
Dark Souls demo unlikely, title worked through several naming issues
Dark Souls (the closest thing to Demon's Souls 2) isn't scheduled to have a demo when it launches this year on consoles. That little nugget is just one of many found in an extensive interview 4Gamer (translated by Andriasang) had with From Software's Hidetaka Miyazaki, who is charged with directing what will likely be another impressive, masochistic gaming experience. Miyazaki noted the game is expected to last about 60 hours and will have about 100 enemy types. In contrast, he estimated Demon's Souls took about 30-40 hours and had about 30 enemies. He also mentioned that two potential names for the game were scrapped due to international concerns. The title of Dark Ring was flushed because of an association with dirty slang in England (remember Elebits?). The original title was going to be Dark Race, but that ran the risk of being interpreted as racist -- the working title was changed to Project Dark two days before the Tokyo Game Show reveal.
First Dark Souls trailer and screens are appropriately dark [update: now with release date]
The lid has officially been blown off of Dark Souls, with developer From Software releasing a dark, moody flood of media. First and foremost is the reveal trailer, which should comfort fans hoping that the multiplatform game would look an awful lot like its predecessor Demon's Souls (a PS3 exclusive) -- it does! (Oh, and don't tell the new Xbox players -- they have no idea what they're in for!) The trailer is replete with gloomy environments, armor-clad knights, terrifying monsters and oppressive music. Sharp-eyed observers will also notice what appear to be player spirit forms, another Demon's Souls staple. The first Dark Souls screenshots and concept art are equally grim, including even more gloomy environments and this ... thing. Check out the screens in the gallery below and find the trailer and concept after the break. Update: At a press event in San Francisco today, Namco Bandai announced that Dark Souls would launch worldwide on PS3 and Xbox 360 this holiday (2011). %Gallery-115583%
Armored Core 5's team-based online multiplayer detailed [update: coming to the West in early 2012]
We had to dust off deep, dark portions of our brain to even remember that Armored Core 5 was a thing that existed -- however, with a new batch of gameplay info fresh from Famitsu (via Andriasang), we now doubt we'll be able to forget it. Producer Toshifumi Nabeshima has detailed the game's new team-based, online multiplayer focus, which sees four-player teams struggling to claim, control and protect territories on a battlefield. This sounds like standard stuff, until you factor in the other players, each an "operator" for one of the teams, watching the action from a special map screen and coordinating strategies. The goal, as Nabeshima explained it, is to have the game's online mode be a seamless, persistent extension of the single-player campaign -- for instance, teams will have to set up defenses, such as turrets, in their controlled territories to protect them from attackers while they're offline. Piled on top of the series' ever-savory mech-building formula, these multiplayer features have officially sent our interest in Armored Core 5 into the stratosphere. Check out Andriasang for even more details about the game's new co-operative focus. Update: At a press event in San Francisco today, Namco Bandai announced release windows for Armored Core 5: late 2011 in Japan, and early 2012 in North America and Europe. %Gallery-115584%
Demon's Souls successor now called 'Dark Souls' [update]
Project Dark, the multiplatform RPG from the Demon's Souls team revealed at last year's Tokyo Game Show, has received a new name: Dark Souls. The latest Famitsu magazine provided new details about the RPG, which Siliconera translated and summarized. From Software is planning to make Dark Souls as difficult as its predecessor, and similar in style. Players still create their own characters, though there are no longer different job classes. There are tweaks to the world design, as well: the world is no longer divided into levels, instead being one large area. Other players will be able to inhabit that world in some way, in both cooperative and competitive play. According to Siliconera, you'll be able to feel the "gentle presence" of other players through interactions like notes left for other players at the place of death. Update: 1UP notes that Dark Souls will be published not only in North America, but also in Europe by Namco Bandai Games.
Armored Core 5 retargeted for early 2011
We're nearing the end of 2010, and with it comes not only the sweet sounds and scents of the holidays, but the yearly retreat of a few popular game titles to the next calendar year. Armored Core 5 is the latest game to join the migration -- a big announcement last January promised the game in 2010, but Famitsu is now reporting that From Software has pushed the date into early 2011. Mech enthusiasts with their calendars marked might be disappointed, but the news shouldn't overheat anyone else's thrusters, as we've already almost got more games to play this holiday season than seems necessary.
Watch Demon's Souls completed in under an hour
Sure, we liked Demon's Souls a lot, but we just wish it had been a little longer. 54 minutes of gameplay just isn't enough for a full price next-gen title. What's that? You needed more than 54 minutes (portrayed in following videos) to beat the notoriously difficult dungeon crawler? That's cute. (Warning: Don't watch these videos if you don't want the game spoiled!)
Project Dark trailer is dark, Demon's Souls-esque
There's still a lot of unanswered questions about Project Dark, the next title from the Demon's Souls team at From Software, but chief amongst them is the simple query: Is this a Demon's Souls sequel? While we still don't have a clear answer on that front, the below cam-captured teaser provides some evidence that it's at least cut from the same, blood-stained cloth. Project Dark is a PS3-exclusive in Japan, while Namco Bandai's English website lists an Xbox 360 version as well. [Thanks, thepapercut]
Project Dark is the next PS3 game from the Demon's Souls team
From Software has been very, very busy lately. To complement the announcement of the Kinect-exclusive Steel Batallion sequel is the reveal of the PS3-exclusive Project Dark. Coming in 2011, it's from the team responsible for Demon's Souls. While very few details were made available, it appears to have some kind of cooperative element. It's also probably really difficult.
Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor goes button-free on Kinect
Well, this is ... unexpected. The "Steel Battalion" franchise, perhaps best remembered for its 1,980-button controller, is coming to a platform that requires none. Microsoft has just announced that From Software will bring Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor to the 360 via Kinect. Well, technically, Microsoft just said the game will have "Kinect Enablement," so we guess there's still a chance you'll be able to play with a standard controller, we can't say for sure. Now those of you who already own Steel Battalion controllers ... well, you're probably out of luck. Maybe a job for Ben Heck? %Gallery-102396%
Demon's Souls' brand of punishment proves potent in the UK
Namco Bandai previously announced its intentions to publish From Software's punishing dungeon crawler, Demon's Souls abroad and the verdict is in: it's apparently been a big hit. The publisher told Eurogamer the initial run -- a "Black Phantom Edition" priced at £44.99 (€42), which includes the game, soundtrack, art book and strategy guide -- has sold out. "I can't give you a number, but what I mean by an 'amazing success' is that all the stock we built of the Black Phantom Edition has sold out (apart from dribs and drabs)," said Lee Kirton, marketing and PR manager for Namco Bandai Partners UK. "For a game that's been out a long time overseas we believe it to be a success. Reviews scores and coverage have been amazing." He then added that Namco Bandai hasn't sold "hundreds of thousands of units, but we've been pleased." On Friday, Namco Bandai will launch a standard edition of the game in the UK for a bargain price of £34.99 (€54), five pounds cheaper than the launch price of most new games.
Atlus to maintain Demon's Souls servers until 2011
This is your lucky day, masochists! Atlus has announced that it will extend support for Demon's Souls' online servers until "at least" March 2011. When the game shipped in April 2009, the Demon's Souls user agreement made it clear that online functionality would be sponsored for "no less than six months". Now it would appear that the game's surprising success has led Atlus to extend that commitment significantly. In celebration, Atlus is flipping the Demon's Souls World Tendency to Pure White, which will knock the controller-snapping difficulty down a few notches. The change should last for "a couple weeks," just long enough to lull newcomers into a false sense of security.
Meet your new 3D Dot Game Hero
Atlus searched far and wide its 3D Dot Game Heroes character hub for a new face for the game, in its "Make-a-Hero" contest. Finally, it found someone man enough, and cannon enough, for the job: Mannon. After the break, see some of the user-created heroes who almost got the job.
