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Muramasa slicing up Europe in November 2009
Rising Star Games has already confirmed it will localize gorgeous 2D ninja romp Muramasa: The Demon Blade in Europe, and now the official site has pinpointed a release date of November 2009.Why is this good news for North Americans? Spencer at Siliconera believes that Marvelous is attempting to align release dates for its biggest titles in the U.S. and Europe (No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle and Little King's Story have similar launch dates in both regions), and hypothesizes that Muramasa could fall into the same pattern. Now seems like an appropriate time to celebrate with half a dozen new screens!%Gallery-33431%Source: European release windowSource: Screens
Bury the Shovelware: Space Invaders Revolution vs Space Invaders Extreme
For this edition of Bury the Shovelware, we're talking Space Invaders. We'll be examining the recently released and critically acclaimed Space Invaders Extreme against 2005's suspected shovelware Space Invaders Revolution. Pedigree Space Invaders is a staple of the industry. Some incorrectly identify it as the first video game. Though this is incorrect, its significance to gaming as a whole just might make it the most important game of all-time. Released in 1978, the title was groundbreaking in that it changed the public's perception of gaming from being an interesting obscurity to a major form of entertainment. Check your local Wikipedia for more information. Like many classics, the game has been re-packaged and re-released countless times. In its four years of life, two separate versions of the game have been released for the DS. Both versions were developed by industry veteran Taito, creator of the original ground-breaking title. But while Space Invaders Extreme was published by heavyweight Square Enix, Space Invaders Revolution was published by Rising Star Games. Though virtually unknown by comparison, the publisher has been given access to a surprising number of classic franchises, including Bomberman, Dungeon Explorer, Bubble Bobble, and New Zealand Story.
TGS08: Rising Star reveals four for Europe
Rising Star Games just unfurled an official list of Marvelous games that it plans to localize for Europe, including Luminous Arc 2, Avalon Code, Rune Factory 2, and a fourth game that is yet to be announced for North America: Steal Princess. We expected most (if not all) of these to reach us at some point, mainly because Rising Star Games is totally awesome and we love them.Previous evidence has suggested that Steal Princess and Luminous Arc 2 won't be appearing before the end of March 2009, but we can't be mad at Marvelous. The company has had an action-packed Tokyo Game Show, and this is the cherry on top of a whole pile of other excellent announcements for Nintendo fans. Make the jump for screens, screens, and more screens! %Gallery-34394%
Rising Star Games announces Valhalla Knights, Muramasa, Arc Rise Fantasia for Europe
Rising Star Games has announced European releases for another set of Marvelous Wii games shown at TGS. Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga, Marvelous's RPG, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, the superhot sidescroller from Vanillaware, and Image Epoch's Arc Rise Fantasia are all headed to Europe sometime in 2009-2010. They're joining a pile of upcoming DS, Wii, and PSP games including Rune Factory Frontier, Avalon Code, Luminous Arc 2, and of course No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle. Even if nobody else released any Wii games in Europe, it would seem that Rising Star Games would have you covered! %Gallery-33431%
Rising Star on the two versions of No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle [update]
Rising Star Games, Marvelous Entertainment's European arm, gave a statement to Electronic Theatre about the dual-version European release of No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle announced by Suda51. On a basic level, Rising Star's Yen Hau confirmed the plans to sell two versions, not that we didn't believe Suda. Hau also detailed the exact differences between the two releases, and it's good news. "There's no difference bar the blood," Hau said. "If you remember the differences of the first game it'll be just that." The "uncensored" European release will be exactly like the US version, and the "censored" release will be like the Japanese version. This also means that Grasshopper is planning to release the game in Japan. We look forward to hearing more details about the logistics of this dual release -- like whether both versions will be available in stores, and if the packaging and marketing will vary. [Update: A Rising Star Games press release details the storyline of Desperate Struggle: "Taking place three years after the end of the first title, No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle sees hero Travis Touchdown embark on a mission of revenge following the murder of his best friend."] %Gallery-34131% [Via N4G]
E308: Screens of the Monster Lair
Atlus has unleashed further shots of its dungeon-building RPG Master of the Monster Lair. Mostly, these depict some of the rooms that will be available to players from the get-go, including a musty cellar (apparently, hobgoblins are drawn to these), a warrior's dojo, a king's bedroom, and rooms featuring a hearth or water features. No jacuzzi in which orcs and goblins can unwind yet, but there's still hope, right?There's also a brief glimpse of the game's local wireless mode, in which players can share their dungeon creations with friends; we're only sorry that none of our friends are likely to buy this. We need new friends, frankly.%Gallery-25001%[Via press release]
Cradle of Rome is puzzlius maximus
Forget all about the brutality and violence of ancient Rome by playing a happy chappy puzzle game! It used to be a PC game (no surprise there), but Cradle of Rome now wants to invade the DS, build an empire and bask in the magnificence of togas and sandals. It's a standard "swap colored tiles around to match three colors" puzzle game, but the goal is to collect resources from each tile in order to build Rome itself.A unique twist on a formula everyone is familiar with can't be all bad. You'll eventually be able to build, several historical monuments, including the Arch of Titus, the Temples of Venus and Saturn and everyone's favorite bloodbath, the Coliseum. Cradle of Rome is set for an October 10th release in Europe, but on account of Rome being a Europe-exclusive city and all, there's no word of a release in other regions. Well, that's probably not the reason it isn't coming to America, but it should be import-friendly all the same. The first screenies are awaiting a thumbs-up or thumbs-down in the gallery. Make your decision heard!%Gallery-27079%[Via press release]
New screens of Master of the Monster Lair, or Dungeon Maker, or both
It seems quite likely that Atlus's release of Master of the Monster Lair and Marvelous/Rising Star Games' European release of Dungeon Maker will share the same English translation. In that case, these screens of Dungeon Maker should also be screens of Master of the Monster Lair -- and even if they aren't, we can accept the possibility of seeing the same Japanese phrases translated two different ways, if only in the name of international accord.Of course, our understanding of the game is that it's about a kid who uses a magic shovel to create dungeons, which fill up with monsters that he then kills. Who could tell when something like that has been translated accurately?
Dungeon Maker digs its way west this September [update 1]
We all owe Rising Star Games several evenings' worth of drinks at the bar, for without them we western folk may well have missed out on some potentially magnificent games.And here's another one! After its recent confirmation that Dungeon Maker was coming to Europe, the company has settled on a release date of September 19th (those of you in the states needn't despair; after all, Europe is one small import away), and whipped the covers off of the PAL boxart. Doesn't that golden shovel hint at amazing possibilities? What deadly traps will it help us lay? What rare and exotic monsters and treasures will it help us ensnare? We'll know soon enough![Update 1: First English screens! Hit the gallery!]%Gallery-25001%[Via press release]
Flower, Sun, and Rain rumored for Europe
We're convinced that Rising Star is the best thing to happen to Europe since the Euro usurped the dollar (grumble). After the rumor that the company is localizing Lux Pain in the continent, Suda51's upcoming DS port Flower, Sun, and Rain also showed up on Amazon UK's website. If you haven't taken notice of this game, it's like Groundhog Day, only with less Bill Murray and more bomb on a plane.These Amazon UK listings better have some weight behind them, or the hearts of niche gamers in Europe will be broken. Won't someone think of the children? Gallery: Flower, Sun, and Rain [Via Siliconera]
Super Swing Golf teeing off in Europe this June
Manga-fied golf title Super Swing Golf (or, as U.S. readers may know it, Super Swing Golf: Season 2) will be appearing in terminally neglected Europe this June 27th, courtesy of Rising Star Games.As most Americans may well have already played/completed/traded in/completely forgotten about Tecmo's criminally under-rated golf game (it launched stateside back in December), it probably won't hurt to remind you that there's plenty of mascot cameo goodness, and quite a lot of a very serious sport not being taken seriously in the slightest. Which is for the best, really.[Via press release]
Europeans get to LOL with Bakushow
We won't bombard you with more details about LOL (we can really only LOL so many times in one day), but news just rolled in that Rising Star would be bringing the game to Europe. Instead of being called LOL, though, it will be titled Bakushow, which means "big laugh" in Japanese.There's no word yet on whether Rising Star will follow in Agetec's footsteps and make the game available online only, but even if it is available in stores, we're sure it won't be the easiest game to find. Rising Star also gently reminds us that "Billy No Mates need not apply," since this software includes no single player mode. You probably already knew that, but we just wanted an excuse to write "Billy No Mates."If that doesn't deter you, we've added some new screens to our gallery (for the love of all that is holy, we get it, you can ask people to draw pandas!) should you feel so inclined to check them out.%Gallery-18526%[Via press release]
More waiting for No More Heroes in Europe
European gamers are already feeling pretty sensitive about No More Heroes, since they're getting the original Japanese version and not the "extra bloody" American version. Now there's one more thing to complain about, as Rising Star Games has bumped the release date back a week from February 29th to March 7th. That's not too long to wait, but considering that the game has been out for two months in Japan and one month in the U.S., we can imagine how it would sting.In lighter news (to distract the European audience from the boiling rage they're sinking into), check out Suda 51's joking, Suda-like design idea for an 'adult' Mario game: "Maybe Mario could wear an Italian suit and have a machine gun," he hypothesized, adding, "But Nintendo probably wouldn't like that idea." Oh, Suda, you certainly do enjoy making games about professional killers.%Gallery-4611%
No More Heroes' European boxart is familiar
We're starting to think that Rising Star Games are taking all their cues from the Japanese release of No More Heroes. The European version of the game will, of course, lack blood like the Japanese version; this was revealed as the decision of the game's creators, Suda 51 and Yasuhiro Wada.Now the European boxart has been released, and it features the exact same piece of artwork that the Japanese boxart used. The artwork has been tilted and, for some reason, a white haze now decorates the bottom quarter of the box. In addition, the logo has been moved around and given a border. But those are minor changes compared to the American boxart. Maybe Rising Star is exercising just a bit of safe rebellion by making extremely slight changes.
No More Heroes: possible U.S. boxart, possible attempt at placation from European publisher
Two interesting items related to localized versions of No More Heroes have popped up, and we decided to combine them despite the fact that they don't necessarily relate to one another. First, Amazon's page for the American version of No More Heroes now contains a boxart image. We have no idea if it's the final boxart or a placeholder, but it's cool and doesn't have too much clutter. The other news tidbit is that Rising Star Games has apparently been responding to angry emails from European gamers who want ichor. The message, as reported by NeoGAFfer Dachande, says not to "rule out a revised, 18+ version released some time in 2008 incidentally." If this happens, it's either a fan-pleasing move or an open grab at double-dippers' wallets -- or a confusing bit of marketing that will make people hesitate to buy the game the first time and, at worst, forget to buy it the second time. Most likely the statement is just Rising Star's way of trying to get people to leave them alone about the blood thing.
Suda and Wada behind bloodless No More Heroes
A recent announcement that Europe would be getting a bloodless version of No More Heroes didn't go down well with many of our bloodthirsty commenters. At the time, PAL publisher Rising Star Games refused to reveal what was behind the decision, but more light was shed on the omission earlier today, in a joint statement from director Suda51 and producer Yasuhiro Wada (pictured above unsuccessfully trying to give away free toilet roll and autographs on the streets of Akihabara).Turns out that it was Suda and Wada themselves who decided to drop the outrageous levels of gore from the European version, citing the "broadly growing Wii market" in the region.Not that this affects many of you, as the U.S. version still contains plenty of the crimson stuff. Buckets of it, in fact.
