Archive for June 24th, 2008
Filed under: Screens
In order to remind us that Mega Man Star Force 2 released today, Capcom offered up a plethora of screens for fans to check out. There are so many of them that you can probably just look at the screens in a slideshow and call it a day, saving yourself the $29.99. Of course, that just takes all the fun out of it.
As you may recall, there are two different versions of the game: Zerker x Ninja and Zerker x Saurian. Although they’re mostly the same, each one offers Mega Man different powers.
So, which will it be, Star Force fans? Saurian, or Ninja?
[Via press release]
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Filed under: Metareview
Whether you plan to base your Guitar Hero: On Tour purchasing plans on the track list or reviews, you’re likely to be confused. The reviews seem to be as schizophrenic as the compiled tracks themselves, with some outlets loving the game and others hating it.
IGN (90/100) thinks the game really works on Nintendo’s handheld: “For the Nintendo DS version, you lose the full-sized guitar, but that’s pretty much all you’re losing because everything else, with the exception of a single fret button, has been placed in rather intuitive locations on the Nintendo DS thanks to a well-constructed peripheral and incredibly tight programming.”
GameSpot (60/100) hated the peripheral, and believes that On Tour takes the fun out of Guitar Hero: “While the size of your hands is certainly a consideration, the attachment is functional at best. Given that the game actually begins with two screens that instruct you to keep your wrist straight, take frequent breaks to ignore cramping, try different play styles to find one that’s comfortable, and even visit the game’s Web site ‘for more play comfort suggestions,’ it’s apparent that someone was aware that the game could present physical problems for people. It would have been affable to be able to play the game with some sort of alternate control scheme, but such an option isn’t available.”
GameSpy (70/100) was on the fence, finding both negative and redeeming qualities in Vicarious Visions’ attempt: “The guitar peripheral doesn’t work as well as we had hoped, something that could prove to be a major sticking point (after all, who wants to keep playing a game that hurts you?). Still, it’s a solid entry in the franchise and gets points for innovation, so we’re hopeful that this won’t be the series’ last foray into the handheld domain.”
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Continue Reading June 24th, 2008
Filed under: News
How’s firmware 4.00 going for you? Pretty good? Are you having any issues Googling from the XMB and changing the speed of your videos? Chances are some of you probably are, because Sony has just announced that firmware 4.01 will be released very soon. As in, within the next few hours. Don’t get too excited, there are no new features. This is a bug fix for everything that went wrong with 4.00.
In our opinion, the only thing about 4.00 that needs to be fixed (or “improved,” as Sony put it) is the lack of any real new features. Nevermind, eh? There’s always 4.02.
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Filed under: Screens, Imports
The only pet-care game we find ourselves caring about is also one of the few that isn’t planned for release here. Taito’s Pet Shop Monogatari DS is a pet-adoption RPG with Cooking Mama art and penguin washing. Penguin washing! We usually react coolly to the proliferation of pet games on the DS, but this one has the distinct possibility of being interesting, due to Taito’s involvement.
There’s also the fact that it’s uncommonly cute, even for what it is. Screenshot after screenshot proves this point adorably. If there’s even the slightest chance that a game this cute can also be non-terrible, we’re on board.
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Filed under: Blu-ray, Guides
After all the drama with Michael Bay threatening to drop out of Transformers 2 because Transformers wasn’t released on Blu-ray, we thought you guys would like to know the movie is finally coming out on Blu-ray September 2nd. The date was announced a while back, but now we have the box-art and details concerning the release. The box-art looks more or less like the DVD/HD-DVD releases, but Blu-ray will have an additional feature of Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround audio that was missing from the HD-DVD release. Other features include audio commentary with Michael Bay, two four-part documentaries, a featurette, still gallery and trailers. It will also be BD-Live-enabled with details to be announced later.
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Continue Reading June 24th, 2008
Filed under: News
Hear that? Silence. That’s the sound you hear when the hype train is nowhere near you. Overlord hasn’t had a particularly trumpeted release and have kept the PS3’s exclusive content pretty close to their chest. Perhaps a little too close to their chest. Only today, on the day of release, do we know what extra stuff fills the game’s Blu-ray.
The PS3 version contains new levels (one new level for each of the game’s five kingdoms) and enemies, as well as new features such as 7.1 surround sound support. There’s also a new online co-op mode, online head-to-head battles and “enhanced visuals.” To top it off there’s also a new mini map and hints and tips which pop up throughout the game to prevent the player from getting stuck. Not a bad update, really. It certainly makes the game more tempting, whether you’ve already played it on the 360/PC or not.
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Continue Reading June 24th, 2008
Filed under: News
Hear that? Silence. That’s the sound you hear when the hype train is nowhere near you. Overlord hasn’t had a particularly trumpeted release and have kept the PS3’s exclusive content pretty close to their chest. Perhaps a little too close to their chest. Only today, on the day of release, do we know what extra stuff fills the game’s Blu-ray.
The PS3 version contains new levels (one new level for each of the game’s five kingdoms) and enemies, as well as new features such as 7.1 surround sound support. There’s also a new online co-op mode, online head-to-head battles and “enhanced visuals.” To top it off there’s also a new mini map and hints and tips which pop up throughout the game to prevent the player from getting stuck. Not a bad update, really. It certainly makes the game more tempting, whether you’ve already played it on the 360/PC or not.
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Continue Reading June 24th, 2008
Filed under: Screens
With FFTA2 now shipped and out of its hands, Square Enix has turned its attention to building up the release of its next summer title, Final Fantasy IV. The publisher has fired out over two dozen new screenshots for the RPG, all of them in our gallery below!
For those of you who aren’t sure what the 3D remake promises to add to the almost 17-year-old game, here’s a quick recap: touchscreen controls, a dungeon-mapping system, additional episodes, a system with which characters can learn abilities from friends, fully voiced cutscenes, an Event Theatre mode for watching past cutscenes, and a minigame for raising your own summon monster. So, there’s quite a lot of new stuff!
Look for Final Fantasy IV to ship out to stores on July 22.
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Filed under: Culture, PC, First Person Shooters
This very detailed Simpsons Quake III mod is pretty old (video added December 2007), but we never covered it then, and the video is too pretty to miss. (Via Boing Boing; thanks, Jason C) Check out the highlights for today:
Joystiquery
The best of WoW Insider: June 17-24, 2008
A Dark Past: An Alone in the Dark Retrospective
Joystiq hands-on: Hasbro Family Game Night
Joystiq interviews Mark Lamia of Treyarch and Call of Duty the Fifth
Joyswag: C&C 3: Kane’s Wrath (Xbox 360) giveaway, Day Two
Metareview (Euro Edition) — Civilization Revolution (Xbox 360, PS3)
Podcast Rodeo for June 24: One without ear
Scared stiff: Why should we care about Dead Space?
News
Frontlines gets free map on Xbox Live
PSA: PSN going down for scheduled maintenance, not 2.4 update
Double D Dodgeball coming to XBLA on July 30
PlayStation 3’s cost to Sony so far: $3.32 billion
OMGS4: Sales exceed 1 million in Europe during first week
Left 4 Dead 4 November
Spore getting $80 ‘Galactic Edition’
EA Sports peripherals due in next year, bundled
DICE currently working on 5 Battlefield games
Crave leaves ESA, still showing at E3
Safecracker to open on Wii this fall
Jaffe: Marvel games need more narrative focus
Delman replacing Bell as Microsoft VP of global marketing
Don King Prizefighter demo on Xbox Live
Ed Boon clarifies Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe fatalities
Ubisoft opening new studio in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Miyamoto’s quality control: Ninten-do what Sega doesn’t
Ubisoft wants ‘anticipation’ for Assassin’s Creed 2
Watch some Tales of Vesperia in Japanese
Sins publisher Stardock keeps piracy ‘in perspective’
Rumors & Speculation
Blizzard teaser image is mysterious, evolving
Rumor: God of War III to be shown at E3
Rumor: Kratos in PS3 version of Soul Calibur IV
Culture & Community
Dead Space Animated Comic: Issue 3
Accessorize your gamer with retro badges and a purse
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Continue Reading June 24th, 2008
Filed under: Fan stuff
The video game industry certainly sees its share of rumors and, in this week’s edition of Ask X3F, we tackle one of the biggest. That is, of course, whether or not Metal Gear Solid 4 will ever hit our beloved white console. We also discuss Street Fighter II HD, Halo toys and Spore. Find a bounty of delicious text after the break.
Got a question for Ask X3F? Maybe you have a story or some information you’d like to share? Send it all to ask [at] xbox360fanboy [dawt] com.
Continue reading Ask X3F: Solid rumors edition
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