harvey-birdman
Latest
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite and other Capcom PSP games on sale
Capcom is discounting select PSP UMD games via its online store, including Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law and Capcom Puzzle World. If you're a PSP Go owner, uh ... yeah.
Gamefly sales continue to tempt us
Gamefly is having a sale on some of its used-but-in-great-condition games again, also offering free shipping to spice up the deal a bit. As always, we're passings these savings along to you, while picking out a few we think are worth highlighting for their respective prices: Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire for $12.99 Dewy's Adventure for $14.99 NiGHTS for $14.99 Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law for $14.99 Manhunt 2 for $14.99 Victorious Boxers: Revolution for $15.99 Soulcalibur Legends for $15.99 Bleach: Shattered Blade for $17.99 Metroid Prime 3: Corruption for $27.99 Super Mario Galaxy for $36.99 Click on the picture or "source" link to see the full list of Wii games, but keep in mind that you might be able to find some of them cheaper elsewhere.
Cheap prices are buzzing around GameFly
If you're one of the cool kids that visits Wii Fanboy often, you probably know that we love bargains. Even more so, we love sharing them with you. We thought we'd tell you, then, that aside from Circuit City having some sweet deals this week, GameFly is also looking to take money out of our pockets. From today to the 19th, GameFly is having a storewide sale, which means cheap games galore. The catch is that they're used, but that's not a big deterrent since the game conditions are usually tip-top.Some highlights include: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law -- $14.99 NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams -- $17.99 Battalion Wars 2 -- $27.99 Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles -- $29.99 Metroid Prime 3: Corruption -- $29.99 We also found some other nice sales over there, so it's worth checking them out if you're craving a new (yet used) Wii game.
Wii Fanboy Review: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law
What woman is ever going to say, "I wish I could have Chemical Castration?" That's just one of the many soul-searching questions that Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law presents us with. Based on an Adult Swim cartoon, the game combines the Birdman license with "Phoenix Wright-esque" gameplay.Usually, the problem with bringing a license to a different medium (like making a TV show into a video game or vice versa, for example) is that something always gets lost in translation. Fans of the license are often left disappointed because the new version either lacks or overshadows the things that made the original great in the first place. Fortunately, this isn't the case for Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law. The game stays true to its roots, retaining all the ridiculousness and humor that fans have come to expect from the series. All this, however, doesn't come without some sacrifices.%Gallery-7527%
Warning: text adventures contain text
This warning on the Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law box is written, and is thus ill-suited for its audience. Unless you're shopping for games with a reader, you won't know until you get home that you have to read to play it. Non-readers probably shouldn't be playing T-rated games anyway, but then they don't know what the rating is due to the tragic use of an alphabetic rating scheme. Even our own warnings will go unheeded, because of our disturbing habit of writing the things we put on the website.According to Wiicast commenters, a bunch of Nintendo games have this warning on them for unspecified legal reasons, but most other Nintendo games aren't text adventures. [Via Joystiq]
WRUP: Solving the case edition
Much like the comedy in the show, we felt something zany and non sequitur like the video above would fit nicely. And, if you're the one person looking at this week's releases and snatching up some title about air boarding or whatever, this might not be the topic for you. Instead, we want to hear from all of you who decided to take the plunge with Harvey Birdman.How many cases have you been through? How are you finding the game to be so far? Is it fun, are you disappointed in it?%Gallery-7527%
Warning: You've got to read to play Harvey Birdman
Our friends over at the Wiicast noticed a pretty upfront warning on Capcom's new Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law game, and one that, in the in interest of public welfare, we figured we should pass on. You've got to be able to read to "fully enjoy" Harvey Birdman. Confirmed. This raises some pretty obvious questions.Are there many games that don't require reading to fully enjoy? Are there poor souls out there stuck, staring at title screens and wondering why people say video games are so fun? Also, how is a non-reader supposed to read the warning? We know, we know, this message could be designed for parents. But if we may be so bold, if that is the case, perhaps a book would be the wiser purchase.
Metareview: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law
Who is the man in the suit? How is his game on the Wii? Do you really want to see scores? It seems like a can't miss formula: use the game design from a funny game about lawyers and the writing from a funny TV show about lawyers. Apparently, though, Harvey Birdman suffers from the fact that the writers are used to providing twelve minutes of material at a time. Game Informer -- 60%: GI's Joe Juba thinks that the game gets in the way of all the lulz you could be lulling: "On one hand, it's commendable that Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law succeeds in capturing the humor of the cartoon. But do you know what else does that? The cartoon itself. With the latter, however, you just get to sit back and enjoy the irreverence. In the game, you are forced to interact with an unintuitive world devoid of any satisfaction. The correct choices are either obvious or ridiculous, robbing you of any sense that you're putting together pieces in a meaningful way."Game|Life --60%: Chris Kohler found the game short and easy, but satisfying in the comedy department: "If you're looking for something as challenging as Phoenix Wright, be warned that Birdman comes up far short in this regard. Play this one if all you want is a few more hours with Harvey with some light gameplay elements squeezed in."1UP -- 55%: The comedy didn't work as well for Andrew Fitch, he found that it either was old or obfuscated the clue-hunting gameplay: "Gameplay aside, in a lighthearted adventure like this, the biggest crime is not being consistently funny...an offense of which Harvey Birdman is regrettably guilty. The script, penned by two of the show's creators, feels like slapped-together B material, and the rare laugh-out-loud moments -- such as trench coat-clad spy Secret Squirrel's penchant for flashing -- are recycled from funnier capers on the original series."%Gallery-7527%
PSP Fanboy review: Harvey Birdman
Last year, one portable game was able to capture the hearts of gamers everywhere. That game was Phoenix Wright. Who could resist the story of a lovable, sometimes hapless, lawyer that must endure hilarious over-the-top cases? The formula was a success, and gamers (casual and hardcore alike) became Phoenix Wright fans.Capcom's trying to recreate that success once again in a new lawyer game, specifically designed for a western audience. The Adult Swim program Harvey Birdman was a perfect choice -- it too features a penchant for the nonsensical. Although the humor found in the series may be a bit more zany, edgy and dark, it's just as easy to fall in love with Harvey Birdman as Phoenix Wright. His affable nature in the face of such ridiculous trials makes this new game just as endearing as its DS counterpart.%Gallery-12570%
New games this week: Harvey Birdman edition
There are a few somewhat decent-looking titles this week, a welcome change from the mini drought that's been plaguing us since mid-December. But of all the titles on the list we're most looking forward to getting our hands on Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law. We have no idea how well the series will translate to a game, but as fans of the show, we're looking forward to seeing the results. Check the full list after the jump.
Harvey Birdman video bonanza
Believe it or not, Capcom's Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is actually going to be the first PSP game released in 2008, and judging by everything we've seen up to this point, it could be everything Phoenix Wright fans and PSP owners have been waiting for. However, some critics might argue it's more of an interactive cartoon than a full-on mystery/courtroom sim, but we won't know for sure until we get our hands on it when it releases Jan. 8. Either way, we're sure fans of the series will be in for a treat.
Another shot at Harvey Birdman stuff from Capcom
The last time Capcom dangled free Harvey Birdman DVDs and assorted stuff in front of you, they asked you to do stuff. Not illegal stuff or anything, but still -- effort. How audacious of them! We're not about to waste precious minutes of our busy day slaving away in Photoshop.That's why their latest contest is so much nicer. All you have to do is preorder the Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law game, which, if you want Birdman swag, you were probably planning to do anyway. The first 500 preorderers will get a chance at a prize pack containing the entire TV series on DVD, four bobbleheads, and four posters. You don't even have to do that since an alternate, no-purchase-required entry method can be found in the contest's official rules. That may be the smart way to enter even if you do plan on buying the game, since Capcom's online shop is perilous.
Who is the cat with the firm release date?
Last we heard, Capcom's lawyerin' adventure game, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, was pushed back into an approximately January-sized window to avoid being released among a million other high-profile games. That window has been narrowed down into a cozy single day, January 8th. Uh, so try to make Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations last until then! Of course, if you don't have a DS, get one, and then you'll have lots of OBJECTING to keep you busy until January. Or play other stuff. We're just here to make gentle suggestions. The good news is that there may be non-garbage at the end of the wait. Chris Kohler has played the game, and remarked about it positively. He knocked the difficulty, but called it "certainly just as funny as the show and well-animated besides."
Capcom does smart thing, delays Harvey Birdman game
Well, it seems both EA and Capcom have gotten this crazy idea that people still purchase games once the holiday season is over. Joining Army of Two in the November bail-out is catastrophic courtroom comedy, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law. Posting on Capcom's community forums, senior director of strategic planning and research, Christian Svensson, validated his professional title with the following (under)statement: "The game is and has been finished, submitted and approved, however we felt releasing the game on the same day 112 other SKUs released was not ideal for its chances. Retail buyers agreed."Based on the television show of the same name, Harvey Birdman follows the eponymous attorney at lawl as he bungles his way through unusual cases and awkward silences. If you're thinking gameplay amounts to Phoenix Wright with an extra dose of non sequitur oddity, you're not too far from the truth. Luckily, you have this week's superb Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations to keep you occupied until the Birdman gets on your case. Retailers currently say they'll get the thing Capcom sent them in January.[Via Wii Fanboy]
Confirmed: Harvey Birdman delayed [update]
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Confirmed_Harvey_Birdman_intentionally_delayed_by_Capcom'; Aspiring winged lawyers undertaking ridiculous cases at an equally-ridiculous law firm will have to sit patiently, as the rumored delay is a rumor no longer. Confirming our fears in a post at the Capcom forums, Senior director of strategy Sven states that the delay is intentional on Capcom's part and the title is already finished. So, why would Capcom knowingly delay the game? Competition. Sven says "The game is and has been finished, submitted and approved, however we felt releasing the game on the same day 112 other SKUs released was not ideal for its chances. Retail buyers agreed." Sadly, Sven doesn't say when the new release date is, so keep an eye on Wii Fanboy for word as it hits but 1UP is reporting the title's new release window is January 2008.%Gallery-7527%[Via Go Nintendo; thanks to troy for the update]
Possible delay for Harvey Birdman
Capcom hasn't announced anything official, so take this news with a grain of salt, but Spencer Yip over at Siliconera pointed out some highly suspicious activity on the part of online retailers. Evidently, Amazon and EBgames both list Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law with a January release date, while Gamefly has the game's date listed as "TBD." Hmmmmmm.This is disappointing, considering that the game is supposed to come out in mid-November. If they need more time to tweak the controls for the newly added Wii version, though, we'll gladly (grumble, grumble) deal with it. We definitely want everything perfect for this tasty point-and-click treat. We'll keep you updated on the status of this game, but we recommend being prepared for the worst. Of course, if this turns out to be true, at least we have another Capcom lawyer game to keep us busy in the meantime.
Harvey Birdman is dead-- who wants his stuff?
Want some Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law swag? Why, of course you do! To promote the new Harvey Birdman game, Capcom is holding a comic-creating contest featuring the show's cast.Apparently (we, uh, didn't see it) Harvey died at the end of the show of being-hit-by-a-bus-driven-by-Phil-Ken-Sebben-related causes. The contest asks you to create a comic depicting your idea of what happens next. As Capcom puts it: "Is he dead? Is he back in court and trying to prove that he's still alive?" So don't just make three panels of a dead Birdman lying on the ground. That would be boring. We suggest talking and maybe movement.Capcom is providing character art, backgrounds, and (unfortunately tiny) speech bubbles for you to employ in your cartooning. Should you cartoon successfully, you could win a Harvey Birdman DVD set, a bobble head, and other stuff!
Harvey Birdman relies heavily on precedent
It's been assumed from day one that Capcom's Harvey Birdman game would be similar in gameplay style to, you know, their other lawyer game. This gameplay video confirms that not only are the games similar in format, they're identical. Listen to witness testimony (which is preceded by a "Witness Testimony" title graphic), press and present evidence to reveal contradictions, and search static environments for clues during investigation.The difference? So much video! Everything is played out in full voice and as much animation as an Adult Swim show typically has. It really looks exactly like the show, interstitials and all-- and bringing in the show's real cast (minus, we assume, Steven Colbert) doesn't hurt either. The other difference, of course, is that Harvey Birdman shows no trace of anime style in its presentation or humor, opting instead for the surreal, rapid-fire randomness found in the show. A new Ace Attorney game with weird humor and a more upscale presentation? GUILTY of earning our $40!Investigate the post break for more evidence of gameplay. Uh, investigate it by clicking. The evidence is a video. Yeah, we were going for a whole thematic thing.
Do you really want to feel them: Harvey Birdman screens
Okay, we admit that these screens of Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law depict the PS2 version, but we can guarantee with near certainty that the Wii version is going to look exactly the same, with different button icons on the screen. You can already see how readily the interface will adapt to the Wiimote's pointer, and, on a more basic level, how the Birdman plotlines will adapt to a Phoenix Wright-like courtroom adventure game.Somehow, art that looks like terrible Flash on TV looks so vibrant and fresh as a video game. Maybe it's the total absence of bald space marines.%Gallery-7527%[Via Capcom USA Blog]
Saturday PSP background explosion
Every week, PSP Fanboy brings you new backgrounds to keep your PSP safe from unbackgrounditis. Remember, you can save these images directly to your PSP by accessing the site wireless at m.pspfanboy.com. This week, we have a Cartoon Network themed set of backgrounds. Yet, all three are still game related. What cartoons will you be able to set as a background? Continue to find out. Backgrounds after the jump ...
