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Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2010
Dance Central This is how the dancing genre should be done. Harmonix brought it on and stepped it up with Dance Central, a full-body follow-the-choreography game that showed off Microsoft's Kinect tech and ended up being the device's killer app at launch. Authoritative, yet fun, Dance Central felt like the first step in a franchise that could potentially have an amazing future. Dance Central 2 is a given and I can't wait to see what it delivers. Harmonix has shown us with Rock Band that it can rapidly build upon a core foundation. Chained dance routines? Online dance battles? Customizable routines? It's probably all on the table... and I would dance on that table using a stripper pole for all of it. But, my gawd, I would give anything for the option to remove or exchange freestyle sections for more moves.
Best of the Rest: Andrew's picks of 2010
DJ Max Portable 3 I blame myself for not pimping out PM Studio's excellent DJ Max Portable 3 more this year. The Korean music game is quite possibly the only music game you'll ever need on a handheld, thanks to its seemingly endless soundtrack, varied modes, rewarding progression, beautiful graphics, and note charts that will make your fingers cry. Oh, and for the first time in the franchise's history, you actually feel like a DJ. Ludwig makes fun of me for the epileptic fit I get into when playing it, but he just doesn't understand.
Valkyria Chronicles 2 DLC, random battle dialogue featured in trailer
PSP's excellent Valkyria Chronicles 2 now has a DLC pack available for $5, which includes 22 new missions. The range of mission types covers everything students at the Lanseal Military Academy need to prevent a Gallian civil war.
Valkyria Chronicles 2 codes collected
Over the past few weeks, Sega has been updating its blog with new codes for Valkyria Chronicles 2. These codes can be entered under the "Extras" section on the title screen, and unlock a variety of stickers and characters.
PSN Tuesday: Lara Croft, Deathspank, Claptrap's New Robot Revolution
The PSN update has quite some quality downloadable games this week. Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light not only arrives, but it adds a whole featured section on the PSN. There's also Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue and Swords & Solidiers. Fans of Borderlands should also take a look at the game's final piece of DLC, "Claptrap's New Robot Revolution." Although, remember, if you haven't already invested in the game's DLC, the Borderlands Game of the Year Edition will be out October 12. Check out the full PSN update after the break. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Valkyria Chronicles 2 rolls out DLC later this month
The excellent PSP strategy RPG, Valkyria Chronicles 2, will receive DLC in "one huge pack" later this month. Sega will have more details and pricing sometime this week. The first mission pack revealed by the publisher will take players to Mellvere for a challenge "unlike any you remember from the initial campaign." For fans of the first game -- who want something creepy -- Sega has also revealed the code to unlock Isara Gunther as a playable character: 37LRK5D214VQVFYH. If Sega has included the same unlockable characters featured in the Japanese version of the game, expect future codes for Faldio Landzaat and Maximilian from the original Valkyria.
Sega teases 'top secret' Valkyria Chronicles project
A Sega-registered website is teasing an unveiling related to strategy RPG series Valkyria Chronicles -- possibly of a new sequel. Andriasang stumbled upon Code1935.jp, which features several Valkyria-esque soldiers' silhouettes, a tank and a missive that the "top secret" site is not to be opened until September 16. The date coincides with this year's Tokyo Game Show. What we can surmise from the site is that we are looking at a new Valkyria Chronicles, likely with a different squad -- perhaps not even Gallian. If "1935" in the website's name represents the setting, then it might take place during the events of Valkyria Chronicles 1. However, the large sword in the middle is unfamiliar, and "Altaha Abilia 422" doesn't ring any bells -- according to Wikipedia the slogan means "Always Ready." We'll be at the ready to share more, like if the series will continue on PSP or in some other unexpected form, when we gain more intel.
Valkyria Chronicles 2 review: big strategy, war and drama in a handheld package
When fans of Valkyria Chronicles on PS3 heard the series would continue on PSP, it's likely they all asked the same question: How much will the game's epic feel be watered down to fit on a handheld? Valkyria Chronicles 2 may lose some scale in the battlefield gameplay due to the technological limitations of the PSP, but it still delivers a grand sense of everything else that fans expect. This isn't Valkyria "lite," it's Valkyria "light enough to take with you." VC2's narrative doesn't realize it's supposed to be simplified for on-the-go gaming. There's a lot of story (both personal and political) going on in Valkyria Chronicles 2, as the country of Gallia deals with a bit of Nazi problem. Okay, so they aren't "Nazis" per se, but well-funded, aristocratic bigots from the south of the country set to ignite a Gallian civil war by scapegoating the minority population for the post-war economy. The Gallian militia (of which Squad 7 from the original game was a part) can't be deployed to fight fellow citizens, so members of the Lanseal Military Academy are pressed into service to defend the country. %Gallery-68217%
Valkyria Chronicles 2 trailer sets the stage for war
Citizens of Gallia will protect their homeland from a new threat on August 31, when Valkyria Chronicles 2 for PSP hits North American analog shelves and PSN's virtual store. We'll have to wait and see how Valkyria's epic (melo)drama, first experienced in the PS3 game back in 2008, translates to a the small screen. The story trailer after the break gives a bite-size taste of what Gallia faces.
PSN Tuesday: Scott Pilgrim vs. The Valkyria Chronicles 2 demo
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game: Not based on the movie, but the comic: Is an awesome brawler -- yes, that's the actual full title (no, it's not). Our review explains how much we liked the game. Don't trust our review? Well, we're hurt ... but there's also a demo for the game in this week's PSN update, so definitely try that out. Also, as another treat, this week's update also includes a "must try" demo for Valkyria Chronicles 2 on PSP. 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.)
Valkyria Chronicles 2 pre-order bonuses revealed for Europe, North America
Sega is bundling downloadable missions with pre-orders of PSP's Valkyria Chronicles 2 in North America (at GameStop) and Europe. The DLC revolves around exercises against other classes in the Gallian Military Academy. The two bonus missions are: Exercise vs. Class E – "A clean-up war exercise against rival class E, which will take place in all of the areas of Leanbluff forest." Exercise vs. Class F – Break through Class F's stonewalling defense and take over their encampment to win. If you were a fan of the original cult darling, it appears you'll be in store for a similarly epic saga with the sequel. Prepare to protect Gallia again when Valkyria Chronicles 2 releases online and on UMD this August 31 and September 3 in North America and Europe, respectively.
Valkyria Chronicles 2 ready to move out August 31
War returns to Gallia once again when Valkyria Chronicles 2 launches its retail assault on North America on August 31, 2010. The game will launch on UMD and PlayStation Store simultaneously. From what we've seen at E3 2010, despite the scaled-down portable presentation, the game appears to be a worthy successor to the excellent (and accessible) Japanese strategy role-playing game. %Gallery-68217%
Valkyria Chronicles 2 DLC announced, some requires Phantasy Star Portable 2
Phantasy Star Portable 2 is already filled with questionable marketing partnerships. So it comes as no surprise that Sega's going to take it another step further, by making Valkyria Chronicles 2 content specially for Phantasy Star Portable 2 owners. Eight DLC packs have been announced for the Japanese release of VC2, and some will require save data from Sega's other PSP game. The listing, as translated by Andriasang: 1/21: Melfair's Crisis - Free 1/21: Request From the Guardians - Free* 1/21: Challenge from Little Wing - Free* 2/4: Strategy Battle Drills VS F Group - ¥100 2/11: Tough Battle Melfair City EX - ¥100 2/18: Kokugen no Tani - ¥100 2/18: Teisatsuhei Urakatei Shuryou Shiken - ¥100 2/25: Ultimate Challenge - ¥100 *requires Phantasy Star Portable 2 save data
Valkyria Chronicles' Isara playable in sequel
Valkyria Chronicles 2 will apparently have a playable version of Isara, the original game's protagonist's little sister, for those who have a save file of the first game. AndriaSang reports, VC2 owners without the save file can pick up Isara through a password that will be posted on the game's website at a later date. The odd alternate universe of playable characters doesn't end there, as passwords to access Faldio Landzaat and Maximilian will be posted on February 4 and 18, respectively. Fans of the first game should understand how inconceivable this crossover feature is in the context of the gameworld, but don't take the additions of these characters as canon. We're not exactly sure how the bonus characters will fit in, but we're assuming their appearances are just fan service. Valkyria Chronicles 2 will be released later this month in Japan, and then this summer in America and Europe.
Japanese Valkyria Chronicles 2 demo coming Nov. 2
Sega will release a Japanese Valkyria Chronicles 2 demo November 2, translates Andriasang. It's currently unclear whether the demo will be the same one shown at Tokyo Game Show, but for those who weren't there, now's the time to practice some internet trickery if the language barrier isn't a bother.Our hands-on time with VC2 at TGS gave us hope that, despite its portable size, the sequel will attempt to deliver the same epic strategy and drama of the PS3 version. We will definitely keep our ears open for a Western demo, but with the overseas release of the game not expected until summer 2010, don't hold your breath. If you haven't played the original, what are you waiting for? %Gallery-68217%
Interview: Valkyria Chronicles 2's Takeshi Ozawa and Shinji Motoyama
The announcement of Valkyria Chronicles 2 came as a surprise for most. In spite of the modest sales of the first game, Sega greenlit a second title in th franchise, this time for the PSP. We spoke with Sega director Takeshi Ozawa and producer Shinji Motoyama about the difficulties in translating the experience to PSP, and the cameos we can expect from the upcoming sequel. [Note: While two people were interviewed, only the responses from our single Sega-provided translator are transcribed. We apologize for the lack of proper attribution.]Joystiq: Obviously, many people were surprised to see a sequel not on PS3, but on PSP. Does this open up the chance that the franchise will move to even more platforms, like the 360, for example?Translator: It's difficult for us to comment on because, actually, we weren't thinking about specific platforms when designing the game. And it just turns out, we developed for the PS3 and this time we chose PSP as the platform. We do take into consideration, in terms of game design, and delivering the game world and experience to the users. This time, we thought PSP was the ideal platform to do that. It's as simple as that. But, it's because of this that discussions became kind of widespread, and people started asking questions "why there's no 360 version?" We don't want to say anything that would enrage the fire of that discussion.
TGS 2009: The Recap Post
Last week, the Tokyo Game Show brought in over 100 posts worth of news, previews, interviews, galleries, and videos. Clearly, a lot happened. If you're looking for a comprehensive list of all the goings-on during TGS 2009, Joystiq has you covered -- and organized! Click on a platform below to scan the highlights: (On the far right: that's "News" and "Culture" on the top and bottom, respectively)
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Valkyria Chronicles 2
Most fans of the original Valkyria Chronicles will want to know one thing: is the PSP-exclusive sequel a worthy follow-up successor to its predecessor? The answer, from our short time with the game at TGS, seems to be undeniably "yes."A costumed girl attempted to explain the game's controls to me, but I was immediately able to jump in. Veterans of the first game will find themselves at home here: the interface has remained largely unchanged from its transition from PS3 to PSP. Once again, VC2 employs the "BLITZ" battle system of the first game: a unique combination of both real-time movement and turn-based strategy. Players are given a number of Command Points (CP) which can be used to select various units: scouts, snipers, tanks, etc. Once selected, these units are manually controlled as in a third-person shooter, with players stopping to aim at enemies. Enemies can respond by firing back, but they cannot change position. Each unit is allowed only one barrage of gunfire before they must end their turn. Once players run out of CP, or manually end combat, the "enemy phase" begins, where the AI is allowed to do the same thing.The mixture of real-time and turn-based combat proves to be an ideal handheld gaming experience, mixing the casual pace of a turn-based game with the excitement of a shooter. Valkyria Chronicles is more about tactics, less about precision aiming -- a good thing to consider when adapting a title to Sony's handheld.
Sega deploying Valkyria Chronicles 2 in America, Europe
This is going to be awesome news for a heartbreakingly small portion of the gaming population -- Sega has announced that it is localizing the tactical RPG Valkyria Chronicles 2 for a summer 2010 release in North America and Europe. Sega even backhandedly acknowledged the disappointing sales of the first game in its press release for the second, with VP of Marketing Sean Ratcliffe classifying the PS3 original as "a hidden gem on PS3." We're sure the company hopes the sequel will be upgraded to gem status.
Valkyria Chronicles 2 gameplay footage looks as good as we want it to be
Don't be a hater. Valkyria Chronicles 2 may not be on the PS3 (or 360) as many had wished, but it certainly looks fine as-is on the PSP. Sega has done a remarkable job of recreating the look and, more importantly, gameplay of the original game. Considering the limited power of the PSP, we're positively surprised by the results.With a brand new branching class system, and the promise of multiplayer, VC2 is shaping up to be the sequel we've all clamored for. Sure, it may not be in HD, but when was the last time you were able to play Valkyria Chronicles while on the toilet seat ... of an airplane? Check out another clip after the break.%Gallery-68217%[Via PSPHyper]
