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PSN Tuesday: Strider, EDF 2025, Rayman Legends PS4, Tomba 2
The PlayStation Store updates later today, adding download versions of retail games Earth Defense Force 2025 and Rayman Legends PS4. On the download-only side it's a busy week, with three new releases and three restored classics to sink time into. Leading the new releases is a game with plenty of retro about it: We gave Capcom's Strider resurrection four stars in our review, lauding the PS4 and PS3 game's "absorbing fusion of action and platforming." If sci-fi ninjas aren't your bag, the PS3's Forest Legends: The Call of Love offers some lighter puzzling, and Vita indie Gunslugs brings dynamically generated run-and-gunning to the mix. As for the classics, you can choose from fan favorite PSOne platformer Tomba! 2, the PSOne version of Mr Driller, and the divisive PS2 outing of Neo Contra. If you've come this far and you're still shrugging your shoulders, head back to the top for the first ever PS Plus TV spot. [Image: Capcom]
Namco welcomes back Chilean miners with Mr. Driller image, apologizes
Namco Bandai wasn't exempt from the celebration that spread across the globe earlier this week when rescue workers retrieved 33 miners who had been trapped in a Chilean mine since early August. During the exhaustive rescue operation, the publisher Tweeted the image seen above, featuring its own mining mascot, Mr. Driller, as well as a Chilean flag and the message "Bienvenido de nuevo," or "welcome back!" Apparently, the image rubbed some people the wrong way, as Namco Bandai has since pulled it from the company's Twitter account. In a statement Tweeted earlier today, the publisher said, "we would like to offer a profound apology to everyone. It was inexcusable." We're not so sure, Namco Bandai -- we think we could find it in our hearts to excuse you for joining in the global celebration with a lighthearted, context-appropriate greeting card.
European Nintendo downloads: Mega Man 4, Rage of the Gladiator
Capcom's about a month late to use a classic Mega Man game as a promotional tool for Mega Man 10, but that's okay! Mega Man 4 is now available on the European Virtual Console, and even though it's slightly mis-timed, the end result is that you can buy another Mega Man game right now. Also available on Wii is Ghostfire Games' gladiatorial Punch-Out!! variant, Rage of the Gladiator. DSiWare's new downloads include a collection of puzzle games (sudoku, kakuro, anagrams, etc.) and the downloadable version of Mr. Driller. Mega Man 4 (NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Rage of the Gladiator (WiiWare, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points) Bloons (WiiWare, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs - Fight For Survival (DSiWare, 1-2 players, 800 DSi Points) Mr. Driller Drill Till You Drop (DSiWare, 1 player, 500 DSi Points) Pocket Pack: Words & Numbers (DSiWare, 1-6 players, 500 DSi Points) System Flaw: Recruit (DSiWare, 1 players, 500 DSi Points)
NintendoWare Weekly: Mr. Driller, Game and Watch, Fishie Fishie
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the DSiWare service launch, and Nintendo is observing the occasion by putting interesting content on the service! Every week should be some kind of milestone. And speaking of annual observances, there's a Neo Geo game on Virtual Console. %Gallery-89767%
'Mr. Driller: Drill Till You Drop' classified for multiple platforms
Australia's OFLC, perpetual announcer of unannounced games, has outed a new entry in the Mr. Driller series from Namco Bandai. Entitled Mr. Driller: Drill Till You Drop, the game has been classified as a "multi platform" title. Though there's not much official information beyond the name, it's probably a safe bet that it will involve Mr. Driller himself and, most likely, drilling. We're also betting it will include plenty of frustration, especially upon losing the game when THERE'S ANOTHER OXYGEN CAPSULE RIGHT &*%$ING THERE.
'Pac-Man: Battle Royale' trademarked
With Pac-Man Championship Edition having just come out on the iPhone (and being, pretty much, Pac-Man Championship Edition), we're in a pro-Pac-Man frame of mind. So when we saw this European trademark for a game called Pac-Man: Battle Royale, we thought "Another Pac-Man game!" instead of "... another Pac-Man game?" Adding further excitement was another trademark for "Drill Till You Drop," which sounds a lot like a Mr. Driller spinoff (and maintains the spelling error found in the title for the Dead Rising game on Wii). Now, all we know is that these trademarks are for games. They could very well be lame arcade redemption games, or Flash games, or any number of completely underwhelming things. But Battle Royale could also be -- though it probably won't, since this is too exciting -- something like a multiplayer take on Championship Edition. [Image: The Arcade Flyer Archive]
Pac-Man CE, more Namco iPhone games on sale
'Tis the season for crazy sales on iPhone games from major publishers. Namco Games has joined EA and Konami with a temporary price drop on a wide selection of touchscreen titles, including the new Pac-Man Championship Edition. While the price of all the DLC hasn't dropped, it's cheaper to try the game now, with a starting price of just .99. Strangely, regular Pac-Man dropped not to .99, but to $2.99. Another big Namco game, Ace Combat Xi, is available for its limited-time launch price of $4.99 once again, down from $7.99. See the list after the break, and just try not to freak out at the prospect of Mr. Driller for a dollar. %Gallery-80013% [Via App Advice]
European Nintendo downloads: Oscar in Troll-land
This week's European Wii/DSi Shop update includes no Virtual Console game, but it does almost include Trolls! That's right, Oscar in Toyland is a DSiWare remake of an Amiga game called Trolls! Thankfully for people who value sleeping at night without those faces burned into their minds, the Trolls license has been removed. Even if it's a Trolls game, a near-direct port of an old game on DSiWare is pretty cool.On WiiWare, Gameloft offers a Texas Hold'em Poker that isn't the same game as the Texas Hold'em Tournament that's been available since March. Want Texas Hold'em without the pressure of the tournament setting, or something? Well, there you go. In addition, this week's WiiWare Mr. Driller game is now available. There's also new DLC for My Life as a Darklord. Texas Hold'em Poker (WiiWare, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points) Mr. Driller W (WiiWare, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Oscar in Toyland (DSiWare, 1 player, 800 DSi Points)
NintendoWare Weekly: Super Empire Strikes Back, Mr. Driller W.
It may be slim pickings for Nintendo fans this week, but at least there's more 2D Star Wars action to enjoy. If that's not your thing, there's a new version of Mr. Driller on WiIWare and another puzzler on DSiWare to check out but, well ... that's it.Head past the break for the complete listings.
Dig into some footage of WiiWare's Mr. Driller
YouTube user and frequent WiiWare video capturer Nintendaan has put up some gameplay footage of Mr. Driller World, the currently Japan-only downloadable version of Namco's classic puzzler (and Dig Dug spinoff of sorts). We kind of knew what to expect from this game -- Mr. Driller looks like Mr. Driller for the most part, regardless of platform -- but we happen to think that this version looks particularly nice, with giant, colorful blocks and adorable dancing distractions on the side of the screen. Characters visible in this gameplay video include Susumu Hori (the title character) and his brother Ataru. Anna Hottenmeyer shows up in the menu, though she isn't used in this particular recording. [Via GoNintendo]
VC Tuesday: Mr. Driller World's world debut
Arc System Works finally brings the classic Double Dragon to Japan's Virtual Console today. In the US, we've been lucky to have the opportunity to be killed by those two Abobos who come out of the cave since April! However, our "victory" in the Double Dragon availability department is eclipsed by the availability of Wallaby!!, a kangaroo-race betting game that will most certainly remain in Japan. Double Dragon (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) Wallaby!! Usagi no Kuni no Kangaroo Race (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) Once again, WiiWare is the real attraction in Japan, with downloadable Mr. Driller and the second installment of Square Enix's Crystal Defenders series. Mr. Driller World (1 player, 800 Wii Points) Crystal Defenders R2 (1 player, 1,000 Wii Points)
Namco's DSiWare Katamari puzzler, downloadable Mr. Drillers, in screens
GAME Watch has some direct-feed screens of Namco Bandai's DSiWare and WiiWare lineup, along with the title of one as-yet-unrevealed DSiWare game, Diet Memo, that probably isn't that exciting. We were most curious, of course, about Korogashi Puzzle Katamari Damacy, imagining some kind of completely bizarre puzzle game with quirky music and completely unique gameplay elements. It will have one of those, in the form of an ending theme, "Katamari of Love," created using the vocal synthesis software (and singing star, of sorts) Hatsune Miku. As for the gameplay: it's basically Pac-Attack, or Cosmo Gang: The Video, again. Players arrange sets of stuff, and occasionally a Katamari will appear to roll up adjacent objects. That's not bad for 500 points, but it's certainly not the kind of originality we associate with Katamari.Speaking of originality: screens of DSiWare Mr. Driller confirm that it really is content from Drill Spirits, directly excerpted. It looks exactly the same. Again, for 500 points, it might be a viable download for DSi owners this week, but not those who already own Drill Spirits. Mr. Driller World for WiiWare, on the other hand, is new, with a bright new visual style!
Two new Art Style games lead Japan's February DSiWare lineup
Nintendo has announced its monthly DSiWare update for February, including eight programs in all -- five of which are actually games! Fans of downloadable Nintendo games will be most excited to see the Art Style series continuing with Art Style: Nalaku and Art Style: Hacolife. But there's also unexpected innovation in one of the most mundane titles available! Not to mention the first third-party DSiWare game.Here's the rundown on each title: Nintendo DSi Calculator (200 Points) A simple calculator app, which is sold separately in Famicom Mario style and Animal Crossing style. Nagameru Dake de Kashikoku Nareru! Mojipittan Shiritori Tokei (200 Points): The title translates to "You can become wiser just by looking! Shiritori Clock." Shiritori is a Japanese game about spelling a new word from the final character of a previous word. This clock app puts a constant scrolling display of words and their definitions on the top screen, along with adorable Mojipittan characters. Art Style: Nalaku (500 Points) A puzzle game about guiding a little character around structures made of cubes, and painting the surfaces by contacting them. Sort of like Q-Bert, but with moving stages in which blocks fall out of and drop into the stage. Art Style: Hacolife (500 Points) Literally "Box Life," this game involves taking groups of six contiguous squares from flat levels and folding them into cubes. It also manages to be super cute. Chotto Asobi Taizen: Onajimi Table (500 Points): A selection of games from Clubhouse Games including reversi, hasami shogi, go, shogi, and hanafuda. Chotto Bungaku Zenshu: Sekai no Bungaku 20 (500 Points): A selection of 25 books in the style of the Japanese version of the 100 Classic Book Collection. This pack includes 20 translated versions of foreign works, and five Japanese books. Reading is fundamental! Ide Yousuke's Kenkou Mahjong (800 Points): What is in one way one of the most boring releases this month (it's a mahjong game!) is also one of the most exciting: this mahjong game features cross-platform online play with the WiiWare version of the same game. Sakutto Hamareru Horihori Action Mr. Driller (800 Points): This downloadable version of Namco's puzzle franchise features the Mission Mode, Time Attack Mode, and Dristone mode from the DS launch title Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits. All of these games will be available Wednesday, February 25 on the Japanese DSi Shop.
DSiWare Katamari Damacy puzzler, DSiWare/WiiWare Mr. Driller in Japan soon
The latest issue of Famitsu reveals two new titles for Japan's DSiWare download service, both from Namco Bandai. Korogashi Puzzle Katamari Damacy is a falling-block puzzle game starring the cast of Namco's classic rolling-stuff-up game, seemingly involving animals between the blocks and a black hole in the distance. In classic Katamari style, we have no idea. But it says Katamari Damacy in the title, so we're inclined to FREAK OUT -- while also being a bit sad about the milking of the series. Korogashi Puzzle Katamari Damacy will be out in Japan on March 25 for 500 Nintendo Points. In more easily-accessible news, Famitsu also revealed two more Mr. Driller games. Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits was Namco's first DS game; now the company is returning to the well for its inaugural DSiWare title, and throwing in a WiiWare version as well! Mr. Driller for DSiWare (whose full title we can't read in the Famitsu scan) includes a mission mode, time attack, and a Dristone mode, featuring less oxygen to pick up, and more special powerup items around the stage. This mode was removed from the North American release of Drill Spirits. The game comes out in Japan next Wednesday for 800 Points!Mr. Driller World looks like a basic implementation of Mr. Driller on WiiWare, with a tutorial mode and some kind of "simple" play -- possibly a new control scheme. It'll be out Tuesday in Japan, also for 800 Points.
Patch for Mr. Driller Online by end of May
Namco has told IGN that a patch for Mr. Driller Online (which should currently just be called Mr. Driller) is coming by the end of this month. When the game released in early April the online feature was fundamentally broken, as is evidenced by the video from X3F we've placed after the break.As for the game's less-than-HD quality presentation? Don't expect a patch for that. The fix is pretty much designed to allow the game to keep the Online portion of its name without becoming a case of consumer fraud.[Via X3F] Gallery: Mr. Driller Online (XBLA)
What's the best way to pass time before a wedding? DS, of course!
As we were spending time perusing through flickr photos (because we like to see how people who aren't chained to a laptop and forced to blog forever live), we came across the interesting picture you see to your right. Now, we know nothing of traditional Indian weddings (which we're assuming this is, also we know nothing of plain old regular weddings, either), but we do know about getting our game on. Honestly, we're just surprised that everyone is all smiles as she plays away on her sweet pink DS Lite. We thought weddings were supposed to be ultra serious and that they left no room for enjoying games. Shows what we know!Even our own Eric Caoili admits to enjoying his DS a bit before his own wedding. He remarks that he was playing some Mr. Driller minutes before it all went down. We congratulate him on both playing an awesome game and having the guts to possibly anger the bride-to-be on their wedding day. The man has courage, we'll give him that! But, then again, we're sure that she couldn't argue with the merits of drilling several hundred meters underground.
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Mr. Driller Online
It's time for another edition of XBLA in Brief, huzzah! This week we take a look at Mr Driller Online. In something of a departure for XBLA in Brief, we actually picked up the full version of the title (what can we say? we like the little guy) and gave it a spin. Unfortunately, before we could even be bothered to knock out this video, we had to make another one detailing Mister Driller Online's horribly broken multiplayer, which is ironic given the game's title. Still, the single player is fun and worth a look for casual gamers and puzzle addicts. Check out the video above and let us know what you think. Don't forget, you can subscribe directly to the new X3F TV feed (or download the single file directly) using the links below.[iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes.[Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly (Zune Marketplace link coming soon).[RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[M4V] Download the M4V directly.
Mr. Driller Online's lag-tastic online play
We've received some tips indicating that Mr. Driller Online for XBLA is having a problem with the, er, "Online" portion of the gameplay. It seems that while the person hosting an online game is just fine, the connecting player can't drill anything. X3F put together a video of the bug, which we've placed after the break.Another test of Mr. Driller's online capabilities was done today with the same broken result. No word on whether a patch is in the works. Best to save your 800 MS points for the moment, as there's no sense in supporting broken titles. Gallery: Mr. Driller Online (XBLA)
Mr. Driller Online digs into the XBLA
Newly released today to a service we all know by the name of the Xbox Live Arcade, is Namco's classic driller game that has been made over into Mr. Driller Online. And, as the name suggests, it's Xbox Live enabled and ready for multiplayer action. So far, after giving the trial game a whirl, the only thing we can't figure out is whether the game's constant drilling sound is giving us head pains or if the game's bright, cheerful and Easter egg inspired artwork is the cause. Yeah ... it's probably the art. Give Mr. Driller Online a trial today to see if deserves your 800 Microsoft points purchase, acceptance and love.%Gallery-19493%
This Wednesday: Mr. Driller coming to XBLA
We have to hand it to Mr. Driller. Though the decision to leave dentistry school and forsake the family practice probably mystified his loved ones at the the time, it appears to be paying off. Sure, there were some dark times (it's been four years since the last game in the series) but Dr. Driller's boy is finally making it big with a release this week on Xbox Live Arcade.For 800 points ($10), you'll get the single-player campaign as well as the online multiplayer support for up to four players. It'll take a lot of downloads to equal the $100 per appointment he could have been pulling down, but he had to find his own corner of the sky. And for that, Mister Driller, we salute you.
