Speaking of Persona 4… I posted that last article and went off to make some coffee and as soon as I sit down again, *ding!* this pops up in my inbox. Nice. I now have another game I want for my Vita (and finally, a RPG getting a US retail release that’s deeper than what’s currently on the handheld!). Naturally, clicking on that link above will fly you over to the teaser site where you can go temporarily blind from the burst of color that will hit your eyeballs then upon your recovery, pre-order the game if you like (no pressure here!).
Of course, if you don’t have a Vita yet, you probably won’t be clicking away, but I’d say this is one of those JRPGs that’s worth a console purchase if you like your games ridiculously PACKED to the gills with content and replay value.
Nice. A little birdie told me recently that there’s an in-progress English script floating around for this upcoming Vita game, so I’m hoping this is not only true, but D3 gets on the ball in getting the word out ASAP as to when we can expect this instant classic. Here’s the import cover art, a new trailer to drool over plus links to the game’s Amazon Japan page and below, a few of D3’s official Japanese EDF 3 sites. Interestingly enough, the game will be available in Japan in two formats (like EDF 2 Portable on the PSP) a single game card or value-priced dual pack format that will allow gamers to share a copy with a fellow Vita owner. I doubt that double pack will be released stateside, but it WOULD be awesome if D3Publisher of America did us EDF fans a true favor and localized EDF 2 and made it available as a PSN download.
By the way, if you want more info on the game and don’t mind learning a bit of Japanese in the process (or using Microsoft’s bing translator), well, here you go, along with the official Japanese Facebook page(feel free to leave a comment if you visit to express your love for the series) and official D3Publisher Japan EDF portalweb site. Anyway, color me thrilled (again)… 9/27/12 in Japan and hopefully not too much longer for the rest of the world…
If you’re a Vita owner (and one of those non-whiny Capcom fans who seem to be a dying breed on the internet, but actually exist in the real world) that’s been wondering whether or not you should buy Street Fighter X Tekken when it ships out this fall, I’ll say right now that it’s a no-brainer YES, particularly if you want to experience what’s looking like the smoothest cross-platform play to date. A recent hands-on test of the game at Capcom’s NYC press event put a grin on my face that was hard t remove thanks to some of the new playable characters, the interesting and fun touchscreen control options and yes, that lag-free gameplay against a PS3 opponent.
OK, not only is this port packing in much more content than the original Xbox 360 exclusive (including a four-player co-op mode), I just found out from watching video #2 below that Pale Wing is making a return (faint,thud!). For any longtime EDF fan who knows what I’m talking about, you’re also picking yourself up off the carpet, I’d bet. This changes up the gameplay considerably, as her jet pack and energy-based weapons add a completely different approach to some of the tougher levels in the game. That and EDF 3 (or EDF 2017, to 360 owners in the US) recycles parts of a few maps from EDF 2, meaning playing them again with Pale Wing will see some of those old strategies coming into play more effectively than with Storm 1. Lucky Vita owners in Japan will be seeing this sometime in September of this year. As for everyone else… that’s hard to say.
Now, I know D3Publisher of America is busy putting out a small line of licensed games based on popular kid shows (Ben 10, iCarly and Victorious), but I think they’d be making a huge mistake if they ignore this exclusive. Warts and all, they ought to embrace this intentionally campy and massively awesome run ‘n gun game to the fullest (the company started life in Japan as a publisher of a budget-themed games line), market the hell out of it though viral videos and a bunch of hands-on previews (my fingers are itching just typing that) and get it into stores sometime next year. This should give them time to get the word out that it’s coming and will be a Vita essential for the potential of at least 40 hours of bug-blasting action. Then again, I spend something like 150 playing EDF 2017, so I know I’ll get as much or more time out of a Vita version…
OK, you’ve got a few short weeks to get in on some cool games for your PS3 and PSP (and you should be able to run these downloads on your Vita), so get to it. North American gamers only on this deal, so that’s another cool Independence Day deal, I suppose. Hmmm… I may have to get Hexyz Force and Crimson Gem Saga as both are insanely tough to find cheap as UMD releases. Speaking of… Hey, Atlus! Put Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner up on PSN as well at some point, as hell, someone stole my complete copy a few years back and it’s impossible to find another one (that’s not going to cost me an arm and a leg), grrrr!
It’s almost too bad the Vita didn’t launch with this title, as it’s a new IP that introduces a character any gamer will love as well as shows off what the system can do quite well. Thankfully, this trailer shows off some of those cool things quite nicely. I’ll try to jam in a review at some point this month, but no promises, as it’s a bit hectic at the moment. For now, however, I’m absolutely recommending you check this one out if your Vita has been feeling lonely or you’re thinking about the system and want another definitive killer app that’s pure fun from the moment you pick it up and start playing…
BRING BACK THE BUGS! Hey, D3Publisher of America: I’m putting you on notice NOW. If you aren’t planning to snap this up and get it out in North America instead of another kid-friendly game that might sell a few more copies, you’re nuts. In the nicest possible way, though. Seriously, you’re loved around here for some cool games and all, but THIS one has to get a US release. Not only is this looking exactly like the Xbox 360 game many PlayStation-only fans of the series never got to play, Sandlot actually ADDED a four-player co-op mode.Which is an excellent move, by the way (provided the slowdown present in the original game has been taken care of).
I’m stealing one screenshot from Andriasang (thanks, guys!) to show you this is no joke, but here’s a link so you can check out the rest of them and start yelling into your Vita like it’s actually got a phone built in. Day one purchase? Oh, absolutely. ESPECIALLY if D3 is smart enough to consider that dual game card package, provided they can release it at a decent price point. If not, a single cart is still fine, but I’m gathering that a single cart and download voucher deal for a friend might be another way to go. OK, let me stop giving out free ideas and get back to hoping we see this one drop into stores as soon as possible…
Like nearly everyone else who saw it, I was floored when Ubisoft dropped Watch_Dogs into our collective consciousness at the end of its E3 press conference. Not only did they completely surprise people, they did so in the way things USED to be done in this industry. Win NO in house PR-generated “leaks” or overly annoying viral nonsense that keeps people who need to be more productive trolling around the Internet looking at teaser sites or playing with devices in useless mini-games that hint at what’s to come. Although amusingly enough, that’s probably one big way to market the game now that the beans have been spilled. Still, as great as the game looks and as amazing as the idea behind it is, something bugged the hell out of me when the demo was over…
If you missed out on Little King’s Story on the Wii a few years back, you didn’t get to play a really cute and fun blend of real time strategy and RPG elements wrapped into a surprisingly neat neat tale that was also pretty funny at times. This sequel gets a completely new visual style, more mature looking characters and a few other tweaks, but as many Vita owners will be new to the game, that doesn’t matter all that much, I’d imagine. What DOES matter is that the Vita NEEDS more quality games such as this and as many as possible over the next few months so that this current dry spell is rendered a thing of the past sooner than later. Let’s keep ’em coming Sony!
For the first time in a while, Sony opened things up with a complete shocker no one knew a thing about. This time, it was BEYOND: Two Souls, the upcoming game from Quantic Dream. With incredible visuals and Ellen Page as the lead character, the clip ended up leaving SO many questions unanswered, but that’s how David Cage wanted it. I did find it pretty amusing that after Cage touted how stunning Page’s performance was in the game, her digital character was mute for the bulk of the clip shown.till, it’s a must-buy I’ll be tracking until it’s released. God of War: Ascension finally got a live single player demo that showed fans really had nothing to fret about at all, as Kratos is as brutal as ever, the enemies are all deadly and the trademark QTE kills are even gorier than ever. Pre-orders are already being taken for this one, even though it’s not in stores until March 2013, so make that a priority if you’re good about hanging onto receipts.
The Vita got some props with a few new titles announced and a bit of cross platform play from PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale that was slick and flawless. While it looks like a TON of fun, I’m still not sold on the Super Smash Bros. influenced game completely, as I think not having old PS mascot stalwarts such as Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon (both owned by different publishers these days) makes for a lesser experience (Fat Princess? Really?). And where’s Solid Snake? Then again, Uncharted’s Nathan Drake and Big Daddy from BioShock will please some folks out there, as they were announced as new fighters in the game as part of a quick teaser.
Speaking of Persona 4… I posted that last article and went off to make some coffee and as soon as I sit down again, *ding!* this pops up in my inbox. Nice. I now have another game I want for my Vita (and finally, a RPG getting a US retail release that’s deeper than what’s currently on the handheld!). Naturally, clicking on that link above will fly you over to the teaser site where you can go temporarily blind from the burst of color that will hit your eyeballs then upon your recovery, pre-order the game if you like (no pressure here!).
"DESTROY ALL FANBOYS!" 