Spectrobes: Origins Hits Stores

Posted on August 19, 2009 by geelw

Disney Interactive Studios has shipped Spectrobes: Origins to retail while also announcing a September launch for exclusive Spectrobes-themed iPhone and iPod Touch apps that further the game experience via cool multimedia content.

From the screens and trailers I’ve seen, it sure looks like Genki (one of my favorite Japanese developers from way back, thanks to a bunch of mech and driving games) is still delivering the goods, so this one should be quite a bit of fun. While I go make a cup of tea (ginger/lemon, in case you’re curious), here’s the game’s official press release and a few screens for you to peruse below the jump…

Continue reading →

Gallery: Fossil Fighters

Posted on August 17, 2009 by geelw

Dug up some screens and art on Fossil Fighters, Nintendo’s newest (and just released) “collection RPG” (as well as potential future franchise candidate) that mixes in a bit of archaeology, geology and good old fashioned claw to the face battle action for the kids (and us dino-loving adults who don’t mind folks staring at us while we play games on the subway, of course). The game, developed by RED and known as Bokura wa Kasekihorida in Japan, puts players in the shoes of a young fossil hunter as he sets out to become champion of Vivosaur Island’s famous Fossil Stadium.

Yep, it’s got the Pokemon thing working for it the kids will love, but given that you’re using the touch screen and microphone for digging and blowing virtual dust away (“cleaning”) respectively, this one looks like a bit more of a workout. Anyway, here you go – game screens and cute character art…

Continue reading →

Sands of Destruction Hands-On

Posted on August 17, 2009 by geelw

Sega’s upcoming Nintendo DS exclusive RPG, Sands of Destruction is going to blow you away. With its superb production values, supremely beautiful visuals, and an amazing amount of voice acting for a DS game, this one’s a clear candidate for best handheld RPG when it finally reaches stores in early 2010. The Image Epoch-developed epic is in the process of being tweaked to improve game balance and a few other issues with the original Japanese version and based on my short time with a build at Sega’s press event last week, things are coming along very well indeed. Continue reading →

Gallery: Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop

Posted on August 14, 2009 by geelw

Majesco has revealed the latest portable installment in the popular Cooking Mama franchise along with some nice, juicy hot off the grill details on the new game. Cooking Mama 3: Shop & Chop for the Nintendo DS will allow players to hit the aisles of different markets in order to purchase a wide variety of international ingredients, take them home and whip up tons of tasty worldwide treats. Continue reading →

Muramasa: The Demon Blade Update #2: Momohime!

Posted on August 14, 2009 by geelw

In this second character profile from Ignition’s upcoming Wii exclusive, Muramasa: the Demon Blade, it’s ladies night, as we get to meet the lovely yet deadly Momohime, complete with screenshots of her in action.

Additionally, the game’s official website is finally live, offering up some cool content that includes an art contest (I’d enter if I had time to sit down and do an illustration, but that’s kind of against the rules), media, some great wallpapers and lots more. Pop on over after you check out Momo’s profile and screens (below the jump, of course):

Continue reading →

Capcom’s Platinum Triple Pack = Gamer Bonaza

Posted on August 12, 2009 by geelw

In the “if you want an awesome deal you got it” category, first, there was the recent 2K Games two-pack with Bioshock and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and now, Capcom has entered the party with a bit of slight one-upmanship. The company’s soon to be released Xbox 360 Platinum Hits Triple Pack contains Dead Rising, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition – Colonies Edition and Devil May Cry 4, all for a paltry $39.99.

One catch: you’ll have to wait ’til next month (September 8, 2009) to snag this deal, but if you haven’t played any or all of these games, that price point is going to be mighty hard to resist…

Cursed Mountain Hands-On

Posted on August 8, 2009 by geelw

With the Wii in desperate need of some quality third-party titles geared toward “core” gamers, Deep Silver’s soon to be released Cursed Mountain comes at exactly the right time. I finally got some hands-on time with this survival horror gem at a the company’s New York City press event and can safely say this is a must-buy for genre fans who crave a great story with their gameplay. It’s not only one of the most innovative games on the console, it just might be one of the best genre games to date thanks to a huge development team dedicated to the project from day one. Martin Filipp, Deep Silver’s Developer Relations Manager proudly took a room packed full of editor-types through a few areas of the game’s early levels showing off the solid visuals, intuitive controls and innovative combat mechanics. Continue reading →

Infinite Space Teaser Anime Clip 1

Posted on August 6, 2009 by geelw

Sega’s upcoming Nintendo DS deep space Strategy/RPG Infinite Space won’t arrive until next year, but here’s a great anime teaser set in the game universe that does a splendid job at luring you into the game’s galactic setting while introducing some of the principal characters – enjoy!

Gallery: 101-in-1 Party Megamix (Updated!)

Posted on August 5, 2009 by geelw

Atlus just really, really, really wants to take over your gaming life this year. Between the amazing amount of RPG goodness we’re seeing across multiple platforms (Shin Megami Tensei: Persona and Demon’s Souls ftw!), finding time to do normal stuff such as breathe, eat or take a bathroom break is becoming quite a challenge. For me, taking my DS and the ridiculously addictive 101-in-1 Explosive Megamix into the can has on occasion actually led a few folks here to think I pulled an Elvis. Hey, with my schedule, it’s where I get the most quality time with the handheld, so what can I say?

(Wait… that didn’t come out quite right. *Ahem*… moving on…) Continue reading →

Gallery: Demon’s Souls

Posted on July 24, 2009 by geelw

Hands-down, one of my favorite game developers ever is From Software. I’ve been a huge fan of their games for close to 15 years thanks to many unforgettable hours playing their King’s Field series. While the US only saw four of the seven total games released to date, the combination of Western RPG aesthetics, challenging gameplay and interestingly doomed characters (the series has a rather NPC high mortality rate) made for memorable times indeed.

Between the mighty Armored Core franchise, Chromehounds, the two stellar Xbox Otogi games and one-shot brilliance of Kuon, there’s a lot to love about From’s games. That love also extends to From oddities such as Evergrace/Forever Kingdom, The Adventures of Cookie and Cream, Lost Kingdoms, Enchanted Arms, coolimports such asSpriggan: Lunar Verse, Frame Gride and Metal Wolf Chaos. Not to mention the underrated Echo Night games, Eternal Ring, Shadow Tower and Shadow Tower Abyss (one of those great import-only titles that would have been an excellent addition to the US PlayStation 2 library). Of course, not every developer can have a perfect track record. Between you and me, well… we’ll kind of forget about a couple of those later Tenchu games. OK? Continue reading →