Update: Muramasa: The Demon Blade – Meet Kisuke!

Posted on August 6, 2009 by geelw

I’ve been a fan of VanillaWare ever since I picked up the awesome Action/RPG Princess Crown for my import Sega Saturn a few years ago, and while the company has only produced three other games since their 1997 debut, both Grim Grimoire and Odin Sphere have helped the small Japanese developer obtain legendary status among hardcore gamers. As for that third game, it’s a great PSP port of Princess Crown that was never released in the US (it’s not too late… anyone? Bueller?… Bueller?).

Their newest project, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, is a Wii exclusive side-scrolling action/RPG that’s been on my radar (as well as anyone who craves gorgeous side-scrolling bliss) for some time as a must-own game for the console. With Ignition Entertainment snapping up the publishing rights and the game’s release date right around the corner, we’ll take a look at the main character, Kisuke in this profile below the jump. Continue reading →

Deep Silver Press Event Impressions

Posted on August 5, 2009 by geelw

Deep Silver dropped into New York City for a day with playable versions of five upcoming games that included an innovative horror adventure for the Wii, an open-world RPG set on a gorgeous yet deadly island, a PSP strategy game mech fans will love and two Nintendo DS games that should appeal to brainy players of all stripes. I’ll be writing up longer hands-on previews for the two home console and PSP titles over the coming days, but in the meantime, here’s a super quick rundown on what was shown: Continue reading →

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: Calling

Posted on July 23, 2009 by geelw

Hudson Soft is looking to join the well-packed “scary games” truck barreling at a breakneck pace towards Wii owners looking for more substantial and varied horror experiences. Calling is the company’s upcoming horror adventure that draws inspiration from Japanese Horror films such as The Ring and Ju-on along with games like From Software’s Echo Night series and the underrated PlayStation 2 mystery/adventure, Shadow of Destiny among others. Well, that’s how my fevered brain deciphered this press release below the jump: Continue reading →

Review: The Conduit

Posted on July 22, 2009 by geelw

Platform: Nintendo Wii

Developer: High Voltage Software

Publisher: Sega of America

# of Players: 1 (1-12 Online)

Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: A

Attention Wii owners: your core FPS has finally arrived… and it’s a total blast. The Conduit is a technically impressive first-person shooter with a nifty conspiracy-packed plot, an action-packed single player campaign and innovative multiplayer modes that will keep you playing for months. High Voltage Software has laid down the gauntlet for future Wii developers with this original IP that deserves a home in any genre fan’s collection. While the game isn’t as stellar in spots as a few high profile releases on certain other consoles, what it does well it does often and that’s where it counts. Continue reading →

Review: Little King’s Story

Posted on July 21, 2009 by geelw

Platform: Nintendo Wii

Developer: Cing/Town Factory

Publisher: Xseed Games

# of Players: 1

Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Rating: A

Brilliantly conceived, beautiful and brash, Little King’s Story is a near-perfect blast of fresh air absolutely worth buying a Wii for. The game grabs you right away with its gorgeous art style and a smartly localized script chock full of references that in the know adults will appreciate more than the wee ones. Don’t be fooled when looking at the cover art, screens or movies into thinking this is yet another budget-priced kids game you’ll blow through in a few hours. Developer Cing makes itself a household name here with a fine mix of simulation, light RPG and real-time strategy that’s as amusing as it is addictive. Once the game gets its hooks into you, there’s never a dull moment and when you finally manage to drag yourself away from the TV, you’ll probably have super-colorful dreams about your growing kingdom. And gold… sweet, golden gold. Continue reading →

Cursed Mountain Cover Art Revealed

Gallery

Posted on July 20, 2009 by geelw

This gallery contains 12 photos.

What’s with the Wii being the go-to console for scary games in 2009? Between Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, Ju-on: The Grudge, Dead Space: Extraction and now this, things are definitely looking up for folks like me who like to play … Continue reading →

Where the Wild Things Are Set to Stalk Consoles, Handhelds This October

Posted on July 20, 2009 by geelw

Ha – With all that’s going on these days, I’d completely forgotten about the upcoming Spike Jonze-directed take on Maurice Sendak’s classic kid’s book, but Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment obviously hasn’t. Here’s the official press release (below the jump) announcing the upcoming console and handleld versions of the game: Continue reading →

Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga Update #3

Posted on July 20, 2009 by geelw

OK, folks – yes, there’s been a bit of confusion about the whole character customization deal in the game, but that’s what happens when you’re dealing with multiple builds of a game. I got an email this morning from Xseed’s Product Manager Jimmy Soga that should definitively answer your questions regarding this. Hey, if I’m wrong about something, I’m not gonna hide under a rock, folks!

“For VKES, yes I do have to apologize for the character’s sex/race customization. Apparently the setting I mentioned was the earlier build and the new one has been changed.

So here we go… Continue reading →

Now Playing (The Update)…

Posted on July 18, 2009 by geelw

Yeah, yeah, by popular demand, an updated list of what’s in my playstack (some of which will actually get reviewed this week – whee!):

Little King’s Story (Wii)
FUEL (Playstation 3)
Prototype (Xbox 360)
The Conduit (Wii)
Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled (Nintendo DS)
Klonoa (Wii)
The Munchables (Wii)
Damnation (Playstation 3)
Muzzle Flash (Xbox import – I was planning a FAQ for some folks who asked about this rarity on GameFaqs a while back, but the game is impossible to complete thanks to some mind-blowing balance issues)
Drakan: The Ancient’s Gates (PlayStation 2)
Diablo II (PC – waitin’ for that 1.13 update…)
Arx Fatalis (PC)
Arx Fatalis (Xbox – I’ve an alpha build I’m comparing to the PC version for an upcoming feature – the stuff they left out of the retail version is interesting indeed…)