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DS Fanboy Review: Metal Slug 7
My initial impression of SNK Playmore's Metal Slug 7 was that it was a little bit bland for a Metal Slug game. It certainly lacks the personality and irresistible wackiness that characterize pretty much every other entry in the series. Compared to the DS's other big run-and-gun game, Contra 4, which not only revived, but improved upon its legendary legacy, Metal Slug 7 is a bit underwhelming, a competent imitation of other Metal Slugs at best.After more playtime, however, I found that the imitation is accurate enough where it counts (mostly the controls). Even in its diminished state, Metal Slug is irresistibly fun. %Gallery-16835%
Gaming to Go: Zoo Keeper
Zoo Keeper did two things I frankly never expected the moment I finally got my mitts on the cartridge. The first was a highly distressing personal evaluation delivered to me by a balding man with a suit and a cigar: "You are a total failure." These words stand alone in a sea of poorly-translated lines he throws out during the course of the game, being both completely accurate and completely depressing. Thanks, Ignition Entertainment, for properly translating only one part of Zoo Keeper -- the part that completely ruined my life.The second thing was to raise an interesting question about an-oft expected aspect of portable gaming on the DS. Is sleep mode, wherein you close the DS's lid and go on with your day, absolutely necessary? In every case I would say yes, as putting the handheld in a low-power state is the best way to conserve energy for repeated gaming throughout the day. The question then becomes whether I can truly recommend Zoo Keeper for this week's edition of Gaming to Go, as the game is completely lacking in that vital feature. What do you think? Click the big button down there and decide for yourself if Zoo Keeper is worth picking up despite such a glaring flaw.%Gallery-37770% #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } NEXT >>
Ignition brings the Lux-Pain in March
Last month, Ignition Entertainment announced that they (and not Marvelous's BFF, XSeed) would release Marvelous's adventure game Lux-Pain in North America. Today, the company sent out a press release confirming the deal and officially setting a March release date.Lux-Pain stars Atsuki, who is implanted with a power called Lux-Pain that allows hiim to see and purge an evil mind-controlling worm called "Silent" from the bodies of infected humans. Atsuki will search various locations around Kisaragi City, perform autopsies on dead Silent worms (seriously), and use the Lux-Pain power to search for Silent in living people before it reaches their hearts and kills them.We're always ready for more graphical text adventures, and Lux-Pain sounds like it has an interesting enough premise. The art is quite nice as well -- and, according to Marvelous, the music must also be.%Gallery-36818%
Metal Slug 7 holding out for a hero
We would never have associated gravelly-voiced Welsh songstress Bonnie Tyler with Metal Slug, but some genius at Ignition combined the two for the latest Metal Slug 7 trailer. Against all expectations, the rousing '80s power anthem "Holding out for a Hero" is the perfect companion piece to SNK's game.Not that we're Bonnie Tyler fans or anything, obviously, because we only listen to totally manly music like, uh, Slayer and stuff. Yeah. As for the game itself, it still looks awesome, despite some importers suggesting it's not all it should be.%Gallery-16835%
Samurai Showdown Anthology set to heat up winter
Before there was Soul Calibur, there was Samurai Showdown. Fans of the weapons-based fighting series may remember the early days -- a time when all the cool kids had Neo Geos. Those were some good times, huh? Since then, the series has grown and spread its seed onto other platforms.Gathering the SS titles together, SNK is taking the aging IP and putting all six appropriately numbered Showdown games onto one little disc; it's being called Samurai Showdown Anthology. With SNK around, there's never a shortage of these Anthology collections, now is there? The latest press release pins the game for a European release by winter 2008; a North American release was also mentioned sometime ago.[via press release]
We believe in Metal Slug 7 videos
We've heard some pretty bad things about how the Japanese version of Metal Slug 7 turned out, and that's so sad! Because it continues to look so awesome in trailers! Look at this one, in which a giant walking robot mows down tanks, trucks, helicopters, and even another giant walking robot!We're just going to continue thinking it's awesome until we play the final US version, for our own sakes. It's a lot more fun to watch videos like this (and several more new videos at IGN) and look forward to playing it. There'll be plenty of time to be disappointed later. And at least it isn't Commando: Steel Disaster.%Gallery-16835%
GC 2008: 'Tornado' ads both suck and blow
Behold: Tornado. What's the game about? Does it really matter? From what we can stomach gather, this ludicrous video – complete with a crappy rip-off of Danny Elfman's Pee-Wee's Big Adventure score – shows a game that looks like a Katamari Damacy clone, is played by swirling the stylus on the DS screen, and stars the love child of Shadow the Hedgehog and Aero the Acro-Bat.Oh, and what is up with that poor raccoon? Or the little girl with the dead eyes and creepy smirk? The whole thing looks like footage David Lynch could have shot after going off his drugs. There's a second spot after the break, but you might want to take a moment to compose yourself before clicking through, since it's just as hysterically awful. You have been warned.
See Metal Slug 7 explode on DS
Is there some sort of global law that states SNK must make a new Metal Slug every year or face certain doom? We kid, but it seems that way, what with the series hitting its seventh installment and there being a larger proliferation of ports out there than Starbucks in Seattle.Proclaiming that it is the "ultimate game," this trailer for the Nintendo DS version of Metal Slug 7 is all business. Loud, hot lead business. It's the first entry in the very action-packed series on Ninty's dual-screener, which seems from this video to be more than up to the sprite-pushing challenge it presents. There's nary a hint of slowdown, which tells us either the programmers are ace or the video is sped up. Surely it's the former. We'll know for certain when the game hits – nay, demolishes – shelves in November.
Michael Bay presents: Metal Slug 7
The latest trailer for Metal Slug 7 gets a computer-generated "brushed steel and industrial noises" presentation usually reserved for commercials about truck sales ... or movies for dudes. It makes huge, bombastic claims: "THE ULTIMATE CHARACTERS." "THE ULTIMATE WEAPONS." "THE ULTIMATE GAME." Like a Michael Bay movie, Metal Slug 7 is full of big explosions, big machines, and big explosions. And like the average Michael Bay movie, it's going to be a challenge to get all the way through it. However, unlike, say, Transformers, we expect to enjoy Metal Slug 7 for as many as two hours. Probably more!%Gallery-16835%[Via press release]
Boing! Docomodake DS bounces to Europe this fall
As the mascot of Japanese cell phone company NTT docomo, Inc., Docomodake is obviously serious business in his homeland, as the above mountain of plushes, keychains, and cell phone straps attests. In Europe, the chubby mushroom is virtually unheard of, but that hasn't deterred Ignition, who announced this morning that they would bring Boing! Docomodake DS to the region this fall (a listing for the game at Gamestop exists, suggesting a U.S. release is also likely). Playing as Papa Docomodake, players must track down the other anthropomorphized fungi that make up the Docomodake family, and get them all back to a festival in the Docomodake Forest. To do this, he'll be able to deploy miniature mushrooms who can be used as projectiles to see off enemies, or to form makeshift platforms and ladders. It looks like a fairly light-hearted slice of platformy fun, not to mention cute -- the first screens are waiting for you in our gallery. %Gallery-28640%[Via press release]
Metal Slug 7 bombarding Europe this year
The unsourced rumor of a 2008 European Metal Slug 7 release date must be acknowledged. It turns out that Europeans will not only get Metal Slug 7 in 2008, but they will also get it pretty much the same time as everywhere else. A press release has come through and announced an "Autumn 2008" release. Yes, that means Fall -- Autumn is for those lame Europeans and non-lame Australians.To accompany this timely news, five new screens of the kill-o-rama have been updated in our gallery. With seven brand new missions six playable characters and apparently the biggest SLUG vehicle ever, this is exactly what hardcore Metal Slug fans need. %Gallery-16835%[Via press release]
Tornado to blow through Europe
Ignition won't be forgetting about Europe when it comes to localizing Tornado, Success's Katamari Damacy-esque action game about a bunch of heroic cats who employ tornadoes to tidy up the mess left by a devious galactic Prince who wants to claim all possessions on Earth. Hey, it could happen! The game is currently slated for a fall release in Europe, but Ignition might want to hurry up -- the game still lacks a release date in its native Japan. While we wait for something more concrete, let the wind guide you gently towards our gallery and a dozen new images.%Gallery-25101%[Via press release]
Ignition selects Unreal Engine 3 for 'groundbreaking' FPS
Yet another company has climbed on board the Unreal Engine 3 bandwagon, as UK-headquartered Ignition Entertainment dropped word that it has licensed Epic's popular tech to help fuel what the company calls a "groundbreaking" new FPS.In development at Ignition's Florida studio, nothing is yet known of the project beyond that it will be based on an original, as-yet-undisclosed IP. Well, that's not entirely true, as the company does note that the game will be both "exciting" and "fresh," giving us hope that at long last someone will bring together two of our most fond loves, letting us shoot bad guys and raid the salad bar from the comfort of our living room.
Metal Slug 7 rescues North America this fall
Ignition Entertainment has finally offered some hint as to when Metal Slug 7 will be released stateside in a press release sent out today. The company specified a fall release for the SNK Playmore-developed (and co-published) run-and-gun sequel. "Truth be told, I have a pink DS and was embarrassed to play it in public," said Ajay Chadha, Ignition president. "Now with Metal Slug 7 loaded, I have no qualms," said Ajay Chadha, President of Ignition Entertainment. Good thing this was a textual release and not an audio announcement, because it would have been really hard to say that with his tongue that far in cheek.Along with the release window, Ignition sent out the American boxart, which, we are happy to say, isn't completely different from the great Japanese art. The contrast has been increased, and the logo has been moved into a more prominent position and framed by explodies, but we fully approve of those minor changes.%Gallery-16835%
Ignition officially announces Tornado, first media blows in
Confirming Nintendo Power's statement, Ignition Entertainment sent out a press release announcing their intention to release Success's Tornado in North America. Surprisingly, the game isn't even close to being released in Japan yet: Success's barebones Tornado website still shows an "undecided" release date.As Toki, a member of the Cosmic Cleaners, Tornado players must use upgradable Tornado Machines to clean up the world and reclaim all the items, people, and buildings that a malevolent Prince has stolen from Earth. Like Katamari Damacy with a different rotational axis. The focus is on acquiring unique items, and completing levels in the Story Mode unlocks them in Arcade Mode for replay and continued collecting.The first English screens are available in our gallery. Take them for a spin, why don't you (oh man, sorry about that).%Gallery-25101%[Via press release]
Neo Geo VC games to be redundant in Europe as well
Happy times are ahead for European gamers who bristle at the thought of spending 900 Wii Points each on Neo Geo games. Ignition Entertainment has just announced plans to release the SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 disc in Europe. The PSP and PS2 versions are expected in August, with the Wii release some time later.If the mockup boxart seen here turns out to be what is really used, Europe is getting a way better package than we are in the U.S. Of course, it'll probably be more expensive, but still cheaper than buying the available games on the VC (all 11 of which are on this disc). There's still the matter of emulation quality -- hopefully this collection will get the ports right.[Via press release]
Metal Slug 7 boxart will soon wrap copies of Metal Slug 7
The appearance of a boxart image for Metal Slug 7 means that SNK is one step closer to putting the game in boxes and shipping it out to stores in Japan (which happens on July 17!). Then, some time in the future, it'll get shipped out to the U.S. Then, shooting stuff time! Even without the portent of Metal Slug on the way, we'd be happy with this boxart, which can only be described as classic SNK -- detailed, colorful hand-painted art that would be right at home adorning the box for a $300 game. Hopefully SNK realizes it would be cheaper to keep the same awesome art for the American box, rather than replacing it with something boring.
More retail confirmation of Elebits 2, Docomodake
A few weeks ago, Elebits 2: Adventures of Kai & Zero for the DS showed up on Gamefly's "coming soon" list. That listing has now been joined by one on Gamestop, with a similar title (minus the number) and an even closer date (August 1). Konami still has yet to make any announcements about a DS sequel to Elebits -- we were sure it would come out at their Gamers Day event, the same time Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (itself the subject of protracted rumors) was revealed. Another noteworthy new addition to Gamestop's list of upcoming games: Ignition Entertainment's release of the cell-phone mascot platformer Docomodake. We knew from an ESRB rating that it was coming, but not when -- Gamestop says next February. The new English title? Docomodake BOING!
North American Tornado confirmed
It looks like GameFly was right once again.We recently reported that the renter/retailer put up a listing for Tornado, which was assumed to be a localized version of the Japanese game sharing the same name. Now according to a blurb in most recent issue of Nintendo Power, the Katamari-like game is indeed confirmed to pop up in North America, although no timeline details were given.Nintendo Power also reveals that Tornado will include some microphone blowing elements, which worries us a little bit. As long as the game doesn't overdo it, though, we can't help but think that this will be a nice addition to the DS library.[Via GoNintendo]%Gallery-25101%
Tornado might blow over to North America
The comparisons between Tornado and Katamari Damacy are extremely evident, but there's one major difference: Katamari Damacy games are available outside of Japan, whereas Success's title has yet to accomplish that.In fact, Tornado hasn't even released in Japan yet. It was originally scheduled to come out last year, but later become delayed indefinitely. Oddly enough, though, GameFly has a listing for a DS game called Tornado. Can it be the same game? Perhaps -- we hope so, at least. We wouldn't mind having a portable Katamari-like game release in North America for our favorite handheld.Whatever this game is, it's being published by Ignition Entertainment and has a GameFly release date of September '08.[Via Siliconera]
