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Samurai Showdown 2 slices into iOS, Android
The classic Neo Geo fighting game, Samurai Shodown 2, is now on the iOS App Store and Google Play. The port features customizable controls in the form of virtual touchscreen buttons, which can be placed outside of the game's visual area in "window mode." All 15 characters are included, and multiplayer matches can be played over Bluetooth. Slicing things up with Haohmaru, Jubei and the rest of the gang costs a relatively premium price of $8.99.
Modern Warfare 2 glitch unlocks five SNK XBLA games
In a stroke of exceptionally bad luck for SNK, a glitch has been discovered that unlocks free access to the full versions of five of the publisher's XBLA games for users who already have the demos on their hard drives. To make it worse, the glitch occurs within Modern Warfare 2 (a game that bajillons of Xbox 360 owners already have) -- or its recent demo (which is freely available). Somehow, running Modern Warfare 2 coincidentally fools the system into thinking it's authorized to temporarily unlock full versions of Garou: Mark of the Wolves, The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match, Metal Slug 3, Metal Slug XX, and Samurai Shodown II. Joystiq tested the exploit with Garou and KOF '98, and can verify that it works. For now, at least. We're certain this issue will be patched by one of the three affected parties -- SNK Playmore, Activision, or Microsoft -- in the near future, now that it's known. In the meantime, just because you can get these games for free doesn't mean you aren't a major jerk for doing so. [Note: This doesn't permanently unlock the games; only if you launch them directly from inside MW2. If you launch from the Dashboard, they'll behave just like plain ol' trial games.]
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Samurai Shodown II, Shotest Shogi, Rocket Bowl
Another week, three more games on Xbox Live Arcade. We've got Samurai Shodown II, Shotest Shogi and Rocket Bowl, a classic fighter, a Japanese board game and a wacky bowling game, respectively. As is our sworn duty, we take a look at all three of them in the latest XBLA in Brief. Check out our latest installment and find out which ones are for you.[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.
This Wednesday: Samurai Showdown II, Rocket Bowl, Shotest Shogi hit XBLA [update]
It's another triple-threat (erm, make that treat) this week for Xbox Live Arcade connoisseurs. Debuting after the Virtual Console version, the classic Neo-Geo fighter, Samurai Shodown II, arrives at 400 ($5) [800 ($10)] and should be worth all 32 quarters if it's a carbon copy of the arcade / ridiculously expensive home version.Joining the sword-clashing samurai are Rocket Bowl, D3Publisher's absurd – yet interesting – take on bowling, and Shotest (not Shortest) Shogi, a prim-and-proper multiplayer version of the classic Japanese table game from Microsoft. They're both hitting at 800 ($10) each.Also prepped to pop up in the Marketplace are 1200 new puzzles for Buku Sudoku (200 / $2.50) and the second set of expansion levels for N+ (200 / $2.50).[Update: "Starting on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Xbox Live members will have the opportunity to download Samurai Showdown II for 800. The game was previously listed incorrectly at 400, and we apologize for the error," reads an Xbox Press media alert.]%Gallery-31447%%Gallery-31450%%Gallery-31451%
An XBLA Threefer: RocketBowl, Samurai Shodown 2 and Shotest Shogi
For the second week in a row, we're being treated to an Xbox Live Arcade threefer. Because, you know, XBLA twofers are so 2007. And heading to the XBLA this Wednesday, September 10th will be D3Publisher's RocketBowl, the SNK Playmore 2D sword fighter Samurai Shodown 2 and AI Factory's chess-inspired Shotest Shogi. All games will cost 800 Microsoft points except Samurai Shodown 2, which will be available for the oh so nice price of 400 MS points.
Virtual Console adds classic role-playing, tardy fighter
How nice of you to join us. Do you have any idea what time it is? We were expecting you weeks ago! Well, no matter, go and take your seat with the rest of the Virtual Console class so we can begin. Samurai Shodown 2 (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points): SNK's 1994 follow up to Samurai Shodown finally slices and dices its way onto the Virtual Console this week, bringing back most of the original's weapon-wielding cast, as well as several newcomers vying for the opportunity to skewer anything that moves with a pointy blade and sharp Engrish wit. Ys Book I & II (TurboGrafx 16 CD-ROM, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): Nihon Falcom's enhanced remakes of the first two titles in the Ys saga finally levels up for the US Virtual Console. Offering roguelike-style combat and music we still find ourselves humming at the dinner table, this is a download not to be missed by role-playing fans with eyes for the classics.
VC Friday: Sequel week
Game sequels often suffer from a reputation of being weaker than their predecessors, but that hasn't stopped Nintendo whacking a whole pile of them on the PAL Virtual Console this week. The M-rated Splatterhouse 2 leads the charge, bloodied lead pipe in hand, and is joined by Samurai Shodown II, Pitstop II, and Ecco Jr. (okay, so that's not a sequel in the strictest sense of the term, but a spin-off for the kids). Here's what that little lot will cost you: Ecco Jr. -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points Splatterhouse 2 -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points Samurai Shodown II -- Neo Geo -- 900 Wii Points Pitstop II -- Commodore 64 -- 500 Wii Points * * As usual, Australia misses out on the Commodore 64 game.Footage of all four is past the break -- try listening to six minutes of Pitstop II's engine effects without going insane.
Nintendo: VC announcements are our turf
Seeking some kind of explanation or justification for the disparity between VC releases as announced by publishers -- which would have given us Mega Man, Samurai Shodown II, and Ys Book I & II -- and the actual releases (two games that aren't any of those), GoNintendo's RMC contacted Nintendo. Their response failed to shed any light on the motivation for the change, or anything other than that Nintendo is just not interested in explaining themselves:"A number of variables can affect a game's release date," according to the statement. "Therefore, the Wii-kly Update is the only authority for confirmed release dates of Virtual Console games." So ... Hudson's website, SNK's press release, and Capcom's blog were all just wrong? Or was Nintendo teaching those publishers an important lesson about presuming to know when their games are coming out? We're sure they've learned their lesson by now.
Samurai Shodown II slices into Virtual Console next week
It's usually not until we roll out of bed on Monday morning that we find out what retro itch the Wii's Virtual Console will scratch. However, SNK has let the sword out of the sheath a bit early, confirming that next week's retro throwback will include arcade favorite Samurai Shodown II. As great as SNK's 1994 2D fighter is, to say nothing about how much better it is than the original, it's starting to make less and less sense to pick up these Neo Geo titles piecemeal when SNK continues to bundle the games together at retail. It's hard to justify the digging through the couch for 900 Wii Points when we'll be able to pick up Samurai Shodown Anthology, which will include Samurai Shodown I-VI, on the Wii later this year for about $30.
Finally, some good news about the Virtual Console
Thanks to advance notice from two companies, we can now look forward to the Virtual Console releases for once. If Hudson and SNK's plans go through (as in, if a game isn't mysteriously bumped) we can expect both Samurai Shodown II and -- this is totally awesome -- Ys Book I & II.We've been waiting for Ys since its first appearance on the ESRB ratings database last year, and now we're going to have the opportunity to buy two great action RPGs for eight bucks! There hasn't been a better deal since they packed Ys I & II with TurboDuo systems, and the Wii actually costs less than a Duo![Samurai Shodown II news via press release]
VC Tuesday: Attack of the clones
Nintendo of Japan is following the example of the American Virtual Console this week in two ways: by not releasing that many games, and by making one of them Donkey Kong 3. If you've never played Donkey Kong 3, it's certainly worth a look, because it's pretty bizarre. The concept also seems a bit backward and convoluted: the opportunity for Donkey Kong's creation came from a surplus of unsold Radar Scope (Nintendo's Galaxian clone) machines, and just a few years later Nintendo decided to follow up on their hit with ... a Donkey Kong-themed Galaxian clone.On the subject of clones and clonable games, Yu Suzuki's Space Harrier was a very close inspiration for an early Square project, The 3-D Battles of WorldRunner. Except for the obvious influence of Samurai Shodown, and the general influence exerted by Street Fighter II on the entire fighting genre, we think Samurai Shodown II is safe from clone talk.Nintendo's single WiiWare offering today is Hayazashi Syogi Sandan, another shogi game! Donkey Kong 3 (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) Space Harrier (Master System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) Shin Samurai Spirits Haohmaru Jigoku-hen (Samurai Shodown II) (Neo Geo, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points)
Slew of SNK titles, along with Dig Dug, get rated by ESRB
Fans of SNK and the Virtual Console, you'll be happy you're reading this post today. A couple of titles, Fatal Fury 2 and Art of Fighting 2 both popped up on the ESRB website with Wii listings, as well as Samurai Shodown and Samurai Shodown 2. Not only that, but classic title Dig Dug also popped up. Now that's what we need! Some new, non-shooter titles on the Virtual Console are a welcome addition to the Wii's catalog.[Via Codename Revolution]
