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"Death" returns to Final Fantasy VI [update 1]
Siliconera notes that upcoming GBA port Final Fantasy VI Advance is sorta like a director's cut. When the game appeared some years ago on Super NES, as Final Fantasy III, localization efforts toned down some of the stronger language. Thus, "death" became "doom," "pub" became "cafe," and "holy" became "pearl" (huh?). Even instances of minor nudity, pixelated as they were, got covered up.Pictured above, "Doomgaze" (SNES version name) has been properly restored to "Deathgaze" in FFVI Advance. Could the final release retain all of the original Japanese creation's edginess? Will "Terra" -- *gasp* -- be rightfully named "Tina"?Update: corrected Terra/Tina mix-up.
DS Daily: Old school redux
Unless you've been living in a hole in the Arctic, you probably heard a little something about the redone Final Fantasy III that was recently released. All in all, it's a beautiful reimagining -- and reimaging -- of a solid, but not universally beloved game.But what if someone did spruce up one of those older games that drive us crazy even now? As soon as word of the new Final Fantasy III hit the streets, fans immediately started speculating about other Final Fantasy titles, but what about games outside the FF oeuvre? What game would you like to see given a spit-shine and a fresh coat of paint? The characters of FFIII gained new life and personality (even names), and certainly there are a few other old school heroes who could benefit from similar treatment. What would you like to see?
Relive Crazy Taxi with PSP rehash
Forget PSone, Sony should have worked out a deal with Sega to emulate Dreamcast on PSP. Instead, we're starting to see some attempts by publishers to revisit some of their Dreamcast titles using the UMD format. First, Capcom did Power Stone Collection, and now, Sega has announced Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars, built from Crazy Taxi 1 & 2.While Fare Wares offers a new *Ad Hoc* multiplayer mode, we'd gladly trade the additional content for straight-up ports; if it meant we'd be downloading the games and playing them via emulation. Is this just wishful thinking?[Via press release]
Japanese release day highlights: 11.30.06
Compared with most parts of the world, Japan is in the future by a distance of some hours. Compared with European and American game release schedules, Japan's is sometimes years ahead (this is known as the "Final Fantasy V Phenomenon"). Very occasionally, however, Japan is outdated. Today is one of those days, as Japanese gamers at last get Capcom's Power Stone Collection for their PSPs -- even though Johnny Foreigner has been enjoying it for a whole month already.Other notable new releases of the day, those worthy of our ¥ennage, are bullet-pointed: Tales of Destiny (remake heaven; PS2) Final Fantasy VI Advance (remake heaven; GBA) Power Stone Collection (remake heaven, once more for emphasis; PSP) Super Robot Taisen XO (not a remake, more of a rehash; Xbox 360) Japanese release day highlights
Metareview - Final Fantasy III (DS)
At long last, the true Final Fantasy III finally localized for our precious consumption. But don't be fooled by the cutesy characters, they don't make 'em like this no more: Game Informer (80/100) - "[This is an old-school adventure, with all of the pitfalls and payoffs that entails ... Providing you're the type of person who doesn't have any trouble going back and playing 8-bit games, Final Final III [sic] is an excellent handheld homage to a bygone era." IGN (78/100) - "For any unassuming casual gamer out there, be warned, as Final Fantasy III hits hard and plays like the demanding days of old. We're talking tons of random battles (every five or so steps in some cases), inns that don't revive dead characters, and instant death battles that don't hesitate to kill unsuspecting explorers that feel the need to wander too far from the 'strongly recommended' path the game delivers ... Either you need this game or you don't. Plain and simple." Games Radar (70/100) - "[Tons] of uphill struggles and unaccommodating features [make] the experience borderline miserable at times. But for some of us, the Fantasy followers and old-style gamers, it's nice to sneak in such a guilty pleasure in between all the over-produced RPGs that hold your hand every step of the way." Current overall average: 77/100 (8 reviews)
After Burner lands on PSP
Back in August, Sega convinced Planet Moon Studios to develop a PSP addition to one of their classic franchises. Specifics were left up to debate, with Streets of Rage, Altered Beast and several other Sega classics touted as being the next to see a strong PSP revival. Eurogamer now reports that the game is, in fact, After Burner: Black Falcon, no doubt an exciting aerial ballet of destruction that has you piloting an advanced plane, shooting down other planes and then being shot down by even more planes. Due for release in Spring next year and stuffed with 19 customizable planes and Wi-Fi play, Black Falcon will have to work hard to eject the original game's addictive gameplay from our minds. If it wasn't possible to relive the arcade experience from within Sega's own Shenmue II, we would likely still be playing After Burner in a seedy arcade at this very moment. Well, either that or ... why yes, we shall try another game of Lucky Hit.
Ambitious homebrew project attempts 3D FFVI remake
This one seems a bit too good to be true. nyxojaele of the Caves of Narshe forums has revealed that he's attempting to make a Final Fantasy VI 3D remake for the PSP. It originally started as an original project for the PC, but once he got his hands on the LTE game engine for PSP homebrew, there was no turning back. He's been very detailed about the process so far, showing screenshots, 3D models and more. A YouTube video he created supposedly shows him launching the game intro using the recently discovered TIFF exploit. Here's what he had to say:"My game is now being ported over to the PSP... The engine I'm now using is called LTE game engine. It's a PSP conversion of the wellknown "Irrlicht" engine for the PC. Since this is a (semi)fullblown GAME engine, instead of just a rendering engine, it'll also save me LOADS of time programming things, such as a sound driver, etc... So, in the last 2-ish weeks, I've been porting my game into the LTE engine, and at the same time, porting it over to the PSP. All is going well, it's just taking time. I have a lot of the internal framework done now, and have started on something you can actually SEE. This is where the fun comes: I've recorded a video of me booting up my PSP, and playing a teaser trailer of my game."Is this all real? Or is it one, incredibly elaborate hoax? I want to believe, and I'm throwing all my support for nyxojaele. Good luck.
Cannon Fodder announced
The retro games keep on coming back. IGN has an exclusive where they reveal the very first details and screenshots of Codemasters' upcoming game Cannon Fodder, a remake of the classic Commidore Amiga game. But unlike most of the other retro games that we've seen, this goes the extra mile and is a real remake: with new graphics and gameplay, updated for the current generation. You and a team of soldiers will fight it out on-foot and in vehicles, while being able to call air strikes and radar sweeps. The game will offer four player deathmatch and co-op modes.
Epyx returns to PSP
The retro compilations keep on coming to the PSP. If the Genesis-era of gaming is still too new for you, then you'll be glad to know that the popular line of Commodore 64 games published by Epyx are making a comeback. Impossible Mission will hit in January and California Games will follow in May. The Last Ninja trilogy will be making a comeback as well. Although these games will be remakes, they won't be 3D:"You gotta keep the gameplay mechanics the same or else it ceases to be the original game and you're only using the game brand to sell games," Kale (System 3 founder) said. "It ceases to be Impossible Mission or California Games or what have you. ... What we're doing is we're incorporating the original gameplay and mechanics and bringing the gameplay up to date."The remakes will also be available on the DS and Nintendo Wii.[Via DS Fanboy]
Trauma Center: Second Opinion details
Trauma Center: Under the Knife was an excellent game, one of the those precious few on the Nintendo DS that could not be played with a standard console interface; it was also hard as Chuck Norris' abs. Regardless, the upcoming launch title Trauma Center: Second Opinion has garnered quite a bit of hype, and the latest issue of Famitsu has some details. Unfortunately, Second Opinion will primarily be a retelling of the original DS title. The game does add a few extra missions (broken bones and heart transplants were mentioned) and several new characters, but Atlas is hoping that the Wiimote will offer up an experience fresh enough to warrant a repurchase from surgery vets. Three difficulty settings are now available (thank insert-your-deity-of-choice-here), and the game will be fully voice-acted. Please, Atlus, get a decent crew for the voice work. Is this a cop-out, a scam, a ripoff? Is a fresh coat of paint enough to convince you to relive X6: Paraskevi? Will Derek ever hook up with Angie? Tune in at launch...and we might find out.
