koei
Latest
Romance of the Three Kingdoms bundle coming to Japan
While the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series never really was a huge commercial success in the US, over in Japan it's a hit. So much so, that in march there is going to be a bundle of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms VIII port and the metallic blue PSP. As with most of the game specific PSP bundles, it will also feature a special PSP case, this time with a Koei theme. I'm not really looking for a RotTK bundle over here, but it would be smart for Sony to start having more game specific bundles outside of Japan. The pack-in game has always been a great way to help spur interest in a system. Are any of our readers hardcore enough to actually buy this Japanese bundle? [Via Game Watch]
Koei's Fatal Inertia, Bladestorm to miss Euro PS3 launch
Two of Koei's most notable PS3 games (particularly notable for not being Dynasty Warriors) have been delayed in Europe until Summer 2007. The developer has opted to miss out on the Euro PS3 launch, instead spending some more time on polishing futuristic racer, Fatal Inertia, and non-futuristic hack 'n slasher, Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War.No indication was given whether the delay affects the Xbox 360 versions.
Release dates for Fatal Intertia and BLADESTORM (why all caps, Koei?)
This news is coming straight from Koei's mouth and into your eyes as you read this post (eww). Again, we're continuing our strand of European-centric news as these release dates relate to Europe, but can probably be understood to entail North America as well. Summer of 2007 will see the release of both BLADESTORM and Fatal Inertia. Not sure why Koei has the caps lock on for the first title.Just in case you were wondering, Fatal Inertia is a futuristic racing game (not unlike F-Zero), except with a multitude of weaponry to assist in taking out the competition (not unlike Mario Kart). It should be pretty fun and we've got to hand it to Koei for finally stepping out of the "giant historical war" genre. Speaking of giant historical wars, BLADESTORM steps away from the Warring States period in China and focuses more on the 14th century war concerning succession to the French throne. The war would come to be known as the Hundred Years War -- the subtitle to the game. Even though it's a familiar road for Koei, perhaps the next-gen systems can provide more options, characters, maybe some actual AI, as well as plenty of on-screen peons to annihilate. Look for these games in the Summer!
Romance of the Three Kingdoms gold for the eleventh time
When Luó Guànzh?ng wrote his classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms back in the 14th century he wasn't thinking franchise. But, almost 700 years later, Koei has turned Luó's story into one of the most prolific video game series to date (including the Dynasty Warriors spin-off franchise and its spin-off Dynasty Tactics).Today, Koei announced that Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI has gone gold, ensuring that this franchise will continue to permeate the console industry, despite slipping into mediocrity. It may be dull, and turn-based, but what would the world be like without Romance?Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI, for PlayStation 2, will ship February 6.[Via press release]
Another Wii sword fighter inbound
With the confirmation that Koei's Samurai Warriors spin-off is heading to the North American Wii, we have to wonder how many sword-fighting games we'll be able to handle in the long run before seppuku becomes an attractive alternative. Sengoku Musou Wave will be redubbed Samurai Slash in the West, a title that's impressively accurate in describing the actual gameplay. If slashing things from a first-person perspective sounds familiar, it's because Red Steel attempted the very same thing. The upcoming Dragon Quest: Swords boasts a similar concept as its primary gameplay mechanic and eventually, LucasArts will get around to making that Star Wars lightsaber game. The fun parallels between swinging the Wii controller and swinging a sword essentially demand that such games be made, but just like with any other console, we could eventually face a flood of me-too titles built around the same, unchanging concept. Even on a system that encourages innovation, game developers face the danger of lapsing into a lazy genre trap. Is the "guy with two guns" game any better than the "guy with a sword" game?(And where's the "guy with two sticks" game?)
Import game releases for the week of 1/7/07
Stephen Bailey takes you through the latest Japanese import releases every Sunday in our new feature.The PSP allows you to play import games without having to solder toaster parts to it and hook it to a car battery. This ease of use surely deserves to be rewarded with a list of the import games of the week. Gunpey-R We may have had Gunpey on our PSPs for a while, but Japan is just getting their version of the puzzle music game. As previously reported, this is probably the version to get simply because of the sexy box cover. If the cover does sway you into purchasing it, know that the game has the style you'd expect from a Q Entertainment release and the gameplay consists of flipping lines to connect them to other lines (it's more exciting than it sounds). For the curious, the "R" stands for "rebirth". This makes sense since the whole Gunpey thing is nothing new in Japan. Nobunaga no Yabou: Shouseiroku (Koei the Best) This is the re-release of this game as a "Best" version, which in Japan just means the game sold well. That or they're re-releasing it to try and get it back on store shelves. This is a Koei history strategy game, so it's likely that it isn't a good import idea if you don't speak japanese. On the other hand, it never came out in english, so if you're hardcore or brave enough, import away. And that's it for this week, but don't fall into a lack of import depression, we'll have more import games next week
PSP Fanboy review: Gitaroo-Man Lives!
I have a sad confession to make. I never bought the original Gitaroo-Man. However, the gaming gods have been kind enough to forgive such a sin, and they've ported the game to the PSP in the energetically-titled Gitaroo-Man Lives! I became interested iNiS's games ever since Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! landed in my DS, and I have to say that this handheld offering is just as good and stylish. There's a reason why the original PS2 game was nominated for an "Original Funk" award from SCEA.
PS3 loses more exclusives
It's said that the rats are the first to abandon a sinking ship. While not rats, publishers are beginning to abandon the PS3 after its less-than-impressive launch and news of production woes. Three titles have pulled up stakes and moved to the Xbox 360 (as cross-platform). Koei, long time PlayStation supporter (and company frequently billed as key support to win the generation) has pulled Fatal Inertia and Blade Storm: The Hundred Years' War from the PS3 exclusive list and plopped them squarely into the Xbox 360 camp. Another PlayStation staple, the Armored Core series, is also coming to the white box in the form of Armored Core 4. Sony is going to be in for a difficult battle if key players keep moving over party lines; Microsoft is doing far better coaxing exclusive content over to the 360. If Sony continues to lose its differentiation, why should gamers continue to shell out up to $200 more just to play the same games? Enjoy this machine translation for those who can't read Japanese. [Thanks, Stephen]
Koei speaks of Bladestorm for the PS3, we listen kindly
Koei actually took the hint! We don't care about the Romance of the Three Kingdoms anymore! The Chinese warring states no longer satisfy our button-mashing needs! Dynasty Warriors is old news (though... still fun... if you want to waste a bit o' time). We've got some news to dish out on Koei's next-gen game, Bladestorm which takes place during the Hundred Years War in the 14th century. Some basics on the game itself -- each stage (gigantic they shall be... probably) will have 20 different kinds of strongholds, including castles, churches, etc... and there will be quite a few historic faces making their appearance. You can expect Joan of Arc, Prince Edward, the Black Prince (my 14th century history is rusty... is Prince Edward the Black Prince? Something says yes), and many, many others.What of the game itself? What's the scoop? You take control of a mercenary army and choose whatever side you wish to assist (again, veterans of history, we challenge you -- what sides were there?). From there you have to manage your resources, recruit new members (possibly some of the "famous" folk as well) and kick some bum. There are a multitude of different units to check out and hire and each have their respective strengths and weaknesses -- imagine the Sword > Axe > Spear > Sword cycle from the Fire Emblem games, but not quite as obvious in execution. It's looking pretty cool, so we'll keep you up to date with this title as news becomes available.
Gitaroo Man pre-order swag (and other less important games)
Gitaroo Man Lives! plans on burnin' down the PSP come November 14th, and if you pre-order the game online at Gamestop, you'll not only secure yourself a copy of the game, you'll also get a 5-pin set (which looks suspiciously like the ones given away in Europe a while back). Although the game is merely an updated port of the PS2 cult classic, there are tons of people out there that haven't had a chance to play this rad game from the creators of import-favorite Ouendan. It received some rave reviews, so don't be afraid to break out the dough.It appears as if you'll be able to pre-order Pimp My Ride and NFL Street 3 and get some swag too, but I stopped reading 'round there. You can head over to Gamestop Gamespot (why are they named so similarly???!) to get all the details.
Let's play Koei's Mahjong in 1080p!
Can't handle the stress of wondering if you'll ever get to see the glorious game of Mahjong in an equally (some may say more) glorious 1080p? Put down that stress ball, everyone! In addition to the already announced 1080p supporters such as Gran Turismo HD, Virtua Tennis and Lair, you can expect Koei's Mahjong Takai IV to also be in such, er, progressive resolution. The game also features a plethora of characters, full voice acting, nation-wide online play and varied difficulty levels. But come on, we know you're in it for the excitement of Mahjong in 1080p. Right?
Gitaroo Man to rock on the PSP Nov. 14
If you were hesitant to pick up the extremely cheap Gitaroo Man import last month, then you may be excited to know Koei is shipping the rhythm game to our shores come Nov. 14.IGN has already released a Gitaroo Man review giving it an 8.8 and says it's "one of the finest games the genre has ever produced." Pretty lofty words indeed.And to make sure there is at least a few things new in the port, Koei has included an ad hoc Duet mode. [Via Joystiq]
Gitaroo Man Lives again, port headed to North America
Koei is bringing Gitaroo Man to North America again, with a remake of the acclaimed, but obscure 2002 PlayStation 2 title for PSP. Gitaroo Man Lives! is essentially a port of the original rhythm game (Gitaroo Man) with the new (ad hoc) Duet Mode included. Gitaroo Man Lives! will ship to North American retailers on November 14.While the remake will no doubt please some gamers who missed Gitaroo Man's first tour, we can't help but feel a bit slighted by the release. Coupled with news that a PaRappa the Rapper port (with some bonus features) is also headed to PSP, it's become glaringly obvious that many publishers are using the PSP as a sloppy seconds machine. Instead of producing new content, companies are dusting off old titles, applying a little gloss -- and maybe tacking on ad hoc multiplayer -- and shipping these "remakes" off to retail. What's even more disappointing is that these ports, as well as the downgraded PSP versions of multiplatform releases and franchise spin-offs, are consistently earning higher critical marks than the PSP's original content. Gangs of London? Bounty Hounds? Rengoku 2? Are these games even on your radar? Why is it so frickin' hard to make exceptional PSP games that can't be played on any other platform? LocoRoco? Is that all we've got?[Via press release]
Metareview - Samurai Warriors 2
After a two-year absence from consoles, you may have thought that Korean publisher Koei had forgotten about its fledgling Samurai Warriors series. Not a chance, tomodachi! It's just too easy for developer Omega Force to feast on the considerable assets of the Dynasty Warriors, Xtreme Legends, and Empires games, and swap out ancient China for feudal Japan. Staying true to form, this entry adds only minor, Madden-like increments to the series. And Koei isn't finished for 2006. Samurai Warriors 2 Empires is due in November for PS2, while Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2 for PSP arrives next month. GameSpy (70/100) was the most generous, praising the dynamic battlefields and new modes: "The game could have benefited from one or two full-fledged alternative modes, but it does include a challenging tower mode. There's also a board game mode called Sugoroku, which is a variation on a Japanese board game that somewhat resembles Monopoly." GameSpot (60/100) is calling for a seppuku of the outdated graphics engine, but found one honorable feature: "To its credit, Samurai Warriors 2 does change up the skills and upgrades system a little bit, forcing you to purchase new skills in between levels with gold you collect. Unfortunately, the tangibility of these upgrades isn't always apparent, so it can sometimes feel as though you're plunging money into nothing." TeamXbox (55/100) was disappointed with the limited Xbox Live options: "Koei feels that rather than going up against a friend in any form of real time combat, people would enjoy fighting against a CPU-controlled general while your friend does the same in a time-based competition. Needless to say, they're mistaken. When people take their games onto Xbox Live they want to feel like they're online, not like they're playing the single player game all over again." See also: Metareview - Ninety-Nine Nights
TGS: Koei to show *yawn* Wii Dynasty Warriors, PS3 concepts are *fingers crossed* more original
Koei has revealed plans to preview Sengoku Musou Wave (Dynasty Warriors) for Wii at Tokyo Game Show. So what's more tired than another "historical" hack n' slash sequel? How about a mahjong game based on a "historical" hack n' slash series? Yep, Koei will also be showing off a Sengoku Musou-themed mahjong title for PSP and DS. Thankfully, Koei's PlayStation 3 support deviates from the developer's norm -- at least, in three out of four games to be featured at TGS. Most notable, but unfortunately unplayable, is Ni-Oh, billed as an action game in which bodyguard monks must defend Buddha. Of course, Koei could be tossing this concept into the Sengoku Musou engine and churning out another Dynasty clone, in which case, Koei's non-brawler offerings fall to just two, an aerial combat racing game (Fatal Inertia) and *sigh* a mahjong game (Mahjong Contest IV). Don't worry Europe, you ain't missin' much.
Koei and Capcom release TGS lineup
Sure, they're two different companies, but why make you read two different pieces on each when we can slap 'em both right here for you? First up is Capcom's TGS playables list: Devil May Cry 4 (PS3) Lost Planet (360) Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (PSP) Gyakuten Saiban 4 (AKA Phoenix Wright) (DS) Ryusei no Rockman (MegaMan stuff... always with the MegaMan! We want another MegaMan Legends game! Those were the best. MegaMan X, X2, X3, and X4 were good too. Heck, SNES and prior were all golden, excepting X4 of course.) Ahem. Sorry. MegaMan was one of the first dozen games every played by yours truly, so there's a bit of a loyalty and love for the games. Now then, Koei, how many Dynasty Warriors games will you be showing us? Fatal Inertia (PS3) Bladestorm (PS3) Ni-Oh (PS3) Mahjong Taikai IV (PS3) Samurai Warriors Wave (Wii) Samurai Warriors 2 Empires (PS2) Sangokushi 11 (PS2) G1 Jockey 4 2006 (PS2) Harukanaru Toki no Naka De (PS2) Dynasty Warriors Mahjong (PSP) Dynasty Warriors Mahjong (DS) Pocket Scenario Series Harukanaru Toki no Naka De (DS) Nobunaga's Ambition (PS2 and Windows) Okay, so there's more emphasis on Samurai Warriors now, but still. What think you, gentlemen and ladies? Does Koei and Capcom have a good lineup? The PS3 titles seem very tempting, and dare we say, Lost Planet does too? It does.
PSP impressions: Gitaroo Man
During the last day of E3, the very last game that I got my hands on before being ushered out the door like some kind of animal was Gitaroo Man over at Koei's booth. I had honestly never played a Gitaroo Man title before, however was familiar with the premise. Basically, you're a kid, with a cool dog sidekick, who battles evil as the Gitaroo Man, the ultimate guitar-wielding super hero. I played two songs before I was forced to leave, which were the first and second song, coincidentally. The gameplay of the title is rhythm-based, where the player is forced to time button presses to the song through several segments of the song, which each have their own distinct play style during the overall song's "battle." One area asks you to press either the X, O, Triangle, or Square buttons in time with icons representing each respectively as they fly toward the center of the screen, while other segments ask you to trace a line with the d-pad while pressing the O button in time with marked riffs in the song. Overall, the gameplay was loads of fun and left me wanting more.
Koei Canada is uncomfortably Japanese
Today's Wall Street Journal includes a story by Phred Dvorak on the subject of corporate culture and the ways in which companies that straddle multiple continents must decide how much of their home company's culture to bring into non-native markets where they also conduct operations. The meat of the article is about Koei's insistence that Canadian employees follow Japanese rituals in the workplace, from a thrice-weekly "Good Morning" call-and-response chant with the boss, to a tendency to ask female employees "to serve tea to top executives' guests," to an annual cleaning ritual in which everyone must scrub office equipment clean, regardless of his or her rank. Game companies mentioned in the article include Koei, Sega, Konami, Electronic Arts, Activision, and Microsoft.
PS3 update hinted to arrive on the Ides of March
Speaking with reporters at a recent Dynasty Warriors event, Koei vice-president Kiyoshi Komatsu hinted at a Sony event to be held on March 15 at an unspecified location in Japan. Though Sony refused to comment on the event, this latest revelation has sparked hopes that Sony is finally ready to come clean about the status of the PlayStation 3. March 15, or the "Ides of March," was thought to be an auspicious date in the Roman calendar—it's also the day Julius Caesar was assassinated. To borrow the phrase from Mr. Shakespeare, all ye doubters best "beware the Ides of March.”
