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PSN Tuesday: Rocket Knight, Dragon Age's Darkspawn Chronicles
PSN Tuesday brings the cute and epic this week. Cute comes in the form of Rocket Knight, which may have some of its sales fueled by nostalgia, but can be a blast for those in the mood for classic (pseudo) 2D side-scrolling. The epic is delivered by Dragon Age: Origins' "Darkspawn Chronicles" DLC, which is just the latest add-on in the saga of Ferelden -- this one with a "what if" twist. Check out the full update after the break. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.) %Gallery-76146%
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Things on Wheels, Rocket Knight
Today is a good day for the 16-bit gamers out there. Yes, Rocket Knight has finally landed on Xbox Live Arcade. Don't worry if you're not nostalgic for Sparkster though, because Things on Wheels is out this week as well. In the end, the decision is left to you: Awesome opossum action or arcadey R/C racing? Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if either game is for you. [iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly. [RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly. Xbox.com: Add Things on Wheels trial version to your Xbox 360 download queue Xbox.com: Add Rocket Knight trial version to your Xbox 360 download queue
European PSN releases for May 12
Your choices for downloadable games in this week's European PSN update are fairly limited -- however, the two choices you've got are rather appealing. If you're looking for a hex-based diplomacy simulator, Catan is now available for the PS3. If you want some jetpack-infused action, Rocket Knight is probably a safer choice. Or, if you want to pimp out your copy of Skate 3, DJ Hero, Nier or LittleBigPlanet with new DLC, there are a few avenues for you to explore as well. Everyone's a winner! Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
This Wednesday: Rocket Knight, Things on Wheels on Xbox Live Arcade
It's a double-header of fast moving objects on Xbox Live Arcade this week. First up is Things on Wheels, an R/C racer of miniaturized yet epic proportions, complete with four-player online and offline play. Next is Rocket Knight, whose fast moving object is ... a possum with a jet pack. It may sound weird, but it's a proven formula. Things on Wheels will be available this Wednesday for 800 ($10); and Rocket Knight will set you back 1200 ($15). %Gallery-90099% Source -- Things on Wheels [Xbox.com] Source -- Rocket Knight [Xbox.com]
Rocket Knight screens have that special Spark
Click to huge-ify We're not sure what it is about this batch of screenshots for Rocket Knight that fills us with such euphoria. Perhaps it's all of the pretty colors. Perhaps they remind us of the simpler days of our youth. Perhaps we've only recently realized how preposterous the concept of an opossum strapped to a rocket really is. Seriously, think about it. Really think about it. It makes zero sense. Check out the gallery below to see Sparkster -- the flying, furry contradiction -- in action. %Gallery-92358%
Xbox Live Marketplace in May: Rocket Knight, Dragon Age DLC and more
You know that dusty piggy bank you've had sitting on the shelf forever? Look, forget the kid's college fund -- she's not going to college for, like, years -- and bust that thing open! There's going to be some solid content on Xbox Live Marketplace this month. In the mood for XBLA games? How does Rocket Knight or Zeno Clash tickle your fancy? Oh, so you want some DLC -- Dragon Age: Origins will have more to offer the tireless adventurer later this month. Want to learn the Secret of Monkey Island? During the week of May 17, the secret will be half-off. See what we mean? Head past the break for more XBLM release highlights for the month provided by Microsoft.
Rocket Knight touches down May 12 on XBLA and Steam, May 18 on PSN
We've known for a while that Rocket Knight, Konami's resurrected opossum adventure (a resurrected adventure about an opossum, not an adventure about a resurrected opossum), would land on XBLA, PSN, and Steam in May. On Facebook, Konami just announced precise US arrival dates for the airborne marsupial. PC and Xbox 360 owners will be able to download the game on May 12, while those looking to play on PS3 will have to wait until May 18 to join the fight against Axel Gear. But what's a six-day wait after the years spent anticipating a new Rocket Knight? %Gallery-90099% [Thanks, Joey]
Hands-on: Rocket Knight
With everyone focused on the 2D return of a certain cerulean hedgehog, I'd like to point out that another nocturnal hero in blue is making a comeback: Sparkster, the armor-clad, jetpack-wearing opossum star of Rocket Knight. Konami has brought in UK developer Climax to resurrect the series, which hails from the 16-bit era and included two games: Rocket Knight Adventures and Sparkster. Having played through the first couple of levels from this XBLA, PSN and Steam release, I can say that not a whole lot has changed from Sparkster's adventures of yore -- and that's a compliment. There must be something inherently difficult about capturing the feel of a 2D game using entirely polygons, since the number of remakes that have gotten it right far outnumber the successes. But, like Bionic Commando: Rearmed and even Street Fighter IV, this snappy action platformer should feel like revisiting a childhood home for retro junkies. %Gallery-90099%
Rocket Knight blasting off May 2010
Marsupial action enthusiasts rejoice! Konami has announced that Rocket Knight will arrive on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and Steam this May. Coinciding with this announcement, the publisher has released a new trailer and screenshots of this sequel to the classic 16-bit series. The trailer is of particular interest, especially to fans of the original games and their protagonist, Sparkster. If you've been waiting to get an extended glimpse of the awesome opossum in action, now is your chance. Check out the new trailer above and a batch of new screens in the gallery below. %Gallery-90099%
Brand sparking new Rocket Knight art
click to rocket-size We're going to level with you: There's not a lot of new info to be found in the latest batch of character art from Konami's upcoming reboot of Rocket Knight. The press release does mention a few of Sparkster's abilities. While most should be familiar to players -- wall ricochet jumps, etc -- one new addition is the "burst vortex," which can reflect projectiles back toward enemies. Beyond that, however, we're left only with images of Emperor Sweinhart and Sparkster's nemesis, Axel Gear, both of whom can be seen above. Konami has also released a high resolution version of Sparkster himself. Yes, it's not much but, when it comes to Rocket Knight, we'll take what we can get. %Gallery-84964%
Rocket Knight trailer sparks our interest
Two things about this trailer for the new Rocket Knight (after the break) stand out upon our first viewing: The stylized projectile/jetpack effects It's a Rocket Knight Adventures game That last one may seem obvious, but we're still a bit shocked to see Konami bring the series back after so long -- to be honest, we're a bit shocked every time Konami announces a game that isn't Metal Gear. And, to our delight, what we see here is true Rocket Knight: Sparkster has his sword and his jetpack, the latter of which is used basically to bounce all over the screen. It's here that the 3D remake actually benefits the game: with the wider area and the smaller Sparkster, he seems to have a lot more freedom to fly around. Even the shooter stages have returned, with some interesting dynamic camera work. If you never paid attention to this series because of mid-90s animal mascot platformer overload, you should start getting familiar with it now. Forget Gex, Aero the Acro-Bat, Punky Skunk, Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel, Awesome Possum, and Socket. This one's actually good.
Rocket Knight returns to XBLA, PSN and Steam in early 2010
We wish for a million dollars! ... Well, after the return of classic adventure games -- and now Sparkster -- our magical roll of granted wishes was bound to come to an end. 1UP and Konami have revealed a brand new game for the powerfully propelled opossum, set to debut on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and Steam in early 2010. The 2.5D sequel (not a remake!) comes 15 years after the last game, which is a period more wasteful than the gap between the original Star Trek TV series and the first feature film. Sorry, our nerd analogies flare up when we get excited. Rocket Knight (as the game is tentatively dubbed) is being developed by Climax, which previously worked with Konami producer Tomm Hulett on Silent Hill: Origins. The team is currently finishing up the promising Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. %Gallery-76146%
