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Wii Warm Up: 2D remakes
Yesterday's popular video demonstration of how Super Mario Galaxy would look on the SNES made us wish there really were 2D remakes of the 3D games we love. Wouldn't it be totally rad if Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 was recreated as a top-down shooter in the style of Medal of Honor: Infiltrator (GBA)? Or if Super Paper Mario was, uh ... Okay, so that example doesn't work.What 3D titles, old and new, would you want to see turned into a 2D project?
Guard your grill: Super Dodgeball Brawlers trailer
We estimate that about 95% of the people who're hyped about Super Dodgeball Brawlers's release are nostalgic fans of the original NES game, scarred veterans of the flickering playground. Publisher Arc System Works must have come to the same conclusion, as its latest promotional trailer introduces the return of the Kunio dodgeball series with "archival footage" of the 1988 title, positioning Brawlers as a modernized remake. Smart move!This minute-and-a-half-long video has a lot more excitement than the mini-clips we've featured the past two months -- it has florid lines of text flying around, chaotic scenes grabbed from the 8-player free-for-all battle mode, and some dude lifting a vending machine over his head. Expect Super Dodgeball Brawlers to hit Japan this March 19th (the February 21st date advertised in the trailer is from before the game was delayed).%Gallery-14440%See also: 2008's Biggest Blips: Super Dodgeball Brawlers
Mazes of Update
The latest screens of Mazes of Fate DS show some quite nice 2D work in the outdoor areas. Being 2D fans, we were already quite enamored with the hand-drawn graphics of the GBA version and the similar style found in the non-fateful-maze areas of the DS game. But put in contrast with the 3D mazes, which are admittedly looking better and better, the 2D is vibrant and detailed. Maybe we're just old-school.Then again, this is a dungeon crawler. Old-school is the appropriate mindset. Our gallery is flush with crisp new images for you to check out! Get out your graph paper and dive into the labyrinth of image files.%Gallery-14561%
Get lost in this Mazes of Fate footage
The last time we witnessed Mazes of Fate in motion, the results were not pleasant; even positive preview coverage of the title wasn't enough to convince us.Thankfully, this new footage -- presumably of the finished product, as it launches in the U.S. on February 26th -- has eased our fears. Though somewhat more visually dour than other recent DS dungeon-crawlers such as Etrian Odyssey II or Orcs & Elves, at least we now know the game has something resembling a frame rate. It's a start.%Gallery-14561%[Via Go Nintendo]
Homebrew game bears Devilish Resemblance to original Castlevania
Likely taking inspiration from Koji Igarashi's formula of remaking Symphony of the Night ad nauseam (har har har), homebrew coder Frosty Chaotix is working on his own vampire-slaying update for the first Castlevania NES game. He released a demo for Castlevania: Devilish Resemblance yesterday to show off his progress on the project's engine, and it looks fantastic! Of course, most of that can be attributed to the ripped 2D assets from previous titles in the series, but it's still an impressive project.So far, this proof-of-concept build has Simon Belmont walking, jumping, and whipping to his heart's content, all within the confines of a single test room. While there's still a lot left to be implemented -- e.g. enemies, interactive objects, touchscreen controls, etc. -- the soundtrack, grabbed from OCRemix, is the cat's galoshes. We totally wouldn't mind vanquishing the Prince of Darkness to this music!See also: Leaked Castlevania screens or whipped-up fakes?%Gallery-15538%[Via GBAtemp]
J.B. Harold Screenshot Club
The DS port of the classic investigative adventure game J.B. Harold Murder Club is coming out this month in Japan, and a few new screenshots have been released along with the appropriately pulpy boxart. The good news is that there still doesn't seem to be any inkling of gritty, circa-1990 full-motion video in this version, which appears to display instead in 2D animation.The story is the same: as detective J.B. Harold, you must solve the murder of a rich corporate executive named Bill Robbins, by investigating his home and office as well as the people surrounding him. This time, managing the investigation will be slightly easier with a touchscreen-based map and some extra hints for beginners.
Screenshots from the Border of Madness
Some people may be a little iffy on the updated character designs and art in the upcoming Front Mission 2089, but after playing Front Mission DS, we're pretty excited about anything Square Enix (re)makes along these battle lines for our dual screens -- and that includes games that originated in the mobile sphere. We expect another solid SRPG experience with Border of Madness. Above, you can see the mobile version on the left, with the DS game, which has no firm release date as yet, on the right. Clearly, not much is required for an update to the gameplay ... the colors are a little more lush, and everything is a little brighter, but otherwise, it looks like Front Mission. And while we're still waiting for a few other titles in the franchise (like Front Mission 5!), that really can't be a bad thing. %Gallery-15388%
Mazes of Fate: Impressions of Game
Just the fact that RPGamer's play session of the DS version of Mazes of Fate didn't end in a system crash is promising. The version we saw in video was troublingly incomplete and unplayable-looking. But this latest preview of Sabarasa Entertainment's GBA remake makes no mention of crippling framerate issues. In fact, the game Michael Cunningham describes sounds pretty good: a competent 3D update of the original game with touchscreen-based inventory management and a combat system that involves looking around with the stylus and tapping enemies to attack. Of course, the DS version also contains that eternally useful DS game feature, the automap. As much flak as early DS games got for having one screen devoted to maps, it makes a ton of sense in a dungeon game.We still question the necessity of making a pretty 2D game into a not-so-pretty 3D game, but the interface upgrades sound pretty great. Mazes of Fate DS will be out on the 26th, unless Amazon's right and it's out now.%Gallery-14561%
2008's Biggest Blips: Final Fantasy IV
Developer: Square Enix/Matrix SoftwarePublisher: Square EnixRelease: TBALately, Square Enix has been on this remake kick. If it's a game and they made it, they're probably remaking it for the DS. While we're completely okay with that, it's getting somewhat difficult to keep track of what's going on in which game. Not only must fans keep track of the latest games, and forthcoming titles, but now we've also got to dredge up all the old details on what happened when back in the day. To that end, we've put together a handy guide of what to expect in Final Fantasy IV.The action begins with the downfall of Dark Knight Cecil Harvey, who has begun to question just what his king is really up to. His good friend, Kain Highwind and girlfriend, Rosa Farrell, stand by their man as they set off on the beginning of an epic quest to (what else?) save the day. It's never quite that simple, though; the groups separate, and new people come and go. There is high drama and political intrigue, rebellion and amnesia. No, wait, that last was in another game or two. Well, you can at least expect a few malboros and cactuars. Er, wait, no cactuars in Final Fantasy IV. But you will get to travel to the Near East and visit exotic Aht Urghan ... hang on, no, that's Final Fantasy XI. Listen, we're pretty certain there's a spoony bard and some airships. Also, Aeris dies. Oh, that's not this one, either? Damn! Okay, okay, here's what we know for sure:1) There will be some sort of epic crisis. Burning things in the sky = doubleplusungood 2) This one group of dudes? They are the only ones who can save the day. Thankfully, not the 8-Bit Theater guys. 3) Said dudes will be dressed in elaborate and often impractical outfits, which may or may not feature wings, buckles, and/or zippers. 4) Hair will be serious business. 5) There will be some guy named Cid. 6) Ditto Wedge and Biggs. 7) There will be ether, but not the happy-fun-friendly anesthetic. 8) There will certainly be math. We can't explain this one. As for the rest ... what, you expected we'd spoil it for you? No way! You'll have to wait for the DS game to finally get its English-language release. Unless, of course, you've played it before. If that's the case, you know it's awesome. What do you need us for?%Gallery-3278% Shiren the Wanderer Back Punk's not dead
Mazes of Fate: new and improved?
After the recent video debacle, we were a little concerned about Mazes of Fate. The fact that the new videos that were promised never showed up, either, is certainly something that makes us think hard about how things are going for the redone GBA title. It didn't show up on our list of official releases this week, but it was scheduled, and Amazon shows the title as available. Any fans of the GBA game pick it up? We ask because the screenshots on the website, and those we came across today (located in our gallery for your convenience) look better than those videos, but we burn for more information.%Gallery-14561%
Joystiq hands-on: Rez HD
As vector-like throwing-star enemies corkscrewed towards me, I defended myself with a gun that made electronic clapping sounds. I fired the gun. Clap. I fired two quick shots. Clap Clap. My applause aligned with the electronic beats spilling from the speakers. It was Korg-like synth-aesthesia, and almost immediately, I cared more about clapping in-time to the music than shooting back. Rez HD surrounded me in a coordinated, sensory bombardment. The controller in my hand shook and bobbed with the beats while controllers under my feet and on my back vibrated a counter-tempo pattern. 5.1 surround-sound flew from all directions, and the neon-sharp HD game-world pulled me into its reality. In my brief time with Rez HD, I decided that it wasn't a game as much as an experience. There's a game inside somewhere, but the title feels like a journey, rewarding meandering through levels instead of racing to the end. And even though it's a linear shooter, Rez HD hides a lot of exploration; I look forward to moving slowly through the game after its January 30 release. %Gallery-12973%
Ys into this new trailer
The Ys games have always been heavy on the anime-style cutscenes. It's basically what the series is known for in the West, since it made its first big splash as a Turbografx-16 CD game. Ys still has masterful animated cutscenes, that get us as excited about Ys I & II in this cutscene-rich age as they did back then. The vintage anime style is even more distinctive now.The music is delightfully old-school as well, especially when the "rock" theme kicks in in the second half of the trailer. That part, by the way, sneaks some gameplay in as well, highlighting the new multiplayer features and the simple fact that Ys is one of the faster-paced action RPG series. For a somewhat more reasonable price, we'd be all over these remakes. If you are similarly all up ons, know that they are actually coming out on March 20th, even though the trailer says February.%Gallery-9295%%Gallery-9296%
Space Invaders Extreme preorder gift shows impeccable logic
If there's one adjective we would apply to Space Invaders Extreme, that adjective would be ... intense. Just watching footage of Taito's stylishly remade shmup is enough to make us draw breath at the game's frenetic pace. When we do get to try it out for ourselves, there's a good chance that the sheer intensity of the experience will cause us to perspire wildly, as we carve our way through wave after wave of psychedelically colored extra-terrestrial intruders.In which case, this Space Invaders Extreme towel would be just the ticket for wiping our fevered, moist brows. Not only is it extremely stylish (it's the kind of desirable item that would encourage us to visit the beach again, forchrissakes), but it's available for free. If you preorder Space Invaders Extreme. In Japan. Damn.[Via Go Nintendo]
More like Mazes of Shame [update]
Mazes of Fate had kind of a hard time finding an audience. It came out just too late to be marketable. Graffiti Entertainment is correcting the original error (being a GBA cartridge) by releasing a version of the game on DS. When we first heard about it, we were lazily outraged about the idea of a year-old game being ported to the DS. However, our outrage was misdirected, because Mazes of Fate on the DS is more than a port.Having looked at these videos, it should have been a port. They've remade the dungeon portions of the game in 3D, with ... a minor performance hit. Keep in mind that when the video and sound slow down to a crawl, that's not your Internet connection, or YouTube at work. That's the game. That's the video they chose to upload to show off the game. We wouldn't be so concerned if this were extremely early footage, but ... the game is supposed to come out next week.The videos aren't embedded, because you have to push the little rectangle button on the real YouTube player to get them to display in the correct resolution. They're at least marginally better that way. Seriously, though, we wish Graffiti had been lazier and just given us the GBA game with a map on the top screen. [Update: the videos have been removed from YouTube. New videos should be available soon at Graffiti Entertainment's website.][Via NeoGAF]
NBC orders pilot for Top Gear -- will it be in HD?
Just in case a remake of Knight Rider wasn't enough, NBC has now ordered up a pilot for a US edition of Top Gear. For those unfamiliar, the show has proven to be quite the success across the pond, but apparently, the network feels that it'll do quite alright here in America, too. Reportedly, casting is currently underway for hosts, and it's also noted that the pilot will be filmed around Los Angeles, California in front of an audience. One detail that isn't mentioned, however, is whether or not it'll air in high-definition. 'Course, it's easy to assume the answer to be "yes," but considering that some hits (Survivor, for instance) are still inexplicably stuck in SD, we suppose we should still cross our fingers just in case.[Via Autoblog]
EGM: Sony working with major third party on remakes
EGM's sometimes-right rumor mongerer, Quartermann, is now claiming that Sony has signed an agreement with a major third party Japanese publisher to create remakes for the PSN. 1UP further fuels the fanboy fire with a rather unhelpful (but exciting) tease that'll get our imaginations rolling:"As for which publisher this is, the magazine doesn't reveal. Could it be Konami? A remake of Contra or Castlevania could be pretty sweet. Or Capcom? Ghosts & Goblins or Strider please. Or maybe even Square Enix? Chrono Trigger = OMG."We're pretty certain the EGM team knows exactly what's going on -- but must keep their mouths shut on the specifics. Regardless, things are going to get pretty interesting later this year.[Thanks, Joe! Image Credit]
FFIV fan translation patch for spoony bards
Once again, we're delving into the ethically dubious practice of ROM hacking (and ROM having), this time for the Japanese release of Final Fantasy IV. Impatient fans have been translating the game's script since the 3D remake's release last month, and they have already released a "semi-final beta" translation patch with most of the description text now in English! According to the group's progress table, only a few sections still need translation (e.g. monster descriptions, location names), so a full and final English patch doesn't seem too far off. A Translation Wiki is also available for those missing bits or for those of you who'd rather pass on using the patch altogether.Square Enix has yet to announce its plans for Final Fantasy IV's release outside of Japan. Our best guess? Mid-to-late 2008.
Dragon Quest V: like the PS2 version, only smaller
Square Enix's remake of Dragon Quest V looks to be taking more than just a graphical cue from the PS2 version. Since the DS remake seems to be retaining some of the gameplay changes made when the original Super Famicom game journeyed to the PS2 in 2004, like four-character-combat (as opposed to three in the original), Siliconera's Spencer Yip is theorizing that some of the other changes may remain in place as well -- and we hope he's correct. The PS2 version came complete with a higher difficulty level and more content, and we're all in favor of anything that packs more into our DS games. Dragon Quest V is set for a release in Japan sometime in the spring of 2008.
Promotional Consideration: Hataraku Chocobo
Promotional Consideration is a weekly feature about the Nintendo DS advertisements you usually flip past, change the channel on, or just tune out.Square Enix has been pushing Final Fantasy IV hard this week in Japan, advertising the 3D remake with five different CG-filled commercials. We were curious to compare these spots with how the RPG was marketed when it first appeared on the Super Famicom, all the way back in 1991, and the two approaches couldn't be any more at odds!
Dragon Quest V screens for comparison and perusal
Square Enix has released new images from the upcoming DS remake of Dragon Quest V, and that means two things for you: a gallery of spiffy new(ish) shots, and several comparison images. With two earlier versions to look at, we just couldn't help finding some comparable shots and setting them up side-by-side for your viewing pleasure. You can check them out after the jump, and the new DS images are all safely tucked away in our gallery below, along with some character art. %Gallery-12146%
