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Ignition licenses CryEngine 3 for new action game
With games like Deadly Premonition, Muramasa and Nostalgia, Ignition has made a cottage industry out of bringing oddball titles to market in Europe and North America. You can imagine our surprise to read that the company has licensed Crytek's CryEngine 3 for the first game from its London studio, "a uniquely crafted combat action-adventure" for 360 and PS3. So, wait a minute, the house that brought us Boing! Docomodake DS is cooking up a CryEngine action game on PS3 and 360? Dare we ask? Could this be ... the remix to Ignition?
Blacklight: Tango Down to feature 4-player co-op
The feature war between this year's upcoming downloadable shooters is growing intense, with more and more bullets finding their way onto the list in every fact sheet. Blacklight: Tango Down, developed by Zombie Studios, now touts four-player co-op missions, in addition to its player customization, experience-driven progression system and competitive multiplayer modes. The "Black Ops" co-op missions will challenge you and three other e-soldiers to best an enemy faction that has overrun the streets of Balik. As a reminder, we'll note that the streets of Balik are "both futuristically alien as well as hauntingly familiar." They're the urban equivalent of an Ed Wood flying saucer, and that has to count for something. Blacklight: Tango Down will land on Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and PC this summer for an expected price of $15. %Gallery-86900%
Amazon discount sparks chart-topping sales of Deadly Premonition
A combination of word-of-mouth promotion and a one-day discount has propelled Access Games and Ignition Entertainment's Deadly Premonition to the top of Amazon's Xbox 360 sales chart this week, according to Gamasutra. The low-budget survival horror game received an unusual range of reviews -- from a 2/10 from IGN to Destructoid's 10/10, with everything in between. Those that did like the game describe it as a combination of Twin Peaks–like storytelling and awkward writing, which are often the key ingredients for a cult hit. Of course, the main motivator for Deadly Premonition's uptick in sales was Amazon's discount. On Wednesday, it was the retailer's Deal of the Day, with its price knocked down from $19.99 to $14.98. Apparently, a lot of people were waiting until it dropped under $20. Sadly, the game has returned to its exorbitant original price.
Blacklight: Tango Down coming to PSN, XBLA and PC this summer
Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network haven't traditionally been the most familiar territories for new first-person shooters, but titles like Serious Sam HD and Battlefield 1943 have started carving out a respectable niche. Ignition has decided to join the fray, announcing that Blacklight: Tango Down is set to arrive on XBLA, PSN and PC this summer. Details are hard to come by on the Zombie Studios title (first revealed nearly a year ago), but we know it's a "military action" franchise that prides itself on its weapon and character customization. Zombie describes the near-future world of Blacklight as "disturbingly detailed," with "old-world architecture dripping with modern sci-fi lighting and brightly lit advertisements." And just a crazy number of Grateful Dead posters. %Gallery-86900%
Look out! New Arc Rise Fantasia screens appear
New screens from the upcoming Ignition Entertainment published RPG Arc Rise Fantasia have emerged, featuring the game's strategic turn-based battle action. Originally announced as an XSEED published title, Arc Rise Fantasia was snatched out of XSEED's announced lineup by Ignition in late 2009. The upcoming RPG is developed by Sands of Destruction's imageepoch and is set for a summer 2010 release. %Gallery-86696%
Blue Dragon Plus value on Amazon
Looking for roughly ten dollars worth of tactical role-playing on DS? What a coincidence! Amazon is currently offering Blue Dragon Plus for $9.98. You can add the strategy guide for just $3.42! It's the perfect time to get caught up with the adventures of Shu, Marumaro, and a bunch of giant blue monsters before the next Blue Dragon game hits DS. Also, it serves as a reminder that yes, another Blue Dragon game is hitting DS. D3 Publisher is releasing Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow at an unspecified date this spring. [Via GoNintendo]
Swag Sunday: Oh, Nostalgia (DS) [update]
Update: Comments have been closed and a winner shall be emailed expediently! Check your inboxes, dearest readers. Ahhh, nostalgia. It's quite a thing, isn't it? That old familiar feeling. We were just tots 20 years ago when the first Final Fantasy was mere months from its North American release, a game that went on to influence -- be it directly or incidentally -- many of the RPGs we've played since. Like this week's Swag Sunday, the appropriately titled Nostalgia, for instance (appropriately titled for our theme, that is). Joystiq's own JC Fletcher said in his preview that, "The winsome attitude of Nostalgia makes it a nice counterpoint to the self-importance of, say, Final Fantasy games, and the no-frills combat (and ability to make a temporary save file if you need to quit and aren't near a save point) is perfect for short-session handheld play." You see that? He even names Final Fantasy! How's that for sticking with a theme! Anyway, if you'll be so kind as to leave a comment below in the next 24 hours (once only, please) telling us about a nostalgic moment you've had while gaming, you'll be entered for a chance to win a copy of the game. Get to it! Leave a comment telling us about a nostalgic moment you've had while gaming. You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec, mostly because of the lack of sweet Fez footage as of late). Limit 1 entry per person per day This entry period ends at 7:31PM ET on Monday, January 18. At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive one copy of Nostalgia for Nintendo DS ($34.99 ARV). For a list of complete rules, click here %Gallery-75764% What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.
Best of the Rest: JC's picks of 2009
Muramasa: The Demon Blade Muramasa appealed to me in a way that Odin Sphere didn't, thanks to an emphasis on combo-heavy sword action instead of planting and whatever. And the RPG elements that are left, like the sword upgrades and cooking, are not only fun, but simple enough that I can get right back into the game after a long break and still know what is going on. Also, I don't mean to be shallow, but the fact that Muramasa is the most beautiful game of 2009 helps me be positive about it.
ESRB rates Deadly Premonition for PS3
In the ancient times, when Access Games' survival horror game, Deadly Premonition, was known as Rainy Woods, it was a multiplatform PS3/Xbox 360 title. But when Ignition picked it up, it was announced as a $19.99 budget title for Xbox 360 only. However, the ESRB rating for Deadly Premonition, which lists Ignition as the publisher, shows PS3 in the list of platforms. We're just like the game's Agent Francis York Morgan, except instead of a gruesome, unexplained murder, we're investigating an ESRB rating, and instead of looking around a mysterious town in search of clues, we've emailed Ignition. But it's the same basic thing. %Gallery-77892%
Ignition and Marvelous have a Deadly Premonition
Ignition Entertainment, partnering with recent publisher BFF Marvelous Entertainment, has announced a new survival horror game for Xbox 360 called Deadly Premonition. The game is the second original work from Access Games, who created the PS2 stealth game Spy Fiction, and also codeveloped The Sky Crawlers and Ace Combat X. The game stars an FBI agent investigating a murder in Silent Hill a rural town full of unexplained events, mysterious characters, and, apparently, dripping blood. It will feature exploration and driving in addition to fighting creepy Jawas. Ignition predicts an early 2010 release. If this game looks familiar to you, you have a really good memory! It was announced back in 2007 as Rainy Woods, and was a multiplatform release at the time. It's now been renamed and targeted just at the 360. %Gallery-77892%
Ignition: Muramasa sales 'in line with expectations'
Muramasa: The Demon Blade publisher Ignition revealed to Gamer Investments a rough estimate of the NPD sales total for its Wii sidescroller, describing the game's September performance as "in the ball park of 35K," with a margin of "15-20%." It might sound low to us, but marketing director Melody Frieda said that the total was "in line with expectations and we're happy with how it's performing to date." She said that positive reviews should help keep sales up through the holidays. The company sees even better potential for the title in the long term: according to Frieda, Ignition is "quite confident that Muramasa will be a revered cult classic like its sister property Odin Sphere," which went on to be released under the PS2's "Greatest Hits" line.%Gallery-33431%
Ignition now publishing Arc Rise Fantasia
Ignition Entertainment has somehow done it again: snagged a Marvelous game out of XSEED's announced lineup. Arc Rise Fantasia, which XSEED announced plans to localize in late 2008, and which was still in XSEED's slate as of E3, has been picked up by Ignition Entertainment for release in summer 2010. The turn-based RPG is developed by Sands of Destruction's imageepoch. New screens (in our gallery) accompany the announcement.When Ignition picked up another previously-announced XSEED Wii title, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, XSEED told Joystiq that Marvelous was taking proposals from publishers and made the final decision to go with Ignition well after XSEED began promoting the title. At the time, we thought that was an anomaly. %Gallery-76288%
Hands-on: Nostalgia (DS)
There's only one word I can use to describe the tone of Tecmo and Red Entertainment's Nostalgia, but that one word describes it perfectly: jaunty. I don't think I've ever played a jauntier game in my life, one that's so upbeat about the abstract notion of adventure. This enthusiasm for getting out and seeing the (fake) world is aided by a simplistic, familiar RPG gameplay system that keeps the mechanics of the game out of the way of your adventurin'. If Dragon Quest were set in a fake version of early 20th century Earth, it would be Nostalgia.%Gallery-75764%
Ignition trademarks 'Dragon's Crown,' 'Figland'
Siliconera has been digging around in trademark fillings again, finding Ignition Entertainment's recent application for the rights to Dragon's Crown. The site also found Figland, which appears to have been filed for last year. The trademarks cover the usual stuff around video games, including possible paper publications.Siliconera notes that Ignition president Ajay Chadha told the site at E3 that the company had several new IPs in development -- apparently, we now know two of their names.
Review: Muramasa: The Demon Blade
I was honestly a bit worried about being able to review Muramasa: The Demon Blade objectively, because this game was, from the outset, completely up my alley. Making a fully 2D sidescrolling action game with lots of combo-based swordfighting and a Japanese mythological setting is like titling the game JC Will Buy This, as there is no component of that game description for which I am not a sucker. What keeps me honest? Professionalism the other side of that coin -- if the game worked I may be more likely than most to love it, sure, but if there was anything wrong with it, my disappointment would come out pretty harshly. Luckily, I don't have to worry about my personal biases getting in the way, as I'm quite certain this is a great action game. %Gallery-33431%
Check out more of Muramasa's lovely gameplay in this new trailer
Muramasa: The Demon Blade's US release is so anticipated around Joystiq HQ, our staff can constantly be spotted exchanging fist-pumps whenever it's mentioned. Today, a new gameplay trailer has found its way online, showcasing more of the game's beautiful action. Hopefully, when it hits stores Stateside on September 8, it will live up to our lofty expectations. If not, the only arm movement we'll be making is when we throw elbows during our daily "abuse the intern" training exercises.
Video: The pretty, violent locations of Muramasa
Ignition has released a new video of Muramasa: The Demon Blade. The video highlights the game's locations, all set in beautiful feudal Japanese backdrops. Of course, the problem with beautiful feudal Japanese backdrops is they're always being ransacked by ninjas, demons and evil snow witches. You're just walking along, admiring the cherry blossoms, and then it's like, bam: Snow witch. Happens every time. Watch the trailer and see for yourself. Muramasa hits shelves next month.
Ignition opens sharp Muramasa: The Demon Blade site
Ignition opened the official North American Muramasa: The Demon Blade website today, confrming two important facts for us: Ignition is still planning to release the game this year (we need constant reassurance that not every game is being pushed to 2010) The art is still bangin'. In fact, the website allows you to take some of that art for your very own in the form of desktop wallpapers. You can also check out screenshots, video, and character profiles while you're there, and offer Ignition your own Muramasa art in a fan art contest.
Review: King of Fighters XII
SNK sticks to the KOF series' roots with King of Fighters XII, the latest 2D installment in its popular fighting franchise. It's been years since we've seen a King of Fighters game and you'd think SNK had some cards hidden up its sleeve but, to be honest, King of Fighters XII is short on the surprises. [Editor's note: This review also features a video walkthrough.] %Gallery-63875%
King of Fighters XII uppercuts retail July 28
The official Twitter account for King of Fighters XII has revealed the final date for retail release: July 28. KOFXII features 22 characters to choose from and the series' tried-and-true, three-on-three gameplay. The game does bring some new gameplay elements to the table, though, such as air guards and guard attacks; so it's not just the same old King of Fighters in HD. Not that that would totally be a bad thing ...
